Hiya dear readers.

I am really sorry for the delay. It has been stressful few months. I am doing my post graduation, and it's my final semester.

And instead of it being of six months, the university has cut it down to four.

To say my schedule is packed will be putting it lightly, between internship, college and home, everything is too busy.

The updates till July will be infrequent. As that's when my semester ends.

I hope you all understand.

And I am sorry, for not replying to all of your comments and messages, as well as the late updates.

Thank you for your patience.

Love,

Nick 🖤🤍

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Dhriti's POV:

"You'll be soon leaving with Vasudev for Dwarka."

I blinked, once and twice. My mouth opened and shut, but no words passed through my lips.

Did I just hit my head hard and die, or am I still dreaming?

For there is no way in hell, my father aka king Rajendra agreeing to me leaving Viratgadh.

"What are you staring at?" He snapped, his brows that reminded me so much of hairy worms, furrowed.

His face turning bit red, resembling so much a tomato. A tomato with mustaches?

The image was too funny, and I would have mentally cackled like an old crooked witch, but the words he just sputtered were still giving me the hibbie-jibbies.

"Um..."

"Oh! For the love of all that is holy. You fucking retarded whore, can't you answer a simple question?!"

He marched across the room, wrapping his thick burly fingers on my bicep in a painful grip that had me wincing.

Fear slammed in my chest nearly knocking my heart out in the process.

"Listen here you bitch. And listen very carefully. Vasudev is an ally I do not want to lose, and you will do everything he says. If because of your idiocy I lose this alliance. I will kill you."

He hissed the words in my face, and I believed him.

My father never made empty promises when it came to delivering death sentences.

Terror washed over my soul,it's icy cold touch freezing me from within.

Pain throbbed through my arm, making me wince. I bit my lip, no way in heaven would I let a sound pass through my lips, for it would only fuel his happiness.

"Mess this up, and I will mess you up. And that's a fucking promise I am more than glad to fulfill."

Hatred clouded his dark orbs. A ache much deeper than any physical one, shot through my heart.

My throat burned,making it feel like I had swallowed a huge ball, it burned every time I swallowed.

Standing this close to him, I could feel his disgust for me wafting like waves of head from his body.

It was so thick in the air, that the pungent odor of his hatred made it impossible to breath.

His anger was almost like a physical pressure crushing my soul, shattering it with each passing day.

I really had no idea,what I had done to earn this much of his hatred, but it seemed like each day that passed, his hatred just grew as the weeds would.

No matter what I did it was never enough. He wasn't always like this. From what I can recall,in my initial days, he was very caring.

The warmth and softness that he showed me, had made me feel a little less alone in the world.

But somewhere along the line he changed, and in the process so did my life.

The face that once smiled down at me, contorted in a sneer.

"You disgust me. Last night Vasudev requested taking you to Dwarka, to introduce you to his family. And I have agreed. Remember you are representing my kingdom and my people, behave like a fucking royal."

His grip tightened further, the sharp points of his nails digging in my flesh.

"Do not embarrass my family and its name. And stop crying, you fucking pathetic vermin."

Acid laced his words, disgust marring his features. He pushed me hard on the ground, making my head slam in the near by pillar.

Crack!

The disgusting crunching sound filled the air, as warm sticking liquid traced down my head.

A whimper passed through my lips, agony pulsing through my head.

I didn't dare make a noise, but the tears, they just flowed.

Without so much as another word, my father turned on his heel, marching out.

Leaving behind nothing but a coldness, that seeped deep in my bones.

I was exhausted, tired.

Not physically.

But my soul was.

Three years of nothing but utter hatred, three years of isolation.

Three years of nothing but loneliness. I don't even know why I didn't ended all this years ago?

Why did I even try? Why do I still carry on? Why? I didn't know.

That was a lie. My conscience whispered. I knew why I carried on, why I woke up and smiled like nothing ever bothered me.

I know why I struggle to just live another day, when in reality I wanted nothing more than end it all.

I know why. . .

The reason were they.

The five men of my dreams. Funny right?

People I never met. People who don't I know exist, people I am not certain even exist.

Yet, I just go on. Someday in the vain hope that things would change, that I would meet them.

Today when I woke up, I was smiling. Things were good for I had met Karn last night, my nest friend.

And made another one, Krishn. Things seemed for positive, but father barged in, and announced this news.

A small part of me is happy,I get to live this royal palace...

A cloth was pressed against my forehead, making my head snap up, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Deep dark eyes that reminded me so much of the galaxy clashed with mine, the mischief and joy from last night was missing.

Instead sadness, soul deep sadness resided them.

And it hurt my heart to see Krishn, the man who distributed nothing but Joys and smiles look so heart broken.

Panic shot through my veins,what would I answer him? I can't tell him the truth it would just get me further hurt.

Father would skin me alive.

I expected questions.

I hated them, everyone asked so many questions.

Questions I didn't want to answer, didn't want to lie, to pretend to clumsy when I am not, and take the blame for my own injuries, that were far from accidents.

I waited.

But they never came. He just dabbed my forehead, helping me stand and guided me to the bed, aiding me sit down.

He never asked any questions. Nor did he demand any answers.

"Hold this in place, I will be back."

It was the first time he spoke, his voice heavy with melancholy.

He pressed my hand over the cloth that ceased the bleeding on my head, and walked out.

I sat there, not really certain what to say. How to feel.

Kindness was not something I was used to, I didn't know how to react when people were being kind.

