A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 32

        For two hours, Juan watched Sara as she slept, sometimes tossing about and moaning “Juan, Juan” in her sleep.  He felt uneasy.  Suddenly she started shouting “Go away, go away you brutes, shoo, shoo away!”  Juan realized that she had been having nightmares about the eagles attacking her.  He shuddered as he touched his hollow eye, a nasty reminder of his own encounter with those hostile creatures.  How would Sara react on seeing his battered eye, he mused.  It was ages since he had seen a mirror and now he didn’t feel like it at all.  Who would want to see a deformed face in place of the former handsome one?  But he felt contented that the noble and beautiful Myara loved him in spite of his handicap.  He was sure of that!  He had seen the unmistakable love that swam in her eyes as she looked at him and her infinite longing to be in his arms.  But her loyalty and word of honor forbade her from taking her forward in the path of true love.  He admired her, respected her and adored her dearly.  He wondered what destiny had in store for him. 

        He again looked at Sara.  She was beautiful too, but he knew nothing about her and didn’t feel as close to her as he had when he had first set his eyes on her, in disguise.  Now he realized that that very disguise had made him fall in love with Myara; whom he had mistaken for Sara.  He thought with a start that he hadn’t asked Myara why she had disguised herself as an old and wrinkled lady.  Was she trying to impersonate his mother and angling at bargaining for his release with the Master?  Did she really believe that his Master, the all-seeing and all-knowing one could be deceived so easily?  If so, she was naïve, in spite of all her bravado!  When he had sprinkled water to revive her, all her disguise had miraculously been washed away without a trace!  Leaving her as beautiful and young as she indeed was!

        Then in the middle of his reverie, he felt the Princess stirring.  She opened her eyes and looked straight into his eyes.  Then she shrieked and fainted.  The hollow, blinded eye of Juan had probably unnerved her.  Many personal assistants, guards, the King and the Queen rushed into her chamber. 

        The Queen anxiously remarked “So my daughter finally woke up!  What happened Juan, why did she shriek so loudly?”  Juan burst out laughing hysterically as everyone gazed at him in wonder.  Why was he acting so strangely?  They soon received the answer to the question uppermost in their minds as he said sarcastically, “And she is supposed to marry me?  A deformed person whom she couldn’t tolerate even for a second?  Whose sight repulsed and scared her out of her wits?  I think that we are going to have to revise our decision on her.  Forgive my impudence, Your Excellency!  Please get her married to someone handsome and worthy of her beauty.  Please don’t saddle her with an unworthy husband.  I beg of you!”

        The King and Queen worriedly looked at each other.  Everyone was silent for a long time.  Then the King spoke “But she repeats only your name all the while.  May be she wasn’t prepared to see you with a single eye.  Give her time.  I’m sure that she’ll ask your forgiveness and marry you once she is revived and briefed about your ordeal at the shrine.  On my part, I’m convinced that you are the only one for my Sara and the future King of Regina.  I don’t have any second thoughts at all!”

        At this juncture, Martha stretched her sore right arm and yawned.  She felt a presence nearly and was amazed to see Sara near her.  She had an innocent and pleading expression on her face.  Her light eyes implored Martha to find a suitable end to the conundrum in the palace. 

        “Don’t worry dear!”  Martha assured her gently and asked her to rest.  “Things will definitely work in every one’s favor in Regina.  Just wait and watch!”  Then she excused herself and went to the kitchen to make cup of much-needed coffee.  When she returned with the mug, Sara had disappeared.  Martha sighed with relief.

        The next morning, Arnold called up to say “I’ve fixed an appointment with Dr. Benedict Hussey.  We’ll be going to Surrey tomorrow at 7 a.m. sharp.  It’ll take us about 2 hours to reach there.  The appointment is at 10 a.m. hence we’ll have about an hour after we reach there, to relax and have breakfast.  I know about a wonderful old-world café there, that serves the most amazing scones and pastries; and out-of-this-world tea.”

