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The vast palace of Sagara was brightly lit with several dias and oil lanterns hanging around the corridors, after all, it was Maha Shivratri, a grandly celebrated festival all-around their empire and for Rani Anasuya tonight was more than important. Out of her ocean full of tries to put her son in the spotlight, this is just another water drop of a try.

Anasuya was on her way to her son's quarters to make sure that he was all prepared but the moment she entered his chamber a huge scowl laced her face. His chamber was filled with the cheap perfume of a prostitute and was reeking of alcohol.

And the prince lay unconscious on his bed completely lost from this world. Rani Anasuya’s eyes swirled with anger and pain, not because she was getting to see her son in this pitiful state but because how gods have punished her with such a stupid as her son.

“Dipankar!” Anasuya punched his shoulder trying to wake him up, “Wake up!”

The prince finally woke up unable to bear his mother's screeching voice and Anasuya handed him a glass of water as she spoke, “Look, all you have to do is stay sober and I will see to it that you win.”

Dipankar’s loud mirthless laughter echoed through empty chambers and he stepped down his bed, “How?” He asked, stretching his arms to relax his muscles.

“I have placed my men in between the race track where there is no audience and they will take care of your father's bastard.” Preaching all her pious plans his mother soon left his chambers and Dipankar threw the glass in his hand to the floor in frustration and soon he couldn't help but toss all the furniture in his chambers and break them to bits and pieces.

His stung with tears as a piece of wood pierced his palm in that process. If anything he loathes his stepbrother Raghuveer to death and tonight he will not lose. He will win this race at any cost and will see to it that his bastard of a brother will know that he can never mark his place in this palace.

••

After a long bullock cart journey, they have finally reached the place where the race was being held. Riya couldn't help but frown, dangling her feet down the cart, once again the cart was too tall from the ground making it impossible for her to jump and Raghuveer sat behind her silently massaging his forehead as he impatiently waited for her to step down.

"Will you keep staring like that or-"

"This is too tall again." Riya huffed sadly as she leaned her head backwards on his shoulder and Raghuveer rolled his eyes shrugging her head off.

"Move to a side so that I can step down and help you." Saying he slowly tried to move forward pushing Riya behind but unexpectedly he hit his head to the roof making him scrunch down and unexpectedly Riya rubbed his head trying to reduce his pain as she laughed saying, "You are too tall to stand up in this little space."

Dhruvan's eyes widened seeing this scene, that woman patted Rajkumar's head mocking him and in return weirdly his prince suppressed a smile at her making Dhruvan suppress a scream. Did she do some black magic on his master that he was smiling around her?

Soon Raghuveer got down and placed his hands near her waist trying to help her and Riya giggled loudly seeing his discomfort. Laughing she placed her hands around his neck jumping in his arms and Raghuveer was surprised with her sudden jump making him stumble backwards with her in his arms making Riya laugh a bit more.

"I told you to step down, not jump on me!" Raghuveer scolded her as he looked straight in her cheerful eyes, his hands perfectly placed around her waist trying to keep the balance.

"It is such a disgrace that you couldn't even handle my weight," Riya retorted, rounding her hands around his neck as she rolled her eyes trying to poke fun at him.

Raghuveer scoffed in disbelief, was she disrespecting him? His lips curled down in slight anger as he said,"Nonsense, you-"

Two loud coughing voices broke his sentence as he looked around to see who it was and was completely startled to see Lady Sahasthra laughing with a hand over her mouth and Dhruvan kept coughing. Only after a few seconds did he realise what was making him cough. Riya was completely stuck to him like a lizard to a wall, his ears turned pink in awkwardness as he immediately pushed Riya away from his arms.

But somehow Riya didn't find the situation any embarrassing as she happily ran to her friend, "Sahasthra!"

Riya exclaimed loudly as she spoke holding her hand, "How are you? I have especially come here to see you!"

Sahasthra smiled as she gestured a Namasthe to Raghuveer who stood behind Riya.

"I know it is a lot to ask, but please keep an eye on her till I return from the race." Stepping forward Raghuveer said and a huge frown settled on Riya's face as she turned around to face him,

"I am not a kid-"

"Dhruvan will be with you, so even if a problem arises he will handle it, Lady Sahasthra." Raghuveer smiled at Sahasthra as he successfully ignored Riya. And even before Dhruvan could contradict Raghuveer exited from there walking into the crowd where the race was being held leaving a furious Riya behind.

"I hate him! He always ignores me, you know." Riya began her rant with Sahasthra as she sobbed, "He didn't even let me give him a nickname!"

Sahasthra caught her stomach laughing listening to her talk, how come Riya is so expressive and crazy? But nonetheless, her talks were always fun and refreshing for Sahasthra unlike how royal ladies converse with her. Every royal woman was just around her to get favours from her father and the most irritating part was nobody couldn't even understand her gestures, unlike Riya.

