सांझ सवेरे लेके आएगी
नया दिन आशा लेके आएगा
चिंता भविष्य की हैं
अतीत अब्भी जीवित हैं

Evening Will bring morning
A new day will bring hope
Tension is of future
But the past still lives.

-अदिति🌻

"His highness, we could simply announce your arrival in the pearl quarters. "
King zravasya cast him one look, making it clear his unannounced entry a secret, a secret staying between him and the guard.

"Give me your mask and the armour you wear " The guard swivelled his eyebrows in confusion before giving his highness whatever he wishes for. The king walked in the corridors of the quarters, called pearl quarters. His meetings with the construction team for the new drainage system soon to be introduced in the kingdom of rakshatra.

The quarter consisted of less number of men as the princesses resided there. What he learned about the princesses was every lady arrived in this castle was different, not by kingdoms but also by beliefs, reason, and attitude. Some of the princesses were gorgeous, the goddess herself made them, some were sharp and witty, few of them were shy to walk a single step forward but there were two who crossed him and caught his interest. Two seemed like two sides of a coin, one who appeared to be a clean slate, and another masking number of white lies under her stern and angelic face.

A familiar bark diverted his attention from the princesses. Jugnu was rubbing his whole body on the grass, scratching and wiggling his nose. He chuckled looking at his beloved pet dog. He shot a last glance at the surroundings before walking towards jugnu. As soon as, the pup's nostrils caught his scent he peeped up from the grass, licking his lips slightly, the salvia dripping from his mouth. The pup followed him till he reached a certain hiding area. Jugnu licked his foot and rubbed his head to gain his attention. The king picked his little pup in his arms, patting his head lightly.

"You smell different pup, I assume you like cuddling to a lady.  Such a ladies man you are " Jugnu sniffled snuggling his head on his hand.

"Be a good boy and take me to the princess who tried to still our precious apples " He chuckled caressing his fur. The pup barked in annoyance at his statement-making the king chuckled harder.

"Oh! You got angry.  Fine, take me to the love of your life " The pup barked, jumping down from his arms. Jugnu ran towards the end of open area, entering in the corridors.

The pup was running towards the end of an isolated corridor. The king's eyes followed the bewitching beauty sitting on one of the railings of the corridor, the airex morning glory creeper spreading in all the directions where she sat reading a book. Her long lustrous and thick hair falling carelessly in every direction making the little mousy strands glow under the sunlight. The bends of her hips and the fullness of her blossoms, complimenting her feminine waves. The glistening skin under the rays of her sun, creating a spectrum of beautifying colours on her exposed skin.  Her eyes fell on the little pup who was shaking his head to grab her attention.

Her pinkish brown lips curved in a smile as he eyes glowed in happiness, setting the book aside she picked the jugnu in her arms.

"What a man!" the king whispered as the little pup nuzzled on her breasts. The pup barked looking at the princess as she tickled his ears giggling looking at him. 

"Jugnu, Where were you? Lekha said you tore her red handkerchief. You naughty boy"

The king was hiding behind the outskirts of the corridor, connected the garden. He was hiding behind one of the trees peeking at the princess of Asaka. Tanirika turned around unknowingly facing her back to the man who was spying on her. His eyes scanned her exposed back, as the little thread failed to hide her gleaming skin. Her hands moved behind her neck jerking her hairs four times placing them in a proper position. She picked her veil from the railing and covered her head with it. Picking her book from the corner, she bent down to pick jugnu when a pair of legs caught her eyes. Her umber eyes followed the route to find the face of the person. Princess jigansa stood firmly smirking at her. She groaned rolling her eyes looking at her ex-best friend.

"How ironic, the great princess of Asaka is so alone that she desires a company. And look a little dirty animal is the one for you. My good wishes are with you tanirika. "
She mocked annoying tanirika more.

Tanirika dusted the bristles of soil spread on her book while holding jugnu with another hand.

"God, the creature smells awful just like you"

Tanirika giggled caressing jugnu's head making jignasa annoyed.

"I think you have a plan to get the crown or you were crying that your little chance to get the crown is lost. The king will never accept you, he loathes everything related to the previous royal family. "

"Are you sacred jignasa? " She giggled again. Jignasa clutched the cloth of her skirt in annoyance as tanirika stood less bothered about her comments.

