THE CROWNED

FATE WRITTEN IN RED

SINDHUJA'S POV

Rani sa was fretting with the hem of her veil, something was off, as was evident from the wrinkles on her visage. It was Kunwar Sa's wedding, my Kunwar Sa, he was getting married to the beautiful princess of Ramchetra, Sanyukta. The palace had been decked with flowers from different corners of the kingdom, the flowers whose names I hadn't even heard of earlier, some violet, some pink, some blood and some blue. The lamps were put in their place, the palace was to look like an abode in heaven at night, those were the exact words of Rani Sa. Bhai Sa and Bhabi Sa had been so caught up with the wedding preparations that I hadn't seen them at home for the last four days and I had refused to attend, on the pretext of severe stomach bloating. I would mix a handful of rice, put some turmeric and water in wheat and mix them all together to create what resembled vomit, that seemed to have convinced mother or maybe, just maybe she had an inkling of my heartbreak. Mother must have known how it would have felt for me to see my Annirudh, getting married to perfection incarnate, while imperfect me would just linger around the corner, like some tiny blot on a beautiful painting, a tiny mistake of the painter. Although I had been relieved from attending the wedding functions, my mother's generosity had limits, I was to absolutely attend the wedding or it would be disrespectful to the royal family, there would be no discussions against attending it. And I, being the good daughter, complied. The knot in my stomach was growing tighter as the wedding approached, but i had to go, if not for the rest then for Rani Sa, she had insisted on me being there. I hadn't talked to Kunwar Sa after the horse fiasco, to be more clear, I hadn't even meet him after that and maybe that was for the best.

As I was busy assessing Rani Sa's actions, a dasi came in running, her breathing wretched and frantic, the news was bad. Rani Sa's eyes shot up to the girl, imploring her to talk.

"Forgive me Rani Sa but Kunwari Sanyukta cannot be found. "

"What do you mean not found? She must be there somewhere. "

"She left something behind, a letter of some sorts, she apologized saying she wouldn't be able to marry Kunwar Sa. "

Rani Sa stumbled back and almost lost her balance when mother caught her by her shoulder, "Rani Sa, please get a hold of yourself."

My mother, with those scary eyes, enquired the dasi, " If this is a joke of some kind, this will cost you all very dearly. "

"Believe me. I am not joking. She has left, she's not here, even Kunwar Sa knows. "

A long silence followed, I could tell by the expressions on Rani Sa's face that she was thinking of a way out, out of this humiliation. She stood up from the bed and commanded the dasi, "Ask Annirudh to be seated. He is going to get married. We are coming with the bride. "

"But-"

"Jitna kaha Jay utna karo. ", with that the dasi left and Rani Sa turned to me. Her face softened, almost to that of someone who was about to put forth a plea, plea to spare their life, to save them.

" Sindhu beta, I have a request. This request is too much to ask from you, but this is not me commanding you as the Queen but as mother who wants his child's life saved. Marry my son. ", Rani Sa folded her hands together and bowed her head. I was taken aback, me and Kunwar Sa? Marriage? How could it be possible? I am not a bride of Royal calibre, I am not his match, in any way shape or form, how could she ask me?

" Rani Sa how can I? ", I held her hands in mine and pleaded with her to look up.

" Rani Sa wants you to marry Kunwar Annirudh.", Maa sa spoke coldly.

"How can I? ", I looked at her, horrified.

" You must, our family has sworn alliegance to their dynasty for generations to come, we cannot go back on our words. You have to do this. "

"But Kunwar sa lover her not me. ", I pleaded with her to reconsider.

" Silly girl, it's not the time to think of love. You must do your duty to the crown. ", Maa sa commanded with a voice that now seemed to distant and foreign to me. Was this my own speaking to me? Or was it a servant of the crown? I couldn't tell the difference.

" Maa-"

"If the Royal family is defamed, it's just not them. It's all of us. Would you be able to live with yourself knowing that you could've saved us all from this doom. ", I couldn't believe my own mother was  speaking to me in such an accussing tone.

I retreated towards a corner and tears started flowing down my eyes. I could see no way of of this, Maa Sa held the royals more close to her heart than she did me, she couldn't bear Rani Sa's desperation but she could my tears.

" Okay then, if this is what you guys want so be it. ", Rani Sa's face lit up but Maa sa was as hardened as ever. Rani Sa wiped the tears off her exasperated face and ordered the dasis around to deck me up, like a bride, to sit behind Kunwar Sa. Even thinking of being his bride sent chills down my spine.

I put on the most gorgeous red saree, the gold embroidery on which was exquisite, the kind of wealth, me and my family could never amass. Jewelry so decadent and shiny, it blinded me for a moment, I felt like they were wearing me and not the other way around. The blush to the kohl was applied with the utmost care to my face. My tan skin glowed in the light of the lamp and the red seemed to add a certain shine to it.
By the time they were done, I looked like a real Royal bride.

Rani Sa waved her hands around my head and gave me an adorable smile, "You look beautiful my child. The perfect girl for my perfect Aniruddh. "

"Thank you Rani Sa.", I gave her a hesitant smile.

"Not Rani Sa, I'm going to be your maa real soon. ", she smiled at me.

I turned to face Maa sa, she was looking me with an unknown kind of guilt and shame, although she had a smile on her face, it seemed forced.

Bhai Sa and Bhabi Sa escorted me to the mandap, where Annirudh was seated, in his luxurious Sherwani. His eyes were red but he seemed calm, like he had accepted and given in to his fate, which was me. As I was climbing up the stairs, we made eye contact and my heart skipped a beat, I remembered why I still liked him. He looked out of this world, he looked like he was created by gods themselves. I quickly averted my gaze for I didn't want to be flustered any further.

The wedding went by like a breeze, with both I and Kunwar Sa following the instructions of the Pandit accordingly. What baffled me the most was how normal and happy everyone acted, a bride had just run away from her marriage and their favorite Kunwar Sa was getting married to a replacement and nobody had a problem? It was absurd. Of course I had dreamt of his moment ever since I had seen his shiny eyes but not like this. Never like this, not while he was sulking for another woman.

Precap

"I can never give you the place of Sanyukta. "

"I will try to be the best wife I can be. "

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"Stop there Sindhuja! ", cried Annirudh in desperation.

" This world is hell enough already, every living moment is a reminder of the fact that the reason my kin has been wiped is me, will always be me. It was me who agreed to get married, if only I hadn't come to the wedding, if only she hadn't run away, if only your mother hadn't thrown me in this marriage as a sacrifice, I would have a real chance at a real marriage, not a sham, not a marriage where my  husband hates me and makes me hate myself. I'm sorry to have existed Kunwar Sa. I'm sorry to have ruined your life, believe me when I say I only ever wanted you to be the happiest. But alas, we make each other miserable, and there is no way out of this unless any one of us dies. So I'm releasing you from this travesty, live a good life Kunwar Sa, live a good life with her. "

With that she jumped.

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"I'll meet you again Sindhuja, I'll meet you where I'll have a chance to rectify all this. Wait for me. Please. ", he said caressing the only portrait that was left of her.