The Warrior Prince

The Perfect Princess

Long Long time ago, there was a wealthy and a prosperous kingdom. The king was an arrogant and a haughty man. He had a large kingdom and wanted to expand it further.

Some people described him as one with no compassion, he was the one who cared about nothing but the plunders of war. He was a great worrier and had a physique to match it.

No man could match his strength, both mental and physical. He was the fiercest warrior, showing no mercy to his opponents. A great strategist, leaving nothing to chance, and of course, as one might expect, he would always win.

However there was one man was stronger than him. One man who could easily defect him. Not because he knew him very well, but because he was better than him. Trained to be rough and a savage warrior, he was none other than his son.  Prince Anirbhan, who was at times called Raurava - a beast.

Together, they fought with all the neighboring kingdoms, and won, their empire expanded and so did their wealth and prosperity.

The prince had now become a young man, an eligible bachelor and so his father began searching for a suitable bride.

It was a difficult task. As who could match the wealth and prosperity of their kingdom. Messages were sent to all kingdoms far and wide, even to strange and foreign lands.

But the prince could not find a bride to match his pride.

None of the princesses were good enough for him. They were either not good looking enough, or smart enough. Some were too thin and others too fat, some he found too fair and the others too dark.

The prince always had some reason to reject the proposal, at times not even bothering to look at the girl.

All this in-spite of the fact that there was no lack of proposals for him.

In the end, his father called him to discuss, what was it that he was looking for in a princess?

"Father, I am not expecting much, but at least she should be good looking enough to match my looks."

The king smiled, he was simply remained of his own youth!

"OK, describe what you are looking for, how should a perfect princess be?

The prince described his bride with all his passion, for, though he was trained to be a warrior, he had inside him, a tender heart.

"Father, she should be beautiful!”

The king gave him a mocking look. "My son, most princesses, we got proposals from were beautiful!"

The prince knew his father would never understand what he felt and wanted

Lost in his fantasies, he thought -

“I have a dream, and I hope to meet my princess one day, the princess who is fair and beautiful, I see her most nights in my dreams, like an angle who has descended on earth at night using a heavenly staircase, gleaming in the moonlight, far in a magical place, we meet by the river side.

Her skin as fair as silken moonlight, her hair long and black. They sparkle and simmer like the stars in the starry night sky. I walk up to her and she disappears, without speaking a word. Her eyes, sorry that I couldn’t reach her to make her mine. It is as if, she’s taken away from me by some unseen magical force. "

“Son? What happened? What are you thinking?" said the king.

Risen from his thoughts. The prince continued

"She should be wise and smart, and an independent thinker. Bold and Brave."

"She should be highly educated."

"Most princesses are that, you know" said the king with a scornful look.

"But father, I should be able to have a decent conversation with her. Most girls I met, were beautiful, no doubt, but had little or no knowledge of the things I like. We had but little in common to talk about. They had no interest in what I like and I have little in their girlish affairs."

"Men and women think differently, your mother and I had little in common, but we still managed to have a happy life." said the king.

"That's because mother was smart and knew when to keep her mouth shut. I want my wife to feel equal to me, and not less and subjugated."

The thought of his mother who had died an year ago, brought the prince to tears.

"But son, that's how women are, we can't help it. Son you must stop living in a romantic fantasy and think about the kingdoms future."

His father’s behavior got the prince irritated.

"Alright Father, listen to this.. She MUST be..." said the prince, in what seemed to be an effort to shut his father up.

"Yes, I can accept all her faults, but I have one condition..."

His father listened with full intent

"She should be able to defeat me in a combat!"

"What? Are you serious? I find it difficult to win a combat against you.

 It looks like you don't want to get married at all!"

"Well then, stop pestering me about this topic, I have a lot in mind right now. I can’t get married and waste time on a women. When the time is right, I will search for a princess myself, right now, I need to get back to my combat training." Saying this the prince left the room.

The king gave him a disappointed look. But there was nothing he could do.

He reminded himself that he had the same expectations from his wife when he was young, well except for the combat part!

