Warning :A very long story!

Amaravati breathed heavily. She was adorned with fulgent gold ornaments laiden with precious stones. A silky veil covered her face completely and she was clad in a grand saree with golden brocades and embroidery.

Her lustrous hair was tied up above her neck into a bun.
Her eyes were outlined with pure black kohl and a small red dot was spotted between her brows.

She was seated on the bed of her new chamber inside her new home, the royal palace of Mahishmathi,an empire glorified greatly in every myth.

She was now the newly wedded wife of the crown prince of Mahishmathi and the future queen of the great empire. Her wedding took place today and she was waiting for her husband in his chamber.

She had heard a lot of tales about his bravery and generosity. She heard that he has fought several battles and gifted his citizens new clothes and a sum of money every thirty days.

But she was not impressed. He was however the prince of an empire where women lacked freedom and had to lead their whole life hidden under a veil. They had no right to touch weapons or considered equal to men. The title of a queen was just a mere word of decoration for the king's wife. She had no powers of her own. Women could not even dream to be independent.

She did not expect a sense of equality in him no matter how kind and lionhearted he was.

A cool wind made its way through the wide open window bringing her veil down.It seemed as if the nature couldn't bare to see her this way. The curtains of the window swayed in rhythm and she could see the bright moon shining in the sky. The peaceful sight eased her tightened jawline.

Before she could pull up the silky smooth cloth over her head, the massive door of the chamber opened with a creak. Suryodhay, her husband entered the room slowly. He closed the door behind him and walked to her.

"Don't do it. "he said out of the blue which made her stop holding the cloth. She stared at him intently.

"I... don't believe in this system where women are treated unequally. You don't have to cover your face. "he said taking her by surprise. This was not the behavior she expected.

"I know this marriage must have took place against your interest.I could not make a decision too. I don't know anything about you nor do you know a thing about me. So... I... think we should wait for the right time. "he said in a go. He looked a bit nervous.

He slowly sat down on the bed keeping a respectable distance from her.Still she shifted a little.

"I will sleep on the floor if  you are uncomfortable. "he said and she was impressed though she didn't want herself to be.

"It is alright,prince Suryodhay.I thank you for your kindness. You can sleep on the bed.As long as you don't do anything wrong .... "she trailed off and she had stopped herself from saying the last sentence. Her father had strictly warned her not to say anything that may create a conflict.

"My kindness!!I beg your pardon princess Amaravati. This isn't an act of kindness. If a person feels uncomfortable with his or her life partner, then they should wait. Be it a woman or a man. I believe patience and mutual understanding is the base of marriage. And I... am trying my best. "he quoted.

"Are you uncomfortable? "she asked casually.

"Umm.. I don't know actually.. I'm feeling strange and slightly nervous. But not uncomfortable. "he said with a small smile and she nodded. This was what she was feeling exactly. Somehow his presence now made it easy for her. She was glad that in a country like this, she could find atleast one person who could think logically.Maybe her father was not completely wrong.

"From what you spoke, I can't understand how you could survive at a place where such sickening practices are existent. "she said before she could stop herself.

"I did not mean any disrespect.Its...-"she was interrupted by him.

"Princess Amaravati, I needed a wife who could speak her mind out to me. A person with whom I can discuss about anything. A person who could interpret my decisions and find out the mistakes in them.Now,I think...the first quality is.... "he trailed off and she looked out of the window.

"Please do not feel regret for calling these practices sickening. According to me, they are much more than sickening. I'm waiting to abolish this systems when I get the opportunity. "said Suryodhay.

"And that is when you become the emperor. "Amaravati remarked. Suryodhay smiled wider.

Silence engulfed the room and Amaravati's mind travelled to the past. The time when she came to know about an old promise. Her father Chandrasen, the king of Kunthala was a close friend of the emperor of Mahishmathi, Vikramdev.They studied in the same gurukul.After completing their period in the gurukul, they were very sad to get separated. So they promised that they will make each other's  children marry. That way they will become relatives as well. So now she was here, literally trapped in a web. She had begged her father not to marry her off to Mahishmathi.

"Alright. You will not have to marry. Remember that you are tarnishing the honor of your country and your father. The world will remember me as a king who did not fulfill a promise that he made to a close friend and an ally. Kunthala will be considered a nation that doesn't give worth to its own words. "his words echoed loudly in her ears. She did not have a counter statement against this remark.

