Ira-The lost Princess

Going or not Going

Ira was passing through the market on her horse, Vaani, still lost in her thoughts. Was she doing the right thing? But what about her birth parents? They seemed so distressed... as if she was the most important thing in their lives. And her blood brother, the future king? Should she give them a chance? But wouldn't that be a betrayal to her maa, who had done so much for her? Her mind felt like it was about to burst.Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when someone suddenly collided with her and fell to the ground. Ira gasped as she saw the boy's head bleeding from the impact. He was a preteen, thin as a skeleton. A man shouted, "Tumhara saahas kaise hua hamare kuye se paani peene ka? Hum tumhe chhodenge nahi!"People began gathering, murmuring amongst themselves. "Hum sab dand denge ise..." another man said menacingly, moving toward the boy."Ruko... kya kar rahe ho aap?" Ira shouted, stepping in front of the boy, who was now standing behind her. "Isne chhoti jaat ka hone ke baawjood humare kuye se paani piya hai. Hum ise dharam anusaar uchit dand denge," said the man who had pushed the boy earlier."Dharam? Kaunsa dharam kehta hai ki kisi ko peeda do? Ki ek bachche ko pyasa marne do? Aap logon ne asli dharam kabhi samjha hi nahi," Ira replied."Tum hoti kaun ho hamare dharam par prashna uthane waali? Hamare maarg se hatt jao, nahi toh—"Ira took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, and said, "Dharam keval manushyata sikhata hai, aur manushya hone ke naate, ise kuch nahi hone dungi."Suddenly, another man, whom Ira recognized as a merchant, interjected, "Adharmi ka saath dene waala bhi adharmi hi hota hai. Main toh kehta hoon, ise bhi dand dena chahiye."If Ira had ever heard a pin drop silence, it was now."Par... yeh toh stree hai...?" the earlier man spoke hesitantly."Stree toh Tarkavati bhi thi, par use bhi dharam hetu dand mila na?" the merchant replied with malice in his voice.Ira had had enough. These people were twisting religious beliefs to suit their egos. "Apne jhoothe ahankaar ko aise pavitr dharam katha ke saath mat jodiye. Aapko koi adhikaar nahi hai dharam ke naam par kisi masoom ko shashti pahunchane ka... Aap apne aapko dharmi kehte hai, par asal mein kya hai, yeh sabko dikh raha hai.""Tum..." The man lunged toward her, but before he could strike, a hand grabbed his arm."Use choone ka sochna bhi mat, Vijay." A collective gasp arose from the crowd. It was none other than Prince Aditya, who now stood protectively in front of Ira, daring anyone to harm her. Abhishek was standing beside him. Newly found courage drained out of Vijay as he stumbled backward in shock. "Raajkumar, aap yahaan?""Hum toh hamare hi rajya mein hai, par aap kya karne jaa rahe the... sarpanch ji?" Aditya asked, turning towards the first man—the sarpanch."Kshama kijiyega, Rajkumar... parantu is ladke ne kuye se paani peekar hamara dharam bhrasht kar diya. Samaaj ke niyamon ke anusaar ise dand dena hi hoga. Yadi aap is bachchi ke liye chintit hai toh chinta mat kijiye; hum ise bas maarg chodne ke liye keh rahe the," the sarpanch said, now speaking much more politely.Both Aditya and Ira scoffed and exchanged a look. "Hum ek rajkumar hai, sarpanch ji, aur hamara kaam pratek nagrik ki raksha karna hai. Yeh bacha aur yeh ladki bhi unmein se ek hai. Isliye hum kisi ko inhe kasht nahi pahunchane denge.""Parantu, yuvraj, isne apraadh kiya hai aur apraadh ka dand dena aapka kartavya hai," the sarpanch insisted, still trying to push his agenda."Arre nahi, sarpanch ji, yuvraj uchit keh rahe hai..." Vijay began, his crooked smile returning. "Kyuki aakhir kaar yeh yuvraj hai, dand dena inke adhikarshetra mein thodi aata hai." Another gasp