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The fitful silvery rays of moon glistened around the huge palace of Sagara and as similarly as those vibrant rays did deep waves of anger fumed through Rani Anasuya as she marched to her son's chambers. Her pathetic son did it again, he once again lost the opportunity to get rid of his potential threat to the throne, his stepbrother. Why couldn't Dipankar just stick to her plan?

Rani Anasuya's eyes bulged open as she saw her son stand by the balcony sipping on a glass of palm wine. Her nose scrunched up at the pungent smell, how can anyone ever drink such foul-smelling beverage? Apparently, unfaithfulness and alcoholism ran in this family.

"Dipankar!" Anasuya screamed on top of her lungs, all her bottled up anger now finding a way out, "Put that glass away now and come to your senses! You are a crown prince for god's sake!"

Rani Anasuya's voice is said to be powerful, and her grudges are said to be as dangerous as she looks. Though fate never favoured her she has become a woman for whom the whole nation shivers in fear. For it was always rightly said, a woman is capable of both love and destruction.

"I-iss it yo-uu, Mothe-errr?" Dipankar sipped on his wine and managed to spit out those words with lots of effort as he swung to the other side of the balcony, his uncertain drunk moves got him stumbling making the wine glass in his hand slip and crash down the balcony to the ground.

"Stop you fool! You will kill yourself like this-"

"If thi-this is my lasttt day I am willing to d-die!" Dipankar screamed on top of his lungs as his voice roughed at the end due to the highest pitch in that drunken state.

Anasuya's heart quickened hearing those words, what is her son even talking about? Has her son become suicidal? What-

"Sh-she touched m-mee." Dipankar blushed laughing as he glanced at the sky dreamily, as he could see that woman on the moon. His face turned red as he bent forward on the balcony edge, placing his face on his left arm.

"Who?" Anasuya enquired slowly, as her right eyebrow shot up in the air in suspension. Is it one of his prostitutes or the one whom she had been trying her best to keep her son away from?

"She ev-even rolled her eyes at me, ma!" Dipankar turned to face his mother as he animatedly began talking, "H-her shoulder touched m-mine and-"

And Anasuya couldn't help but roll her eyes in frustration. All these years of hard work to save her son from minister Kashyap's daughter went in vain. She always knew that Sahasthra had a magical spell around his son which made him stick around her as if his world revolves around her.

In one way, Anasuya was thankful to the minister's daughter as it was because of her, for the first time she had got to see her son's administration abilities. Dipankar would be eleven probably when the news about Sahsathra never visiting the palace again reached him he almost fought a war with Minister Kashyap. The fierceness in his eyes as he stood up against Kashayp woke up the hopes of power in Anasuya, but look at her son now, his eyes always dead and his life lifeless.

Soon, swinging swirling Dipankar made his way crashing down on the bed and Anasuya could do nothing but look at her son helplessly. A mother would be the happiest if she finds her husband's imprint on her children, however, everything was different to Anasuya. The more she tried to make her son different from his father, the faster her son turned like the monster she was married to.

After covering him with thick blankets she slowly slipped out of his chambers and was greeted by her handmaid Kanchana.

"I should have the information about what Kashyap is up to by tomorrow morning. Pass this as my final order to our men." Ordering, Anasuya turned around and walked towards her chambers. The dark alley covered the disgust laced on her face as she thought about his son's drunken words.

Minister Kashyap is playing games with her son by baiting Sahastra, and this time she won't lose the game. Anasuya will show Kashyap that she is no spineless woman to tune for his games, she is a queen and above all her power craving blood will never let him breathe in peace again.

"Your highness, I don't want to speak above my status, but I would like to suggest something to you."

"Go on, Kanchana." Anasuya signalled her maid to speak up.

Kanchana's lips curved down in sorrow as an emotion of concern crossed over her face as she spoke with a shaky voice, "When was the last time you had a heartful sleep, my queen? When was the last time you have held your son close to your heart, my lady? Please, consider this old woman's advice and let go of whatever you are striving for. Women are not meant to play these games of power-"

"Let go?" Anasuya halted in her place as she listened to her maid's words, her upper lip twitched in uncontrollable anger as she repeated those words again, "Let go?"

