Mohini POV

I try to hold his hand but he takes his back. He can't see what his words has done to me. 

Right now, I am thankful for this veil which is hiding my emotions. I don't know what has happened. 

Does it mean that was the last visit of Rao? I failed in protecting Dada, Rao and our mission. 

We are taken to dining hall to have some dinner. On everyone's insist Yuvraj feed me few bites. I am just sitting here like a moving statue. 

I am numb of all fellings, of hopelessness. My eyes try to find my Baba or Devika through veil but I couldn't see through it. 

Suddenly Yuvraj pats my hand saying, 

'Hum abhi aate hai, Bapusa se baat karke.' 

'I will come right away, after talking to Bapusa.' 

He gives me a stiff smile and stand up, I just nod my head. For the first time I notice that all the while today his smile has been stiff. 

His whole body is stiff like he can't relax for a second or something will slip by and he can't afford a single slip on his part. 

Someone sits down beside me. I whip my head to see it is Jayant Bhau. I sigh in relief then ask him in signs, 

'Where is Rao? What was that earlier? What about Rao's plan? W-' 

Bhau holds my hand down and look around us to check that nobody has seen me do it. Then looked at me and said, 

'His plan couldn't be executed.' 

I furrowed my brows and pulled my veil up, asked him not caring if anyone sees me talking like this, 

'What do you mean by that? Is it because we don't know about Dada's location?' 

He shakes his head while saying, 

'Mohini, it's not that-' 

I interrupt him and question him, 

'Why are you not calling me Vahini?' 

He hides his eyes away from me and fumbles while speaking, 

'Vo.... hum........asal mein....' 

There is a feeling which warns me that something is really very wrong. 

I ask him, 'Where is Dada?' 

When he didn't answer me right away and tried to hide eyes, I again insisted. The feeling of dread inside me just intensified even more. 

He then looked at me with remorse, regret and guilt filled eyes and said, 

'Chandavanipur' 

Relief hits me at the answer but doubt sets in when Bhau doesn't look happy with the news so I ask him in signs, 

'It is a good thing, na? Dada is safe with Rao. He saved Dada for me.' 

He looked at me with somber expression and said, 

'Sripad ne Ramaji ko nahi bachaya hai balki Ramaji shuru se hi vahi pe the.' 

'Shripad has not saved Ramji, rather Ramji was there from the beginning.' 

No, it can't be true. If Dada was there from the start then why did Rao didn't tell me. Bhau must be mistaken but I can't shake off the doubt. 

Wait he always called Rao by Raje but today he took his name. Just as I was going to ask about it, He pulled my veil down abruptly and I heard Yuvraj speaking from behind. 

'Aapke Bapusa hume kisi khaas se milwana chahte hai, chaliye saath mein milte hai.' 

'Your father wants to introduce us to someone special, let's meet together.' 

I nod my head and follow him while thinking about Bhau's words. 

'Aaiye jawai ji, miliye humare sabse vishvawast mantri se, Sripad Rao. 

'Come Jawai ji, meet our most influential minister, Sripad Rao.' 

The minute my father introduced Rao as his loyal minister, was the minute something broke inside me. 

Now, I could finally understand Bhau's expression and meaning behind his words to some extent. 

'Iss sandhi ki aur shaadi ki shubhkamanayein, Yuvraaj.'  

'Congratulations on this treaty and the marriage, Crown Prince.' 

Rao wished him with a smile and added, 

'I am hoping we will reach great heights through this treaty and relation.' 

Then he turned towards me with a small smile, 

'Shaadi ki shubhkamnayein, Mohini.' 

'Congratulations on your marriage, Mohini.' 

I just can't fathom how can he stand there acting like everything is normal after giving me hope to save my life then shattering it. 

Yuvraaj ask him, 

'Do you know each other?' 

Yes, Sripad Rao tell him, how you know me and how much you know me, tell him about your betrayal.

