001

THE alarm chimed so violently breaking the still and loud silence of the night and drifting into Rina's ears, abruptly disrupting her night's rest.

She stirred and tried to stop the noise by covering her ears with the spare pillow, and it actually helped, the noise from the alarm wasn't as much as it was, it dwindled a bit.

It was a Monday morning, and so she was supposed to be up getting ready for school. The alarm was only its duty, reminding her that.

Thirty minutes later, the alarm went dead, and everywhere became as quiet as a graveyard again.

That was when she sluggishly got off the bed, and dashed into the bathroom.

***

Rina looked into the large mirror, and she saw the beautiful figure reflecting back at her, a wide smile appeared on her face at that instant.

Beautiful, yes, it wasn't doubted wherever she went. Her beauty was better described as the morning stars.

Averaged height, slim figure with long red hair cascading down her shoulders, and deep sea blue eyes.

Now dressed and looking exquisite in an immaculate white long sleeve shirt, black and white patterned flare skirt, a long black socks— so long that it covered her knees, with white sneakers, she picked up her school bag from the bed and sauntered out of the room.

Getting to the living room, the first thing her eyes caught glimpse of was her father's huge portrait hung on the right side of the wall.

Slowly, she walked up to it.

A tear escaped her eyes as she remembered of his death, two years ago. A lot of tragedy had accompanied his death.

Not only had she lost her dad, her elder brother had followed suit. He had vanished months after her father's funeral, and up until today, no one knew of his whereabouts.

Rina's father was… she couldn't say rich, but at least he was able to keep the family's head above water, cater for their needs till his painful demise.

He was a little well to do, at least to have admitted his children into one of the biggest schools in town.

After his mysterious death, things became so hard for the family, everything turned turpsy-turvy and they all dropped down in their level of status, into the category of people the town's inmates call paupers.

Yep, they became paupers.

Since then, humiliations from different corners had followed, they were seen as taboos.

In school, she lived an isolated life. She only had a friend, her best friend, who made life worth living and manageable.

So going with all these humiliations and all, her elder brother, an only brother, vanished into thin air, soon after her dad's funeral.

Why not? He couldn't continue living with it. He couldn't continue facing such humiliations.

He has never been seen or heard of. Whether he was alive or dead, no one knew.

Aside her best friend, Mrs Anika, her school principal had also made life worth living for her as well.

After her dad's death, when all hopes were gone, this God sent woman had called her aside and pledged to provide all her school needs till she graduates from high school.

That is the sole reason she was still in school, Mrs Anika had really made it happen.

"Rin?" Her mother called jolting her back to reality, "you okay?" She asked.

Rina slowly turned to the direction of the voice, it was her mother. She was standing at the entrance, the apron draped over her body stained with ashes as usual.

Her mother was a local soap dealer, and with the little earnings she made, they used in feeding and kept life going.

"I'm fine mother,” Rina nodded as she wiped off the little tears that had formed in her eyes.

Selena looked at the picture hanging on the wall above her daughter and the reason for the tears on her eyes instantly hit her.

She sighed and slowly walked up to her.

"It is okay daughter,” she pecked her cheeks, "don't let that bother you and spoil your mood. Come on, cheer up,” she stepped back to admire her.

"Mmm, you looking extra fabulous this morning.”

Rina smiled, that was her mother for you, she knows how to make her feel elated at her very down moments.

"Thank you mom,” she said.

Selena nodded and walked to the door leading into the corridor.

“Aren't you eating? There is food, marshed potatoes… eggs.”

Rina shook her head.

"Nah, I don't feel like, I wanna rush to school,” she said.

Selena smiled.

"Well, you can go. Do take care of yourself,” she winked and opened the door, then went in.

Rina walked to the dining to pick up the notebooks she had left there the previous night after her usual prepping.

She had piled up the all the notebooks ready to put into her bag when her eyes caught something on the newspaper lying peacefully on the table.

She unzipped her bag and carefully put in the notebooks, then picked up the newspaper.

Removing the leaflet containing the information that had caught her attention, she left the house.

Once outside, she began going through the headline which had captivated her attention carefully.

ROYAL PRINCE HOMECOMING, PRINCE RAGHAV COMING HOME SOON.

She made a face, so it was this? It wasn't new anymore, the news had practically spread round like wild harmattan fire that the Royal Prince, the only son of King Neel of Shimla kingdom, would be finally coming home soon.

Coming back from the States where he had gone to study for eight years.

Well, there was also news that the Royal Prince was also coming home to settle down finally, and to pick a bride.

This latter reason had made all the young girls and true daughters of the town go crazy and agog. Each of them all wanted to be his bride.

Of course who wouldn't? The bride of the Prince, the almighty Prince!

She looked up from the leaflet and hailed down a cab, then she was off to school.