The Triumph of a Queen

Parallel World

Year - 2023

Time- 6:30 pm

Crescent Aria Apartments , Tardeo , South Mumbai ...

Kiara, who is also called  Kia, sat on her bed, cross legged ,reading a book .. her gaze was fixed intently on the words and her black rimmed spectacles helped her in that..

"Kia baba, you haven't taken a bath till now.. Madame will be here any time.." Nina , her house help came in..

Kia frowned at being disturbed when reading.., it's something she dislikes.. but a smile broke out seeing Nina's panicked face..

"Nina.., she won't kill us.. relax.." Kia tried to pacify her..

"But you know her right.., you can't say when she get's angry.. you'll get me into trouble.."

"Ok..Ok.. I'll take a bathe now itself.. don't raise your BP for that.."

Nina left and Kia closed the door, she was about to remove her cloths when her gaze fell on the book again ., her mind didn't allow her to leave before completing the chapter.. so she took the book and opened it to the page she stopped..

'She was unaware of the fact that, once she wake up the next day, she'll no longer be the same person..'

Read the last line..,  turning the page she found nothing there.., she checked the whole book to find all the remaining pages blank..  frustration and curiousness intruded at the same time .This book was a mystery from the time she got it.. It was given by a strange old man whom she met at a fare , he was sitting next to her and looked like a gypsy .., seeing his state .., she felt he would fall any minute.., so offered him a small bottle of mineral water .. he accepted it with amusement .. when he finished the whole bottle as if hadn't tasted water for months , she offered to buy him food a , asking about his preference, he replied that anything vegetarian will do.. so she bought a masala dosa with sambar, chutney and vada.., some rasagullas and a glass of tea from the nearby Tamil food stall .. After eating everything and cleaning his hands , he came near her and opened his cloth bag, took out a wooden box and forwarded it ..,  it was the only thing he had in his bag other than some rudhraksh beads.. she declined it as she didn't help him for anything in return but he insisted so much .., so she took it , he said that now it's hers and only she could open it.. inside it, she found the book .. and then after giving her an advice and blessing ,  walked away shouting...he asked her to promise that, she wouldn't allow anyone to touch or open the book.., no one should know what is inside.. he had also given a wooden box to keep the book safe.. he reminded her that it's a world that she is holding in her hands and eventually she'll also be transported there.., it would change her life and give her the chance to do many things that she wanted to and find many new aims ,meanings and purposes... ,She is the chosen one for that, so never worry or lament about her fate and destiny...., when you are there, this world will stop ..that men then kept his hands on her head and murmured something.. after that, he gave her a smile and left , shouting something like a mad man.. 'I found her..' 'I completed it' 'I paved the way' he was telling it aloud.. Kiya watched the man till he disappeared into the crowd.. As a fan of books , she didn't think deep about the meaning of his words.. she had always believed that a good book was a world in itself.. till now she had honoured her promise..

The book itself gave a mysterious aura.., and that's what drew her to it more.. it's cover was made of wood .. and the paper used was ancient parchments.. 

The book says about Banumathi, a forgotten heroine of Mahabarath.. The Indian mythology was always Kia's favourite genre and thus most of its facts and stories were familiar.. She tried to search about the book in google but disappointment was the result .. 

The sound of the door bell brought her out from her thoughts.. 'Mom is here'.. and she rushed to the bathroom ..

After the bathe and changing into a grey shorts and dark green tank top.., she came out of the room to see her mother in the hall she was glued to her phone and the T.V was on in front .., it was showing the day's news...

Her mother, Adv. Simran Patel was a leading criminal lawyer of the city ,specialized in vehicle accidents and divorces .. she is running the legal firm 'Patel and associates' which was quite famous.. She is a strict lady but at the same time gentle and kind..

"Mumma.., how was your day.." Kia asked casually as she plopped down on the couch beside her , she took the remote and changed the channel to put her favourite reality show...

"It was great.., we won the case and I met Suman today, I told her about your interest to join  the summer camp.." Simran informed..

"Wow.. you know what, you are the best .." Kia hugged her tightly..

"Your dad called when you were taking bathe..,  there is a happy news.." Kia looked expectantly..

"He's coming back.., the meeting got cancelled due to some emergency for the clients.. he's returning with a surprise for you.." 

Mr Abhinav Singhania , Kia's dad was a rich businessman.., he had gone to Paris for a meeting ..

And Kia was their only child .. 

"When will he reach..??"
"He might be in the flight now... will be here by tomorrow morning most probably.."

**********************************************************************************

Kia was in her room after dinner.. she was ready for bed ,after adjusting the ac temperature , she got on the bed but was not feeling to lie down, so took her phone and went out .. there was a door in her room opening to the balcony.. 

The night looked so beautiful with the lights from the buildings and vehicles were shining like the bright stars , it felt so peaceful ... suddenly her phone beeped, it was a message in her friends group who were planning a day out ,the next day.. their board exams finished just last week and according to them it is yet not celebrated fully.. and also ,it was Kia's birthday this weekend , so they have to make plans and the shopping was also pending.. 

They were a group of three, Kia, Shanaya and Rohan.. The three of them were together since they were babies.. they were always there for each other since.. Outside, they were a notorious gang of stylish , cool ,daring, outgoing and smart teenagers but inside they were three happy go lucky kids with a high level of craziness and wants to explore the world to the fullest..

They talked till they felt sleepy.. even though Kia felt her mind was disturbed , she didn't know the reason.. the talk with her besties had made her feel better and so she decided to lie down.. 

Soon sleep engulfed her  with a mysterious dream.. she was unaware of the fact that, once she wake up the next day, she'll no longer be the same person...

That was the next chapter..

So, all that you read till now was originally written in a book which Kia was reading..

'Once she wake up the next day, she'll no longer be the same person..' what does that mean..??

How is her story related to Banu..??

What does the man mean by his words..??

Stay tuned to know the answers and more..

Please vote if you enjoyed and don't hesitate to comment your views.. both negative and positive comments would be accepted (gladly..)

P.S- This book is influenced by the Indian epic Mahabarath.., but not entirely based on it ..

Stay safe and healthy :)...