She silently got up and went to the table. She continued working on the accounts. In one of them she found many discrepencies. Trying to figure it out caused her to frown. Samudra had woken up. He looked around to find Tanisi sitting and working intently on the accounts. He saw her frown. She looked beautiful even with such a serious expression and a frown. He kept staring at her. A part of him wanted to go and ask her what was bothering her. The other didn't want this scene to change. In this dilemma he kept looking at her.
Tanisi wasn't able to figure out. She knew something was not right but she couldn't point out what needed correction. She wanted to discuss it with Samudra. Thinking he is still asleep she sighed and looked at him hoping to see him sleeping blissfully. But she found him staring at her. She felt embarassed and her face turned a hue of pink. She tried to push this feeling of discomfort away and spoke, "Your highness, I found some discrepencies in this accou
"Is that why you are a celebate?" The words slipped from her tongue before she could check them. Samudra looked at her astonished. She quickly turned her face away to hide her blushing cheeks. "Emperors and Kings are known for lavish lifestyles. Indulging in performing arts, alcohol and women. You seem to not do any of those".Samudra didn't say anything, but kept staring at her without batting an eyelid.Tanisi: "Why are you so harsh on yourself?"Samudra: "My my, looks like you are interested in knowing everything about me."Tanisi: "I am just a common citizen. I know I am off limits when it comes to details of your life. Pardon me, your Majesty."Samudra: "Who is complaining about you being inquisitive? Did I prohibit you from asking questions? If I haven't commanded you to stop, it means I want you to continue asking questions. Why should you put leashes around you, yourself. Infact I commanded you to be yourself around me. Didn't I? Or d
Soon it was dark and Samudra reluctantly allowed Tanisi to return. He then started to think about Acharya's foretelling. "Palace welcomes the future Queen, Shyamala, a misunderstanding, force, and finally the Lotus blooms.." What does it mean? Palace welcomes the future Queen? Which palace, the Old Palace? My Palace. Just then he turned around to find Tanisi in the corridor leading to her room and when she reached the doors of her Chamber, a gust of wind blew and the Jasmine flowers from the vine fell on her. Wasn't it welcoming? As an emperor his subjects always welcomed him by showering him with Jasmine blooms! He remembered it had happened the same way when he had carried her to her chamber. The corridor was clean before, meaning the shower of flowers coincided with their entry. And it happened again. Samudra didn't want to think any further. But his mind still wandered. Shyamala. Why was she brought up? Would she cause me to marry Tanisi? Or would she cause the mis
Acharya smiled and said, "Aayushmana bhava(May you live long)"Samudra didn't know where to start. He decided to make the Acharya talk more. Usually the guru spoke very less and in sentences which had hidden meanings. He wasn't in a position to think clearly. His brains were muddled with thoughts of Tanisi, fury towards Makaranda, anger towards Padma, as though he had lost his peace.He said, "Acharya, I came seeking answers from you. You must help me. My mind is a mess now. I need straight answers to all my questions. Please help me out!"Acharya smiled, and said "I will answer all those questions which I must answer now. But I shouldn't answer all your queries Samudra. I can help you find your mental peace back. I promise no more".Samudra: "Alright. Uncle Makaranda killed my mother by slow poisoning. I suspect he has a hand in the death of my father as well".Acharya: "I wouldn't rule that out. Your father's death was sudden. If a seeming illnes
Samudra sat chatting with the men who were delighted so see him. They all had started to revere him after his daring rescue. They felt indebted to him.The other women, Varidhi and Padma also were sitting around and listening to his accounts of hunting and wrestling competitions that he participated as a youngster.After a hilarious account of one of his victories Padma clapped her hands and laughing loudly she said, "Oh your highness, You are gifted with words. I might die of laughter the way you narrate the incidents.."Tanisi was feeling overwhelmed in the kitchen. She came out for a moment to catch some fresh air and she was using her Uttareeya to fan herself. She looked adorable with strands of her hair stuck to forehead and neck due to slight sweating.Samudra was hurt to see her exhausted like that. He said "Padma and Varidhi, I found three ladies working hard in the kitchen. Will you both not help them out?"Varidhi responded saying: "We ar
Tanisi thumped on the bed. She had a doubt. She had been to Aarna's chamber before coming back to hers. Aarna's bed was lot stiffer. Tanisi noticed that her bed was very fluffy. Her curtains and bed linen appeared to be of more expensive fabrics than Aarna's. The lantern in her chamber also appeared to be more brighter. She wondered if all this was true or if it was a figment of her imagination. She decided to discuss this with Vishwakeerthi. She lied down to sleep, but her thoughts went drifting towards Samudra. The way he spoke, the way he smiled. His cocked eyebrows. His naughty expressions. His dirty words. She felt the heat in her body rising. She thought to herself, "I need to control myself. I cannot fall for him. But what if I cannot? If I do, then I vow I will not marry anyone else!". But her thoughts were occupied by him. The way he looked at her. His threatening stares. The proximity with his body when he had carried her so many times. But luckily
After finishing breakfast, Tanisi and Samudra went to the emperor's chamber to finish the administrative accounts updation.Samudra was pleased with Tanisi's work. Even though she had done it for the first time, she had done it diligently. She had also mentioned cause for special expenses in small syallables next to the expense. And she had also created a scroll which contained the details of all the special expenses and the reasons thereof for that Maasa(Lunar month of 27 days). She had updated it for all the accounts she had worked with. Samudra had found no mistakes in any of her accounts. Wherever, she had found issues she had asked Samudra and gotten them resolved.They had finished working on it much earlier than anticipated. Wrapping all up, it struck to Samudra that he can remove the current minister for account management and give that responsibility to Tanisi. He decided that he would discuss this with Vishwakeerthi and if his friend too felt the same, once t
After lunch, Tanisi took leave and promised Naksha she would visit her the next day.Samudra wasn't in a mood to let her go but he was still angry at her. Before leaving, Tanisi came to Samudra and asked his permission to leave for the day.Samudra said, "Tanisi, on the 9th day of the next maasa, we hold the annual festival of Lord Mrityunjaya. Guruvarya will be here at the end of this maasa and he has asked me to convey you, that he wishes you to help him with the festivities".Tanisi: "Of course my Lord. It would be my great pleasure."Samudra: "Ahem.. may be during those intimate times with Lord Mrityunjaya you can ask him if he wants you to be a virgin all your life...!"Tanisi looked up suddenly, but held her composure. Seeing that no one was around she shot back, "For intimate moments, I don't take suggestions. Thank you". She left.Samudra knew she was fighting against her own self. He smiled thinking, "I have managed to charm you. Yo
Samudra took all the accounts and memorised the actual dates of when the money was embezzled. He then took the criminal records and checked for Makaranda's misdeeds and they were in line. A week or two and the embezzlement was followed by Makaranda's grand plans. There was enough damning evidence against Rajaverma. Samudra carefully studied all of that till he was sure nothing was missed and that he had all the details necessary to punish the minister. He also had to make the revelation of the actual cause for his mother's death. He had tasked Prapta to collect evidence for the same. He had gotten them ready by now. He stood at the balcony of his chamber with his hands resting on the railings. Samudra was deep in thought and his life played out in his mind. He felt disgusted about himself that his Uncle could hoodwink him and for a decade fool him. But he also felt this was because he was his only family. It was the loneliness that Samudra felt which