Princess in rags (Inkitt)

Prologue

Nayantara woke up early. Today was a special day for her. She sat up from her bed and yawned, looking out from the small and only window of her room. The sky was rose-pink, heralding the dawn of a new day. Today she was going to take her kingdom back. She's been waiting for this day for years when she would take her father's kingdom back from her uncle.

She was just eight when her entire life turned upside down. She was playing hide and seek with her friends. She came to her father's chamber to hide. Her father was not there at that time but the guards let her enter as it was her father's chamber. She hid behind the couch. A few moments later her father, King Digvijay entered his chamber with his younger brother, Rajendra.

Digvijay was shouting. 'How could you do this, Raj? There is a huge mess in the account. I was fighting the war and making our kingdom big. And here you are enjoying your life and spending money for your debauchery.'

'I did nothing wrong,' Rajendra shouted back. 'I'm the prince of Anhilwara. I don't need to explain my expenditure to anyone.'

'I'm not anyone. I'm your King,' Digvijay shouted and coughed as he raised his voice too loud.

'Brother,' Rajendra was immediately by his side and rubbed his back. 'Calm down, brother. I will give you my explanation if you want.' he walked away and took a jug of water and filled a glass.

They weren't aware that Nayantara was there and she remained hidden. She saw that her uncle took out a small bottle from his court and added a few drops in water.

Rajendra handed the glass to his brother. And Nayantara's life changed forever. Her father died in front of her eyes and she couldn't do anything. Her uncle was smiling while his brother was taking his last breath. Slowly the crowd gathered there and Rajendra started crying. In all this chaos nobody noticed Nayantara. Her mother, Queen Gayatri couldn't bear this loss and she also died within a few days.

Her last words to Nayantara were, Play wisely if you want to survive and win one day. Don't repeat your father's mistake.

Then after Nayantara's daai ma, Savita, raised her and took care of her. She never uttered a word to anyone about her uncle's secret, not even her daai ma.

Nayantara shook her head to clear her thoughts. She had to stay calm and collect today. She stepped down from her bed and went into the bathroom to finish her morning business. Her room was not huge. It was the smallest chamber in the palace, which was generally used for the queen's special maids. But after her father's death her aunt, Veena, threw her in this chamber.

She took a bath and then wore simple yellow attire. As she got ready someone knocked on her door.

'Come in,'

The door opened and daai ma entered the room.

'I am all set to attend my dear sister's wedding,' Nayantara said with a smile.

Today was her cousin's wedding. Her uncle's daughter. Vishakha. She was seventeen years old and Nayantara was nineteen years old. But still, nobody thought about her marriage. Her cousin was going to marry the most handsome prince among all the kingdoms. The prince of Patyal. Prince Jayraj. The wedding was going to be organized in their old castle as it was in the middle of both the kingdom and convenient for both the groom's and bride's side.

'Are you sure, Princess, you want to do this? I mean there is no other way,' Savita said.

'You think my uncle will give me my throne back just like that. I'm paying for my father's mistake. Because of him, I'm in this state. He knew his brother was not a nice man, then why he should trust him? How could he be so stupid.'