The Blessed Pratibimb

Chapter-6

Both Hina and Mina were shocked, but Mina recovered first and said excitedly, "That means you will be our queen now!"

She came and hugged her and saying, "I am so happy for you."

But Hina on the other hand said, "But you know he is Kshatriya, right?"

Isha looked down, not wanting to see any pain or disappointment in her eyes. But she came close and with her hand she lifted her face and forced her to see in her eyes, she said, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Isha felt her eyes getting watered and she moved her gaze away. But Hina asked firmly, "Are You Sure?"

Isha stepped back and said, "I have already given myself to Adi Shakti, to universe herself. I cannot back away now."

Hina asked, "But you know this could be very painful, right?"

Isha just turned her back and said, "It's not."

Hina asked angerly, "Oh really? You and I both know how much painful it could be. Why would you give yourself to the universe? We all know changing society could bring disaster to oneself. Have you forgotten about your mother?"

Isha replied very calmly, "It's my choice..."

But Hina was not convinced as she said, "You got to be kidding me, Isha I know, have never done something against her father, or society. What's the universe's plan exactly?"

Isha replied in an annoyed tone, "If you can't help me then please don't discourage me. And moreover, if it's about mother, then yea, I haven't forgotten anything, not even a single thing. But I chose the same path because that's my mother's wish, and I know, no one loves me more than mother in this universe. Whatever she would wish for me is for my best. Much better than any society."

Hina looked down accepting her defeat and she said, "I was, I was just..."

But Isha was not convinced and she said, "I know universe can sometimes be cruel but at the end of the day, she is the ultimate mother. Whatever she would decide for us would be for our best, rather than refusing universe with my ignorance and letting the bunch of fools of society decide what is best for me, I would love to die for the purpose Universe give me."

Hearing this Hina couldn't control her tears. As the tears fell freely and sobs broke shamelessly, she was filled with guilt and sorrow at the thought of her more loving than a sister's death. Isha sighed and held both her hands. She said, "I know you're worried about me but trust me, universe has my back."

Hina looked at her with watery eyes which were full of guilt and said with determination laced in her tone, "I'll help you in any way. Just... Just don't say that you would die. Before seeing you die I would like to give up on my life."

This time even Isha was watery and they both hugged each other getting all cry-cry, but Mina said in a very-very upset tone, "Shouldn't I be included too?"

They laughed and hugged her too. Isha was more than happy to finally share this thing with her friends, now her guilt was somehow lifted. They stood there hugging each other and enjoyed this beautiful moment. 

So, now when they both were ready to help her and Hina inquired, "But how are we supposed to help you?"

Isha told them the whole story of theirs till now. After she was done Mina asked, "So we need to do...What?"

Isha sighed and said, "His majesty loves me but he thinks I don't love him back. We need to prove him how much I love him."

Mina relied with Ohhh and Hina asked, "How are we supposed to do that?"

Isha replied, "I have participated in the contest and as soon as I win it I also gonna win his heart."

Hina was now confused and asked, "But how exactly? I mean how will you win his heart with your food?"

Isha smiled and replied, "That's the thing, I would win his heart with my food. And if you don't know I am blessed by Devi Annapurna. She has blessed me with food of extraordinary taste that anyone could fall in love with me. I have saved this blessing for my husband, but now I am more than happy to use it for my lover."

Both Hina and Mina smiled at her information and Mina said, "I can't believe you would be our queen soon."

Hina shushed her saying, "Are you crazy, don't say it out loud i***t or else Isha would be in a life-threatening situation."

Mina nodded in a very understanding way. Isha said, "Now let the game begin!"

But little did in her heart she knew she was doing something wrong.

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Before sun could hit her eyes, she opened them to welcome darkness of dawn. She stretched herself and stood up, going to balcony to let the fresh air wash her sleep away. She smiled remembering that today is the day when she will make her lover accept her. As she was enjoying the bath of cold breeze, suddenly a thought hit her mind. 'Why not get ready there?'

She giggled at her own thought, but thought of going there anyway. She grabbed her light lamp, fresh pair of clothes and sandalwood paste. She opened her door to look if there is anyone or not. Finding her way clear, she sneaked out of her house.

Being careful she looked around and went on the way to the deep forest. The mist was on its full, even the birds were asleep. She was moving quietly to her place when she heard some bushed moving. Her heart felt like skipping a beat and she looked at the direction only to find an owl there. She giggled at her corwardness and suddenly was it by the sight she was waiting to see.

