Royalty. The only thing which was in air of kashikgarh. Kashikgarh is rich in culture heritage, favorable climate, wonderful nature, high hills and mountains, beautiful valleys and loveable people with outstanding king named vishambhar nath Singh. Each and everyone in Kingdom calls him "kashikgarh Naresh" which means the king of kashikgarh.Kashikgarh is one of the very powerful kingdom in all over hind.
There was so much crowd and rush since it was the huge and busiest market of my kingdom. The only thing which was constant between every single person was smile. Every one was happy and satisfied in there work. The shopkeepers were happily selling there goods. Customers were laughingly negotiating with shopkeepers. Seeing them happy made my lips curved in wide smile.
This is the third time when I stepped out of my palace without letting anyone know because this is all I could do. Being a princess of one of the most powerful kingdom in rajputana is not easy. I must've to hide my real identity from everyone out there. Whenever I visit market I had to remove all my royal jewelleries and clothes,make myself different person,a civilian.
I always wanted to see the real world out of palace So here I am walking around. I went to a shop and looked at the dresses which were hanged for sale. I smiled and touch yellow coloured lehenga with red big thick designed boarders. Suddenly I thinned my brows as heard someone talking about palace.
"Bhaisahab, Rana-sa yudh se Vijay hoke wapas aa rahe hain aaj."
A man said to other making a serious face.
"Yes,The royal palace is being decorated like a newly wed bride in order to welcome him" Other man said.
The moment I heard the arrival of king in palace made me jump in happiness since we won in battle but suddenly the realisation hitted me and smiled dropped, adrenaline rush to nerves. everyone in palace must be finding me to get ready for welcoming him. And i am here, at the market. I immediately took steps towards my horse,climbed on him,rode him forward the palace. I must be present there before the king's arrival.
I reached the palace took a look of palace from outside as the man told,the palace was decorated like a newly wed bride. The flowers, rangoli, diyas everywhere. attendees were moving forward for completing there given task. I took my heels forward to chamber and thanks to God that nobody saw me coming because everyone was busy and also khidkiya Mahal is at the deserted side so nobody goes there usually.
Khidkiya Mahal is my personal chamber which has lot of windows. I can look at whole kingdom and valleys through windows of upper floors. The view from khidkiya Mahal is unbeatable.
It's definitely the most beautiful chamber in whole kingdom. Since it's my Mahal no male can enter instead of king or prince.
I started getting ready as soon as i entered in. There was only one attendee who was patiently waiting for me, named Gauri. She is my personal attendee yet my closest friend. Only she knows that I go outside. I took shower and started getting ready. After a while, I heard the triumphet sound signalling the king's arrival.
I increased my pace of getting ready. I was excited as hell to meet my brother and father. Smile didn't left my face.
I got ready in navy blue coloured floral lehenga which has pink and silver design with small round mangtika in my partition of hairs,bangles, rings, necklace, armlets, waistband and at last anklet. Every jewellery of mine was not of gold but flowers, from head to toe I was covered in flower. My both braids was in front. I took corner of dupatta putting on my head as a veil. I never cover full head with veil unlike bhabhi-sa and maa-sa. I'm a princess not queen yet. Looking myself in mirror made me realise a crucial jewel which I forget to wear. It was my chandrika. It's a small crown made of gold and a Ruby. It represents me as a responsible princess which was gifted by my grandmother when I was born. I never take it out of head but because I went to market I needed to remove it. i couldn't let anyone know my identity by chandrika.
I hurriedly moved my heels towards the gate of khidkiya Mahal to get out. The moment i exited Mahal the loud sound of triumphet and drums reached ears. I started running through galleries while gauri was behind me continuosly telling me to slow down but I cared less.
i ran towards the main gate of palace where all these celebration were held My breath hitched when I saw the view of my father sitting on elephant royally and my brother on horse, coming in. Eyes roamed around seeing bhabhi-sa and maa-sa holding the "aarti ki thali". I smiled wide but my eyes stopped at one more horse rider who was coming with my brother parallelly. He was unknown to me. The convoy of our army was larger in number as compared to before.
"Kashikgarh naresh, vishambhar nath Singh ki jai!!" "Kashikgarh yuvraj, Abhimaan Singh ki jai!!"
Everyone was screamed praising them.
