A smile formed over my lips hearing the name of Prince Surya Dev.

"Yes, Abhi...He is coming and will reach by evening today."

I hugged her instantly as she told me the happiest news, a light of hope lightens in my heart. I hope that I may get a normal life. A hope that I would get free from here, free from him.

"Abhi, everything will be alright now, You don't need to stay here. He will surely do something knowing that you are here."

I nodded washing the tears of Joy. I looked at the big round ring on my ring finger and kissed it. I waited for him. I knew he would come.

Standing up I ran to the praying part of the chamber and sat in front of the statue of the Lord. I thanked him for giving me a light of hope in my life.

"Thank you so much, Lord, I thought you were not here. But, you proved yourself again. Thank you so much"

Spending a little more time in prayers, I came out and lie on the bed thinking that. What did he say to Prince? and how would he manage all the things?

Sakhibai sat beside me and caught my attention.

"Abhi, I listened to Maa saheb and the Army chief talk and they said that He is coming for some weapons deal."

"Weapon Deal?" I asked.

"But, That was supposed to be between him and Bhai saheb?" I said as I remembered the day when Surya dev and my brother confirmed the deal along with our Alliance.

"Yes, But it was not completed because The prince attacked us already," Sakhi bai said.

I sensed something fishy.

"Why he is finalizing the deal with mahabaleshgarh?" I asked her.

"I don't know, Maybe they ask him for the weapons, and him taking the advantage of the deal still wants you?" She said.

"I think you are correct," I said as I couldn't think of anything else for his arrival.

"Abhi" She caught my attention. "What if he doesn't know about you? what if he thinks you are no more"

I sat up instantly.

"Yes, it can be possible. How did he get to know about us? Maybe this all in just coincidence." I thought.

"Maybe" She replied.

Thinking for a while she said.

"I think you should meet him once he is here," She said.

"Meet him?" I asked in surprise. I wasn't expecting such advice from her.

"Yes, you can meet him at night, I will arrange it for you," She said.

"What if someone got to know about this, they will think that we are planning something against them," I said in concern. I didn't want to do something that could make me a desperate lady.

"But, you have to take the chance, otherwise you will be here forever," She said.

"Here?" I asked standing up from the bed "Never, no way. I will choose death overstaying here" I spat back feeling disgusted with the thought of staying here.

"Then you have to confirm the purpose of his visit here," She said.

"Okay, you come at night here, we both will go there together," I said asking for help because it was not an easy idea of meeting the Prince in the enemy Palace and also being a slave there.

"Okay, Abhi I will come here at night and let you know when he reaches here. For now, I am going" She said and I nodded letting her leave.

I spent a little time taking a bath and getting ready. The new light of hope made me a little excited for life again. I might be going from here forever. I would enjoy life again. I would see the life outside the palaces that I never saw. I would live again.

After getting ready I moved to the study part of the chamber, I raked my eyes and I could see the Books, scriptures, and sculptures. My eyes raked on the Vedas and Geeta. I already read most of them and I wanted to read something new.

Moving and raking My sight fell on the maroon-colored book which was heavy in pages. I took it out and I read the title that says 'KAMASUTRA'

Its title made my eyebrows knitted in curiosity about the content.

Sitting on the floor, I let my dupatta aside as I was alone. I looked in front of me and see a lot of rabbits that were jumping inside the chamber. I smiled looking at them, the voice of birds chirping and parrots talking to each other made me forget everything.

I lay on the cold floor on my stomach and opened a random page of the book to read the content.

My sight fell on a picture of two statues. One cupped the bosom of the lady and she had her knee up to his waist. I was not able to understand it completely. I started reading the content and It said that 'this position lets both of them feel each other while getting an advantage of having eyes on each other. Both feel the edge and pleasures and can look at each other for the reaction and pleasures. In this position, it is a little difficult to enter into the womanhood for the manhood but the pleasures are something more than anything and unbearable.'

I shut the book back instantly as I felt that It was not for me. I sat up instantly and with a horrified look, I placed it back in place. I looked around to see if anyone watched me or not. My breathing hitched as I feel frightened. I thought it was the book based on karma and its effect but it was something I never got to know.

I remembered when one of the chiefs of our army got married to the Princess of the small town. It was their wedding night and I was as always walking around the Palace. I heard a scream and I followed it. I entered their chamber of his when no one was around. I wondered why he dismissed guards. walking in I saw a lady almost naked and the man biting her nipples when she was screaming loudly and he was lying over her naked jerking her.

