Queen of my heart (continued)

The Curse

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Devika stood looking at her reflection in the pond water . She was so beautiful but cursed ,she thought . Just like the poison which is the sweetest but causes death.

" Princess Devika , you shouldn't be walking around at night ." Maharaja Ashwini spoke while strolling towards her .

"Maharaja , thank you for your concerns , but my father's palace is very safe . I won't be harmed here." Devika told him. 

Ashwini helped himself to sit on the pond bench .

"Indeed princess but the moon may get harm here." He pointed towards the glowing moon.

" You are more magnificent than it. Tomorrow it won't come out because of being abashed by your beauty." He whispered to her . 

Devika stood still, all the while blushing.

" It won't come out Maharaja ,I know but the reason is tomorrow would be Amavasya (New Moon Day )." She said to him fiddling with the corner of her saree.

He just hummed in reply .

And then silence groped them. The water of the pond threw bright strings of light over their faces. The atmosphere danced to the sound of water, the sound of leaves and occasional clinging of Devika's bangles .

It was so silent that they could meditate like hermits....

Hermits!

"Maharaja , I believe my father talked to you about the swayamvar ? " Devika questioned him.

 "Yes Princess he did and I am only delighted to have you as my bride." He replied and smiled.

Here's something Devika realized just now , Devika was in awe of this King . 

She had heard he was the greatest ruler in Bharatvarsha who could defeat the invincible. Though she knew some were fibs and some were exaggerations . 

Little did Ashwini know that he occupied a wee realm in her heart too. She had heard of him from messengers ,from other girls , from her maids . To her imagination he always seemed a ruthless king who would not hesitate to spill blood for his own desires , to quench his thirst.But she found him to be contrasting . He was very calm and serene.

Little did she know that he had many colors to him which were yet to be showered upon her. But till then Devika would be enjoying his company . And then which girl wouldn't ? He had all the qualities of a 'Great husband'....but Devika was yet to realized he was also a 'Great ruler'.

He was the Maharaja after all . 

His chest was a piece of art but you could only notice that if your eyes could manage to stop ogling at his face which was covered by thick beard .His long silky hairs fell on his shoulder and his eyes had a glint of humor , love and what not.

Devika jerked when some water drops fell on her face . "Princess Devika , I am afraid I must tell you that it is considered unladylike to daydream when you have a company though its nighttime now ." He smirked.

Devika rolled her eyes mentally . 

"And Maharaja , I am afraid I must tell you that I am cursed. " She spoke in a swift. She was scared.

What would happen if she didn't did the 'work' bestowed upon her , if she didn't marry ,if she didn't conceived , if her child wasn't born . The kingdom that aboded her would be destroyed .

"Ah princess! I know that . Doesn't every peasant know it from the folksong that was made on you ? " Ashwini folded his arms against his chest. His brows were furrowed . 

Devika shivered ,her face became pale and goosebumps appeared on her neck....

That damn folksong!

 An evangel as she was born....... 

but who knew she had torn 

her own future when as a young girl 

she mesmerized many youth's eyes

At the swayamvar of her elder sister

A hermit had been called upon to bless the newly wed......

He had brought some holy water mixed with herbs and turmeric  

The hermit asked this water to be carried around the fire .

This would keep the bad spirits away 

And that young girl was chosen for it

She fixated the heavy pot on her hip 

and revolved around the fire

In the process a strand of her silky black hair fell on her face

She used her fingers to pull the strand behind her ear 

And  her  focus slipped along with the pot 

the water fell on the fire 

And the fire died. 

The hermit was enraged 

and he cursed the young girl "She who takes so much pride in her appearance 

would lure many man 

and would be the cause of mayhem." 

The family begged him to reverse his curse 

but he rejected and compensated saying "This girl who was born on a very auspicious day must do an auspicious work and then her first child must do a yagna... only then will she not bring any destruction."

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Devika lived in fear of what might happen to the people she loved. She feared her destiny. She questioned what  the auspicious work was that she had to do. 

" As per your destiny ,you would know when the time comes." Old wise men of the her father's kingdom said.

She also doubted if she could bear a child. Who would marry a cursed princess?

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You were stubborn enough to not listen to my pleadings . I begged you forever to come to me . But you never did , though this didn't burn my hopes .And one day you called off your guards and fell in my arms .

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