Then he fell in love with Anirbhan's mother, it was love at first sight, he didn't care about her faults. He just loved her the way she was. "And she was perfect!!!" thought his father, walking away.

The topic was never brought up again, much to Anirbhan's content.

*******

Soon it was time to crown Anirbhan the king, there was to be a great big festival in the kingdom.

The whole kingdom was decorated with lights and flowers. Anirbhan, though perfectly capable of ruling, was feeling a bit nervous.

The king was overall happy, but with a little feeling of sadness, that there would be, for the first time in their kingdom, a king without a queen. Who should rule the kingdom after Anirbhan? Thought the king.

The celebration were in full swing. The prince was to be crowned the next day, early morning.

All of a sudden, the kingdom was attacked, by the enemy king, who having received many attacks from Anirbhan, had lost most of his land, was full of vengeance against the prince.

Anirbhan, though unprepared, managed to fight a good war, and defeated the king and the enemy was forced to retreat.

One of the nights when the prince and his bodyguards were out on a petrol near the forest area. The prince noticed some movement near the trees. The prince wanted to make sure there were no enemies left, so he went closer to inspect.

The prince was, all of a sudden, attacked by a group of masked warriors, their faces were all covered up and they all wore black cloths. They carried no insignia or emblem. They did not appear to belong to any particular group. They spoke a language that the well learned prince could not understand. Their faces were covered except for the eyes, giving away nothing about their identity.

All of the six bodyguards were instantly killed as if they were just trainees in the art of warfare.

Only the prince was allowed to live, but was tied up and held a prisoner.

"Who are you and what do you want?" said the prince looking at their masked faces.

Their leader, an agile looking man replied that they had orders from their chief to bring the prince to justice, and so they had come to pick him up for an appearance in front of their chief.

"Who is your chief and what injustice have I done to him?" asked the prince boldly.

The leader who had somewhat a meek voice, perhaps a boy about 16 or 17 years, replied. "We are from the Shivalik tribe from your kingdom's western borders and it is our chief who wishes to see you. That is it. I am not entitled to provide any further information"

The prince kept quite...

They took the prince and stared moving eastwards, deep into the forest. They moved for hours till their leader declared it was time to camp for the night.

They got down from the horses and built up a fire. A simple meal was prepared.

The group was eating when one of them looked at the gagged and tied up prince and said something. All the others looked at the prince, they seemed to be discussing something.

One of them, got a plate full of the food, kept it in front of the prince and untied him.

He said. “One must not remain hungry, you have a long way ahead of you”. He kept a watch on the prince when he ate. However, the prince was a smart trained solider, just a moments distraction and the prince knocked that man down and ran fast. It was pitch black and the forest was dense. It was difficult to know which direction he ran, but the prince still managed to get far to a considerable distance.

He was running, fast, when all of a sudden, someone jumped on him from top of a tree. The prince fell down. He hadn't even the time to get back on his feet, when the blade of a sword was pointed at him. The leader of the pack of tribes, the young man had not only caught up with the prince.

When the prince was up on his feet, the leader hit him hard and shouted,

"Is this how you return favor to the hands that feed you? No wonder you have so many enemies."

The prince recovered quickly, however he could no further attempts to run as the rest of the group had caught up with them.

The prince was tied up and gagged again. This time he was not given a horse. He was made to walk, pulled along a rope tied to the young leader’s horse.

The next day was all walk with no rest, the prince was not given food, not even asked for water. He had understood he will no longer receive hospitable treatment.

They rested for the night and then moved through the day.

The next two days, the prince had nothing but water to support him.

"Good for you, you are a well-trained solider, anyone else would have weakened by now" said the leader.

“Give him something to eat, but keep his feet tied up while he eats, don’t let him get away this time!”

“How far do we have to go?” asked Anirbhan, but got no reply.

"Perhaps, there is a gentler side to these people, I’ll just have to find It." though the prince. Also, he couldn’t help but admire the agility of the leader. The ease at which he caught up with the prince and knocked him down. The command and respect he had among his crowd.

The leader spoke little. At times he stayed alone.

One of these days when they were passing in the jungle, they met with another group of warriors, it was clear by their attire they were from the kingdom which the prince has recently defeated.

