His, Forever

Chapter Two

Mastani ran her finger down the bruise on her collarbone, staring into the mirror, eyes brimming with tears. The prince was a monster, very much the opposite of her first impression of him. A draped figure whisked into the the room. She looked into the eyes of her newly married sister, who had recently left their home. She collapsed into her shoulder, sobbing. "Oh Avantika." she whimpered. "I have to marry the prince. He's a monster." she said. Mastani pulled the stole she had draped over herself, revealing the hickey. Avantika gasped. Her face was horrified. She brushed the palm of her hand lightly over Mastani's cheek. "He did this to you?" she asked. Mastani nodded. The two sister sat, leaning into each other. Their father swept into the room. Interestingly enough, he was a hindu, who married the youngest daughter of the muslim king Abdul Rehaan Khan, Noor. The couple was deeply in love, and they had three daughters together, Avantika, Mastani, and Gauri. Gauri was the youngest, she lived with Noor's sister, a few kilometers away. "My child." her father said. The two girls stood up, Avantika pulling the embroidered edge of her dupatta over her face respectfully. "Namaste Baba." the two greeted. He opened the box he carried. It was the necklace left by his late wife for their middle daughter. She had worn it during their wedding. 

"It's beautiful." she murmured. He smiled, as he placed it around her neck. "You look just like your mother my darling." he said. Mastani straightened the lehenga choli (skirt and blouse) she wore.  It was a lovely bluish green, embroidered with golden flowers. 

An out of breath servant appeared. "Bharat Saheba(sir), the royal party has arrived. He nodded and offered Mastani his hand. Avantika followed timidly, hand on her slightly swollen stomach that announced she was with child. The prince was waiting outside. "Hello lovely." he said, winking. Mastani stared at the floor, burning with rage. She hugged Avantika, and her father, beckoning to Meera, her ever companion. Meera was told to board a palanquin. Mastani was to ride with the prince, on an elephant. The steps to the howdah were like the steps to hell. She stood in a corner, dupatta covering her face. The prince looked at her with a hungry look in his eyes. She turned her glance away, when the light dimmed suddenly. Silk curtains had been folded down, keeping the occupants away from the slight rain. Mastani felt a muscular arm wrap around her waist. "Let go." she said, in a commanding voice. "Oh, we got a feisty one do we." he said leaning forward, kissing her cheek. He lifted her placing her next to him on a cushion. Mastani's voice quivered, as she talked. "Listen prince, I'm not your whore for you to do whatever you like." He smiled eerily. "Oh but you are little dove, you will do what I tell you to." The fear struck deep in her heart like a knife. It was a short ride to the palace, about an hour, but felt like four to Mastani. She trembled, as the prince showered her with kisses, wrapping his hand around her waist. "Prince Vivaan Singh Rathod and Lady Mastani Shekhwat have arrived!" a palace crier called. When they disembarked from the elephant, they were greeted by a very pretty young woman. She seemed a little older than seventeen year old Mastani, perhaps 24 years of age. Vivaan gestured to her. "My wife Chandrika. My daughter Kavya." Kavya shyly touched Mastani's feet. Mastani was surprised, she had never known he had a daughter, only his wife. Kavya was six years old perhaps, and very cute. Chandrika applied kumkum(red powder paste) to Mastani's forehead, and circled the Thali(ceremonial plate) she carried in her hands. "Come in." she beckoned. They entered the woman's palace. Chandrika led Mastani to the queen mother's room. "Her highness Queen Jodha." Chandrika whispered. Mastani nodded. The queen was imposing, and very beautiful. She wore the most beautiful lehenga Mastani had ever seen. It was dark green, but reflected a violet shade, with a heavily embroidered blouse. Mastani knelt. "Welcome to the palace Lady Mastani." she said. "I will have a maid show you to your chambers. Kamala..." she beckoned. A short, pale skinned maid emerged from the shadows. She looked thin, underfed almost, and wore a simple yellow sari. Mastani followed her, taking in every inch of the palace. Meera shyly followed Mastani, having been here before, she had spent her early childhood in the palace. Her mother had been a maid, the caretaker of the prince's sister. Kamala threw open large double doors to reveal a grand bedchamber. There was a small hall, for receiving guests, and a little door to the right of a soft chaise led to the bedroom. A large, king size bed, with pale pink sheets and a silk blanket took up barely a fourth of the room. A canopy, of lace curtain gently shielded it. A vanity was in one corner, a large chandelier dangling, lit by dozens of little candles. A glass door led to the bathroom, which had a marble tub in one corner, and a smaller one just to wash up in. Off of the sleeping room was a balcony, that overlooked the palace gardens. A small door off the hall led to a small room for Meera to sleep in. Mastani sighed as she glanced around her. Her room at home had been nice, but nothing like this. Suddenly the doors burst open, and a small, petite teen rushed into the room. She was laughing, her long dark hair carelessly tossed over a shoulder. A young man was behind her, laughing as well. She stopped when she saw Mastani and straightened up. "Hello." she said, waving. "I'm Aditi, Vivaan's sister." she said. Mastani nodded, wrapping a strand of hair around her finger. "This is Rohan, my friend." Aditi said. Mastani nodded. All the new people,  everything was just so confusing to her. Like the reason, why had the prince taken her if he already had a wife and daughter? The two waved goodbye and left, apologizing for intruding her privacy. What was she going to do? she though silently to herself. Why was she even here?

Varun Dhawan as Rohan

Alia Bhatt as Aditi

Harshaali Malhotra as Kavya

Priyanka Chopra as Chandrika