A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 15

       When Martha woke up at 8 a.m., the next day, she felt like crying when she realized that she was all alone in Shanghai.  All of Norman’s belongings were gone.  It was as if he had deserted her!  She started crying.  Through her tears, she saw the note propped up against a vase on the bed-side table.  There was a red rose on the note. 

        She smelled it deeply, inhaling its rich fragrance, with her love for Norman, coursing through her body and opened the note to read it.  It simply said, “Sweet Martha! I love you darling.  Hope to be with you soon.  Promise me, you’ll take care of yourself.  For me! Only yours, Norman.”

        She kissed the hand-writing on the note over and over again, clasped it against her bosom and cried her heart out.  Now she knew and felt what Sara was going through.  Her empathy was complete!

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        Back in her cottage, restless and sad by turns, she decided to stop wallowing in self-pity and return to her unfinished tragic novel. She winced at the thought of the two love-birds whom she had deserted!  After a frugal lunch of bread and jam, she sat down expectantly at her desk. At once, she could feel the presence of Sara around her. Now Martha was curious to know what would happen to Sara! Would the King punish her for daring to over-step her boundaries? Would she try to end her miserable life? How would she continue living, when her heart was in shreds? Her pen would answer her shortly, she knew and started writing.   

         In Regina, the King was a very harassed soul. He agonized endlessly over how close he had come to losing his only daughter, the apple of his eyes. He regretted his plan to find a suitor for her and the fact that a bright young man had vanished into the shrine, just because of him. He couldn’t bear to see the anguish in his daughter’s eyes, the accusing looks that she gave him whenever she happened to face him at meal-time. He dreaded that she would again attempt to climb that forbidden hill and meet her suitor. How could he prevent that without antagonizing her? He deliberated on his future course of action with his faithful Minister.  

          Sara, at her wits’ end, was having other plans. One day, she simply announced to her stunned father and mother, “Daddy, Mummy, I wish to devote my remaining life to the betterment of our Kingdom. I request you to involve me in its day-to-day affairs. The King was secretly very pleased by the unexpected turn of events. Trust his daughter to make a wise decision! After all, wasn’t she his daughter?  He wholeheartedly agreed to her request. From that day onwards, Sara was in charge of the inspection of all the services offered by the King to his subjects in the kingdom.

          She pulled up the corrupt officials and streamlined the services. She lent a patient ear to those who were needy and devised newer, efficient means of administration. Over the next 3 years, she had established herself as an able and just officer of the Kingdom of Regina. Everyone praised her and the King. Sara was relieved of the pain of thinking non-stop about the plight of her handsome suitor and his whereabouts, by immersing herself fully in her task. The King was having full faith in Sara’s ability by then and didn’t interfere in her work at all!

           She took great pains to hide her real agenda. She wanted to go again to that shrine and try to meet her beloved Juan. Hence she had devised this ruse to take matters into her own hands. Only if she had some State Authority, could she go unhindered to that shrine and seek an end to her misery. So what if she ended up forever in that mysterious shrine? She’d have her beloved for company. For the rest of her life!  She just couldn’t wait!

           One day, when the King and his Minister had gone to another neighboring kingdom, for attending a meeting, she set off for the shrine on horseback. As she rode confidently towards that deserted hill, she could feel the wind blowing through her mane and the cool breeze caressing her cheeks. She was wearing a rugged, olive trouser and top ensemble, with a maroon cape bearing the royal insignia embroidered in gold, a hat and knee-length boots. She looked beautiful, but felt oddly vulnerable and shy. Soon she’d be coming face to face with Juan. Would he recognize her after all those years? Would he even care about her? What if he had totally forgotten about her and the King’s Herculean task, in his daily religious routine?    

            She shrugged determinedly and decided to cross the bridge when she came to it. After all, no one could ever predict one’s fate! Still, she wanted to be optimistic and started looking forward to that moment when she would set her eyes on her beloved suitor. She lovingly egged her mount to gallop faster towards her goal. As she rode, she fingered the ring that was kept in her breast pocket. She felt as if she was going in quest of her suitor, just as he had done, three years ago. She was highly amused at the role-reversal.             

