Jab tu laut ke aayega, hawaon mein phir se phool khilenge,
Meri raahein tere kadmon ki khushboo se jag uthenge,
Mandir ki ghanti sa tera naam mere dil mein goonjega,
Pal pal ruk ke duaon se main tujhe nazakat se pukaarungi,
Chaand bhi sharma ke badlon mein khud ko chhupa lega,
Aur phir meri saanson se teri saanson ka sangam hoga,
Wahi adhoori kahaani... aaj poori hogi.
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
It was eleven at night, and I was preparing for bed. It has been almost a week since I arrived at the palace, and this place feels really familiar now. I am able to open up to my brothers and father.
Veer Bhai sa helped me get medicines that will help wear off the effects of fading memories faster, so I could recall my past.
This week has been nothing but awesome. Not even in my wildest dreams had I ever thought that things could take such a big turn in my life.
After some more days, I would start going to ASR Press and work as the boss.
Ahhhh! Somebody pinch me, all this still feels like a beautiful dream to me.
I wish every girl who wished for a life full of being cherished but struggled ended up like this.
Yesterday, Aditya Bhai sa and I were going to the market, and we saw Udaipur's kunwar sa.
My heart started beating like crazy; it was as if I had lost control of myself.
We talked for a few minutes and then went back to shopping.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
I trailed back from my thoughts as my phone rang. I picked up the call, and it was Aaliya.
Aaluπ₯π
"Happy Birthday, darling!"
I checked the time on my phone and indeed it was 12 am. And she has called at the exact same minute.
Me
"Thank you so so muchh Aalu."
Aaluπ₯π
"Ohh so kya plan hai rajkumari sahiba?"
(Ohh, So What is the plan, princess?)
Me
"Yaar I don't think anyone even remembers, and it's not even their fault. I had been lost for ten years."
Aaluπ₯π
"Come on, Aarya, don't think like that. I think they remember. Just hold some patience."
Me
"Hmm... I miss you"
Aaluπ₯π
"I miss you too, Aarya. I'll come soon, OK?"
Me
"Bilkul!"
(Sure)
Aaluπ₯π
"Chall theek hai, Goodnight baby girl."
(Ok then, Goodnight baby girl)
Me
"Good night, Aalu"
I was always satisfied with just Aaliya wishing me and a little celebration. But I don't know what has happened to me, but I want Bhai sa, Baba sa and even Kunwar sa to remember my birthday.
But would they?
Argh! They are royals, and they don't have that much time to waste on me.
'But Kunwar sa would wish me right? He loves me, after all. Ahh! Why is this handsome, 6'2 feet man with mesmerising brown eyes always messing with my mind?' I said to my subconscious mind, my emotions trailing from hope to frustration.
'Maybe because you are realising that you love him.' My subconscious mind mocked me. Gosh! It's a part of me, but still, it is taking his side. Not like I am really complaining.
'And, did I just compliment his looks?' I screamed to myself, my mind bubbled with frustration and confusion at the thought of what was happening to me.
'Of course you did that means, stupid, you love him and can't get him out of your mind.' My subconscious mind mocked me. AGAIN! Gosh, now I am really irritated by this pyaarpaglu mind of mine.
'Arghh! Shut up, you idiot subconscious mind.' I shushed my mind, my entire mind clouding with frustration as I went to bed and slept, not wanting to keep thinking until I get crazy for real.
β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°
The Royal kingdom of Alwar awoke by the soft hum of shankh, temple bells and morning ragas. It was not just any day today...
The kingdom had not known a joy like this in a decade.
It was not just the birthday of the princess.
It was the return of faith.
It was the restoration of blood, history, and love.
Today... was her birthday.
It was Princess Aaranya's first birthday back home β after ten long years of being lost to fate. The kingdom celebrated it with gratitude and grandeur.
The entire state of Alwar was adorned with fresh flowers and lights as if life had just returned. Before even the sun rose, the palace mandir was lit with 108 diyas in ten rows, each row with each flame representing years of longing and hope. The royal priest, an old man who chanted the mantras and led the family in a Maha Mrityunjaya Jap β not to ward off death, but to give thanks to life.
Not just the palace mandir but every temple in the entire city of Alwar was holding pujas and hawans for the well-being of their princess.
In the palace
The former king Rajendra sat with folded hands, and Aaranya sat beside him with her head bowed in respect.
The priest tied a red mauli on her wrist and whispered, "Aap srif ek rajkumari nahi hai beti, aap toh devi ka vardaan hai."
(You are not just a princess, you are the gift from the goddess herself.)
Tears welled up in her eyes, being called 'vardaan' when just some days back her own grandfather called her a black omen.
Outside the palace gates, bhandaaras were organised all across the kingdom. The king and the elder brother of Aaranya, Veer, ensured that no one was left hungry on that day. Farmers, traders, beggars and even all the passing travellers β everyone ate in her name.
In every temple from Alwar to the hills beyond, daans were made β clothes for the poor, books for children, and money to widows and orphans.
The people whispered among themselves, happy with all the glory of the day. "She has returned, and with her so has our fortune."
The people cheered, drums rolled, bells rang.
And with all that, Alwar sang again.
As the sun reached its peak in the evening, Aaranya stood beside her father watching thousands eat, pray and bless her under the glowing lights from afar.
"A week ago", she whispered to her father, "I had no one, but now it feels like I am home."
