THE BEDEVILLED PRINCESS✔️

Chapter 1

The rays of sunlight are painting the walls of the palace. The sounds of chirping birds are echoing everywhere. A young woman walked toward the tulsi mandap (a sacred tulsi plant placed in a pot) with a plate filled with flowers, incense, haldi (turmeric), and kumkum. She started doing pradakshin (encircling) around the tulsi mandap. She is tall and beautiful, with a few strands of her curly hair adding to her charm. Her red saree shines brightly as the sunlight embraces her. After that, she prayed to Suryadeva. Being the elder daughter-in-law of the most respected family in their village has its perks. She must make sure that she is neither hurting anyone nor making any wrong decisions.

Her mother-in-law, who is engrossed in some work, called her with urgency evident in her tone.

Kausalya : Sita !

Sita : Yes, Maa !

Kausalya :  Where is Ram ?

Sita : He went to pick up Bharat along with Lakshman.

Kausalya :  Okay ! The head priest will reach the temple by 10:30 AM. Tell your younger brother-in-law to get ready as soon as he comes. And tell your husband to look after the arrangements.

Sita : Okay, Maa !

Kausalya : I am going to the temple ! Take care, dear !

Sita : Okay, Maa ! 

Sita nodded and went inside.

Urmila : Didi! I'll take care of the cooking. You go and look after the other arrangements.

Sita : Okay, Urmila! Tell me when they come home.

Urmila : Okay, Didi!

Sita went into the master bedroom and opened the locker. She took out the silver pooja set with a golden finish and the jewelry for the goddess and locked it. Their village has a tradition: every year, the royal family performs a puja to Goddess Durga for everyone's well-being. Until now, they have faced no problems, but this year the villagers are dealing with poverty and illness. There is another issue: people are disappearing suddenly in the forest near their village.

..........

A tall, well-built man with a serene face walked into the room. He is none other than her husband, Ram. Not just his name but also his personality matches that of Lord Rama.

Ram : Sita!

Sita : Haan!

Ram : Where are you lost?

Ram saw tears in her eyes. His heart ached at the sight of his wife in distress. He knew the reason for her sorrow.

Ram : Sita, please! You can't be this sensitive. Don't dwell on that and spoil your sanity.

Sita : How can I be calm? What if it doesn't work? I can't lose you!

Ram hugged Sita and consoled her. She buried herself in his chest and embraced him tightly.

Ram : Sita will always have her Ram by her side.

Sita : Promise!

Ram : Promise! Now let's go! We have work to do.

They both came downstairs and saw Bharat playing a video game in the living room.

Sita : Bharat! Go and get ready! Maa is right—you need someone to push you all the time.

Bharat : Bhabhi, stop it! Don't babysit me.

Sita : Then go and get ready! Now!

Sita almost shouted. Bharat walked into his room, stamping his feet. Urmila and Lakshman chuckled.

Sita : Lakshman! Did you check if everything is ready for the puja?

Lakshman :  Yes, Bhabhi!

Sita handed the bag filled with the puja set and jewelry to Lakshman.

Sita :  Give this to Maa after reaching the temple.

Lakshman : Okay, Bhabhi!

Urmila : Didi! Everything is ready!

Sita : Okay!

Sita stood up from where she was sitting, having finished making the marigold garland. She packed it carefully in a cloth bag.

Ram : Shall we go?

Sita :  Your little brother hasn't shown up yet!

Ram sighed.

Bharat : I'm here!

Sita : Okay! Let's go.

The entire Raghuvamshi family went to the temple. The historic temple was decorated with flowers, adding to its elegance. They saw the elders of the family sitting on the mandap (dias) near the holy pyre. Sita and Ram sat on one side, while Urmila and Lakshman sat on the opposite side. The puja started. The villagers, settled in their seats near the mandap, prayed to the goddess silently. After the puja was concluded, the priest began reading the horoscopes of the royal family.

Priest : Maharaja! You and Maharani will have a healthy year ahead. Yuvraja Ram and Yuvarani Sita will become parents. Yuvraj Lakshman and Yuvarani Urmila will also have a great year. But there is one problem.

Dasarath : What's that, Guruji?

Priest :  One person from the royal bloodline will die. It may be someone from your siblings' family or the extended family.

Sita started panicking, but Ram placed his hand on her shoulder, assuring her that nothing would happen. Urmila sensed the tension and felt uneasy. She hated her brother-in-law's sudden decision about that issue but respected him for being a true yuvaraj. She always admired and loved Sita and couldn't bear to see the pain she was enduring.

Priest :  And Yuvraj Bharat will get married this year!

Bharat : What?

The Raghuvanshi family chuckled at Bharat's reaction.

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How's the chapter ?

Raghuvanshi family : 

1. Dashrath : father of Ram , Lakshman , Bharat.

2. Kausalya : Mother if Ram , Lakshman , Bharat.

3. Ram : the elder son.

4 . Sita : the elder daughter-in-law.

5. Lakshman : the second son.

6. Urmila : the second daughter-in-law.

7. Bharat : the third son and the youngest.

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