In Malwa, in the Palace of the Guptas
The Princess of the Guptas and the daughter of Narasimha Gupta received a letter one late afternoon in December.
She opened the letter and gave a gasp of joy on seeing that it was from her old friend, Nilambari:
'Dearest Friend,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I heard about your engagement to King Yashodharman of Malwa. My hearty congratulations.
I am writing this letter to let you that I am doing well. I have eloped with the love of my life. I now live in Balkh in Bahlika Desa.
I met someone - a man who was as cold and devoid of warmth of snow. As cold and devoid of warmth as the snowy mountains of Bahlika Desa itself. They say if you hold, even snow, close to your body, it will melt. The mountains of Bahlika Desa remain as cold as ever but I have embraced this man close to my heart - I have embraced this snow. The Ice King has finally thawed and he is now as full of warmth as the sun in spring.
We spend our day riding on horses across pastures and shooting bow and arrows like proper Huns. We celebrate Holi and Vasant Utsav in all its glory like proper Gupta citizens.
My beloved has finally let go of all the hate and resentment from his heart. Now, I finally see warm smiles on his face. I catch mischief twinkling in his eyes.
I believed that my man was impossible of kindness. I could not have been more wrong. I admit and I am ashamed to admit that I was prejudiced against him. It is true he nursed a burning hatred towards the people who caused his mother's death. But a more loyal man and a diligent King you will never find to his people.
He treats his citizens in the same manner a father treats his children. He treats his soldier with utmost strictness but that is to be expected of a military leader.
We are happily married to each other. We were wed in a simple traditional Hun ceremony. We also had a Gandharva tradition wedding with an exchange of garlands.
My beloved is a man who has sampled many women. His exquisite mastery in eliciting the right reactions of ecstasy from me with his expertise is commendable. I never knew that intimacy could be so satisfying, pleasurable and sweet.
Now, I am soon to welcome a child within the next few months. We are both excited for this baby. The Huns are celebrating the event with dance, music and alcohol.
I have never seen my beloved so nervous before. He is an anxious and frantic new father. To think that such a fierce warrior could be reduced to a state like this.
My beloved takes extremely good care of me. He has been nothing but supportive throughout the pregnancy.
He often cooks traditional Hun dishes and feeds me, he sings a lullaby every night and gifts me a new type of flower each day.
He plans to buy a little pony for my child and a small bow and quiver of arrows.
Lots of Love and Warm Regards,
Your Dearest Friend,
Nilambari '
In Balkh, Bahlika Desa, Imperial Tent of Mihira
"My lady, the Princess has sent her response and a few gifts for you" cried out Gauri.
Nila rushed out of Mihira's embrace and seized the letter. She hurriedly opened it and read it under the gentle rays of the winter sun. After reading the letter, she clutched the letter to her heart and wept tears from nostalgia.
The Princess had recalled many memories as children in the letter. She had sent, at least, five hundred different varieties of beautiful lacquer toys for Nila's baby.
"She is truly such a loyal friend" Mihira said, raising an eyebrow at the alarmingly high number of toys sent.
"She is" Nila said, wiping a tear. Mihira lumbered forward and pulled Nila into a tight hug.
"Do you want to visit Malwa sometime?" he asked her. Nila nodded, "Yes, please, I want the child to be born there"
"Alright, if that is your wish, so be it" said Mihira with a warm smile.
Few months later, in Malwa, in the Palace of the Guptas
The Princess nervously paces back and forth. Every five minutes, she shouts to Gauri who is inside the locked chamber, "Is the baby here yet?"
"No!" comes the grumble from the old lady and Princess continues to walk around in circles.
Suddenly, there is the sound of a newborn baby crying. The locked doors open and the Princess rushes into the room.
Gauri gingerly places the newborn into the Princess' arms. The Princess bursts into happy tears, "She is so beautiful, Nila. She has your eyes."
Nila smiles weakly from the bed, "Thank you for being here for me" she says to the Princess.
"Oh come on" the Princess snorts, "What are friends for?"
A month later, in Balkh, Bahlika Desa, Imperial Tent of Mihira
"She is a goddess descended on earth" Mihira said for the hundredth time.
"Alright" said Nila, laughing.
"What a beautiful baby girl she is" Mihira said for the nth time as he coddled his daughter.
The baby gave a cry of protest, "You'll smother her with your love at this rate, Mihira" Nila laughed.
Suddenly, the baby started crying. Mihira panicked, "Did I speak too loudly? Did I hold her too tightly?"
Nila burst into peals of laughter at the sight of the formidable conqueror being a nervous new father.
"Don't laugh" Mihira grumbled, "These are legitimate questions, okay?"
"Alright, Mihira" Nila said, bottling up her laughter with utmost difficulty, "She is just hungry. Give her to me"
Nila held her baby tenderly and cooed to her while she fed her milk, "Mihira, sing that lullaby that you always sing for me. The one that your mother always sang for you..."
Mihira began to sing, his deep voice carrying easily across the tent. Nila, who had learnt the Hun language by heart at this point, began to sing in tune with Mihira.
Mihira strode across the tent and sat beside Nila. He drew Nila into a tight embrace and whispered, "I love you"
Nila buried her face in his collarbone, "I love you too"
YOU ARE READING
Embrace the Snow
Romance"Hailing from Malwa, Nila was used to a riot of colours in both natural and manmade. Here, in the snow-covered landscape, everything had seemed a monochrome of white to her. Today, without anything to protect her from the cold, she could feel thousa...
