A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 64

              They forced their attention on the proceedings as the King loudly said, “Now all of you may enjoy the feast in the pavilion outside.” Everyone gathered there made a bee-line towards the gilded throne on which Juan and Sara were ensconced to wish them a long and married happy life and give them beautiful gifts. Then they proceeded towards the pavilion where every conceivable food items were displayed tastefully in a buffet. The salad decorations were splendid and eye-catching. Peacocks and elephants were carved out of radish and pumpkins, exotic-looking flowers were made of strawberry, grapes, tomatoes and cucumbers.

              Then there were night-long celebrations at the palace, in the midst of which the new King and Queen of Regina slowly made their exit into their private chambers. Roses, lilies and jasmine invited them with their enticing and heavenly fragrance into their boudoir.

               Sara waited with bated breath on the canopied bed for her husband to make the first move. As he moved towards her, she closed her eyes and her soft pink lips parted for a sweet kiss, expectantly. When she didn’t feel his lips on hers, she opened her eyes and looked at him strangely. “What’s wrong with you Juan? Haven’t we waited for this divine moment all our lives? Why are you so reticent? I’ve noticed that you appeared very pensive and lost today.”

               Gently, she told him, “Please confide in me, Juan. I am your soul-mate. At least, I hope to be one.” A small sigh escaped her lips as he maintained a stony silence. When she couldn’t bear his brooding any longer, she started sobbing quietly.

              “Sara, I’m sorry, but you’ve married an impotent man!” with great difficulty he revealed the heart-rending truth to her. He was relieved after he got it off his heavy chest. He could breathe easier now! Seeing the shocked look on her beautiful face, he said, “Believe me, it is the truth. I was rendered impotent at the shrine by my Master as he was angry that I had dared to disobey him and attempted leaving the shrine with Myara.”

                Angrily, Sara retorted, “But couldn’t you have informed the King or me about this important information before the wedding, Juan? What will we tell everyone when in a few months; a successor to the throne is not born? Can we really live a platonic life, even if we tried really hard?” Juan had no answer. Then he tried. “Sara you were desperate to marry me and the King was hell-bent on our union. My mother was also hankering after our wedding. What choice did I really have?"

                Sara’s lips pursed into a thin line when she noted the full import of his statement. He had married her as an obligation and not out of true love! She was chilled to the bone. She went to sleep on a couch near the bed leaving Juan staring at the full moon that reflected Myara’s enchanting face.

                The next morning he saw that Sara lay on the couch with blood streaming in a rivulet from the side of her beautiful, bow-shaped lips. He looked urgently at her ring-finger. She had swallowed the huge diamond from her wedding ring and taken her precious life. He let out a loud wail. The tears wouldn’t stop even as everyone in the palace streamed in to look at what had prompted that wail. They stopped short in their tracks on seeing the newly-wedded Queen, dressed in all her bridal finery, lying prone on a couch, looking ethereal even in death. The newly anointed King was crying like a baby.

               The King and Queen looked accusingly at Juan’s bent head and then at the Minister. “So you ultimately proved that you are just a worthless scumbag!” the King thundered. “I want an immediate explanation, Juan. Why did our beloved daughter commit suicide?” Then as a suspicion reared its ugly head in his mind, he added, “I hope that you didn’t force my Sara to commit suicide. In that case you will be responsible for murdering her!”

                 Juan sorrowfully raised his head to look at the King. He could see that everyone there was crying their hearts out. What a dreadful end to such a beautiful occasion in Regina! they were surely wondering. Just what had egged the new Queen to take such a drastic step? She had looked so beautiful and so much in love with her husband the previous day! All of them waited with bated breaths to hear his reply.

                Juan was looking mutely at all of them. His throat was choked with emotion and his heart was as heavy as lead. Quietly he said, “Yes Your Highness, I’m responsible for your daughter’s death, though I swear that I didn’t kill her. However I can tell only you, the Queen and my mother about the reason that led to her taking her precious life. Oh, how I wish that she could’ve taken my worthless life instead!”

                 Without much ado, the congregation, including the Minister, left the boudoir and went away, leaving only the trio with Juan. “Come on lad, speak up now. My blood is boiling with rage now. Speak before I strangle you to death.” His eyes were streaming with tears, as were the Queen’s and his mother’s. The Queen especially was looking at him with vengeance flaming from her eyes. His mother was also very distraught as she could see that her grand dream of her son ruling Regina and living in lavish luxury was vanishing from her eyes. In fact, she feared the King’s wrath that would surely destroy her only son Juan’s; and her lives in one fatal stroke.

To be continued.... 