               Suddenly, she felt huge gusts of wind blowing all around her. The sky had become dark with ominous-looking clouds that looked hell-bent on venting their fury on the hapless earth and wreaking havoc on her mission. A storm was about to break. Even as she urged her steed to go faster, huge sheets of rain drenched her, as the skies opened benevolently. She looked around her, hoping to find some shelter. She was surprised to see that she had reached the tiny hut at the base of the mountain that had the shrine at its peak. Pleased as punch, with herself, she tied the horse behind the hut, in the shelter of its gabled roof and hastened inside. 

To be continued..... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 14

         At the conference, the next day, Norman’s lecture was well-received and hugely applauded.  Martha’s reading session was also highly appreciated.  Only after her session, did the trouble begin.  One of the men in the audience arose to ask her a question about her latest writing.  “Madam, may we know about your latest piece of writing?  Is it an essay or a novel? Can you give us a trailer of what to expect?  We cannot wait to read it!”

        Martha’s hands turned clammy and her heart thudded erratically against her chest as she desperately searched for the comforting presence of Norman in the audience.  She soon spotted him in the fourth row.

        He was gesturing her to keep mum, with a finger on his lip.  Instantly she relaxed and even laughed nervously.  “Well, my Editor here doesn’t want me to spoil the suspense.  Let’s just keep it a secret for the moment, shall we?  You’ll soon get to enjoy the book, once it hits the stands!”  She said confidently and easily.  She knew that she had cleverly stoked the imagination of the audience while keeping her cool and not betrayed her misgivings at all.

        Then another fan arose to question. “But when can we expect to read your latest novel?  May we at least have a tentative date so that we may eagerly count the days to it?”

        Martha looked helplessly at Norman, who shrugged his broad shoulders, amusement writ large on his face; then said “Maybe next month.  Then may be the next to next!  Who knows?  I let my novel’s characters decide the release date.  They haven’t yet told me!”

        The audience guffawed collectively at her wise-crack.  Mercifully, for Martha, no one then bothered to question her any more, sensing her reluctance to divulge any news.  She heaved a huge sigh of relief inwardly.

        Back in the privacy of their suite after dinner, Martha shivered at the memory of how close she had been to having a nervous break-down on the dais and how Norman had saved her by just being there, strong and solid, in the audience.  She told him, “Norman, I admire you and appreciate you for just being there for me.  You are great!”

        “So, now this great man deserves a kiss and even more, don’t you think?”  he asked her, with a laugh, pulling her, unresisting, into his warm embrace.  She reveled in his masculine scent and put her arms around his waist.  They stood there for what seemed like an eternity, Then Norman broke the trance, pulled her back and surveyed her from top to toe, till she squirmed in embarrassment.

        Self-consciously she warned him, softly “Norman, will you stop doing that?”

        “But I’m not doing anything!” he protested, as she blushed, wriggled out of his arms and sat on a couch.

        He followed her, lifted her, sat down on the couch and pulled her on his lap.  Martha felt weird.  She’d never been this close to a guy in her entire life.  This was what she termed as an ‘intimate position!’ She struggled in vain, to stand up.  Norman’s embrace pinned her down firmly. 

        “Stop it Martha!  I’m not going to harm you!  In fact, I’m going to propose to you!  I’m enjoying your presence on my lap.  Will you marry me and allow me this pleasure, for the rest of my life?”

        Martha threw back her head and laughed aloud, till tears rolled down her cheeks.  Then she said “Norman, you funny guy!  In all my life, I’ve never imagined such a scenario for my novel!  Who’d propose to a dame with her on his lap, for Chrissake!  Please put me down immediately and go down on your knees!”

        “I prefer to do things my way, dear!  First, I want an answer.  And it better be a “Yes”!”

        “Um, what if I say “No”?”  she asked him coquettishly, her arms going around his shoulders and her blue eyes looking tenderly into his grey ones; feeling the warmth in his body and gaze; coursing through her being. 

        “I’ll kiss you till you say “Yes”!” Just then Norman’s cell phone rang, spoiling that intimate and exciting moment.

        He spoke to the caller and she watched him with all her love shining in her eyes and then paled when she heard him say urgently, “Just don’t worry, dear.  Everything will be all right.  I’ll be right there; earliest by tomorrow morning.  Please don’t worry.”

        With a tensed look, he told Martha, “My ex-wife Susan has just been diagnosed with cancer of the liver.  I have to rush to her.  She’s distraught!”  Wordlessly, Martha got up from her perch on Norman’s lap and wondered what the future held in store for her.  Would she ever again, get a chance to say that belated “Yes” to Norman’s proposal?