Anasuya's hands twitched to grip Kanchana's neck in her hand and mash it lifeless. Controlling herself she stepped forward as she ran her hand through Kanchana's neck while whispering, "I don't prefer to kill my loyal men. Try to stay wise before I," Muttering dangerously she gripped her neck as she bent to her level completing her sentence, "I smash your head dead."

Being satisfied with Kanchana's fearsome expression Anasuya left to her chambers leaving a startled Kanchana behind.

Women are not meant to play these games of power, for a woman's revenge always leads to the destruction of an empire.

Anasuya sat straight on her golden cushioned chair as she slowly freed her hair open, her heavy golden bangles clicked together in that process, resonating a small echoing sound.

"Your Highness, may I come in?" A firm male voice greeted her and even without lifting her eyes she knew who that was.

"Hm, come in Kinjan." Her words came outstretched in a mocking voice as she ran her fingers in between her hair, untangling knots. "I was just wondering if I should get rid of junk like you."

And almost immediately hearing those words Kinjan kneeled to the floor on his right foot, and his head hanging so low, that it touched the floor in fear.

"Your Highness, you have assigned me to this work because of accuracy and we were almost successful in killing prince Raghuveer, but Prince Dipankar-"

"You bloody butcher!" The second the assassin tried to blame her son, hells broke loose, Anasuya might have a thirst for power but even till her last breath, she will never let anyone look down on her son, even if he is at fault.

"Don't you dare take my son's name on your lips! All you had to do was kill that bastard but instead, you are blaming my son?" Her growling voice made assassin Kinjan shiver visibly which made him run towards the queen's foot begging for forgiveness.

"I have committed a grave mistake please take my life, my queen." Kinjan kept repeating the same sentence again and again.

Anasuya was aware that Kinjan is not serious with his plea but so not she is. She has another task with him at hand and she can't afford to lose her talented resources now at this crucial point.

"Stand up," Anasuya commanded as she walked near the window to feel the night's cool air. She could partially see the moon at which her son was blushing at, previously.

"My queen, minister Kashyap has visited prince Raghuveer with his daughter a few days ago, and my sources have a piece of solid information that his visit is regarding wedding-"

"Right, " Anasuya pushed a few locks of her open hair behind her ear as she turned around to face Kinjan. "That minister is trying to trap Raghuveer by baiting power and his daughter is trapping my son."

Saying Ansauya settled back in her favourite golden chair. She had a weird obsession with this chair, the shining gold and the ever sparkling diamonds studded in it always keep reminding her that she has something to achieve in her life yet.

"You are right, my queen. Also, they have appointed a new maid who is close to the prince's servant." Kinjan stood in a stiff position as he silently observed his queen.

She slowly shifted in the chair placing her right foot on the cushion of the chair and her right hand lay on it playing with a ring. Kinjan couldn't help but see her behaviour turn worse day by day, however, he can't stop her and will not.

"Let us change our approach, Kinjan." Anasuya lifted her thick charcoal eyes with a dead expression. "It looks like that bastard prince has joined hands with minister Kashyap. So we should send him a warning right?"

Anasuya smirked cruelly as her eyes remained stuck on Kinjan, trying to read his expression.

"Kill that servant."

"The maid?" Kinjan asked, slowly getting excited about another task. He won't fail this time, he will prove himself to the queen.

"Don't you think he dots too much on his caretaker?"

Kinjan took in a heavy breath in enthusiasm, his queen will be over clouds to see the bastard prince crying over his dead servant.

"Consider the task already done, my queen. By tomorrow's sunset, your face will have a smile while that bastard receives his servant's ripped head." Kinjan words we're filled with confidence and certainty. And Anasuya smiled in content knowing that this time her son is not around to make this plan fail.

••

Raghuveer and Riya sat outside on the steps of the backyard, while Raghuveer had a small bowl of oil ready in his hands, Riya tried to open her hair from the tight bun. Raghuveer couldn't help but narrow his eyes at a struggling Riya. What must have possessed him that he himself offered to do this?

And after a millennium, she was done opening her crappy hair from the tight bun.

Without a word, Raghuveer slowly dipped his fingertips in the bowl and gently rubbed the oil and pressed her head in the process.

