Disclaimer: I own nothing! (Except Kani and the story plot)
Giving Gifts and Spying Fathers
She had been in Mola Ram's room many times in four rooms but tonight the aura was different and Kani shivered in the warm air. Soft rich fabrics of red and black and blue hung all around the bed and the walls were covered with depictions of historical adventures. Reaching out into the blackness around her, Kani made her way to an empty chair and began her long waiting period.
Mola sighed as the last guest left the feast room. The Maharajah looked at his long time friend and advisor and shook his head.
"When are you going to slow down Mola? You do too much work for a man of your age. You are too young for bachelorhood."
Mola smiled at the aged man beside him, "Perhaps I have simply not found the right woman to chase yet Maharajah."
A slow smile crept across the rulers face and a twinkle began to shine in his eye, "I had better leave you my Advisor; you have much better company waiting for you."
Mola watched in disbelief as his ruler walked away. Shaking his hair from his face, Mola nodded to the servants to close up and began the journey to his bedroom.
Will she be there? He wondered as he strolled down the corridors. Nothing would make him happier then to see her waiting for him. He sighed again towards the ceiling before turning down the third corridor to his rooms.
Off in the shadows stood a lone man watching the young advisor make his way to his bedroom. Chattar Lol stepped into the corridor and motioned for a tall man to follow him. This was the moment he had been waiting for. Mola Ram would not live to see the morning sun rise if he could help it. Sending his follower down the corridor towards the room of the Maharajah Chattar began his slow stalking of his victim.
Kani started in her seat when the door opened. Looking towards the lighted archway she saw the frame of Mola trying to stare through the inky blackness. She admired his wary stance and indulged in a quick glance at his physique before making her presence known.
"I am here Grand Advisor. What do you want with your servant?"
Mola turned towards the sound of her voice and smiled, "I want you to lighten up a bit my friend. I am glad you came."
Kani shivered again when she heard his voice through the darkness. Its rich timbre soothed her soul but quickened her heart. Walking slowly towards him Kani straightened her nightgown and tried to calm her beating heart, "Why have you called me here Mola? Do you want thanks for the fine gifts you gave me today?"
Mola waited until she was close enough to touch and grabbed her by the shoulders. Shaking her gently he reassured her frightened mind, "I called you to wish you a happy birthday my dear. You are 17 now, an adult, and it seemed only right to grant you every wish today. I have another gift to give you that would have caused stirs at the feast if I had given it to you beforehand."
Mola stretched out his hand and turned up the oil lamp beside him. He glanced down at Kani's nightgown and was suddenly very thankful that he robes on. Robes hid things that trousers couldn't. Adjusting himself to a more comfortable opposition Mola finally looked into Kani's eyes. Reaching into his pocket Mola drew out a small box. Handing it to the small girl in front of him he stood back, "Open it up."
Kani drew a ragged breath and let it out slowly. Gently easing up the lid she peered inside the small grey box. Lying inside on the soft cushion was a necklace of braided silver. Hanging from the chain was a small sculpture of Kani surrounded by monkeys and a tiger lying at her feet. She gasped in shock at the intricate detail and design that had gone into the exquisite piece. Clasping the box to her heart she threw her arms around Mola and whispered thank you into his ear. Smelling the sent of cinnamon and various other spices she let out a small moan and released him from her embrace. Handing the necklace to Mola she asked, "Please put it on me. Thank you so much for everything. My father seems to have forgotten that I exist in his quest to make the young Maharajah compliant to palace rule. You have made this the best birthday ever."
Mola let out a gentle laugh and bowed to her request. Turning around Kani prepared for his touch but she still shivered when his hands touched her bare neck. Mola finished putting the necklace on and turned her around with a look of concern on his face,
"Kani are you cold?"
Kani could only shake her head no as she stared into the chocolate brown eyes of her dreams. Catching her breath in her throat Kani whispered, "I think I need to sit down for a little while. I can't even think straight anymore."
Guiding her to his bed Mola sat her down and settled beside her. Instantly Kani stood up and looked at Mola in alarm. He grinned back at her and burst out laughing when she started to blush.
"My dear, it is a seat. I will not think less of you if you rest for a bit."
Kani grinned back and sat back down on the bed. They sat in silence for a while staring at every point in the room but each other. Kani could not move for fear she would touch him and lose what little control she had left.
I am not supposed to like someone this high in power. I will bring shame upon him. I am only an animal trainer.
Kani clenched her teeth together at the thought of what would happen if they were caught like this. Mola would be severely punished but she would be sentenced to death or exile. She sighed as these depressing thoughts made their way through her mind. Mola couldn't stand one minute more of the strained silence. He knew that she liked him as more then a friend but only recently had he begun to reciprocate those same feelings. He knew he was putting them both in jeopardy but if the Maharajah knew she was here and hadn't minded then everything would be fine. Taking a deep breath Mola took Kani's hand in his.