Do I say thank you? But that didn't seem enough...

He walked in, carrying a platter with a number of, what appeared salves, clean strips of cloths, cotton and water.

Placing the platter beside me on the mattress. The man who was said to be the king of the universe crouched.

"Pl-"

My plea to make him stand or sit beside of me, was cut of with a shake of his head.

"Just sit."

I gazed at him, he was virtually a stranger, someone I never met before.

But the agony that reflected on his, as though my pain was his.

He moved my hand, holding the cloth on my forehead, changing it with another one.

I sat, observing as practically a virtual stranger, someone I just acknowledged as my friend as last night, picked up the cotton balls, and his hands shook.

A warrior whose tales valor preceeded him, where the world referred to him as God, his hand was trembling.

A tear tracked down his cheek, as he cleaned my wound. The silence that stretched was not awkward.

But of peace, I felt at peace with him. All those chaos, those fears that rooted in my heart just silenced.

There was an understanding,he didn't need words. He understood.

And mattered the most. I didn't want someone to sweep in and solve all my problems.

No. That's just not me. I didn't expect any prince charming on a steed to save my day, no.

What I craved the most was basic human kindness and understanding.

For what I knew, that if you had people that loves you, supports you at your corner, no matter how big the problem one could fight it.

It is not the problem in our life that breaks us, it is the lack of understanding and support from our loved ones.

"It is all going to be okay."

His voice was soft, gruff with emotions that weaved in every word.

"Life is not easy. I agree, but you are stronger that it. Just hold on."

And just like that, the dam of tears shattered. They flowed, all the pain that I had staunched in my heart, feeling that I had suppressed, agony that I had repressed.

The years of loneliness, fears and despair, they flowed with my tears.

Sobs wrecked my body, as I cried my heart out. And this beautiful virtual stranger, with a soul of God, that I just met yesterday, sat beside me.

Supporting me, when my own flesh and blood had never so much as gazed at me.

He understood.

As though all my fears were his, as though he could feel my pain, despair, and all the brokeness hidden behind my smiles.

He patched my head and bicep, applying the salve. Never questioning.

He never told me to not cry. That I was pathetic for doing so.

"Let it all out. You no longer need to harbor all that pain in your soul, and smile. Let it out Dhri."

Sobs turned to whimpers and than silence. I don't know how long it had passed, but he sat beside me in silence.

He didn't say anything, but he need to. Somewhere down the lane, I had connected deeper to him today.

More so than Karn.

More so than anyone before.

He was my one true friend, even more than that. He was my God, and by bizarre luck he was my friend too.

"Fate has paved your way to meet your destined ones."

"What do you mean?"

And for the first time in the longest, he smiled. Soft and serene, that soothed my heart and battered soul.

"You'll know soon."

I didn't ask further.

"Are we going to Dwarka?"

He shook his head. "Not really, we'll be leaving for Hastinapur."

Panic slammed in my chest, my father-

"Trust me sakhi."

And I did. The flood of questions and protests that wanted to slip through my lips, evaporated.

Yes, I trusted him.

"My cousins and aunt stay there. You will love it there. I have told Karn to teach you the disguise spell, and you would be able to change, how you look. No one would know who you are."

Hope fluttered in my chest. No one would know me? For some it would have been a horrible concept, but this right here gave me hope.

A genuine smile broke through my lips.

"Can I be a commoner please?"

The grin that spread on his face was lit with mischief.

"And how do you suggest I introduce you to the royals of Hastinapur?"

Excitement bubbled in my chest, I no longer wished to be a royal, no. And I certainly didn't wish to be someone special or beautiful to gain anyone's attention.

My beauty was more of a curse, that I wished to acknowledge. The lustful gazes that followed me, the leering eyes that made me feel so dirty.

But now, this man ahead of me was giving me a solution, that I could never have fathomed.

A short vacation, away from being a royal in a place where no one knows, and I could disguise as anyone.

And for the first time, I was getting a choice to be who I wanted to be.

So, what should I be?

"A servant."

The laughter the slipped past his lips was tained with amusement.

"I give you a choice to be whoever you want. And you choose a servant?"

"I hate being a royal. The attention,the responsibilities, it's all just too much. For, some time I just want to be commoner, doing normal duties and being invisible. No one would care for a servant. No attention. Nothing. Just a simple life, even if it is only for sometime. Please Please please. "

His eyes softened, as he shook his head. "You are possibly the most innocent person I have ever met."

"Can you teach me the disguise spell instead, I want to change my looks now, see what I can be. Please?"

He laughed, nodding his head. Holding his hand out, he stood.

"You are probably the first human to ever make such wish."

I breathed in deeply."You have no idea. How relived I am feeling, after hearing the possibility that maybe I will finally be able to make my own choices."

"This palace, this royal status and money means nothing. I don't want a lavish lifestyle. And nor do I hope for miracle that suddenly my life will be changed and everyone will love and care for me."

"I am happy to serve in a palace, do hardwork. Live peacefully. Little money, no status or recognition I am happy. Even if I am nobody but I can get choices, I'll be happy."

"Choice of freely living, making my own decisions. I know my life won't really be perfect, at least it will be the result of my own decisions. Good or bad, whatever it will be, it will be mine."

"Indeed. Let's teach you this spell." Krishn stated, I couldn't hold back the grin.

"Oh yes!"

He shut his eyes and the rest of the day we spent practicing. After all tomorrow we were leaving for Hastinapur...

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