When they saw the prince, they asked the young leader to hand over the prince to them, since they wanted revenge from the prince for having killed their beloved king.

The young leader refused to hand over the prince. He knew that if the prince was given to them, he would surely be killed.

He replied bravely. The prince is under our care, he is our prisoner, and he will be brought to Justice by our Chief. I have orders to take him to our chief alive. I am sorry, I cannot hand him over to you.

“But why have mercy on such a person who deserves none? He is your prisoner, no judgement could ever prove him innocent. He is ruthless, just like his father. He was no love for his land or his people. He has love only for conquest. Give him to me, I will bring him to justice.”

“I am sorry, but if you want him, you will have to fight me first.”

To this reply, the enemy leader attacked the tribal leader and both the groups started fighting. The enemy group outnumbered the tribal group and was almost wining, when the leader saw Anirbhan trying to help one of the tribal men, even though he was tied up.

He untied the prince and asked him for help, less all his people were to die.

"And don't think of running away!!!"

They both fought together, and with the help of the prince they managed to kill all of them in matter of minutes.

Their lives were saved!

The tribal leader looked at the prince in admiration,

"You are quite skilled at your work!! If only you were half as skilled in ruling the kingdom"

"You are not so bad yourself" said the prince ignoring the jibe thrown at him.

The group rested for some time, those who were wounded were tended to, even by the prince. They had to camp nearby till everyone was sufficiently recovered and then started walking again. This time, though the prince was tied up. He was not gagged.

"How far is your village", said the prince

"Not far" said the leader, we are almost there.

"Why? Are you tired, prince?" Said the leader, smiling.

There was slight amusement in his smile.

In a matter of a few more days, the leader, and the rest of the party got friendly with the prince. It was as though they were thankful for his saving their lives. The prince in turn was thankful to the leader for not giving him to the enemy party. That would definitely mean his death.

The leader now started talking to the prince. Even though from a small tribe, this young person had tremendous knowledge. He had high dreams and desires. At the same time, he had great love for his people.

I have a sister you know, she is very pretty, and she hopes to be the chief one day. But she will need to prove her worth first. I also have an elder sister. You will see them when you get to the village.

"What is your name?" said the prince.

"My name, why my name is of no concern ... Kriti, my name is Kriti, you can call me that." said the leader.

Kriti, you are an excellent warrior, my kingdom could use warriors like you...

"Warriors? Are you sure Prince? Your kingdom has enough warriors. What it needs are scholars, intellects, and saints. You, who are so very great at warfare, do you not realize what it takes away from the people, people who are the very essence of the kingdom you claim to rule. It’s true, war brings you glory and riches, but have you bothered to see what it does to the people?

Children become orphans, families become homeless, and women become widows. And all this for a king who does not see to the welfare of his very own people. 

"What are you saying?"

“My father looks after his kingdom very well. There is not a single poor man in my capital. There are no beggars and everyone is well educated.” said Anirbhan.

“Prince, your kingdom extends well beyond your capital and main state. Have you visited the eastern borders of your kingdom?”

“Well, no, I had no need to after the conquest.”

"Those land are yours too, after you won them in battle. Have you not felt the need to see the condition they are in? Your war tactics have left the common people miserable and suffering.  Most of your lands are plagued by famines, the poor are suffering, injustice towards people, lack of food is leading to rising crimes, I can’t blame the criminals, and they also need to fend for themselves. Only the rich are having it good."

The prince who had all the riches in the world, had never faced lack of anything, not even with the people who served him. The places he visited in the capital were pretty well off. He had never inquired about far off lands, especially those lands won in battles. It was of course his fathers' duty, ones he seemed not to care about.

"All the money you spent on the wars, all the wealth, is wealth gone waste. All that could have been spent on spreading education, improving health and hygiene. Uplifting the poor, helping the needy and improving the lives of millions of your subjects.”

“If nothing, use some of your wealth in helping the families of soldiers that suffer in war."

"How can you be happy when so many are suffering?"

And yet we hear you plan more wars? To annex the neighboring kingdom of Pingala?