Giving Gifts and Spying Fathers
She had been in Mola Ram's room many times in four rooms but tonight the aura was different and Kani shivered in the warm air. Soft rich fabrics of red and black and blue hung all around the bed and the walls were covered with depictions of historical adventures. Reaching out into the blackness around her, Kani made her way to an empty chair and began her long waiting period.
Mola sighed as the last guest left the feast room. The Maharajah looked at his long time friend and advisor and shook his head.
"When are you going to slow down Mola? You do too much work for a man of your age. You are too young for bachelorhood."
Mola smiled at the aged man beside him, "Perhaps I have simply not found the right woman to chase yet Maharajah."
A slow smile crept across the rulers face and a twinkle began to shine in his eye, "I had better leave you my Advisor; you have much better company waiting for you."
Mola watched in disbelief as his ruler walked away. Shaking his hair from his face, Mola nodded to the servants to close up and began the journey to his bedroom.
Will she be there? He wondered as he strolled down the corridors. Nothing would make him happier then to see her waiting for him. He sighed again towards the ceiling before turning down the third corridor to his rooms.
Off in the shadows stood a lone man watching the young advisor make his way to his bedroom. Chattar Lol stepped into the corridor and motioned for a tall man to follow him. This was the moment he had been waiting for. Mola Ram would not live to see the morning sun rise if he could help it. Sending his follower down the corridor towards the room of the Maharajah Chattar began his slow stalking of his victim.
Kani started in her seat when the door opened. Looking towards the lighted archway she saw the frame of Mola trying to stare through the inky blackness. She admired his wary stance and indulged in a quick glance at his physique before making her presence known.
"I am here Grand Advisor. What do you want with your servant?"
Mola turned towards the sound of her voice and smiled, "I want you to lighten up a bit my friend. I am glad you came."
Kani shivered again when she heard his voice through the darkness. Its rich timbre soothed her soul but quickened her heart. Walking slowly towards him Kani straightened her nightgown and tried to calm her beating heart, "Why have you called me here Mola? Do you want thanks for the fine gifts you gave me today?"
Mola waited until she was close enough to touch and grabbed her by the shoulders. Shaking her gently he reassured her frightened mind, "I called you to wish you a happy birthday my dear. You are 17 now, an adult, and it seemed only right to grant you every wish today. I have another gift to give you that would have caused stirs at the feast if I had given it to you beforehand."
Mola stretched out his hand and turned up the oil lamp beside him. He glanced down at Kani's nightgown and was suddenly very thankful that he robes on. Robes hid things that trousers couldn't. Adjusting himself to a more comfortable opposition Mola finally looked into Kani's eyes. Reaching into his pocket Mola drew out a small box. Handing it to the small girl in front of him he stood back, "Open it up."
Kani drew a ragged breath and let it out slowly. Gently easing up the lid she peered inside the small grey box. Lying inside on the soft cushion was a necklace of braided silver. Hanging from the chain was a small sculpture of Kani surrounded by monkeys and a tiger lying at her feet. She gasped in shock at the intricate detail and design that had gone into the exquisite piece. Clasping the box to her heart she threw her arms around Mola and whispered thank you into his ear. Smelling the sent of cinnamon and various other spices she let out a small moan and released him from her embrace. Handing the necklace to Mola she asked, "Please put it on me. Thank you so much for everything. My father seems to have forgotten that I exist in his quest to make the young Maharajah compliant to palace rule. You have made this the best birthday ever."
Mola let out a gentle laugh and bowed to her request. Turning around Kani prepared for his touch but she still shivered when his hands touched her bare neck. Mola finished putting the necklace on and turned her around with a look of concern on his face,
"Kani are you cold?"
Kani could only shake her head no as she stared into the chocolate brown eyes of her dreams. Catching her breath in her throat Kani whispered, "I think I need to sit down for a little while. I can't even think straight anymore."
Guiding her to his bed Mola sat her down and settled beside her. Instantly Kani stood up and looked at Mola in alarm. He grinned back at her and burst out laughing when she started to blush.
"My dear, it is a seat. I will not think less of you if you rest for a bit."
Kani grinned back and sat back down on the bed. They sat in silence for a while staring at every point in the room but each other. Kani could not move for fear she would touch him and lose what little control she had left.
I am not supposed to like someone this high in power. I will bring shame upon him. I am only an animal trainer.
Kani clenched her teeth together at the thought of what would happen if they were caught like this. Mola would be severely punished but she would be sentenced to death or exile. She sighed as these depressing thoughts made their way through her mind. Mola couldn't stand one minute more of the strained silence. He knew that she liked him as more then a friend but only recently had he begun to reciprocate those same feelings. He knew he was putting them both in jeopardy but if the Maharajah knew she was here and hadn't minded then everything would be fine. Taking a deep breath Mola took Kani's hand in his.