I feel a hand on my shoulder and I see a familiar face. He is none other than the host of the fight which took place few mins back. He smiles at me. He introduces himself as Ranchod.

Ranchod: Aap Ratangarh kis kaaran padaare hai? (What brings you to Ratangarh?)

Sid: Jeevan Sangrah hetu (For Livelihood)

R: Toh aap kya vyapaari hai? (Are you a businessman?)

S: Nahi Mahashay.. Humare paas toh bhojan ke liye bhi mudra nahi thi, isiliye sparda mein bhaag liya humne. (No Sir, I didn't even have money for food, hence I participated in the competition)

R: Kya Vidambana hai! Kahi rehneka aashray hai kya aapka? (What an irony! Do you have any place to stay?)

S: [He had no plans to stay but the greed to see her once again popped up] Ji nahi, kahi koi rehne ka prabandh ho jata toh.. (No, I wish I had some place..)

R: Chinta na karo mitra, aap humare saath reh sakte ho, humaara ek akhada hai jaha hum chote baalakon ko malla aur shastra vidhya ka prashikshan dete hai. Aapki ichcha ho toh aap bhi ek guru ke roop mein baalakonko abhyaas kara sakte hai.
(Don't worry friend, you can stay with us, we have a small training centre where we train little kids in defensive techniques. If you wish, you can teach the kids as well)

I readily agreed to his offer. I asked him about the Royal palace and he told me where it was. After the training hours, I stroll in the palace vicinity just to get a glimpse of her but it's been a week and I had no luck.

I am getting restless and I feel I cannot stay without looking at her anymore.

Ranchod told me that there is an archery competition in the palace tomorrow where Kings and Princes from various neighboring states would visit. He said we can attend the competition as audience. I immediately agreed as I might get to see her.

I eagerly wait for the morning as I was unable to sleep reminiscing about her. I don't even know her name yet. If my name ought to be Sidharth, named after a King, I would call her Shehnaaz, the queen my mother mentioned.

"Shehnaaz" I call out loud lying in my bed. A smile forms on my face and I fall asleep.

I wake up at the first break of dawn and get ready for the event. Ranchod and I go to the palace. All these days I had seen the palace from outside however it's interiors could make anyone spellbound with its extreme beauty. We enter the huge arena built specifically for such events. The stadium was full of Ratangarh citizens.

However, my eyes were searching for my Shehnaaz. The Royal family enters the royal block from where they could view the competition and address to audience with ease.

The royal servant announce their arrival in the manner they enter and King Sehdev Singh, followed by Queen Durgeshwari Devi and their only daughter Shakuntala Singh. My heart skips a beat. Dressed in a Royal attire, green lehenga blouse and a thin veil and loads of jewelry enters my Queen Shehnaaz. And her name is Shakuntala but I would still call her Shehnaaz.

Although, she was having a thin veil, it couldn't hide her illuminous face. She sat on the royal chair. My eyes were glued on her not bothering about what's happening around or in the competition.

Suddenly, Ranchod shakes me and I see that an extremely proud and self proclaimed Prince Asimesh challenging King Sehdev to beat him in archery skill. He anounces that he can call upon any of his soldier who is good at archery to compete with him.

Additionally, he challenges him that if his men fail, he will take over the kingdom and also forcefully marry Princess Shakuntala.

Hearing this my blood boils, but I have no authority to speak hence I grit my jaws and wait for King's reply.

Asimesh continues to boast himself, he announces that he would give 3 chances and 3 candidates to fight him.

King Sehdev sends his 2 best Archer Bhimdev and Kamdev, the twin brothers. However both fail to beat Asimesh. King Sehdev puts his face down while I see tension on my Shehnaaz's face. She gets up.

Shakuntala: [folds her hand] Pitashri, aapki anumati ho toh hum prayaas kar sakte hai? (Father, If you permit can I attempt?)

