Avani Rao loved dancing. She loved the way her body moved to the rhythm of the music, the way she felt free and alive, the way she expressed herself without words. She loved dancing so much that she joined the school dance club, where she met some of her best friends. They practiced together, performed together, and had fun together. They were like a family to her, especially since she didn’t have much of a real one.
Avani’s mother had died when she was four years old, in a car accident that she barely remembered. Her stepfather, Arun Rao, was a politician and a businessman, who was always busy and rarely home. He didn’t care about Avani, and she didn’t care about him. They lived in a big house, but it felt empty and cold. Avani preferred to stay in her own room, where she had her books, her laptop, and her posters of her favorite celebrities. She was happy with her own company, and with her friends.
Avani was a commerce student in class 11th, but she also knew a lot about biology, thanks to her best friend, Riya. Riya was a bio student, and she always shared her notes and experiments with Avani. Avani found biology fascinating, especially the human body and its functions. She liked to learn new things, and not just from textbooks. She liked to read novels, watch documentaries, and browse the internet. She had a curious and creative mind, and a thirst for knowledge.
One of her favorite subjects was history. She loved to read about the past, and imagine how people lived, thought, and felt in different times and places. She was especially interested in the history of India, her own country. She wanted to know more about the culture, the religion, the politics, and the wars that shaped the nation. She wanted to know more about the kings and queens who ruled the land, and the stories that surrounded them. She wanted to know more about the secrets and mysteries that were hidden in the pages of history.
That’s why she was reading a book called “The Mysterious Palace of Pratap Rana”, by R.K. Sharma. (It's not real)It was a historical fiction novel, based on the real life of Pratap Rana, a 16th century king who was known for his tyranny, his ambition, and his paranoia. He had killed his own wife and daughter, and had many enemies and conspiracies against him. He had also built a magnificent palace, full of secret passages, hidden chambers, and mysterious artifacts. The book followed the adventures of a young girl who was transported to the palace by a magical book, and who had to unravel the mysteries and escape the dangers of the palace, while also falling in love with one of the king’s sons.
Avani was hooked by the book. She couldn’t put it down. She read it every night, before going to sleep. She read it every morning, before going to school. She read it every free moment she had. She was immersed in the story, and felt like she was living it. She imagined herself as the heroine, exploring the palace, solving the puzzles, and meeting the characters. She had a crush on Abhiveera, the younger prince, who was brave, wise, and kind. She also liked Harshavardhana, the crown prince, who was loyal, noble, and witty. She wondered who she would choose, if she was in the girl’s place.
She was reading the book one night, when she felt a sudden pain in her chest. It was like a sharp knife stabbing her heart. She gasped and dropped the book. She clutched her chest and tried to breathe, but the pain was too intense. She felt dizzy and nauseous. She felt like she was going to die. She screamed, but no one heard her. She fell to the floor, and everything went black.Avani wakes up in the 16th century, in a market full of people. She is overwhelmed and frightened She sees a pond with a fountain, and decides to wash her face. She walks towards the pond, and sees a reflection in the water. She is shocked and confused. She sees a different face, a different hair, a different skin. She realizes that she is not herself, but someone else. She wonders who she is, and what happened to her. and tries to find a familiar place.
**Avani:** Pardon me, could you enlighten me about my whereabouts? This place feels oddly unfamiliar.
**Guard:** You find yourself in Devavarta.
YOU ARE READING
The Mysterious Book of the Queen of Hearts: A Love Story Across Time and Space
Historische Romane--- In "The Queen of Hearts and the Mysterious Book," Avani Rao, a 16-year-old from the 21st century, unexpectedly finds herself transported to the 16th-century palace of the tyrannical King Pratap Rana. As a maid, she navigates a perilous world of...
