Maya's slender fingers moved deftly as she braided Suhasini's raven-black hair, the intricate pattern weaving together like a delicate flower. Suhasini's eyes sparkled with excitement, her face aglow with anticipation. Maya's gaze drifted to her reflection in the mirror, a mixture of sadness and resignation flickering across her face.

As she worked, Maya's thoughts wandered to King AdityaRaj.
'She couldn't deny the attraction she felt, but she knew it was one-sided.'

The king's eyes would never see her, not when Suhasini was around. Suhasini, the perfect princess, the perfect queen-to-be. Maya's heart ached with a pang of jealousy, but she quickly suppressed it. She couldn't bear the thought of tainting Suhasini's happiness, not even with a selfish desire.

Just then, Suhasini caught Maya's gaze in the mirror and smiled, her eyes shining with affection. Maya forced a smile back, her heart heavy with the weight of her secrets. She finished the braid and stepped back, admiring her handiwork.

Suhasini's beauty took Maya's breath away. Her skin glowed like alabaster, her features delicate yet striking. Maya's gaze lingered on Suhasini's face, a sense of wonder washing over her. How could she ever compete with such perfection?

The door opened, and Queen Vanshika swept into the room, a warm smile on her face. "Suhasini, my dear, you look stunning," she said, her eyes shining with pride. "Maya, you've outdone yourself."

Maya curtsied, her face flushing with pleasure. Queen Vanshika approached Suhasini and gently placed a black Tika behind her ear, the small dot gleaming like a tiny jewel. "For protection," Queen Vanshika whispered, her eyes locked on Suhasini's. "No evil eye can harm you, my dear." Suhasini's face glowed with happiness, and Maya's heart swelled with emotion. She felt grateful to be a part of Suhasini's life, even if it meant hiding her own desires.

Suhasini stood up and started walking with queen towards royal dining room. Maya started following them but queen turn back.

Queen Vanshika's gaze shifted to Maya, her expression a masterful blend of politeness and disdain. "Maya, I'm afraid you won't be joining us for lunch today," she said, her voice dripping with honeyed condescension.

Maya's heart sank, a pang of disappointment striking her like a physical blow. She had expected to be by Suhasini's side, as always. But Queen Vanshika's words made it clear that today was different.

"Today's lunch is a gathering of royal bloodlines," Queen Vanshika continued, her eyes glinting with a subtle malice. "It's a private affair, reserved for those of noble birth. No servants will be attending, not even to serve. It's a matter of royal protocol, you understand."

The queen's words were a carefully veiled jab, a reminder of Maya's illegitimate status. Maya felt a sting of hurt, her cheeks burning with a mixture of shame and anger. She knew that Queen Vanshika was intentionally excluding her, making her feel like an outsider.

"I understand, Your Majesty," Maya said, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't meet the queen's gaze, fearing that her emotions would betray her.

Queen Vanshika's expression was a mask of serene indifference, but Maya sensed a glimmer of triumph behind her eyes. The queen knew that she had struck a nerve, that Maya felt the sting of her exclusion.

Suhasini, oblivious to the undercurrents, smiled brightly at Maya. "Don't worry, Maya. I'll tell you all about it later," she said, her voice warm with affection.

Maya forced a smile, trying to hide her hurt. But as she watched Queen Vanshika and Suhasini prepare for the royal lunch, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being an outsider, a constant reminder of her illegitimate status.

......................................................................

Maya's gaze lingered on Suhasini's retreating back, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She felt a pang of hurt and exclusion, but as she reflected on the queen's words, she realized that maybe it was for the best.

If she had attended the lunch, she would have been tempted to catch the king's eye, to bask in the warmth of his attention. And that would have been disastrous.

Maya knew she was already teetering on the edge of a precipice, her feelings for the king threatening to consume her. If she had been at the lunch, she might have lost all restraint, might have succumbed to the temptation of his charm.

No, it was better this way. Maya was safer, more in control, when she was away from the king's mesmerizing presence. Maya couldn't shake off the feeling that she was merely deceiving herself. The king's image lingered in her mind, a haunting presence that refused to be exorcised.

.

As soon as Suhasini and Queen Vanshika departed, Maya's gaze swept across the opulent chamber, her eyes lingering on the intricate carvings, the plush furnishings, and the sparkling jewels. Her lips compressed into a thin line, a bitter taste rising in her mouth.

"It could have been mine," she whispered to herself, the words barely audible.

Maya's thoughts drifted back to her mother, the king's mistress, and the circumstances of her birth. If her mother had been the queen, if she had been the legitimate daughter, this chamber would have been hers. She would have been the one preparing to meet the king, to charm him with her beauty and wit.

A pang of resentment and longing struck Maya, her heart aching with the knowledge of what could never be. She felt like an outsider, a mere spectator in the game of royal politics. But as she stood there, surrounded by the opulence of the chamber, Maya's determination ignited.

Maya's gaze fell upon the lehenga lying on the bed, its intricate embroidery and delicate patterns gleaming in the soft light. She remembered Suhasini's words, spoken with such excitement and anticipation: "I'll wear this on my wedding day, when I marry King AdityaRaj."

