"Rajkumari? What are you doing here?" Neharika asked, walking up to Ahankara, who was silently staring at the night sky.
"Hmm?" Ahankara hummed absent-mindedly.
"What are you..." Neharika paused to yawn, trying to keep her eyes open. "What are you doing in the balcony at this time of the night?"
"Do you think the Moon ever feels lonely?" Ahankara questioned, blinking up at it.
"What kind of a question is that?" Neharika frowned.
"It looks really lonely to me."
"Well," Neharika sighed. "It has a million lovers staring up at it in the darkness of the night. The Moon is their only light in the sea of black."
"But they are just people who stare at her from far off, they only use her as a source of light, to drown their own darkness," Ahankara frowned, now looking at Neharika.
"That may also be true, but they do admire its beauty," Neharika pointed out.
"But that's not enough. They just use her, for her light. Deep down they want to steal her glow, keep it to themselves. People only want to use beautiful things, Neharika, like parasites, feeding off their beauty," Ahankara said softly.
"You're forgetting the Sun, Rajkumari. The Sun truly loves the Moon, I'm sure. The secret behind the Moon's beauty is actually the Sun, because without it, the Moon would not glow the way it does," Neharika replied. "And to ensure that people notice its shine, the Sun even goes into hiding when it's time for the Moon to rise."
"I never thought about it like that," Ahankara smiled. "You are right. The Sun is not even selfish like the people who stare at the Moon. The Sun does not wish to cage her, or to keep her to himself. As long as the Moon wants to shine, the Sun provides her with his light."
"Hmm, sounds like a beautiful love story, except the Sun and the Moon do not meet. Ever," Neharika replied.
"That's not true. In rare circumstances, you will see them up in the sky, simultaneously."
"Maybe they are meant to be, but only at a specific time. Now if you are done staring at the Moon and being selfish," Neharika teased, making Ahankara narrow her eyes at her, "you may wanna go to bed."
"I'm feeling really suffocated today, Neharika. I don't know why. I feel like I'm caged. Like I need to get out of here," Ahankara said, frowning.
"Rajkumari," Neharika smiled, placing her hands on her shoulders. "That is why dreams were created, weren't they? So that Princesses like you can live in alternate realities, find their escapes through magical dreams. Come, go to sleep," she said taking her hand. "I'll wake you up early tomorrow so you can sleep earlier at night. I'll also draw you a nice warm bath in the morning."
"Okay," Ahankara nodded, walking to her bed. "Thank you for always being there for me, Neharika. I could never imagine living without you."
"You won't have to," Neharika smiled.
- - - - - -
"Khamma Ghanni, Dada Bhai (a term of endearment used to address your elder brother)," Ahankara smiled, walking into the King's room after taking his permission.
"Ghanni Khamma," Maharaja Karan Singh smiled.
"You asked to see me?" Ahankara questioned politely, fixing her net dupatta (a kind of scarf) on her head.
"Yes, I just want to let you know that as there will be visitors at the Palace today, I cannot allow you to go to the pond this evening," Karan Singh replied.
"But why not? I'm sure whoever is coming is only coming to see you," Ahankara replied.
"I do not know why they are coming. Besides, you know what outsiders will think if they find out that the Princess of the Kingdom, roams around outside the walls of the Palace like a commoner. So you will not go out today, alright?" Karan Singh explained.
"Oh," Ahankara frowned. "As you wish, Dada Bhai. But who is coming? I did not know about any visitors until last night, and today everyone is so busy in preparations."
"The Yuvraj of Kalang," Karan Singh replied, and Ahankara's eyes widened immediately.
"What? Why?" She asked, her heart already hammering in her chest.
"What do you mean why?" Karan Singh furrowed his eyebrows, standing up from his bed.
"I mean," Ahankara blinked, gulping, "uh, they've never ever visited before, so why now?"
"There's a first time for everything," Karan Singh shrugged. "They probably just want to trade, but I'd suggest you dress up well tonight. We do not know how many people, or who is accompanying the Yuvraj. In case any women of the royal family show up as well, I want you to attend to them."
"Why me?" Ahankara asked immediately.
"What do you mean, Ahankara?" Karan Singh said in disbelief. "You know your Bhabhi Sa is pregnant. She has been advised to take rest, she can't run around welcoming visitors."
"I understand Bhai Sa, but there are so many servants and maids. Why do I have to -"
"Is this your Palace or theirs?" Karan Singh cut her off.
"I know, but -"
"Yours or theirs?" He asked again, this time louder.
"Mine," Ahankara shifted her gaze to the floor.