        Sensing her unease, Norman comforted her saying “Darling, this is an emergency, but not the end of the world.  I’m still with you.  But Susan needs me right now.  I have to be near her, in this hour of crisis.  As soon as her condition stabilizes, I’ll be back with you.”

        As a thought struck him, he said brightly “Would you like to accompany me to Scotland, where she stays?”

        Sadly, Martha shook her head and said with tears in her eyes, “Norman, you know that’s not possible.  Do we want to send that lady into further depression?  Imagine her plight, if she sees me with you and thinks that you have moved on in life, while fate has dealt her such a cruel blow!”

        Blown away by her genuine empathy, Norman embraced her tightly, kissed her forehead and started getting ready to sleep.  Obviously, he was pre-occupied.  He would be sleeping for 2 hours then boarding the flight to Wales.  Martha couldn’t sleep at all.  She just sat on that couch, warm with Norman’s heat, looking at him snoring softly and wondering about how she’d ever live without him!  She didn’t realize an hour later that she had curled up there and drifted off into deep sleep.

        Norman woke up, exactly at 2 a.m., left a note for the sleeping Martha, his darling and boarded a taxi for the airport.

To be continued.... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 13

       She rose and rang the huge bell with its attached rope, only to be caught in a vice-like grip by a soldier, on her father’s pay-roll who was crushing her wrist with one hand.  He was already pulling her downwards on the steps.  Marching her back to her palace!  She was horrified and raised her spear to hit him.  But he was faster and stronger than her.  With a swift wave of his strong arms, he stalled her blow and sent the spear hurtling down the hillside.  She was struggling to free her wrist, trembling and crying tears of misery and humiliation.  She begged the soldier to release her.  “Please, please let me go.  I beg you.  I’ll give you anything you want!  Please allow me to meet my suitor in the shrine.  Please…..”

        But her words were lost on him.  He knew that he had to follow the strict orders of the king of Regina, his master.  And the orders were clear.  “The fair princess Sara must be prevented from entering the shrine at all costs.”  Hence he had deployed strong and resilient soldiers all around the shrine and at the foothills.  Only Sara knew how she had hoodwinked the guards by wearing the disguise of a soldier’s uniform, false moustache and a practiced swagger!  She was disgruntled as she had taken great pains to venture there and carried a heavy backpack containing her purple dress (that she had changed into mid-way) food, water and first-aid kit, besides a diamond ring for Juan.  Now all her pains had come to a naught!  She had foolishly come into the shrine’s view in her dress and been caught straightaway!

        She tried to pull her wrist free and struggled to free herself as she tried to feebly hit the sturdy guard with her dainty free wrist.

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        Martha was flailing her arms in her sleep pleading “Leave me, please leave me!”  Norman watched her with a troubled expression in his grey eyes.  Things were really getting out of hand.  He desperately wanted to help that beautiful, vulnerable woman on his bed.  He’d have to take her to a psychiatrist, as early as possible.  But would she agree?

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        Norman and Martha boarded an early morning flight to Shanghai.  They made a striking couple.  Norman looked dapper in a long black overcoat with over-sized collars, bowler hat and his glasses hanging around his neck, with a black string.  Martha looked beautiful in her fitted navy blue shirt and skirt suit with a powder blue jacket around her shoulders, black pumps; her mane shining around her fresh pink face like a halo.

        As she looked up at him and smiled happily, Norman felt delighted at the thought that they looked and felt like a newly-wed couple going on their honey-moon.  He had resolved that he’d just not mention her latest novel that was causing her so much anguish.  Better let sleeping dogs lie for the moment! 

        Martha had also instinctively guessed his resolve and sportingly resolved to just enjoy the trip without any emotional baggage.  She was grateful to Norman for being so understanding.  She appreciated his help and looked forward to his gentle hugs and kisses.  Thanks to that incredible man, here she was, raring to go and enjoy her unexpected trip.  She looked forward to meeting and interacting with many interesting people, authors and voracious bibliophiles.  She had taken care to carry along, a portfolio of all her published work, so that she could read from some of them, as she’d be most certainly expected to!

