Chapter 46 Bhoomipur Pratha Invisible Pain
The air in Princess Dharaaya chamber was fragrant with jasmine carried on a soft breeze that danced through the latticed windows Sunlight streamed in catching the dust motes in golden beams Dharaaya sat at her ornate writing desk a scroll of fine parchment laid out before her Her brow was slightly furrowed in concentration her quill held delicately as she composed a message Every word was carefully chosen every sentence a whisper from her heart Just as she was about to dip her quill again the door creaked open and her younger sister Pratha slipped inside
Pratha Didi what are you writing You look so serious
Dharaaya instinctively covered the paper with her hand as if caught with a secret Nothing I was just writing nothing important
Pratha floated closer her eyes sparkling with playful curiosity Oh dont hide the truth from me Im your sister Whats there to hide between sisters Youre doing wrong Didi
Dharaaya hesitated then sighed a small secretive smile touching her lips She moved her hand slightly Alright I was writing a message
Pratha leaned in her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper And who is it for
For no one Pratha Dharaaya said but a faint tremor in her voice betrayed her
Pratha tilted her head peering into Dharaaya eyes with a knowing look Fine dont tell me the name But just tell me this much is it for that prince The one from the Tapobhumi days The one you used to stay up talking about at night
A deeper more tender smile bloomed on Dharaaya face Her eyes grew distant seeing a cherished memory She nodded slowly Yes Pratha its him Im writing to him
Pratha eyes lit up with mischief She tried to peek at the parchment So tell me Didi What are you writing A poem A song Or just straight from the heart
Dharaaya protectively gathered the paper to her chest laughing softly No I am not telling you that Now go or Ill never finish this letter
Pratha laughed a bright tinkling sound Alright alright Didi Im leaving You write your message to your dream prince She turned and skipped towards the door But as she left she cast one last glance over her shoulder a glance that lingered on the pure hopeful joy illuminating Dharaaya face a joy Pratha had never felt in her own heart
The moment the door clicked shut Pratha cheerful smile dissolved It didnt fade it simply vanished like a snuffed candle flame She leaned back against the cool stone wall of the corridor her eyes closing In the darkness behind her eyelids a face swam into view Prince Vaayansh face Memories of their Tapobhumi days flooded back days when she had trailed behind Dharaaya her own heart skipping a beat whenever Vaayansh was near But she had never spoken a word Because Vaayansh gaze warm and focused had always been reserved for Dharaaya
Pavangarh Vaayansh and the Queen
Vaayansh returned to his chambers from the armory the scent of oiled steel and polished leather clinging to him His hands bore fresh calluses from sword practice and a fine layer of dust coated his training clothes A knock sounded at his door
A guard entered bowing and presented a sealed scroll Prince a message has arrived from Bhoomipur
Vaayansh eyes brightened instantly He reached for it but just then Queen Madhavi passed by the open doorway Her sharp eyes noted the guard and the distinctive scroll
Queen Madhavi Whose message is that soldier
The guard bowed again Your Highness this message is from Bhoomipur
Queen Madhavi Bhoomipur For whom
Guard It is from Princess Dharaaya Your Highness Addressed to Prince Vaayansh
A knowing gentle smile spread across the Queen face smoothing the lines of her regal composure Ah I see Very well Deliver it to the Prince at once but you need not mention that I inquired about it
Guard As you command Your Majesty He handed the scroll to Vaayansh who took it his fingers tingling with anticipation
Alone again Vaayansh broke the seal with careful haste His hands trembled slightly Unfurling the parchment he was greeted by Dharaaya elegant flowing script
My respectful greetings Prince How are you I am well yet I find myself missing you greatly Have you forgotten me You do not even write to me
When will you come for me Prince I await your arrival These nights have become difficult to endure Even in my dreams it is only you who appears
Yours Dharaaya
Vaayansh heart thudded against his ribs He read the words once then again and a third time each syllable sinking into his soul like a precious balm A slow profound smile curved his lips a smile of pure unguarded happiness he seldom showed With reverence he folded the letter and slipped it beneath his pillow a hidden treasure a secret promise
Queen Madhavi went straight to the King council chamber
Maharaj I believe the time has come to formally settle our sons marriage
King Vijayendra looking up from his maps surprised What brings this thought to you so suddenly today
Queen Madhavi her smile returning A message came for Vaayansh today From Bhoomipur From Princess Dharaaya herself
King Vijayendra Truly
Queen Madhavi Yes Maharaj I believe the alliance we spoke of in their childhood is now ready to blossom into its true purpose The formal agreement should be honored Their hearts are already one
King Vijayendra thoughtfully stroking his beard You speak wisely However we must still speak with the Prince on this matter It is his life after all
