The Village Girl

Chapter One - [Seetha]

I was in love with Aaryan. I knew that because I wanted to be with him, to have a future with him, even if it meant leaving my family behind. But that did not stop me from being scared. Aaryan's world was nowhere near my own. I knew that simply from the way he looked and dressed. I also knew that from the gifts he gave me. So how was I ever going to be able to transplant myself into his world? Was that ever even possible?

Throughout the whole trip, Aaryan tried to reassure me. He told me that he had already prepared a group of girls to welcome me and show me the reigns. He also reminded me that he would be there for me too.

It did not exactly help. This group of girls were still a group of strangers.

I knew no one at the palace. No one except Aaryan.

Then of course, there was the city itself, and how different that land would be.

Even from miles away, I could see the massive, legendary statue of Lord Shiva that pilgrims from all around the nation came to visit all throughout the years. Legends told stories of how it was placed there by otherworldly forces, seeing as such a glorious statue could not have possibly be made by men.

Whatever the case, I could see it with my own eyes now, for the first time in my life, and it was as magnificent as the legends told.

It made me wonder of our tiny little shrine back at the village. It was strange how both tiny shrines and massive, majestic temples performed the same purpose equally well.

When we entered the grounds of the city, the procession was greeted with cheers and a shower of flowers. I wondered if Aaryan's arrival was always this welcoming.

But more mesmerizing than that, however, was the palace itself.

The palace was glorious. Made almost entirely of marble and gold, it looked as if it may have come down from the sky. Never in my life had I seen such a sight, and all I could think was Aaryan lived here?

"Welcome home," Aaryan said to me.

I was too shocked to reply.

When we entered through the gates of the palace, I kept my eyes on the building, seeing the large walls looming over us but glittering in the sunlight.

It was nerve wracking... and I couldn't deny that I felt a little suffocated despite the large size of the building.

The carriage came to a quick stop and almost immediately after Aaryan jumped off of Bhumi, a swarm of men came rushing towards us, bowing before taking Bhumi's reigns and getting ready to take the carriage as well.

Aaryan reaches out to take my hand and when he did, he helped me step out of the carriage.

Though we had taken quite a few breaks, the trip had been very long, so admittedly my legs did not immediately function as well as I wanted them to. But Aaryan has a tight hold of me and didn't let go.

When the carriage was taken away, quite a few girls rushed over to Aaryan and I, followed by an older, more beautiful and sophisticated looking woman.

"Lady Suhanya," Aaryan bowed his head respectfully for this woman.

I didn't know what to do, was I supposed to bow too? Just to be safe though, I just smiled.

Lady Suhanya smiled. She looked like a kind woman, with soft features and warm, brown eyes. Her hair was long and black, braided loosely and falling over her shoulder. Despite the fact that Aaryan called her "Lady," she did not wear very many jewels, and her orange saree was rather simple looking.

She reached out and took Aaryans face in her hands before kissing his forehead. I wondered right then if this was his mother, but then I remembered that he didn't call her mother. "I am happy to see you have returned safely," she said to him before looking at me. "With this... lovely girl."