The prince was surprised at his knowledge and at the same time ashamed.

He was left speechless. Kriti was right, never had the prince thought of all these things. He somehow thought that everything was well taken care of under his father’s rule.

How could he tell Kriti that he had never bothered to enquire about the faraway lands conquered at war? Was it not his duty as a soon to be king?

Is this how a respectable king would be? Anirbhan’s pride was broken.

He had fully depended on his father for the running of the stately affairs and had planned to continue doing so in the future.

“What kind of a king was I hoping to be?” These words came out of his mouth unexpectedly. He quickly recovered adding to that.

"Well, I am sorry for the way things are right now, perhaps I have been a negligent prince, but I will be a better king. I have still not been crowned and the matter of states is under my father’s command.  I understand what you are saying, and I promise things will be different when I am king."

Kriti looked at the prince, his eyes fixed upon the prince for some time, said nothing got up and went away.

Anirbhan sensed a look of disappointment in Kriti’s eyes.

That night, the prince sat along with the group for eating. Kriti sat next to him.

The prince, now, having been with the group, had a changed attitude towards them. Only two of them apart from Kriti spoke his language. But it is well known that kindness needs no language.

Though he didn't understand much of what they said, he had understood this - that Kriti was the son to the chief, and was treated with great care. Kriti, at times resented this.

The prince was curious to see their village and chief of these brave and strong warriors, he had now given up on trying to get away. Perhaps, he had started enjoying their company as they were all jolly and jovial.

He never felt this relaxed and comfortable at home in the palace, where, there were always expectations from him. Here, he didn't have to prove anything to anyone, he didn't have to meet expectations. His father’s failures were not his, his upbringing not his fault. He would stand a fair trial in front of the tribal chief and come back a guilt-free man. He understood his mistakes and was willing to correct them.

The night seemed lovely.  In the company of a knowledgeable person, it was even more enjoyable. After a long chat with Kriti about various subjects, it was time to sleep.

The prince was not at all sleepy. He had not felt this calm and relaxed in many years. He felt the same pleasant feeling he felt in his childhood when he was with his mother, when he was free to be himself, not a prince, not a warrior, just himself!

Kriti looked to the prince and said "Sleep prince, tonight I will not tie you, it’s a beautiful night, enjoy your sleep and the beauty of the forest."

It was true, the forest did seem magical that moonlit night, and the air was filled with fragrance of wild flowers. The prince felt urge was something, something he had never felt before.

But his thoughts took him to the conversation he had with Kriti, the look in Kriti's intense eyes.

“It would be nice to have Kriti as my chief advisor, a man of his sense and vision would be great for my kingdom.”

This made the prince remember his palace in the fortress and the bloody life he lived, vivid images of people crying and dying in war, wounded soldiers, some of them barely grown up boys, some crying, some shouting, lulled him to a sleep.

It was perhaps midnight, when he woke up. The war which he had loved all his life, now seemed so brutal, so cruel and painful. He had to run, not from these people, but from the images in his mind. To catch some breath, to remove these images which were haunting him and made him feel miserable.

He got up to see that everyone was asleep.

He started walking, there was no path, the moon shone bright, and he could see clearly, he walked and walked, perhaps drawn to the fragrance of the wild flowers. Soon, he heard the sound of water, he followed the sound to the river that flew in the middle of the forest. It was a beautiful sight. The moon light shone on the clean water made it sparkle in the light. It was as though inviting him for a swim. He could not resist. He was about to took off his cloths, when he saw the most unexpected sight.

There was a beautiful maiden in the water. She was undeniably the most beautiful women he had ever seen.

She was what he could describe as the women made of the silken moonlight. She was fair beyond his dreams, soft fair skin which could only be compared to the beauty of the moonlight. Her hair long and straight, beautiful like the darkness of a moonless night. They fell over her shoulders, flowing down on over her shoulders, down to her waist, submerged in the water, wet and glistening like diamonds.

She was swimming in the water. 

The prince, he had never seen such exquisite beauty.

But it was not just that, she sang, sang like a nightingale, in a languid and beautiful voice, of a distant land, of a prince and of the love in her heart.