She saw a large leaf, she smiled and plucked it and kept going on her way. Soon she heard the noise of waterfall and going a bit more further she saw the waterfall she was waiting for. She touched the water and shivered at its coldness.

She used the leaf to cover her head and ran into the waterfall on to pass it to the cave's entrance. She sighed at the coldness and used to light lamp to light her path. As she was walking in, little y little, she started to feel the warmth. Soon enough she was hit by hot mist of hot water. As she reach the pond inside she placed her lamp on the a place high to illuminate the whole cave with dim yellow colored light.

She looked around only to find everything on its place like the last time she left. Pond was covered with mist of hot water and the whole cave was covered with greens and many other plants which could be found in a low lights places.

She had found this place when she was eight years old. She was brought her by a butterfly and she also helped her to reach back home. She had explored the whole cave thoroughly and it had only two ways to come in. One was the way she took which was completely hidden and other was the behind it near the big bushes, but that path was not for humans to walk. It was so slippery that she herself used a rope to walk even then she would fall. Thus the whole cave was completely secure.

She took a cotton clothe and wrapped it closely around her body. She then dropped her skirt and blouse. Covering her body only with white clothe she stepped into the hot spring. As she went further in and started to relax, her mind drifted into the most peaceful state. Suddenly her mind was hit by the thought of Arihant. The peace he gave her back then, was much more peaceful and loving than the peace she was having right. His dark brown eyes were so deep, she could have spend her whole life looking at them. He had so much to say but yet he only said few sentences. He was so happy to hear that he would marry her but then when she asked he refuse. She just couldn't understand what he would do something like that?

She was in deep thoughts when she heard footsteps approaching her from the direction of slippery path. She couldn't believe that someone could really come from there, but it seemed like her worst nightmare coming true. She looked at noise's direction and saw a hug figure coming towards her. Her breath hunched and she hanged on the last piece of clothing on her body. With a deep breath and she went into the water.

She saw, from inside the water, guy approaching the pond and strangely it seemed familiar to her. But soon the oxygen started vanish pressure on her lungs increased and she started to feel her energy draining, but being self stubborn she refuse to come up. She was waiting for guy to go back, but he seemed to glued to only one place. Her limit was going out and her lungs were threatening to burst and she saw the guy going back to the place of his origin, but as she was about to come up her leg slipped and she used her hands to swim but they felt too heavy. She started to splash the water but in vain and black dots became more visible and she felt herself drifting away.

But before she could go in deep, dark and black slumber of forever sleep she felt someone grabbing her by her waist. Although the sensation was too less but she sure felt it. As she used last bit of her energy she saw someone familiar, someone really special with deep dark brown eyes. But after then she gave up.

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Arihant was out on a walk near the dawn, as he couldn't make himself sleep anymore. He let his feet drag him to whatever way they feel comfortable with. He was deep into his political matter, when his foot was pulled by a branch and he fell on the ground. Then he came to his senses and found himself in the middle of misty forest. He looked everywhere but couldn't find any path way which could have lead him here.

He sighed, maybe today was not his day. He looked at the sky and found it was still dawn. He looked here and there and saw a cave. Maybe he can rest in it until the sun rises, thinking that he started to go in. It seemed wired but his heart felt like thumping loudly, though he didn't know the exact reason. As he went further in, he felt the warmth, curiously he went further in only to find a lighted place, maybe this person can help him get his way back. As he went further in he saw the mist growing more and more thick and saw a lamp placed there on a height which was illuminating the whole cave and also noticed the pond there.

As he was observing his surroundings he noticed clothes, he started towards them but suddenly heard splashing water. He without thinking anything jumped into the pond and saw someone drowning there. He went close and found it was girl. She didn't seem to move but as he went further towards her, she seemed to open her eyes and they seemed familiar, light browns ones.

He pulled her in his embrace and swimmed towards the shallow water. He threw her hair back only to find his lover in his arms, half dead. She was all damped and was not breathing. He placed her on the dry surface and started to rub her hands, but that didn't work. So he started to pressure on her stomach but in vain.

He knew what he had to do now, and although he would have done it with any other girl, but with Isha it was something different. He mentally slapped himself and though, 'It is life and death you i***t, just do it.'

With that he took a deep breath and looked at her, closing his eyes he started towards her but before he could reach her lips, he heard coughs. He opened his eyes only to find her coughing the water out. He sighed and though, 'at least I will not be listed as a p*****t now.'

When she came back to her senses, she saw the person who have saved her life, her mouth was only left with, "You are real...?"