A pang of sorrow and longing struck Maya as she reached out to touch the lehenga. It was a family heirloom, passed down through generations, and Suhasini's grandmother had given it to her. Maya's thoughts whispered a painful truth: that grandmother was also hers, a bond that tied her to Suhasini in ways both visible and invisible.

Maya's fingers trailed over the fabric, feeling the weight of history and tradition. She imagined Suhasini wearing it, her beauty radiant as she exchanged vows with the king. The picture was vivid, yet painfully bittersweet.

In that moment, Maya felt the sting of her illegitimacy, the ache of being denied her rightful place within the family. The lehenga seemed to symbolize all that she could never have: the love, the acceptance, and the heritage that was her birthright.

As Maya's fingers lingered on the lehenga, a whispered thought crept into her mind, its presence as subtle as a snake slithering through the grass. "Steal it," the voice whispered, its tone seductive and persuasive. "You can tell Suhasini she must have misplaced it amidst her countless dresses. No one will ever suspect a thing."

Maya's heart quickened, her pulse racing with the excitement of the forbidden. But then, a counter voice emerged, its tone firm and resolute. "No, Maya. You can't do that. It's not right. Suhasini trusts you, and stealing from her would be a betrayal."

The evil voice refused to be silenced, its arguments growing more persuasive. "But why not? I am also the granddaughter of Suhasini's grandmother. I have a right to this family heirloom, just as much as Suhasini does. It's only fair that I claim what's mine."

Maya's thoughts were a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, her mind torn between the desire to possess the lehenga and the knowledge that stealing it would be wrong. The battle between her good and evil sides raged on, each voice growing louder, more insistent.

The good voice within Maya grew stronger, its words piercing the darkness of her desires. "If you steal the lehenga today, what's to stop you from trying to steal the king's heart tomorrow? You know that's not right, Maya. You can't betray Suhasini's trust, not after everything she's done for you. She's your sister, your friend, your confidante. How could you hurt her like that?"

Maya's conscience pricked at her, the sting of guilt and shame rising to the surface. She thought of Suhasini's kindness, her generosity, and her unwavering support. She thought of the bond they shared, the laughter, the tears, and the secrets. And she knew that the good voice was right. She couldn't betray Suhasini, not for all the lehengas in the world.

Maya stepped back from the bed, her eyes leaving the lehenga behind. She took a deep breath, feeling the evil voice within her grow quieter, its influence waning.

Maya's resolve wavered, the bad voice within her whispering sweet nothings in her ear. "Just touch it, Maya. Once. It's so beautiful, so exquisite. And it's just a lehenga, a mere object. What harm can it do?"

Maya's fingers twitched, her hand reaching out as if of its own accord. She felt a shiver run down her spine as her fingertips made contact with the lehenga's delicate fabric. It was like a spark of electricity had passed through her body, leaving her feeling breathless and lightheaded.

"Just once," the bad voice whispered, its tone husky and persuasive. "No one will ever know. And think of how it will make you feel, Maya. Like a queen, like a princess. You deserve it, don't you?"

The bad voice within Maya continued to whisper its temptations, its words weaving a spell of persuasion around her. "Just once, Maya. Wear it just once. Suhasini will be busy with the king and Queen Vanshika for hours. The lunch will drag on, and she won't even notice. You can indulge in this one small fantasy, just for a moment."

Maya's resolve crumbled, her desire to wear the lehenga growing stronger with each passing moment. She rationalized that it was just one small indulgence, a harmless fantasy that would never be discovered. The bad voice within her cheered, its triumph echoing through her mind as she reached for the lehenga, her fingers trembling with anticipation.

Maya stood before the mirror, her eyes locked on her reflection. With a slow, deliberate movement, she began to undress, her fingers untying the strings of her simple tunic. The bad voice within her whispered encouragement, its tone husky and persuasive. "I told you, Maya, this lehenga is meant for you, not Suhasini. You deserve to wear it, to feel like a queen, a bride."

As Maya's hands reached for the lehenga, the good voice within her stirred, its protest a gentle whisper. "Maya, don't do this. It's not right. You're betraying Suhasini's trust."

Maya's eyes flashed with defiance as she silenced the good voice. "It's not like I'm stealing it," she rationalized. "I'll just wear it for a moment, and then I'll put it back. No one will ever know."

With a sense of trepidation, Maya slipped into the lehenga, its silk fabric rustling softly as it enveloped her body. She adjusted the garment, her fingers trembling slightly as she tied the strings. The mirror reflected back a vision of loveliness, the lehenga accentuating Maya's curves and highlighting her beauty. The bad voice within her purred with satisfaction. "You look stunning, Maya. You deserve this."

Maya twirled in front of the mirror, the lehenga's silken folds swirling around her like a rainbow-hued mist. She felt like a princess, a queen, her beauty and grace reflected back at her from the glass.

But as she spun, her feet tangled in the delicate fabric, and she felt herself losing balance. Her arms flailed wildly, but it was too late. She was about to fall, the lehenga's hem rising up around her like a wave.

That's when she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, holding her upright. Maya's heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see King AdityaRaj's chiseled features inches from her own. His piercing eyes locked onto hers, their gazes meeting in a flash of electricity.

....................

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