[NEED TO REWRITE MOST PORTIONS]Shikhandini

The Lost Princess

The sun tiptoed over the haughty mountains guarding the horizon. The ridges looked down upon the vast green valleys. Fertile land laid as far as the eyes could see, now drenched in the red morning sunlight. Darks forests cradled farmlands just as they supported the bloodthirsty beasts hidden within themselves. After all, why would mother Nature not bless the mightly kingdom of Panchala with impregnable boundaries when its inhabitants toiled day and night to uphold her honour!

A thousand metal bells roared deafeningly, rousing the warriors of this illustrious land. The resounding call of conches reverberated through every household, uniting in the sky as if to declare, "Be afraid, for Panchala has awoken!"

The harmonies of sacred hymns rose from every temple in the land. Fires as tall as the sky above burned before every temple. Priests venerated Panchala's principal deity deva Rudra by bathing revered stone idols in milk. People filtered in and out of the temples, seeking blessings of the divine before setting out on their jobs.

Soldiers had already set out on their daily march, cheered on by the women and children. The sky had just taken on the reddish hue of dawn.

Among this flurry of activities ran a young girl. She wore the uniform of a soldier, but her eyes revealed innocence. She tried hard to keep up with the grown soldiers. This young woman was none other than Shikhandini, the only child of King Drupada, the ruler of Panchala.

It seemed as though the King had given up the hope for a boy. He was raising his daughter like a son, and his future heir.

---

Shikhandini was only halfway through the day's archery practice when all the guards suddenly stood in attention, "His majesty, Maharaja Drupada, sovereign of the mighty kingdom of Panchala, arrives."

"Come here my son!" called out her father as he turned to speak with her teacher, "How is his training going so far?" Her teacher plunged into a detailed analysis as she stood praying to the Gods. Please, make Sir forget about yesterday's missed targets. Father will kill me if he hears! She thought. She was relieved as her teacher detailed only her achievements over the past month.

"All in all, Maharaja, the princess has been performing as per my expectations consistently." King Drupada nodded, "He's a Prince, not Princess. How many times till you get it, Sir?" He turned to her, as she looked up from fidgeting with her bow, "And you, 'consistent' does not float my boat. You are to become the best warrior this land has ever seen. You are the heir to this kingdom, and you will behave as such!" The King tore apart her flower garland as he shoved her to the side and left. She could hear her heart racing as she cautiously eyed the scattered bits of flower on the ground waiting for her father to leave.

Having had a moment to compose herself, she took a deep breath, wiping off the tears that had welled up in her eyes. She fixed her bow on the target, concentrating once more.

---

"But how can I be a boy?" She asked her maid as they ran across the grassy field under the harsh midday sun. They came to a hasty stop as the princess stopped to catch her breath. "I told you not to run!" The maid said indignantly.

"Tell me honestly, am I really a boy? I mean, I look more like you than him!" She pointed towards a soldier marching away."My Lord, you know the King has forbidden us from talking about it! Just accept it, can you not? What is the harm in this arrangement? The King needs an heir, and you get to learn all the cool stuff!"

"But I do not want to, kanchuki! I do not want to shoot, and maim, and kill! I want to sit under a shade and weave pretty ornaments with flowers! Why doesn't Father let me do all those nice things you girls do? Tell me, if I am truly a boy, why can't I leave my room bare-chested, like all the others? Why must I cover up like a woman, and yet live the life of a man?!"

The maid shook her head silently.

---

As night fell, Shikhandini laid awake in her bed-chamber, staring up at the ceiling. It was painted in a circular pattern depicting the past glories of the House of Panchala. She felt as though they were mocking her. The images slowly blurred into a large pile of indistinguishable colours. It was a simple trick of the mind. She often defocused her eyes to blur out her surroundings when she felt too overwhelmed. The blur of the world around her brought a sense of calm she often couldn't find in her life.

Shikhandini snapped back to clarity as the guards announced the arrival of her mother, Queen Prishati.

Her mother sat at her bedside as she dismissed the guards. "Do not take your father's words to heart. He means no harm!" She said to the princess.

The queen shushed the little girl as tears welled up in both of their eyes, "I know it hurts. Not knowing. Not understanding. Your sorrow is cutting through my heart like a sharpened knife, and I must tell you the truth now!" Shikhandini stared at her mother as she continued, "You were born half-man and half-woman. If your true identity is revealed, our citizens shall protest. They shall hunt you down and burn you alive! What will happen to me after that, say?"

She cupped the little girl's face, "Please, please do this for you poor mother, my brave little princess!" Mother and daughter embraced as they wept. The darkened sky wept alongside.