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

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 63

                           “Princess Sara and Juan will get married after a week. Now she’ll exchange rings with Juan to seal their betrothal,” the pleased King announced in a loud and ringing voice. A roar of applause rent the vast Assembly hall. The King continued over the uproar, “The coronation will take place before the marriage rituals on the same day.” “How convenient?” thought Juan. Obviously the King couldn’t, rather wouldn’t let his only daughter marry a pauper, would he? Hence the coronation had to take place before the marriage so that she could marry a King! He laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. It was as if he was involved in a farce.

                            Probably, he’d have been better off in that forbidden shrine, at peace with himself. Now a long life of mental torture awaited him with open arms. He knew that any person in that large gathering would’ve given an eye and a limb for the Princess’ hand and the crown. Well, he had lost an eye, though unwittingly. Now he had lost his entire life. Destiny had played a very nasty trick on him. He felt like crying. He wondered what everyone would feel if he did just that! They’d jump to the conclusion that he was shedding tears of joy. He looked at Myara as the Princess approached him with her ring. She had curled her palms into her hands and had pursed her lips hard to keep her emotions in check.

                             He was dazed as an attendant held out a large velvet-covered tray with a sparkling solitaire ring on it, surrounded by colorful flowers. He took the ring cautiously. He still had time. He could spring towards Myara and slip it on her beautiful, slender finger. But he was duty-bound. His mother couldn’t be let down, neither could the King, Queen and Sara. He felt nothing as he exchanged rings with the Princess. It was as if he was play-acting as he often did with the other kids in his childhood. Pretending to be a King and marrying a Princess and living happily ever after! Oh why had he grown up at all?

                            Dully he saluted the King, Queen and Ministers and bowed before the cheering Assembly. He was numb with grief. He couldn’t even muster a smile for the Princess as she smiled happily at him. She understood that he had been bewildered by the sudden course of events. It had been too sudden for him, after all her attempts at ridiculing him. She’d give him time to come to terms with her volte-face.

                           After the ceremony, there was a huge banquet and lots of song and dance and the celebrations continued till the wee hours of dawn.

               Then Martha started writing…..

              That week was the darkest week of Juan’s and Myara’s lives and the brightest one of Sara’s life. There were continuous celebrations at the palace which was illuminated and decorated with flowers and festoons daily. The proclamation of the royal wedding was made by official spokesmen at all the public squares of Regina. The people of the kingdom looked forward to the royal feast that would be served to all of them. There was singing, dancing and a lot of joy de vivre in the air. Only Juan and Myara were despondent and morose. It was as if they had been sentenced to death at the guillotine! They felt as if people were celebrating their permanent separation.

               One day before the wedding, Juan sought Myara’s company for one last time. She too agreed as she had desperately wanted to see him up-close one final time and say “Good Bye.” They met clandestinely at the stable behind her shack. She appeared dull, with dark circles under her eyes and listless eyes that brightened on seeing him. He appeared so handsome in his new clothes, a matching shirt and trouser suit and a hat, undoubtedly, one of the several gifts that the King had bestowed on his future son-in-law!

              She had dressed up carefully for him. A simple ethereal white dress with a colorful scarf adorned her lissome body. She looked as beautiful and fragile as porcelain. Juan’s heart went out to her. He couldn’t contain his emotions and clasped her to his bosom tightly. She pushed him away gently, reminding him, “Juan, you will be crowned the King of Regina tomorrow and marry my best friend Sara. Don’t ever forget that. Now you are no longer mine. I will never meet you after your marriage. I will go to some other kingdom and start my life afresh. Promise me that you will be faithful to Regina and loyal to Sara or I’ll never forgive you. Also promise that you’ll never try to locate my whereabouts!”

              “Myara, can’t we just elope?” he asked earnestly. She slapped him across his right cheek with all her might. He rubbed his red cheek ruefully. He had got his answer. An emphatic “No!” He knew that he had just lost everything worth living for. He said “Good Bye” and walked back towards the palace without a backward glance.

                 That night he couldn’t sleep at all. What if the King knows that I have been rendered impotent? Will he stop this ill-fated marriage? He kept thinking. Then he still had a chance of a life with Myara. But he didn’t want her also to remain childless just on account of him. No it was better that he just quietly married Sara and did as Myara bade him to. He’d respect her wishes.

                  The next day, the whole palace cheered as Juan was crowned by the King himself at the lavish Coronation ceremony that was attended by the Kings and Princes, dignitaries and ambassadors of all the neighboring kingdoms. All of Sara’s suitors had turned up to see what they had lost and Juan, the peasant, had gained!

                  He looked dazzling in rich golden robes embroidered with precious gems and pearls and lots of gold jewelry adorning his person. Sara looked resplendent in a red and gold, shimmering gown especially ordered for the happy occasion. She was swathed in gold, pearls and a sparking diamond tiara that matched his diamond-studded crown. 

