The kingdom rejoiced at the notice of a wedding in the kingdom. Wedding of their beloved princess. Wedding of their beloved princess. The roads were adorned with flowers and the sweet stalls were fragrant with the smell of every variety of sweet.
Some sat talking under trees. Talking about the wedding and to be completely honest it is a common thing to gossip about royal families.
The man with his moustache spoke, "Did you hear about the king's another daughter?"
A man dressed in strict whites started, "Yes, people say it is because of her that our kingdom is suffering. Disgraceful concubine's daughter."
Though hearing the men speak illy about someone, the women hearing it stood quiet. They grumbled at their words but failed to speak out to them.
The moustached man started again, "glory to the Gods, that woman isn't the one getting married. Her presence is like a black cat cutting your way. Something bad is bound to happen."
Aradhya pulled her shawl over her head closely, nervousness spreading through her at the words of the men. She sniffled. Every other incident every little incident was talked on about how Aradhya isn't involved in it. How Aradhya is not the one doing good to the kingdom.
Aradhya shook her head violently and walked, her pace fast hut planned.
"Don't heed them Aradhya. Just go to the temple, and go back to your room."
And somehow, her mind accepted it. She really didn't heed them. Because her mind was pacing around the fact that Tamasvini was being wed to Amar.
. . . .
The charioteer slowed down the chariot in the streets as people showered flowers on the now arrived, prince, Rajkumar Amar and his father, the king of the Dharini kingdom. The throng beamed at the king and prince. They offered gifts and wishes.
Amar spoke with his raspy yet high voice, "Thank you all for your kindness. I hope you are happier every time I come around."
The charioteer sped the wheels of the chariot faster, steering the royalty away from the crowd.
The palace of Shiladhika had somehow always been Amar's favourite place. Simplicity and expertise as he called it. The king walked ahead to meet Aagneya, smiling at him with open arms. The kings embraced each other while Amar took blessings from the queens.
"Hope you had a beautiful journey," Aagneya stated as Amar almost glared at his happy face. Amar knew of Aagneya's deeds. He partially hated him for that.
"It was, indeed a beautiful journey, Maharaj. Would you please guide us to our chambers so that we could rest a while before meeting the princess?" The king of the Dharini kingdom uttered. Aagneya nodded and called for the servants.
"Father. I...will...go around the kingdom for a while. With Rajkumar Vikram." Amar said and Vikram shot him a dismayed look from behind Aagneya. He rolled his eyes and stepped forward.
"Fine, I'll take him around. You can rest Maharaj." Vikram said and walked at a surreal pace while Amar barely kept up with him.
Reaching a far end of the palace entrance, Vikram turned to Amar and squinted his eyes.
"What?" Amar asked.
"Can you not be so obvious that you are obvious that you know that Aradhya isn't in the palace."
"I know. It's Friday today, there's not a single chance she's going to skip the temple."
"You know what...I like you. You seem to know about her...schedule."
"Come on, Vikram. Please. Take me to her."
"She can't meet you like that. The prince of Dharini kingdom and a woman looking merely like a peasant, that could be bad."
"Please..."
"Meet her afterwards, Rajkumar. I have a state assembly to attend."
"I'll tell Maharaj Aagneya about the princess of the A-" Amar felt his voice being muffled under Vikram's palm
Vikram could feel Amar smirk against his palm as he glared at him.
"This is the only time you're doing this. You understand?" Vikram asked letting go of Amar. Amar nodded eagerly. He tailed Vikram out of the palace.
. . . .
Aradhya stood before a huge pond in the temple, observing its stillness and her minds fidgetiness. The wind blew and the rustling of leaves and the chirping of the birds was heard. The temple of the God of their kingdom, the chapel of Krishna was seemingly empty as everyone indulged in preparing the kingdom for the grand wedding.
Aradhya looked to her side and threw a smile at the enormous idol of Krishna, draped in yellow and a colourful feather playing at his crown. A flute hovering over his lips and his form, breathtaking in every way. Aradhya still wondered...why Amar?
"What do you think, Krishna? Will he accept the proposal?" Aradhya asked staring at the idol.
"Well, I'll have to look into it, Rajkumari Aradhya." Amar's voice cut through the song of nature in a sharp shout. Aradhya instantly turned around and jumped.
"Rajkumar Amar? Why are you here?" She spoke.
"Please...that's no way to welcome someone, least of all me."
"No, I just wasn't expecting you to be here."
Amar smiled and took steps towards Aradhya as Aradhya stood there still in disbelief.
"It's been long since we met, Rajkumari." Amar nodded his head lightly and Aradhya now smiled a little. She beamed almost. Aradhya grinned for a moment and immediately dropped her smile and clutched her shawl. she looked around, nervous.
"I don't think we shouldn't be talking here. Someone might end up seeing us." Aradhya stated and on time Vikram strode in with an annoyed look on his face.
"Don't worry about that, big sister," he uttered in sheer sarcasm, "I've told the people that the chapel is closed for the day. And don't think I'm happy with that. I don't like lying to my people. And before-" Before Vikram could finish he noticed Amar and Aradhya completely ignoring him and walking away, talking to each other.
"Ungrateful kids..." He mumbled to himself and walked around the chapel with no aim as to where he wanted to go. It was just pointless roaming. And wondering about the Rajkumari of A-
"Vikram!" Amar's voice broke through the temple. He called Vikram over, Aradhya smiling at him. Vikram rolled his eyes and walked over, disinterest in every step he took. He clearly didn't want to be involved in their, no, Amar's flirty talks with Aradhya. Not that he didn't appreciate Amar seeing Aradhya for what she. Besides Vikram and Bhairavi, Amar was the only one who cared about Aradhya.
