covered in blood

Chandrika

"Take care of yourself, my child," Mother said, holding me in a warm embrace.

"You too, Mother," I replied.

I then knelt to receive Father's blessing. "May you always be happy," he said, placing his hand on my head before pulling me into a tight hug as well.

My brother came up behind me, and I embraced him.

"We'll be joining you soon," he teased, making everyone laugh, "but don't cause any trouble until we get there."

"Maaa..." I said, pouting playfully.

"Oh, now, you should be smiling when you leave," Mother said gently.

"It's time to go," Father said, patting me on the shoulder from behind.

I climbed into the palanquin with Vishakha. With the chant of "Har Har Mahadev!" the men lifted the palanquin and began the journey away from the palace.

"What's wrong, Princess? You're going to meet your sister, so why do you look so sad?" Vishakha asked, seeing the tears in my eyes.

"I don't know why, but leaving the palace feels so strange," I confessed. "I've left the kingdom many times before, but this time feels different. It's as if everything—Mother, Father, Brother—is being left behind."

"It's because this is the first time you're traveling without Mother and Urvashi," Vishakha said, a soft look on her face.

"You're right," I said, wiping my tears.

Soon, I'll meet him. Just a few more moments.

"Bai saheb, we have arrived."

I woke up instantly, my head still fuzzy from the journey. Vishakha was fast asleep, her head resting on my shoulder.

"Vishakha, wake up, we're here," I said, gently shaking her.

She stretched with a yawn. "Where are we?" she mumbled sleepily.

"We've arrived in Swarn Garh," I said, adjusting my clothes and smoothing out the wrinkles.

"We're here?" she asked, a spark of surprise in her voice.

Then, we stepped out of the palanquin. Standing before us were my sister and a few other women. I guessed one of them was my sister’s mother-in-law, as she and the other women were dressed in gorgeous jewelry and finely embroidered clothes.

"Sister!" I exclaimed, rushing forward to hug her.

"My sweet sister, you've become even more beautiful since I last saw you," she said, lovingly holding my chin.

"Never more beautiful than you, Sister," I replied.

"You silly girl," she said, patting me on the head.

I bent to touch the feet of the women standing next to my sister.

"Oh, no, child, here the daughters don't touch feet," my sister’s mother-in-law said, stopping me.

"You are even more beautiful than I had heard," she said, cupping my face in her hands.

"Urvashi, take her to the chamber. We will have her meal sent over," she instructed.

"Yes, Mother," my sister said, taking my hand.

The entire chamber was filled with potted plants and beautiful paintings.

"Wow, Sister, this is all so lovely," I said.

She smiled faintly. "You should rest. Your meal will be here shortly. In the meantime, I should go check that everything is in order."

"Mother told me a festival this big has never been held here since your wedding," I said. "It must be a huge burden on you, so let me help."

"Oh, no, Chand, you must rest," she insisted. "Besides, when you get married, you'll manage everything just the same. And the work of your own home never feels like a burden."

I just smiled, because I wasn't so sure I would ever be able to manage all this as gracefully as she did.

"Sister," I said, stopping her, "Mother sent laddoo for you."

"My favorite laddoo!" she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Here," I said, handing her the plate.

She quickly took one and began to eat. "Wow, it tastes exactly the same," she said with delight.

"Your meal has arrived, Bai saheb," a maid said from the doorway.

"Please have your meal. I will come to see you in a little while," my sister said, and then she was gone.

The meal was truly delicious, but my mind was elsewhere. Shivansh. I didn't see him outside or when we arrived. I should go out and look for him.

Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll go see my sister. I'm sure I'll see him somewhere on the way.

I passed through the hall and went to my sister's chamber. She was getting ready for the evening ceremony, and a dozen women were bustling around her, preparing her for the occasion.

"Sister," I said, walking toward her.

"Oh, Chandrika, you're here. Come, sit," she said, gesturing for me to sit on the bed.

"Sister, I..." I began, but was cut off.

