Ishavani's PoV

   I stumbled out of my father's chamber. My father's words still echoing in my ear.

" You are betrothed to the king of Meitey... under peace treaty."

Before I could come out of the shock of what he demanded from me I heard his next words," This is the last resort to save this kingdom. It's time for you to perform your princess's duty, Ishu" I could hear helplessness in his voice which he tried to hide through his authoritative command.

I just stared at his face without knowing how to feel. My brows knitted together, in small yet confused voice I heard myself, " What about prince Yagnasen? He was supposed to arrive tomorrow..."

My father sighed deeply. He stood tall, joining his hands behind his back.

“ Prince Yagyasen has been informed about the treaty between Meteiy and Karnavat with what has been agreed to. After a lot of thinking and discussions both Aranyagarah and Karnavat has agreed to go ahead with the treaty."

My father's word felt like ground shaking and at any moment it will split into two and I will be buried under it. Am I some kind of toy to them that everyone will play with it according to their wishes?

"We need some time off from this war, our soldiers are physically and mentally exhausted. They can't fight further and army of Yagyasen won't be sufficient to stop Rudradaman." I could hear helplessness in his voice.

" Once we kill Rudradaman, Prince Yagyasen is ready to accept you as his wife. You will be loved and even respected by him because you did what is needed to keep both the kingdoms safe.”

And what about my feelings? I am your daughter not a concubine that you will use for your benefit. You are my father you were supposed to protect me not sacrifice me. I wanted to scream it on his face but I gulped my words.

" But father..."

" This is the sacrifice you have to make for your people." He sternly told me before I could complete my sentence.

I didn't try to argue further, I understood it was futile. So I composed my nervousness, straightened my back and looking in his eyes I asked

"Where is prasenjit bhai?" I need to talk to him, he is my only hope.

“He has went to receive prince Yagyasen

. He will be here by tomorrow night. By then you will be married to king of Meity."

I was dishearten and disappointed, only man who could have saved me from this disaster isn't here. I took a deep breath, nodded my head and taking his permission I left his chamber.

Tears which I suppressed infront of my father were now flowing down freely. I don't have an idea what am I supposed to do in such situation. on one hand there is my kingdom which is destroyed by enemy and needs a saving on the other hand dreams I have woven of. A happy married life with prince yagyasen since the time we got engaged to him, at mere age of 16. Yagnasen and my marriage wasn’t a love affair, it was simple alliance arranged by our fathers however I grew to like him slowly and hoped to fall in love with him one day.

The mere thought of marrying Rudradaman feels like death knocking on my door. He kills for fun, peoples life is life of insects for him, non existent and easy to crush! How can such a man love anyone? How will I ever love such man? There were thousand questions and no answers to any of them.

I started to feel my breath shortening. I tried to take deep breaths but I couldn't feel air in my lungs. My chest started contracting. I noticed I was standing in front of Meenakshi bhabhi's chamber, Prasenjit bhai's wife and future queen of Karnavat.

"Privacy"

she commanded her attendees once she examined my face. She ran towards me and held me by my shoulder. She made me sit on the nearby couch then she kneeled in front of me taking my hand in hers, caressing it slowly, trying to comfort me.

My breath shortening increased, I started taking deep breathes frequently than before. I could feel a slight pain in my chest, my head was spinning and everything was getting blurred in front of my eyes.

I glanced in her hazel green eyes, and I tried to speak" I...I....I"

I tried to form a sentence but failed miserably. I wanted to tell her what father has asked of me that I don't want to marry that monster, to send message Prasenjit bhai to stop this marriage but nothing was coming out of my mouth.

I could feel her hand on my back slowly rubbing while another hand on my shoulder supporting my body. I could from a distance hear her voice which was trying to tear apart from the haze she was telling me some story about how her and prasenjit bhai fell in love.

" and I helped him clean the mud and since then we became friends."

She ended story which helped me to distract myself from my panic attack. I smiled at her. Their story is my safe place, it makes me believe that love exist and I always wanted mine and yagyasen's love look like theirs.

Slowly my breath started to get back to the normal. She handed me over a glass of water. After drinking water I slept on the same couch.

I don't know at what hour of night I woke up but I think it's not that late I could see attendees still working in my chamber. I was in bed but it wasn't my bed. I looked to my right, my head felt a little heavy, I realised I was not in my chamber. I was in Meenakshi Bhabhi's chamber and it was morning.

A sudden realisation downed upon me, I was supposed to marry that monster today. I sat up in panic again. "ouch" my head hurts. I felt a hand on my shoulders when I turned around I saw Sameeksha bhabhi sitting beside me.

" Are you alright?"