                 Immediately thereafter, they went to the lone majestic Cathedral in Regina. She appeared radiant and breath-taking in her flowing, milky-white wedding gown made of the finest lace and crystal beads. He appeared every inch, the dapper bride-groom, in his crisp white shirt and shining black tuxedo with a single rose-bud pinned to his lapel.They loudly and clearly repeated their marriage vows and exchanged their wedding rings; shyly kissed each other and went about an elaborate ceremony that proudly proclaimed them as husband and wife.

                 She coyly looked at him and caught a peculiar sad expression on his handsome face. The leather patch over his right eye was the only bit marring his captivating visage. Yes, he had undergone a lot of trauma just to make her his. She owed him her life! She decided that she’d be a very good wife to him and bear him many children. She felt ecstatic at the thought of their first night together…. He dreaded it…..

      

To be continued..... 

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

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 62

         She hummed a ditty as she drove her car on the wide and wind-blown road with gorgeous scenery surrounding her. This was bliss, she thought, enamored by the visual delight of profusely flowering trees, colorful bougainvilleas of every conceivable shade covering the walls of villas by the roadside, a blue, cloudless sky and a cool breeze that promised her a new life at the end of this journey. 

         She thought about John and herself. She imagined themselves as a normal, happily married couple, bickering and making-up, having kids and raising them together and growing old together comfortably. She was very, very happy. Life was looking up for her. The Doctor had told her that she could meet John in his presence, after she completed her novel. Thus he could determine whether the characters in her novel still held her in their hold or had freed her of their shackles! That was a very reasonable suggestion, she thought pleased with the way the Doctor was handling the situation. He was surely the best psychiatrist in town. Who else would go out of his way to ensure the well-being of his client? He hadn’t even billed her as yet!

          When she reached his apartment complex and parked her car, she got her heavy suitcase and purse and lugged it to the lobby. She took the elevator to the floor where his apartment was situated, walked crisply to his neighbor’s apartment and rang the bell. As if on cue, the door opened immediately and the eager and nosy neighbor gave her the keys. “Oh, have you come for a longer stay this time?” she remarked. As a defiant retort arose in her throat, Martha checked herself and said as coolly as she could, “Yes. Thank you.”

         Seeing that Martha wasn’t about to divulge any information about her stay at the Doctor’s apartment, she just watched her from top to toe and back to the top. Martha knew that this was a deliberate ploy to undermine her self-confidence; hence she gave her the brightest of her smiles and smartly walked the few steps to the Doctor’s apartment. She could feel that pesky lady’s eyes on her back long after she had closed the door.

        She lugged her suitcase to the guest-room where she had stayed earlier and came back to the living-room. She called the Doctor. “Doctor, this is Martha. I have reached your apartment. May I make coffee for myself and have something to eat from your refrigerator, if you don’t mind?” “Please stop being so formal, Martha. Feel at home and help yourself to anything that you want. Take rest for a while and then start writing. You’ll feel better then. Happy writing! See you in the evening.” As he disconnected the call, she felt warmth spreading in her veins. He was so kind and considerate!

         She did exactly as he said. She got cheese and bread from the kitchen, made some coffee and relaxed on the couch in the living room. She watched some television show featuring a rock-band and enjoyed the diversion. It had been ages since she had watched television. Then she walked around the huge apartment aimlessly, admiring the objects de’ art, beautiful original prints on the walls and the exquisite furniture. When she came to the balcony, she was amazed at the view from there. She could see far into the distance.

         Fishing boats bobbed on the placid waters of the bay, white clouds scudded lazily across a clear blue sky, the road that wound to the beach was covered with small shacks and people going about their chores; and lastly the unending waves gently lapped the shore. She shivered as it gave her a sensuous feeling, like a lover kissing his beloved, gently with unending yearning! Immediately she remembered John and blushed, happy that she was alone. Yes, solitude was indeed bliss. She could be herself. She was happy that the Doctor was not around, constantly analyzing her actions and expressions with those piercing, hawk-like, bright eyes. She decided to be alert when he was around.

          Feeling slightly drowsy with the exertion of driving the car, now washing over her; she decided to take a small nap. She wore a gown sensibly, just in case she overslept and had to open the door for the Doctor! Then she fell on to the bed and was soon fast asleep. She awoke when her cell-phone rang. “Martha, it is me,” said Dr. Hussey. “I’m sorry if I disturbed you, but I just wanted to check on your well-being. I will be home by around 7.30 p.m. Then we’ll go for dinner. Will that be fine?” “Sure Doctor. Thanks a lot for all the trouble that you are taking to make my stay comfortable!”

          She glanced at the bedside alarm clock. It was 4 p.m. She was refreshed and raring to go. She could write continuously for 3 hours without a care in the world. No chores and no interruptions. A dream for a writer! Sara, Juan, here I come, she declared loudly to the walls and unpacked her suitcase, got the folder and located the sheet on which she had last written. The date was one that was three months ago. She’d have to read a little of the last chapter to get a hang of the story or rather where it was headed to and then continue writing, she decided. She started reading…..

