Chapter 4 - The Moon

"Rajkumari? What are you doing here?" Neharika asked, walking up to Ahankara, who was silently staring at the night sky.

"Hmm?" Ahankara hummed absent-mindedly.

"What are you..." Neharika paused to yawn, trying to keep her eyes open. "What are you doing in the balcony at this time of the night?"

"Do you think the Moon ever feels lonely?" Ahankara questioned, blinking up at it.

"What kind of a question is that?" Neharika frowned.

"It looks really lonely to me."

"Well," Neharika sighed. "It has a million lovers staring up at it in the darkness of the night. The Moon is their only light in the sea of black."

"But they are just people who stare at her from far off, they only use her as a source of light, to drown their own darkness," Ahankara frowned, now looking at Neharika.

"That may also be true, but they do admire its beauty," Neharika pointed out.

"But that's not enough. They just use her, for her light. Deep down they want to steal her glow, keep it to themselves. People only want to use beautiful things, Neharika, like parasites, feeding off their beauty," Ahankara said softly.

"You're forgetting the Sun, Rajkumari. The Sun truly loves the Moon, I'm sure. The secret behind the Moon's beauty is actually the Sun, because without it, the Moon would not glow the way it does," Neharika replied. "And to ensure that people notice its shine, the Sun even goes into hiding when it's time for the Moon to rise."

"I never thought about it like that," Ahankara smiled. "You are right. The Sun is not even selfish like the people who stare at the Moon. The Sun does not wish to cage her, or to keep her to himself. As long as the Moon wants to shine, the Sun provides her with his light."

"Hmm, sounds like a beautiful love story, except the Sun and the Moon do not meet. Ever," Neharika replied.

"That's not true. In rare circumstances, you will see them up in the sky, simultaneously."

"Maybe they are meant to be, but only at a specific time. Now if you are done staring at the Moon and being selfish," Neharika teased, making Ahankara narrow her eyes at her, "you may wanna go to bed."

"I'm feeling really suffocated today, Neharika. I don't know why. I feel like I'm caged. Like I need to get out of here," Ahankara said, frowning.

"Rajkumari," Neharika smiled, placing her hands on her shoulders. "That is why dreams were created, weren't they? So that Princesses like you can live in alternate realities, find their escapes through magical dreams. Come, go to sleep," she said taking her hand. "I'll wake you up early tomorrow so you can sleep earlier at night. I'll also draw you a nice warm bath in the morning."

"Okay," Ahankara nodded, walking to her bed. "Thank you for always being there for me, Neharika. I could never imagine living without you."

"You won't have to," Neharika smiled.

- - - - - -

"Khamma Ghanni, Dada Bhai (a term of endearment used to address your elder brother)," Ahankara smiled, walking into the King's room after taking his permission.

"Ghanni Khamma," Maharaja Karan Singh smiled.

"You asked to see me?" Ahankara questioned politely, fixing her net dupatta (a kind of scarf) on her head.

"Yes, I just want to let you know that as there will be visitors at the Palace today, I cannot allow you to go to the pond this evening," Karan Singh replied.

"But why not? I'm sure whoever is coming is only coming to see you," Ahankara replied.

"I do not know why they are coming. Besides, you know what outsiders will think if they find out that the Princess of the Kingdom, roams around outside the walls of the Palace like a commoner. So you will not go out today, alright?" Karan Singh explained.

"Oh," Ahankara frowned. "As you wish, Dada Bhai. But who is coming? I did not know about any visitors until last night, and today everyone is so busy in preparations."

"The Yuvraj of Kalang," Karan Singh replied, and Ahankara's eyes widened immediately.

"What? Why?" She asked, her heart already hammering in her chest.

"What do you mean why?" Karan Singh furrowed his eyebrows, standing up from his bed.

"I mean," Ahankara blinked, gulping, "uh, they've never ever visited before, so why now?"

"There's a first time for everything," Karan Singh shrugged. "They probably just want to trade, but I'd suggest you dress up well tonight. We do not know how many people, or who is accompanying the Yuvraj. In case any women of the royal family show up as well, I want you to attend to them."

"Why me?" Ahankara asked immediately.

"What do you mean, Ahankara?" Karan Singh said in disbelief. "You know your Bhabhi Sa is pregnant. She has been advised to take rest, she can't run around welcoming visitors."

