Uttara

A Princess Is Born

One night long ago, in Matsya desh a princess was born, she was extremely pretty, and was the best combination of her parents Maharaj Virata and Maharani Sudeshna, soon the people of Matya desh started talking about the young princess

"Did you hear? Our Maharani had a baby girl" One woman says

"I heard she is really beautiful already"

"Of course she's beautiful, she's a Rajkumari" said another

At the palace Uttar, the Rajkumar of Matya desh, was playing with his newborn sister

"I will name you Uttara" He says proudly "Everyone should know you are this great prince's baby sister"

"Uttara..." Sudeshna repeats to herself "It truely is a lovely name Uttar, it shall be her name then" 

Soon all of Matya desh is talking about Uttara, and continues talking about her as she grows

Years later, when Uttara was almost six, she heard her father talking about the pandavas, five brothers who married one woman and lost their kingdom

"Mata, can a woman marry multiple people?" Uttara asks out of curiousity

"No Uttara, a woman can not marry multiple people"

"But a man can marry anyone he wants" Uttara's Mama, Sudeshna's brother, Kichak said

"Mama, with all due respect, you can't come here, this is my chamber, and you cannot come"

"I can come and go anywhere, I am the General and I'm your mata's brother"

"Fine, but I can't stop me from leaving" Uttara says as she gets up and leaves

Uttara never liked Kichak, he always brushed her off as nothing but a princess, and he went around thinking he owned the whole kingdom

Soon Virata and Kichak meet in the throne room to discuss some stratagy that Uttara didn't understand when she saw Kichak reaching for a fruit, she quickly spots Uttar and takes his bow and one arrow

"Uttara, what are you doing?"

Uttara draws the arrow and shoots it right as Kichak was about to put the fruit in his mouth shocking both Kichak and Virata

"Is anyone there? Uttar?" Virata says, Uttara and Uttar come into the throne room with their heads down

"Who did that?" Virata asks sternly

"Pitashree-"

"Bhratashree did it pitashree, but he only did it because I asked him to"

"Wow Uttar, how did your aim improve so well?"

"I've been practicing?" Uttar says looking at Uttara

"Anyway, Kichak, you may leave, I will think about your strategy"

Kichak leaves "Now tell me, who really shot the arrow?"

"Pitashree-" Uttara says

"It's not your brother, Uttara, tell me the truth"

"I shot it" Uttara says meekly with her head down

"How can you do that Uttara? you had perfect aim, and you didn't have a teacher"

"Bhratashree thought me, and I practice when Mata isn't looking, Mata says a princess using weapons is bad"

"What nonsense, a princess who knows how to fight is the greates weapon a kingdom can have, and we have you, but your Mata will be furious if she finds out, so keep it a secret"

"So I can learn?" Uttara asks enthusiastically

"Yes, but no one can know, it will be a secret, and Uttar, you cannot tell anyone of this okay? If you do everyone will speak ill of your sister"

"I'll never tell anyone" Uttar promises

"And same for you Uttara, you can never tell anyone understood?"

"Yes Pitashree"

Years passed Uttar and Uttara both got better at fighting, and no one still knew about Uttara's skills, and Uttara kept up the "just a princess" act, and with that also became more gentle and calm

Now Uttara was 14, her mother wanted her to learn how to dance and sing and feminane things for her future Swayamvar, and to make her a good wife, but for some reason Uttara showed a keen interest in dance

"Arya, Uttara wants to learn dance" Sudeshna tells Virata

"Very well then, I will have the best dance teacher in all of Matya desh teach her"

"Of course, what else is she going to do?" Kichak says

Uttara decides to stay quite