The cry of a soldier brought her out of  the reverie of thoughts. She was alert and stood up from the bed. Suryodhay rushed to open the door. As he opened, he found the soldiers guarding his chamber laying dead on the floor in pools of blood.

"Princess! Please stay inside. We have been attacked. "he yelled and closed the door from outside.

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

Suryodhay seethed as he teared the head of an intruder apart from his shoulders with his sword.The palace was now filled with masked intruders armed with weapons.All the soldiers were now alert and was fighting the inruders.He tossed another three men in the air and made his way to his mother's chamber.He had advised all the women to stay together at her chamber.He entered the room through a window and made sure that everyone were safe.Suddenly,something struck him.He had left Amaravati in his chamber,locked.And if he could successfully enter a room through a window,why couldn't the intruders do so?

His heartbeats went wild as he ran to his chamber cutting a few heads and slashing a few bodies on his way.He had just vowed to protect her forever today.How could he do such a blunder?

As he reached a doorway,he found himself faced by innumerous men armed with weapons and all he had was a sword.But he was ready to take it.He fought bravely and gained a few wounds.

Suddenly he was held by a number of men and was unarmed.He tried his best to toss them but a large wound on his right arm was making it hard for him.A group of men were approaching him,ready to kill.He gathered all his might and threw the men who held him into thin air.As he bent down to  grab a sword from one of the fallen men and attack the approaching ones,he felt a sword  swinging to his neck.But before he could defend himself he heard a loud clinging of metals.He turned around to see a feminine figure who was wielding a fiery sword,protecting him from the advancing men.She had no veil but was wearing heavy clothes and dazzling ornaments.He could clearly make out who she was.He joined her and the men were down in seconds.

"Thank you,Amaravati."he said as the couple were making their way to the royal court to check on it.Half of the kingdom's soldiers were fighting outside and the others were searching for the presence of intruders in every possible places including secret chambers and doorways.At the same time Suryodhay was awestruck seeing this terrific side of his wife.He couldn't believe that she was the same woman who was sitting on his bed so calmly just hours before.

"We've been betrayed.I spotted the royal emblem of Mahishmathi's army on most of their arms."she replied and made her pace fast.Suryodhay was now heavily impressed.He couldnt take his eyes off her.

"And this attack was aimed at you."she said.

"When you left after shutting the door ,a group of intruders sprang out from a secret chamber. And when the last one was about to die,he made a whistle and I suppose that's when more number of men started attacking others.They wanted to make this look like a random attack in the night time and nothing aimed at you."she answered his questioning stare.

"That's so observant of you. "he appreciated her and started thinking who could do such treachery.Whoever he was, he had turned a large number of Mahishmathi's soldiers against the royal family.As he had already doubted this attack to have someone in the royalty involved, he had asked all the courtiers and other important personells to assemble in the court once the conditions were stable.

.........

At dawn,the palace was under control and small troops were sent into the the border and other parts of the country for protection. The soldiers who attacked the palace were being questioned. But none of them were spilling the beans though they were threatened with life.

The royal court had all its members. Suryodhay approached the huge door of the court and it was opened by the watchmen.Amaravati followed him but the men hesitated to do the same for her. She slowly looked at them with her eyes that emitted rage at it's purest form and as if it burned them, they opened the door wide in fear.

All the courtiers stared at her. They were seeing a woman without a veil walking into the court without a tinge bit of fear, a sword hanging from a belt that was wound around her sword for the first time.

Vikramdev glared at her and his palms shivered in anger. How dare she break the rules of Mahishmathi just a day after her wedding?

"Princess Amaravati, do you have any idea about what you are doing? "the royal priest hissed.

"Yes. I do. I'm here to find out who the imposter is. "she said boldly.

"Father, we have to find out the imposter. We can talk about everything else later ."Suryodhay spoke up and the whole court fell silent. None could gather courage to oppose his words. Not even his father.

The court went on and the one who betrayed the nation turned out to be the commander in chief of the army. He did all this due to his greed for the throne and Amaravati.

