Chapter 9
The solid antiseptic redolence wafted through her olfactories, jarring her from some deep sleep she had after ages. Padma stirred and tried to open her heavy lids. Her left shoulder throbbed, and the excruciation reminded her of what transpired.
Her coronation, the sense of being watched, the hit on her shoulder, followed by being carried away, all rushed back to her. She finally opened her eyes to the pristine white ceiling. She knew she was in the palace infirmary. She looked around the movement of her neck causing pain, and she gasped. There was movement at Aarti rushed towards her.
âPadma⊠oh my God⊠Are you alright? We were so scared⊠all that blood, noiseâŠâ
âPadma, is it paining?â Keshav spoke on her other side.
Where was her father?
Aarti helped her sit up a bit on the inclined bed while the royal physician checked her vitals. Padma looked towards the door to see two security guards standing outside, and by the murmurs, she knew there were more. Her room would now be a fortress, she sighed, thinking about the new sanctions on her freedom. Frustration caused her eyes to fill. She had enough⊠who wanted her dead? And why?
Aarti held her as she cried. Keshav patted her head, and she was grateful for these blessings. At least she had these two with her, the only constants in her life. Her father stayed away whenever she was hurt or needed him ever since her mother had passed.
Suddenly there was some movement outside, and a guard whom she knew to be her fatherâs closest security personnel walked in, indicating everyone else to clear the room. Aarti, Keshav, Padmaâs special attendant Seema assigned to her a couple of years ago all left the room with the doctor and the nurses.
Within a minute, the King entered the room. Her heart fell, as she saw his haggard profile. It looked like he had suddenly aged in a day. He was still in the special robes he had worn for her coronation. The beautiful silk was now creased, and she even saw a tear at the seams. What was he doing? Padma felt remorse creep up her spine as she wondered about the multitude of duties her father had to perform while she constantly expected his attention.
His guards left the room, shutting the door, and they were alone.
âBabaâŠ?â She wondered what was happening.
Her father held up his hand, and she could see the tremors in them. He must have been so worriedâŠ
âPadma, my childâŠâ He began, fatigue evident in his voice. ââŠGiven the dire circumstances. I have decided something for you.â
âBaba⊠what is it? Did you catch the shooter? It was a gunshot, right?â She was desperate for answers fiddling with the green hospital gown she was wearing.
The King sighed as he sat on the chair next to her bed. He held her hand that didnât have the IV.
âPadma, your life is something I cannot compromise anything with. You⊠my child, are far too important to me than anything else. Be it this legacy or wealth⊠everything pales in comparisonâŠâ She heard his voice crack even as emotions engulfed her. ââŠPadma, my child, my angel, you are my everything. Just remember, whatever I have decided is for your good⊠So please trust me OK?â
âWhat is going on, baba? You are scaring meâŠâ She tried
He stood and walked towards the lone window of the room. She saw his clothes were loose-fitting. When had he lost so much weight?
He put his hand in his trouser pocket and removed a plastic ziplock pouch. It held a crumpled letter. Bringing it closer, he held it up in her view.
Her heart stilled as a chill crept up her spine.
âTHE NEXT BULLET WILL NOT MISS THE HEART. GIVE UP THE CROWN.â
The alphabets were distorted and not from the same typewriter. Instead, they were cut from different places and clubbed together to form a sentence like a linear collage.
Padma stared at it, both angry and filled with fear. She barely had powers as a queen even when she took over the reins, and there was still time. So why was the person after her? She had to talk to Keshav and get to the bottom of this, whether her father liked it or not.
As if hearing her thoughts, her father spoke.
âI am not taking any more chancesâŠâ
â..So now what? A house arrest?â She knew she sounded sarcastic and rude. But the throbbing in her shoulder, accompanied by frustration surrounding everything that had transpired in the past five years, was getting to her.
Her father stared at her.
âPadma, donât think I donât know about your⊠activities. I am not a King just in name. I am a warrior before everything else and have a keen foresight. Just because I havenât been there in person doesnât mean I donât know whatâs up with you.â His stern voice was back.
Padmaâs heart raced⊠did he know about her night rendezvous?
âPadma, my child, I will be⊠gone away often now on. I have to work on stuff⊠Not many know about the plans. A handful of select ministers from the royal cabinet and Keshavâs father Devraj Chitnis from the treasury will be in charge of the administrative duties till then. Keshav will be going about his duties as well. I have been training him to take over alongside you when you become the queen. He will be a strong support to you PadmaâŠâ Her father looked away and sighed.
What on earth was he talking about? She was stunned to silence.
âPadma…â He continued. ââŠthere is one more thing. I have assigned a⊠bodyguard for you.â
âBut ⊠I already have so many guards around meâŠâ
ââŠListen to me, childâŠâ Her father held up his hand, irritated at being interrupted. â⊠I am not arguing on this point. This guard will stay with you 24/7 and accompany you on all your⊠er⊠adventures. I am not restricting anything, but until I get the perps responsible for the dishevel in our lives, I canât let my guard down.â
Oh no⊠this wasnât good news. Padma shook her headâŠ.
