Chapter 7 - A Choice

"We will leave your Palace tomorrow morning. After that you have three days to decide, whether you want us to become relatives, or enemies," Yashvir declared.

"You can't do that, Yuvraj!" Karan Singh replied, almost shaking with rage. Meanwhile Yashvir looked awfully calm.

"Says who?" Yashvir smirked. "I am the crown Prince of Kalang. I can go to war with any Kingdom I want, for whatsoever reason. No other Kingdom will dare to stand against us."

"What... What will you achieve by this?" Karan Singh frowned, sighing in defeat as he looked at him in question.

Yashvir smiled, and his eyes softened.

"Ahankara."

- - - -

"Rajkumari?" Someone knocked on the door multiple times, sounding extremely agitated.

"Come in," Ahankara frowned, exchanging a bewildered look with Neharika.

Meena entered the room and closed the door behind her, breathing hard.

"What's wrong?" Ahankara asked, standing up from the chair.

"Rajkumari... He-he wants to marry you," Meena said, and Ahankara stepped back in shock, while Neharika dropped the comb in her her hand onto the floor.

"Who...?" Ahankara whispered, dreading the answer.

"Yuvraj Yashvir Rathore. He has actually brought a marriage proposal for you, and he and the Maharaja just got into a heated argument about it. In the dining hall," she explained, still catching her breath. "I overheard the conversation. I mean I was not supposed to, but I was passing by and-"

"What did my brother say?" Ahankara asked softly, her gaze shifting to the ground.

"He..." Meena hesitated.

"What did he say, Meena?" Neharika pushed.

"He refused," Meena replied, and a sigh of relief escaped Neharika's mouth.

"Thank Goodness," Ahankara smiled, looking at Neharika. "I thought my brother didn't love me anymore, but clearly he still cares about me."

"Rajkumari..." Meena said softly, looking uneasy.

"Yeah? What is it?" Ahankara asked.

"Maharaja refused at first, but..."

"But what?" Ahankara asked, walking up to her, and grabbing her arms. "Tell me, Meena! But what?"

"The Yuvraj threatened to declare war against the Kingdom if he did not accept the proposal," Meena replied timidly, and Ahankara let go of her arms, stepping back. A loud gasp escaped Neharika's lips, and she covered her mouth with her hands.

"So the Maharaja agreed to marry her off to him?" Neharika exclaimed in disbelief.

"He said that he would leave the decision to you. Now the fate of the Kingdom is in your hands, Rajkumari. They'll be sending someone to summon you to the dining hall, so that you can announce your decision," Meena replied, and Ahankara looked away from her, a tear escaping her eye.

She could not believe what was happening, and her gaze fell on the idol of the Lord Shiva in her room.

'What kind of test is this, Bhagwan Shiva (Lord Shiva)? Am I supposed to choose between my happiness and the welfare of the Kingdom? Was I born to be sacrificed this way? Just to prevent a mad man from waging war against us?' She wondered, as another tear escaped her eye.

There was a loud knock on the door, and Ahankara sniffed, wiping away her tears with her hand.

"Come in," she announced.

A maid entered the room, her eyes downcast in respect.

"The Maharaja has summoned you in the dining hall, Rajkumari. It's something urgent," the maid informed.

"I'll be there in a minute," Ahankara replied. "You both can leave," she added, looking at the maid and Meena. They both quietly left the room, after which Ahankara grabbed her dupatta and covered her head with it, getting ready to go outside.

"Rajkumari," Neharika said softly, eyebrows knitted together in worry. "What will you do?"

"Whatever I have to," Ahankara replied with determination, before walking out. She slowly made her way to the dining hall, her breath hitching as she got closer and closer to it. Her heart was hammering in her chest, as she could not think of what to do, or what to say, to get herself out of that mess. She arrived at her dreaded destination too quickly, and the guard outside the room announced her arrival, opening the door for her. Taking a deep breath, she walked inside, making sure she looked confident, and calm.

"You called me, Bhai Sa?" Ahankara asked, acting oblivious to the situation. She could feel Yashvir's burning gaze on her, but she didn't dare to meet his eye. She despised him, everything about him.

"Yes, Ahankara," Karan Singh sighed, looking uneasy and uncomfortable. He did not know how to reveal the situation to her, how to tell her that he was too weak to make that decision on his own. He did not know which words he should use to tell her, that could never choose between his Kingdom, and the little girl he had watched growing up before his eyes. "I... I don't know how to tell you this-"

"Well then, let me do the honours," Yashvir interrupted, giving him a sarcastic smile. He too could not deal with the tension. He wanted to know her answer as quickly as possible.