The prince was spell bound. Perhaps she was the forest fairy, a magical creature, or even a witch!!

She was perfect in the moonlight, the scene that he saw was as though she was created, crafted then and there from the very moonlight which made her body glow and look so heavenly. The beauty of this night and this women would stay with him forever.

His eyes followed her as she came out of the water rested and then jumped back right in. Water dripping from her body, her hair, her face. It seemed that the water was rejoicing the touch her body and that she gave a gift of beauty to the water by the very touch of her skin and the moon’s image danced restlessly on the water, withering and wilting, merely to be able to touch her as she swam like a mermaid in the water.

Of all the other things, it was her eyes that caught his attention. They were big and round, perfectly suited for her oval face, with cherry red lips. 

The spell was broken when she looked in his direction, distracted by his watching, he bent to hide himself. Then she moved out of the water, with nothing to cover her but her long and beautiful hair.

Luckily, she did not see him. He was awfully quite. She went behind the bushed and came out, dressed, not as a forest fairy in beautiful white cloths, but as a tribal warrior. Her face seemed to have darkened, perhaps she had allied some herbs or colors. The rest of it was covered with cloths. No one could make out, who it was underneath the rodes.  The prince looked at her eyes.

These eyes, these piercing eyes, I have seen them before somewhere... where?

Kriti???

So it was her - dressed up as him. No wonder he looked so fragile and her voice too!!

The prince though shaken, realized she was going back, he quickly moved back to the camp, and pretended to be asleep.

With his eyes closed, all he could see was her fair skin, her long and beautiful hair and her eyes.

"Mesmerizing eyes!!" he thought. She reached the camp, looked all around,

Everyone in her pack knew she would be out in the night for her bath. She came to see if the prince was asleep, then went away to herself sleep close the fire.

"The song", her song ran through his mind, her mentioning, her love, of hiding her feelings, "who could that prince be? She sang of him, could it be a tribal chief, a man she is be throated to? Or could it be ME!!!"

The thought was exciting and kept him awake for most of the night. Among all the pleasant thoughts, the prince was thinking, was this one, which stuck him. Of what he had said to his father.

"She should defect me in combat!!!"

This women had not only defected him in combat, but also fought with him side by side.

It was true, she had defected him in combat, it was something else she had conquered and relinquished in all this time he had known her.

It was his pride.

The prince had been defeated by a women!

Should I have taken her when I had the chance? She was alone and helpless! Maybe she would have wanted me to join her. I am the most handsome and desirable.

But here is a women I respect. I do wish to conquer her heart before her body.

It is true I am her prisoner, would she have defeated me again if I tried to get her by force? All these thoughts, only made him desire her more.

She had proven her worth, not only as a person, but also as a planner, organizer, a warrior and a leader. She had managed to lead a team of men, capture and kill my finest men. She managed to catch me again when I tried to run. I have seen her fight like a true warrior, ruthless to her enemy and kind to her kin.

The next morning, when everyone else was up early, Anirbhan was still unrested, his eyes swollen with lack of sleep and he looked disturbed.

Kriti came to wake him, smiled and said “Prince, I left you untied so you can sleep well, looks like you have got used to being tied up. Didn’t you get proper rest in the night?”

Anirbhan looked at Kriti. This person covered in black robes was so different from the women he saw last night.

Anirbhan could still feel in his hands, the smoothness her skin, of his imagined love-making to that beautiful maiden.

“Did you see a forest fairy last night? You look pretty shaken” said one of the men.

“I think he saw the Demon of Mandakini.” Added another, laughing.

“The demon Mandakini, was a demon princess, whose love was never returned by the human prince she loved. She died of sorrow after taking his life. Every full moon night, she is seen taking human form to lure travelers into her trap. If you see her, you are sure to face misfortune or death in the next few days.  In your case prince, your future will be decided by our chief. Come, we don’t have time to lose.”

Anirbhan ignored the little fable and thought “Maybe I dreamt it all up! I was upset after my conversation with Kriti. But it looked so real. No, it could not have been a dream. It was real.”

“I must have her, I must have the maiden of the moonlight.

