The noise in the house was deafening.  The place sounded more like a fish market than a home.  Kavya was fuming with anger. Her father, Rajan, the descendant of the royal family of the erstwhile state of Mysore was busy giving instructions to the event management company’s executive on the plans for the wedding.

“Mother, how could Father do this to me? You people should have at least asked me if I am ready for marriage. This is so unfair,” Kavya’s voice was loud and her mother was asking her to lower the voice. “Kavya, my dear, in royal families, marriage is a bond not only between two people, but between two families. I was only 14 when I came to this palace, at least you are older,” her mother Kamini was trying to calm her down.  “Touch your heart and tell me mother, are you happy after so many years of marriage? Do you like it when father openly flirts and has affairs with other women? You keep quiet for the peace of the family, I know, but I am not like that!” She could see her mother’s eyes shifting and a teardrop accidently falling off her eyes which she quickly wiped and looked away.

“The decoration has to be the best in the world, after all this is the first marriage in our family after many decades.  I want the town decorated. Money is never an issue, I want the best, import it if you want, but get me the best”, her father was giving instructions. He passed by Kavya and did not even notice her presence.  She felt hurt and ran towards her room.  Tears had wet her bed and her face was red with all the crying. But there was nothing else she could do.  Her father had fixed her marriage to the prince of the erstwhile royal kingdom of Vijaynagara, Prince Rajkishore.  Kavya had never seen him except in some photographs which were shown to her by her mother.

“What happened, you look so dim today?” Kavya’s friend Anupriya enquired. They had just finished the English lecture and were walking towards the canteen.  Kavya could hold it no longer, she began to cry and narrate her plight to her friend.  Anupriya consoled her and they walked towards the canteen.  “Mind if I sit here? The canteen is too full today!” Without waiting for an answer Aakash sat down on the chair opposite to Kavya. Their eyes met for a second and Kavya looked away. His gaze had some kind of magnetism and she felt as if an electric current had passed through her body. Anupriya smiled at him and he said, “I am Aakash, new to the college, just joined yesterday, and you….”,  the introductions over and by the time they left the canteen they felt as if they knew each other forever.

This was her last year in college and very soon she would graduate. She was probably the only female in her family tree that had gone to college.  Of course, she had a lot of restrictions and never could make friends, unless her parents had met and approved of the person. Anupriya was her only close friend.  But something surely was different this time.

The days turned into weeks and months.  Kavya began spending long hours with Aakash. They sat on the steps of the college and chatted like long lost friends.  Kavya began to take special care of her grooming every day and she hated it when it was a holiday for college.  Anupriya cautioned Kavya once and said, “Don’t forget you are to be married soon. Keep this only as a friendship.”  But Kavya knew that was not possible.

They exchanged love notes and Aakash wrote love poems for Kavya.  The world seemed like paradise and both of them were lost in each other’s thoughts.

“Can we all go for a movie tomorrow? I can buy the tickets and we can go after the last lecture?” Aakash waited eagerly for Kavya to reply.  Anupriya answered instead. “Aakash, Kavya is a princess; she is not allowed in common places like a movie theatre.  Her parents will never allow it.”  Aakash felt sad. He knew what Anupriya said was true.  They sat on the steps like every day but the mood was somber.  Anupriya made an excuse of going to the library and left both of them alone.

“Kavya, I am really sorry, but I can’t help it, I love you so much, I could give my life for you,” he gently held her hand.  This was the first time they touched each other.  Kavya felt a shiver and quickly withdrew her hand. She did not say anything for a long time.  Then she murmured, “I love you too Aakash and know also that it is not fair for me to cheat you, because I know we can never be together,” and her voice choked and she began to cry. “I wish I was never born in that family. It is like living in a prison. And after tasting the fruit of love, I will never be able to adjust to that lifestyle and be happy,”

Aakash consoled her, “No one can ever take our love away from each other.  If we were not meant to be together, I would never have met you.  Everything happens for the good. Don’t cry my darling,” saying this he gently hugged her.  

“Where have you gone and sold our izzat, is that the reason we sent you to college?” her father was in a state of hysteria. He had come to know about Aakash.  You are not going to college from tomorrow unless you give me a promise that you will forget all this nonsense. Otherwise, I don’t care if you don’t graduate at all. I will kill the fellow if I see him anywhere near you”. She knew her father meant what he said.  She was silent. Kamini intervened, “Why do you believe outsiders, our daughter is not like that, they may be friends, in fact I have called Anupriya and she confirmed to me that they are from the same class, that’s all!”