Rajendra smiled, placing a hand on her head, "Your birth made me a father, but your return... it brought me back to life."
As the temple's bells rang once more, echoing through every corridor of Alwar, one thing became clear:
The lost princess had returned.
But more than that β the heart of the kingdom has begun to beat again.
Soon, the evening unfolded with the birthday celebrations of the princess. The entire garden was glistening and glowing with all the lights and decorations. The Rajput Brothers had personally made sure that everything was perfect and exactly the way Aaranya liked. Yuvraj and her father were also helping around in the decorations.
Aaranya came into the garden looking as if she were glowing. The dress she wore wasn't just fabric; it looked as if it were spun from soft golden light. The pale gold material shimmered gently, catching the moonlight with every step. The top of the gown had a sweetheart neckline, showcasing her shoulders and collarbones with simple elegance.
From the waist down, the dress flowed in long pleats, falling gracefully around her. A high slit along one side revealed her leg as she walked, adding a touch of boldness to her otherwise delicate look.
The sleeves made her appear almost magical. They were huge, airy clouds of sheer fabric that floated around her arms. They seemed so light, as if made from morning mist, softly glowing as they caught the light.
The entire gown shimmered faintly, making her look like she had stepped out of a dreamβelegant, striking, and unforgettable.
Yuvraj didn't realise he was holding his breath until Aaranya came near him and hugged him?
Nah. Hugged her father.
Her father gently held her hand and led her towards a beautiful setting, decorated with golden and silver balloons along with ribbons and lights. A table with a velvet tablecloth shimmered with the candles on it. A beautiful white cake with intricate drizzles and a faint shimmer was placed on the table. A small crown was adorned on the cake along with bows on the sides.
β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°β’Β°
In the morning, as I woke up due to soft knocks on the door. I opened the door and saw Dad and all my Bhaisas standing outside. Veer Bhai sa was holding a cake and a little crown in his hands.
I felt tears pricking in my eyes as I didn't expect them to remember my birthday.
"Happy Birthday Aaru" They all said in chorus and engulfing me in a hug together, I smiled, feeling the love of family after years of longing for it.
Aditya Bhai sa placed the crown on my head after placing a soft kiss on my forehead. They all led me to the room next door. I gasped as I saw the room decorated in pink and white balloons along with white roses. Veer Bhai sa placed the cake on the table, covered in a soft white tablecloth.
It was a small pink cake with little hearts on it.
"Sorry baccha, we didn't want to disturb your sleep, so we didn't wished you in the midnight." I nodded not having any words to speak as all the emotions were piled up and stuck in my throat.
I cut the cake and after that baba sa gave me a beautiful white kurti to get dressed.
I came back after some minutes dressed in the white kurti with little rhinestones on the edges. Baba sa escorted me to the palace mandir while all my brothers followed.
We had a puja and hawan for me, and after that, I even got to know that baba held puja's in every temple in the town along with bhandaaras and daans.
I was already overwhelmed with emotions, and all this just added to that. In all the past ten years, the most we could afford was a little cupcake but now all this grand thing is just blowing away my mind.
In the night right now, I was standing in a beautiful dress Bhai sa gave me to wear. Baba sa led me to the table where the cake was placed and as I was about to cut the cake, two soft and almost familiar hands covered my eyes.
"Hamare bina hi. Huh!?" The person whispered in my ears, softly and in an instant my expression changed from confused to happy.
(Without me. Huh!?)
"Aaliyaa!" I screamed in happiness and turned around and hugged her tightly. I missed her a lot in just seven days.
"Ji mai... aur rajkumari sahiba ab ham yahan Alwar mai hi rahenge." She said softly while holding my hand
(Yes me... And princess from now on we would stay in Alwar only.)
A smile came to my face as soon as she said that but soon it was replaced by a frown as I realised what she said.
"Ham?!"
(We)
"Yes, me and mom. Duh!" She said back in her sassy, sarcastic tone making me chuckle.
After some minutes of talking I cut the cake and fed it one by one to everyone, until I reached him.
Kunwar sa.
I raised my hand with the cake slice in it towards his mouth. A small smile came to his face as if he wasn't expecting me to feed him with my own hands. He also brought a small piece of cake towards my mouth, I took it without any hesitation.
But then he put some cream on my face and chuckled, I also laughed along as if similar memories made its way back to my mind.
Then he asked a servant to bring something.
The servant brought eleven gift boxes.
"Eleven?!" I blurted out as soon as I saw them, confusion clouding my entire expression.
He gave me a small smile before speaking, "Anya, I brought a gift every year for you and as you have come now. It's all yours."
I returned his smile and thanked him. My heart was beating loudly as this was something out of my list of expressions.
I was already overwhelmed when Veer Bhai sa came and handed me some papers.
I looked at it, and they were the papers of the declaration that I AM THE CEO OF ASR PRESS. I gasped.
"Baccha, you said you wanted Aaliya to be your partner, so we have declared her the COO of the company. And now you are the boss, sis." Bhai sa said teasingly, making me chuckle.
Soon we ended the party with dancing, games, laughter and teasing.
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Sorry everyone, I was down with high fever so I was not able to update earlier.
The next chapter will be released on November 1st.
THIS CHAPTER IS ALSO UPLOADED ON INKITT AND WATTPAD.
Spoilers and updates for this chapter and the next chapter are uploaded on my Instagram handle 'khushiiwrts'
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