ষ
Amalendu said,
"I want Swarnendu to marry Rupkatha. After your father, I wish to see Swarnendu as the king. That is why his marriage must happen first, and he must have a child so that the right of succession remains with his lineage. I want his marriage to take place before yours."
Hearing this, Advitiya remained silent.
Amalendu continued,
"I know the reason for your silence. I am asking for this only for one reason."
Advitiya looked at him.
"What reason?"
Amalendu replied,
"Advitiya, you and your sister Shaktishree were born together. I saved your mother and both of you. At that time, there was no royal physician in the kingdom—he had gone to tend to his own ailing mother. In that dire situation, there wasn't even a midwife available. You both came into this world because of me. The chief queen's condition had worsened terribly. Rakthima and I tried with all our might to save her and both of you. With whatever knowledge I had, I managed to save your lives. Your father had asked me what I wanted in return. I asked for this right, and he had agreed—but now he has forgotten."
Advitiya spoke after a pause,
"Very well. I will not marry, and I will help Swarnendu win. But I have one condition."
Amalendu asked,
"What is it?"
Advitiya replied,
"If Swarnendu's child is born before mine, only then will he have the right. I hope you agree."
Amalendu thought for a moment and then said,
"Yes. He will marry first and have a child—then the right will follow."
Advitiya nodded.
"Then so be it."
---
Advitiya honored Amalendu's condition. He did not participate in the Swayamvara and instead helped Swarnendu win.
But now, a question troubled him—what answer would he give to Rajmata Dhriti?
Lost in thought, Advitiya walked ahead when suddenly Dhananjayi came face to face with him.
She asked,
"Prince Advitiya, you here?"
Advitiya stayed silent.
Looking at him with suspicion, Dhananjayi said,
"You are not someone who would run away from a competition. Then why? Why did you not participate and instead made your brother compete?"
Advitiya replied calmly,
"That is my personal matter."
Dhananjayi frowned.
"This is not the way of a Kshatriya, Prince. You have broken the code."
Advitiya looked at her and said,
"Princess, one does not have to win everywhere. Sometimes one must lose. Even in defeat, there can be victory."
With that, he walked away.
---
Meanwhile, Swarnendu was preparing to depart for Durgavati with his newly wedded wife, Rupkatha.
Elsewhere, Soumitra was recounting to Adrij what had happened inside the lake during the competition. Dhananjayi was also present.
When she heard about the invisible net that had trapped Soumitra's feet underwater, she said,
"I sense great deceit here. Watching so many kings and princes fail felt strange. And the most suspicious part is Prince Advitiya's absence. Where was he at that time?"
Soumitra said angrily,
"They used trickery to win Rupkatha."
Dhananjayi replied firmly,
"Brother, no one can establish themselves through deceit. Anything gained through trickery never stays forever. And as for Prince Advitiya—they are nothing but our enemies. What else can we expect from such a royal family?"
Adrij said,
"Princess, there is no point in staying here any longer. We should return to our kingdom."
---
Princess Swapneeli, however, felt secretly relieved that Advitiya had not participated in the Swayamvara.
Driven by her feelings, she entered Advitiya's chamber to meet him.
Seeing her there, Advitiya was surprised.
"Princess, you here? Do you realize what your brother and Princess Dhananjayi might think if they learn about this?"
Swapneeli looked at him helplessly and said,
"Prince, I have something to tell you… if you would listen."
Advitiya, preparing himself, said,
"Say it quickly."
Swapneeli placed a letter on his bed and said softly,
"Read it when you have time."
Then she left.
Advitiya immediately understood her feelings—and silently thanked fate for it.
---
Before everyone's eyes, through deception and strategy, Swarnendu of the Singh dynasty took Rupkatha, the princess of Amaravati, as his bride.
After returning to his kingdom, Prince Soumitra could not even face his father. He had failed to win even a single Swayamvara competition before his enemies.
The palace of Amravart sank into gloom.
King Marg tried to console his son, but Queen Bhargavi blamed Basumati and her daughter for Soumitra's downfall.
Amidst this unrest, Dhananjayi went to comfort her brother—but her stepmother pierced her with harsh words.
Silently, without protest, Dhananjayi endured every insult.
---
Under the full moon, the surroundings of the lake glowed with silver light.
On this auspicious night, the new bride of the royal family entered the palace.
Rajmata Dhriti welcomed Swarnendu's bride.
Though the Singh dynasty had won the Swayamvara, things had not gone as Dhriti had wished. She had wanted Advitiya to win.
After the welcoming ceremony, when everyone went inside with the bride, Dhriti stopped Advitiya.
"Stop, Advitiya…"
He stood still.
She came before him and asked,
"Why did you not participate in the Swayamvara? It was you who was supposed to bring the bride—not Swarnendu."
Advitiya replied,
"Rajmata, whether I bring the bride or Swarnendu does, both of us are your grandsons. What difference does it make?"
Dhriti said sternly,
"Just because I love you more doesn't mean you can go against my words."
Advitiya answered,
"Rajmata, I did not wish to marry."
Dhriti frowned.
"Why?"
Advitiya said quietly,
"Marriage should be with someone you love from your heart. It cannot be forced."
Dhriti sighed,
"You did not do right by disobeying me."
Folding his hands, Advitiya said,
"Forgive me, Rajmata. This mistake will not be repeated."
---
Meanwhile, under the moonlit sky, beside the lake, Dhananjayi sat alone on a stone.
Her long hair flowed over the ground, her bow lay beside her, and she rested her head on her knees.
She was furious—furious at Prince Advitiya.
She had hoped that her brother would return victorious with a bride, but instead, the palace was filled with darkness.
Her stepmother's harsh words echoed again and again in her mind.
Maybe I truly am unfortunate… she thought.
Since my birth, this family has only seen sorrow…
She looked into the clear water of the lake and saw her reflection shimmering in the moonlight.
Suddenly, she noticed another reflection beside hers.
Turning, she saw Adrij standing there.
He asked gently,
"Are you crying?"
Dhananjayi quickly hid her tears.
"Who said that?"
Adrij stepped closer.
"Why are you hiding it?"
Dhananjayi replied bitterly,
"These tears have no value, Adrij. The tears of someone like me… they mean nothing."
She stood up to leave, but Adrij called out,
"One day, your tears will have value. Your father will understand your worth."
Dhananjayi gave a faint, ironic smile and wiped her tears.
"I have no such hope, Adrij. Perhaps that day will never come."
She walked away.
Adrij watched her go and murmured to himself,
"Whether you believe it or not, Dhananjayi… I truly wish for you to live like any other princess… and for your father to one day be proud of you."
---
(To be continued…)