Queen Madhavi her eyes held a mothers deep understanding You misunderstand Maharaj They are already conversing heart to heart through these messages This direct personal communion can mean only one thing love has taken root This is no longer just politics it is the soul finding its match
King Vijayendra considered his wifes words her intuition often seeing what statecraft overlooked He nodded slowly a decision firming in his mind Very well Maharani I concur with your judgement We shall speak with our old friend soon and bring this matter to its rightful joyful conclusion
A Few Days Later A Meeting in Bhoomipur
Maharaja Anilraj of Pavangarh arrived at the court of his old friend Maharaja Pratham of Bhoomipur The two friends embraced warmly their laughter filling the hall as they settled down to talk Soon Dharaaya entered graceful and composed joining her hands in a respectful pranam
Dharaaya My respects Uncle
Maharaja Anilraj May you always prosper my child Look how youve grown
Maharaja Pratham laughing My friend its been too long How are you
Anilraj I am well my friend I have come to discuss a matter of great importance with you
Pratham Of course speak freely
Anilraj I wish to speak to you about our daughter Dharaaya
At that moment Pratha also entered the hall perhaps under some pretext She lingered near the doorway her expression growing taut
Pratham What is it friend
Anilraj I wish to discuss the marriage between Prince Vaayansh and Princess Dharaaya
Upon hearing this Dharaaya cheeks flushed a deep crimson Overcome with shyness she quickly excused herself and left the hall But Pratha remained rooted to the spot as if roots had sprouted from her feet and anchored her to the floor Her breath hitched her eyes widening
Pratham Regarding their marriage
Anilraj Yes my friend Are you not pleased with this union
Pratham I am delighted friend We had more or less decided on this match in their childhood itself But is Dharaaya agreeable to this marriage
Anilraj Let me tell you something my friend The Prince and Princess have been exchanging messages My Queen witnessed it herself
The two kings shared a hearty laugh their eyes twinkling with shared understanding and paternal joy
Pratham Truly children grow up so fast We should finalize their marriage
Anilraj Yes my friend That is precisely why I have come to speak with you
Pratham Good now come let us eat Many delicacies have been prepared for you
Anilraj laughing Lead the way future samdhi
Chatting amiably the two friends moved towards the dining hall the matter settled with warmth and tradition
Pratha Solitude
Pratha walked slowly back to her chamber each step heavy Once inside she closed the door and leaned against it her strength leaving her She slid down to the floor her back against the wood Silent tears began to fall one after another tracing cold paths down her cheeks
Pratha whispering her voice thick Why Celestials why have you destined Didi to marry him It is I who loves him that smile that voice I never told anyone because he was always meant to be Didis
She buried her face in her hands her shoulders shaking with silent sobs She had always known Vaayansh never saw her his eyes full of admiration were forever fixed on Dharaaya Yet a foolish fragile hope had flickered in a hidden corner of her heart Now it was extinguished
After a long while she wiped her tears and looked at her reflection in a nearby mirror red rimmed eyes downcast lips She took a deep shuddering breath and walked to Dharaaya chamber
Pratha pushing the door open Didi
Dharaaya rising happily Pratha What did Father say Did Uncle agree to the marriage
Pratha fought to keep her voice steady Yes Didi They have agreed to the marriage But
Dharaaya worried But what Pratha Is something wrong Are you alright
Pratha forcing a bright smile No Didi That message you were writing it was for Prince Vaayansh wasnt it
Dharaaya blushing Yes Pratha
Pratha stepped forward and pulled Dharaaya into a tight desperate hug so fierce it surprised her sister Then congratulations Didi Your marriage to Prince Vaayansh is settled You must be very happy
Her voice cracked The tears came again and this time she couldnt hide them
Dharaaya pulling back to look at her face Youre crying Pratha Why
Pratha quickly wiping her eyes No Didi Im just happy These are tears of joy My Didis marriage is fixed Im just so happy
And before Dharaaya could ask anything more Pratha disentangled herself and hurried out of the room
Back in the solitude of her own chamber Pratha closed the door and sank to the floor once more This time no tears came There was only a hollow emptiness a pain she could never share with anyone She knew this was her battle to fight a silent war waged within the walls of her own heart invisible to the world celebrating a union that felt to her like an ending
Agni ran deeper into the forest the darkness closing around him like a living thing Every tree every breath every shadow seemed determined to stop him Then the ground beneath his feet gave way An ancient Naad Sutra scarred ritual pit opened before him pulsing with cold energy From its depths rose a voice calling his name Neers voice But Agni knew with a terror that froze his blood that voice did not belong to Neer And in the very next heartbeat the darkness surged upward and dragged Agni into itself
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