“Princess
Sara and Juan will get married after a week. Now she’ll exchange rings with
Juan to seal their betrothal,” the pleased King announced in a loud and ringing
voice. A roar of applause rent the vast Assembly hall. The King continued over
the uproar, “The coronation will take place before the marriage rituals on the
same day.” “How convenient?” thought Juan. Obviously the King couldn’t, rather
wouldn’t let his only daughter marry a pauper, would he? Hence the coronation
had to take place before the marriage so that she could marry a King! He
laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. It was as if he was involved in a
farce.
Probably, he’d have
been better off in that forbidden shrine, at peace with himself. Now a long
life of mental torture awaited him with open arms. He knew that any person in
that large gathering would’ve given an eye and a limb for the Princess’ hand
and the crown. Well, he had lost an eye, though unwittingly. Now he had lost
his entire life. Destiny had played a very nasty trick on him. He felt like
crying. He wondered what everyone would feel if he did just that! They’d jump
to the conclusion that he was shedding tears of joy. He looked at Myara as the
Princess approached him with her ring. She had curled her palms into her hands
and had pursed her lips hard to keep her emotions in check.
He was dazed as an attendant held out
a large velvet-covered tray with a sparkling solitaire ring on it, surrounded
by colorful flowers. He took the ring cautiously. He still had time. He could
spring towards Myara and slip it on her beautiful, slender finger. But he was
duty-bound. His mother couldn’t be let down, neither could the King, Queen and
Sara. He felt nothing as he exchanged rings with the Princess. It was as if he
was play-acting as he often did with the other kids in his childhood. Pretending
to be a King and marrying a Princess and living happily ever after! Oh why had
he grown up at all?
Dully he saluted
the King, Queen and Ministers and bowed before the cheering Assembly. He was
numb with grief. He couldn’t even muster a smile for the Princess as she smiled
happily at him. She understood that he had been bewildered by the sudden course
of events. It had been too sudden for him, after all her attempts at ridiculing
him. She’d give him time to come to terms with her volte-face.
After
the ceremony, there was a huge banquet and lots of song and dance and the
celebrations continued till the wee hours of dawn.
Then
Martha started writing…..
That week
was the darkest week of Juan’s and Myara’s lives and the brightest one of
Sara’s life. There were continuous celebrations at the palace which was
illuminated and decorated with flowers and festoons daily. The proclamation of
the royal wedding was made by official spokesmen at all the public squares of
Regina. The people of the kingdom looked forward to the royal feast that would
be served to all of them. There was singing, dancing and a lot of joy de vivre
in the air. Only Juan and Myara were despondent and morose. It was as if they
had been sentenced to death at the guillotine! They felt as if people were
celebrating their permanent separation.
One day before the wedding, Juan sought
Myara’s company for one last time. She too agreed as she had desperately wanted
to see him up-close one final time and say “Good Bye.” They met clandestinely
at the stable behind her shack. She appeared dull, with dark circles under her
eyes and listless eyes that brightened on seeing him. He appeared so handsome
in his new clothes, a matching shirt and trouser suit and a hat, undoubtedly,
one of the several gifts that the King had bestowed on his future son-in-law!
She had
dressed up carefully for him. A simple ethereal white dress with a colorful
scarf adorned her lissome body. She looked as beautiful and fragile as
porcelain. Juan’s heart went out to her. He couldn’t contain his emotions and
clasped her to his bosom tightly. She pushed him away gently, reminding him,
“Juan, you will be crowned the King of Regina tomorrow and marry my best friend
Sara. Don’t ever forget that. Now you are no longer mine. I will never meet you
after your marriage. I will go to some other kingdom and start my life afresh.
Promise me that you will be faithful to Regina and loyal to Sara or I’ll never
forgive you. Also promise that you’ll never try to locate my whereabouts!”
“Myara,
can’t we just elope?” he asked earnestly. She slapped him across his right
cheek with all her might. He rubbed his red cheek ruefully. He had got his
answer. An emphatic “No!” He knew that he had just lost everything worth living
for. He said “Good Bye” and walked back towards the palace without a backward
glance.
That
night he couldn’t sleep at all. What if
the King knows that I have been rendered impotent? Will he stop this ill-fated
marriage? He kept thinking. Then he still had a chance of a life with
Myara. But he didn’t want her also to remain childless just on account of him.
No it was better that he just quietly married Sara and did as Myara bade him
to. He’d respect her wishes.
The
next day, the whole palace cheered as Juan was crowned by the King himself at
the lavish Coronation ceremony that was attended by the Kings and Princes,
dignitaries and ambassadors of all the neighboring kingdoms. All of Sara’s
suitors had turned up to see what they had lost and Juan, the peasant, had
gained!
He looked dazzling in rich
golden robes embroidered with precious gems and pearls and lots of gold jewelry
adorning his person. Sara looked resplendent in a red and gold, shimmering gown
especially ordered for the happy occasion. She was swathed in gold, pearls and
a sparking diamond tiara that matched his diamond-studded crown.
Immediately thereafter, they went to the lone majestic Cathedral in Regina. She appeared
radiant and breath-taking in her flowing, milky-white wedding gown made
of the finest lace and crystal beads. He appeared every inch, the dapper
bride-groom, in his crisp white shirt and shining black tuxedo with a single rose-bud pinned
to his lapel.They loudly and clearly repeated their marriage vows and exchanged their wedding rings; shyly kissed each other and
went about an elaborate ceremony that proudly proclaimed them as husband and
wife.
She
coyly looked at him and caught a peculiar sad expression on his handsome face.
The leather patch over his right eye was the only bit marring his captivating
visage. Yes, he had undergone a lot of trauma just to make her his. She owed
him her life! She decided that she’d be a very good wife to him and bear him
many children. She felt ecstatic at the thought of their first night together….
He dreaded it…..
To be continued.....
The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.
