When the beloved Princess of Amergarh was forced by the circumstances to marry the Badshah of Baghdad, she vowed for revenge.
But little did the Princess know was that the desired revenge of her would only turn her into one she despises the most...
...
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Chitrangada walked aimlessly. The words her father uttered few minutes before were still ringing in her ears like a tape recorder.
Her mind was blank. Her face was emotionless. It was just her abnormally beating heart which reminded her that she was not a robot.
Her legs automatically took her towards her elder brother, Rajkumar Amar's room where his wife was lying unconsious from the time the news of his kidnap reached her.
Chitrangada settled herself beside the sleeping figure of her sister-in-law and caressed her four months pregnant belly from above the silk duvet.
A sob escaped her lips thinking about her beloved brother.
"Jiji Saa." Suvarna's hoarse whisper pulled Chitra out from her misery.
She looked her way and helped her to sit straight.
Suvarna's lips were chapped and her throat was scratchy. She pointed her trembling finger towards the copper tumbler indicating her thirst.
Chitrangada immediately poured the liquid in a glass of same reddish-brown shiny material and handed it to her Bhabhi Saa.
"Aapke Bhai Saa aagye kya?" Suvarna queried after quenching her thirst.
Chitra was tongue tied. She could neither lie nor tell her the truth.
She moisted her dry lips as tears of helplessness pooled up in her eyes.
"Batayein Jiji Saa?" Suvarna probed further in a raised tone getting aggitated by her sister-in-law's silence.
Her pregnancy hormones were also not supporting the situation.
"Bhabhi Saa... Actually..." Chitrangada tried but before she could say something more, the panicked voice of Phool... her maid of honour... reached her ears.
She assured Suvarna that her husband is okay and will come to her really soon and turned around to leave but only after tucking her sister-inlaw properly.
She was on the threshold of the room, when Phool's huffing figure appered infront of her.
"Bai Saa... Woh... Woh..." Phool tried to make sense but her heavy breathing was not letting her speak.
She was pointing her finger towards the Royal Court Room making it clear to Chitra that something had definitely happened there.
"Breathe Phool... I am going." Saying so she moved towards her destination in hurried steps.
The walk till the Royal Hall was one of the most toughest, longest and above all the scariest walk of her life. Her mind was imagining the worst scenerios regarding her Bhai Saa.
The guards stationed outside the hall bowed infront of their Princess and in return Chitrangada just nodded.
If it was some other time then she must have greeted them back with a polite smile but this moment her mind was way too occupied with the thoughts of the well being of her brother.
As Chitra entered inside, she found two messengers of opposite clan standing in the middle of the Court Hall adjacent to each other. One was holding a huge golden plate covered with red velvet cloth while the other had a scroll in his hand.
She silently moved forward and stood next to Ratna Bai... Her Choti MaaSaa.
Maharaj Suryabhan Singh Shekhawat nodded permitting the legate of Khan's to convey the message.
"As-Salaam-Alaikum, Amergarh ke liye hamara Badshah ki taraf se ek chota sa tohfa." The one holding the scroll enunciated indicating towards the golden plate.
His words made everyone terrified. They all knew it was anything but gift.
"Chitra." The King called making his daughter turn his way.
The father daughter duo conversed through eyes and in no time Chitrangada was found unveiling the plate.
Her eyes went wide as she covered her mouth to control the loud sob.
Tears started flowing from her eyes and her feet automatically moved few meters back.
Her insides shook with utmost horror as her eyes were fixed on the little finger placed in the middle of the plate with blood surrounding it.
She was sure it was her BhaiSaa's finger.
Seeing the Princess's disheveled state Veer stepped ahead and it was only his hold on her that kept her stable on the place.
"Veer Bhai... Bhai Saa..." Her words were incoherent but meaningful enough to make Maharaj alert.
The King Suryabhan Singh Shekhawat himself descended down from his throne and moved where his children were rooted.
From the time of Price Amar's kidnap, Majaraj Suryabhan was trying hard to maintain his stonic demeanour but his last thread of self control broke seeing the finger of his son as a gift.
"Maharaj... Ghabraiye naah... Yeh toh abhi shuruwat hai... Haan par... Agar aapne faisla lene mein kuch samay aur zaya kiya toh agli baar shezaade ki ungli nahi gardan bhejenge aapko tohfe mein... Maharaj ko Salam... Badshah Zahoor Ali Khan."
For the few minutes everyone stood still. They were dazed. They knew Zahoor was serious with his words.
It was only the thud sound which bring them to reality.
Chitrangada looked around only to found her father lying unconcious on the ground.
His crown had fallen and rolled down just near her feet.
The Royal family immediately moved towards the king whereas Chitrangada crounched down and took hold of the crown.
Her eyes were filled with unshed tears.
"Chitra." Veer shook her.
The panicked voices from distance made her aware of the situation.
Standing at her spot only, she could see the guards taking her father somewhere but she couldn't move.
She felt rooted.
"Hume lagta..." Veer tried but was cut off in mid by his sister.
"Hamne faisla le liya hai." Chitrangada said. The determination in her tone showed her resolution as her eyes spitted fire.
