Samudra came down to find Vishwa waiting for him. He beckoned him closer and with an arm on his shoulder pulled him towards the Royal Food Hall. They both sat down waiting for others.
All the grudges, anger etc., had now withered away. Vishwa and Naksha were the happiest to see Samudra marrying Tanisi. Vishwa looked at Samudra and saw a contented man. He decided to tease his friend.
Vishwa: “So… How’s life?”
Samudra: “Amazing, astounding, marvellous, stupendous. Words cannot describe it. I did not know making love feels this ecstatic!!”
Vishwa closed his ears and said: “Lord Ishvara, Samudra spare me the dirty details.”
Samudra: “You asked for it…” and grinned his most wicked grin.
Vishwa: “How is Empress Tanisi’s life?” and wi
Since the Empress needed rest, the Royal Feast was postponed. On the eight day of their wedding, Acharya held a great fire ritual in the Royal Palace. That night, The Royal Feast was held with great grandeur. It was attended by one and all.The moderners who had attended the feast were dumbstuck to see that the Empress of Nishantha was none other than Tanisi. Till then only Bhavya had known and she was prohibited from letting the news out.Soon the news spread like wildfire to other parts of the kingdom as well. It reached the ears of Bhavabhooti and Padma too. While Bhavabhooti held his head in shame for insulting and berating the future Empress of Nishantha, Padma's jealousy knew no bounds. Pradyumna had cut ties with her. Bhavabhooti too had maintained his distance from her. She was now infamous for trying to hoodwink The Emperor. People disliked her wherever she went as her infamy reached them before her.Rubbing salt to her wounds was this news which meant,
Samudra saw her intently looking at him. He smiled and said, "Does it sound unbelievable?" Tanisi: "But why wouldn't you marry again? What if something happens to me? Or what if I cannot become a mother?" Samudra: "Then I would adopt Naksha's son and make him my successor." Tanisi: "But you can marry another woman and become a father too..." Samudra: "I cannot marry again Tanisi. This is a promise I made to my mother when she was on her deathbed. <Sigh> Well I think you need to know all of my family's history. My father and my Uncle were not the only siblings. My father was the eldest. But they were totally eight brothers but of different mothers. The Royal Palace was embroiled with politics, scheming, coups and what not. My father was fed up of always having to watch his back. Slowly the brothers fought amongst themselves and they met mysterious ends. Only my father and my Uncle Makaranda whom you have already known remained. My father did not
The entourage reached the venue of the annual Council of Kings meet. This time it was held in the Kaushala Kingdom. Upon the Nishantha Emperor's arrival the host King and his Family had gathered at the doorway to welcome them. The King had three wives and two princesses. However, he was aware of Samudra's vow to his mother and his marriage to Tanisi. Hence was a little disappointed for losing the chance of having one of the most powerful Emperor as his son-in-law. The princesses too wanted to see who was the woman who was now the Empress of Nishantha. The Queens were the only one not bothered. They had for long known Samudra wasn't interested in political marriages and that the Princesses of Kaushala would never be his beloved wives. At the entrance, the welcoming party gasped at the newly wed couple. They had thought Samudra was the most charming Emperor and he wouldn't find a match. But seeing Tanisi they were dumbstuck. Her beauty was ethereal but her aura was gentle. Who
After breakfast Samudra and the other Kings sat down for an informal discussion. Tanisi was about to sit next to him, when the eldest of the Kaushala Queen requested her to accompany them instead. Samudra looked at a visibly worried Tanisi with a raised eyebrow. Tanisi felt it to be challenge from him to survive them. She smiled a bright smile and decided to give it a try. The three Queens took Tanisi to the garden. The weather was pleasantly cool and Tanisi felt being in the warm sunlight suited her. She strode along with the Queens. The eldest Queen Sumati spoke. “Tanisi, the garden seems lacklustre in front of you. I am not able to take my eyes off you. You are really an ethereal beauty!!!” The other Queens nodded in agreement. Due to the sunlight and their comments Tanisi blushed slightly and was at loss of words. She smiled in response and said, “I am honoured your highnesses!”. The Queens smiled in response, but the third Queen Swaragini spoke, “Now now
The night was on them and the lovely couple came down for dinner and Samudra's mood immediately changed from pleasant to annoyed at the sight of his arch rivals. He maintained his decorum. Tanisi sensed his turmoil and looked around to find two men staring at her anabashedly. She realised these must be the Chanda brothers of Kaingitya who loved challenging her husband at the drop of a hat. She sat for dinner and soon her attention was sought by the Queens of Kaushala and she forgot about everything else. The Queens had also noticed the Kaingitya's behavior and were fuming at their inappropriate behavior towards the Empress. The dinner went smoothly and everyone took leave. Samudra did not want to go near his chambers hence he led Tanisi to the gardens. The cool night breeze was welcoming and they strolled around with Samudra's hand possessively on Tanisi's waist. He was showing around the different varieties of plants which were native to Kaushala and was explaining to
Tanisi was still standing lost in her thoughts when Samudra walked back after a bath. He had changed into clean antareeya and his hair was dripping wet. He looked at his dazed wife and the uttareeya still on floor where he had dropped it. A wicked thought occurred to him and he quietly went behind her. He held is long hair close to her neck and squeezed it causing water from his hair to drip into her cleavage. The sudden coolness near her breasts caused Tanisi to panic and she moved around in reflex to be caught in a strong embrace and kissed. It took her a while to realise it was her naughty husband. She bit his lips angrily. Samudra let go of her laughing and said, "Where were you lost? Someone could have abducted you while you were in your own world, beautiful!"Tanisi didn't know whether to be angry or relieved. She gave him a scornful look and turned around and settled angrily on her settee. Samudra was about to walk towards her when there was a knock on the door. A mess
Chuda screamed: "I want the accused Emperor Samudra to be interrogated and punished for my Brother's murder as this is against the first tenet of the Council rules. I want him punished for his arrogance and crime."Samudra got up from his place and went to the centre of the hall. His walk was majestic and his aura was calm. Chuda was slightly unnerved by his poise. He was expecting Samudra to be angry or worried. His calmness indicated he had a solid defence.Samudra stared coldly at Chuda and turned to face the Kaushala Royals. There were uneasy murmurs. Samudra then looked at Tanisi and a reassuring smile spread across his face. Tanisi who was tense till then was relieved as she felt Samudra had been prepared for this.Kaushala King spoke, "My dear Samrat of Nishantha, pray counter the allegations made by Chuda."Everyone noticed the way Samudra was addressed in comparison to Chuda. King Amartya was fuming as this didn't augur well for his kingdom
Chuda: "Then why did you continue? You wanted him dead? Isn't this indicating murder instead of self-defence?" Samudra: "Chuda, I am also thinking of all the possibilities just like you did. You can cast aspersions at my wife's conduct and I can't even state what I have seen and found out? While it is justified for me to find the evidence in my favor it is inappropriate of you to talk ill of people whom you know nothing about. Is this argument sufficient to shut your filthy mouth or do I need to talk more?" Samudra's voice grew menacing and Chuda was now no longer as courageous as he was till then. Luckily for him, Samudra looked away from him and turned to face the King of Kaushala instead. Kaushala King: "I am satisfied and convinced by the statement of Emperor of Nishantha. Hence I am for dropping the charges. As it is customery I would like to take the Council's vote in this regard. As declared by my Queen, Kaingitya cannot vote and Nishantha is the defen