Chapter 5 - An Anxious Mess

"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. "What did you-"

"Oof, and that nose ring! It's enhancing the how beautifully delicate your nose is. So beautiful, Rajkumari," she gushed.

"Thank you," Ahankara chuckled. "You can keep the nose ring if you want."

"Really, Rajkumari?" She exclaimed, a huge grin on her face.

"Yes, Meena," Ahankara laughed. "But once I take it off. Now tell me, why did you come looking for me?"

"Oh yeah, my apologies," Meena blushed, embarrassed. "The visitors from the Royal family of Kalang have arrived. Maharaja Karan Singh is waiting for you to join him in welcoming them."

Ahankara took a deep breath, her heart hammering in her chest. She wanted to ask more questions, but for the first time in her life, she felt nervous. Nervous that she would end up muttering the wrong words in front of her maid, and make a fool out of herself.

"Do you know which members of the royal family have arrived?" Neharika rushed to the rescue, knowing full well what Ahankara would be wondering.

"It's the Yuvraj, his elder sister, and their Uncle," Meena recalled, counting the people on her fingers. "It's strange why the Rajkumari has accompanied them, though. Don't you think?" She frowned, scratching her head.

"No," Neharika glared at her, observing how Ahankara looked even more worried now. "It's not strange at all. And instead of trying to figure out political matters, go help the others with the preparations. Who knows how long they're planning to stay."

"Alright, Rajkumari," Meena mocked Neharika, who gave her a sarcastic smile. "Khamma Ghanni Rajkumari," she now smiled at Ahankara. Ahankara gave her a curt nod, after which Meena left the room.

"Neha-"

"Before you start panicking, calm down," Neharika said, taking Ahankara's hands in hers. Ahankara furrowed her eyebrows together, conveying her worries to her just by her facial expressions. Neharika bit her lip, wondering how to calm her down. She smiled when an idea crossed her mind, and then it turned into a cheeky grin.

"Why are you smiling?" Ahankara questioned, frowning. "You think this is funny?"

"Nothing, not at all, no," Neharika shook her head, deliberately making it look like she was trying to hide something.

"Speak up," Ahankara now scowled, looking at her dubiously.

"I'm just observing," Neharika bit her lip, biting back her smile.

"Observing what? Tell me I don't look good," Ahankara replied, her eyes lighting up with hope.

"Tch," Neharika rolled her eyes. "You look breath-taking."

"Then what is it?" Her face fell again.

"You're... You have a crush on him, don't you?" Neharika smirked.

"Haye Bhagwan (Oh God)!" Ahankara's eyes widened. "What nonsense are you uttering, Neha? I'll give you a tight slap on the back of your head!" She scowled, stepping away from her.

"Why else are you so nervous then? Hmm? Hmm?" Neharika pushed, completely unfazed by the Princess's anger.

"Neharika! Behave yourself," she narrowed her eyes.

"Aw, you're turning pink. I suggest you do not go out. He'll see right through you. You're so obviously flustered, and anxious to meet him," Neharika teased further.

Ahankara grabbed hold of her lehenga, pulling it up slightly so it would be easier for her to walk.

"Nervous?" She asked nodding, a scowl on her face. "Rajkumari Ahankara of Adibar, and nervous? And that too, due to a crush on that stupid Prince? Hah. Never!" Ahankara declared.

"Well, that's what I can see," Neharika shrugged, inwardly smiling as she could see her plan working. "You've been stressing over what you look like, deliberately saying you wanna look bad so we'd tell you whether you look perfect or not. You've been pacing around the room since you found out he's coming, and you even prayed to the Lord for something last night. What else could it be? You like the Yuvraj."

With every word Neharika uttered, Ahankara looked more and more furious. But Neharika did not care, as long as she was not an anxious mess. No one had the right to see the Princess like that. She was known as Ahankara, after all. The one with Pride.

"You're delusional," Ahankara stated, not even knowing what to say to Neharika's completely ridiculous accusations.

"I'm just honest, Rajkumari. You know me. I say whatever is on my mind," Neharika replied, feigning sincerity.