I just can't get the reason of his betrayal. He gave an awkward smile and tried to hide his eyes from Prince while saying, 

'Aah...ji, we both are childhood friends, me, Mohini, Devika, Ganesha, Jayant, Ramaji. She and Devika are younger than us but we all played together from childhood.' 

And how easily you forgot that friendship. Maybe my father forced him by holding something above him just like he did with Devika. 

If I can meet him alone then maybe he can tell me everything. 

My father interrupted, 

'Its all in the past now. I wanted you to meet him and invite you for his marriage which is set 5 months from now.' 

I reared my head back at my father's words. His marriage? With whom? And he doesn't look a bit disturbed by Baba's words. 

Yuvraaj replies with a tight smile, 

'Congratulations Sripad Rao, I will see if I can come or not but I will surely send Mohini to attend the wedding. Well, who is the lucky girl?' 

He gives a shy smile and says, 'She is my childhood love, Devika.' 

The moment I hear this I stumble on my feet standing on my own. Yuvraj supports me instantly, 

'Aaram se, aapne thik se khana nahi khaya hai, kya?' 

'Relax, you haven't eaten properly, have you?' 

He asks in a concerned voice. Sripad also move toward me but I move myself away from him and towards Prince. 

Yuvraj sees this and stops his hand by holding his while saying, 

'Aap rehne de, hum dekh lenge apni patni ko.' 

'You leave it, I will take care of my wife.' 

It looks like God is playing chautrang with my life where I thought I was the main player but all along I had been the pawn. 

And now He is playing his hidden tricks which is leaving me speechless and I don't know where to turn. 

The betrayal is cutting me deep fom inside, my own parts of my heart is shredding me into pieces. 

'Ah, there she is.' 

Sripad says with full blown smile. I see Devika coming towards him with shy and timid smile. She bows her head with hands joined. 

Right now I am bursting with fury and I need an outlet or I will burst right here. 

'Devika, ask your Daji your gift in exchange of his shoes.' 

She speaks in Rao's ears which he listens and laugh then says, 

'She won't talk to you straight because of her pledge which she can't disclose, so she wants me to put forward her demands- treasure you want to give and a promise that you will do something one time which she asks for.' 

To which Prince replies, 

'Aapki maang poori hogi aur yeh humara vaada hai.' 

'Your demand will be fulfilled and this is my promise.' 

So many emotions are bursting inside me but from outside I am numb, my body is not moving at all on my own accord. 

Then Baba commanded at Devika, 

'Devika, take Mohini to prepare for vidaai.' 

She nods and take me to my room. The moment I enter my room I come out of shock and when she turns around towards me, I push up my veil and slap her hard on her face. 

I am angry beyond any reason. She turns towards me breathing fire at me, then she comes at me and fist my hair and tug my face towards her. 

I bring my dagger from my leg by pulling it back and put it on her neck, raising my eyebrows to say like Come closer and I wil pierce your neck. 

She leaves my hair and I drop my dagger. Tears fill my eyes while she gives me her back trying to rein in her anger.  

I turn her to face me then frames her face to see if she was being forced but all I see disgust, anger and utter hate for me. 

I ask in signs with tears falling down, 

'Why did you do this to me?' 

She gave me a sarcastic smile and hold both my arms tightly saying, 

'Kyunki hum Rao se prem karte hai aur Rao hum se, aur vo bhi kaafi samay se.' 

'Because I love Rao and Rao loves me, and that too for a long time.' 

I push away from her. If they both loved each other then they should have told me I wouldn't have come between them. 

I ask her again, 

'Why did you lie to me? I wouldn't have come between you both.' 

To which she replied by tucking my hair behind my ear lovingly and says, 

'Because you would have come between our dreams. What you want and what we want are two different things. You want success of your mission and what Rao want is easy way to be next king of Malwa.' 

I frowned at her not understanding what she meant. I ask her, 

'I thought you love me, na?' 