Perhaps, some other night, I will find her and make her mine.”

Unfortunately for the prince, that night never came. The path they took had no river by its side.

A few days of uneventful journey lead them to the heart of the forest. It was deep and dense. Strange sounds surrounded them. The tribal seems to recognize them all. The prince got to see strange plants and animals. Some colorful, some hideous, some lovely.

Kriti was his guide to all these new creatures and sights.

Soon, they reached the tribal village, in the middle of the dense forest.

The group was greeted by a large crowd of enthusiastic females. All of them flocked to congratulate Kriti.

In the front was Kriti’s mother, Kriti bowed down to touch her feet and said, “Mother! I have returned successfully, having captured the finest and strongest men in our side of the world.”

“I am sure father will be pleased” said the chief’s wife. Next to her was Kriti’s elder sister.

When Anirbhan saw her, he almost thought it was his moonlight maiden.

She too was pretty, and had the same looks, but was a lot healthier and aged though. Also, she had two kids at her side.

Seeing the prince stare at her. Kriti added 

“This is Smrithi – my sister, she is already married. She wanted to be a chief, but fell in love with one of the men in our tribe. This was the destiny that awaited her.” Hugging the two boys and giving them gifts.  

The group took the prince to the largest and the most elegant hut in the settlement.

The chief, was a noble and wise man.

He looked at Kriti and said.

“So this is your Prince!!! I can see why the girls are falling for him. He is handsome.”

Kriti blushed.

“Father. As promised, I have successfully completed the task set for me. Am I free to go?”

“Certainly, go freshen up and put on your usual cloths. I want my daughter back. Your mother has missed you greatly.”

Kriti looked at Anirbhan, who also blushed at the realization that Kriti was in fact, as he had guessed, his true love.

The chief, did not treat Anirbhan as a prisoner or a culprit.

He humbly welcomed the prince to his adobe for a few days stay.

“Prince Anirbhan, I understand my humble adobe is nothing compared to your palace, but this is all I have. Please make yourself comfortable.

Anirbhan was offered a seat next to the chief.

“I hope my people did not ill-treat you. Kriti is young and restless, fierce and bright. I don’t always approve of her ways. But it was needed to be done.”

While the two spoke, a women entered with refreshments.

It was his very maiden, his beautiful maiden of the moonlight, his love, standing with a sly smile on her face, almost mocking him as his mouth opened and remained that way.

Anirbhan took a few seconds to compose himself.

“The demon of Mandakini” he whispered.

She looked as lovely as ever, in her pale white saree. Her tribal costume, concealed just the right amount to prevent temptation.

She handed him a glass of herbal concoctions. He was tempted to touch her bare skin. When she passed on the glass their fingers brushed. Kriti smiled and looked into his eyes. Nothing more was needed to be said. Her feelings for him were as clear as his for her. She lowered her eyes and walked away.

Her father talked of his people, their problems, and how the forest were disappearing.

The prince found it hard to bring his mind to his speaker’s words.

After some time Anirbhan was freed to freshen up, given new cloths, and allowed to rest.

Soon...

His body had rested, but his mind and heart were with Kriti. And she had the same feelings. The past 15 days they were together, they had become friends. They were always together, both physically and mentally. And now there was this need to be together, this which was so different from how he had felt earlier, when he esteemed Kriti as a valuable friend and a companion. He wanted to be alone with her, to touch her, feel her, hear her speak and sing.

He was seated on a bench made of rock when Kriti came to him, and sat next to him.

“How do you like my village, Prince?” she said. This time in her natural feminine voice, which was quite delicate and lovely.

The prince was about to hold her hand, when the kids from the village came and surrounded them and asked them about their adventures.

One of them was Kriti’s younger sister.

Your sister is very brave and she fights like a true warrior, said the prince.

He went on to tell them how he was captured and saved later from the enemy soldiers by Kriti.

“We all know Kriti is brave. That’s why she set out to find you.

“We want to know more about you.”

“Are you the Prince Kriti is in love with?”

“Are you the same prince who rejected her marriage proposal?” asked another.

This question was a bit awkward, for Kriti, got up and walked away.