"I... bribed half of the army.I asked some of them to hide in the secret chamber of prince Suryodhay's room. Then I planned to bring him outside by killing the watchmen. Once he is outside the chamber, I advised the hidden men to get Amaravati captivated.He will be busy fighting with others when this is done. So after that I could force him to surrender himself using her. Being unable to protect his wife is a man's biggest shame in Mahishmathi.But..- "

"But Amaravati ripped off the heads of your men and your plans failed.Such complicated plans to kill me!You could have just poisoned the milk I had to drink at night.I never knew you were such a dimwit. "Suryodhay stated sarcastically.

The commander in chief was taken to prison. Now all eyes were on Amaravati who stood by her husband.

"Amaravati,you touched a weapon and abandoned your veil. What  do you have to say about it?"asked the king.

Suryodhay's blood boiled. After everything, how could he question her this way.

"If I had not picked up my sword, your son's head would have been rolling on the floor,your Majesty . "Amaravati uttered loudly and the whole court fell into silence once again under her fiery and authorative voice. Suryodhay stared at her, he didn't know her tongue was as sharp as her sword.

"How dare you raise your voice to the emperor of Mahishmathi! Guards chain her!"the king screamed.

"Touching her is equal to challenging my sword. "Suryodhay said as he swung his sword swiftly and towered before her. The guards dropped the chains and weapons in shock and fair. Amaravati looked at him with a smal smile. She could say he was burning in anger. She was now assured that he would support her no matter what.

The king sprang up from his seat in fury.

"Surya...You..are you protecting a woman who broke the rules followed by Mahishmathi since ages? "asked Vikramdev.

"No, father. I'm protecting a woman who saved my life. I'm protecting the woman whom I wedded yesterday. I'm protecting my wife.And if Iam not wrong that was your decision, father. With all due respect, I cannot break the vows I took yesterday. "he stated courageosly and Amaravati's respect and admiration for him only increased thousandfols. Though she never longed for a knight in a shining armor she did yearn for a shoulder to lean on.She was now sure that she had found it already.

"Father, What's wrong in her statement?She saved the life of Mahishmathi's future king. If she had not killed the men who were hiding in the chamber, our whole nation would have been in peril. Think about it father. If our women were given more freedom and rights, how many attacks could have been stopped.If all of us are alive now it's solely because of her. Why are women treated this way in our kingdom father?Is it not high time to change these rules?I've always showed my disapproval against these practices. Now you even witnessed what a woman could do. You're the most understanding person I have ever seen. Please try to understand what I'm trying to convey. "Suryodhay stopped speaking as he saw his father in deep thoughts.Vikramdev dismissed the court as he wanted to think about it.

...........

At night

The stars shined brightly as ever. Amaravati stated at the sky with her beautiful brown orbs.

"May I join you? "Suryodhay's baritone boomed and she turned around. He was standing with a bare torso, clearly leaving his abs visible. His face oozed with manliness and a little mischief. She must say, he was drop dead handsome. She could even feel some strange sensations. Was it what they call butterflies in the stomach?

"You may. "she answered and he stood by her,again leaving a reasonable distance. She understood that he would make her fall for him anyway. So why denying herself from it? She surrendered herself to her destiny in her heart and he..... was her destiny.

"Father has decided to make changes in the laws regarding women. "said Suryodhay and she smiled wholeheartedly.

"Prince Suryodhay,thank you for taking my side in the court. "she said and he looked at her with the most charming smile she had  ever seen. She smiled back.

"You're welcome Princess Amaravati.And it's Surya for you. That's what my loved ones call me. "he replied and she stared at him yet again.

"Well, Surya...Then Amara is what my loved ones call me. Not Princess Amaravati."she replied with a graceful smile and small shade of crimson playing on her cheeks. Surya smiled more wider. It occurred to him that a quick sight of her face was enough for him to live all his seven lives in happiness. The divine glow of her face made her look nothing less than an Apsara who descended from heaven. But he knew she was not an Apsara.

She was a form of goddess Parvathi. The one who loves dearly and protects fiercely.

........

The story ends here. I am so sorry for boring you people this way. This is the longest story I have ever written. I had planned to elaborate how the commander in chief was found guilty but the word limit had already exceeded.  Please do let me know what you think!
Some scenes are of course borrowed from Mahishmathi!

Vote, comment, share!