The Forgotten Princess
[Note- The story is available on Wattpad . ]
Chipe hue lafz kaun kahega? Inn siyahi ke panno ko kaun samjhega?
Kisme itna wakt hai ki,
wo mere dil ke lafzo ko sunne ka irada rakhega?
It was another great day in the kingdom of Varamkutha. All the servants and guards were scurrying around here and there. It was because the great grand ball of the year was right around the corn Many powerful and prosperous kingdoms would be attending this royal ball
Varamkutha's Maharaj Krithamahesh arranged this grand ball every year to celebrate,and bring joyness. But the main reason was to strengthen political connections with powerful kingdoms, making trading and political alliances and to stay in peace.
Maharaj Kritmahesh was married to Maharani Sudarini and he had four kids- the eldest Vikram , second eldest Raghuveer, second youngest Reva and the youngest Nirima.
Vikram was 27 and Raghuveer was 25. Both of them were very skilled and smart. They had mostly been away from the kingdom for past couple of years to master their training for war tactics and skills.
They did visit their family in between. They were now officially trained and well skilled, ready to rule after their father.
Reva was 23 and Nirima was 21, both the princesses were were beautiful, sharp and cunning ones. They had been taught all the royal etiquettes and manners. They had also been taught art forms like dancing and singing.
Tonight is the great ball and every royal, count and other highly ranked officials would be visiting, except for one person.
There was a chamber at the far end of the great palace, where hardly any activities take place.
The chamber is usually very quiet; very less guards or servants could be seen there.
Far back at the very end of the balcony, a small figure was lying with her tear strained face, yet she had a soft charm on her face.
She was a beauty on earth. It was chilly, yet she laid glued to the railing.
She was facing the starry sky, staring at the moon.
Her eyes were twinkling as she admired her Moon, her hair long swaying with the wind; creating a mesmerising sight and alluring sound while playing her Baansuri (flute)
Her small lips which were slightly kissing the baasuri were wobbling; another trail of tear fell down her doll like eyes.
The sound of Baansuri floating into the air; disappearing.
It was her chamber.
Rajkumari Mayurika.
The one erased from the pages of History. Trapped in a golden cage; she was a sparrow who dreamt of flying.
Every night- alone in the dark; she sat beside her window- staring at her beloved moon, with pain and longing in her eyes- wondering if they would call her out that day.
She had been waiting for eternity- for someone to come to her; take her out, talk to her.
Her lips wobbled, as a sob escaped her lips thinking- would they bring her food today, or would they forget this time?
Hundreds of books lay beside her- the ones with knowledge, art, tales; and many others- where her world resided.
While looking at the Moon- she always wondered; if would ever be able to breathe beneath the free sky- or would she be caged here forever?
She wished for someone to come someday- to listen to her and break the invisible cage forever. Her soul craved love, craved familiarity; the comfort of another human being.
Unaware of the outside world- these questions kept lingering in her chambers since years.
Her voice rang out- fading into the soft mist of air; disappearing, leaving no trace.
"Aapne sabke liye koi n koi banaya- meri daasta likhte samay aap dusre kirdaar bhul gaye the Krishn?"
She asked- the same question again. Had he really forgotten to write something in her destiny- she couldn't tell.
Her chest tightened; a lump residing heavy in her throat. Her fists clenched, lips wobbling.
"Meri saanse tadap rahi hai uss samay ke liye- jis din we khule aasman me we vileen ho sakegi; aap sun rahe hai?"
She asked, demanding an answer. The suffocation had taken a toll on her, once again- she questioned him; looking for answers she had searched for years.
Her eyes reddened, as she sniffed- glaring at the sky above- expressing her frustration to her only achor.
Her voice trembled, as she let a shaky breath.
"Bohot samay ho gaya, ab to bata dijiye- kya koi meri baansuri ki dhun ko sunega?"
She kept her baansuri down. Tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls of the sea. Sitting beside the balcony- she thought about the next day- the fateful day when her destiny had been sealed years ago.
It was the birthday of the King Of Varamkutha- and the grand feast was being thrown again.
Would they forgive her now? The question lurked in the shadows- with the extinguishing hope- just like previous years.
