Riya, a famous Indian television serial actress falls off a mountain cliff after a serial shoot. Miraculously she ends up being transitioned to a foreign land; 650 BCE. Raghuveer, a least favoured bastard prince, finds a wounded Riya in his garden who happens to lose her memories partially.

***

Raghuveer safely landed in front of the window of his chambers, fortunately, or unfortunately, the door of his huge window was open and with ease he jumped inside and locked them tightly behind him.

That stranger woman was sleeping on her front, so peacefully as if she is the owner of this house. Scoffing in annoyance he walked out of his room and the next second he could see Rani Anasuya brisk walking towards him, elegantly holding her saree pallu in her left hand.

Raghuveer stood straight, not bending or greeting her. His alluring face short of any fear or dismay.

Dhruvan smiled proudly looking at his master as he stood hiding in a corner. No one in this kingdom except Prince Raghuveer has the dare to look straight in the queen's eyes.

"How are you doing, Raghuveer?" Anasuya asked, with her head high as she stressed on his name. All the royal court of their kingdom was always amazed by Raghuveer’s intelligence whereas the queen has always loathed him for that, never once in her life has she ever addressed him as a prince to remind him that he was just a bastard son.

And situations like these where she tries to show his place always humours him as nothing she says can ever affect him, but what can she do? Poor queen, she strived for power and respect and in that process, she wanted her son’s help but pitifully she was blessed a nincompoop as her son.

"I am doing great, your grace," Raghuveer replied with a curt nod which irked anger in her noticing his nonchalant tone.

"So I have been hearing that you refuse to receive any servants help?"

"Yes, your majesty. I do not require any help as of now.” Raghuveer replied looking straight in her eyes as lips slowly turned up in a mirthful smile, “But your grace, are you here uninvited to supply me help?”

Rage quickened her blood as strings of grudge deepened in her heart, how dare this bastard mock her?

“Realise with whom you are speaking with, boy! I ain’t here to look after your needs, why don’t you put forward your mocking words to your mother?” Rani Anasuya smiled in content as those words left her mouth as she knows well that talking about his mother is a sensitive topic for him.

A look of grim settled on his face he should have known better. Rani Anasuya is like a pit of slime dirty mud and throwing a stone in it is like dirtying yourself. This is not the right time to showcase his mocking words as there some uninvited stranger sleeping in his chambers.

When Anasuya was finally satisfied with his silence she slowly informed him about her sudden arrival, “I am assuming that you are aware of the upcoming auspicious day, Maha Shivaratri?”

“I do.”

“Good. Our ministers have suggested that we arrange a horse race in which everyone can participate, all the nobility and commoners. Prince Dipankar is taking part in it and just in case you want to participate, you can. But please, don’t let your father's name down by creating any chaos there.”

Rani Anasuya left after delivering him a piece of unnecessary advice, Raghuveer knows that this is no request from the ministers. This is another game of the queen to portray her precious son’s talent as horse racing is the only art at which Dipankar was good at.

“Rajkumar Ji, dinner?” Dhruvan gulped slowly while asking, he could see the rotten mood of his lord from afar.

“Let it be.”

Raghuveer angrily marched inside his chambers and was surprised to see the woman waking up. She slowly stretched her arms and flinched in pain as her wounded palm moved in that process.

“Ouch.” She sat up checking her palm.

“It will at least take a week to heal.” He said as he stood near the bed.

“Okay but, who are you?” Her features moulded into a confusing frown as she looked up at him.

And Raghuveer’s eyebrows rose up hearing her words, look at the nerve of this woman she invaded his house and fainted on him and right now she is asking him this, “Who am I?”

Riya bit her cheek inside hearing his tone, her memories were still cloudy but right now she has to manage this situation somehow, “Um sorry, I don’t even remember who I-”

“I do not care, my servant will get you some food and medicines- ”

“Oh no, no! Food is enough-”

He bent down to her level to meet her eyes and Riya sat paused in her position, somehow his close proximity has turned her face warm. She can slightly feel his warm breath on her face as he spoke.

“You will take medicines,” He stressed on each and every word as he spoke but Riya’s total focus and interest were on his dark red lips, “So that I can kick you out the second you can walk.”

“Huh?” She squeaked, as his words slowly registered in her brain, kick her out?

“Right.” Saying quietly he walked out of his chambers leaving a befuddled Riya behind.

• •

Riya squatted her legs and sat straight pressing her index fingers right beside her eyes trying to focus on her memories. All she can remember is her name and that she doesn't belong here.

Everything seemed different to her as there was no familiarity of anything but all she knows is that somehow she is not scared, somehow she feels that this is what she wanted for so long, a break from her life which again raises the question about what was her life like?

Riya shut her eyes tight and was trying to force her brain to drop some clues but all went in vain. Her disastrous tries came to a halt as a heavy aroma of food reached her nostrils and her eyes flung open seeing expectantly towards the door.

And outside the chambers stood Dhruvan, with a heavy silver plate in his hands completely filled with food. His legs were shaking as he suppressed a cry, he has been working for the prince since he was fifteen and he knows for sure that the woman inside his master’s chambers is no woman, she is a chudail! A demon!

He has to protect prince Raghuveer from this demon but how? Unfortunately, he is pale and thin with no skills of sword fighting or defence moves, even after knowing about his flaws prince has provided him with a roof over his head and always treated him with the respect which usually royals does not do.

A tiny hope of thought struck his brain that if it is really a demon inside, she will definitely fear god so chanting mantras of Hanuman Chalisa he slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Gulping in fear his eyes slowly rose up to have a look at her and to his horror, she squatted her legs sitting right in the middle of the bed, her disorganised uneven hair covered her eyes in a creepy way and her index fingers were pressed around her forehead. But in seconds as if she could smell him her eyes flung open the moment he took a step forward, making him scream in fear.

He quickly dropped the plate at the edge of the bed and ran outside the Chambers with lightning speed screaming bloody ghost, to warn his master.

***

: • Hanuman Chalisa - A Hindu

devotional hymn.

• Maha Shivarathri - A Hindu festival which is annually

Lord Shiva.