followed. It was a direct insult to the crown prince, but Aditya appeared unbothered. Vijay continued, "Yeh toh maharaj ke adhikarshetra mein aata hai. Toh phir yuvraj kal darbar mein iska aur is ladki ka nirnay karva le?"Aditya replied confidently, "Kyun nahi, Vijay? Par abhi ke liye yeh humare saath chal rahe hai."Not wanting any more drama, Ira nodded at the boy and headed toward the chariot Aditya pointed to. But as soon as they reached it, she turned toward Aditya. "Is bachche ko uske maa-baap ke ghar chhod kar main jaa rahi hoon. Aur waise bhi, aapko beech mein aane ki zaroorat nahi thi. Main sab sambhal rahi thi."Aditya smiled slightly. "Bilkul, par main tumhari madad karna chahta tha... aur Ira, tumhe mahal hi chalna hoga.""Kyun?""Kyunki... kyunki... kal darbar mein tumhara rehna avashyak hai," he quickly made up an excuse."Toh main kal darbar aa jaungi," she replied with a nonchalant look."Ira, samjho, tumhare liye aise hi idhar-udhar ghoomna surakshit nahi hai.""Maine apni saari zindagi aise hi bitayi hai, yuvraj.""Yuvraj nahi, bhaiya. Aur ab tum rajkumari ho.""Main rajkumari nahi hoon, yuvraj. Main sirf Ira hoon."The boy, Abhishek, and the rest of the soldiers observed their argument with amusement."Tum sach se nahi bhaag sakti, Ira.""Aapka veham hai.""Jo bhi ho, tumhe mahal chalna hi hoga.""Nahi jaaungi.""Kyun nahi?""Meri marzi.""Iraa..." Aditya sighed. He didn't know sisters could be this stubborn—Naintara was never like this. "Ira, kripya humein bas ek mauka do. Agar tumhe mahal mein rehna acha nahi laga, toh tum jo chahogi, vaise hoga.""Mujhe... mahal... nahi... jaana," Ira shouted."Tumhe... mahal... jaana... hoga," Aditya responded."Nahi jaungi, toh kya kar loge?" Ira challenged.Aditya sighed; it was a question he couldn't answer. Had it been anyone else, there would have been plenty of threats, but this was his sister. "Main kuch nahi kar paaunga, Ira... par tum yeh sab chhodkar kya kar logi? Kya tumne jo apne jagatshetra ke aakhri saal mein apne lekh mein apne sapne likhe the, unhe poora kar paogi? Aur... sarkaari karyaalay ya jagatshetra mein kaam karne ke liye bhi toh tumhe mahal se manzoori chahiye," Aditya was genuinely concerned about the last part. He had seen her frustration."Aap..." Ira fumed. So he had even gone through her academic records—just great."Sirf ek mahina... sirf ek mahina. Uske baad tum jo chahogi, vo kar lena. Hum mein se koi tumhare raaste mein nahi aayega." Ira closed her eyes in frustration. "Ek hafta," she replied."Pachis din.""Dus din.""Chowbis din.""Bees din.""Theek hai," Ira agreed."Toh chalo, mahal chalein." Yuvraj gestured for Ira to climb into the chariot.However, Ira completely ignored him, asked the boy to climb into the chariot, and mounted her horse instead.Aditya shook his head while the boy chuckled.As they headed toward the boy's home, he tugged on Aditya's angvastra. "Kya baat hai?" Aditya asked sweetly."Aapko pata hai? Meri bhi ek chhoti behen hai, jo mujhse bahut ladti hai.""Achha?""Haan, hamesha mujhe tang karti hai... par mujhse bahut pyaar karti hai aur hamesha mere saath mithai baanti hai." Aditya smiled at the boy's innocent chatter, wishing he could have a similar relationship with Ira.Upon reaching the boy's house, they met his parents, who had an emotional outburst upon hearing what had happened. Aditya calmed them down, assuring them that nothing would happen to their son, Veeru, was safe. Ira stood aside, awkwardly tugging her dupatta. She was never good with emotions. The parents almost fell at Aditya's feet, overwhelmed with gratitude. They also met Veeru's sister, Anjali, a shy and sweet little girl.

After bidding farewell to Veeru's family, the real journey began—to the palace, with not just Ira, but Princess Ira.