Echoes of Destiny

The Tangled Web of Relationships

Though Advaita distanced herself from Tara, she couldn't entirely ignore her presence. Despite the strain between them, there remained a flicker of care and concern within Advaita's heart. While their bond was not as strong as it had been in the previous life, Advaita recognized the importance of not completely shutting Tara out of her life.

On one auspicious day, fate brought Advaita face to face with Vikramaditya in a temple near Amravati. Tara, once again, seemed to be captivated by Vikram's presence. She couldn't help but swoon over him and praised him to Advaita. She praised Vikram to Advaita, unknowingly reigniting the flames of insecurity within Advaita's heart. Advaita knew that maintaining a distance from Vikram was necessary to avoid further complications. 

In the following months, Advaita had a few more encounters with Vikram at various functions. However, she consciously maintained her distance, avoiding any deep conversations or interactions. The memories of Vikram's betrayal in her previous life were still fresh in her mind, causing her to despise him. She wanted no relation to him and made it clear through her demeanor and actions. She couldn't bring herself to forge any kind of relationship with him, keeping her heart guarded and vowing to protect herself from further pain.

Advaita's despise for Vikram influenced her choices, as she chose to prioritize her own emotional well-being.  While she navigated her complex relationship with Tara, her feelings towards Vikram remained firm and resolute.

In the midst of the emotional turbulence, Advaita found solace in the company of her cousin, Yuvaan. He became her confidant and partner in mischief. Together, they created cherished memories, finding joy and laughter in their shared adventures.

One fine day, As the sun began its descent, casting an enchanting orange hue across the horizon, Advaita and Yuvaan felt a surge of excitement in their hearts. The palace seemed to whisper secrets, inviting them to embark on an adventure.

Yuvaan leaned in, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Advaita tumne mahal me bane gupt marg ke vishay me suna hai? Chalo gupt marg khojte hai!"  ("Psst, Advaita, have you heard about the secret passage in the palace? Let's go find it!" )

Advaita's eyes lit up with curiosity."Gupt marg? Aap satya keh rhe hai Yuvaan Bhaisa? Yeh to bahot hi romanchak lagta hai. Hum bhi chalenge, chalie!"  ("A secret passage? Really, Yuvaan Bhaisa? That sounds so thrilling! Count me in, let's go!")

With quickened steps, they made their way through the palace corridors, their laughter echoing through the grand halls. The air was thick with anticipation as they whispered to each other, plotting their next move.

Yuvaan pointed to a peculiar painting on the wall. "Us chitra ko dekho Advaita. Hume lagta hai uske piche kuch hai. Isse hatakar dekhte hai iske piche kya hai."  ("Look at that painting, Advaita. I have a feeling it's hiding something. Give it a nudge and see what's behind it?")

Advaita nodded eagerly, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Bilkul! Aaiye dekhte hai isme kya rehesya hai!" ("Absolutely! Let's see what secrets it holds!")

With a playful push, the painting swung open, revealing a hidden passage. Their eyes widened, and they exchanged excited glances. Side by side, they ventured into the dimly lit corridor, their footsteps echoing softly. Their whispers grew hushed, as if they were stepping into a world known only to them.

As they followed along the passage in front of them, they found themselves in the kitchen. Looking at the bustling kitchen in front of them, Yuvaan let out a disappointed sigh. "Ah! Hume laga tha kuch romanchak hoga parantu yeh toh hume bhojanalaya lekar aagya. Kya aavshyakta thi bhojanaalaya ke lie gupt marg banane ki?"  ("Ah! I thought it would be something exciting, but it led us to the kitchen. What was even the need to create a secret passage to the kitchen?")

Advaita also felt a tinge of disappointment, but she quickly revived their spirits. " Toh kya hua yadi hume koi khajana nhi mila? Hum abhi bhi anya prakar ke maze kar sakte hai." ("So what if we didn't find any secret treasure? We can still have some other kind of fun.")

Yuvaan looked at her curiously and asked, "Ab tumhare chote se dimaag me kya naya pak raha hai, natkhat Rajkumari." ("Now, what is cooking in that little head of yours, you mischievous munchkin?")

Advaita smiled mysteriously and said,"Kaise rahega yadi hum sabko dugni mithai khilae?" ("How about we treat everyone to double sweets?")

Yuvaan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Kya matlab?" ("What do you mean?")

Advaita didn't reply immediately. Instead, she quietly went to a large vessel and added a whole bowl full of sugar into the vegetable curry that was cooking. She suppressed her laughter as she stirred it in, creating a hidden surprise.

Yuvaan looked at her, slightly concerned. "Advaita tum jaanti ho na hume iske lie daant bhi padh sakti hai?" ("Advaita, you know we might get scolded for this, right?")

Advaita couldn't contain her excitement as she giggled mischievously. "Yeh hi to maze ka hissa hai, Yuvaan bhaisa! Chalie sabhi ke chehare dekhen jab ve ye mithaas chakhte hain." ("That's part of the fun, Yuvaan Bhaisa! Let's see everyone's faces when they taste the extra sweetness.")

However, their adventure didn't go unnoticed for long. Later that evening, as the family gathered for dinner, Rani Padmavati  took a bite of the curry. Her expression changed, and she looked at Advaita and Yuvaan, a mix of surprise and amusement on her face.

"Advaita, Yuvaan, kya kara hai ab aap dono ne?" ("Advaita, Yuvaan, what have you two done?") Rani Padmavati asked with a serious face. Advaita looked at her mother, her eyes wide with shocked. "Maasa! aapko kaise pata ki yeh hum the?" ("How did you know it was us, maasa?") she said, trying to feign innocence.

Rani Padmavati chuckled and shook her head. "Is mahal me tum dono jitna sharati koi nahi hai. Hum sadev bata sakte hai ki tum kab kuch karne ko taiyarr ho." ("There is no one else in the palace who is as mischievous as you both. I can always tell when you're up to something.")

Yuvaan looked at Rani Padmavati and apologized, his voice filled with sincerity. "Badi maasa, hum bas kuch maze karna chahte the. Hume khed hai aur hum vaada karte hai aage se aisa nhi karenge." ("Badi maasa, we just wanted to have some fun. We're sorry, and we promise we won't do it again.")

The family couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Advaita and Yuvaan's guilty faces. Rani Padmavati's stern expression softened, and she reached out to pat them both on the head. "You two always find a way to bring laughter and surprises to our lives. Just remember to be a little more careful next time."

Advaita and Yuvaan exchanged sheepish smiles, grateful for the family's understanding. They realized that their mischievous act had brought joy and laughter to the dinner table, despite the unexpected sweetness of the curry.