Chapter One

The palace of Magadhish, otherwise known as 'heaven on earth' by everyone who'd had the privilege to set foot inside it, was on that day adorned like a bride on her wedding day. The huge pillars which supported the high ceilings of the enormous abode of the King Aviraaj and his Queen  Malavika were wrapped in fresh, scented roses, so generously that anyone would consider the pilars were itself made of roses and not marble and red sandstone.

Two gigantic doors formed the entrance to the palace through a five metre wide stone pathway which was covered with petals of marigold. Thousands of people belonging to all age groups and genders dressed in their best robes scurried inside, their bare feet touching the soft petals, every step increased the happiness which bloomed in their hearts. It was a joyous and prosperous occasion for everyone belonging to the great kingdom of Magadhish.

Every King needs a heir; a successor. Queen Malavika in the initial years of her married life had borne complications when it came to bearing a child, which everytime lead to losing the one thing she was supposed to give the kingdom- a successor. But after several prayers and years of patience, the day had come when the people of the kingdom would finally be introduced to not one but two potential successors. Although, if you'd interview, you would know that majority of the population believed the son would become the heir. But, the King Aviraaj believed in equality. According to him, both his children- the girl and the boy were equally capable of taking forward his legacy which was passed on to him by his ancestors. Little did he know, this mere belief of his would be the major driving factor to unbelievable events that he'd witness further in his lifetime.

Yes, the queen had birthed twins- first a girl and then a boy shortly after the sorrowful demise of the King's second wife. The arrival of these newborns helped the people of the kingdom recover faster from the loss of their beloved younger queen. They thought forgetting that the queen ever existed would make it easier for them to move on. So they made it a point to wipe her existence from their minds and hearts.

However, there was one person, who knew no matter how hard he tried, he would never be able to forget her.

Could you ever forget someone you had once most deeply loved? Someone who'd promised would be there with you during your thicks and thins all life long? Aviraaj believed he could not. She had  occupied a part of his heart which was reserved only for her and now with her death, there was a hole. A vacancy, which would never ever ever be filled by anyone.

Within a week, the kingdom had forgotten she had existed; they had moved on. Like anyone should. But all the King had done was cry- every minute, every second. The pain consumed him. Even then, when he was needed to be present in front of the whole of Magadhish on his throne as the king; as the father of his children- he couldn't bear the courage to do so. He feared that he wouldn't have a control over his despair. He would appear weak. The tears would roll down his cheeks involuntarily as every memory his mind beholds of Magadha, his second queen would unfold yet again infront of his eyes.

Even now as he stood in front of the magnificent oval mirror looking at his reflection, all he could think of was how he didn't want to go out. He was dressed in marvellous robes of vibrant colors bordered with gold. The kundans in his ears shone as bright as the sun. The maids had done the best they could to make him look his best but all that was going to vain.

He sighed and walked towards the window. Drawing out the curtains, he let the moonlight sink into the room. He could hear the songs which were being played a floor below him where the naming ceremony of his newborns would begin any moment.

He raised his eyes towards the sky and immediately regretted doing so. The beauty and calmness of the full moon only worsened his sorrow. It reminded him of her.

His thoughts were interrupted when a guard walked in, "Maharaj, Rajmata Damyanti would like to meet you. Should I let her in?"

He was tempted to say 'no' but he knew that his mother didn't need his permission to enter his room. "Yes."

The guard scurried out and in a few moments an old lady entered his room. "Avi? What are you doing over here? All the guests have arrived. The praja is waiting for you." Her tone defied her age. It was firm just like her posture which screamed 'I'm not someone you'd like to mess with.' She walked with a sense of authority, the aura around her spoke of her power. She was the mother of the King. The Rajmata.

Just like every other member of the family, she was embellished in beautiful robes. She was wearing a magenta pink saree bordered with gold, her hair was tightly put together in a low bun and her neck showcased a bulky necklace made of pure gold.

He turned behind slightly, trying but failing to maintain eye contact with his mother, "I don't really feel very well, Mother." He finished and walked weakly to the bed which was centred in the room.

She was otherwise a strong woman but witnessing this condition of her son broke something inside of her. She managed to speak successfully without letting her voice break, "This won't do, Avi.You can't be in your room forever. Someday you'll have to come out and address the kingdom. And what's the best opportunity if not today's ceremony?"

"I can't. This is the day I've been waiting for since years. Having children of my own was something I had wanted for a long time. But I can't… I just can't." He broke down into tears completely. She held him closer, hugging him so he cried onto her chest.

"It's a tough time for us. Lathika had become an eternal part of our lives but now that she's gone we can't stop living. Think of Malavika, Baahu. She has given birth, brought new life into this world. This is the time she needs you the most. She's waiting for you in the main hall. Don't disappoint her." She tried to convince him with a frown.

"Fine, I'll go. I'll pretend like I've moved on. I'll smile. But it's all going to be fake. I think I'm never going to be able to smile genuinely, ever again." He sniffed, trying to calm himself down.

"Time will heal everything. These kids are going to bring joy into our lives. A joy of the kind nothing else can give."

He straightened his drooping posture, "Yes, but we're not going to reveal that-"

"What are you saying?" Her tone turned serious, "We can't hide it from everyone. Not from her. No… "

He held her hands, "Trust me, mother. This is the best way. I've thought of nothing but this in the last week. We'll hide the truth now but when the right time comes we'll tell her. We'll let the things go as they're going right now. "

Her frown deepened, "But how would she feel when we tell her the truth years later? She will hate us, Avi!"

"But at least she will be happy until the truth is revealed. I don't want her to go through what my father had to go through. What else do we need if not for her to be happy?"

She got up from the bed, not failing to maintain her posture, "But know that I'm not going to be one who will reveal the truth to her years later."