Where the Lotus blooms Again

Chapter - 3 Neel

"Am I in some kind of twisted role-playing cult?"

A heavy silence enveloped the room as the guards and physicians exchanged confused glances, struggling to comprehend her foreign words. Rajendrapriya felt shaken to her core.

"This cannot be right. Time travel isn't possible," she muttered, more to herself than to anyone else.

Looking up, she locked eyes with VijayBhanu. "Are you a cult? Or some kind of medieval-themed orgy? Because I don't do those things!"

No one responded, their faces a mix of confusion and concern. She inhaled deeply, catching the scent of medicine. "Oh, it's a rehab! But why the medieval aesthetics?"

VijayBhanu frowned at her outburst. Noticing his expression, she quickly added, "I mean, it's..it's fine! Aesthetics are great, and I'm fine!" She pointed to herself with exaggerated enthusiasm. "I've only taken drugs once! I'm not a junkie, Doctor!"

She turned to the physician at her bedside. "Doctor, I get it... drugs are bad. Now call Rudr. I want to go home."

With a bright smile, she nodded at everyone, as if signaling she was completely over the drugs.

"Kya khe rhi hai aap Bhagyshree ?(Bhagyashree, what are you saying?)" Samridhi asked, worry etched on her face as she clutched VijayBhanu's arm. "Dekhiye na Maharaj , kya hogya hai humari bhen ko !(Maharaj, look at what's happened to my sister!)"

"Kya hua hai inhe? (What's wrong with her?)" VijayBhanu demanded, turning to the physician.

After a moment's hesitation, the physician replied, "Maharaj, lagta hai... ki Rani ji ko ek gehra sadma laga hai, aur woh...(Maharaj, it seems... that Rani ji has suffered a severe shock, and she..)." He faltered but, fearing the king's reaction, continued, "Rani ji ki smriti chali gayi thi. (Rani ji has suffered memory loss.)"

The background noises started to blur as people addressed Rajendrapriya as "Rani ji," the clanking of swords as the guards moved. The throbbing pain at the back of her head felt far too real. She touched the spot, realizing this was neither the effect of drugs nor a bizarre dream—it was real, and she was a living person in this strange place.

"Mai kon hu? (Who am I?)" a faint voice came from the direction of the bed.

Everyone stopped their conversations and looked at her. Samridhi hurried to the bedside and sat next to Rajendrapriya.

"Choti behen hai aap humari, Bhagyashree. (You are my younger sister, Bhagyashree)," Samridhi said tenderly, her eyes filled with tears. She rubbed Rajendrapriya's arms, trying to comfort her.

Rajendrapriya flinched, moving away from the touch. The shock of unfamiliar faces and relations scared her. She looked at the swords the guards carried, her heart racing. Why are so many people here?

In a panic, she pushed Samridhi away, scrambled off the bed, and grabbed a knife without thinking. She pointed it wildly in the opposite direction.

"Dreams don't hurt, and dreams don't feel this real," Rajendrapriya said in a trembling voice, the knife shaking in her hands.

Samridhi collapsed onto the floor, and VijayBhanu immediately stepped forward to protect her, thinking Rajendrapriya would attack.

"Kya pagalpan hai yeh, Bhagyashree! (What madness is this, Bhagyashree!)" VijayBhanu shouted as he helped Samridhi to her feet.

The guards took a step forward. Seeing this, Rajendrapriya panicked even more. She truly believed they were going to kill her.

"Pass mat aana mere! (Don't come near me!)" she cried out repeatedly, backing up until her back hit the balcony railing.