I woke up as I hear a lot of voices of girls talking and anklet bells. Opening my eyes my sight fell on the girl opening the curtains and a few entering with big plates of jewellery, clothes and a lot of stuff. I saw Sakhi bai helping them to keep it on couches and tables.

I realised that it was my wedding. The thought of marriage and experiencing it right away made my heart miss some beats. I looked around me and the preparation was already started. Sakhi bai came running to me seeing me awake.

"Abhi, Go take the bath first" She ordered being busy with work.

I sat up listening to her and just then reality hit me. It was my wedding. It was for real not a dream. I remembered how I talked to Maa saheb about my marriage like a desperate girl. But I wanted my freedom more than the wedding.

My engagement with him was done with the help of his sword. I got engaged with his sword. I was never interested in marriage in the first place but last night's talk with him made me feel blessed with such a brother and Fiance.

"Get up Abhi, Maa saheb will come any time" Sakhi bai pulled me from the bed and I giggled.

"I am going Sakhi," I said with a smile.

"Then Go, It's your wedding and I don't want it to be late," She said with a tense face.

"You know what, Prince is busy with her sister. She is ill and he will not come outside until she is fine. We have to hurry. You have to go from here before he got to know" She said with a shivering and tensed tone.

His words made me remember his face when he heard the name 'Gulaab bai'.

"Gulaab Bai?" I asked her.

she nodded asking me in return "How you know?"

"I heard from someone and you know what his face changed all of a sudden listening to her name," I said.

"Yes, I heard that he loves his sister very much. He is so protective of her." She said in a calm voice.

"Whatever, All I know is he is an animal for me" I spat back in anger and moved to the bathroom.

Checking the temperature of the warm water and letting the clothes free from my body I sat in the bath. The warm water relieved my muscles and I closed my eyes.

I instantly opened my eyes as the first face that came to my mind was the Prince. He was very close to me during the fight. I remembered that our lips were so close and he darted his eyes over me and his flirtatious dialogues.

I filled the pot with water and continuously poured it on my head to clear his thoughts. Why the hell he was coming into my brain a day before my wedding?

I try to calm my breath and let the warm water soothe my muscles. The warning that maa saheb gave me last night alarming in my ears. Thinking about what would happen if that animal got to know about my Plan made my heart race.

'Be Brave Abhi...be brave'

I collected my strength and after finishing my bath I came out. I saw Maa saheb just entered with a lot of ladies carrying something in their hands. I wore a plain cream lehenga choli after my bath and a few ladies guided me in front of the mirror to dry my hair.

Everything was happening so fast that I didn't even get a chance to do or say anything. The chamber was filled with girls talking and giggling.

Maa saheb came towards me and with a tense face sat beside me.

"Hurry up, Abhi. Just go away from here as soon as possible" Her words were harsh but I could sense the care behind them for me.

"Can I ask you something?" She said.

I nodded looking at her.

"Do you like Suryadev?" Her tone was serious but all of a sudden she smiled continuing "I mean you both love each other? or it was just..."

I cut her off "I am already engaged" calmly.

"I know you are engaged, all I want to ask. Do you know him naa?" Her expression was different and tensed. She continued. "I mean, you can stay here. we offered you a Palace that can only belong to the wife of future King Chandra Mahal'. You really impressed us with your fearlessness and the way you and Raj look together, You can be the most powerful couple in Indian history"

I was stunned by her words. What the hell she was saying?

"Sorry, I just said something more. I was just taken away by your attitude. I always wanted a daughter-in-law like you. But don't worry I happily take care of your choice as to what a mother does to her daughter."

A smile formed over my lips listening to her. She was taking a big chance against his own son and she considered me her daughter. I lean to hug her and she patted my shoulder.

"But, I would love more if this marriage doesn't happen" Her face turned serious all of sudden. She was really hard to understand.

My eyebrow knitted in a thin line digesting her words.

"I hope you know about Suryagarh," She said and a lot of questions were brought to my mind. What the hell was happening?

All I could say was "I trust my Brother's choice and I personally talked to him." I stood up and sat in front of her taking her hand in my hands.

"You called me daughter and still want me to be here?" I asked.

"I don't know It was just the thought that came into mine and King's Mind. The moment he got to know that you are a Princess, he was very impressed by you. And you don't know Rajvardhan yet. If you have stayed here more, you got to know. By the way, leave this" She shook her head and clapped a few times.

"Start the rituals of henna and Haldi," she said loudly collecting everyone's attention and guiding me to sit on a small couch in between the round chamber.

She was the first one to start the Haldi. Taking the paste in her hand, she applied it to my cheeks softly. Her expressions were flat. I didn't know why she was upset. what I did to her in a few days. why the hell didn't want this marriage yet she was doing all that and most of all why the hell she wanted me to be that animal's wife?