        The charming and elegant city of Shanghai welcomed them with open arms.  A chauffeur- driven limousine ferried them from the swanky airport to a luxurious five-star hotel in the city’s suburbs.  They opted for a single double suite and proceeded to make themselves comfortable.  They had the entire afternoon and evening off to familiarize themselves with the place.  The conference was on the next day.  They’d be having a very busy day.  Norman would be delivering a lecture on ‘The future trends in publishing’ and she would be reading from one of her favorite essays ‘Journey to nowhere and back’, a metaphysical piece on out-of-the-body experiences that she had often had in the past.

        Both of them spent the afternoon reading their drafts and revising them.  Then they rehearsed for the same.  Norman delivered his entire lecture of 45 minutes in his deep baritone complete with pauses and punctuations, guffaws and hand-waving; she read out her excerpts with as much feeling as she could muster.  Needless to say, she was shivering at the end of her reading session.  She’d been way too involved in her ‘eerie’ experience.

        Quickly Norman ordered for a hot pot of coffee and sandwiches to soothe her nerves.  He held her close as they ate, first in silence, then jabbering and joking about each others’ performance. 

        Soon Martha was her usual self, criticizing Norman’s accent and mannerisms, thought not vehemently; and Norman was arguing about her seriousness while reading.  They however praised each others’ efforts and decided to relax in the evening.  They’d stroll down the neat, yet crowded streets, do window-shopping and have dinner, somewhere quiet and cozy!

        Martha dressed in a mauve flower-patterned knee-length dress of fine cotton, brushed her hair till it sparkled, applied light make-up and got ready in a jiffy.  Norman dressed in a formal grey-suit with an off-white shirt and navy-blue tie and ushered her chivalrously out of their suite.

        Just before leaving, he had found her to be too irresistibly good-looking and kissed her on her rosy lips.  She had responded and complained about him having spoiled her make-up, to which he had cheekily retorted, “Look at your self in the mirror dear!  You look ravishing with that flushed face.  I can save you the cost of your blusher!”  She had blushed even more, re-applied her lip gloss and winked at him.  The night held a promise….

        At a roadside souvenir shop, he bought a sapphire brooch in the shape of an eagle and urged her to wear it.  Immediately, he regretted his impulsive decision as he saw her pale and break into a sweat.  He returned the brooch to the shop-keeper and bought another, shaped like an exquisite butterfly with twinkling rhinestones set in its metal wings.  As he clipped it on her dress’ front his hands lingered on her chest, till she laughed and told him to consider the fact that they were in a public place and not in their bedroom.  Having said that impulsively, she blushed furiously, unable to face him till he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes and said “I love you, Martha!” She felt a tremor of pleasure rush up her spine as she yearned to tell him “I love you too!” Only, the words never escaped her lips.  She just looked at him longingly, with her heart in her eyes.  Norman understood and smiled.  Her heart melted as he kissed her right there in front of the amazed and delighted shop-keeper.  “This, your wife?  Madam, very beautiful!” he said excitedly, in his sparse English, his enthusiasm shining in his eyes.  He couldn’t wait to tell his wife about the sudden show of affection between an elderly couple in his shop.  He’d surprise his wife too, similarly!

To be continued..... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 12

        Suddenly Martha felt the mattress sink near her, as Norman planked himself with a soft thump, beside her.  He was very close to her.  He had his left hand around her shoulder.  Without a warning, just as she was about to reach out for a sandwich, he put his right hand on her chin, twisted her delicate face towards his and kissed her tenderly on her rose-pink lips.  He felt as though he was drowning in the sweetness of her mouth.                    

        Martha found that she was readily responding to him, unashamedly!  After that passionate exchange, just as Martha thought that their proximity was becoming too dangerous, she reluctantly pulled away, leaving him staring at her, confused and aroused.  “Martha….” he said, his voice filled with a longing that even surprised him, “Finish your meal soon.  I need to talk to you!”

        Grasping his train of thought, Martha blushed and finished the rest of her meal in silence, exchanging loaded looks with Norman.  She was struggling to find some meaning in their spontaneous attraction towards each other.  She knew that currently it was purely physical.  May be she was emotionally vulnerable, just then, hence more prone toward such demonstrative behavior of dependence.  She needed a succor and Norman fitted the bill. 

        After she finished eating, she went to the bathroom, tidied the bedside table; and then had a refreshing shower.  She knew that she was just buying time.  She wondered how she’d ever face Norman again.  After all he was the Editor of her stories, not her….. Then again, defiantly she thought “Why not?  Why can’t he be my boy-friend?”  Then she laughed, as she realized that this was the first time in her life that she had ever really thought in such terms about a man. 

