The sun was setting over the castle, casting a golden glow over the opulent throne room. Princess Meera, the brown-haired beauty of Rajputana, stood tall before her father, King Achintya, her voice firm and determined.
"Baba, I won't marry him." she said, her eyes flashing with defiance.
King Achintya's expression turned stern, his brow furrowing in disappointment. "Meera, aap anuchit keh Rahi hai. Ajmer ke rajkumar Veer, aapke liye ek ache sathi hai. Unse shadi karke aap humare pariwar ko majbut banayengi."
(Meera, you are saying something wrong. Ajmer's Prince Veer is a good partner for you. By marrying him you will strengthen our family.)
Meera's grip on her skirt tightened. "Hume in sabse koi parwah nahi. Hume sirf khush rehna hai aur Veer ke sath shadi karne par hume sirf dukh praapt hoga"
(I don't care about any of these. I just want to be happy and if I marry Veer, I will only feel sad)
The king's face reddened with anger. "Aap ek Rajkumari hai, Meera. Aap vahi karengi Jo hum aapse kahenge. Aap Veer ke sath shadi kar Rahi hai"
(You are a princess, Meera. You will do whatever I tell you. You are getting married to Veer)
Meera's voice rose, her words dripping with venom. "I'd rather die than marry him. I'm not some pawn to be traded for political gain. I'm a person, with my own thoughts and desires."
The King's anger rose and he was about to roar at her but a sudden blast sound made him confused. Meera flinched. Just then a servant rushed towards the king, "Maharaj ki Jai Ho!Alwar ke Raja ne humla Kiya hai! Poora mahal jalne wala hai!"
(Victory to the King! The King of Alwar has attacked! The whole palace is about to burn!)
The king's eyes widened in shock. "What sorcery is this?"
Meera had never seen the king so shaken before.
The king's attention was immediately drawn to the commotion outside the throne room. He spun around, his eyes scanning the smoke-filled corridors. "Summon the guards!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "We must put out this fire and defend our kingdom!"
Meera followed close behind her father as they rushed towards the palace chambers, where Queen Sumitra Devi resided. The queen was known for her wisdom and bravery, and Meera hoped that she would be able to calm her father's nerves.
As they approached the queen's chambers, Meera could hear the sound of screams and shattering glass coming from outside. The attack was real, and it seemed that the castle was under siege.
The king burst into the queen's chambers, his eyes blazing with determination. "Sumitra, aap thik hai? Hum jaldi se chalte hai, aayiye" The king said panicking.
(Sumitra, are you okay? We are leaving quickly, come)
The king's face was still contorted in rage, his eyes blazing with fury, when Queen Sumitra Devi placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Maharaj" she said softly. "Hum apne rajya aur apne praja ke prati humara kartavya bhool nahi sakte."
(We cannot forget our duty towards our kingdom and our people)
The king's gaze snapped to hers, his expression softening ever so slightly. Meera watched in amazement as her father's anger seemed to dissipate under her mother's calm gaze.
But before they could take any action, the sound of crackling flames grew louder, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of smoke. The king's eyes widened in alarm as he took in the sight of the flames licking at the walls of the palace.
"Meera," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Take the villagers and flee to Ajmer. We must get out of here before it's too late."
Meera's eyes felt like they were going to pop out of her head as she stared at her father. Flee? How could he ask her to abandon their kingdom?
But before she could protest, the king grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the door. "Come, Meera. We must go now."
As they made their way through the smoke-filled corridors, Meera saw the villagers gathering, their faces scared and unsure. "Go, Meera. Take them with you to Ajmer. Veer ko ye baat bata di jayegi"
(This thing will be told to Veer)
But before she could make any decision, the queen caught her arm and pulled her close. "Meera, bacha" she said softly, "Aapko abhi jaana hoga. Your father will be safe, and our kingdom will be defended."
("Meera, child" she said softly, "You have to go now. Your father will be safe, and our kingdom will be defended.")
Meera led the villagers through the winding roads, her heart heavy with the thought of leaving her kingdom behind.
As they approached the outskirts of Ajmer, Meera's resolve began to falter. She had always known that the prince was a just and kind ruler, but she had never felt any connection to him. And now, she was being forced to marry him against her will.
Just as she was about to give up, one of the servants and her childhood best friend, a young man named Abhimanyu, approached her. "Meera," he said quietly. "If you're looking for a place to escape, I might know of a place where you can find safety."
Meera's eyes locked onto his. "Kaha?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
(Where?)
"Jaipur," Abhimanyu replied. "Woh ab ek rajya nahi hai. Waha ke Raja mar chuke hai aur naye shaasako ne usse lokyantrik rajya ghoshit Kiya hai. Waha pe na hi koi Raja hai na rajkumar, log apne icha anusaar jee sakte hai."
(Now it is not a kingdom. The king there is dead and the new rulers have declared it a democratic place. There is neither any king nor prince there, people can live as per their wish.)
Meera's heart skipped a beat. Could it be true? She didn't know much about democratic states, but if it meant she could escape the prince's clutches, she was willing to take the risk.
Meera nodded. The servant pointed her to a bus, which had the board as "Jaipur". The servant gave her a look of assurance and Meera quickly ran and took the bus. Within seconds, she was going far away from Veer.
~~~~
The author is talking:
तो चर्चा शुरू हुआ उनकी खूबसूरती का,
कहा गया नूर ऐसा है उस नूरानी चेहरे का,
मोम की बात तो छोड़िए,
किस्सा है आइने तक के पिघलने का।
(So the discussion about her beauty started,
It was said that the glow of that radiant face is so intense,
Forget about wax,
There is a story of even mirrors melting.)
☝️Ye Maine nahi likha hai, bas acha laga toh daal diya!
Tell me how's the prologue and do you need translation?
YOU ARE READING
Beyond The Palace Walls| ONGOING
Historical Fiction"Pyaar toh Aaj bhi hum unse utna hi karte hai, par ilzaar iss Janam mein shayad na ho paye" Meera's words went unheard as she sat in front of the mirror, dressed as bride. (Even today I love him the same amount, but maybe I won't be able to express...
