Mohini POV

I quickly ran to my room and closed the door behind me. 

I was so embarassed that Dada had read all the letter given to me by Rao. 

I walk towards the mirror and look at myself, my neck, cheeks and ends of ears are warm and red. 

I am flushed from head to toe in anticipation of what Rao has written. 

Without any further delay I took out the scroll from the waistband of my saree and half lied down on my bed, just as I am unscrolling the letter. 

I hear the announcement of my father's arrival in my chamber. I quickly sat up. 

Hearing about his arrival, I instantly turned scared and terrified that if he find Rao's letter in my hand then he will know about my years' long betrayal to him and then he will do something really bad to Rao just to get revenge on me. 

I quickly pushed the letter under the pillow, pulled the duvet to its original position because if he sees I am lazying around in my room then he will get really angry with me and give me extra work just to please himself. 

I quickly corrected my attire and ran to unlock and open the door. 

I stepped back to let him enter the room and followed him inside. As usual he is looking around my room to find any signs of laziness. 

He then turned around to look at me. I greeted him with signs. 

'Apne kamare mein pade pade aapko ub nahi hoti hai?' 

'Don't you get bored staying in your room like this?', Father asked while turning his nose up in disgust. 

'Aap ek Rajkumari hai iska matlab ye nahi ki din bhar apne kamre mein aaram kare. Aapne haath pair hilaiye warna jung lag jaenge inhe. Humara bas chalta toh hum aapka vivah kara dete parantu aapse shaadi karega bhi kon, aap toh gungi hai.' 

'You are a princess, that doesn't mean you should rest in your room all day long. Move your hands and legs or they will get rusted. If I could, I would have married you off but no one wants to marry you since you are mute', my father said with mocking smile. 

I gritted my teeth in anger, take a deep breath and remembered Rao's plan then calmed myself down and tried to tell him in signs that I have completed all my daily chores but he ignored me. 

'Waise bhi hum kisse baat kar rahe hai. Aap toh wo putla hai jo sirf sun sakta hai par kuch bol nhi sakta. Kon chahega aisa putla apne jeevan mein, aise putle toh bazaaron mein kodiyon ke bhau bikte hai.' 

'Anyway, look who are we talking about? You are that statue which can only hear but cannot speak. Who would want such a statue in their life, such statues are sold in market just for two rupees', 

he said while looking at me with anger and disgust. 

I have never understood what I have ever done to him. He was never a loving father but he changed for worst after mother's death. 

'Chodiye aapse kya kehna, jab bhagawan ne hi humare saath bemaani ki, humare shatru ko sab kuch diya, sampanta, yogyta, sukhi pariwar par hume ek napunsank beta de diya aur ek dhang ki ladki jo khud ko hi gunga kar li ek mari hui aurat ke liye.' 

'What can I say, when God Himself did injustice to us, He gave everything to our enemy, dignity, worth, a happy family, but he gave us an impotent son and a good girl who made a fool of herself for a dead woman and became mute', 

he said while shaking his head in anger. 

I stood in front of him with my head lowered all the while feeling anger running through my veins. 

I turned red from head to toe not of shame but of anger, I fisted my saree in my hands on both sides. 

While taming the urge to take out my sword and slash into him whenever he talks about my mother like she never had been his wife and were only ever my and Dada's mother. 

Suddenly he took my chin in his palm squeezing it hard and said, 

'Aapke bhai ke zariye aur apke zariye kitne rajnitik sambandh bana sakte the parantu aap dono ne sab bigad diya ab aap humare liye sirf bojh hai parantu hume bojh kaise halka karna hai hume acche se maloom hai.'  

'How many political relations I could have made through your brother and you, but you both have spoiled everything, now you are just a burden for us, but I know how to lighten the burden', 

and jerked me away from himself. I fell down on the floor. 

I instantly turned scared thinking what he had planned for me. 

After my mute incident no physician could cure me which disappointed my father immensly as nobody wanted to marry me. 

From the age I could understand love I have only ever loved Rao and since he was on a mission away from me. 

I would pray daily to not get my voice back so I could save myself for Rao. 

 I know nobody will want to marry a mute but still I am scared of my father as he have many tricks up his sleeve. 