Anirbhan was shocked and surprised. He had no words to speak to her. He knew he had rejected many proposals based merely on suppositions, there were many proposals which did not even reach him as they did not clear the approval of his assistants.

“My foolish pride would have cost me this? The most perfect women in the whole wide world!”

Kriti was not seen for the rest of the evening. At night however, she did come, and said “Good night Prince. I will see you in my father’s court tomorrow.”

“I did not see you at dinner, I was hoping to have my meal with you.”

“Prince, I am at home now, the rules for men and women are different here. Women and men don’t sit together. Women eat separately after the men. ”

“We will meet tomorrow, I promise” she said with a tender look in her eyes.

“Good night!”

Anirbhan lay awake for a long time thinking.

Things had taken a total turn for the prince. All that he thought. All that he believed in had been changed by this young women. The last few days were gruesome and unpleasant in the beginning. Later, as he got to know her better, they became fun, happy, relaxed and enjoyable.

There was lust, desire, joy, fulfilment and mystery.

The night was young and his train of thoughts long. “That means she has been loving me all this while. If I had gone to her that night, she would not have refused me. That is an answer only she can give.

“Oh, how I wish I could have her right here by my side right now.”

The next morning, when the prince was ready, he was allowed to meet the chief.

The chief was addressing a gathering with his people. The prince stood watching.

Kriti was standing next to the chief, looking pretty in her orange saree.

“People of the Shivalik tribe, my daughter Kriti, has successfully completed the last and the most difficult task set for her to become a chief. She has successfully captured and brought home with her, the most feared warrior of all time. She has proven her worth. I now pronounce her eligible to be a chief of our tribe. She will be made a chief as soon as she is accepts a man as her husband.”

This last condition came as a surprise to Kriti.

The chief looked the prince standing in the crowd, called him up to his side.

“My dear Prince, you were used most unfairly in our affairs. I hope you will forgive me and my daughter. She was adamant upon taking up an undoable task. She choose the task to fight and defect you in a combat and bring you here as proof. That’s why I sent along with her my finest men. I am but a humble chief of a small tribe. If there is any way I can undo this miscreant act, ask and I will grant you any wish within my capacity. ”

“Any other time, this would have made the prince angry, but now he had other things on his mind.

“It’s true, what was done was wrong. But I can only admire the bravery of your daughter to have travelled so far from her village and to have successfully captured a person that no one even dares to look upon.”

“There is but one thing I ask of you, O chief, which I beg you should not deny. I ask you for your daughters hand in marriage. I have never seen in a person, such charm, wit, courage, and intellect as I have seen in her. I have fallen madly in love with her. That is, if she should choose to have me as her husband. ”

The chief was delighted. “Why, this is the most wonderful news!!!”

“My daughter, I am sure will have no objection to this. She has had a liking for you since she was a little girl. You are an inspiration for all the warriors across the kingdom.”

“But how is it so? Did she reveal her true identity when she was with you? Or is it the admiration for the task she has completed.”

“Sir, Her wit and intellect had charmed me even when I did not know she was a girl. But now seeing her as she really is, her beauty has charmed me even more.”

The chief readily agreed for the marriage. There was a simple ceremony according to their tribal rituals. The prince would later take her to the palace and marry her according to his customs.

Their wedding night the two lovers sat talking, just as they did, during their time in the jungle.

Kriti spoke to the prince about her fascination for him, about her asking her father to send her proposal to him.

“I was, when I was younger, quite oblivious of the fact that my village was small. I prided my stature and my beauty, and thought there was no match to it. Being the chief’s daughter I had a feeling of superiority.”

“When my father asked me to get married, I refused to accept anyone as my husband but you. My father tried to convince me that a person from a large kingdom would not even consider me. But I refused to accept it.”

“He send my proposal, along with my picture, which according to him was the only thing to support me in the cause. But a response never came. I was disheartened. We waited a few years and tried again, even with the influence of a minister, the proposal seems to have not never been considered by you. ”

“I was angry with you. You had broken my pride, I wanted to come and ask you myself, the basis on which you had refused me? I came with my father to your palace. I did not even get to see you.”

