Ishavani’s PoV

  As a child I would spend hours watching the setting sun.  It  provides me with a hope! A hope of new beginnings, better tomorrow, hope for new opportunities.

    Now at the age of twenty one, standing at my chamber’s  window and looking at the same sunset, it isn’t providing hope but taking away all hopes.

    Six months has passed by, the war with Meitey isn’t showing signs of conclusion in near future. Our resources such as food, weapons, animals seems to be dwindling. People and soldiers are exhausted and sadness surrounding the war.

     The reason, war is wedged by Meitey seems unknown to all of us except for the king who is also my father. Prasenjit, my younger brother also seems unaware.

   We have called all the neighbouring kingdoms for help. It seems Meitey has conquered all the neighbouring kingdoms and instilled puppet kings or are directly ruled by king of Meitey.

My fiancé is supposed to arrive tomorrow with reinforcements which will increase our strength.  That’s the only hope we have!

     Few days ago I visited soldier camp hiding from my father’s eyes. I wanted to witness hell brought on earth by new king of Meitey.  I witnessed plight of soldiers. Some were groaning in pain, bloodied and broken. Some were getting treated, some were looking hopeless. Swords were scattered on the ground and then in corner my gaze locked on pile of dead bodies of soldiers. Near the pile, loved ones of those soldiers were crying.

      I slowly walked near them to console and listen to their grievances. I sat next to a woman. She looked at me with her tear streaked face, she told me she got married recently but before her henna colour fades her husband had to leave to protect the kingdom.

    Beside her, was sitting an old lady crying vehemently over her son’s lifeless body.  She told me her son was the only support she had. She stared at me for few seconds then looked at her son’s dead body then mumbled slowly in hoarse voice

“ Now where will I go? Who would take care of me in this old age? How unfortunate I am to lose young son?

     Tears filled in my eyes witnessing her condition. Empathy bloomed in my heart for the old woman. At the same time my eyes found a boy around six years old with torn clothes and malnourished body searching for something in the pile of dead bodies.

       Wiping my falling tears I immediately walked to the boy. I sat down to match his height and then nudged him with my finger. He quickly glanced at me then again started searching in dead bodies.

“ what are you looking for baccha ( baby)?”

I tried to keep my voice as steady as possible but it still trembled at the end. I regretted the crack in my voice immediately, not because I am ashamed of crying but this is not the time or place for my tears. As princess of karnavat, if I showed emotional weakness then people would lose confidence and clouds of fear will overshadow on entire kingdom.

    The boy didn’t answer my question and kept searching, ignoring my entire existence. So I tried other way to get information out of him, “ I am princess of the kingdom, if you tell me what you are looking for, I can help you searching it with the help of these soldiers.”

    The boy immediately looked at me with hope glinting in his eyes.

“ I am looking for my pitaji’s (father)dead body.  He died while fighting the war Rajkumari ji. I am not able to recognise his face in this pile.”

   Tears were rolling down his face. A deep sadness rushed in my chest and I immediately pulled him in my arms in a tight embrace. I closed my eyes to feel is pain at same time I wanted to take it away with the hug. My body started shivering with hate and anger surged in my head because of king of Meitey who is responsible for suffering of this small child.

“ Rudradaman Mahanta needs to die!” I whispered to myself with determination and anger.

I slowly detached myself from the boy holding his arms, “ what is your name big boy?”

He glanced in my eyes and whispered, “ Chava, Rajkumari ji.”

I smiled at him, “ such a good name.”

I started wiping away his tears with my palm, “ tell me, where is your mother, Chava?”

“ she died few days ago, birthing my baby sister.” I took a pause digesting what he has been through just in span of few days. My heart broke for this innocent child standing infront of me.

   I thought of something for few minutes, “ where is your sister ?”

    “ she is at our neighbour’s home.”  He answered distressed and confusion of events clearly visible on his face.

I gave him a small smile, keeping my hand on his chin, “ Would you like to live with me at my palace Chava? Everyone at palace will take care of you and your sister.”

He nodded his head still vulnerable still confused and still anxious. I stood up and picked him up in my arms. I turned to look at one of the soldier who was accompanying me

“ Bring his baby sister to the palace.” I ordered

“ As your wish Rajkumari ji” with bowing his head infront of me soldier immediately left the war sight.

  Then I walked towards the young widow whose name was Nalini and old lady who were still crying hysterically. I requested both of them to come with me to palace.

We reached the palace and I immediately ran towards Prasenjit bhai’s chamber, who is two years older than me.

“ Bhai (Brother)” he was discussing with some officials, facing his back to me. Listening to my voice he looked at me with smile gracing his handsome face. He is looks like he was aged few years more than his actual age because of this war.

I gave a small smile to all court ministers present in the room, “ Pranam aap sabhi ko”

“ greetings everyone” I joined my hands in namaskar, bent my head a little showing my respect towards them.

“ Pranam, Rajkumariji”

“ Greetings, princess”  they reciprocated my words with the same action.

“ Bhai I need to talk to you in privacy.”

He nodded his head and then turned to his ministers signaling them to leav. They all started vacating the chamber one by one.

  Once they all left, I clapped my hands twice. A soldier brought Chava, Nalini, Dadi and chava’s little sister in Prasenjit bhai’s chamber.

  He glanced at me. I could fetch surprise and many questions in his eyes. But he kept quiet waiting for me to answer them. I walked towards four of them. I took chava’s baby sister in my arms and pulled chava towards me keeping my hand on his shoulder.  I narrated all details that took place when I visited war sight.

“ Bhai I want us to take care of all four of them. Provide them with food, shelter and love.”

Prasenjit bhai’s lips stretched with broad smile, I could see pride in his eyes. He kept his hand on my head in blessings, “ of course we will! I will personally look after their living and comfort arrangements in our palace itself.”

He pointed at Nalini, “ If she wants she can work as one of the cook in the palace.”

I looked at Nalini and she nodded her head without meeting my eyes. She seems a shy woman.

“ perfect I will talk to Ma about it and…”

“ I am sorry for interrupting Yuvraj but can I say something? “ we heard Nalini’s small voice.

“ Go ahead”

“ Can I take care of dadi, Chava and his little sister? Taking care and loving them would make me feel like I have a family.”

“ That will be great! I will ask a head attendee of Ma to allot all four of you a room in servant’s quarters.”

Nalini nodded her head, “ You are very kind Yuvraj and Rajkumari ji.”

My brother smiled a little, “ That’s our duty.”

They left with a soldier who was supposed to show them their new home.

“ Thank you bhai! You are the best.”

“ Rajkumari, King Arihanta has asked for  your presence in his chamber.” Sai my attendee broke the stance I was in.

I nodded my head. Seeing me walking towards my father’s chamber the soldier infront of chamber announced, “ Rajkumari, Ishvani padhar rahi hai!”

“ Princess, Ishvani is arriving!”

I entered my father’s chamber it was biggest chamber in the castle.  Six rooms carved with intricate design. A beautiful handwoven carpet imported from long distanced kingdom spread on floor.  Everything was expensive and beautiful in this chamber.

I bowed to my father taking his blessings. After taking blessings I looked at his face. In his mid fifties he is still handsome all good genes of his are bored by me and Prasenjit bhai. I heard his flat voice, void of any emotions, as if he was talking about weather and not his only daughter

“ You are betrothed to the king of Meitey… under peace treaty.”