I quickly stood up and asked in signs 'What do you meant by that?', 

But due to nervousness my hand jittered uncontrollably because of which my bangles giggled continuously which irritated my father. 

He held my hands down and called out to soldier standing outside my room, 

'Jao jaake Maina ko bulaao rajkumari ke kaksh mein turant.' 

'Go and call Maina here in Princess' room immediately.' 

Maina kaki is my translator and helper in this palace. She translates my signs to everyone and my father because he don't know sign language. 

After the incident, Dada started classes for me of sign language so I could communicate and my muteness don't hinder my day to day life. 

My all friends learned the language but Baba was never interested in talking to me. 

When he got irritated that he couldn't understand what I was saying he hired my teacher as my translator, she lives with me in this palace. 

Maina kaki came running into my room and asked, 

'Ji Raje, kaise yaad kiya?' 

'Yes King, why did you call me here?' 

Baba said, 

'Ye kya keh rahi hai hume bataiye.'  

'Tell me what is she saying?' 

I signed and asked, 

'What did he mean earlier? Is he going to fix my marriage with someone?' 

She translated to my father. He disapprovingly shake his head and said, 

'Nahi aur jo hum karenge uska aapse koi matlab nahi hai.' 

'No and what I do is none of your business.' 

I took a breath of relief. I wanted him to go from here so I signed and asked, 

'Why did he came here?' 

Maina kaki translated to Baba. He said, 

'Aaj kuch jaruri log aa rahe hai aur hum nahi chahte ki aap ki manhoos shakal wo dekhe ya aapke bare mein jaane, toh aaj aap apne kamre mein rahiyega aur bahar mat niklyega waise bhi aapko apne kamre mein rehna achha lagta hai.' 

'Today some important people are coming and I do not want them to see your miserable face or even know about you, so today you will stay in your room and will not come out, anyway, you already like staying and lazying around in your room.' 

Telling his decision he up and left the room. As much I hate him and always steel myself against him then also every time he speak he always hurt me. 

A tear rolled down my cheeks. I wiped it off. 

'Raje ki baat ka bura mat maniyega unhe aapki fikr hai aur aapke bhavishya ki kyunki aapki shaadi nhi ho rahi hai isliye bus.' 

'Don't mind what Raje says, he is worried about you and your future because you are not getting married, that's it.' 

She is so far off the truth but I don't make her understand, I just smile weakly and signed, 'I am okay.' 

But she ignored me, she had a far-off gaze in her eyes then she muttered loudly, 

'Ho sakta hai humne aaj Raje ko subah apni beti ki Ritushuddhi karykarm mein bulaya jisse unhe ye ehsaas hua ki aapka abhi vivah nhi hua hai.'  

'Maybe we invited Raje to our daughter's Ritu Shuddhi ceremony this morning, which made him realize that you are not married yet.' 

I shake my head slowly but not make her understand that it was not related at all as it was not of any use. 

Nobody knows about my father's real evil snake face except me, Dada, Rao and our friends. 

I turned towards my dressing table pick up the gift which I prepared for her daughter and gave it to her not pointing out the fact that she didn't invite me. 

As many considered my muteness as curse and don't want it transferred to themselves or their children. 

'What is this?', she asked. 

I signed and told her, 

'This is for your daughter's Ritushuddhi ceremony gift from my side, please accept it.' 

Ritushuddi ceremony is done for married girls who stay in their maternal home till they start mensuration where girl becomes complete women physically and her maidenhood is celebrated while her in laws come and take her to their home after ceremony. 

She lowered her head and accepted the gift. I told her to leave me alone and close the door while going. She left me alone. 

I sat down in front of the mirror as tears started rolling down thinking of the day when my Aai died. 

After surviving the incident I would sit in front of the God and cursed him as to why only I survived? Why didn't I died instead of Aai? 

I came out of that darkness but I still sometimes wish maybe if I had died instead of Aai then everyone would have been happy and without any stress. 

But it is of no use so I stood up, pull out the letter from under the pillow and sat down on the bed while opening the letter. 

Namaskar Swikarava Chandani, 

Hume umeed hai ki aap kushal mangal hai. Aaj ka patra humne chhota rakha hai kyunki bahut jald hum aapse aapke samne baith kar baat karenge. Jahan aap sirf sunengi humari aur hum kahenge. Aap chinta na kare bhaut jald hum sabka sapna purn hoga. 