She gave a sarcastic laugh and moved away from me then faced me while replying, 

'Love? Yes, I loved you. But my loved for you got overshadowed by the feeling of being ignored around you.' 

On her face I can't find the ounce of love for me only hate which I didn't see earlier. Her eyes turned wistful and says with a small smile, 

'Bachpan se hum Rao ko chahte the, bade hue toh maloom chala ki yeh chahat nahi prem hai, par Rao sirf aapse prem karte the isliye aap dono ke beech mein aane ki kabhi kooshish nahi ki.' 

'Since childhood, I have liked Rao very much, when I grew up I realized that it is not likness, it is love, but Rao only loves you, that is why I never tried to come between you both' 

She moves towards me while saying, 

'But it isn't Rao's fault that he couldn't see me. How could he? Nobody could see anyone around you. Everybody just saw you only. You always overshadowed everyone around you.' 

She holds my arms tightly and says, 

'Bachpan se hi sabko sirf aap dikhayi deti hai, Mohini ne uske liye ye kiya? Mohini ne uska bhala kiya? Mohini kitni saaf dil ki hai, Mohini ne ye kiya? Mohini ne wo kiya? Mohini, Mohini, MOHINI!!!' 

'Since childhood, you have shown everyone only you, Mohini did this for her? Mohini did good for him? Mohini has such a pure heart, Mohini did this? Mohini did that? Mohini, Mohini, MOHINI!!!' 

She shakes me vehemently at the end. How could I not see this disgust and hate in her for me? 

She takes my chin in her hand to make me meet her eyes, 

'This love for you turned into hatred. I hated you to steal everyone's attention. I understood that you are the princess and everyone will always notice you over me.' 

'So I tried to take that place from you. I hated you so much that I exposed your mission to your father.' 

She bopped my nose with her finger like she is playing with me.

'Yes, Mohini, I did. But when he remained expressionless after knowing everything I thought I failed. That evening I came and saw you playing with Dada and our friends which turned the little bit of love into hate for you.' 

She takes seat on my bed and looks at me with pure evilness which I wish I should have seen earlier. 

'But everything changed, three years ago. I used to read all Rao's letter to torture myself by the loving words written for you and then deliver it to you. As usual I received Rao's letter for you.' 

'But this time the letter surprised me. Because after all, your father did something to sabotage your mission. He had send a proposal to Rao in exchange of leaving this mission.' 

'He wanted Rao to leave this mission and become the Crown Prince for Malwa. He so badly wanted this so he wanted to know if you will stand by his decision.' 

'Remember I asked you if Raje willingly gave the crown to Rao then will you stand by him but you strongly opposed to the idea so I wrote your response in the letter from my side and also wrote that I will stand by him.' 

I remember Devika asking me that question. 

'After that he came to meet me to feel justified in taking that decision and slowly he started to notice me. Your father wanted to punish you differently so he never let us expose ourselves.'

She stands up and comes to me, 

'Your marriage was fixed 6 months ago, Mohini. All those letters sent to you were distraction so you won't find about our plan.' 

She leans to me like she wants to share a secret, 

'Those letters were also for me. You see, he always used 'Chandani' to address. Did you forget when I was bullied for spots on my face Rao called me Chandani because chand also has spots?' 

I remember it and then berate myself as I didn't connect the dots when he sent the letter addressed as Chandani. 

I could see how much she is loving my stupidity. 

'You almost sabotaged our plan when Prince saw you but thankfully you are mute so it helped and that Prince arrived one day earlier which ruined Rao's plan to take you away while Raje deals with them.' 

She release breath like she has done so much heavy work. 

'To distract you from worrying about Rao he sent the letter specifically to Ramaji so when he receive it I will capture him, then I gave the letter to attendee and told her when to deliver it.'

Then she laughs like crazy and turns to me, 

'You are so innocent Mohini. You believed me so easily.' 

