Parivara: Story of a Family

29 : Hope Amidst Tragedy

Payal and Abhay had just changed into normal clothes back at the palace when the emergency bells were rung.

Aditi and Vishu had been having a picnic in the back fields when they heard it.

The couples made their way quickly into the receiving area for guests, Papa and Maa already there. A man was kneeling before them. He was older, and had hair that was greying and skin that was burnt by the sun. He was also dripping wet, as if he'd swum his way to the castle.

"What happened?" Papa asked one of the guards, motioning at the man.

"Sir, this man asked to be let in, proclaiming he had urgent news concerning her majesty, Queen Divya." The guard informed them. Everyone turned to look down at the man, who wouldn't meet anyone's eyes and had a frown on his face.

"Your majesty, I'm sorry." Was how the man started. "I am just a poor man who offers to drive people between provinces for money, in my wagon. I had been called here to do so, by the young queen. She was being escorted to the marketplace by a servant for shopping, and wanted a ride there in my wagon."

"This doesn't make sense," Maa interrupted. "Why wouldn't she just ride her horse?"

"The servant said something about her being in some sort of condition that didn't allow for that?" The man suggested.

"Yes, she is with child." Papa clarified. "Please continue."

"Did the servant happen to be called Rakesh?" Payal asked quickly.

The man nodded and said, "Yes, that is what I heard her call him. Your majesty, I am so sorry. I was driving her majesty and the man, Rakesh, on a bridge over water, when one of my wagon wheels caught on the ridges of the bridge. My wagon tipped over into the river."

"What?" Papa asked, and Maa gasped. "Where is my daughter?"

The man began crying, large tears with heavy sobs. "I'm sorry! Mujhe maaf karo (forgive me), please! My wagon tipped over, and I managed to swim up for air. I looked around and saw my two passengers were not to be seen. I went back under to pull them up... and... and..."

"And?" Papa asked angrily.

"Whatever was left of them... was crushed under the wagon at the bottom of the river."

"No!" Maa yelled, and she began to drop to the ground. Papa held onto her, his face frozen in a look of shock.

Payal held a hand up to her mouth, also in shock. Yes, she'd hated her sister. Yes, she'd always wanted to be first. But to hear Divya was dead... it made her feel cold inside. She realized it was regret, and it was too late.

Abhay felt like he was choking. They'd never gotten along, but she had been his wife. She was going to have their child. And now it was all gone.

Aditi felt a heavy weight on her chest, and then she was crying. Vishu stepped forward and hugged her, letting her rest her head on his shoulder as she began to sob.

Maa had to be carried away, and Payal, Aditi and Vishu followed to make sure she was alright. Papa told the man he could leave, and then he and Abhay went to check on everyone, though they themselves were still in shock that Rakesh and Divya were dead.

***

It had been two days since the deaths, and the sorrow was felt throughout the entire palace. Everyone was silently getting by, and trying to live through the grief. Since their bodies could not be retrieved, the family had held a service for both Divya and Rakesh, announcing their deaths to the kingdom the day before. Now it was just about moving on.