        Martha laughed at the child-like enthusiasm in his voice and felt enthused enough to say “Right Sir!  Will you pick me up or shall I come to your house?”  Immediately Arnold chipped in saying “I’ll be at your service Madam.  Don’t worry, I’ll be there at 7 a.m. dot.  Just be ready!  Knowing you ladies, that’s a tough one!” he teased.  She good-humoredly laughed and said “You bet!  If I’m not ready on time, I’ll foot the breakfast bill!”

        ‘’Let’s see!” he said and hung up.

        Martha felt a warm feeling course through her veins.  If she ever married, it would be to such a good-natured, witty and considerate gentleman.  Then, as she remembered her beau Norman, she felt nervous and apprehensive.  What was he like?  She hoped that he was just like Arnold.  In fact, these days, she admitted to herself, she liked Arnold so much that she didn’t even regret forgetting all about Norman!

        Was she supposed to feel guilty?  She didn’t know and gleefully felt that she just didn’t care!  As long as Arnold was by her side, she had the world by her side!  Then she felt really guilty and ashamed.  Arnold was married.  Happily married, in fact!  She had no right thinking about him in those terms.  He was out of bounds for her.

To be continued.... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 31

        “Come, let’s get out of here before the Master changes his mind!” she said urgently.  Juan was reluctant to proceed.  Stubbornly he said, “Why don’t we stay somewhere far away from Regina, Myara?  I can’t imagine not living with you.  I mistook you for Sara, but now I’ll never be able to free myself from the strong affection and attachment that I feel towards you!” Myara looked at him despondently. Then as a thought struck her, she asked him, “Has my disguise come off? I had made my face up to resemble an old lady’s, your mother’s to be precise!”

          Juan pulled her arm towards the water body. He urged her to look at her reflection. She was taken aback as she saw a radiant girl staring back at her, with a puzzled look on her face. She wondered how she had transformed into such a perfect beauty. Her snub nose had miraculously straightened and her cheekbones had grown higher. Her complexion shone and her eyes had stars in them! Besides what had happened to her gown and why, rather how? As she looked at her golden dress in amazement, speechless with wonder, Juan laughed softly as he said, “The magic of the puddle that you crossed, my dear! Now that you dunked yourself in this pool and tasted its water too, you’ve become immortal! Seeing her disbelieving look, he said, ”You heard me right! All of us here at the shrine are immortal.”

       Now that I have been banished from this shrine, I wonder whether the effect of this holy water will remain on me. Let’s see. First, let’s get going. You can tell me about my mother and the rest of Regina on the way home. This time, with Juan firmly by her side, Myara felt assured. The Alsatian too meekly made way for both of them as they entered the tunnel and walked back to the entrance of the cave on the cliff’s side. Since it was midnight then, they didn’t have to worry about the hungry eagles that would be fast asleep! They descended throughout the night, walking in absolute silence, hand in hand, till they reached Regina, just as dawn broke over the Kingdom.

        She took him to her home and told him to bathe and get dressed. She gave him her departed father’s clothes to wear. She cooked a rice-based gruel for him that he slurped on hungrily. Then wistfully Myara bade him “Good Bye”. She had asked him to go straightaway to the palace and report his return to the King. She had also told him that he would find his mother in the special quarters near the palace.

        “I’ll be back, Myara, for you! Wait for me, won’t you?” Seeing the look of pure love on his face, she sighed, as her heart melted with love and longing. She firmly told him to vow that he’d marry Sara and rule over Regina like an honorable and just King. She would never marry anyone throughout her life. He reluctantly said “Yes” for her sake and started walking towards the palace. He felt as if he had been blinded in his other eye too. The apple of his eye, Myara had turned her back willfully on him. Now he had no choice but to do as she bade him to! He’d do anything for his savior. And beloved one!

