Chapter 118 - Recurring Dream Within A Dream (1/2)

The Maharaja and Maharani of Pradii sat on their thrones, with their respected guests on either side.

As the people settled in to witness the wedding rituals, Durga was watching the faces of her parents, the happiness and pride clearly reflected in their eyes, her little brothers as they tried to appear demure, her older sister with her two little kids on either side of her, a glow in her face, and her older brother as he looked back at her with grief and happiness.

She knew that both were for her. Grief at parting and happiness for her happiness. And lastly, she looked at all the subjects that came to wish her for her future happiness and knew, deeply, that they all loved her in their own way.

Storing the image in her mind, she vowed to herself that she would never forget this day, nor would she ever abandon them. The curtain lifted and Durga Krishna was looking into the dark eyes of the Yuvraj of Rajas.

The marriage rituals took place soon after, the Yuvraj and Rajkumari exchanging the seven sacred vows that must be upheld, honored, respected, and fulfilled for the rest of their lives. As Durga and Yuvraj completed their last ritual, flower petals of red and yellow were thrown at them for blessings and blissful marriage.

The pandit declared them husband and wife and advised them to seek their elders blessing to warp the ritual up. They walked up to their parents and took their blessings.

”May you live long, long lives and may you have many children,” was her mother's blessing.

”May you live together in happiness and harmony,” said her father.

At last, she bent down to touch the feet of an elder of another kingdom.

”Visit the Tanka before you go on your journey,” he told her. As she rose and looked into his eyes, her heart skipped a beat. Something was not right about this man's eyes. But what, she could not put a hand to it.

Just as she opened her mouth to question him, there was a tap on her shoulder. Durga turned, telling the Yuvraj to give her a second, and when she turned back, the man had already disappeared.

It has been more than a month since her marriage. The cold water of the Tanka enveloped her as she sank into its depth. After finding out about her faith in Shiv, Yuvraj had built her a personal temple in the kingdom of Rajas.

It was not only breathtaking but was completely out of the world. It was surrounded by a crystalline lake filled with floating flowers of different colors and forms on one side and flowering trees and groves on the other, with the sun's rays warded off by umbrellas of lotus leaf clusters behind her during her aartis'.

Durga already missed it. After she told her mother about the strange man, she insisted that she visit the Tanka. It had taken a lot of convincing on Yuvraj's part and complaining on her part. Now, a month later, she was back in Pradii to fulfill her mother's wish.

With the Maharaja of Rajas ill, Yuvraj had to stay behind to assist his father in governing the country.

But on her return, she saw that many of the royal and palace guards were absent.

”Where did the Royal Guards go?” She had asked a busy maid.

”Oh, Princess. They are escorting visitors across the border. If you will please excuse me?”

”Go ahead.”

”Thank you.” And the maid had hurriedly scuffled away like she was being chased by a monster.

At that time, Durga had found her behavior strange. But what she had found even stranger was that people who were powerful enough to rule an entire country needed an escort to go back to their own Kingdom.

But then again, she always had a habit of questioning other people's intentions, so it might as well be her mind playing games on her.

”Run!”

The shrill command resonated in the still night air, startling Durga out of her thoughts. She hastily looked around but could spot no one.

Deciding it was time to leave, she hurriedly emerged out of the Tanka River, glittering water dripping from her white sari like falling stars.

Something was wrong.

She felt it in her gut, sensed it in her soul. Picking up her heavy shawl, she called out to her attendants.

”Aru? Pushpa?” There was no answer.

Something was definitely wrong. She froze for a moment, her blank eyes staring dazedly into the distance, before starting into a sprint back to the palace.

No. No. No!

Spilling the contents of her bag onto the ground, she picked up the red and yellow fabric with trembling hands. She needed to go to the back of the temple.

Now.

Golden bangles fell out from the folds, clinging softly onto the marble floor. It had taken more than five years to see them again.

Five years of pain and nightmares.

But that was going to stop soon. The wrong had to be righted, justice restored, and duty fulfilled. Picking up the bangles, she gently placed them back into the folds of the fabric.

Blood.

Blood was everywhere.

Red, sticky, warm, wet blood.