âThis bodyguardâŠâ her father continued. ââŠis a special one. He came well recommended, and I trust him with you. He is here right nowâŠâ
ââŠbut babaâŠâ She tried to speak, ignoring the pain in her shoulder.
ââŠhe will be your Shadow, and you wonât even know he is there. Only Seema and Aarti will be allowed into your room to accompany you anywhere you wish to go. I am aware you want to pursue your B.Ed program and for that, you will have to visit schools too. But a large group of guards will call for attention, so it’s just this person. He is equivalent to many and very good at his work. He saved you last nightâŠ.â
The rest of his words faded away, and Padmaâs heart fluttered. She wanted to scream and make it known that it probably wasnât the first time that man had saved her⊠But at that moment, she only had to get control over her breathing. Instead, a gush of emotions threatened to drown her into their depths.
Her father walked to the door and rapped upon it. The doors opened, and she felt him before she looked up.
A tall, dark, well-built, muscular guy in a hoodie walked in and bowed to her father. Her father nodded and gestured towards her.
âPadma, meet âshadowâ your new bodyguard.â
The man turned towards her, and her heart stopped a beat. The black orbs that had inhabited her dreams that had been the source of her strength and calm stared right back at her.
The world faded away as a soft tuft of vanilla fragrance made its gentle way into her nostrils, and she had to grip her bedsheet to get a hold of her emotions. He was far more handsome and rugged with his beard and slightly disheveled look. Her heart picked up a pace she couldnât control.
He bowed, turning towards her.
âItâs a pleasure to meet you, princess. âShadowâ at your service.â The baritone sent shivers down her spine, and she only slightly nodded as she looked down at her bedsheet.
Her father came towards her.
âPadma, I probably wonât be seeing you for a while, so please listen to âShadowâ and do as he says. I trust his judgment when it comes to your safetyâŠ.â He then looked at âShadowâ and continued. ââŠand âShadow,â I leave her in your able hands. I⊠I âŠâ he looked away, and Padma thought she saw the moisture in his eyes. She hadnât seen him cry even when the queen had passed.
âDonât worry, your HighnessâŠâ Shadow spoke. ââŠI shall protect the princess with my life if necessaryâŠâ
The King turned towards the man and held his shoulders. The King was a tall man, but Shadow was taller, so his hands were raised, covering Shadowâs broad shoulders.
âI trust you, my man, but you have to be alive to protect her. So stay well so she will live tooâŠâ the King spoke, and Padma blinked back tears. Why did it feel that this was some farewell?
Shadow nodded, and the King walked away without a backward glance.
Shadow walked around the room, checked the walls, and touched the switches as if he was investigating her surroundings. Padma saw he was dressed in a figure-hugging black T-shirt that left nothing to the imagination about what was underneath. The loose trousers too fluttered loosely close to his toned glutes, occasionally as a second skin, and Padma looked away as she felt heat rise her cheeks.
She mentally scolded herself⊠her life was in danger, and all she was interested in was how hot her bodyguard looked.
âPrincess, tomorrow morning, you will move back to your room. I have checked it already, and itâs clear. Seema will bring you everything you need for a week till you recuperate. After that, you can venture anywhere you want, and I shall accompany you. HereâŠâ he handed her a phone., wait,,, it was her phone. How did he have it? ââŠThis phone now has a tracker so I would know where you are at any given time. I can monitor your callsâŠâ
ââŠWait, hold onâŠâ She interrupted him. ââŠwhy? Isnât this a breach of privacy? Canât I even speak to anyone without you hovering over my headâŠ?â
âWith due respect, princess, your life is in danger, and I promise you I will never invade your space. True to my name, I will remain in the shadows, and you wouldnât even know. Is there anything you would like to ask? Else I shall take your leave. I will be right outsideâŠâ
ââŠJust one question.â She said softly and looked up at him. ââŠit was you, wasnât it?â
âI beg your pardon, princess?â His solid rectangular face with a well-set jaw held no expression.
âthree years ago⊠on my 18th birthday night at that club and later at the temple⊠you saved me, didnât you?â
Shadow didnât answer. Instead, he bowed slightly.
âI will be right outside, princess, and your new watch has a tiny sensor. If you press on the dial, I will be alerted of danger. Also, your phone has me on speed dial number 1âŠ.â He nodded again and walked out of the door.
It was then Padma released the breath she had been holding, and she looked at the watch she didnât know rested on her wrist!
©priyagole
U have an amazing way to hold the story.. enjoying reading it.. have read further also that u had posted on other platform.. but I am reading this again.. its interesting to the core
Thank you so much đ„°