"I hope you stay happy, no matter here or there" She murmured with a fake smile and with tensed expression.

I was sitting like a puppet not understanding what she wanted to say and why she didn't want that marriage to happen. Obviously, she was interested in making me his brainless son's wife. why would else? But, I was begging God that he won't come or got to know me before I fly from here too far away.

one after the other so many girls came applying the same paste on my body and soon the ritual of henna started. I was missing my family and brother a lot. I would be the luckiest one if my brother was doing these things for me.

"Abhi," Sakhi bai caught my attention sitting in front of me. I looked at her.

"Abhi, You will be free by tomorrow and live your life as a Princess, as someone's wife and with the pride and honour you always wanted. I am so happy for you but I will miss you a lot" Her voice hitched in between and tears escaped her eyes as well mine. I instantly hugged her as I remembered what we suffered together. When all the ladies were caught by that Rude Prince, what we all faced.

"I will miss you too," I said and she gets back. I looked at maa saheb who was looking after the jewellery and something. I called her.

"Maa saheb?" She turned to face me.

I stood up and walked towards her. She looked at me questioningly.

"You called me your daughter?" I asked and she nodded with a smile.

"Yes, Abhi"

"Can I ask for something?" I asked and she nodded again.

"I know I am being very selfish to ask but I want a promise from you," I said calmly and she nodded questioningly.

" You know, why I accepted being a slave of Prince?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Because when we lost, There were so many ladies taken over by the Prince including me. And you are well aware that what happens in this male domination society when an empire lost the battles. They would suffer a lot that I can't even imagine and am not able to say. I took the responsibility of all the ladies who were taken over here. And I want a Promise from you. That after me you make sure that they don't feel any kind of discomfort. I know I don't have any right to ask such a thing from you. But you are so humble and from the beginning, you helped me so much and even now taking such a huge risk." I asked her humbly with an innocent face because I couldn't live my life by keeping those ladies life in danger. I was breaking my deal with the Prince of being a slave for him. And it was more than enough to make him mad.

"I can't say anything about this." Her expression turned flat listening to me. "The battle was ruled by Prince and he has the right to everything he won. I can't promise you anything about this but I will do whatever I could do."

My heart felt pierced somehow. I was expecting her help and she denied it straightly.

I looked at Sakhi bai who heard everything. She came closer.

"It's okay Abhi, We will take care of ourselves and you should hurry. You already did a lot of things and he is a Prince. Don't worry he will not blackout from his swear."

I nodded still tension and the day passed quickly with the rituals and taking bath again. I looked at my hands in designs of henna. A tear escaped my eyes. What the hell was I doing with my life? I was being very selfish for my Proud and respect. somehow I was taking a risk of everyone's life for my own sake.

Where the hell was the older Abhishree who accepted to be the slave of Prince just for the safety of their ladies?

I was not happy, I thought I would fly away from him but not like this. I cried in silence not understanding what to do.

I thought of backing out of the marriage but it was too late to say No. I went to him to ask for help.

The night of mine in Mahabaleshgarh passed in tension, questions, sleep and the fear of the Ruthless Prince. How he would react was making my mind too weak to process anything.

The sun shined again and my heart raced. I wanted to go away from here and somehow still wanted to be here. I was ready to suffer anything but I became so selfish.

I saw a lot of ladies coming again into the room and they guided me to take a bath. They helped me to take one with rose water, milk, sandalwood paste and a lot more. My body was fragranced with rose and sandalwood that was remembering me, someone.

The day passed quickly in getting ready and with a lot more rituals that I did absentmindedly. I wanted someone to share and guide me in what I was doing. The royal designer came in the evening to make me ready and I was sitting like a puppet when they were putting a lot of heavy jewellery on me. A heavy lehnga of Dark red colour with silver embroidery.

The attire was so heavy to walk with. Every part of my body had jewels. One of them poured Kajal into my eyes which instantly made me a fairy with a fierce look.

I thanked everyone with a small bow and they dismissed me after doing their work. Sakhi bai caught my attention.

"You are looking extravagant," She said with big doe eyes.

I tried to fake a smile as my heart was afraid of something that it was feeling going to happen. I didn't know what turn my life was about to take. I didn't know if my decision about the wedding was right or not.

"You are happy naa?" Sakhi bai asked.

"I don't know but I think I will be in some days." I faked a smile and a few ladies came.

"It's time to go, Princess, Everything is ready" She bowed and I nodded.

My heart was feeling heavy and I looked in the mirror to glance at myself.

I heard the footsteps of someone coming, My heart raced and in no time I saw him standing in front of me.

I looked at him and him into mine. My heart was doing Tandav and I could see his eyes angry and blood boiling.

"PRIVACY!!!!!" (EKAANT!!!!!) He roared in a loud, thundering voice and a shiver of fear ran down my spine.

I was dead now.

❤❤❤