Asimesh: [barks in sarcastic tone] Ye kya Maharaj, aapke rajya mein saare purush veergati praapt ho gaye, jo ab aap ek naari se humara sparda karayenge? Aap bhale hi isko manya de sakte hai par hume ek naari se sparda kathai nahi karenge.
(What is this King? Are all the men in your kingdom been martyred that you would permit a lady to compete with me? You might give her permission but I am not ready for it.)

Shakuntala: Iss mein unuchith kya hai Yuvraj Asimesh? Kalaa ka Ling se kya sambandh? (What is wrong in it Prince Asimesh? What is the relationship between Art and Gender?)

Asimesh: Rajkumari, aap humse vivaah kar le aur meri santan ka palan kare. Waise bhi aapke rajya mein aapke yogya koi purush nahi hai. (Princess, marry me and take care of our child. As is, your state doesn't have any male who is of your match)

Shakuntala: Aap jaise neech vichar rakhnewale purush se vivah karne se uttam hoga ki hum aajeevan avivahit rehe (Instead of marrying a person like you who has low ideology, I prefer not to marry my whole life)

Asimesh: Aapke pitashri ne chunauti sweekar kiya hai, abhi nibhana nahi hota toh aapko humse vivah karna hi padega. Sweekruti se ya bal prayog se. (Your father has already accepted the challenge, if he cannot fulfill then you have to marry me. Either with acceptance or forcefully)

That's it, I cannot take it anymore. I stood up and roar like an angry lion.

Sid: Yuvraj Asimesh. Abhi ek aur pratiyogi baaki hai, agar aapko koi aapathi nahi toh mein aapse Dhanur Dwandh karne ke liye thatpar hoon.. (Prince Asimesh, there is still one more contender left. If you don't have any objection then I am ready to compete with you.)

I look at my Shehnaaz and she is looking at me already, her eyes shine bright and she smilingly nods at me.

Asimesh: Hume purush se dwandh karne mein koi aapathi nahi hai. Aap purush ho na? (I don't have problem in fighting a man. Are you a Man?)

Shehnaaz's eyes now shows a rage. She definitely didn't like that comment made by Asimesh on me.

Sid: Iska uttar hum sparda ke paschat denge! (I'll answer this post competition)

I walk down on the ground. My Shehnaaz hands over her personal bow and arrows to me and wishes me to win. I now looked at her closely. She is a divine beauty and I am falling for her with my head over heels. Right now I have to teach this rascal a lesson for disrespecting my Shehnaaz.

He takes four shots where he misses 1 and 3 hits the bulls eye. He smirks at me with a challenging face. I love challenges, it brings the best out of me. I use my calculation, expertise and my science to hit all the arrows which hits the exact centre. Bulls eye!! I take an extra 5th arrow and hit it again at the same position.

Asimesh's face fell while he feels great humiliation when Ranchod shouts my name "Sidharth Singh ki.." and everyone joins in to say "Jai ho, Jai ho"

Sid: Kalaa me Kaushalta hona bahut uttam baat hai kintu ahankaar mein andha nahi. Purush aur Stri mein antar karna anyaay hai. Naari shristi karta hai. Devi Durga, Saraswati aur Lakshmi ki hum poojan karte hai, toh naari kaha se purush se kam huyi? Pratham, shristi ki rachna ka aadar kare, phir kalaa ka.
(Expertise in Art is a good thing but one should be blinded with ego. It's injustice to compare Men and Women. Women is creator of life. We pray to Goddess Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi, then how can female be lower than us? First respect the creation of God then the art.)

Asimesh walks out in humiliation while everyone gives a standing ovation.

King Sehdev calls Shakuntala and speaks to her personally. He later stands up and announces that he, with Princess's permission, offers to gives away her hand in marriage to Sidharth Singh.

Upon his announcement, I am dumbfounded. I couldn't believe my ears and my luck that I am offered to marry a girl who took my breath and heart away in first sight.

__________________________
Will Sidharth Agree? How will they build the bridge between the past and present. Stay tuned for the final chapter of King to my Queen.
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