"Either Forget Everything and Run, or Face Everything and Rise. The choice is yours."
Bhanumathi, the queen of the ancient kingdom of Kalinga, was a powerful warrior and a force to be reckoned with. Her love for her husband was the cornerstone of he...
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Vidhata (विधाता) - "Divine Creator"
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"Remind me again, why is this necessary?" Vibhansh, the crown prince of Kalinga, grumbled as he and his younger sister stood near the stables.
"Because Mata Shri asked us to," Bhanumathi replied, her voice steady but tinged with impatience. "We have guests coming."
"I know, I know," he rolled his eyes. "You've said that about ten times. But now," he wrinkled his nose at the pile of horse manure, "I'm beginning to think this is just a way to keep us out of the royal hall. They want it to turn out perfect."
Bhanumathi stared at him with a slight frown. "And how on earth would it be anything but perfect if we were there?"
Vibhansh chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Come on, Bhanu, you know you're a walking disaster!"
She scowled, crossing her arms defensively. "I am not."
"Oh really?" he teased, stepping closer. "Broken vases when you play, extinguished diyas when you run..." He raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Those were just coincidences!" Bhanumathi protested, though a faint blush crept up her cheeks. "I'm not cursed."
Vibhansh snickered. "Are you sure about that?"
Bhanumathi huffed and spun on her heel, making for the stables. "I'm leaving," she announced, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Hey, hey, it was just a joke!" Laughing, Vibhansh reached out to pull her back, but his hand grabbed the door of a horse stall by mistake. The door swung open and smacked Bhanumathi squarely in the face.
For a brief second, there was absolute silence.
Vibhansh froze, his eyes wide with shock, as Bhanumathi staggered backward. Her nose throbbed, and her ears rang as the startled horse inside neighed in annoyance.
Before either of them could react, Bhanumathi fell backward—straight into the pile of manure.
Vibhansh gawked at her, his mouth agape, before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. "Bhanu," he wheezed, clutching his sides, "you—look—ridiculous!"
