3 CHAPTER THREE MY PAST.......... SALONI'S POV

I was asleep when I heard something that sounds like a person calling me. I am sleeping. So, people don't wake this pretty lady beauty sleep. Ahhh!. The caller is quite persistent for even though I refused to answer or acknowledge the call and just kept playing dead the person continued like the house, sorry brothel was on fire. I was forced to wake up to find Sudha Maa serious face staring at me. I blinked at her and she still kept her serious look on. She only asked me to sit up and that she had something extremely important to tell me, so up i sat. She gave me a small old box and asked me to open it and that I did. The content of the box turned out to be an anklet. Sudha Maa looked at me and said in a tone that makes you feel your heart is being torn out" That belonged to your Maa and my late sister. Poor Jhanki". (Okay seems like its going to be a longgg night notice my stress on long). My curiosity has been spiked up that all complaints about my lost sleep has been long forgotten. I looked at her and asked in a meek voice "Sudha Maa, what happened to my birth mother and why did sister Kamla call me a Princess? ". Sudha Maa looked at me with a hurt expression and had another deep sigh. She stood up and turned away almost like she was avoiding my gaze at her. She started " my dear, it all started 16 moons ago. The late Emperor and the father of the present Emperor was having his birthday celebration with a huge feast. Then I and my sister were still residing in the Capital and we had good reputation as one of the best courtesans in the entire empire. So we were invited to come and perform at the feast, it was going to be a good pay and our clients would have been increased so we accepted and went to the feast. Your Maa was just as beautiful as you are now. With her fair skin and red cherry lips that can attract even the moon goddess envy. She was also a good dancer and singer. You know, men of the capital called her Jhanki the reincarnation of Maa laskhmi and the women of the Capital has extreme jealousy towards your mother that they called her a temptress. So on the day of the day of the feast we wore our most beautiful sarees and costumes and perform to our heart content but how I wish we never attended that feast cause Jhanki attracted the attention of the Crown prince Rajaram who was a handsome man then. He was married and had several Consorts but he still lied to my sister about loving her and my naive sister was so gullible that she fell in love with him and before I was even aware of what was happening and with who. I got a huge surprise that my little sister was with child". She used her hands to wipe the tears dropping from her eyes. While I was nothing but shocked at this revelation but before I could talk Sudha Maa continued "Poor Jhanki, she went to meet with the Crown prince to tell him the good news and inquire about when he would invite her to join his harem. But he betrayed her and told her that she was just a sex worker and that he was playing with her. He even told her to abort the child as such a scandal would be used against him and he would lose his birthright. My sister returned back completely broken and depressed. She cried for days and refused to eat too but one thing in her mind was that she would have her baby. And dear, that she did without the support or consent of the prince, but the prince Shivajay found out and then Crown prince Rajaram and his step brother Prince Shivajay were in serious battle for the throne as their father was seriously down with illness. So prince Shivajay told their father about your Maa but before their father could investigate, the Crown prince ordered a great general Randabati who was and is still a great pillar of the Crown prince to dispose of myself and your mother. Your mother died that faithful night while I had to run all the way from the capital to this small village of mathabati,which is about 295 km on foot and carriage. The rest is unimportant to you". Then I noticed that Sudha Maa was crying seriously. She looked at me and said " my dear, I have no idea how they found us but now they have and they want to take you back with an imperial edict that i, a small county courtesan cannot disobey so I just want you to be very careful, be extremely careful. Kamla has always been known to act on impulse so you will have to take care of yourself and be safe. And yes, this anklet of your Maa is very special and always makes a jiggle when its worn. Please keep it safe too as I know she would want you to have it. I have told you all I know, the inner palace is very dangerous so never trust anybody expect yourself okay". I couldn't help but feel her sincere concern for me so I nod and promise to be safe and stay off anybody's path which pleased her a lot that she gives me her blessing and asks me to go back to bed, that I gladly do. "I pray the gods give me strength to do as I promised". That was the prayer on my lips as I answered the comforting call of sleep.