Diya (pov)

So, it turns out my mom does really know me so well, coz I did the exact same thing which she warned me not to do. I got distracted on my way and ended up at a "Murtikars" shop who was making new murtis... it's so beautiful and peaceful to just watch them literally create something which so many people worship. When I was a child, I used to always visit Murtikars shop as I didn't have any friends, which I still don't have... I don't know why... girls my age always used to ignore me and didn't include me in anything even in our gurukul. So, I started visiting such creative places and learnt everything I know about Murtis and paintings from these artists only.

I don't know how time passed so quickly that it was almost sunset. "oh my god!! I am soo dead.. its soo lateee!! Ma will kill me!!" Raghu Kaka, the old Murtikar starts laughing at my antics. "Diya you have not changed a bit, you are still that small girl who used to sit here for hours watching me make Murtis and then cry about your mother scolding you for reaching late at home!!" he mocks me in good humor. I scoff at his taunt "yeah yeah!! What is with all you people telling me that I am still a kid." I roll my eyes. He laughs at my irritated face, which he knows is just fake anger. " ok ok but you should really go now before it gets dark, as you know about the restriction....." I don't wait to hear his whole sentence and just run-away waving goodbye to him.

She finally reaches the temple where her father was talking to someone on the temple entrance. As she got closer she realized that person was none other than the the youngest prince of Amer. 'Kunwar Vijay' who was like the most desirable bachelor in the whole north west of the country. Her father notices her and glares at her, which gets noticed by the Prince too who turns to look at the person behind him who is none other than Diya who looks anywhere but at her father.

The Prince is soo awestruck by her beauty that he just gapes at her while she walks closer to them. He was mesmerized by her beauty and couldn't take his eyes away from her. The Most desirable bachelor was curious about this girl.

Diya (pov)

Oh no!! Pita ji looks angry... as always. I walk closer to them, bowing my head with respect to the prince as we are expected to. I stand in front of them "Khamma Ghani, Kunwar Vijay Sa" I fold my hands in Namaste and greet him. When I get no reply I look up just to find him staring at me with a smile. Why is he staring at me like that?? I look at him confused "Kunwar Sa please come inside so we can talk more about the preparations" my father interrupts which breaks his stare and he looks away embarrassed? But why? I am still confused, but I slowly see what other girls of the whole north west india see in him. He is very handsome like literally a Prince of Fairy tales we read in childhood and dream about in our teenage. But I don't see anything more than that. I don't know his personality and his behavior towards others. So how can I dream or desire for him without knowing these basic things.

I am soo deep in thought that I don't notice him saying something to me and my father's voice breaks my thought process. "Kunwar sa forgive my daughter for her ill manners" I am soo confused of what I did to upset him but I do notice the Prince raising his hands like a command to stop speaking at my father. "I was not finished Pujari ji, so don't interrupt me ever again like this." He barks which almost startles me. Turning to me "Diya bai sa I have never seen you around in any of our royal functions. May I know why?" he asks with such arrogance which irritates me. "I am not interested in such functions" I whisper which obviously they both heard. "DIYA!!!!!! What is this behavior!! Apologize to Kunwar Sa now" my father shouts. Huh I didn't even say anything disrespecting? I was just saying the truth! "I am sorry Kunwar Sa" I bow my head. "no need for sorry Diya Ji" he caresses my arms which might look innocent but it doesn't feel good in anyway. I take my arm back awkwardly. "Pitaji. Ma sa sent you dinner for today." I say forwarding the bag to him. "Hmm. Now you should leave. Its already past sunset." He tells me with a straight face. Huhh anyway who wants to stay here... I turn and start walking away once again folding my hands in namaste gesture to the prince who suddenly looks so ugly with an evil smirk on his face.

The prince turns towards Diya's father after fully ogling Diya till she was out of sight. "say pujari ji are you getting any marriage proposals for Diya?" he asks, to which the Pujari laughs proudly, "yes yes a lot, and I am not at all bragging this just because she is my daughter, she is the most beautiful woman of our village and maybe in neighboring villages too, that's why many big big families have approached us for her hand in marriage from many years. But she said she wants to complete her studies, which is not needed for her but still I allowed it because she should learn from our culture and accept the rituals of society. But now she has completed her studies.... The prince raises his hands to stop Pujari from talking further. "these studies are a waste for woman. You should have taught her society rules in childhood only. Anyway what if I marry her?" the prince smirks looking at the shocked face of pujari "what? Prince she is not worthy of you... you are the prince and we are just a middle-class family of Brahmins." The prince laughs "of course she is not a princess so she is not up to my class but she is too beautiful to be left around for a common man, so I am making her mine... I will talk to my father, the king about this after the Pooja." The pujari is too stunned to reply, but he nods and folds his hands in respect. The prince enters the temple with him for further preparations of the pooja.

Diya was on her way back home for which she had to cross the forest and she was soo confused looking empty streets of the village which was near the forest. The usual crowd of villagers were absent and all the shops were closed before usual time. All the houses shut.

Diya(pov)

I walk entering the forest now. I am very familiar with this forest road, Afterall I have been going through these roads since childhood Am I too late? Why is there this unusual silence? Like.... Like a silence before the storm. I look up at the sky... I look at the dark blue sky... I guess I am extremely late. Mom is definitely going to kill me today. Suddenly I hear a sound... not a sound, a huge roar of laughter. I know I should probably just ignore it as I am already late but when the whole village was empty. And suddenly you hear people in the middle of the forest. Obviously, you are curious.

I follow the sound out of curiosity, just like a Cat from the old saying... not knowing that it could literally kill me like the Curiosity killed the Cat.

sorry sorry guyss for such a late update.. but i got busy with my college project stuff and then i caught a fever. soooo.. there you go!! another update may come today or tomorrow. ;)

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