"Why would I be scared? For you? Never. You are a liar. You lied to us " She whispered in anger.

"Princess jignasa, I am the princess of Asaka, one of the biggest kingdoms to exist on this planet.  And let me tell you this the crown for which you are fighting belonged to me before you existed. You think you all are my competition well, there you are wrong. You people are just pawns in the game of chess, the queen always wins. And I don't need a crown to be a Queen, I am a queen. "

She placed the book under her arm, switched jugnu on her other hand, dusted the mud from her hands and smiled at jignasa before releasing a long breath. 

"And this is a secret don't tell anyone. I was planning on how to enforce my plan.  I am going to kill every one of you, including the king and get that crown. How beautiful, right! Because I don't need a king to be a queen. There you and I differ "
Tucking the loose strand of her hair behind her ear, she patted her shoulders before leaving the corridor.

"Little jugnu you will be hungry right. Let's feed your stomach " She sang moving out of the space.

"This was one of the royal arrangements started centuries ago.  Marrying an Asaka princess with Rakshatra prince was the proof of the inseparable bond and loyalty to each other. " The Royal advisor, achyut spoke.

"We believe in our ancestors, gods and rituals. the marriage between two people is a sacred bond. It binds two people for eternity. With two people it binds two families and alliance between kingdoms. Every princess who came here is the key to their kingdom. " Another advisor explained to their king who was still new to the Hinduism norms and beliefs.

"According to the Veda, marriage is a union between a masculine and feminine entity with commitments to pursue Dharma, Artha (possessions), Kama (physical and other desires) and Moksha (the liberation) in unison. It's scared, my king. Your marriage will get you respect. The kingdoms are scared but the marriage will form a bond.  An unbreakable bond "
The Royal advisor, achyut spoke picking the lamp from the table, pointing towards the flame of fire.

"So, which kingdom it is? "
The king spoke, placing one of the pawns ahead on the chess game as master Junious sat, on the other hand, playing a game of chess with him.

"The bigger kingdoms, my king. You need to marry the princess belonging to kingdom who is  prosperous in every aspect and hold a high position among the kingdoms. "

"This will be beneficial in political way too " Master junious cut his pawn out, putting his king ahead.

"Your king is in danger master" Zravasya smirked looking at his teacher.

"Your Queen is in danger too zravasya" He fired back.

"I would say the kingdom of prayag is best. They have orchards for many fruits and our king loves orchards "

"I don't need orchards amenha, I need a strong pact between all the kingdoms as this land is mine. " Zravasya asserted, rubbing his jaw thinking about his next move.

"If we want the bond and proper support we must go with the old way. The treaty formed between the kingdom of Asaka and rakshatra is a sacred and honourable treaty following the treaty will bring us the support and trust of our people. " Royal advisor spoke. Master Junious never missed the little smirk curving on zravasya face. Zravaysa placed his king right between the web of pawns in his territory. Clearly killing the king.

"But the princess of asaska is fierce, she honours her beliefs and practices more than anything. Did you forget how she beheaded the prince of Manowar because he tried to enter her bathing chambers? "

"That was the wrong amenha, no man is allowed to invade the privacy of a lady.  I guess her actions define a Queen " royal advisor, achyut defended the princess. 

"Your king is dead zravasya. You are going to lose. "

"The king of Asaka holds a special position among the kingdoms. His ties and relations with other kingdoms are best.  Forming a treaty with him will be beneficial. His one statement will get all the kingdoms on our side. "

The Queen was caught between the pawns facing the opposite king directly. She was alone in the game of chess which seemed impossible to win.

"I know she holds your attention zravasya, is she bewitching your soul "  Killing the king in one go, zravaysa's blazing eyes met his master's.

"A queen doesn't need a king to win the game. Checkmate master "

"Send a letter to the kingdom of Asaka, tell the king that we want to reclaim the treaty enforced by our ancestors. Make sure that this never gets leaked. I want to meet the princesses. " The king dismissed everyone except his master.

"What game are you playing zravasya? "

"I am bewitched master. I want her. "

"The king has summoned every princess in the meeting hall, Tani. What do you think? Lekha whispered massaging the sole of tanirika's food.

