Chapter 12
By Dan57
Kyrhan humiliates Mark
Note of the writer : All my stories are chained and difficult to follow if you haven't read the previous chapters.
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With such a welcome team, you can imagine that Gwanendra was quite cool and a bit exhausted when he arrived at Kyrhan's palace. The lawn in front of the palace was perfectly mowed, the palace itself was immaculate with flying banners, just like it had been during the times of the Maharajas! There was even a pair of elephants making tours for the benefit of tourists and especially children! The car drove on to another high fence that was opened swiftly : the entrance of the former harem, the most private place in a palace, even in India! Leena was on his side when he was introduced in Kyrhan's presence. He was sitting on a small platform covered with fluffy cushions and Gwanendra wasn't surprised to see a dozen quite pretty girls surrounding him or running errands around him. He recognized Kira and Jodhaa.
Kyrhan was playing chess simultaneously with Jodhaa, another girl he didn't know and two men who looked perfectly at ease. Kyrhan seemed on the verge of winning three of the games. He shook hand with one of the players to admit a tie. Gwanendra recognized Mark who had just driven the car from New Delhi! All the girls were wearing rich sarees, just like Leena : she had changed again to a new one, heavily embroidered... When Kyrhan noticed Gwanendra's arrival, he stood up and went to greet him :
- Gwanendra! I'm happy that Leena has found the words to convince you to visit us! Nice to meet you again!
- A pleasure to meet you again, Prince! I have discovered your palace : it's stupendous! And Leena can be really persuasive! By the way, all the girls of your household I've met are astonishingly clever, self assertive and extremely beautiful : I've met and enjoyed Kira, Jodhaa and Leena. Are the other ones of the same level?
- Of course, Gwanendra : I pick up only the smartest and prettiest girls I can find. Just look at my palace : All the merit of its restoration should be ascribed to Kira : it was a pile of rubble likely to crumble down on my head any time when she became my Rani (queen). She has more energy than most men. She immediately picked up a team of Dalits in the nearest slums and told them of her plans to restore the palace to its former glory and transform it into a luxury hotel.
- How did she do it?
- She proposed them to enter her service. They would be given training, decent houses with modern comfort, consideration and good pay in exchange for their total devotion to her orders. They trusted her immediately. Some of them went as far as University Masters or doctorates and have made a career but they still consider proudly they still belong to Kira's Dalits team even though they don't work for her any more!
- I had realized she is a natural leader but it's so strange to see a pretty woman giving orders to a bunch of dirty menial labourers!
- Gwanendra, in this house, there is no prejudice against race, caste, job or religion! Anyone is my equal or any of my friends' until proved inferior! I have met some nasty specimens of mankind and I hope I'll never have to deal again with them!
- I really like your way of thinking, Prince, but I don't understand why you insisted to make me come here! What do you want from me?
- Simple, my friend! During our trekking in the mountains, you told me that you were still a bachelor and that you had little time to court a girl or lead a normal marital life with her. I want you to discover the unparalleled pleasures of living with a girl!
- I see you are an expert about it! Having so many pretty girls turning around you must be really exciting. Is Kira not jealous of them?
- I must confess you something, old chap : I have a rather complex life! Most of these girls are married. Some of the husbands live here in the harem, some live abroad with their wives who come regularly to visit us. The girls may wander around on their own, picking up any available man they fancy if he is OK with it!
- Even your wife Kira?
- But Kira had been Dan's wife BEFORE she married me! We have abandoned any idea of owning our spouses and it makes us so much happier! I am quite sure Kira intends to have you in her bed during the next days and so are most of the girls here : you are a new stud for them and they are curious to try you out!
- Most men would kill if their wives "tried out" another man!
- And do you think that would prevent anything? Anything that is forbidden gets a gigantic appeal. To the contrary, changing partners frequently is a sure way to prevent boredom! For the duration of your stay here, you may pick any girl in my harem at any time... Just ask her politely if you may spend a few hours with her!
- Even Kira?
- Even Kira! You can pick up two girls if you think you are man enough to satisfy them both!
- I wouldn't want to deprive anyone of his girlfriend!
- Bull shit! He may just pick another girl but your pick up may tell you that she has already an appointment for the evening!
- Just as simple as that!
- Yes! May I suggest that for tonight, you offer your services to just one or two girls : for example, my delicious Kira who will instruct you about our etiquette. If you want a double date, I would advise you to pick up this blonde girl : she is Australian. Her name is Preeti!
When Kyrhan summoned Preeti, she blushed beetroot and told him she had her period and couldn't entertain Gwanendra, although she would have loved to! Gwanendra was surprised all the girls had Indian sounding names, even those who were ostensibly of western origin, like Preeti. Kyrhan explained him :
- I usually give my wives an Indian name during the wedding ceremony and, in the case of Preeti, it is quite adequate for her, don't you think so? And she is an Olympic class swimmer : she is as deft in water than you are in your mountains and, more important, she is available!
- You haven't married her still?
- Of course, I have! But her husband always preferred Australian beer to sharing our way of life. He never came to visit my harem and he finally has found a similar girl. He wrote some times ago to Preeti that he wanted to divorce! Preeti wasn't sorry, just relieved! They had chosen different paths for a long time!