Kavya walked towards her room without saying a word.  She went to her drawer and removed her ‘secret folder’ and read Aakash’s love notes. They made her feel better.  Just then her mother entered her room. Kavya pretended she was busy and kept the folder inside.  She knew her mother had come to make her understand how her father was right.

“Mother, let’s not even speak about it. You want me to sacrifice my life on the altar of royalty and be a slave to the man whom I have not even seen.  You know what you and father are doing is wrong but your ego will never allow you to accept it. Please leave me alone”. She walked towards the garden. 

Under the illusion of past glory the royal families were killing their emotions and living in an artificial world.  Kavya knew that she would need to do something about it, but then she also knew that Aakash’s life would be in danger if she did not accept her father’s wish.

Days passed and Kavya had not met Aakash as per her father’s wish.  She had written a letter to him saying that she may never meet him, but will love him forever. He tried to talk to her in college but she avoided him.

“Father, there is nothing wrong in what I am asking. After all I am asking for a meeting in their own house as a guest, I need to at least see the place where I will be spending the rest of my life.” Rajan thought over it and said, “I will ask them.”

Kavya’s journey to Rajkishore’s palace was uneventful.  She was trying hard to think through what she would tell him and what she would do there.

“Such a pleasure to have you over, thanks for coming by,”  Rajkishore was very polished with his manners  and extremely handsome.  She immediately felt affection for him. Something told her that things would be just fine.

Everyone  in Rajkishore’s family left no stone unturned to ensure that Kavya was made to feel comfortable and welcome.  Rajkishore was happy as he also felt it would help their relationship. He took Kavya for many long walks and spoke to her about his childhood, his passion, his love for cars. Kavya mostly was listening and spoke very little.

On one of her walks she posed a question to Rajkishore. “What would you do if I said I can’t marry you?” There was a brief silence. Then he said, “Be extremely sad!” He was a man of few words.  “But I hope that never happens.” She could not continue the discussion as they had reached the palace hall.

There was no communication between her and Aakash ever since college had closed. She only knew that he was applying for a scholarship abroad.  He too had probably decided to forget her, she thought.  Somehow she was not able to bring herself to tell Rajkishore about Aakash as she had planned before she came to his house.

There were a few days left for her wedding and preparations were in full swing.  The palace was decorated by the best artists in town and an air of festivity was blowing all around town.  Kavya was sad and kept on remembering Aakash.  She would often read his notes and try to enliven her mood.  After her brief stay at his palace, Rajkishore had started to call her often and they spoke for some time but Kavya still did not feel love for him.  He was good, but her heart was already taken, she thought.

On the day of the wedding, Kavya stood at the window and gazed outside. My imprisonment begins, she told herself.  She was trying to make peace with herself.  She thought to herself, “I must be one of the very few people who are not happy on their wedding day.”

The servant ran into Kamini’s room with a note in his hand.  The whole house seemed to be in some kind of a commotion. Kavya did not know what happened.  She could hear her father’s voice shouting at somebody.  His gestures from a distance looked like something had gone wrong.

“I declare you husband and wife, please sign here,” the man in the black coat was telling Aakash and Kavya.  They both signed and hugged each other passionately. “At last love triumphs” he said with a twinkle in his eye. They both smiled and had a three-way hug with Rajkishore.  “Friends?” He held his hand towards Kavya. “I could never thank you enough for what you’ve done for us,” Kavya hugged him.  “All I ask for in return are long walks with you as we did when you were at my house.” They both smiled and she nodded in agreement. Rajkishore handed them a packet and said, “A very small wedding gift from a friend, have a lovely honeymoon”, and he waved them good bye.  With mixed feelings of loss and happiness he entered his BMW and drove away.  

“Sir, we are about to land in Zurich”, the pilot’s voice woke Kavya.  “Why were you smiling in your dreams? You looked so happy, hope you were dreaming about me” Rajkishore’s words hit her like a jolt.  Her dream was shattered!   She smiled at Rajkishore and did not answer him.

She did not know if she was the royal princess or a prisoner, but fond memories of Aakash would also imprison her for life in a good way, there was no escape any way she thought and smiled to herself.