The Red String Of Fate

Episode 133....

Third person pov___

The sun filtered through the trees, casting a golden hue over the small cottage Rani had made her home for the past two years. The sounds of laughter echoed from within, where two little boys were playing near the hearth. Yudhav and Ashwin, her twin sons, were the light of her life, the reason she had kept going despite the heartbreak and pain she carried in her heart.

Rani sat by the window, watching her boys with a soft smile. Ashwin, the more curious of the two, was pretending to be a warrior, swinging a wooden sword around as he fought imaginary foes. Yudhav, on the other hand, was more reserved, sitting quietly and playing with a handmade wooden chariot. Both were a perfect mix of her and the men she had left behind. They bore the sharp features and strength of their fathers but carried Rani's gentle nature and warmth.

"Amma, look! I defeated the Rakshasa!" Ashwin exclaimed, holding his wooden sword high in triumph.

Rani chuckled, her heart swelling with pride. "You are brave, my Ashwin. But remember, true strength lies in protecting others, not in seeking fights
Yudhav looked up from his chariot, his dark eyes filled with curiosity. "Amma, will we ever meet the Aryas you talk about?"

Rani's heart skipped a beat at his question. The twins had begun to ask more and more about their fathers recently. She had told them stories of their bravery, their strength, and their love, but never about why she had left. How could she explain to them the pain, the betrayal, and the wounds that time hadn't yet healed?

"Someday, perhaps," she said softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "But for now, you have me, and I have you. That is enough, isn't it?"

The boys nodded, though Rani could see the questions lingering in their young eyes. She reached out, pulling them both into a warm embrace. As she held them close, a wave of regret washed over her, unbidden and sharp. Her thoughts drifted to Rohini and Mohini, the two little girls she had left behind in the palace.

---

Rani often thought of Rohini and Mohini. The girls weren't her biological children, but they might as well have been. From the moment she had entered Duryodhan's life, she had taken them under her wing, loving them as fiercely as a mother could. She had braided their hair, told them bedtime stories, and soothed their fears in the dead of night. They had been her solace, her joy, during those tumultuous days.

And then, on that fateful day during Dushala's marriage, everything had changed. The assault by Jaydharath, her desperate escape, and the whirlwind of events that followed had forced her to leave not just the palace, but also Rohini and Mohini. It was a decision that haunted her to this day.

"Why didn't I bring them with me?" she whispered to herself one night as she sat alone, the twins fast asleep beside her. Tears slid down her cheeks, the weight of her guilt pressing heavily on her chest. She had promised to protect them, and yet she had abandoned them. Were they safe? Were they loved? Did they miss her as much as she missed them?

-----

Despite the pain of her past, Rani had found a sense of purpose in her new life. She had become a healer, using her knowledge from her world to help the villagers around her. Her skills were unmatched, and people came from far and wide to seek her help. Whether it was setting a broken bone, curing a fever, or aiding in childbirth, Rani poured her heart into her work.

Dushala often teased her, calling her the "miracle healer." But for Rani, it was more than just a job-it was a way to give back, to heal others when she couldn't heal herself.

Her days were busy, filled with tending to the sick and caring for her sons. The villagers adored her, often bringing her small gifts of gratitude-fresh fruit, handmade trinkets, or fragrant garlands of flowers. Yet, no matter how much she immersed herself in her work, there were moments when the past crept in, uninvited and relentless.