"What?" He asked.
"I think we should head back. Aradhya is catching a cold." Amar spoke without thinking and earned a good eyebrow-raised look from Vikram.
"Are you serious? Did I lie to my subjects for nothing? It's been merely fifteen minutes. And about Aradhya catching a cold? What do you think she is? Her nose is always running and her face gets red even at small whiffs of air." Vikram lost his cool, uttering his mind. It wasn't new to Aradhya and Amar seeing Vikram losing his temper about making him do something that was against his kingdom and people.
"You know what? Fine. We can head back because you have to meet Tamasvini." Vikram ordered, grabbing Aradhya's arm and pulling her away as Amar ran behind them.
. . . .
Tamasvini stood fixing her extravagant jewels adorning her malnourished figure. She stood looking over a balcony, waiting for Amar's arrival. She already had her list of questions ready to ask her groom.
"Greetings, Rajkumari." Amar's voice resounded as Tamasvini took in his form. Shuffled black hair, deep black eyes, jawline as sharp as his collar bones. And Tamasvini never heeded to his facial features and form but her eyes only hovered over his opulent clothing and rings and chains on his fingers and neck. A genuine smile made her way onto her face as she shook her head away from her thoughts of richness.
"Greetings, Rajkumar," Tamasvini spoke in her heavily high pitched tone. Amar nodded. He accompanied her by the bannister of the balcony. And without any more time to spare, Tamasvini shot her first question up.
"So, Rajkumar Amar. How have you been?" She asked as Maharani Chaya has asked her to.
"I've been great, Rajkumari, I guess, I could say the same about you," Amar replied.
"I'm better now that I know that I'm getting married to one of the most powerful princes of Bharath."
Amar almost immediately sensed her hunger for power in her words but decided to let it go. He just smiled at her comment and looked over ahead.
"So, Rajkumar, don't mind me asking but how far is your kingdom's reign?" Tamasvini blabbered, more interested that where Amar was from rather than who he is.
"Our kingdom's reign...around thirty thousand miles, north," Amar replied utterly plainly. He saw Tamasvini's face glow up at his words. He knew now that her power hungriness was way more than he thought it was.
"Why do you ask, Rajkumari Tamasvini?" Amar asked, catching Tamasvini off guard.
"Well... I do take some interest in diplomatic and political issues. I just want to know about your kingdom." Tamasvini admitted, admitted as in lied, "How is the state of the kingdom? Are people happy? Places well kept? Is your economy growing?"
Amar grew uncomfortable at her firing off questions and yet he replied, "It is, in fact. The people are already very well facilitated, the places are seen to be taken special care of and the economy? Growing every day."
Tamasvini turned at the words and an evil smile rose on her face. Thoughts of luxury and comfort ran across her mind.
"Tell me more about you, Rajkumari," Amar stated a hint of annoyance and grit in his tone.
"Well, I can say that I'm happy knowing that I'll serve your ever-growing kingdom. But it seems now that our meeting should come to an end." Tamasvini turned around.
"But-"
"I'll let Father know my decision." Saying so, as if Amar already didn't know what her decision was, Tamasvini scampered off to brag to her mother about her spouse.
Amar stirred in his place, uncomfortable and in sheer disgust at what happened. He turned stoic again and strode out of the balcony.
. . . .
"That is so wrong." Amar groaned.
"Not to her. She has always been like that. When I become king, I'll banish her out of the kingdom." Vikram spoke, sipping out of his chalice.
"I was so disgusted. Did you know what she said to me first? I feel great that I'm getting married to you. Can you imagine?"
"Yes, I absolutely can."
"She ain't at all like Aradhya. She isn't as calm as she is, she isn't witty, she isn't strong- did you look at her malnourished form?..."
"I do every day."
"She isn't even as pretty as Aradhya."
Vikram shot a look at Amar from his mildly drunk peripheral eye. Amar realising his gaze stopped talking and pulled his chalice to his face.
"I think I'll tell Aradhya about what you just said." Vikram gulped.
"Don't."
"Try and stop me," Vikram said getting up. He put his glass down and started walking.
"I can probably tackle you to the floor right now. Get back here and sit down." Amar ordered. Vikram turned around a thoughtful gaze on his face.
"You know what? You're right. I don't want to end up on the floor. I'll come back." Vikram sauntered over to his seat and sat down with a thud, "but, about what you said. Do you like Aradhya?"
. . . .
The next morning was on the kingdom, bright and clear. The while kingdom awaited the announcement of the news.
The palace was tense. Aagneya sat on his throne accompanied by his queens. The King of the Dharini kingdom and Amar sat a couple of steps down.
"Rajkumar Amar, you have met Tamasvini and as expected you have talked to her and gotten to know each other. Do you wish to marry Tamasvini?" The Mahamatya asked Amar who shot a look at the storey of the hall where Tamasvini sat blushing. His eyes wandered over to an isolated part of the storey where a pair of hazel brown eyes met him, starting through the parting of the shawl.
He drew in a deep breath and let it out audibly. Everyone seemed to have noticed his feature and had their eyes fixed on him. Amar caught Vikram smirking at him.
"Maharaj, I would be honoured to marry the princess of this kingdom," Amar spoke, and the entire courtroom erupted into cheers. Tamasvini beamed and clapped her hands excitedly while Chaya smiled at her.
All the cheering immediately subsided when Amar's voice cut through again, "but..."
It was funny to him how the cheering and happy faces of people soon turned into faces of turmoil. He caught Aradhya's eyes again and turned to Aagneya.
"I would be honoured to marry, not Rajkumari Tamasvini, but Rajkumari Aradhya."
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