"Honesty? No, no, no, this isn't honesty. This is idiocy!" Ahankara replied. "I'll prove it to you. I'm not flustered or nervous because of that misogynistic, cruel, and... Lewd Prince! You just wait and watch!" Ahankara said in determination, slightly pulling up her lehenga once again, and marching out of the room.

Neharika let out a chuckle, and covered her mouth, smiling victoriously as she shook her head. She knew the Princess all too well, and thus the exact words which would trigger her and make her step out of her room.

Now she was only worried about one thing - what if what she had been saying to tease Ahankara was right? What if the Yuvraj actually wanted to marry her Rajkumari? There was no way Ahankara would agree to it. She despised the man.

And for some reason, even though she had only met the Yuvraj once, Neharika could tell that he was a stubborn one. He would not give up easily either.

Neharika could sense that a storm was brewing, and she sighed, praying to the Lord to give her Rajkumari guidance.

- - - -

"A crush on that jerk?" Ahankara muttered to herself, briskly walking through the corridor, holding up her lehenga. "Huh. Not even in his dreams. He's not even good looking," she scrunched her nose up, recalling his dark brown eyes, his sharp jawline, and his perfect, silky hair. Her expression morphed into a frown, and she pursed her lips, as her pace slowed down a bit. "I guess," she whispered to herself in confusion. "Or is he?" She wondered for a moment. Her eyes then widened, and realization struck her.

"Why am I even thinking about this?" She asked in disbelief, before hurrying up to the entrance of the Palace, where her brother was waiting for her.

"Ahankara," he smiled as soon as he saw her, and she immediately smiled back, walking up to him gracefully.

"Have they arrived?" She asked, looking outside. The huge palace garden was decorated beautifully, lit up with oil lamps that were placed along the walking pathways. The main pathway itself, on which they'd walk to enter the Palace, was laden with the petals of a bright yellow flower. It contrasted perfectly with the orange evening sky, giving everything a gentle and fresh hue.

She looked at her brother in question.

"They'll be here any- oh! There they are," Karan Singh smiled, and Ahankara shifted her gaze to the gate.

Yuvraj Yashvir Rathore entered on his magnificent white horse, followed by the man Ahankara remembered as Kabir, who was riding a black one. Beside Kabir was probably Yashvir's uncle, Mahavir Rathore, also on a black horse. Behind the three of them was a litter (a structure used to transport people, containing a bed or seat enclosed by curtains), carried by four men on their shoulders. Ahankara guessed that the Rajkumari of Kalang was inside it.

Just when she thought that was all, a number of servants followed the litter, men and women both, carrying what looked like baskets of fruit, gifts, clothes, and what not. Ahankara frowned, looking at her brother.

"Why do they have so many gifts?" She whispered.

"They're from a rich Kingdom, it's probably a protocol for them," Karan Singh replied in a shushed voice.

Trumpets were blown in welcome of the Yuvraj, as he and his fellow travelers reached the entrance of the Palace building. Yashvir's eyes set on Ahankara, and a smile instantly stretched across his lips.

Meanwhile, Ahankara's heart started to hammer against her chest once again. The longer he stared at her, the more confidence leaked away from her body, as she watched him climb up the few stairs before standing right in front of her.

"Khamma Ghanni," Yashvir joint his hands in greeting, now looking at Maharaja Karan Singh.

For the first time, Ahankara felt intimidated by someone's presence before her, and she took two small steps back, trying to make some distance between herself and him.

"Ghanni Khamma," Karan Singh replied, joining his hands as well. It broke Ahankara out of her bewildered state, and she too joint her hands, directing a smile at the people behind Yashvir.

Mahavir and Rajkumari Shivanya also had their hands joint in greeting, and Ahankara noticed how both their gazes were stuck on her, as if they were scrutinizing her every action. While Mahavir had a calm smile on his face, Shivanya could not stop grinning. Ahankara could not help but smile at her, even though her eyebrows were knitted together in confusion at the same time.

"This is Rajkumari Ahankara, my younger sister," Karan Singh introduced her to Yashvir, gaining her attention. Her eyes met with Yashvir's again, and she felt her heart skip a beat.

"I know," Yashvir smirked.

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