                       Juan kept walking without really knowing where he was headed to. He walked as unsteadily as an intoxicated man. He reached the palace’s gates and told the guards that he was Juan, the Princess Sara’s long-lost suitor, who had returned from that forbidden shrine, thanks to the brave Myara’s help. He was led into the Assembly hall where all eyes turned towards him in astonishment. The King and his Minister too, couldn’t believe that they were really seeing Juan. The whole hall was silent in its incredulity. After a long time, it erupted into a standing ovation.

                      At last the King found his speech and said, “Welcome dear lad. So you finally proved that you indeed have the patience which we tested you for! Though you didn’t complete the task that was set out for you, you accomplished a lot more by escaping from that forbidden shrine and coming here unscathed, to claim the Princess’ hand. Bravo!” The entire Assembly applauded and backed the King’s words. They were more relieved that the vexing problem had been resolved so soon.

                     The wise Minister said “Myara is the true hero here. Where is she? Had it not been for her initiative and pluck, we’d all have been still darting arrows in the dark. She truly deserves to be suitably rewarded.” Again the Assembly clapped their hands in unison.

                     The King announced “From this moment, Myara has been elevated to the post of “Royal Advisor”. She will be entitled to all the perks like a lavish house, a separate office and three assistants to carry out her duties. She will get a thousand gold coins and a carriage to ensure comfort while traveling on her official assignments.”

                      “Now I declare that the Assembly has been closed for the day. I can’t wait to inform the Queen and the Princess about this pleasurable development. I’m sure that they will be delirious with joy. Juan, come with me, my lad.”

                        The Queen shed tears of joy on seeing the handsome lad. Sara was sleeping. She looked beautiful in her white night-gown, with her blonde curls cascading around her face. Juan didn’t feel anything. No emotions! Then he was awash with disgust. So this was the girl who would be stealing him from Myara, her best friend! He felt sickened. He felt like turning on his heel and running non-stop till he reached Myara’s arms. Then he remembered his vow and sighed perceptibly. The King felt delighted thinking that the lad had missed her all those days when he had been at that shrine. He said with empathy “I’ll leave you alone with her for some time. Just sit beside her and be the first one whom she’ll set her sight upon, when she wakes up. Just watch her ecstasy!” Juan winced inwardly.

To be continued.... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 30

        Suddenly she heard the ferocious barking of a dog and started quivering like a leaf. By then she had come upon a small room-like place hewn roughly out of the rocks.  She felt as though she could glimpse dusk from the other end of the room.  Probably she had successfully crossed the tunnel.  Though bedraggled and dog-tired, she was elated.  Now the mystery of where that tunnel led to; would be solved.  She prayed that it led into the shrine. 

        Meanwhile, a huge Alsatian, brown, furry and absolutely vicious had pounced on her and was scratching her flesh.  It had been trained to maul any trespassers and had been obviously baying for blood since ages.  It clawed at her limbs, torso and face until she started bleeding from everywhere and pleading with unknown forces to free her from its vice-like grip.  May be the beast would feast on her tonight, she wondered as she became unconscious.  The beast lost interest, but nevertheless, it dragged her out of the tunnel and stopped only when it reached the Master of the shrine, who was sitting on a small charpoy under the shade of an evergreen tree.

        He promptly ordered a seer to sprinkle water on her face.  As a cool shower of water descended on her beautiful face, she immediately opened her dark eyes and looked straight into the eyes of her first love, Juan.  He was the seer chosen by the Master to revive her.  She licked the drops of elixir thirstily and felt rejuvenated.  She didn’t feel any pain at all.  She slowly attempted to look at her self and saw that the scratches had vanished, her bleeding had stopped miraculously and she could sit up on her own.  As she sat up, she saw her gown glinting in the torch-light.  It was golden in color.  Not just golden, but made of gold!  She couldn’t take her eyes off it.  She didn’t even realize that the gold reflected on her face and made it look ethereal.  Her face glistened with youth and bewitching beauty.  Juan was spell-bound. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck him.  He was in love.  Head over heels love!  With this angel.  He had no doubt that she was his Sara.  Only a Princess could be so beautiful!