She was screaming and I Pressed my mouth to restrict the fear of what I said. I ran from there and locked myself. After that, I never dared to be close to any man and I never discussed it with anyone. I didn't know what he was doing to her but I would never let anyone touch my breast be naked.

Suddenly I remembered when Prince tore my blouse and I got hell frightened, I thought he would do the same to punish me. That must be the most painful punishment for women. How she was screaming made me really afraid of being close to any man and the thought of letting a man touch my breast made me hell afraid.

I shook my head to remove that thought. I concentrated on the rabbit that was playing with the hem of my lehenga. I took him in my arms and another one came too. I patted him and I saw that there were so many to play with. When I keep one in my lap another one started eating my lehnga and when I keep that one another one came. They became friendly so early and time passed along with them.

I saw a couple of rabbits and they were too much in love with playing with each other. I smiled looking at them.

More time passed eating lunch and exploring the full of chamber and garden attached to it personally for the one who was staying in the chamber.

The day passed by wasting time walking here and there until Sakhi bai came.

"Abhi, he came," She said.

A smile of joy appeared on my face.

"He is resting in his chamber and ways are free, I think we should go and meet him"

I nodded and looking at the mirror I set up a veil covering my face completely and walked outside.

We walked as Sakhi bai guided me toward the left of the Galleries.

"How do you know the way?" I asked.

"I came here with Maa saheb," She said. "She went to meet her". She continued.

We walked silently till I entered his place with her. She introduced me and hearing my name he stood up and dismissed the attendees.

"Abhishree? I was not expecting you here at this time" He said in a threatening tone.

He was not able to see me neither I as I was covering my face with the veil.

"I have something important to talk about," I said.

"What?" He asked.

"What is the reason behind your arrival here?" I asked calmly hoping he still remember our alliance and did not behave weirdly.

"I heard everything about the war and the behavior of Prince with you. I came to save you from here" He said.

"Seriously? " I asked not believing my ears.

"Yes, Your brother and I dealt with the sale of weapons and our marriage. The deal was over but our wedding is still on." He said with confidence.

I smiled hearing his words.

"But, how will you manage it? The prince is mad and he will not let me go anywhere. He hates me and for that hatred he wanted me to be his slave" I said in response.

"He is just a Prince, don't forget the King is still alive and they need weapons to increase the power of their Empire and in exchange for it, I asked for you. I talked to the King telling him that You belong to suryaGarh already as we are engaged. He didn't say anything but I will make sure either there will be our marriage or war against them" He said in a thundering tone and a shiver of power and war ran through my spine.

With the thought of war, my mind went to the vision of killing Prince with my hands and in the field of battle, I would make sure I kill him. His words fueled me with power.

"You don't worry, you will be safe and you should go now. There will be a huge problem if anyone got to know about this."

I nodded and Bowing in front of him I left the place and moved to my chamber. The words he said filled my dark life with hope. The hope of freedom. I thanked the soul of my brother for choosing such a brave Prince for me.

Moving towards My chamber I stopped in between looking at Maa saheb who looked at me too. I bowed and she yelled.

"What are you doing this late at night here? Calling your death by Rajvardhan?

I shook my head and formed a sentence and with boldness I replied.

"I went to meet Prince Surya dev," I said.

"Surya dev? " She asked.

"Yes," I said while bringing my hand in front to let her notice the ring on my ring finger.

"I am engaged to him," I said.

"Rajvardhan will never allow it" she spatted in anger.

"I don't care about him, I am engaged and I want to get married to him" I spat back. I said as I knew I had to stand up for myself. I had to forget the past and move on with him. This was now and never and I couldn't let that Animal Prince ruin my life always.

I didn't know how I was so bold in fixing my marriage with him. I was not interested in marriage but in freedom. Freedom from being a slave. I would do whatever life I will be given but not along with him. I couldn't stand him. I hate him.

For a while, she thought something and then a shaking tone replied.

"I thought you will be our... By the way, leave it. You want this marriage and the king want the weapons and in exchange, Surya dev placed the same request. I considered you as my daughter and I will do anything for you" she said patting my head.

"But, it should be done soon. We will prepare for your wedding and it will be on the day after tomorrow." She said with a tense face.

"Okay," I answered as I wanted it to be as soon as possible.

She came closer and in a deep dark voice said. "But remember, If anyhow Rajvardhan got to know about this, He will kill him along with you. He doesn't like that the things he likes were taken by anyone. Marry him soon and go away from here" She completed that scared me to hell.

She turned to go away but her last words caught my attention.

"Prepare yourself for the wedding, The rituals will start tomorrow"

❤