8 ~ Princess gone wild

Abhishree POV

I was stunned by his words. He wanted me to dance on my own loss and the death of my brother. He didn't have any emotions, feelings and he only was a heartless animal. 

I cried my heart out because of him once again. How could I celebrate my own loss? I keep sitting in the place where I was while crying my heart out until a girl came and said.

"Princess, There is a lady outside, whose name is Sakhibai, asking for you" She bowed finishing her words. I looked at her and hearing that name made me walk quickly outside. I came outside covering my face with a veil and hugged her. She grabbed me tightly back and I cried loudly feeling some family around me. She patted my back to calm me down. 

"What happens, Abhi?" She patted on my back while hushing me to calm down. I couldn't take it anymore. It was already more than enough. I couldn't hold his torture anymore. He was insane and animal. He didn't even consider me human, I guessed. My tears were not stopping as they were continuously rolling down. I missed my family, I wanted them back. I didn't know with what curse I had born with. 

"Calm down Abhi, we should go into our room," She said and I nodded. 

We moved towards our Room. I wanted to know about other people there. So, I thought to ask her.

"What about other ladies?" I said washing my tears away.

"They all settling here, they always thanks you for everything. If, you were not there God knows what happens. We all love you Abhi. You are truly a fighter, you saved our lives and we will never forget this favor of yours on us. They started working as their choice" She said.

"And what about you? What kind of work you got?" I asked.

"You know I am good at nursing. So, they assigned me to Maa saheb. She is the Queen here and her heart is of Gold. She is a nice-hearted person. All though, she is old but quite active. I liked her a lot. She cares for everyone. She asked me about myself and I told her everything. I also told them about you, She seems interesting in meeting you any day."She finished smilingly.

I nodded and felt good as my efforts for my empire's ladies didn't go to waste. Some victory wave ran through me hearing that they are happy and adjusting here. 

"What happened to you? and why are you staying in Prince chamber?" She asked that caught my attention. 

I thought to tell her the truth but not that word. I hate listening to that word, saying that word, and feeling that word the most. "She made me his Servent in exchange for your liberty" I stated.

"What?" She asked in amusement that made her stop 

"Yes," I Stated and with the heavy and crying heart I told her " And he wants me to dance in the celebration tonight"

"What? Dance on Celebration? You? Why?" She asked so many questions and I thought to tell her everything from the beginning except the Slave part. We walked to our Room while discussing.

"You are really a fighter Abhi," She said just then I finished and we entered the room. My reaction was flat because I still didn't see myself In that state.

"Look" She made me sit on the bed and stared directly into my eyes. 

"You are a warrior, you learned fighting and everything from childhood. You are an inspiration to all of us. We didn't even know that you are suffering this much for us. All I can do is Thank you from the bottom of my heart but I can't see you in this state. We can suffer together. You don't have to be his servant. we can fight together." She assured gripping my hand.

But, I couldn't back out now. I had made my mind to suffer all he wanted to throw at me. It was not about my life but for all the lives that were saved in exchange for it. I couldn't think of backing out now. 

"No, I am okay with it" I assured her that, which was not true. My Existence already didn't matter to anyone and I was not afraid of dying. 

"No, Abhi you are not okay, I won't let you suffer alone." She insisted again.

"This fight is of mine alone. I will fight alone. This is my destiny and I am happy to see it. Trust me" I assured her.

She nodded looking at me in acceptance of the lie that I told her. I couldn't let that insane animal play with everyone. I couldn't see my hard work go to waste by backing out now. 

Although my pain was unbearable to me, I couldn't disclose it to anyone for the sake of their Happiness. I had to suffer alone. 

I rested for a while Gathering the Palace's information from Sakhibai. But, my brain couldn't forget the words that I shared with the Prince. How he disrespects me always was making me vulnerable more and more. I was losing my strength But one thing was sure that I wouldn't lose without fighting. 

In our culture, we always taught to fight back and prefer dying over accepting the loss. My brother died fighting with him. He was my inspiration and his pierced head that I saw, was the fuel that was burning the anger in me towards him more and more. I couldn't hold his torture anymore.

I lied on the bed thinking about tonight. I couldn't plan my way of escape. Begging him was surely out of the Plan and asking for help in this heartless kingdom was the plan with surety of Failure. But, I couldn't dance. I was the Princess for God's sake. 

"Princess" The voice caught my attention as I looked at an attendee. My heart raced looking at her that made me sense something Horrible. 

"You are asked to get ready for the celebration of tonight" She bowed ending her words.

My body was frozen at that moment realizing it was the time. He didn't have any emotions for girls, I guess. Was he the same If I were his mother or sister? He wanted to ruin the Pride of Pratapgarh but I was not ready to let him do that. 

She might have sensed my denial as she said. 

"Please, Princess otherwise The Prince will kill me," She said with the innocent face that made my heart melt. I couldn't play with anyone's life here. 

I nodded to her and with a heavy heart joined to walk after her.

She made me walk through the same galleries and to the chamber of courtesans again. I covered my face with a veil because I didn't want to see anything there or anyone to see me too. My life became a living hell but still, I couldn't manage that environment at all. Those Chamber didn't suit the Princesses.  

