The Goddess of the Himavan - Chapter Ten

Harinder arrived at the palace early the next morning. He saw his friend, Adit, busy tending to the garden, and some of his other friends were busy with their tasks too. The garden, entranced, with gorgeous blooms. It looked to him like a painted gallery that only artisans of fine breeding resurrected on their canvases, with strokes of ingenuity and turned them into priceless masterpieces.

Adit looked up and waved at him. Harinder walked up to say hello. It had been a while and he missed their companionship.

"Hey, Harinder," Adit called out. "How have you been?"

"I have been doing good, Adit. I am here to see the Maharaja. I have cultivated the land as he commanded and am now here to report to him on the progress," Harinder answered.

"I see," Adit replied. "Well, good luck and I wish you well, my friend.

Harinder went to sit on the stone bench in front of the palace and waited for the guards to escort him to see the king. He felt a little apprehensive at seeing Marianetta again. Just the thought of seeing her sent his pulses racing.

After an hour of waiting, the guards called out to Harinder, "Come, we shall take you to the king."

Just as before, Harinder felt the paintings come alive inside the palace and follow his trail to the King's courtyard.

When he stood before the King, he saw Marianetta seated on his left and the Crown Prince, Abuvaya, seated on the right. The King's advisor stood in a corner.

"Well, Harinder, I am pleased to see you standing before me today. So, tell me. How did you fare in your mission? My granddaughter, the beautiful Princess Marianetta has told me quite a bit about what has transpired on the land. She thinks you are worthy of owning the land now." The King's voice boomed in the quiet courtyard."

Harinder, his head bowed, said quietly, "Yes, your Majesty. I have done as you commanded.

The land has now been cultivated and the crops have borne fruit. I hope Your Majesty will be happy to see that the land that stands against the Himavans has prospered."

"That is good to know, Harinder. Now that you have been successful in your attempt to prosper a barren land, as promised, you shall become a subject of my Kingdom. I want men who are strong and capable to be part of my Kingdom. I am pleased with your accomplishments. Go now, the land is yours. Reap, sow and profit. You are truly a man of strength and might, I should say."

Harinder's face lit up when he heard what the King proclaimed. His hard work had paid off.

The King then dismissed him, and Harinder, once outside the palace, fell to the ground and praised the Goddess of the Himavan. It was she who had given him the dream of the flautist. He had blessed his land with stardust on a moonlit night.

As he was walking back to his land, he heard Princess Marianetta call out his name. He turned to see her standing a short distance away. She ran and hugged him, ecstatic that he had triumphed in his mission.

They clung tightly to each other.

Princess Marianetta's aide who saw her running after him had followed her in haste. She was shocked to see the princess hugging Harinder. She ran after her and tried to pull her away.

Harinder moved away and told the princess to go back with the aide.

The princess ran back to the palace crying. She wanted to talk to Harinder longer and she was angry that the aide had followed her. She had pushed her when she tried to pull her away from Harinder's embrace. To make matters worse, Harinder had asked her to go back with her. Didn't he want to be with her?

She ran to the Crown Prince, Abuvaya, crying uncontrollably.

When Abuvaya saw her weeping, he was shocked to see her in that state. He had made sure that throughout her life, she never shed a tear or was sad. Princess Marianetta couldn't speak through her tears. Her father tried to pacify her and held her close to comfort her.

When she finally stopped crying, Abuvaya asked her gently, "Why are you crying, my child?

What has troubled you so badly that your tears flow unceasingly? I have not seen you in such a saddened state thus far."

The princess got a hold of her emotions, and she tearfully told the prince that she had fallen in love with Harinder.

"Father, forgive me, I have fallen headlong in love with Harinder. I have watched him work and seen his sincerity in all that he has done thus far. I know he feels the same way about me too. But he is afraid since I am a royal and he, a commoner. I don't know if grandfather or you would approve but Father, I am of age to be married and I want none other than Harinder for a husband."

Prince Abuvaya had already known about his daughter's secret love for the peasant. He looked at her a little guiltily. He had his men follow her and her aides wherever they went from a child. She did not know that she was followed. Even the Maharaja knew of her liaison with Harinder. Only, he did not speak of it to his son. The prince also knew that his daughter would help the workers shift chaff. He had always admired her for her tender heart.

He decided to go and see his father a little later. He would seek an audience with the King on this matter. He would do anything to make his beautiful daughter happy. But he didn't relay it to her at that juncture.

So, he said in jest, "Do you love another man? I thought your love was centered around me.

Didn't you say so as a child? O, my heart is as heavy as a rock. I have lost my place in my daughter's heart." He smiled affectionately at the princess.

"Oh, no, Father. You are my first love. The man who taught me love, compassion, kindness, and sincerity. Then comes Harinder. But I must take the place of a wife some time and I only choose him. I shall never leave your side, Father. You are far too precious to me." Prince Abuvaya was happy to hear that. For his heart did cry that his daughter had grown into an adult and was due to chart another path in life.

He escorted her to her chambers, "Go and rest, my child. My approval remains as you wish. I shall speak to the Maharaja about your feelings for a commoner. But you must promise to let me handle it and not shed any tears to sadden my heart. All I seek is your happiness and a man who loves you with all his heart. He should be faithful and kind and have no one else but you on his mind." The aides helped Princess Marianetta to bed. They gave her some warm milk, drew the curtains to hide the sun's rays that brightened the room, and let her sleep like a child. Princess Marianetta hugged the aide she had pushed away earlier. She was sorry for her impulsiveness. The aide loved her and told her as much.