Sahasthra pointed her index finger towards the crowd as she slowly gestured telling them that they should move to the tracks now.

Dhruvan was almost frightened as he couldn't understand what she was trying to say, "Lady Sahasthra, uh- I could not understand-"

Riya loudly smacked his head as she spoke, "She is telling us that we should go to the tracks now, kitty."

Dhruvan cried in frustration as he rubbed his head in pain, "Stop calling me that!"

"Huh, you wish."

While Riya and Sahasthra enjoyed the night's cool wind as they hurried near the tracks and Dhruvan walked behind them suppressing a scream thinking that just because she is a demon she is easily escaping his wrath! Otherwise, he would kill her himself.

The empty place behind the temple was brightly lit up with several lamps and oil poles that it almost resembled a bright sunny day. Usually, not every Shivratri was this crowded but this year an unusual race was happening, a horse race that was open to all citizens of this country. Every countryman was more than excited as they eagerly waited for the race to commence as they were getting to see their handsome Princes for the first time.

The huge crowd and track were separated using thick ropes as Sahasthra and Riya stood to the other side of the track which was just permitted for royals.

"Sahasthra! What a pleasure to see you here dear!" A young woman, probably around her twenties hugged Sahasthra as she spoke with utmost excitement making Sahasthra give out a faded smile and just like that Riya knew that this woman is a danger to her pal's serenity.

"Did you hear that Prince Raghuveer is also participating in this race? That foolish prince Dipankar is never a match to our Raghu, so don't worry, okay?" She cooed as she rubbed Sahasthra's shoulder as Riya stood watching this drama folding her hands over her chest.

What? Our Raghu? Is he a common plaything or a doll to belong to her?

And the immediate paleness in Sahasthra's face at the mention of that foolish prince didn't go unnoticed by Riya. Can it be true that Lady Sahasthra likes that prince?

"And who is this? Your maid?" That woman turned around facing Riya as she questioned Sahasthra flipping her long braided hair behind her shoulder.

Riya's nose and ears turned red in anger, what? A maid?

Sahasthra was ready trying to gesture something but before anything, a loud alarming sound of a bell startled them indicating that the race was about to begin making all the crowd around run towards the track and just before they were leaving Riya turned around as she spoke,

"Oh for your information, I am someone who lives with my Raghu." Riya winked as she spoke in a suggestive tone making that woman go still while Dhruvan cried internally, dragging her away from there with all the force he had.

Shortly they stood by the rope from where they could see the participants ready on their horses. Right at the end of the left side was Raghuveer on a beautiful white horse as he slowly rubbed its mane petting it and Riya couldn't help but drool at the sight, he looks like a king on a white horse right out a storybook.

"Ah, he looks delicious, Sahas!" Riya whispered, making Sahasthra giggle and Dhruvan abruptly hit on her mouth standing beside her.

"Shut your mouth and keep your promise of not creating any trouble!" Dhruvan reminded her as he glared at her but just like every time she ignored him.

"Sahas! Look at him-" Her words came to a halt as she observed that Sahasthra's whole attention was glued on a man who was sitting on a brown horse right in between the line of participants. If he was prince Dipankar, he was nowhere similar to Veeru. Though he was handsome, his face looked lifeless as a constant state of boredom existed around him.

How can a beautiful woman like Sahasthra ever fall for that gloomy-looking prince like him?

A loud blow of the whistle began the race and with the winds as the participants raced through the tracks leaving trails of soil up in the air.

"Oh god, why am I so nervous!" Riya mumbled sucking in a deep breath and Dhruvan beside her joined his hands together silently praying for the success of his master.

Shortly, the crowd became silent with anxiety as a few of them were aware of the cold war between the crown prince Dipankar and the talented bastard prince Raghuveer. The winner will indirectly mark their respect as a prince in the hearts of the commoners.

The track was in a circular form, the path revolves around the temple covering a small part of the forest and the winners would finally appear at the same beginning point. All the hundreds of eyes were stuck on the spot as the winner would be there any minute now. However, unfortunately, their excitement was short-lived as thick hoops of smoke evolved from the forest making everyone scream for their lives.

Wildfires are more than dangerous, once caught, the fire will spread rapidly in seconds throughout the forests. The organised ground now turned chaotic with people running around and Riya stood rooted to her spot.

"We should go and help Raghuveer!" She began walking towards the spot from where the fire and smoke were emitting.

"What? Okay, but it let us get some help-"

Even before he could complete his sentence Riya glared at him as she ran past the crowd to the fire caught forest and with no choice at hand Dhruvan quickly followed behind her.

***