        Had she risked her life to rescue him?  Now she had unwittingly landed in the same trap as him.   He bitterly remembered how he had been badly wounded, sought help and refuge in that shrine, only to be imprisoned forever.  But now he wouldn’t mind staying with this regal beauty forever there!  He’d even follow her into the other world after death. So enamored was he, that he didn’t notice his Master staring sternly at him.  An invisible, powerful force shifted him to a side, as she got up and fell at the feet of the Master.

        She instinctively knew from his demeanor that he was the revered one, the Head of that Order in that mysterious shrine.  She could feel his magnetic aura washing over her entire being.  She already felt as if she had become a permanent resident of that shrine.  She felt strangely happy, peaceful and carefree.  With great will-power, she willed her brain to remember her purpose of being there and vowed to resist the powerful energy vibrating all around her.  She ran as far away from the Master as she could, even as she could feel the energy chasing her from all directions. 

        She felt desperate and helpless and wanted to enter the tunnel again to escape into the outer world.  But that beast of a dog was ferociously guarding the entrance, his eyes hostile and challenging her to cross the threshold.  She shuddered and looked to her right and left.  To her right was a large pool of shimmering water.  She jumped into it recklessly.  In a flash, Juan had reached there and dived in to rescue the heavenly damsel in distress. 

        When he emerged with her in his strong arms, he was surrounded by several curious seers.  They just watched in stony silence and looked at him reproachfully.  He had breached the cardinal rule of that shrine.  “Don’t touch any woman, even by mistake!”  This dictum had been brain-washed into them, right since day one of their stay in that shrine.  Now he’d have to face the punishment that the Master was sure to mete out to him, his errant disciple.

        “You are banished from the shrine forever lad!  Go back to the dirty world from where you had come.  You aren’t worthy of living in the haloed premises of this shrine.  But I curse you that you’ll never become a father in your entire life.  You’ll crave for an offspring till you die,” the Master thundered ominously across the assembly.

        Juan quivered under the accusing gaze of the Master and fell at his feet pleading, “I’m sorry, learned one, please forgive me and take back your curse.  Now all that I desire is to lead a peaceful life with this damsel whom I now love more than my life!”

        With a look of pure hatred, the Master turned on his heel and stormed into his special quarters as the others dispersed to their respective rooms.

        Tears streamed unabated from Myara’s eyes as Juan kissed her cheeks saying “I love you” again and again.  He reveled in the coolness and warmth of her nubile young body.  He now realized what he had been missing all these 3 years.  She stirred and struggled to sit up.  Then she jerked away from his grasp and said quietly.

        “I’m Myara, the Princess Sara’s best friend.  I came to contact you and rescue you from here.  Now look at what I’ve achieved.  Zilch! You’ve been rendered impotent by the Master and worst of all, fallen in love with me, just a lowly maid of the Princess.  Won’t she think that I’ve betrayed her?  Believe me Juan; I want you to reunite with Sara.  I don’t want anything else so much in this world.  Please forget about me, come with me, marry Sara and rule over Regina for the rest of your life.  You can always adopt a successor.  I’m happy that I at least found you alive.  I feared the worst!”

To be continued.... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 29

        Martha woke up at 2 a.m. with a jerk.  She felt as if there was someone in the room.  She caught a glimpse of the determined Myara, bravely climbing the steep steps to that shrine.  She was disguised like an old lady.  Juan’s mother!  Excitedly, Martha threw away the bed-covers and went to her desk.  She didn’t want to waste any time.  Not when the character of her story wasn’t!

        She started writing.

        A fierce gust of wind tried to blow away the brave Myara from the face of that precarious cliff.  Martha clutched her voluminous robe tightly and tightened her grip on her staff that she had thoughtfully brought along to ward off the hungry eagles.  As she looked up towards the sky she shuddered.  So the gust of wind was in fact the impact of scores of eagles circling her at that great height of several hundreds of meters above the ground. 