“You came because your proposal was not accepted?”

“Yes and No!! My father had some concerns regarding the issues faced by the people of the village. The new constructions around the palace had led to cutting down a large portion of the forest. Our forests are precious to us. They provide food, water and a living. Taking them away would mean an end to our ways and means of living. Not to forget the harm to the creatures living in them. There was also a draught, he hoped to seek help from the king. But he was never granted an audience. We waited for many days in your capital, every day hoping to get a hearing at least from a minister. But to no avail. We understood that the king was least concerned with the welfare of his people.

To think of it, one of the soldiers eyed me wrongly, it became difficult for me to go around. I could have taken him down in one go, but my father stopped me.

I had caught a glimpse of you once, looking as handsome as ever, leaving on your horse, for a battle maybe, or a training. It was heartbreaking.”

“We came back to the village. In my heart, I wanted to teach you a lesson. I resented all I had felt for you, and the injustice I found in your kingdom.”

“And so you plotted to catch me! What about the issues your people were facing?”

“Eventually, we solved our own problems, by co-operating with other tribes in the area. The draught was over-come. We also planted many trees to replenish the depleting forests. ”

“All this was a long time ago when I was younger.

When my father asked me again to get married. But I could not accept any man other than you. And I had chosen instead to remain unmarried and become a chief, follow my father’s footsteps and be a good leader.”

“He said it was unlikely that the people would accept a women as a chief, but I begged him to consider.”

“My father is a reasonable man. He set aside a set of difficult tasks, which even a strong warrior would not be able to complete. I completed them all.  He put all his efforts in stopping me, but to his surprise, I even had the support of our people. Perhaps he cared for me, or wanted to see me married and settled like all other women.

We argued, and I said that I was willing to take up any task, no matter how unthinkable it was, even if it meant, I had to capture you and get you to our village as a prisoner. He was convinced I would fail. He sent with me his finest men, asking them to keep me safe.”

“This task not only required physical strength, but careful planning, understanding you, your moves, habits and routines. We took months to study the jungle, your palace, and your associates. Luckily for us the war broke loose and we could capture you easily, away from your fortress, in the company of your tired, war-weary soldiers.”

“You dismiss all your efforts to chance and luck. My soldiers are well trained, they never tire, and fighting is in their blood. Your fighting me was an admirable achievement. It broke down my pride completely. ”

“Yes prince, I agree. It was a difficult task for me to see you, love you and fight you, keep you my prisoner and keep distance. But I had in me the disappointment of you having rejected me. It helped.”

The prince wanted to know about that night. It was now OK to tell her that he had seen her that night in bathing in the river.

“That night when you had left me untied for the first time. I had gone to the jungle river.”

“Why prince, I did not leave you untied for no reason. She gave a sly smile.

“I was hoping you would join me. But you went away after seeing me. I was surprised. I thought you didn’t find me attractive enough, or it was virtue on you part to keep distance. ”

“I see no virtue in watching a women bathe. I had all the heart to come and make you mine, but did not want to upset you as I knew not if you loved me. But wait, you DID see me that day?”

“Prince, a true warrior is always alert, even when enjoying the beauty of a moonlight night. I heard you the moment you came up to the river and stepped on dried leaves. I had loved you and knew not what to do!! If you had come to me it would be a dream come true as I had already belonged to you in my heart and mind. If you didn’t, then it would not matter, as, in any case, you had rejected me. If you tried to take me by force, I was strong enough to fight you. But you did what I never expected.

 I was hoping we would unite in the water. Oh what all I had hoped and dreamt!”

“Not to worry my love. Now we can make all those dreams come true!!”

Said the prince planting a tender kiss on her lips.

THE END

Epilogue:

Prince Anirbhan returned with his bride to his kingdom, a great wedding celebration was held. Festivities were held for days together, followed by crowning of Anirbhan as the king.

True to his words, he found the greatest kingdom, with his wife Kriti by his side.

Truth, justice, peace and prosperity now reigned all over his kingdom and Anirbhan was remembered, not as the greatest warrior but as the noblest king in all time…

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