Rakshash Aur Rajkumari (The Devil And The Princess)

25•पत्रम्

"Varanasi-Kolkata train is arriving," the announcement echoed through the speaker, accompanied by the blaring horn of the train. With a hiss, the train came to a halt on the platform.

Ambika let out a sigh and pulled her shawl tightly around her, covering her upper body and face, leaving only her eyes visible. Clutching her ticket tightly in her hand, she made her way towards the train and boarded, finding her seat with a bit of struggle before finally settling down.

In the darkness of the night, most passengers were asleep, but Ambika found herself unable to rest. Nerves and emotions churned within her, keeping sleep at bay. She nestled into her seat, resting her head against the window, and gazed out into the night, lost in her thoughts.

As the horn blared once more and the train began to move, Ambika felt a solitary tear escape from her eye, its path tracing the journey of her emotions. With each passing moment, the reality of her departure sank in deeper. She was leaving behind more than just a place; she was leaving behind her heartbreak, her beloved Rudra, her connection to Varanasi, and her entire world as she knew it. But amidst the ache of goodbye, there was also a glimmer of hope. As the train chugged forward, she realized that she was also leaving behind her past self.

Ambika couldn't shake the looming shadow of another potential rejection and humiliation awaiting her in Kolkata at the hands of her family. The thought weighed heavily on her heart, casting a shadow over the uncertain future ahead.

Yet, despite her fears and doubts, Ambika couldn't summon the courage to seek refuge in a new and unfamiliar place. Instead, she held onto a glimmer of hope, however faint, that her own family might find it in their hearts to accept her once more. Perhaps not as the Rajkumari who had fled from their midst, but simply as the daughter of their household, flawed and imperfect yet still deserving of love and understanding.

As the train continued its journey, Ambika clung to this fragile hope, her thoughts consumed by the longing for acceptance and belonging. She knew that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges, but she was determined to face them head-on, guided by the flickering light of hope that burned within her heart.

•

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The sunlight pierced through the curtains, landing directly on Rudraksha's eyes, causing him to flinch in his sleep. Blinking awake, he realized it was morning. Sitting up, he stretched and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, his gaze instinctively darting towards Ambika's empty bed. Confusion creased his brow as he glanced at the clock - had she risen earlier than usual?

His concern mounting, Rudraksha made his way to the bathroom, only to find it vacant. A sense of unease gnawed at him as he ventured into the living room, but it too was devoid of Ambika's presence.

"Ambika?" he called out, his voice echoing in the silence.

Not again!

Panic began to flicker within him as he realized she was nowhere to be found. Rushing to the door, he flung it open, scanning the hallway in search of any sign of her. Attempting to call her, he was met with the frustration of a failed connection.

Then, his eyes fell upon his phone, where a text from Ambika awaited him. His heart racing, he quickly opened the message, revealing her cryptic words: "If you want to know where I am, check the bed."

Hurriedly returning to their flat, Rudraksha made a beeline for the bedroom, his hands trembling as he reached for the folded paper lying on the bed. With bated breath, he unfolded it, revealing the contents of Ambika's letter.

The letter read:

Hello Rudra,

I don't know what to write to you, I don't even have words nor do I have the courage to write this but I have to. At first I want to say thank you, Thank you for caring for me, thank you for protecting me, thank you for being there for me, thank you for making me understand my value, thank you for making me believe in myself, thank you for letting me know how much self love is important, Thank you for giving the courage to finally leave you.