Maitri's Birthday

Now they were very far away from the royal palace. They were passing by the woods.

'’Stop the carriage.'’ The princess commanded and the carriage stopped.

Commander came near the carriage to know what's going on.

'’What happened, your royal highness, everything's okey.'’ Asked Bhumaya.

'’I am not feeling well and want to take a stroll.'’ Her voice was commanding.

'’As you wish.'’

'’I want to go alone.'’

He hesitate for a while. It was the matter of the safety of the crown princess but he still agreed.

'’Alright, crown princess, as you want.'’ He was a little reluctant.

He knows that the princess is cabable and can save herself but still….

She stepped down the carriage and make her way toward the forest.

When realised that now she is far away from the royal entourage she sat down under a big mango tree. She then picks up a small and not so thin stick and starts drawing something on soil.

While drawing a memory of the past hit her.

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She was six. Just the day after her father, the king Harshvardhan died.

In a big corridor she approached her twin brother.

'’Brother, i want to tell you something.'’ Her voice was shaky, maybe because she was rattled.

'’Yes, I am all ears.'’ Replied Manvik.

'’That i want to tell…'’ she seemed to unable to find words.

'’Why are you so nervous just say it.'’

'’Do you trust me?'’

'’What type of question is this? Of Course i do.'’

She took a deep breath and said.

'’Yesterday morning, in the royal kitchen i saw mother's attendant mix something in father's medicine.'’ she was stuttering.

'’That might be some kind of medicine.'’ he replied.

'’But I also heard my mother talking to her. She said that it's the last dose and after he take it he will be permanently eliminated from their way.'’ this time she was confident.

'’I didn't expected this from you.'’ His expressions turned dark.

'’What do you mean?'’ Her voice was husky with a heavy throat.

'’Mother had told me everything.'’

She twitched her brows in confusion.

'’Just because she scolded you, you are slandering her with such ridiculous lies.'’

Scold, Slandering, Ridiculous lies.

He doesn't believe me. He was just testing. How can he do this?

'’Manvik, that woman is manipulating you, why can't you understand? Why don't you trust me?'’ She was weeping hard.

'’Stop it Maitri, you are just six but still you are so scheming.'’

'’How am I scheming? I am telling the truth, That woman had killed our father.'’

'’What that woman, she is our mother and she didn't kill our father. Stop with this lie.'’ he yelled at her.

'’She is not my mother anymore. Just because of her lies you are yelling at me and you…'’ she was a crying mess.

She took a breath and continued.

'’You called me Maitri not Trisha.'’ She said with her unsettled heart.

'’Yes because Trisha is my that sister, who is very kindhearted and simpleminded not like Maitri who's head is full of tricks.'’

She was on the verge of breakdown.

'’Our father had died just yesterday and today you are messing around with your lies. Don't you have any shame?'’

With these hurtfull words he left leaving Maitri completely in despair.

'’He said he trust me and i believed. I was a fool.'’

she sat on a corner while weeping. She was in the flood of tears. The little princess' tiny heart wasn't ready for this.

Firstly her father and now her dearest brother.

'’I will avenge you, father. '’

'’I will expose your true colour, my father's killer.'’

Her mind was full of disdain thoughts.

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.

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A gentle breeze brings her back to reality.

With the same vengeance she looked at the masterpiece she had drawn.

A woman in a simple yet beautiful attire giving a laddu to a little girl.

It's normal.

But what wasn't normal was her head of snake curled in C-shape and just few inches above the girls head. The snake's enormous mouth was wide open, ready to devour the girl in any moment.

She then sigh heavily and erase the drawing.

'’Time to leave.'’

She went back to the royal Entourage and sit inside the carriage.

The journey continued.

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Six days passed.

Today was the day when Maitri was born.

It was the twenty-seventh day of sixth month.

She used to be waiting for her birthdays for months so that she can get so many presents.

The most lavish present for her was her father's gift. He used to give her paitings, one on every birthday for six years then he died, was murdered, as she says.

He used to say that she will understand the hidden meaning once she grew up.

''I have turned twenty today. Am i still haven't grown up yet.''

She was in her thoughts when someone slide the crimson curtain of her carriage window. It was Chanda, her attendant.

'’Greetings, princess.'’

She nods her head.

'’Many many returns of the day, my lady.'’

Chanda never forgets to wish her. Her cheerful nature and bubbly personality reminds her of her own past.

How she used to be.

With a straight face, the princess replied.

'’Okey.'’

She was expecting a thank you with a smile. Well nevermind. Years changed but her answer is still same.

With mixed emotions she loosened the grip on curtains allowing them to flow down, again.

The last birthday she had celebrated was four years ago, her sixteenth birthday.

Since then she stopped celebrating it.

No one even bothered to wish her except Chanda and….

Ofcourse everyone was busy, celebrating her twin's birth anniversary.

She can imagine how the palace would be dazzling today. The flashy decoration that always pierce her eyes.

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In the Imperial Palace of Anaika, the imperial members were hustling here and there.

The whole palace was decorated as a bride.

''Happy, happy birthday, my dear brother.'' Chaaruvati wished Manvik.

''Thank you, my dear sister.'' he embraced his little sister.

All the members of family were present in his room.

The Empress was holding a puja ki thali.

''Okay, okay now move aside let me do my work.

Chaaruvati steps aside.

Empress start doing Artie. After that she put vermilion on his forehead between his brows.

''May you live a long, long life and always be this happy.'' Empress handed the puja ki thali to a maid and embrace Manvik in a lovely hug.

''Happy birthday big brother.'' second and third prince said in unison.

The imperial family was very happy. Someone wouldn't even notice that a family member is not present.

The whole Anaika was celebrating their prince's birthday. But they were more enthusiastic for their Crown Princess' birthday.

So what if her family members doesn't care about her. She don't care, she had many more people who care for her and admire her, who love her.

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'’Everyone stop and set up the camps.'’

Commander ordered

'’We will rest for an hour here.'’

Caravan was stopped.

The soldiers were resting after eating.

Princess was sitting under a tree seperate from others.

Her attendent, Chanda was continuesly trying to talk to her but she remained silent, completly ingnoring her.

Commander approached the princess.

'’Greeting, crown princess.'’ He bowed in greeting.

She nods.

Bhumaya looked at Chanda indicating her to leave.

She was slow-witted but quickle understand.

'’Give me permission, your grace.'’

She courtesies and then left quickly.

Maitri moved her gaze in the direction of the Commander.

'’Crown princess, i would dare to ask…'’ his voice was hesistant.

'’I know what you want to ask.'’

She averted her gaze to other direction.

'’I will handle it, don't worry.'’

her eyes met with his and smiled warmly.

The smile that only a few lucky people can get.

He sigh inwardly and looked into another direction.

'’Alright then, if you say so..'’ With that he left.

Commander Bhumaya was the only one now whome Maitri can relay on and trust. He was like a shadow of father above her.

Commander Bhumaya, once, when the former Emperor was still alive took an oath to always be loyal to the throne, to show his loyalty. But now this loyalty oath has backfired.

He also knows the Empress' true color but due to his oath he can't do anything except for protecting and supporting the crown princess.

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