"Queen!" a maid at the door announced. "Rana sa has returned from the war."

"War?" I said, the word catching in my throat in surprise.

My sister rushed out of the chamber, and I followed right behind her. The slogan, "Victory to Rana Shivansh Singh Sisodiya!" was echoing throughout the entire palace.

He was covered in blood, and the blood on his eyelids was dry.

But the people couldn't see his wounds; they were only seeing his victory.

My throat choked up, and tears welled in my eyes. I squeezed them shut, trying to clear my vision to see the scene properly.

Just then, his mother called for the royal physician and took him inside.

"Chandrika, are you alright? What happened to your eyes?" my sister asked, seeing my tears.

"It's nothing," I said, making an excuse. "My finger just accidentally went in my eye."

"Come on, come inside with me," she said, heading into the chamber. "I'll get you a cotton cloth."

Shivansh

The palace was filled with cheers celebrating my victory.

Today was the most important day of my life.

The peace you feel after conquering the world is nothing compared to the peace of seeing love for yourself in the eyes of the one you hold dearest.

Only my mother saw the wounds on my body. Amidst all the cheers, she was the only one who saw my sorrow before my victory or my defeat. In my eyes, that is what true love is. I want a life partner exactly like my mother.

"Go, bring the royal physician here," Mother announced, and she led me to the chamber.

"Come, sit here," Mother said, motioning for me to sit on the royal seat.

"Mother, please don't cry," I said, wiping her tears. "Today is a day of happiness. We Rajputs have become the greatest king, Maharana."

"Yes, I know, and I'm happy for you," she said. "But what was the need to do all this today? Today is your coronation, and you're sitting here with wounds on your body."

It was my vow that I would not ascend the throne until I had conquered all of Rajputana.

"I'm so happy, and I'm so very proud of you, my son. But you could never understand this. For years, it was my dream to see my son on the throne, and now... now I'm looking at my son covered in blood with so many wounds."

"Mother," I said, lovingly holding her face in my hands, "didn't you once say that becoming a true ruler means walking a path of thorns, not flowers? I'm on my way to becoming a king, and to be a good one, I have to pass through those thorns. I want to be a king that history will never forget."

She pulled me into a tight embrace.

"My Lord, everyone is calling for you at the festival," a servant announced, entering the chamber.

Please inform them we will be there in a few moments.

"Today, I will adorn you with my own hands," Mother said, rising to her feet.

Maa said, as she went into the hall, "It will take a long time, and there will be many rituals. Will you be able to sit or should we ask them to just do the essential rituals today and the rest can be done tomorrow?"

"Mother, the royal physician said the wounds aren't deep," I said, reassuring her. "Your son isn't that weak."

She just smiled, gently stroking my cheek.

"Come, Rana sa, please take your seat," the priest said, lighting the sacred fire.

"Now, please wear the Maharana's turban," the priest said, concluding the ceremony.

"I wish to wear it by my mother's hand," I said, looking toward her.

"Yes, Your Majesty, please," the priest said, handing the turban to Mother.

This was the most important moment of my life. I will never let this turban be stained. It will always be held high.

I will take revenge for what happened to my father in the past. I will bring that king who stole my kingdom to his knees. This is my solemn vow. A fire burns in my eyes whenever I remember that cursed day and the way he humiliated my father.

After she placed the turban on my head, Mother applied a spot of kohl from her eyes behind my ear to ward off any evil eye. With tears in her eyes, she kissed my forehead and blessed me with all the happiness in life.

"Victory to Maharana Shivansh Singh Sisodiya!" everyone cheered.

"Rana sa, you are now our new king," the priest said, administering the oath. "We hope that just like your father and ancestors, you will care for us like a father cares for his children."

"Yes, just as my ancestors cared for their subjects like sons, so will I," I said, placing my hand on the holy fire.

"Now you must greet the public," the minister said.

From the balcony, I looked down at all my people, who were cheering my name in the courtyard below.

Second apdate!!!

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