        Was her latest story responsible for her new-found amour?   Wasn’t she the untouched virgin who had pledged herself to a life of celibacy and reveled in her spinsterhood and the accompanying freedom?  What would Norman think if he discovered that at the age of 45, she was still a virgin?  Besides, she was scared about love-making!  Would it be painful?  Was she ready to commit herself so suddenly to a stranger? 

       With a start, she realized that she didn’t really know anything about Norman, except the fact that he had been married and divorced twice, had 3 grown-up children from his previous marriages, was the Editor of the prestigious magazine “Just for you,” a passable looking, friendly-cum-stern guy who had just proved himself to be eminently likeable and dependable too!  Yes, she was discovering that she found his company relaxing.  Yet, could she spend a lifetime with him?  That would need some serious introspection.

        Not having any fresh clothes, Martha opened a closet in the bathroom, found a maroon silk bathrobe of Norman’s and slipped it on.  It engulfed her in its voluminous folds and she blushed as she felt as if she was indeed in Norman’s embrace.  The gown smelt of his tobacco and aftershave.  She inhaled the scent deeply, felt exhilarated and walked out of the bathroom, with a spring in her step and a song on her lips.  “When will you be mine?  Just say when will you be mine….”

        In a jiffy, Norman had stepped in front of her and embraced her in a bear hug.  He started raining kisses on her forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, ears, lips and nose.  Then he pulled back and surveyed her flushed and shining face and saw how her breasts were heaving beneath the fine material of ‘his’ gown.  Her cleavage was clearly visible from the long front-opening of his gown. It beckoned him to touch and feel her tender, ripe breasts.  He lifted her effortlessly with his huge, strong arms and gently placed her on his bed.

        Martha’s heart-beats raced in a staccato, as she breathlessly watched him undress, then proceed towards her.  As he reached for the lapels of his gown on her body and bent to kiss her cleavage, she shrieked pitifully as she saw blonde curls instead of Norman’s straight brown hair.  When he raised his head and stared at her in consternation, she passed out.  She had just seen one vacant eye, staring at her.  Juan’s!

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

        Sara was climbing the steep steps to the shrine from the Western side, that side from where her Juan had disappeared into that mysterious shrine’s fold.  She had made up her mind that she’d follow him in there and live a celibate life in the monastery.  At least, she’d be able to see him daily.  She knew that he’d be pining for her too.  Then she thought about the fact that she had shown herself to him in a very hideous disguise.  Which handsome guy would pine for such a disgusting creature?  May be he wouldn’t even recognize her and even give her a cold shoulder!  But she knew that she had to take a chance.  Once inside the shrine, she could corner him sometime, reveal her true identity and ask his forgiveness and profess her true love for him.  So what if he wouldn’t appear as handsome as before, with his blinded eye, she didn’t care for his physical beauty.  She had seen his inner beauty—his bravery, strength of resolve and commitment to his ‘task’.  She could take several births, just to belong to him at least in one!

        Suddenly the sky above her grew dark and forbidding.  As she thought that a storm was about to break, she looked upwards and screamed as she saw that the sky had turned dark due to the outstretched wings of scores of huge eagles, hovering overhead.  They were lusting for her!

        Sara had brought a pointed long spear with her.  She waved it about maniacally, trying to keep the rapacious birds away.  When one huge, menacing bird unfortunately ventured too close to the spear’s pointed head, it happened to dip into it.  With great horror, Sara looked at the bird with a bleeding eye, as it gave a piteous raucous sound and crashed to the ground.  Its companions flocked around it, raising an unbearable din.  Now they maintained a safe distance from Sara and her spear.

        She felt very sorry for the bird and guilty too.  But she knew that she had just acted in self-defense.  This was a vicious world.  Either kill or be killed!  She suddenly wondered whether it was Divine providence that she may have wounded the same bird that had blinded her love, Juan!  She shuddered and continued climbing.  When she reached the huge wrought-iron gates of the shrine, she was tired but relieved.  She sat down on the grass, for a breather.  She was excited that she’d be soon seeing her suitor.  She wished that she had bought the garland with her.  She had thoughtfully worn the specially made purple dress, for her betrothal and waited expectantly to see the look of surprise and delight on his face, as he saw her for the first time in his life, in her true form!  She couldn’t wait to see him.  

To be continued.... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan

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