Rasini’s PoV

“ Dhriti, I will now go and ask soldier standing at the gate of palace, to let me in.” I said to my best friend while running my hand over my fake moustache, while my eyes scanning the surrounding market in forest.

“ I don’t understand why you keep doing such weird stuff, Rajaji will punish both of us if you get caught.” Dhriti muttered, irritation and fear clearly mixed in her voice.

“ oh ho Dhriti, relax, do some yoga, just like the saint who lives in deep forest does. Main yun gayi aur yun wapis aayi ( I will go quickly and come back even quicker.)” I told Dhriti while smirking, imagining faces of those soldiers after I caught them.

I grinned excitedly at her and she shook her head, disappointed. I didn’t pay attention to her and started walking towards soldiers who were guarding palace of Vishakha kingdom’s King Virasana.

The palace wasn’t as extravagant and extraordinary as the palace of our neighbouring states like Meitey or Aranyagarah but it was situated in between two mountains and when rays of rising sun fell on the palace, palace glowed like wonderland described in children story books.

I reached at the gate of palace and was about to enter inside, when two soldiers, guarding the palace, standing on each side of the gate crossed spears in their hands in front of me, preventing me from entering.

They scanned me from top to bottom, their eyes narrowed at me.

I was wearing a dhoti, kurta and turban to hide my hair, I also got a moustache made from one of my friends as his father works in hair business.

“Who are you?” One of the soldiers questioned

I glanced at the book I was holding in my hand, and then I confidently answered, “ My make is chintan, I am a trader. I came here in hope to meet the king and tell him about my sorrows and see if he could help me.”

They both looked at each other, there was sympathy in their eyes for me. I kept waiting until they decide and then they removed the spears from my way.

I offered them a thankful smile, they returned the same. I was about to step inside, when a chaos erupted around me.

Few soldiers were chasing a man who was running towards me barefoot, wearing a dhoti, kurta, big moustache and a big, ugly wart on his face.

“Stop, don’t run.” A soldier shouted while trying to catch him.

The guy looked back at them, “ hahaha catch me if you can.”

“You will regret this.” Another soldier screamed.

“ hahaha, Vishakha soldiers are all barks and no bite. Keep dreaming.”

My nose furrowed in anger when I heard his remarks.

Before I could understand anything my eyes closed in anticipation and then a surge of pain ran down through my lower. A painful moan escaped my mouth.

When I opened my eyes I found myself surrounded by few soldiers and few people who were working in forest looking at me as if I have grown horns on my head.

“ he he” I grinned expecting a smile in return but to my disappointment they kept staring at me with same fervour, slowly my grin vanished in thin air, forcing me to dart my gaze downward, only to find wart man lying on me.

I started pushing him away in an attempt to stand up. But I failed miserably because he was too heavy for me.

My eyes glanced at people with expectations , but they kept staring at my face, taking a deep breath I screamed, “ help me before I die under his weight.”

They immediately came out of their stance and started pulling the man away from me

“ Finally we got our hands on you, now King will decide your destiny.” Said one of soldiers laughing at the wart guy.

“ Rambahadur, arrest the girl.” The soldier who was holding wart man instructed another soldier.

I kept cluelessly looking here and there, suddenly the soldier whose name was Rambahadur caught both my hands.

The realisation dawned upon me, , “ leave me, what are you doing ?” I screamed while wiggling in his hold. But he paid no heed to my screams.

“I am princess of the palace.” I tried again

“ and I am the king.” Said Rambahadur.

I was stunned with his reply, when the wart man laughed out loud. My head turned to look at him and I wanted to bruise his perfect face

“All of this is your fault.”