"Then how can they be welcoming visitors, betay? (a term of endearment used for kids)?" He questioned, his tone soft again. "Go, get ready," he cupped his sister's cheek and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Alright Bhai Sa," Ahankara replied with a small smile. As soon as she stepped outside his room, the smile on her face was replaced with a frown. She rushed back towards her room, looking around for Neharika.
"Meena, where's Neharika?" She asked the maid who was passing by.
"Rajkumari she went to your quarters, searching for you. She looked like she was in a hurry," Meena replied, her head bowed in respect.
"Thank you," Ahankara muttered, pulling her lehenga up and running to her room, the sound of her payal echoing through the corridor. She barged into the room, while Neharika was trying to run out, and they both bumped into each other with a great force.
"Ow!" Ahankara grunted in pain, stumbling back from the force, but managed to balance herself.
While Neharika fell on the ground, her face morphed into one of pain.
"Haye Bhagwan (Oh God)!" Neharika muttered, rubbing her hip in pain.
Ahankara quickly recovered from the shock of the crash, and entered her room again, quickly shutting the doors.
"Stand up quickly, Neharika!" Ahankara scolded, grabbing her hand and helping her up.
"I'm sorry Rajkumari, I hope you're not hurt," she apologized, still rubbing her behind.
"I'm fine," Ahankara waved her off. "Did you find out?"
"Yes!" Neharika exclaimed, now distracted from her aching bottom. "Why do you think he is coming?" She asked, looking worried.
"I don't know," Ahankara replied, matching her expression. In fact, she looked even more horrified than Neharika.
"What if what I said is right?" Neharika asked with wide eyes.
"Don't utter rubbish!" Ahankara scolded, scowling at her. "That's... That's not possible."
"But Rajkumari, what if it is? What if he fell in love with you, and is now coming to ask your hand in marriage?" Neharika said excitedly, taking Ahankara's hands in hers.
"I'm... I'm not going to marry him," Ahankara shook her head. "He's not coming with a marriage proposal! Why would the Yuvraj of Kalang marry the Princess of a small Kingdom?"
"Have you seen yourself?" Neharika asked in disbelief. "You're stunning, Rajkumari."
"But I don't want someone to love me for my beauty!" Ahankara snapped, taking her hands away fron Neharika's and turning away from her. "I don't want to be the Moon," she said softly.
"And you're not," Neharika replied, turning her around. "You're a unique Rose, Rajkumari. The most beautiful one to ever exist."
"And he's made of flames," Ahankara whispered, feeling a chill run down her spine. "He's gonna destroy me as soon as he touches me, Neharika."
"Why do you say something like that, Rajkumari? You don't even know him," Neharika frowned.
"I know enough, Neharika! I've heard the tales of his cruelty, the kind of merciless warrior he is. I've heard he doesn't even spare children, and he does not respect women, that I've seem for myself. I can't... I can't ever marry him, Neharika," she shook her head vigorously, as tears began to form in her eyes.
"Rajkumari," Neharika caught hold of her arms, looking her in the eye. "Calm down. You don't even know why he is coming here, yet. Maybe he doesn't even wanna marry you. Maybe he wants to become allies with the King."
"I know how alliances are formed in royal families, Neharika. They marry their daughters off to Kings in order to form relations. I can't live my life with a beast like him! He is a monster from everything I have heard. He'll cage me in the walls of his huge castle, I will be a prisoner there," Ahankara whispered, feeling fear course through her veins. She walked to the idol of the Lord Shiva placed in her room, and knelt down in front of it, joining her hands together in prayer.
"Om Namah Shivaya," she whispered the prayer. "Give me strength, and save me from the cruelty of that man. Save me from him. Save me from being caged by him. I beg you, my Lord. Save me from this disaster!"
Little did she know, the man she was asking her Lord to save her from, had already asked the Lord for exactly the opposite. And the Yuvraj of Kalang was going to stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Not even a miracle could save her now.
- - - - - -
"You look beautiful, Rajkumari," Neharika complimented, while helping Ahankara wear her last bangle."I don't want to," Ahankara sighed. "I had to dress up-""Because your brother will scold you if you don't. I know. You've repeated that sentence a hundred times already," Neharika finished for her, and Ahankara sighed again."What if-" Ahankara began, but she was once again interrupted, this time by a knock on her door. "Who is it?" She rolled her eyes, standing up from her chair."Rajkumari Ahankara? It's Meena," the person replied. Ahankara took a deep breath to calm her nerves, before gesturing at Neharika to let her in."Khamma Ghanni Rajkumari," Meena greeted as soon as she entered the room, a huge smile on her face."Ghanni Khamma. What is it?" Ahankara questioned."You look stunning, Rajkumari Ahankara! This royal blue lehenga looks so beautiful on you!" She beamed at her."Thank you, Meena," Ahankara offered her a small smile.