"I understand Bhai Sa, but there are so many servants and maids. Why do I have to -"

"Is this your Palace or theirs?" Karan Singh cut her off.

"I know, but -"

"Yours or theirs?" He asked again, this time louder.

"Mine," Ahankara shifted her gaze to the floor.

"Then how can they be welcoming visitors, betay? (a term of endearment used for kids)?" He questioned, his tone soft again. "Go, get ready," he cupped his sister's cheek and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Alright Bhai Sa," Ahankara replied with a small smile. As soon as she stepped outside his room, the smile on her face was replaced with a frown. She rushed back towards her room, looking around for Neharika.

"Meena, where's Neharika?" She asked the maid who was passing by.

"Rajkumari she went to your quarters, searching for you. She looked like she was in a hurry," Meena replied, her head bowed in respect.

"Thank you," Ahankara muttered, pulling her lehenga up and running to her room, the sound of her payal echoing through the corridor. She barged into the room, while Neharika was trying to run out, and they both bumped into each other with a great force.

"Ow!" Ahankara grunted in pain, stumbling back from the force, but managed to balance herself.

While Neharika fell on the ground, her face morphed into one of pain.

"Haye Bhagwan (Oh God)!" Neharika muttered, rubbing her hip in pain.

Ahankara quickly recovered from the shock of the crash, and entered her room again, quickly shutting the doors.

"Stand up quickly, Neharika!" Ahankara scolded, grabbing her hand and helping her up.

"I'm sorry Rajkumari, I hope you're not hurt," she apologized, still rubbing her behind.

"I'm fine," Ahankara waved her off. "Did you find out?"

"Yes!" Neharika exclaimed, now distracted from her aching bottom. "Why do you think he is coming?" She asked, looking worried.

"I don't know," Ahankara replied, matching her expression. In fact, she looked even more horrified than Neharika.

"What if what I said is right?" Neharika asked with wide eyes.

"Don't utter rubbish!" Ahankara scolded, scowling at her. "That's... That's not possible."

"But Rajkumari, what if it is? What if he fell in love with you, and is now coming to ask your hand in marriage?" Neharika said excitedly, taking Ahankara's hands in hers.

"I'm... I'm not going to marry him," Ahankara shook her head. "He's not coming with a marriage proposal! Why would the Yuvraj of Kalang marry the Princess of a small Kingdom?"

"Have you seen yourself?" Neharika asked in disbelief. "You're stunning, Rajkumari."

"But I don't want someone to love me for my beauty!" Ahankara snapped, taking her hands away fron Neharika's and turning away from her. "I don't want to be the Moon," she said softly.

"And you're not," Neharika replied, turning her around. "You're a unique Rose, Rajkumari. The most beautiful one to ever exist."

"And he's made of flames," Ahankara whispered, feeling a chill run down her spine. "He's gonna destroy me as soon as he touches me, Neharika."

"Why do you say something like that, Rajkumari? You don't even know him," Neharika frowned.

"I know enough, Neharika! I've heard the tales of his cruelty, the kind of merciless warrior he is. I've heard he doesn't even spare children, and he does not respect women, that I've seem for myself. I can't... I can't ever marry him, Neharika," she shook her head vigorously, as tears began to form in her eyes.

"Rajkumari," Neharika caught hold of her arms, looking her in the eye. "Calm down. You don't even know why he is coming here, yet. Maybe he doesn't even wanna marry you. Maybe he wants to become allies with the King."

"I know how alliances are formed in royal families, Neharika. They marry their daughters off to Kings in order to form relations. I can't live my life with a beast like him! He is a monster from everything I have heard. He'll cage me in the walls of his huge castle, I will be a prisoner there," Ahankara whispered, feeling fear course through her veins. She walked to the idol of the Lord Shiva placed in her room, and knelt down in front of it, joining her hands together in prayer.

"Om Namah Shivaya," she whispered the prayer. "Give me strength, and save me from the cruelty of that man. Save me from him. Save me from being caged by him. I beg you, my Lord. Save me from this disaster!"

Little did she know, the man she was asking her Lord to save her from, had already asked the Lord for exactly the opposite. And the Yuvraj of Kalang was going to stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Not even a miracle could save her now.

- - - - - -