Humare sainik jung ke liye taiyaar hai bus ek avsar ki talash hai. Aap ke bina toh ye kali raatein aur kaali lagti hai manu ki hume jakarna chahti hai. Hume aap ko apne bahoon mein lena hai, aapko chhuna hai, aapki kanganon ki khan khan sunni hai. 

Isliye aaj hum vesh badal ke aapke mahal mein mehmaan banke aaenge. Aapne puccha toh nahi phir bhi bata de, hume Tambda Rassa pasand hai. 

Aapke, dil se, 

Sripad Rao 

Greetings Chandani, 

We hope you are doing well. Today's letter has been written short because very soon we will sit and talk to you. Where you will only listen to me and I will speak. Don't worry, everyone's dream will come true very soon. 

Our soldiers are ready for war, we are just looking for a good opportunity. Without you, these nights seem darker and darker, which want to take me deeper into darkness. I have to take you in my arms, I have to touch you, I want to listen to the giggling of your bangles. 

So today we will change our getup and come as guests in your palace. You didn't asked but I wanted to tell you that I like Tambda Rassa. 

Yours lovingly,  

Sripad Rao 

I instantly got flushed with happiness and all the darkness which settled over me seem to flew away. I carefully keep the letters with other letters of Rao in a box then closed it. 

I started to dance in the middle of my room and smiling so wide that my cheeks started to hurt. Suddenly I collided with the table and utensils fall down from it. 

Maina Kaki enters the chambers with worried face but becomes confused when she sees me smiling wide and helps to make everything right on the table. She asks, 

'What happened, Princess? Something big happened?'

I just shook my head as I can't tell her the great news and then I remembered that indirectly Rao asked me to make his favourite dish so I sign to her, 

'Where is Devika? Take me to her.'

She tells, 

'She is in the kitchen. Let me take you to her'. 

I nodded and followed her with bouncy steps, after the letter I am feeling very light. 

I head towards the kitchen where Devika is helping, I excitedly go to her and tell her everything she also turned very excited and we started to prepare for Rao's favourite dish. 

'What is happening here?', Dada asked while entering the kitchen. 

'Aaj humari Mohini kitni khil rahi. Aisa kya hua hai?' 

'Our Mohini is blooming so much today. What has happened?' 

I tucked my face down while smiling shyly. 

'Khilengi kyu na? Aaj Rao aa rahe hai Mohini se milne.'  

'Why won't she bloom? Today Rao is coming to meet Mohini', Devika told Dada while looking at me teasingly. 

'Means?' Dada asked looking quizically at me. 

Then I told him about Rao's plan. We all laughed and enjoyed ourselves while working when my father's voice boomed in the kitchen, 

'What are you doing here? I told you to stay in your room today and I am not surprised to find you Ramaji here in women's place since you are not interested in King's work.' 

In the starting of our mission everyone thought Dada will take the throne after our Baba but he refused saying Rao is much more talented in ruling than him which was agreed upon by everyone. 

Dada is happy to be Rao's right hand man. 

I saw Dada fisting his hand and gritting his teeth in anger. 

I quickly signed and told my father, 

'You told me that important guests are coming so I thought to cook something special for them since I cook so well which you yourself said.' 

Devika quickly translated to my father. 

He shook his head in thought then muttered, 'Good' and walked out from the kitchen. 

Everyone is silent. 

I see that Dada is no longer angry so to lighten the mood I forward the ladle filled with gravy towards him and asked him how it is. 

He just smiled, appreciated my food and also walked out. 

I quickly prepared everything then ran to my room and corrected my attire and made myself presentable for the arrival of Rao. 

I walked back out and hid myself in a position where I could hear about the arrival of guests and then I heard the arrival of horses, I became happy but then I heard the announcer,  

'Suryagarh ke Raja, Rajshekhar Chauhan aur Rajkumar Agam Surya Chauhan padhar rahe hai.' 

'KIng Rajshekhar Chauhan and Rajkumar Agam Surya Chauhan of Suryagarh is entering.' 

I turned shocked and instantly ran to my room and took out my sword. 

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