When Aastha met Veer, she knew they had a connection.
However, the connection would be from two centuries ago, she never could have imagined.
A love story that remained unfulfilled, broken by evil, and destroyed to ashes - whose reference hide...
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Chapter 10
~1816
"Raani sa, we have already experienced the pre-monsoon showers. I believe it's better to hold Mohan and Avantika's wedding this week itself. Post which the sun is entering Gemini and it will be the beginning of aashad season which is not good for wedding rituals." The priest who was glancing at the horoscopes said. In front of him, the royal family of Rudragarh sat along with the royals of Umangiri. Royal guards, and servants stood scattered around the room in their allotted positions.
Avantika, along with her caretaker Chandrika, was seated behind a transparent curtain. Yudhisthira who sat next to his father was visibly uncomfortable. Mohan sat next to his family, his eyes deep and dark, glaring at the priest. If looks could kill, the priest would have fallen dead on the floor long ago.
Suddenly a few soldiers burst into the royal room along with the Senapati, and royal ministers. "Rana sa! We have a problem!" Senapathi spoke as soon as he approached the king. Everyone stood up, aghast wondering if enemies invaded them.
"Rajkumari Radhika broke away from her troop while she was on her way towards the Kali Mata Mandir for exorcism." Senapathi continued. There were collective gasps from everyone.
"WHERE IS SHE? FIND HER THIS INSTANT!" Meenavati yelled.
Embarrassed, Senapathi cleared his throat, "Somewhere in this palace, Rani sa."
Another round of collective gasps followed in the room. The royal maids in the room gossiped about how Radhika knew every inch of the palace and all the secret doors, exits, and passageways. Some of the maids tried to run away for their lives when the soldiers stopped them. "It's better if we stay in this room. This royal hall has only two entrances with minimal windows. It will give us enough leverage to defend." Senapathi suggested.
Yudhisthira took the moment to yell at him, "Defend? She is my sister and the princess of Rudragarh! Not an enemy, Senapathi ji. Please mind your words."
Before Senapathi could apologize, Meenavati glared at her son, "She is also the killer of my mother!"
"And how do you prove that, maa sa? Oh yes, some villagers saw her hand move and they assumed she chanted a spell that burned Naani sa to death! Nobody, not a soul heard what Radhika was saying. Nobody, actually saw whether it was her 'words' or her 'fingers' that ignited the fire! Also, how can you even believe that someone is capable of igniting a fire out of thin air? Let alone your daughter to whom you gave birth." Yudhisthira's words were like a thousand needles stabbing against Meenavati's skin, but she didn't let that affect her. She was a queen, she was a daughter, she was a wife.. and then a mother.
Yudhisthira continued his argument. He was done keeping his silence. "There is NO PROOF, except for all of your superstitious beliefs! You have been punishing an innocent 19-year girl and she is going through everything without a complaint because she loves her family! I wish she escapes from this madness and goes away to live her life elsewhere. She doesn't deserve ANY OF YOU!"