" As fine as I ever could be" there is havoc inside me dying to erupt.

she gave me a pity look," I am aware of king's decision. How are you feeling?" she started caressing my head.

" I don't know Bhabhi. It's my duty towards my kingdom" I said looking down playing with hymn of my dress feeling helpless.

"But?" she understood my hesitation without me uttering it.

" But what about my emotions? how I feel? At one time I dreamt my self with someone else and I am marrying another." I poured my heart to her while tears flowing down from my eyes like a river.

She immediately pulled me closer and hugged me

" Mahadev (Indian God) must have thought something good for you, Ishu. He doesn't endow one with grief if he doesn't intend to shower with happiness later."

I could see helplessness in her eyes, trying to console me with words. She further continued, "I know it's easier to say than done. But try to accept it. I am always here for you. "

I didn't say anything to her I exactly knew what I am going to do to avoid marriage situation with Rudradaman. we remained silent for few minutes soaking in sadness of hour. Then I decided to leave her chamber. she cupped my face and asked, " Are you feeling any better now?"

" No, but I will eventually." I smiled at her. assuring her everything will be fine.

I entered inside my chamber. Immediately, I sensed someone's presence in the chamber. There usually no one inside my chamber when I am not inside the chamber. Even attendees are not allowed. I slowly removed my anklet so noise wouldn't alarm whoever is present in the chamber.

I knew little bit of fighting techniques which I learned with Prasenjit bhai. I picked up sword from near table and walked, inside trying not to make any sound. I checked entire chamber but no one was there. I sighes in relief then I walked towards my dressing room where I saw man aged around 27 standing beside mirror folding his hands on his chest, resting his back on wall . He was around 6 feet 3 inches and I with 5 feet 6 inches height looked like peanut in front of him. His muscular body and broad shoulders looked like they are sculpted by god himself. For first time I was in awe of a man's beauty. Yagyasen is good looking but I was never in awe of his looks but this man he was something else.

I came back from the haze his heavenly beauty when I realized he is an invader. I quickly walked towards him and kept my sword on his neck. Looking at his frame I was little doubtful I could actually survive against him if he decides to attack me but I tried to keep my brave façade intact

" Lagata hai apani jaan pyaari nahi hai."

“Seems like you don’t love your life.” I asked in stern and firm voice

He chuckled a little, " Hum jaha jate hai waha ke log apani jaan ki fikar karate hai, honewali patniji"

"Wherever I go, people of that place worry about their life, future wife."

I was little bit taken aback, he is Rudradaman Mahanta, nightmare to my dreams.

" People always fear monsters." I retorted back. My blood was boiling, he dared to step inside my chamber without my permission. Mannerless and his talks shows his arrogance.

He stared at me. I spotted a surprise look on his face for tiny second which no one would have noticed but he covered it immediately with his plain expression.

He started walking towards me closing the gap between us. He stood at respectable distance from me. I firmly held my sword on his neck again which lost it's grip due to distraction.

" Don't take any further step otherwise..." I warned him.

" Feisty, I find it fascinating."

He locked eyes with me. Challenging me to dare, so I buried sword deep inside his neck blood started oozing out but neither of us were ready to back down.

Without taking his eyes off of me he kept his hand on bare sword. He kept his hand on bare sword. He started to remove sword away from his neck.

With all my strength I tried to resist, I could see deep cut on his hand and blood was flowing rapidly from it. There wasn't even flicker of pain on his face, "monster" I muttered under my breath.

It was becoming difficult to resist him with my full strength and eventually he grabbed my sword and threw it on the floor.

He bent down coming closer to my face and whispered in my ear. Unwillingly his closeness was causing flood of butterflies in my stomach, I could feel my chest rise up and down rapidly. Is it another panic attack? no no no he can't see me in vulnerable condition.

" Aren't you too young to be widowed, feisty feather?" My nostrils flared, I curled my fingers to control my anger.

I looked up, giving him a wide smile him "Aren't you too old to marry?" I said flittering my eyebrows.

" Your tongue is rather too sharp, princess" He tried to circle his hand around my waist but before he could fulfill his intentions I quickly stepped away.

" Touch me, and I will choose fire over you. I would rather burn than be claimed by a blood hungry monster ."

" Then be ready, fiery because this marriage will freeze you in cold rather than burn you I fire."

Then he closed distance between us. Before I could react he pulled me closer to him by my waste. Our breathes were fanning each other. I could clearly see there was little bit brown in his dark eyes my chest collided with his and there wasn't even space for air to pass between us. I was lost in him

"I am the king and your to be husband, it's high time you start respecting me."

he left my waste and then started walking towards the door. I kept looking at his retreating figure

" A throne can earn fear, a husband can earn body, but never respect Rajan."

He stared at me for few seconds and then without uttering another word left my chamber.