Wicked Fate

CHAPTER 2

A soldier came into the chamber, bowed his head to the king, and informed him that the royal priest asked his permission to enter the chamber, The king gave a slight nod giving the permission. The royal priest enters the chambers with a smile on his face. "what is it prohit Ji? It seems like you carry good news." asks the king.
It is wonderful news Maharaj, I just read the stars of the two royals and I am certain that the royal family and the citizens of Kannauj have been blessed by the gods themselves.
The prince will grow up to be very strong and skilled and will take the kingdom of Kannauj to greater heights just like lord Ram.
And the princess will grow up to be brave and beautiful and will single-handedly result in the destruction of her enemies just like Mata Durga.
The king could not contain his happiness anymore, he looked at both his children with pride as the prohit continued " I have determined that the children's names should start with A."
" How about we name the prince Abhay (fearless) ?" suggested Queen Tara. Maharani Uma happily agreed, It was the perfect name for the prince. "But what about the princess ?" asked the Maharani, " Aryahi, She will be named Aryahi " the king said still looking at his children with pride.
11 YEARS LATER

"Arya, Abhay where have you been ?" queen Tara asked the twins.
the twins looked down at their feet to hide their mischievous smiles. while hiding their hands behind their backs.
queen tara reached out and twisted their ears "Tell me or else......"
the twins walked back and said "Batate hain maa batate hai"(okay we will tell)
Queen Tara then left them and waited for their explanations
they then knelt down and gave her a beautiful lotus each.
Seeing this a smile broke on the queen's face and she said "Haan haan maatao ko rijhana koi aap dono se seekhe .ab utho jaldi jaldi aapki rani maa aapka intezaar kar rahi hai"  (yes empressing mothers is an art that people should learn from the both of you .now go you queen mother is waiting for you)

Both of them rushed to the puja room where the entire family was waiting, Prince Viraj and Prince Vikram Queen Tara's sons, the Maharani Naina,
the King and the youngest queen Rani  Veena.
The family turned around The Maharaja and Maharani gave their children a half-hearted glare. Prince Viraj looked at his sister with a questioning gaze and Arya held one ear and silently apologized to all three knowing very well that its enough to melt their hearts especially the males in the family who doted over her.
"OHH here is my beautiful boy, I was waiting for you for so long,no function seems right without you there," exclaimed Rani Veena while cupping Abhay's face
that voice was enough to send a wave of rage through Arya's body but she hid it well, she has been hiding it for years now.
"You have bought flowers for me?" she asked. while Arya rolled her eyes which didn't go unnoticed by Rani Veena, but she pretended to have not seen it because there is nothing she could do about it anyways. Even though Rani Veena was the king's favorite she was powerless in front of Arya.
If it was up to Rani Veena she would trample Arya and her entire family under her foot
but Arya and Abhay were untouchable and by extension so was their mother.
Arya had a soft spot for Rani Tara in her heart and considered her no less than a mother. Prince Viraj even though two months younger than her had assumed the role of a big brother, which she heartily went along with. Even though Viraj had a sense of competition with Abhay he never hid his intentions behind sweet words and did care for Abhay in a weird way which was known to everyone except him. Prince Vikram was just 5 years old and constantly pampered by his elder siblings.
Prince Abhay smiled at Rami Veena "Haan choti maa take this " he said while handing her a flower. Before she could look at Aryahi with expectations Arya walked ahead to her parents and handed them a flower each.
Then she gave
the lotus flowers to her two brothers and lastly, she went to Queen Veena's 3-year-old son Mohan.  She wished that one day Mohan would grow up to be as good and close to her, but in her heart, she knew that the poison in the youngest Queen's heart will take seed in her son also. Then she looked at the youngest queen with mock sadness and said"Omg I think I dropped the one I got for you Choti Rani sa   "
Queen pasted a fake smile on her face and said "Koi baat nahi putri"(It's fine child)
Prince Abhay knew that the relationship between the youngest queen and his sister was strained, but he never knew why, When the queen first came to the palace Arya treated her with love but one day suddenly everything changed, He did try to ask her about it but she dismissed the matter . And he knew that no one can make her do something she doesn't want to do. So when she decides to tell him she will.
Everyone in the family knew about this except the king. Aryahi tolerated the youngest queen only for the sake of Abhay and her father. This was very well known to the Queen so she always wanted to be on their good side and have them wrapped around her finger.
The only other person who knew Veena's actual character was the queen's mother. But she also wanted to protect her son and his good heart from the evils of the real world for as long as she could. She wanted him to believe in goodness and kindness, she feared that if he gets to know that all that his choti maa wants is to destroy him and his family it will kill him from the inside.
The twins sat down and the pooja began.
The king and the queens were in the king's chamber discussing the education of the 3 eldest royal children.
Queen Veena seemed a little too eager to send them away thinking that if the three of them were out of the way she could make her son become the king's favorite.
The Maharani knew this very well but went along with it cause at the moment she needed her children to become capable in the art of weaponry, state affair, warfare, and political strategies.
When this news was delivered to the children it bought a mix of excitement and dread in them as it meant leaving their family and especially each other for around 4 years.
But it was necessary so with a heavy heart they parted ways