The Princess

9.

ARANYANI

"You are coming back home for Diwali, right?" My Ma asked for the hundredth time.

"Yes, I am, Ma." I sigh, exasperated.

"You should invite your friends." She suggested.

"Are you joking? I am undercover. Nobody knows that I am a Princess. Me inviting them to our huge-ass castle is going to be a dead give away that I am the Crown Princess." I scowled.

"Wipe that scowl off. You will get wrinkles. You can just tell them that the King allowed you to stay there." She waved her hand dismissively.

"That is against the royal protocol," I inform.

"You can live in your chateau." She proposed.

"I am not inviting them. Not now, anyway. There will be too much hassle." She opened her mouth to protest when I gave her a look.

"Okay. As you wish. But, I wanted to meet your friends." She pouted.

The Queen, ladies, and gentlemen.

"You can if I tell them about my secret." I bargained.

"I know you said 'if' and not 'when'." She narrowed her eyes.

"Dearest mother of mine, I have known them for a month. Except for Jiho and Jia, nobody knows my real identity. They think my name is Anya. Who knows if they will want to be my friends if I tell them my secret and they know that I lied to them. Besides, this is a huge thing. I do not know if telling them would be a smart idea. As I have said, I have known them for a month. I have to trust them completely before I tell them something that can endanger mine or any of our lives."

"You think they could potentially harm you?" She questioned with fire in her eyes.

"No Ma. I do not think they will. I just want to be cautious. That is what you have taught me. I already slipped and gave away my real name. I want to be careful." I reply with a smile.

"Okay, baby. I understand your concerns" She sighs, resigned, but smiles suddenly. "We have a party on Diwali after we perform the Pooja."

"That party takes place every year, Ma," I reply.

"I know, but this year we have invited the royal family of Denmark." She says with a grin.

"So?" I tilt my head quizzically.

"Maybe you can make friends with the Prince." She says, coolly.

Oh. So this is what it is about.

"What are you planning, Ma? You know I am not interested in a political marriage. Besides, I am just eighteen."

"I know this, sweetheart. But there is no harm in talking to him. Maybe something will happen between you both." She says with a teasing smile.

"Ugh. I cannot deal with you. Take the iPad to Papa. I want to talk to him now." I state, annoyed.

My mother then proceeds to say more annoying sentences.

"Perhaps, you already have your eyes on someone."

Immediately a face flashes in my mind. His heterochromatic eyes and crooked smile.

Oh my God. Did he come to my mind? I have known him all of two months. It is just a crush. It may go away. I try to reassure myself.

I am shaken out of my stupor when my mother squeals, boisterously.

"You do like someone! Kon hai vo? Batao!"

"I do not like anybody!" is my convincible reply.