To be continued..... 

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

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 61

              “Hello, Nancy, how are you my dear? I’m sorry that I haven’t called since quite a while. As usual, I was immersed in my work. Are you feeling better now? How is your chemotherapy going on? I hope your nurses are properly tending to you.” On the other end, Nancy couldn’t help but wonder at his platitudes. Both of them knew that her end was very near but she couldn’t blame Norman for wanting to be sweet to her. What else could he say, “Good Bye? Have a safe journey?” She gave a small laugh that Norman knew meant to say, “Come off it buddy! I am as fine as a corpse in a coffin!”

               Still he valiantly continued in the same vein till she got bored and said, “I’m tired Norman. Good night.” He knew that he had been dismissed. He was relieved that he had got that phone call off his chest. It was long overdue. He usually liked to avoid unpleasant situations. Not that he was averse to handling them, but he just didn’t have the patience needed to deal with them continually. He was a very cut and dried person.

              He was of course; sensitive to people's needs but there was only so much that he could do for anyone! He couldn’t spend all his energies on anyone even close to him. Hence even with Martha, he was biding time for her to gain her mental stability.  In fact, he had even mentally decided on a time limit of one year and not a day more! Then he would move on in life. “Time and Norman don’t wait for anyone” was his favorite motto, tweaked from the original adage 'Time and tide wait for none'!

              Sometimes he secretly wondered why he ever bothered with Martha. Then he would remember her chubby, glowing face and pleasing demeanor and get his answer. She was worth it. But off late, she had started testing his patience with her fainting spells and vague behavior. He surely couldn’t withstand it more than he thought necessary. As it was, he had lost his cherished long-time associate John, due to her. Ah John, now that was another cause of concern.

              He had rocked the boat by growing close to Martha, his fiancée! He had even caused her to grow more fearful and phobic. It remained to be seen that who would ultimately marry Martha, himself or John? Now that John had decided to shift base to India, he doubted the second possibility. Martha was a true-blood Brit who wouldn’t ever leave her Motherland. That left him. But his deadline for her ended in another month! Probably, if she became well in the next week or fortnight, they could very well be on their honeymoon thereafter! If wishes were horses!

            Martha was on cloud nine. She would soon be finishing her disturbing novel that had caused so much upheaval in her life and start life anew. Who would be her companion in that new lease of life? She could only wait and watch. She wanted only John D’ Costa as her soul-mate. If wishes were horses!

           Dr. Benedict Hussey was scheming to have her in his life. He’d have her by hook or by crook! His nights were spent plotting devious plans to ensnare her attentions. He had to wean her off John and keep Norman out of the picture. Meanwhile she had to get her novel out of her system. Life was tangled but he enjoyed challenges. This case would test his psychology to the hilt. Martha, dear sweet Martha, I can’t wait for you to be mine! If wishes were horses!

          He had decided to play on her psychology to get her. The ball was truly in his court as both Martha and Norman implicitly trusted him. For the first and last time in his life, he would betray a client’s trust as everything was fair in love and war. He had led a very lonely life till then. Surely God had destined him to have Martha otherwise she wouldn’t have ever walked into his office! Weren’t there ever so many psychiatrists in town? But she had chosen him and now she had no choice but to have him as her life-partner!

         The next day, Martha packed a suitcase filled with all the essential things that she’d require for her week’s sojourn in Dr. Hussey’s house. As she packed in her black undergarments she blushed at the torrid memory of that day when she had opened the door for the Doctor dressed in only those items of clothing. She couldn’t forget his expression, ever! She’d incorporate that scene in her forthcoming story.

         She took her folder containing all the loose sheets and notepads with her novel written on them. She had of course, written the page numbers and date of writing on all of them. She had decided to get them typed later as she always wrote long-hand. She loved the feel of the pen gliding on paper as the words took shape from her fertile imagination. Nothing could beat that heady sensation.

          As she locked the gate to the cottage, she looked around her, half-expecting to see that beefy man peeping from behind a bush or tree. No one was visible. Arnold had told the body-guards to be off-duty for the next week, on the instructions of Norman. He was happy that a solution was in sight for curing Martha permanently. He hadn’t contacted her after Norman’s return from Scotland as he wanted to keep his distance from her for his peace of mind and for keeping his marriage intact. He had been getting too attracted to her. He didn’t want to betray his best friend Norman; hence the self-imposed exile!   

        As she got into her car and secured the seat-belt across her chest, she received a message on her cell-phone. “Please go straight to my apartment. The key is with my neighbor.” She messaged him in return “Yes Doctor. Thank you.” With that she was on her way. To freedom! From her worries once for all! Or so she thought!

To be continued.... 

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