She couldn't help it. The desperation, the misery of her own- it peaked during the time.
She had always dreamt of attending the feast- the royal dance that followed. Wearing a beautiful attire, with a flowy dupatta- the long curls open- and her dancing freely beneath the open sky.
Freedom.
A word so desirable yet so forbidden.
But she still remembered the last time she had attended the celebration- twelve oppressive years ago. The day when she was erased from the royal status. The worst nightmare of her life- that lurked in shadows even today. The last day when she had freedom.
[Flashback]
Mayuri came running wearing a beautiful dress into the hall, she was looking glamorous. Her sisters became quiet jealous of her appearance.
She danced her heart out that night, she was on ninth cloud with happiness that day,but it couldn't last for long.
Mayuri was playing with Reva and Nirima. She loved her sisters dearly but her sisters held nothing but pure hate for her.
Reality was harsh ,she was never treated that well, her father ignored her most of the times, and the brothers and sisters along with Sudarini hated her with all their guts.
But she being a mere child never realised this... everyday she would come running to play with her brothers and sisters and they would say hateful words and exclude her.
She would wake up with a new hope maybe her mother would cook her favourite food for this time, but Sudarini never cared.
Sudarini hated her with all her might because she was not her real daughter. No one really cared about her, she was the unwanted member in her family, but the poor little 8 year-old child failed to notice this.
Her love for her family was pure. Even after so many insults, she would come running to play with her sisters.
Even if they didn't let her play with them, she would still see them from afar with a smile.
Her brothers never paid attention to her, still she would yearn for their love; crave for their attention.
On that day, she was playing with Reva and Nirima. While playing with them Nirima suddenly fell off the stairs and both the sisters cunningly took the chance to blame Mayuri.
"I swear I didn't do it mother..Please!"
She begged as Sudarini slapped her again.
"What do you mean!? How dare you hurt my sister!?" Vikram screamed at her in rage. The thought of Mayuri harming his sister boiled his blood.
Vikram shouting at her made her even more scared.
"I didn't do it brother, it was just a mistake!" She pleaded as tears continously fell off her eyes.
Raghuveer looked at her with outrageous anger filled eyes while consoling Nirima.
"Shh, Nirima it's okay, don't worry! You're fine now."
"Mother! This cunning girl once again tried to harm us. She hit me too!" Reva added.
"How many times are you going to hurt my daughters!? You're truly a misfortune among our familiy. Don't you have any shame!?"Sudarini slapped the little girl harshly, making her lip bleed.
Tears kept falling out of her eyes, she was too scared to even look into her eyes.
She pleaded " Please... Please... I didn't do it! They both were playing around the stairs. I also wanted to join them... I-I didn't push her....Pleaseee" She whispered in slow voice.
"Do not dare to blame my sisters now!" Raghuveer who was silent till now also shouted.
She felt broken and scared. Suddenly her father came running. Her favourite member in the family shouted at her.
"Bh-bhaiyaa, Meri baat to sun-"
"Bhaiyya mat bolo hame!" Vikram shouted in anger
"Bh-bhaiyaa" Her voice broke and trailed down.
Kritamahesh came running to the scene."Nirima! What happened? And what is that mark on your hand Reva!?" He shouted which made her more scared.
"Father...F-Father-"
"Shut up before I kill you with my own hands!" Sudarini shouted.
"Maharaj, she tried to harm both the princesses, she even pushed Nirima on the stairs! This is outrageous Maharaj! We need to do something!"
As he listened to her, his eyes snapped at Mayuri, who was now trembling profusely.
" What!? You must handle that matter; do whatever you want." Saying this, he went away and both the brothers also took their sisters away.
Sudarini dragged her in the last chamber of the palace and locked her there. This had been her destiny since then.
She kept waiting for her punishment to end but it never ended.
No one came to ask for her anymore. Sudarini's punishment never ended and since then no one remembers her.
Soon enough the king became busy in the kingdom politics and both the brothers went for their training. Sudarini and her daughters didn't care and soon they also forgot about her existence.
They forgot that there was one more member in the family and started living happily in their lives.
Sudarini and both the sisters knew that all this was a plot, but others were completely unaware.
