Chronicles of Panchali - The 100th Selection

Introduction

Princess Arundhati Shah of the Panchali Kingdom was a princess of utmost importance. Her mother, Krithika Shah, had been the treasurer of the kingdom and the oldest child of the former rulers, when they had passed. She had risen to be the sole ruler because she was the eldest among all her sisters. Krithika Shah had dissolved the lines between all genders in her kingdom as her first act as queen.

However, her decision had brought upon much hate in the kingdom, and when Krithika first became pregnant, many wished it would be a son. But her first child was a healthy baby girl; Kara. The last time Kara was seen, she was near the castle moat, and many people believed that the small child had drowned. The baby disappeared never to be seen again, even the body not being found, much to everyone's approval.

Soon, Krithika was pregnant again, this time knowing from mother's intuition that it was a girl once more. Wanting this time to keep her precious girl safe, Krithika promised the kingdom that Arundhati Shah would grow up to have a selection and marry a respectable man, as to appease the citizens.

Arundhati, or, Aru, as she insisted on being called, even by the maids, developed with a carefree and inquisitive nature, always wondering about everything. Growing up with attention, Aru enjoyed the few moments of solitude she was granted. She loved reading and finding herself lost in far away worlds, away from expectations and pressure. Whenever she found a new book, her dark eyes would light up with curiosity as to what could lie within the crisp, clean pages, what adventures will lure her into another world, far from her own.

Aru was talented at many things; Archery, writing, making up stories, and of course, humor. Thus passed her days, until her 15th birthday, and the time for her selection arose.