Ahankara sighed, before finally meeting his dark gaze.

"I want to marry you, Rajkumari Ahankara. Change you from a Rajkumari into a Maharani, make you rule by my side, as my Queen. I want to give you the respect and recognition you and your beauty deserve to have. I want to make you happy. And I came here with this very intention," Yashvir said each word sincerely, slowly walking towards her, but stopping at a safe distance away. Ahankara stared at him blankly, not even twitching an eye his words. His lies, as she thought they were. "Your brother, however, refused to accept my proposal, and being the Yuvraj of Kalang, I do not take rejection very well. So either you marry me, Ahankara, or I will return with any army of soldiers, declaring war against your Kingdom."

"And what will you prove by killing a thousand innocent men and women, Yuvraj? That you are worthy of becoming my husband?" Ahankara raised an eyebrow, looking him in the eye.

Yashvir smirked, before taking another step towards her, and leaning in close to her. Ahankara held onto the cloth of her lehenga tightly, while continuing to look him in the eye, refusing to show that she felt intimidated by his proximity.

"I will demonstrate, that I am strong enough to abduct you from your very castle, as a prisoner of war, and take you as my bride without yours or anyone else's permission, or will. I am, the Crown Prince of Kalang, after all, Rajkumari. I always get what I want."

Ahankara's eyes widened in fear, and she now took a step away from him, while Karan Singh finally drew his sword in rage.

"How dare you?" Karan Singh yelled, but Kabir instantly drew his sword too, standing in front of him.

Yashvir did not even flinch at the reaction, his burning gaze set on Ahankara, whilst she stared back at him with a gaping mouth and tearful eyes.

"Everybody, calm down please," Mahavir finally spoke up, realizing the tension had become too thick. "Keep your sword in, Kabir."

Kabir did not move a muscle, daring Karan Singh with his eyes to attack him.

"Kabir!" Mahavir scolded, but he remained still.

A tear finally rolled down Ahankara's cheek, and Yashvir's eyes softened.

"Kabir," he said, and that was all Kabir needed to hear. He placed his sword back into the hilt, and backed away from the King.

Ahankara sniffed and looked away, feeling humiliated, as she wiped away her tear. She gulped, not knowing what to say.

"Ahankara," Yashvir said softly, stepping towards her, but she gasped and shuffled away from him.

"Don't come near me!" She warned, glaring at him with her eyes that were red with tears.

"I'm not gonna hurt you, Princess," Yashvir reassured, but obliged to her orders and maintained a distance. "I understand that this is hard for you, you hardly know me and we met just a week ago. That's why I'm willing to give you time to decide. We'll leave the Palace right now, and after that you will have three days to make your final decision. On the fourth day, I shall return with either a procession, or an army. It depends on what message you send to us."

"How considerate," Ahankara said sarcastically, her teeth gritted. Yashvir smiled at her, amused by her reply.

"Alright, we leave now," Yashvir turned to Kabir.

"Wait," Ahankara said, taking a deep breath. Yashvir turned around again, raising an eyebrow at her. "You can stay the night here. Leave tomorrow morning."

"Ahankara?" Karan Singh said, his eyes wide in shock. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Bhai Sa," Ahankara said with determination, looking Yashvir in the eye. "Just because others seemed to have forgotten their morals," she mocked, before shifting her gaze to her brother, "doesn't mean we do the same. They have a woman riding with them, a Princess. And it would be unethical, and against our principles to force her outside the safety of the Palace walls at this time. That's why, they should not only be allowed, but welcomed to spend the night here."

Karan Singh nodded in understanding, shifting his gaze to Yashvir.

"I want you out of here as soon as the Sun rises, is that clear?" He warned.

"Noted," Yashvir smirked, finally looking away from Ahankara, allowing her to breathe.

"Meena!" Ahankara called out, and she entered the room a few moments later.

"Yes, Rajkumari?"

"Have a few servants escort the guests to their rooms, and ask them whether they need anything. Make sure whatever they need is delivered to them immediately. And I want you to go and check up on Rajkumari Shivanya, ask her if she needs anything," Ahankara ordered.

"Yes, Rajkumari," she bowed her head in respect, before exiting the room.

"Have a good night, Khamma Ghanni," Ahankara stated, joining her hands.

"Ghanni Khamma," Yashvir replied, joining his hands as well.

Ahankara turned around and left the room without wasting another moment, and held up her strong front until she reached her own bedroom. She quickly stepped inside and closed the door behind her, before breaking into sobs.

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