Lust Or Love?

"Ajmer....humm??" The old fat man asked a lady claded in Rajasthani embroidered skirt and scarf. Her face was veiled by a green scarf. She just nodded in response. "So what work you used to do there? " "I used to work for the princess of Ajmer my Lord, I was one of her hand maidens. " she replied. She glimpsed through her veil at the unmistakable flustered face of the man with the word she just used, lord. "So what made you leave that place? " The suspicious and stern look gone from his face, the man was now looking forward to get this interview over with. "Personal reasons my Lord! The society is too cruel for lonely, helpless women. " this time she saw his features softening, as he leaned back on his chair. "Humm....Okay I am sending you to the Rang Mahal the queen will decide your work. " he replied and gave back the letter of appointment from king of Ajmer. "Thank you my Lord." She joined her palms and thanked the man whole heartily and started to walk towards the Rang Mahal. The palace of colors, it is the place where the women live. And no men are allowed to enter without the permission of the king. The large palace was divided into five parts. The main entrance of rang Mahal opens into the middle which leads to the royal garden, 'Utsav vatika' which is now covered with colorful roses. It is winter after all. Rajani who is now appointed as a maid in the palace walked towards the chambers of Royal queen, the chief wife of king Surya pratap. Asking directions from people. At last she stood right in front of her chambers, with a giant golden door. A slim pale looking girl was standing outside. "good morning, I wanted to meet the queen. " Rajani handed her the appointment letter. "Here, show this to her." Rajani took off her veil and waited for the queen 's order. Minutes later she was standing in front of a blue eyed, beautiful lady. Who was half lying, half sitting on the bed. The room was enormous. Beautiful paintings hung down the walls of the room. Expensive flower vases and show pieces filled the rest of the room. There was a large window around the corner. Which gave a clear view of peach and Red colored roses of the utsav vatika. Three pale looking girls were standing in the other corner of the room with there heads bowing down, ready to serve the queen. Rajani curtsied in front of the queen. "A very pleasant good morning your highness." "What's your name girl?" The young queen eyed the girl. After all it isn't something usual for a so beautiful girl to come for work as a common maid. She is young but even her young eyes have experienced a lot in these aspects, she have seen a lot from her mother's misery when her father humiliated her for a common prostitute, the problems she and her mother faced after her father's death when her half brothers threw them out on road and the bloody disastrous war. "Rajani, my queen! " "Where do you live? " queen Shivanya saw the letter from the king of Ajmer taking guarantee of her character, that she is not a thief and could do common house hold works and have worked in Ajmer for last many years. But the beautiful face queen Shivanya saw in front of her was telling a different story. The black doe shaped eyes were holding a lot of secrets within it. Her features, her long nose, milky flawless skin, everything was screaming out loud that she isn't a common maid and there is a big story behind her. "My family is in Ajmer, my queen. " Queen Shivanya knew there was a story behind this girl but when she talked she looked like a mirror of truth who reflects everything she had in mind. "So what made you leave your family and come here? Alone?" She stressed on the word alone. "Personal problems my queen." Rajani paused for a second and then continued looking down on the floor. "This little maid would be too thankful to you my queen if my past would not come up. It is not a pretty story my queen, the cruelty of the world is better inside the soul. " That was true! queen Shivanya herself experienced that, the struggles and pains of past is better hidden deep inside the heart. Whenever it comes out the life seems to cruel and even make the moment painful. "True! " she smiled at the girl in front of her. She was about her own age or maybe a little younger and probably faced the darkness of this world. "I am appointing you to take care of princess Rashmani, Ashika here, would show you her chamber and make you familiar with the rules of the palace. " Saying this she clapped her hand twice and the pale looking girl came back. "Thank you my queen! " Rajani bowed for the last time and left the chambers, with that pale girl by her side. She sighed in relief thinking that the nervous part is now over. Now all she have to do is.....work faithfully for the royal princess? 'Nah' She could just laugh at the thought!