I walked and reached the same lady which made me ready last night. She bowed to me and I accepted. 

"Welcome Princess," She said and somehow I doubted how everyone knows that I was Princess. They hardly knew me. But, Ignoring that I chose to sit as she signaled me to.

I looked at her and said "Today, Groom me as everyone keeps watching me. Especially Prince" I had something on mind for which I wanted to look the best. 

She nodded and started her work. Also, I wanted to get ready as the Princess for the last time because I couldn't think that I was left alive after that. The hatred in me was boiling with the anger that was about to end me any time. The work he was forcing me to do was never done by any respectable Princess in History. He wanted me to garnish his mehfil that I was thinking to ruin in every manner. 

The time passed looking at my hairs that were left reaching below my hips, Heavy jewelry that was looking like pearls on the seashore, and a hint of rose on my lips. she poured the light kajal in my eyes and handed me a pair of Lehnga in golden yellow color with back velvet slim border at the end of its hem. It had the work of fine embroidery and beads. She tightens the thread of heavy sparkling gold and white beaded necklace that enhanced my fair skin of mine quickly. 

"Beautiful" She muttered looking at me when I came outside changing into it. 

She tightens the slim silver waist chain around me and sets the dupatta on my head perfectly. She kept the veil a little till my nose that only my lips were visible from it. She added the matching heavy bangles in the look. At last, she holden a glass bottle and poured the essence of Rose and sandalwood with some backend of lavender. It smells so good. She applied it to my neck and wrist. 

"I don't know what's happening in your life but you seem like a fighter," She said. " Your face told me that you were crying and the experience, I have can tell me that you are not a normal Princess." She finished that made my wounds green and a tear escaped from my eyes. She made me emotional once again.

"I have to go" was all I could respond. I walked outside it alone as 'it was the time' that the heading moon told me. I witnessed the charming environment, gossips around me, and lighting everywhere. I heard the giggling of girls as I was walking outside that Chamber. 

"Princess," A man stopped my way and I nodded to him accepting his bow.

"Your presence is asked in the celebration" I could sense the hurt in his voice as he was understanding my situation. 

"Also, Prince sent you this" He handed over me Anklet bells placed on the Red silk cloth that made my heart beat madly. I was not able to breathe normally. The Nightmare I never saw was about to go true. The existence of me was about to vanish completely. The life of mine from Princess was about to get the meaning of a Slave or courtesan. 

"God bless you with power, Princess," He said and I moved with shaking legs along with him. I didn't want to lose my strength as I was about to face the Kingdom sitting around me. The flashes of my father, mother, brother, and all the moments I spent in my palace were blurring my vision as was moving to the hall. I was walking the way which I couldn't erase forever. I couldn't blame the situation for that, because the offender of it was the Prince. Whom I hate from the bottom of my heart. 

The Door of the Big beautiful chamber was open wide which allowed me to enter. The light came running sharp to my eyes which took time to adjust my vision under the veil. I walked to the middle of the round Chamber as everyone was sitting around and started gossiping something seeing me. A vibe of entertainment ran through them seeing me, I guessed. 

I bowed to the King and Queen who were sitting in front of me as it was visible from the veil. The Person who made me this was sitting right to them. I bowed to him too as a trail of tears escaped through my eyes. I was feeling like a wooden sack was loaded on my heart. 

"Start the Celebration" I heard the voice of the king which was Roaring too like the Prince. He might have inherited that from the King. I heard the drums rolling and the group of girls also became visible whose anklets bells filled the Hall. 

I looked at the Anklets bells in my hand. I sat down and tied them one by one with the pierced Heart. My life was ended wearing them. I lost the meaning of it. I was no more capable of being heard 'Princess' by then. 

I stood up tying them in my ankles. I heard a sweet manly voice started singing along with the tabla, flute, and wind instruments that filled the walls of Hall with strong musical beats. I took the beat and started moving my feet along with it. My heart was beating madly as I was using all my energy in that moves that were showing my aggression and hatred towards this kingdom. 

I took the spins with the beats and my sight glared at the prince smiling at my misery. I keep taking spins until the beats went to a normal rhythm and I continue showing all my learnings from the famed Dance gurus at my Palace. I moved as it was my last dance. The tears were not stopping as the vision of the corpses I saw almost a week ago was blurring my vision, the dead body of a brother came into my vision and some kind of anger filled in me. My hair became messy with the swift and classy moves running along with the beats. My waist was moving along the beat as the beats were getting louder signaling the end of the music. I started taking spins along with the other dancers around the round hall. 

The smiling face of the prince at my condition made me hell mad, I wanted to kill him. The Anger rushed into me burning the lava building inside me. The smile made me mad that I could pierce him in parts at any time. My vision stopped at the persons standing near Prince. 

During the moves when I was about to cross the place near Prince's couch I stopped. I didn't think anyone noticed my movement. The music stopped and before Prince could predict anything. I pulled the sword out with the Chiseling sound from the guard standing beside me and kept right to Prince's neck without any fear and brain full of anger.

"I, DECLARE THE WAR AGAINST YOU" I finished in a loud, clear voice.