Seeing baapu-sa coming down from elephant I quickly ran to him,he saw me and chuckled slightly spread his arms for me and I instantly hugged him. He patted my head softly and my tears Strom down. Tears were obvious since I hugged him after 4 months. He broke hug and I touched his feet for blessings. He move forward while I looked at bhai-sa smiling weakly, hugged him tightly. The warmth of his hug made me crying badly. I missed him. I was so afraid for them as the rival was so strong with army. The moment i rest my head on his chest he hissed a little made me realise that he might've got some wounds. I broke hug seeing my tears he shook his head saying..
" chot se jyada hme hamari kashi aansu dard de rahe hai "
"Humne aapko bhot yaad kiya bhai-sa"
"Ab hm wapas aa gye hai na ab aapko kahi chodh ke nhi jayenge chutki, khush!?"
He said with a pure smile. I missed him calling me chutki. he cupped my face and wiping tears from his thumb. I nodded before he went towards maa-sa and bhabhi-sa.
I noticed that man who came with bhai-sa. He stepped out from his white horse. He was tall with broad shoulders,well builded body, which was visible as he has wore armour so I could feel the hard chest. His waistband had a sword. His big palm held a bow, and arrow band was on his shoulder . He started moving towards me. I noticed his arm had a big cut which was clotted with blood.
He looked at me and I instantly wiped my tears with the back of my palm.
" Khamma ghani" i greeted him with joined palm and wide smile. I couldn't ignore him because he seemed a guest.
" Ghani khamma" he greeted back. I noticed his deep dimples on the corner of cheeks which was cute.
We had a eye contact for a moment.
"Kashi!! Putri bhitar aao, bahar bheed badh rahi h." My mother said loudly with her thinned brows.
For a moment i forgot that the palace is full of crowd and I can't stay here for long.
"Hmare ghar me padharo athiti ji!! I said to him by referring my hands towards inside but he was busy staring at me as if he saw ghost or something.
"Athiti ji" i said loudly.
He came back from his delusion,just nodded simply and marched forward. I ran towards maa-sa leaving him behind.
All the rituals were done by now and at last baapu-sa thanked every one from crowd by making an announcement of lending them small gifts. Whole crowd praised loudly out of happiness which made everyone feel blessed.
We all came inside and everyone went to their respective chambers since bhai-sa and baapu-sa were still on their Armour also they needed rest but before marching towards our chambers bhai-sa announced that we all will have lunch together and ordered an attendee to take extra care of our guest whom I still didn't get introduced.
Entering in khidkiya mahal. All attendees were chatting with each other. I layed on bed.
After some chatting i instantly slept since I was tired from morning. I went to market on my own as it's not habitual that's why getting tired easy. After a while, everyone was waiting for me at the royal dinning hall and I was late. Gauri woke me up for lunch, I sat rubbing eyes wanting to sleep more. But being excited to have meal with complete family made me stood up and went outside to meet everyone. The moment i entered dinner hall ,heard baapu-sa was saying something about me but got silent after noticing me there.
"Shaitan ka naam liya aur Shaitan upasthit" maa-sa said giggling and everyone looked up at me laughing. I noticed that they were discussing something about me but I cared less and sat beside bhabhi-sa.
"Maa-sa how can you always make fun of me, am I not your daughter?" I said almost whining looking at her.
"Aww my poor little sister got hurt? Chutki aapko baapusa ne kachre ke dher se god liya tha isilye maa sa aapko Prem nhi krti" bhai-sa said teasing me. Which I offended with a angry pout.
"Bhai-saaaa......" i whinced with a pout.
"This is the daily conversation of us at dinning table, son rudraksh." Baapu-sa chuckled looking at the guest who sat just infront of me.
"Ji Raja ji" he said slightly smiling.
My mother stood up from her place and went to him for serving him food from her hand. My eyes came out of socket seeing the situation infront of me. Like my mother, the maharani of this kingdom is serving a guest.
"Rudraksh son, you're so thin and eating very less food. See there are so many cuisine and you must try Everything. You hadn't ate well because of war, I guess ,so I made kheer personally for you."she said happily,making his bowl full of kheer.
Sudden jealousy ran through my body seeing mom caring about him so much.
"Maaa-saa, i want kheer too. I also didn't ate well" i stated with thinned brows and slightly angry look.
Everyone laughed.
