Avyanna’s Pov
“You better be ready in the next ten minutes, Avu” Avyan says as he exits my room after dropping a bombshell.
It has been 2 weeks since my parents announced the news of my marriage to me. And I am still not over the shock.
Sighing, I open my cupboard to find an appropriate dress for my meeting with the Rana’s and especially my future husband, Ranvijay.
The mystery of the portrait of Narmada Singh Rajawat still disturbed me. And I tried my best not to think about it again and again but my mind always drifted back to it.
I have read more than 20 books in the past couple of weeks and I still could not find anything about her other than the things my grandmother had already told me.
As I searched through my wardrobe, my eyes landed on a beautiful white kurti, with beautiful embroidery on it. I grin and take it out.
Minutes later I was dressed in the beautiful kurti. Applying a little bit of makeup and wearing silver jhumkas on my ears, I glance at my reflection in the mirror.
I style my curly hair, putting it up with a clutcher.
I took a step back, admiring my reflection. The white kurti complimented my skin tone perfectly, and the silver jhumkas added a touch of elegance. I looked poised, yet understated. Exactly what I wanted for this meeting.
“Avu, come on!” Avyan called out from outside my room, his voice growing impatient.
I took a deep breath, smoothing out my kurti. It was time to face whatever lay ahead.
As I walked out of my room, Avyan gave me a once-over, his expression approving. “You look nice, Avu. Let’s go.”
I nodded, following him through the winding corridors of the palace. We reached the grand entrance hall, where our parents were already waiting.
My mother, Sulekha, smiled warmly at me. “Avyanna, beta, you look beautiful. Ranvijay will be impressed.”
I forced a smile, trying to hide my inner turmoil from them.
Soon all of my family gathered in the entrance hall. My father’s younger brother and his wife, their three kids, my grandmother, my father’s elder brother and his wife, their three kids, my unmarried younger uncle, my aunt and her husband (who lived with us) and their two kids.
It was quite overwhelming sometimes but I’ve grown used to it.
I maintained a neutral expression, not betraying any emotion
As I scanned the room, I noticed the mixture of excitement and curiosity on my family members’ faces. They were all eager to meet Ranvijay and solidify the alliance between our families.
My father, King Vikrant Singh Rajawat, stood tall, his expression proud and authoritative. He nodded at me, his eyes gleaming with approval.
My grandmother, Rajmata Shakuntala, stood beside him, her eyes fixed on me with a hint of concern. I knew she sensed my unease, but she wouldn’t say anything in front of the others.
As we waited, the sound of horses’ hooves and chatter filled the air. The Rana’s entourage had arrived.
My mother’s smile widened as she gestured to the entrance. “They’re here. Let’s go, everyone.”
The room erupted into a flurry of activity as my family members moved towards the entrance. I followed, my heart pounding in my chest.
As we stepped out into the bright sunlight, I caught sight of the Rana’s procession. Ranvijay, the man I was supposed to marry, stood tall, his eyes fixed on me. His gaze was cold and calculating, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
He smiled, but it was a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was a smile that seemed to say, “You’re mine now, and you’ll do as I say.”
I felt a surge of unease as he approached me. His eyes roamed over me, taking in every detail of my appearance. I felt like a prize horse being inspected before a purchase.
“Avyanna,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “You look… acceptable.”
I felt a spark of anger ignite within me. Acceptable? Who did he think he was?
But I bit back my retort, remembering the warning my parents had given me. I had to be polite, and had to be obedient. Had to be the perfect daughter.
I forced a smile onto my face, trying to hide my true feelings. “Ranvijay,” I said, my voice sweet and demure. “It’s nice to meet you.”
But as I looked into his eyes, I knew that I was in trouble. This man was not going to be easy to deal with.
Our families got busy with greetings and formalities.
Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of a shadow in the corridors, and my brows furrowed with curiosity.
“Did you see that?” I whisper to the cousin beside me.
“See what di?” Vrisha asks confused
“The shadow-”
“What shadow? I did not see anything” Vrisha says her voice filled with concern “Di? You alright? You slept well yesterday right?”
I nod.