"Ahhhhhh." Riya let out a small happy howl in relief. If She would have not known him, she would have never believed him as a prince.

"Ahhh-oh yes, can you scratch it at the side-" Raghuveer knocked on her to prevent Riya from letting out a scream.

"Ouch! Why are you hitting-"

"Shut your mouth, woman." Ordering Raghuveer kept massaging her head and she actually listened to him enjoying the massage.

"Where you banished from your kingdom before you came here?" Raghuveer asked her out of the blue, confusing Riya.

"Um, no. As far as I remember I just fell off the cliff and I reached here." Riya wanted to tell him everything she remembered, her heart told her that she can trust Veeru with any secret but the fear of him crossing her words out, prevented her from talking.

"Really? Then why is your hair like this? All crappy and uneven. In our empire, we usually shave the traitors head or cut their hair in such a way to make them stand out from the crowd indicating that they are banished." Raghuveer suppressed a laugh as he imagined what would Riya's expression might look like.

Well, what he said was not a complete lie but her hair was not even that bad to make her look like a criminal. But she doesn't need to know that.

Riya's mouth almost hung open hearing those words. What! Crappy? A traitor!

She paid thousands and thousands of rupees for this haircut! How can he say that! She loved this hairstyle so much that she paid extra money to the hair salon!

"This is not crappy, okay? This cut adds volume to my hair, it lifts my face structure and makes hair bouncy and smooth, this is called as a feather cut-"

"Feather cut? Even the hen at my poultry has better-looking feathers than yours." Raghuveer teased as his fingers continued to dance on her scalp but hearing those words Riya turned around swiftly asking, "Then tell me, which type of hair looks pretty?"

"Um, hair is supposed to be long and even. If you ask me it is beautiful like that.." Raghuveer tried to make his point as calmly as possible. Long hair will look marvellous on her hair, but she doesn't need to know that.

Long and even? Her hair was a mid length and uneven, does he not think Riya is beautiful? Why? Riya was always praised for her beauty and all at once, a picture of Sahastra flashed in front of her eyes, she has long black hair! Anger flooded through Riya as she turned around furiously to meet his eyes, is it possible that he might like her?

"So you are saying that I am not as beautiful as Sahastra?" Riya questioned him as she placed her hands on her hips, her eyes burning with envy.

"Of course she is beautiful but not as beautiful as you. So sit down and let me complete applying oil on your hair." Raghu veer pulled her back making her sit down.

Was that a compliment? But whatever, she has never heard Raghuveer praise or compliments anyone so that somehow lifted her mood up.

Hearing a tiny compliment from him made Riya thirst for some more.

"Tell me more." She demanded excited, turning diagonally as she placed her hand on his knee to face him, "Am I as beautiful as a flower?"

"Stop insulting flowers, woman."

She rolled her eyes and turned away. Right, she should hit herself for expecting a compliment from him.

Raghuveer expected her to return back to her normal mood but unexpectedly she kept sulking for a longer period of time than he imagined.

"Flowers fade away too soon. They just look pretty but not beautiful if you ask me." Raghuveer spoke as he wiped his oily hand to a rag beside and Riya moved back sitting beside him silently listening to his words, "I will say that you are as beautiful as a tree."

Riya couldn't help but scoff at his words, "Tree? Seriously? Its bark is bumpy, shitty and-"

"A tree not only lives but gives life to us, what can be more beautiful than that? Every time it sheds its leaves, it comes back alive. Who can be stronger than that?" Raghuveer glanced at a mesmerised Riya, she was awestruck by his way with words, he looked back at his garden as he spoke, "Outer beauty fades too soon Riya, but a tree lives longer cause inner beauty never fades. And your beauty is something which can never fade, it shouldn't."

And by the time Raghuveer was done talking unknowingly her body inched closer towards him craving for his touch and right at that moment, Raghuveer turned to face Riya making their faces have nothing but a thin wall of air between them.

The bright moonlight glistened on them and Riya's heart quickened at the thought of kiss. Will he make a move or should she?

Raghuveer's hand slowly pushed the hair covering her left eye behind her ear and Riya's heart was beating rapidly like a caged beast struggling for freedom and when he inched closer a little more, Riya almost fainted at the closeness.

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oh my ghost readers