The Night Bride

Present Day:-

"What rubbish..!! Do you think a research paper is just writing whatever stories come to your mind? I know you’re a fraud, but you shouldn't be showing such antics in this!"

Having submitted my thesis exactly on the deadline, I had no clue what was happening to me. But the Professor's face told me the matter was dead serious.

How many months of preparation! How many materials! How many hours spent in libraries and elsewhere! And now, with only a few days left to become a Post-Graduate in History—a black mark!

Honestly, I feel miserable. I’ve studied so hard and did this with complete sincerity.

"Sir, one thing. It's urgent. A University matter."

Anila Mam’s sudden arrival interrupted us.

With that, the Professor crumpled my paper, tossed it away, and left with her.

Seeing my research paper lying there, flown aside, anger surged within me. As I picked it up and smoothed it out, the events of the past few months flashed through my mind...

___

The cold June wind rushed in through the window panes. My attempt to soothe a lifeless mind ended in a futile struggle and retreated in defeat.

Preparing my mind to focus on the Professor’s class, I swept away all other thoughts and picked up my pen.

"Mrigasthali is one of the greatest royal empires India has ever seen. Three and a half decades filled with nobility and grandeur... Great kings who conquered and ruled three-quarters of 12th-century Aryavarta!"

The Professor was explaining the approximate geographical layout of Mrigasthali.

"Sir, may I come in?"

That voice cut through the class. To avoid a disturbance mid-lecture, the Professor signaled with a wave of his hand and moved to the next slide.

The dark figure who walked past the projector’s light reached my side. As usual, she sat next to me, patting my shoulder with a wide grin and setting her bag down.

Perhaps she sensed something unusual, as she frowned and looked at me for a moment. From a corner of my empty mind, I offered her a smile—poisoned, yet polished with affection. Did a flicker of relief cross her eyes?

I turned my full attention back to the class.

The Professor was scanning through photos of 12th-century temple carvings and manuscripts collected through archaeological studies, searching for the important ones. On one slide, he shone his pen-light over a dusty palm-leaf manuscript where the letters were only half-visible.

"That era, dominated by carved temples, weaponry, and vast artistic circles, was a symbol of the extraordinary strength and skill of a great Emperor."

"This is his own handwriting. Something he composed in 'Bhelu,' a language that existed in royal courts back then. Studies suggest this might be an important royal secret. However, no one has been able to fully understand its meaning yet. We have to assume he included a code language for added privacy."

What kind of privacy issue could a giant Emperor of Aryavarta, who ruled for decades, possibly fear? Something about that statement felt off to me.

I looked closely at the map of Mrigasthali on my laptop. A lone man’s empire, hidden in the shadows of the Western Ghats between the foothills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas, stretching across today’s Indo-Gangetic plain.

"The attraction of Mrigasthali was its biodiversity. A cradle of natural wealth, teeming with forests, mountains, and more birds and animals than have ever been discovered..."

The hour ended. I saved the PowerPoint, put the laptop in the desk locker, and stood up.

"Adi... come on. Today is Ishaan's treat. I’m going to drain him today using your name!"

I tightened my grip on the hand of the girl who pulled me outside. I added more brilliance to the smile I wore. Behind the one who always danced, I, too, donned a costume for the first time... a masquerade.

In the canteen, sitting across from each other, ordering a chicken roll and talking while looking at our phones, Ishaan—my Ichu—walked in.

With eyes full of sparkle, I locked gazes with him. With a full, mischievous wink, he pulled up a chair and sat right next to me.

As soon as he sat down, he put his arm around my back and held me close. Following routine, I let a blush spread across my face.

"What is this, man... don't insult us singles like this. Oh God, I'm getting jealous!"

Both of us laughed at that. Nishitha started eating her sandwich while laughing. Ichu—no, Ishaan—brought the roll in his hand close to my mouth.

Treading the tightrope of patience, swallowing the bitterness rising in my throat, I opened my mouth wide and took a bite.

"Wipe those lips now... otherwise, I'll feel like sucking it off from there."

He whispered the mischief into my ear so Nishitha wouldn't hear. Without raising my eyes to him, I let my cheeks redden.

Routines must continue.

"Anyway, you guys need to start your research. What happened? Did you select a topic for the dissertation?"

There was no need to think about Ishaan's question. Out of the three topics I submitted today, the research committee had selected one for me.

"The Rise and Fall of the Mughal Empire. That’s it. You have to help me, okay... I need your valuable suggestions," Nishitha said with a wink.

"Ah... since it's the 16th to 18th centuries, it shouldn't be too difficult. What about you, girl? What did you take?"

"Agasthyaveer Pratap's historical influence."

"What happened to my girl this time? A 12th-century legend sounds great to hear... but hard to find info on. My girl, who always looks for the easiest path, has suddenly become sincere?"

"This is the final hurdle. I thought at least this should happen with some honesty."

In truth... I needed a way to shift my focus entirely. There was nothing better than this.

"Next Wednesday, the college club is arranging a party. The whole college will be there. Don't try to give any excuses, you must come."

"Deal."

Both of them stared at me because I had jumped in and agreed so quickly. Generally, I don't go to things like this. Seeing crowds is like an allergy to me. I'd rather sit at home alone.

But... this time, I had to go.

"What?" I asked them both, raising an eyebrow.

Hiding the slight disappointment that flickered on their faces, they put on expressions of surprise and joy.

"Set, set!"

"Then we’ll go in my car together. I'll pick you up in the evening. On the way back, I'll drop you at home and her at the hostel."

Hmm... My house is first, then.

In the following days, the usual chats and phone calls continued. I felt impressed with myself. For a week, I was planning new steps and beginnings.

Meanwhile, the research problem presentation was over, and I got the Principal's approval. Evenings were spent in the library.

The next evening, I was walking through the Missouri Museum in Setupatna. If there was anything from that period—made or used then—I was bound to find more information.

Finally, what I was looking for caught my eye.

But...

There were only two items on display from that era: a plate and a coin. A book titled 'The Marvels of Mrigasthali, the Forest Kingdom' was attached to a stand nearby.

After getting permission from the authorities, I sat there, ready to scan and read through the entire thing. While flipping through, one page caught my eye, but for a different reason... there was something the size of a small pearl inside. It wouldn't be visible from the outside if the book was closed. I removed it and continued reading.

I noted down the important points in my handbook according to the timeline.

A call from Ishaan woke me from those hours of work.

Finally, the long-awaited Wednesday arrived. Sitting in the car with Ishaan in the front and Nishi in the back, I was hardening my heart.

I searched for something in their playful banter... and the fact that nothing seemed unusual devastated me. Had I given them that much freedom? To be so blind to what was right in front of me?

Everyone at home knows Ishaan; the marriage is practically fixed. I know his family, too.

I let out a sigh.

We reached the campus party grounds and I walked in with him. I went inside with them, talking to everyone, moving slightly to the music. I felt that it caused more than a little surprise to a few people.

After a while, as the music slowed down and everyone began to loosen up, I tightened my grip on the phone in my hand.

My palms were sweating, but I wasn't ready to back down.

I turned my head slightly to look at the man standing next to me. Our eyes locked... I gave a beautiful smile.

Without knowing what the uncertainty of the coming days would be...

Locking eyes with him, I pressed the green button on the phone.

A cruel smile bloomed on my face!