The Compensation

Swarth

Swarth

(Selfishness)

Tarini was being dressed. Her maroon and gold saree was a contrast to her fair skin thus accentuating her hue even more. There was a golden glow on her gloomy face, her lips made redder by berries and pomegranates. Dark Kajal which adorned the shape of her beautiful eyes slowly flowed down her face after getting mixed with her tears. She asked her maids to leave her alone for some time.

She stood up, faced the mirror and looked at herself from head to toe.

"This is not the time to sit and cry over your fate, Tarinii. You are a princess and princesses don't cry over their fate or fight it right?"she smiled sarcastically to her own reflection in the mirror.

"This time is to plan your moves -

do you want this marriage?" Her reflection asked.

"No." She said at once.

"Who cares about your will? You are no less than a commodity which shall be bought sold and bartered!" Her reflection snickered and mocked, making her sad.

"However, think properly- this is better than that Bhadraketu isn't it? That prince, whatever was his name, isn't married already so you shall be the first wife, won't you?

Moreover the whole kingdom says that he shall be the next emperor, so you shall be the Empress. That is a good profitable situation.

Also he seemed quite, in fact, extremely liberal by his thoughts. Remember how he defended you on the war field so he might give you some importance...that importance which you have craved all your life." Her reflection beamed making her reanalyse her situation.

"He was smitten by me, I guess, or was it just pity?

But think, what if he shall also misunderstand me like father did? What if he marries again and makes somebody else the Empress? What if he forces himself on me? What if he doesn't have a good character?" She voiced out her concerns.

"Uh! Every situation has it's own pros and cons and these all doubts in your mind are nothing but that. Think about the positive things, he is so handsome!" The reflection giggled.

"Are you sure you are my reflection, a warrior princess' reflection? What do I do of his handsomeness? Make pickles?" Tarini glared back and attacked with sarcasm. "Nothing doing, he is my father's murderer. The murderervof my kingdom's king. My aim must be his death."

"No, he didn't kill your father, Tarini!" The reflection said in a slow voice, her face tearful. He killed Shashi, the man who insulted you despite you staking your life to save him. He killed Shashi, who had actually killed your father. Isn't it fair now?" This blew Tarini like a tornado, she had completely forgotten these facts immersed in her bout of patriotism.

"It is time to be practical, find your own benefit in this punishment. You have finished your duty towards Padmadurg by saving it from the wrath of Aaranya, by marrying their prince! Padmadurg shall never value you, never love you but just treat you like a burden." The reflection gave some wise words affecting Tarini to take her final decision.

"This shall be a new start, a new beginning, a new dawn in my life. I hope Aaranya accepts me and Padmadurg remembers me for this."
She decided to not escape the marriage as it had too many benefits for her. Yes, she had decided to be selfish for a while - a very unlikely thing for a woman of any era.

She summoned back the maids to improve her look which had become all disturbed due to her arguments. Now it was certain, Rajkumari Tarini shall marry the prince but not to surrender to him but to seek her own benefit in some or the other way.

Time had flown fast, it was time for her to reach Aaranya, as promised or should she say, directed. Tarini sat inside the palanquin without bidding her foster 'family' a good bye. Camels, horses and elephants loaded with bags of precious stones and gold coins, followed her procession. Her maids and soldiers followed her by foot in the 5 hour journey towards Aaranya.

Arnav sat near the wedding altar waiting for Tarini. He looked towards the entrance of the hall. Her gold anklets made small tinkling noises as she entered the hall, led by her maids. Arnav struggled to see her face through her veil.

Her veil was lifted and he was asked to fill her parting with vermillion. She lifted her eyelids and peeked at him through her eyelashes while he coloured her parting red.

Tarini followed him step by step for the first three nuptial rounds. The nuptial rounds were completed as he followed her for the next four rounds.

With seven promises and seven rounds, this alliance was sealed by Vedic hymns for the next seven lives.

Aaryamann was very happy to his younger son getting married. Mayuri was happy thinking that she shall now get a new puppet after all, Tarini was just an eighteen year old.

Shyaam wasn't happy at all. How could he be? This marriage had increased Arnav 's probability of becoming the emperor by 100%.
According to the cultural texts of his dynasty, it was necessary for a prince to have a wife before he ascended the throne.

Sayantani and Anjali were happy to get something new to tease Arnav.

The wedding rituals were completed and the couple took blessings of their elders. They retired to their room for the night unaware of all the plans Shyaam and Mayuri had just brewed to create havoc in their life.