2 Avantika

      "Did you see the Princess?" asked Shivani to the passing-by servants. They shook their head. She started searching all over the place. As she neared the backwards of the mansion, she heard some voice. Somebody was singing. She headed in the direction of voice. As she peeked out from the corner of a wall, she saw a girl sitting on a bench. The voice was her singing a song. Shivani was so lost in the song that she failed to remember her intention of coming there. After few moment, the girl noticed that she was being watched by someone and she turned to Shivani's direction.

Shivani's Point of View

"Who is hiding there? Show up!" she said. I gulped and felt stupid for stalking her. I walked to her and bent my knees. "I am the daughter of one of your servant, Princess" I said. "Why are you here?" she asked as she started peeling a orange near her. "My father sent me here to protect you." I said. "What? To protect me?" She asked rising her left eyebrow. "I mean… to entertain you, to play with you and to serve you" I said bending my head. She looked at me for a second. "I already have someone to protect me and play with me" she said shrugging her shoulder. "I will serve you well, My Princess" I said firmly. She laughed at my comment. "And I don't need any servant" she said coldly. I sighed and started moving away from the place. But I was pulled back by someone. It was her. She pulled me and made me sit beside her. "Princess…" I said astonishingly. She was busy in peeling orange now and she asked, "How old are you?" I was quite shocked myself and didn't hear her. "hah?" She turned to me. "I am nine years, my Princess" I said suddenly. "Okay. You are elder to me by one year." She said. "I believe, My Princess" I said bending my head, not looking straightly into her eyes.

"AVANTIKA" she said. I looked at her in puzzle. "I am Avantika. Call me Avantika, okay?" she said as she handed over the peeled oranges to me. I was surprised both by her action and words. I looked into her bright bold eyes, which radiated some kind of energy, which will make you nervous and peaceful at the same time and to add to its beauty, the curves were neatly traced by kajal which made them even more attractive. First her voice, now her eyes, I was lost. "Eat it" she said as I just stared her back. "But why?" I asked. "You are hungry, right?" she said. 'Yes, I can feel it now once she mentioned it. I was too involved to notice. But how does she know?' I thought. "How do you know, Princess" I asked unbelievably. I pointed her finger to my face and with a serious look,"Avantika!" she said. "Yeahhh.. yeahh.. Princess Avantika" I said. She sighed. "Your stomach was growling. That's how I noticed you standing behind the wall." She said. I lowered my head in embrassement. She took the oranges from my hand and she herself started to feed me. "You don't listen to me right. And if you don't like oranges, Dhruv has gone to fetch some mangoes. He will be here soon." She said. I wondered if she is the real princess. There is not even some traces of pride in her. May be as she grows she may turn into one? I wonder.

"Did Indrajit kaka(uncle) returned from Chitranagari?" she asked. She is full of surprises. "How do you know my father?" I asked. "Come on, Shivani. I know your family" she said playfully hitting my hand. "And you are popular than you know. You are the only girl here who is pursuing martial arts." She said. I never knew she would be interested in knowing all these. "Are you interested in it too?" I asked. "Yes… Very much. Can you teach me?" she asked me in utter excitement. 'She has no idea. Does she?' I thought. "Princess, I could have totally taught you but what about the prophecy?" I hesitantly asked her. "Prophecy?" she asked me in surprise.

"Avantika, here are your mangoes!" We were distracted by a voice. We turned to see a thirteen year old pale boy, quite tall for his age with a lovely smile which can melt anybody's heart with innocent eyes and his long silky brownish hair."Dhruv!" Avantika called him. I have met him twice or thrice and he is one of the finest and kindest boy, I have ever met. I heard he was being bullied my other rich boys in Chitranagari for being an Orphan and named him "Servant of the Princess". 'How can someone be so rude to a person like him. If I get meet those evil kids, I will smash their skulls.' I thought to myself feeling sorry for Dhruv. But I know the story of his father's bravery and sacrifice by my father. I respect him a lot. He turned to me and gave me that charming smile. My face automatically lit a smile. "Come, Shivani. Join us" He said offering me a place to sit near the tree where both of them occupied some place. But Avantika's mind was somewhere else. "What is the prophecy, you were talking about earlier, Shivani" she asked. "That… is " I looked at Dhruv who signed me not to tell. He pulled Avantika's towards his direction and stuffed her mouth with a piece of mango. "It's nothing, Avantika! Just eat" he said soothing her hair. She swallowed the mango without chewing it properly and tears started flooding her eyes. She pushed Dhruv's hand which came to wipe her tears. "You are hiding everything from me! You didn't even tell what happened in home back then. No one is talking about home. I want to go home. I want see my family. You are not telling me anything, Dhruv." She said and rushed out of the place.

After few silent moments, "I thought she forgot about those things." Dhruv said looking into the sky. I was feeling guilty for some reason. "I am really sorry. This happened because of me." I said. He shook his head. "No! This is because of me. There is no use in hiding things now. I need to talk to her. You should return home safely. We will meet you some other time" he said and walked away from the place.

I sighed and walked towards from home.