Rain

                                    

                                          
" It's not your decision to make anymore," a voice roared throughout the palace. An angry voice that belonged to a prince who was really mad at everything happening in his life as well as everyone in it.  
His second wife was sobbing softly as she sat on a comfy sofa and was comforted by her many maids. His father was staring at him in disbelief and the only sound that could be heard in that place apart from his angry breaths were the rain droplets that were falling on the ground. 
" It's been bad enough that you sent her away on something so very ridiculous-"
" THE DEATH OF A ROYAL HEIR IS NOT SOMETHING RIDICULOUS!" 
" You are forgetting the fact that she is carrying my heir at this very moment Rani ma!" his eyes widened as they glared into that one old woman's eyes. Anger dripping from his essence alone... He really was mad at that moment because he was finally able to do it. 
Was finally able to get his wife to open her mouth in front of everyone else. Was finally able to prove the truth to everyone... Yet, he didn't seem to be at ease. Knowing that he had already dispatched his most trustworthy soldiers to get her back was still not enough for him to be at ease because he couldn't be. He couldn't sit down comfortably or not be restless at least till he knew that she was safe and back in his arms... Oh, how he longed to see her again. To hear her beautiful voice and to listen to her rants was just something he missed immensely and now, he hoped that his plan was going to be a success...
It was a dark, cold night. Rain was falling on the ground mercilessly, killing all the crops and forcing people to stay in their homes. Many people had even lost their small huts to the heavy wind that was blowing throughout the land and the tremors of that night could be felt throughout the kingdom. 
Clouds had covered the otherwise starry and beautiful night sky and restlessness was the feeling that was going around every soul who knew what was happening because it was time. 
" She will come back. It's the decision of the future king and you have no say in this," it had been pouring for over a week now, continuously. Some said it was the curse the fallen princess had sent on the Kingdom to get her revenge, others believed that Gods were angry at them because his most loved person was sent out in exile. The Kingdom was in short in peril. Crops were failing. People didn't have anything to eat and no one could go out in that storm. It was a dangerous time for everyone and all he could do was wait. 
To counter every argument that came his way in the royal court and wait impatiently was all he could do. Wait on anyone to give the slightest news of what was happening in that one place to him. It was tearing him apart because he hadn't either heard from her or her brother. 
After successfully, emotionally pushing his second wife into agreeing with him and declaring his decision over his grandmother, all he could do was impatiently wait. All he could hope for was that everything was well on her side because, for the past 5 months or so, he hadn't been able to send her any letters. Since his promise to send a letter only after he had managed to secure a way to get her back, he had really been hopelessly waiting for her to send a letter but she hadn't. Surely, he still kept tabs on her and still knew how she was doing in that disgusting place but, his heart wasn't calm. 
Something was up. Something big that he couldn't point his finger at... But something was definitely happening back there...
As far as the other people were concerned, he didn't care. 
Didn't care that his mother was crying at her own incompetence in trusting a child of hers. Didn't care that his second wife was embarrassed by falling into his trap and agreeing with everything that he had said. Didn't care that his brother was speechless, nor that his father didn't know what to say anymore either. 
" Very well then. If you've made your decision... She is your wife-"
" What?! No! I take decisions over everything that concerns my court of women! You are not to meddle with my ways!" the old hag cut the king's words, angering the prince even more.
She was least interested in letting one of her biggest problems back in the place she believed she owned. She was disgusted even when he had declared that someone who stayed in that wretched place would come and stay in her "clean and pure" palace. She was vexed the moment the talk about bringing Pari back was brought up but Sohit had also declared his ruling. The old hag knew very well that he was not going to back down but what was happening in front of her was bad... 
" She is my wife-"
" She has lived in that horrible place! God knows what she must have done to survive there! I cannot let an impure girl come back to the court and be the future queen!"
" IF!" she played dirty and triggered his insecurities. What if Pari was touched... By someone else back there? What if her image was tarnished? What if...? He didn't want to think about it... 
" She has done something to survive in that place then so be it. She's still my wife and I will, till the end of time uphold that position of hers. She will be my queen," he declared after gaining all the courage that he had. Couldn't look at anyone anymore because indirectly, he was declaring his love for his wife and it seemed unmanly almost but he also, didn't back off 
" Do not be this dumb, prince! There are hundreds more who will die to serve you for an hour and give you the heir you deserve!" his grandmother argued draining his confidence but also, increasing his anger. 
" PARI is my first wife and that reality will never be changed! I won't let you write over history again. She will come back. NO MORE TALKS OVER THIS!!!"