Kritika was sitting in her room by the window petting a parrot when she saw through the window her father and one more unknown person talking in the garden.By her father's body language she understood that the other person must be some king afterall her father was the king so it was natural of all other king's to visit him but today he naturally looked happy.She wondered what had happened to make her mostly strict and annoyed father happy.

She petted her parrot for some more time then went to clean her room.Though she was a. princess but she was never treated like one she was never given maids or any jewellery so she learnt to do all the chores since a young age she owner some simple lehengas and she got a few simple earrings along with a waistband from her best friend nandini on her birthdays while growing up.She knew nandini since she was 6 when her badi maa(her father's second wife) had slapped her for getting dirty and she was crying at that time nandini came to her rescue cheered her and applied ointment to her stinging cheek, they were both the same age and best friends since then.

But despite of the constant gloomy atmosphere of the palace kritika was still cheerful and hopeful of a better future.She was skilled in cooking sewing reading and had secretly learnt to use swords and fight from the general of her father who treated her like his own daughter and often brought her gifts whenever he went to other kingdoms.

She was thinking all this when her best friend nandini came running to her room 'Nandini why are you running did my brother again leave a cockroach behind you' she spoke amused and laughed a little.Her brother had a habit of bullying everyone in the palace and often scared nandini with cockroaches.

'No kritika something even scary is about to happen' nandini spoke huffing.'What is it that you are talking about' kritika questioned.'I heard one of the maids talking that the king has fixed your marriage with the king of Rajasthn King Ajay Raj'

Kritika's world collapsed as soon as she heard this.Her father was never fond of her and it was very well known to her.Him fixing her marriage could mean only one thing that it was a political marriage where her father would gain political power by getting her married.

She knew that this day would come soon as she was already of the age to marry but she wanted to atleast know about the person she was supposed to marry but from what she had heard about him he was not a good king he had three wives and he also had a rumour surrounding him that he had sent his earlier wives to brothel houses he was cruel and often beat up his wives he didn't treat his people with compassion but she knew never to judge someone based on other people's words.She could see nandini was getting impatient by her silence.So she decided to voice her thoughts 'I will talk to my father about it I am sure he would have thought and then decided to marry me' she spoke in a hopeful voice.

'I hope so kritika but we both know how the king is,he only cares about himself I don't think he has thought about you even once while fixing this arrangement' she spoke gritting her teeth.Kritika has always been like a sister to nandini and she could not digest that her own father had fixed her marriage to such a man.

'I think I should go and meet father now it is evening he will be alone at this hour so I will be able to peacefully talk to him' kritika spoke unsure.She knew that her father was stubborn and did what he desired he could careless about what she wanted but she had to give it a chance she could not let him fix her marriage just like that and if there was no other way to atleast let her talk to the other king.

What is it that you need' her father spoke still looking into the paper that he was reading.'I heard that you've fixed my marriage' she could not complete before her father cut her off 'Yes I have fixed your marriage with King Ajay Raj moreover he came to me with the proposal to marry you and he is a powerful king'

'But father I have heard that he has  three wives he is cruel and he doesn't love them' Her father cut her off again but this time angrily 'You stupid girl have I not told you  not to call me father and so what if he has many wives he can have as many wives as he desires he is a king and do you think love really exists ,you are indeed a stupid girl just like your dead mother there is no such thing as love this is a political world marriages take place either for power or for an heir so it will be better if you get it straight through your head that you will marry him and he is arriving tomorrow to meet you so better behave like a shy little princess and do not disappoint me'

Tears filled her eyes hearing what her father said.She knew her father did not love her or her mother but he did not need to rub it on her face ,she could not understand what she did wrong by hoping for a happy marriage.Moreover she could not understand why the king was coming to meet her.It was not normal to want to meet their fiancee before marriage mostly couples saw each other only after marriage but this also a hope in her heart that maybe King Ajay really wanted to know her with this thought she returned to her quarters where nandini was eagerly waiting for her.

'What happened kritika did you talk to king why do you look like you are about to cry' she spoke when she saw kritika with her eyes full of tears.Kritika let her emotions flow when she saw nandini.'I can't believe my father has fixed my marriage and won't listen to me and moreover King Ajay is coming to meet me tomorrow I don't know what to make of the situation nandu' she spoke crying on nandini's shoulder.

'Hush don't cry you are the most beautiful lady kritika I know lord Krishna has planned something very beautiful for your future'she spoke trying to calm her.  

They both spent their night hoping that tomorrow would bring good things and eventually fell asleep

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