“Yeah, Yeah, don’t worry. I must have been just a bit sceptical” I assure her and give her a tight smile “I’ll be back in a second”
I rushed towards the corridor where I saw a shadow lurking but there was no one in sight there.
I was about to turn back, when I noticed something at my feet.
Bending down, I picked a dusty old diary, with rotten pages in it. The cover was made of leather and on it was engraved quite a few initials.
N•S•R
N•S•R?
Narmada Singh Rajawat?
But didn’t she die a hundred years ago, then why were the letters engraved in English ?
Curiosity overwhelmed me
I stood there, frozen, as I stared at the diary in my hands. Narmada Singh Rajawat’s initials were engraved on the cover, but in English? It didn’t make sense. Our family had always used Hindi or Sanskrit for official documents and personal belongings.
I carefully opened the diary, blowing off the dust. The pages were yellowed and brittle, but as I began to flip through them, I saw that they were filled with handwritten notes.
The writing was in English, but it was an old style, one that I had only seen in ancient books. I recognized some of the words, but others were unfamiliar.
As I delicately turned the pages, a piece of paper slipped out and fell to the ground. I picked it up, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw a sketch of the palace, but it was different. There were secret passages and hidden rooms that I had never seen before.
I felt a shiver run down my spine. What secrets was this diary hiding? And why was it hidden in the corridor?
I knew I had to find out more. I tucked the diary into my waistband, making sure it was secure. I would have to find a way to read it without anyone noticing.
As I turned to head back to the gathering, I saw Ranvijay standing in the doorway, watching me. His eyes narrowed, and I felt a surge of unease.
“What are you doing, Avyanna?” he asked, his voice low and suspicious.
I forced a smile onto my face. “Just… um… looking for a bracelet I lost. I think I might have dropped it here.”
Ranvijay’s eyes lingered on me, as if he didn’t believe me. But then, he nodded and turned to leave.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. That was close. I knew I had to be more careful. I couldn’t let anyone find out about the diary. Not yet.
Smiling at Ranvijay, I entered the gathering hall and started engaging with my future in-laws.
I developed a sense of understanding towards Ranvijay’s brother, Ruhan. We shared likes , and were able to connect with each other. He was totally opposite of what Ranvijay was. While Ranvijay was cold and reserved, Ruhan liked to share things. Ranvijay always wore a scowl on his face, while his brother grinned.
They were so different.
And Ruhan is better, said that voice in my head.
No. No. I shouldn’t think like that. I mentally scolded myself.
I have always been the disciplined, obedient daughter in my family. I should not do this.
Shaking my head, I focus back on the conversation.
Soon lunch was served and I found myself stuck between my future spouse and my brother.
With difficulty, I process through the whole lunch, chewing silently, passing smiles occasionally.
Soon it’s time for the Rana’s to leave.
As the Rana’s prepared to depart, I felt a mix of relief and anxiety. Relief that the tension-filled lunch was over, and anxiety about what the future held.
Ranvijay’s eyes lingered on me as he stood up, his expression unreadable. “I’ll see you soon, Avyanna,” he said, his voice low and smooth.
I nodded, forcing a smile onto my face. “Yes, soon.”
As the Rana’s exited the palace, I let out a sigh of relief. I was grateful to have made it through the lunch without any major incidents.
My family began to disperse, chatting and laughing as they went their separate ways. I stood up, smoothing out my kurti, and began to follow them.
*Time skip*
Sitting in my bedroom, I open the old dusty diary, coughing a bit due to the dust.
On the first page in Sanskrit, words were scribbled.
Thanks to my upbringing, I was fluent in reading and speaking Sanskrit.
I begin reading
( A/N:The sentences will be in English)
Dear Diary,
Life’s getting worse right now. Baba has fixed my marriage with Shailendra. But I cannot marry him! You know how much I love Kanishk. And they are brothers! My Dad is threatening to kill me if I try to defy him. To be honest, I’m ready to end my life rather than marrying Shailendra.
~ Narmada
I snap the diary shut, breathing heavily. This was twisted.
Was this the reason she died? Was she murdered?
The only one who could give me the answer was.
Dadi.