'Remember you gave me two letters to deliver, well I delivered it to Raje, he hid the truth of not knowing about second letter. I invited Rao to make you compliant for this whole marriage.' 

She takes my chin in pity saying, 

'And you believed him. Well, he didn't wanted to but for me and our dream he came to meet you.' 

'You made it so easy for us to continue with marriage and didn't tried to find your Dada.' 

Suddenly door opens and Maina Kaki enters with attendees carrying jewelleries. 

I look to her hoping that she will pity me and help me escape. 

Devika snaps her fingers in front of me and says with a laugh,

'Arre... Mohini, Don't look at her she won't we helping you because you going from here means her path clear to be the Queen with Raje.' 

'You know, you are one of the threats against Malwa throne so nobody will help you if it means gaining power, huh? Now, let's get you ready for your hell.' 

She makes me sit on the bed and Maina Kaki slide toe rings on two middle fingers of my feet, slid th anklets around my ankles, replace my nosering with my in laws' given one. 

She removes my mother's Tode and I panic trying to reach it but Devika snatched it and placed it in small box. She says with an evil smile, 

'You can't have this now, Mohini. Because as per traditions the Crown Prince's wife only can have the former Queen's bangles, since Rao is Crown Prince and your mother was former queen so I will be the owner of these bangles.' 

I just want to slap some sense in her, she is just being used by my father and when she will realize it I will kill my humanity for her. 

'Rao really loves me. He had done everything on my say. He is such a loyal man.' 

'You are really unlucky that you won't get him but a cruel, heartless person who will only ever see you as sign of betrayal and a furniture and will make your life hell.' 

If I am alrady going to hell then why not give her a realty check before going so I say in signs to her while showing my henna hand, 

'His loyalty is as permanent as this henna, it fades over time. Loyalty is not a commodity you can trade.' 

 'If Rao can throw 6 years of relationship away after his selfish dreams then he can easily throw 3 years away also.'

Her eyes flash with anger but she controls herself and orders attendee to finish up fast. Maina Kaki slides khaandani bangles of my in laws. 

'She is ready', Maina Kaki stands up while saying. 

Devika leans closer and grips my chin hard, saying with gritted teeth, 

'Don't even think about telling Prince about the truth or you will find Ramaji's dead body.' 

'We have to send a message at midnight, tomorrow morning, after 5 days and after 10 days at specific time and if it didn't reach to Chandavanipur your Dada will be killed.'

'And don't bother to find him because Jayant, Ganesha tried to rescue him but we shifted his locations long ago.' 

Suddenly she smiles, leaves my face and takes my hand while saying, 

'Chaliye Mohini, hum aapko aapke Yamraj tak pahuncha de, matlab aapke Navara.' 

'Come on Mohini, let us take you to your Yamraj, I mean your Navara. 

She leads me outside where everyone is waiting for me. I see Yuvraj holding Goddess Parvati statue from 'Gaurihar Puja'. 

I am moving towards my hell. I am now going to pay for others' crimes. 

Thinking all that I move towards Prince with heavy heart and feet. I stumble falling face forward but I feel a hand wounding around my waist to pull me into a wall. 

I realise that it is Prince and his chest. He rights me with one hand and with other hand he is still holding the statue. 

'Aap chinta na kare, hum aapko hamesha samahalenge.' 

'Don't worry, I will always take care of you.' 

I want to laugh at my situation, the person who will want to kill me when he knows about fraud done to him is now promising to take care of me. 

I turn towards my family seeing for the first time that the person whom I thought wanted to play role in my destruction were actually background actors. 

And the people whom I considered mine are the ones who played lead in destroying me. I turn and enter my palki. The journey to my hell starts. 

Then I just break down, sobbing uncontrollably, knowing no one can hear me. 

I am feeling so helpless, hopeless and fearful of what will happen to me. For the first time I can't see any door to escape. 

I cry for myself, for Dada, for my future. 

**********************

I literally cried writing the second half.

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