        They looked angry and vicious.  Their pointed talons plunged fear in her heart and their widespread wings encompassed a challenge to her resilience.  She waved about her staff frantically as they ventured closer to her.  She hurriedly scampered into a tiny crevice in the huge rocks on the cliff’s face.  The huge birds would’ve got stuck if they’d tried to follow her in there.  They hovered around for several minutes, their screeches filling the air and curdling her blood.  She could feel the blood pounding in her veins and her heart thudding sickeningly.  She thought that she would faint in panic.  She closed her eyes and prayed silently to the Almighty.

        When she felt calm, she relaxed and opened her eyes.  There wasn’t a sound outside.  There were no shadows on the steps outside.  Probably the eagles had decided to leave her alone.  Then again, may be they were quietly waiting to pounce on her the minute she ventured outside the crevice.  She decided to rest there for a while.  She ran her eyes around the crevice and was surprised to note that she was in a medium-sized cave.  Only its entrance was a crevice. 

        She saw that the interior was damp and cool.  Drops of water fell in a staccato on to the rocky floor.  So, there was a water-body above it, she mused, that she hadn’t noticed on her earlier recce.  She decided to explore further.  To the right of the cave, she noticed a tunnel. 

        As she took a step into the tunnel, she felt the cold and damp air swishing around her.  She shivered at the eeriness and debated whether she could venture further inside.  What if she lost her way and was smothered there in its unknown depths?  A cold shiver ran up her spine.  She had heard about people losing their way and wandering around in a labyrinth of underground tunnels only to end up exhausted and dying there of asphyxiation, starvation and dehydration.  She had some food and water, but still……

        She was adventurous but not reckless, so she spent quite some time debating about her further course of action.  Then curiosity got the better of her.  She said a small prayer, crossed her heart and started going further inside that tunnel.  She felt a thrill coursing through her.  Then she felt instinctively that that tunnel probably led to the shrine.  May be those inmates traveled through this tunnel.  No wonder, no one could be spotted going into or out of that shrine. 

        Then she shuddered as it struck her that she could be caught there by some inmate and imprisoned for life.  She took a deep breath, steadied her nerves and decided to take any eventuality head-on.  She had always been very daring and adventurous.  She giggled as she remembered how she had jumped into a well in her childhood, without knowing to swim!  Fortunately, her cries had alerted some palace guards who had jumped in to save her.

        As she walked, bent in double, she felt the walls around her.  The rocks were wet and black soil stuck to her hands.  She rubbed her palms on her gown’s folds.  Suddenly it was dark.  Pitch dark!  She realized that she had rounded a bend and the daylight that had filtered in through the crevice had faded.  She breathed heavily and felt suffocated.  She felt like turning around and fleeing.  But no, she wasn’t a coward and knew no turning back.  She hoped and prayed that her hunch was right and she safely reached the shrine.  She deliberately closed her mind to the fate that awaited her inside the shrine.  But she was determined to talk to Juan.  If she could find him, recognize him in the first place! 

          Would he be as handsome as when she had first set her sight on him and given her heart to him?  Or would he be like an ascetic and unrecognizable.  As she thought about him, her pulses quickened and her throat felt parched.  She reached out for her satchel that was hung cross-wise across her shoulders. Her muscles felt stiff and sore with all that crouching.  She sat down with a thump.  Thirstily, she gulped a mouthful of water; then ate some oatmeal biscuits.  As she let out a loud yawn, the sound reverberated through the tunnel and she jumped out of her skin.  She felt sleepy and exhausted but her mission propelled her onwards.

        Now she decided to crawl on all fours for some time.  She’d keep changing her position, she decided.  She reached a huge puddle, hence got up and again crouched to walk through it.  To her surprise, she noticed that her dress shimmered like molten gold.  Was her imagination playing tricks with her?  So the oxygen deprivation had really started affecting her and giving her delusions!  But her dress was shimmering.  She turned around and looked at the puddle and was puzzled to see that it looked dull and brown like just any other normal puddle.  She was tempted to walk into it again but decided against it.  She didn’t want to waste any time.  She’d come back another day and investigate that puddle again. 

To be continued.... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.