Vikram and Raghuveer did not intentionally have ill feelings for Mayuri but their mother's manipulation made them believe it.
Whenever they had crossed paths with Mayuri, they would look at her with hate in the eyes. Sudarini had successfully managed to manipulate them.
Their sisters would come running to them crying, telling many false deeds of Mayuri which further manipulated them and increased their hatred towards her.
Afterall they were mere kids who fell into the trap of their mother, and their sisters who they loved with dear lives.
But everything stopped soon as everyone forgot about her existence.
[Flashback End]
Mayuri was really sad. Tomorrow was the grand ball and again, no one came to invite her.
She hadn't seen her brothers' face for years now. She used to sneak out of the chamber to have a stroll in the garden but she never got to see her brothers again.
And she also did not want to face them again. During childhood, she used to love her brothers the most, even though they never showed affection to her.
She admired how they used to love and care for their sisters. She craved to feel that brotherly love by them. She but it never happened.
She would see how all the siblings would sneak out, stay together all night and gossip about things. She wasn't allowed to go there. Far away she would stand at the door, wanting to be included in.
After that incident, her heart broke and she became really scared of them. She was broken and terrified of her own family.
'I really want to see the ball this time. Should I just sneak out ? No one would notice me.'
'No one really knows about me, I bet they wouldn't recognize me after so many years. I want to see it.'
She went to her closet and took out a pair of clothes which previously belonged to her sisters.
While sneaking out, she would silently grab the clothes that her sisters were about to throw away.
She took out a really pretty dress this time, the one that Reva wore for her recent birthday. Reva threw her birthday dress away after 2 months, so she took a chance to grab it.
On the other hand, Sudarini , Reva and Nirima were in Sudarini's chamber. They were selecting their outfits for the ball.
A vendor had travelled from far north , bringing amazing pairs of dresses for this event.
"Wear the prettiest ones you find. We need to find a suitable prince for you both!" Sudarini said, smiling at her daughters.
"Well, Yes, we both will choose best dresses; but I will always look prettier." Nirima said while Reva fumed with anger.
"Just wait and watch, I will get the most charming prince." Reva said, flipping her hair.
Sudarini rolled her eyes as a smirk formed on her lips.
"I heard that Prince of Udaipur is also attending the event."
"What!?" Both the girls screamed in shock as their faces lit up with joy.
"Yes, the most demanded bachelor of the entire hind is coming tomorrow, so you both better be prepared."
"Oh my God! I need to be the prettiest so that I can charm him with my looks!" Reva said.
"Shut up! He's mine!" Nirima said in anger.
And that's how the two started fighting like cats.
Prince of Udaipur- regal and the charmer of the entire Hind.
He was 25; the next in line to be the authorative king of the Rathores.
Many had heard of his skills and tactics in war. He had never once been defeated. Victory licked his feet.
His name was Kuwar Abhimanyu Singh Rathore.
All the girls wanted him. There was not a single princess who didn't dream about being his wife. Hundreds of proposals came to him, but he denied them all.
Why?
No one really managed to charm him. No one could catch his attention, captivate him.
He couldn't find someone with a pure heart.
So he was still a bachelor ; the most in demand one.
The next day, everyone woke up early to finish off all the arrangements. King, Vikram and Raghuveer were looking at all the arrangements while both the sisters were busy in enhancing their beauty for the Prince.
On the other hand, Mayuri was contemplating whether sneaking out for the ball would be a good idea or not?
What If someone catches her?
The endless thoughts were scaring her. A little sneak peak wouldn't hurt right?
She decided that she wouldn't actually go to the ball but just hide in a corner and have a look.
She wanted to see her family, how they would look like. It had been a long time.
She wore the dress of her sister, going out in normal clothes would be very odd and she could get easily caught so she decided to wear the dress. Even if someone accidentally sees her face, no one would recognize her.
Hardly any people knew about her existence in the kingdom, she had been forgotten long back.
It was almost evening, all the guests had begun arriving.
Mayuri was really excited as well as nervous. She wished that Sudarini would forgive her, and free her from her cage.
All of these years, no one even came to ask her how she was. Do they still remember her?
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
All she wanted was a family.
Little did she know, the tables of her life were going to turn soon.....
