अन्तः अस्ति प्रारंभः।
The end is the beginning.
A caterpillar dies, to birth a butterfly. Water evaporates to rain down. Dead carcasses fill the stomachs of vultures.Life gives way to death and death to life. In a vicious circle of different karmas...
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The day after the Chedi ambassador was announced, Mihira dressed in the oldest clothes she owned. She ran her fingers down the embroidery on the saree, and stored the shawl Atharva had given into her office bag, even when she knew that in the start of Summer she would not be needing a shawl.
She kissed Virat between his ears, realising how fast he was growing.
Something melancholy ate her chest.
When she entered the office, it was full of chatter. Saini rushed to her table even before Mihira had the chance to put down her satchel.
"Mihira, you will not believe what I am going to say!" Saini said excitedly and Mihira felt a nail twisting in her chest, wondering if she would start bleeding from her heart now.
Mihira gave a smile to Saini, the proud one that made Saini smile back brightly. "I know that you are already unbelievable, Saini. Come, tell me, what new surprises do you have today?"
Saini leant closer and whispered near Mihira's ear,"I have permission to attend the court today. And you and Eklavya are coming with me, yes."
Mihira blinked away the dread and chuckled, throwing her head back and throwing an arm around the woman. "You're spectacular, Saini."
When they walked into the court with Eklavya, Mihira noted that the court was relatively emptier, as if this were a more private setting.
A tall man was standing in the middle of the courtroom, looking imposing and threatening. He had a long beard, which was not traditional for Vidharbh and hence made him stand out even more. He was wearing light blue clothes, richly embroidered with silver thread.
King Bhishmak cleared his throat and gestured with his hand. "Mahoday Amrut, do relay the message by your King."
The imposing man, Amrut, cleared his throat and began to speak. "Your Grace, you and your family do myself a great honour in allowing me to speak before you. I thank you for this consideration that you have done to me and express my gratitude to you for listening to my King's proposal."
Mihira held her breath, staring at the man without blinking as he continued,"My King, the powerful and courageous, the man of valor and tolerance, King Shishupal, of a great dynasty, extends his humble wish to marry the princess of Vidharbh, the beautiful princess Rukmini."
Time held still. Knives of ice crushed Mihira's bones.
She curled her hands into fists, letting her nails dig into her skin and leave crescent shaped indents.
Rukmi stood up. There was no surprise on his face. "I do think that this is an amenable proposal, your Grace. The relationship between our respective states would flourish with the alliance."
"I do not think so, brother," Rukmini said from the viewing balcony, voice firm and loud. "We must discuss this matter in detail for a fuller understanding before coming to a conclusion."