"You must make yourself comfortable and eat more otherwise my mom won't let you move from here" bhai-sa said laughingly.
he instantly nodded and said after taking a spoonful bite of kheer,
"It's ok maharani-sa, don't worry. I'll eat more till my stomach starts making noises for space And this kheer is super tasty. Thanks for your efforts."
He seemed so comfortable here. I mean everyone so caring about him. But why? If he is this much important then how come I don't know him!?
Suddenly my thoughts interrupted when he looked at me with his sharping gaze. I made a confident eye contact with his eyes and i found his eyes colour was brown. His lashes are long. He has slight dark circles may be he didn't sleep well from days. His slightly long silky hairs were the most attractive feature.Then his lowered gaze to my lips and i instantly broke contact, adjusting my plate.
While eating my eyes noticed his arms which had a deep wound and he didn't applied any medicine there, it was not even wrapped with cloth.
After lunch everyone went to their respective chambers except me, baapu-sa and him. baapu-sa introduces him to me saying,
"Putri Kashi!! yeh hai martikavati naresh, Rudraksh Singh rajput." My father stated and i stared blankly at him. He is the king of one of the most powerful kingdom martikavati. Martikavati is as royal as kashikgarh. Past Stories of martikavati has always been a hot topic for rajputana.
"Because of his help we won in battle otherwise our winning chance was impossible. He lended us his 50 thousands army with his extraordinary weapons. The strategy he and abhimaan made was quite effective. The war was of 4 months and he spent 3 months with us, fighting for us. He himself got injured. Most importantly,he took an arrow on his chest in order to save abhimaan in battlefield,which we all owe him,but at last the hardwork came to an end,we won! All thanks to rudraksh." Baapu-sa elaborated everything.
"Milke khushi hui aapse martikavati naresh!" I said smiling lightly.
"Take a proper rest both of you,I'll take my leave now" baapu-sa said and moved towards his chamber. Rudraksh slightly leaned forward towards me for taking an apple from the dinning table which was behind me while muttering in my ears,
"Hme toh sbse jyada Khushi aapse milke hui rajkumari Sahiba" I got stunned by his move seeing him taking his steps back while having a bite of apple. He looked straight into my eyes before going towards guests chamber leaving me behind. My cheeks were feeling hot out of nowhere. But Shrugging my thoughts,I went to the physician's place asking for ayurvedic medicines for bhai-sa as he got wounds during war but physician informed me that bhabhi-sa already applied paste on his wound so he is good now. I smiled and turned to took my leave but I remember that rudraksh also got deep cut on his arm and he didn't applied any medicine.I took some paste from physician before moving my heels towards guests chamber. He owe us. He literally took arrow for bhai-sa. Taking care of him is all I could do in return. It was not good to go alone in his chamber so I took gauri with me. The attendees, who were at the door for his protection made an announcement of my arrival in his chamber before he permitted him to open the big rocked door.
I instantly went inside seeing him sitting on couch while rolling the scrolls of papers. He must be working. My eyes roamed on his arms, his wounds seemed fresh. I clicked my tongue and said.
"Itne bade Raja hone ka kya matlab jab aap apni chot ka dhyan nhi rakh skte" I said looking straight in his eyes while he chuckled.
"Itni badi rajkumari hone ka kya matlab jab aap apni payal ka dhyan nhi rakh skti"
he said in same tone and words as mine. I thinned my brows looking at my both feets. I had anklet only on my one ankle. Eyes widened while figuring out how the one anklet got disappeared. I turned my eyes here and there on floor but didn't found. I looked at gauri who was trying to find anklet for me. Out of nowhere sound of ghungroo reached ears made eyes lifted up at him. I went shocked seeing him stood up from couch ,holding the one corner of my anklet ,moving it slightly left to right while making his brow lifted with a smirk which caught my attention. I instantly moved towards him and snatched my anklet from his hand
"Hme nhi pta tha ki aapko chori ki aadat h, martikavati naresh." I stated looking straight into his eyes but the closeness made my gaze lowered .
"Jab vastu itni khubsurat ldki ki ho toh churane me kaisi Sharm, kashikgarh rajkumari " He said with a smirk.
"Aapko payal pasnd hai? Manna padega kafi anokhi pasand hai aapki. Rana-sa rudraksh." I said making guari laugh who was standing at the door.
He laughed a little, said something staring deep into my eyes which made my heart fluttered.
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