A Glimpse of Red

The Birth of Princess Nitya Ranjith Singh Rajput

The Rajput family estate hummed with an air of celebration, an occasion unlike any other. Today, the 52nd generation of the Rajput dynasty would be welcomed into the world, not as an ordinary child but as a manifestation of Goddess Kali herself. It was a day of grandeur, tradition, and destiny. 

The head priest, a man of deep reverence, had traveled all the way from Haridwar with his 21 disciples, each one chosen to assist in this sacred ritual. Queen Aanchal Rajput, though overwhelmed with emotion, stood composed. She longed to see her child, the child she had carried for nine long months, but Rajput custom forbade it. According to the ancient rites, a newborn could only be seen by its mother after being presented to the family's kuldevi, their guardian deity. The child had to first be placed at the feet of Goddess Kali in a royal puja before being embraced by mortal eyes. Only the midwife had thus far seen the infant, and even her lips were sealed with the weight of the sacred moment. 

Outside the grand gates of the palace, Queen Mother Antra Rajput stood with her head held high, her expression a mixture of pride and quiet anxiety. Ram Singh, her loyal first-hand, stood by her side, silent but ever watchful. Ram Singh revered the Queen Mother, and he had good reason. Her strength was legendary in Rajput clan. Widowed at the tender age of 24, left to raise her only son, Ranjith, alone, she had faced trials that would have broken lesser souls. King Ashok Singh Rajput, her beloved, had died in a car accident when he was going towards Rawal's estate, yet fate had been cruel. And as if the loss of her husband wasn’t enough, when Ranjith turned 18, it was revealed he would live the rest of his life with a physical disability of his legs. Yet, despite this, Ranjith had never faltered in his duties, rising above his limitations to fulfill his responsibilities to the family and the kingdom. He was, in many ways, the embodiment of his mother’s iron will. 

Now, as the head priest stepped out of the car, Queen Mother Antra bent gracefully to touch his feet, a gesture of deep respect. The priest, in turn, blessed her with a fervent heart. He could sense her quiet apprehension, but he kept his thoughts to himself until he could behold the child. 

With regal dignity, Queen Mother Antra led the priest and his entourage into the palace, their path flanked by the storied history of the Rajput dynasty. Inside, King Ranjith and Queen Aanchal awaited in the inner courtyard, ready to perform the traditional washing of the priest’s feet. As the warm water poured over his feet, the priest looked into Ranjith's eyes and said, "Each time I see you, Ranjith, I feel not just pride as your family priest, but as a teacher who has watched his student rise above all challenges." 

But today, the moment was not about Ranjith or his past triumphs. It was about the future. 

The entire assembly moved to the royal blessing room, a sacred chamber dedicated to Goddess Kali, where centuries of Rajput rulers had prayed for guidance and protection. The midwife appeared with the newborn princess, cradling her gently in her arms as she approached the head priest. All eyes turned to the infant, eager for the divine to reveal itself. 

The priest took the child in his arms with great reverence, placing her at the feet of the black stone idol of Kali, the Goddess of Time and Change. He began to chant the ancient mantras, his voice low and resonant, echoing through the marble hall. The moment was heavy with anticipation. 

When the ritual was complete, the priest lifted the child once more, and as he looked down at her, something stirred in his soul. Her eyes were a striking, fierce red, framed by dark black hair that curled like tendrils of night. His gaze traveled to her navel, and there, as if the Goddess herself had left her mark, it glowed a deep, crimson hue, mirroring the navel of the Goddess Kali depicted in the temple. It was in that moment that the priest understood the significance of this birth—this was no ordinary princess. 

A broad smile spread across his face as he turned to Queen Mother Antra. "The time has come for the Rajput dynasty to rise once again, after 32 long years," he declared, his voice ringing with prophetic certainty. "She will make this house stronger than ever before, in ways no one can yet fathom. She is the destroyer of all who stand against the Rajputs, the embodiment of our ancestors' fiercest hopes. But know this—she is no delicate flower. Her spirit is wild, restless like Goddess Kali herself. She is born of fire and fury. When she rises in anger, no force on this earth will be able to calm her. She will fight for her people with a ferocity that knows no bounds, battling until her last breath, driven by a relentless need to protect her family and her legacy." 

The priest paused, his gaze sweeping over the gathered family members, their faces a mixture of awe and shock. "She is not merely a princess—she is a warrior born, a force of nature. Her path will not be easy, for such power brings great responsibility. But under her gaze, the Rajput dynasty will know no defeat. She is Princess Nitya Ranjith Singh Rajput—the Eye of the Rajput family, the one who will shield them from all evils, and the sword that will cut down all who threaten this house." 

A stunned silence swept through the room. The family had hoped for a soft-natured, gentle princess—someone who would embody grace and tradition. But the priest's words had shattered those hopes. They had forgotten, in their longing for peace, that the Rajput bloodline was one of warriors. And in their desire for a demure princess, they had overlooked the true spirit of Kali. 

As the head priest handed Princess Nitya back to her mother, Queen Aanchal cradled her daughter for the first time, her heart swelling with both pride and a quiet awe. This child, this fierce, fiery child, would shape the destiny of the Rajput dynasty in ways they could only begin to imagine. 

And so, under the watchful gaze of the Goddess Kali, Princess Nitya’s journey began.