"I know," Yashvir smirked, making Ahankara's eyes widen. Her brother would kill her if he found out that they had met before, and Ahankara had not even bothered to inform him about it."You know...?" Karan Singh frowned."I mean that's what I guessed," Yashvir replied. "Khamma Ghanni." Yashvir smirked at her, and even while her brother was standing right beside her, she found him giving her a once over. Ahankara clenched his jaw, glancing at her brother to see if he noticed, but he looked too busy in talking to Kabir.'Of course,' Ahankara thought to herself, feeling extremely annoyed."Khamma, Ghanni, Rajkumari Ahankara," Yashvir repeated each word slowly, slightly leaning in towards her. She startled when he did that, and stepped back, blinking at him in shock. Ahankara could see the glint of mischief in his eyes, and the ghost of a smirk upon his lips. Immediately, she felt her blood boil.
"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 th
"Rajkumari?" Neharika asked with wide eyes, running up to her. She gently turned Ahankara around so she would face her, and wiped away her tears. "What happened, why are you crying?""I don't wanna marry him, Neharika," she sobbed."Just calm down first," Neharika replied, leading her to her bed and making her sit down. She then knelt on the ground before her, taking her hands in his. "Now tell me what happened."Ahankara related the whole incident to her, whilst tears continued to roll down her cheeks, and Neharika kept wiping them away from time to time. Finally she poured a glass of water and handed it to her, while Ahankara calmed down a bit and drank from it."Now, what are you gonna do?" Neharika asked."I don't know, Neha," Ahankara sniffed. "I don't want to marry him, but I don't want to be the reason my Kingdom goes to war. So many innocent people will lose their lives. And over w
Ahankara quickly ran to her room, and closed the door behind herself, also proceeding to lock it. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves, as her heart hammered away in her chest. She realized she was shivering, and she held her shawl closer to herself as she was feeling something completely foreign.Never before had any man came that close to her, or talked to her that way. And the worst part was, she did not even feel utterly disgusted by it. She sighed, still catching her breath, and made her way to the large mirror in her room, throwing her shawl aside. Ahankara stared at herself, as his words echoed in her mind."How can the Moon be in the sky, when it is standing right in front of me?"Heat crept up her cheeks, before she scowled at herself.How dare he say that to her? As if it was the most normal thing to say to a Princess? Had he been taught no morals, no etiquettes?
With every passing minute, the burden and pressure on Ahankara's mind and heart seemed to get heavier. She had delayed the decision as much as possible, but it was now the last day, the third day after Yashvir had left her Palace. This was the day she had to make her choice, whether she would destroy the lives of thousands of her soldiers, or just her own.She stood in the balcony, watching the sky, as the clear blue gradually morphed into shades of orange and pink, making her heart feel heavier and heavier with every passing second."Ahankara?" Maharaja Karan Singh walked up to her, his eyes sullen.She quickly wiped away her tear, turning her face away from him."Yes, Bhai Sa?" She forced a smile."It's time. If we don't send a messenger by nightfall, he won't reach the Palace in time, and that Yuvraj will return with an army. So unless you chose war, you need to let me know what it will
Ahankara took in a deep breath, as she stepped out of her litter. Her heart was hammering in her chest, as she felt intimidated by the huge castle walls and its extravagant beauty. She had lived in a Palace too, but it was no match to the Palace of Kalang. She looked down and frowned when she realized her pathway was covered with rose petals, to welcome her inside. She stepped off of it, not wanting to trample the flowers beneath her feet."This Palace is so beautiful, Rajkumari," Neharika commented, ogling at her surroundings with her mouth parted in awe."Indeed," Ahankara muttered, looking around, when she caught the eye of the man waiting for her at the door. She froze as her eyes met with Yashvir's, and she gulped, before looking away from him."Let's go, Ahankara," Karan Singh told her, and she nodded.They began walking towards the main entrance, and Ahankara made sure she did not step on any of the
"I'm not crazy like you," she spat without realizing, and his expression hardened."What did you say?" He asked in a low voice, narrowing his eyes into slits. She gulped, staring at him with wide eyes. He now began to lean in towards her, and she backed her head away as much she could, feeling goosebumps cover her entire body.Aye Lord Shiva, please save me from this monster, she thought to herself before she clenched her eyes shut. A second later she felt his breath on her lips, and her struggles to get her wrists free became more violent. She sucked in a breath, feeling her pound in her chest. His warm breath travelled from her lips to her jaw, and down to her neck, before returning back to her lips. Her body was tingling in fear, and nervousness."Open your eyes, my beautiful rose," Yashvir whispered huskily.Ahankara took in a few deep breaths, before daring to oblige. Her eyes fluttered open,