" I don't know. That man is mysterious and I have no idea what he thinks or plans to do "

"You must. You are here for the crown. You must fight and impress the king. This is our chance. "

"I want to but I can't. I can't be someone who I am not. I won't change myself for anyone. I bet the king desires for a wife who nods at his every statement. I can't do that. " She was a born warrior, a born royal. She was taught to speak what is right. She was here to represent her kingdom. But abandoning her ethics was never her thing. She won't do that. She will give her head for her kingdom but her morality Never.

"you are not understanding. Your father wants you to get the crown. "

"My father wants me to represent the kingdom,  stand firm.  I did that.  "

"Tani, you know I am always with you. No matter what.  But this treaty is important. I heard whispers, the king has spies in the pearl quarters.  He planted those spies to gather information and judge the princesses. "

"Then he already has his queen. "
She spoke removing her leg from her holds, standing on her feet. She prepared herself for the night.

Tanirika waited for the night to pass on. The night seemed tough, a feeling in her stomach scared her something was about to happen. She tossed and turned in her bed to find someone peace. She did all this for her country. Yes, she did, but abandoning the thing is possessed like every breath of air she took was wrong. Treaty means, rules and regulations from both contenders. If the king selects her then she will speak for her side, for her life and for her kingdom. Yes, she was born for this day, to be the Queen but becoming queen doesn't mean that she will leave everything she carried her whole life. The king must listen and he will listen.

Her chain of thoughts was broken the little bark, jugnu was again walking towards the same corridor like the previous night.
She huffed in annoyance looking at the love he memorized for his old master.  Adjusting her veil she followed him again to the isolated open space.

"Jugnu, not again.  I feed you, I care for you. Come back here. " she stomped her feet annoyingly, running again behind her little pup. As she suspected, the man from the previous night was laying with crossed legs on the railing of the fountain. He was facing the sky, staring at the sky absentmindedly. Jugnu barked at him gaining his attention, he turned down looking at his pup. Picking the little furry partner in the air he placed him on his chest. This was the first time tanirika caught a little glimpse of his face. His high cheekbones and little subtle made him appear attractive. She walked towards him and cleared her throat.

"You lack manners, you must bow down to a royal. " She asserted folding her arms around her chest. The man continued caressing the pup ignoring the princess.

"Are all the foreigners like this? You don't have any manners. What makes you so special. " She crouched down to grab jugnu away when he held her hand in the middle. Her eyes shot right in his blazing eyes. His thick eyebrows creased, full lips curved in a smile as she stared at him. The sound of her bangles echoed in the silent night.

"I am, special princess. It's just a matter of time. "

He pushed her away, standing back on his feet.  His hand was still holding her wrist, he looked down at her wrist then at her and in a snap of eye, she was sitting on the railing surrounding the fountain. Placing jugnu down, he held one of her foot on his hands. Caressing the sole her foot with his thumb he traced the scars styling her feet.

"The plant which caught you yesterday spread its venom and gave you this cut. Apply camphor, not oil. You will be fine. "

"How do you know? " she whispered, feeling blissful by the pressure of his knuckles on her sole.

"Your walk was different today which clearly says that you are still in pain.  Use the royal library, the left section is filled by many books. Books are written by many Wise and Intellectual people. " His thumbs worked on the toes, he pressed his toes one by one.

"That's helping. Who taught you that? "

"A slave knows about all the pleasures "

"A slave.  Were you -" she heard this.  Slavery in the northern region was famous. Humans were treated as objects, the property of another person.

"I was " he admitted proudly.

"That's horrible. " Her features relaxed, innocence filled on her angelic face glowing under the moonlight. He chuckled meeting her eyes. 

"horrible is not the proper word. It's beyond that. "

I hope the chapter reached your expectations.

What do you think about slavery?

What about zravasya?

Jugnu is really our hero. He is the reason they meet every time. Hihi!

Are you excited for that moment when Tani meets the king?  I mean OFFICIALLY THE KING.

The last chapter has less number of votes. There was a problem with notifications. So, please vote on that chapter.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi 🌻.

May God bless us all.