Acceptance Is Treachery

Chapter 6

May was just born; the stillness of the dark, early-morning sky evoked an inexplicable fear within King Ram. It was exactly six-thirty, and the sun was yet to emerge from its hideout as the full moon shone glamorously in its place. He tucked in bits of overhanging cloth neatly into the folds of his dhoti and snipped off straggling threads from the traditional wear, before proceeding to take his place on the dais.

Throngs of people teemed through the interior of the grandly decorated temple, with the air punctuated by subtle screeching of chairs and lively conversations. Everyone seemed to be bursting with joy as they anticipated the most ceremonious and regal wedding of the year; after all, who would've expected the great King Ram to get his heart robbed by another woman this quickly?

Well, everyone but King Ram himself.

His heart ached as nostalgia attacked him like a meteoroid; the aroma of joss-sticks were all too powerful. King Ram allowed himself to escape into the past as he looked back in reminiscence - to the day where he wilfully surrendered his heart three years ago.

To the most beautiful woman God had ever created.

Binita was adorned in a royal blue saree, embroidered with all the jewels in the world that shone as brightly as her. She cowered her head and smiled shyly under the decorated veil while King Ram held her petite hand reassuringly, whispering into her soft hair:

"I'll never let you go, my lady."

He let her go.

He had to.

Three years later, Binita lay motionless in the royal coffin carved out of pure gold, portraying significance and a semblance of respect. Even then, her apple-shaped figure was as alluring as ever; her captivating features, however, were concealed by a thick layer of powder - caked onto her face and neck area such that her skin did not visibly flake. Large masses of villagers, children and elders worshipped the Queen and paid their duly respects.

The same face that Ram had once planted with numerous, passionate kisses to his beloved.

Gently stroking her now stone-cold cheeks, burying himself into her soft, auburn locks one last time, he heaved uncontrollably as he allowed tears to fall freely and mix into the soil.

Opening the floodgates of his heart that will always hold and protect his Binita forever.

King Ram jolted back into reality as he felt a slight tap on his forearm. It was the priest, signalling him to prepare for the traditional fore coming wedding proceedings that he had to participate in. He stared quizzically at King Ram's tear-stained face, gesturing to ask if everything was okay.

"It's nothing, just the nerves," he responded reassuringly, as he cleaned himself with the back of his hand.

As he absent-mindedly tossed small bits of puffed rice into the ceremonial fire pit upon the priest's instructions, King Ram surveyed the multicultural decorations of the temple for the first time. In a few hours, he was about to exchange garlands with a woman of a completely different religion - supposedly "replacing" his irreplaceable beloved, Binita.

That was the trouble with marriages of alliance. The greed for monetary gifts, assets and most importantly - power - surpassed the innate human yearning for eternal love, prosperity and harmony that a conjugal bond promises to deliver in abundance.

Due to their different religions: King Ram being a Hindu and the Princess, a Muslim, the temple was adorned accordingly to complement both ceremonial beliefs.

Tall, strong palm trees stood firm at the entrance, leaning towards each other slightly to form an arch. Inside the home of the deity, assorted flowers of white, pink and purple beautified the aisles. At the margin of the room, delicious aroma of soft, puffy rice, hot spices meat and vegan varieties heated gently under the firepit , tingled the taste-buds of anyone who crossed the area.