Chapter 5 4

Author's pov

Agnidev got his consciousness back and saw his wife Sugandha sitting beside him.

"Maharaja aap thik to hai? (King are you fine?)" Sugandha asked

"hum thik hai (I'm fine)" he replied

"where is Agniv?" Agnidev asked

"He is with Dasi, he was crying very hard because you got senseless." Sugandha replied

A maid came and asked permission for the main minister who wanted to meet Agnidev.

Agnidev granted the permission and the minister came inside.

"pranam maharaja (greetings king)" he said and bow down a bit

"what happened here in my absence?" Agnidev asked in a stoic voice

"Maharaja, after you left the late queen, became too ill.. She was very weak and 13 days back she got in labour and after giving birth to our princess Agnishikha she died. We sent you a letter as well but I guess you didn't get that." the minister said in one breath

He was looking at the ground because he has lost the respect for his king in his eyes and he doesn't want the king to see that.

He always thought that Agnidev is the definition of a perfect man, a perfect king and a perfect husband along with a perfect father and brother.

But now he knows he can be anything but he isn't a perfect husband to Shikhanya.

Agnidev didn't react at that; it's like it didn't affect him in any way.

"it's very sad that maharani has to leave us so early but it was her fate. We can't do anything about it. And about that girl make sure she stays away from us and my son. She is not a part of my family. She Is the reason for Maharani Shikhanya's sudden demise. And she won't be consider as a princess as well"Agnidev replied and the minister gasped

He can't believe that his king said all this.

He had known Agnidev for a long time; he didn't expect this from him.

" but king she is an infant and your daughter. She is a princess. She has royal blood in her veins. If you won't consider her as a princess then it won't be good." the minister replied immediately

"he is saying correct maharaja, it won't be good if we deprive her from her title. She should be considered as a princess but only for name sake. She will be a namesake princess of this kingdom." Sugandha said with an innocent face

Minister felt disgusted with both of them but he isn't in the position to say anything.

" you heard your queen. Make sure that happens and I don't want to see her face ever so make sure she always stays hidden or her face should be covered."Agnidev ordered without any emotions

No one will say that he is declaring this decision for his own blood for his own daughter.

Minister nodded and left from there praying for the little princess.

" Maharaja I know you're very hurt by Shikhanya didi's sudden demise you should be. But don't worry I will be there for you and our son. I will take care of rajkumar Agniv as my own son." Sugandha said and Agnidev nodded

Sugandha left from Agnidev's chamber and Agnidev got up from the bed.

He looked at the portrait of his and Shikhanya's

It was made when Shikhanya came after marriage.

He caressed her face and a single tear escaped his eye.

"Why Shikhanya why? Why did you leave me alone? It's all because of the baby if it wasn't there you would have been here with me. We all would have lived a happy life but now you're not here and only that girl is responsible for it. I won't ever forgive her, Shikhanya. She snatched you from me. "Agnidev said and looked at her face.

Time passed away very fast.. Agnishikha got a little older so did Agniv.

Sugandha gave birth to twin daughters who are 3 years younger than Agnishikha.

Chitrangada and Subhadrangi. They both are twins but very different from each other.

Where Chitrangada is a mean girl Subhadrangi is a soft hearted girl.

Agniv loves both his sister's moon and back but he hates Agnishikha with that same passion.

He already hated his sibling because his mother didn't love him because of her and now he knows that his mother has left him because of Agnishikha only.

He and Chitrangada both treat her as their slave. Subhadrangi is a different case.

She really adores Agnishikha.

Agnidev hates her existence, so does Sugandha.

As per his order when Agnishikha was 10 till that time she was locked in her chamber.

No one had seen her face. Two maids were there to take care of her.

After 10 she got permission to roam around but she has to use a veil to cover her face.

No one has ever seen her face till now except the maids who take care of her.

Now she is 18 years old.

She is treated as Her siblings maid especially her sister Chitrangada's.

Agnishikha never talks with anyone nor does she ever uncover her face.

Everyone thinks that she is mute but that's not the case.

She talks whenever it's needed she does.

Her voice is sweet as honey. And Chitrangada is jealous of that as well.

Chitrangada has spread rumors that Agnishikha is ugly very ugly that's why she always covers her face.

No one scolded her for this stunt neither no one bothered to clean the rumor.

For everyone it's true that Agnishikha has a horrible face.

In the whole kingdom it's only believed. The people of the Kingdom believe that she is the reason that their queen died.

Half of the kingdom hates her but half of the kingdom pity her.

They can guess what kind of treatment their princess is getting.

The kingdom has lost its charm as well it's not like before anymore. Agnidev has turned out to be the worst king.

It's like with Shikhanya's death everything changed. Now even the Palace has forgotten that a queen named Shikhanya was there.

Not even Agnidev or Agniv remember her.

They are happy with Sugandha only.

Even if They remember her, Sugandha starts her crocodile tears saying that she isn't a good wife or mother and that's it they never take her name.

After Shikhanya's demise her parents came to take their granddaughter with them because they got to know from the minister what kind of treatment that innocent soul is going to get.

But Agnidev or I say Sugandha didn't let them take her.

They wanted her here in their kingdom.

Her grandparents returned empty handed.

Agnishikha is a mystery in that Palace that no one is interested to solve or even get to know for that matter.

They never bothered about her.

Now she doesn't even have any maid for herself because she is now herself a maid of the princess.

But yet she is a princess. Her heart is filled with mysteries that only she knows.

She knows why her fate is like this and is waiting for her Prince to come and take her away from this hell she calls her home.

But little did she know that with her Prince charming someone else is also coming for her.

Who will change her whole life but for good or worse that only time will tell.

Few Hindi words with their translation

Maharaja- King

Maharani- Queen

Rajkumar- Prince

Rajkumari- princess

Yuvraj- Crown prince

Didisa- Elder sister

Bhrata shree- Elder brother

Dasi- maid

Yudh- war

Sandesh- letter

Matasree- mother

Pitasree- father

Rajya- kingdom