Diana wasn't dreaming.
Although Audrey and Diana were identical twins, with even the tiny matching mole over the high hill of their left cheek, Diana knew the girl who was staring back at her through the bottomless depth of the mirror was her dead sister. whom she killed to inherit him.
She closed her eyes awkwardly, not because of fright or guilt, for she knew Audrey would vanish once she opened her eyes again. Now that she was at her station, slowly she realized what a dreadful fate the twins were born with. Slowly, the rose petals of her eyes raised in a hopeful manner, and she finally got to see herself, beautiful and ornamented.
Her slender frame was draped in a honeycomb color-ed saree with a jeweled belt slightly above the waist, explicating her womanly features. The right shoulder glistened obtrusively owing to a sleeveless blouse and the addition of royally perfected natural shimmer. Her dark, wavy hair cascades down her back, adorned with delicate jasmine flowers that add a soft, fragrant touch to her ensemble. Intricately designed earrings dangle gracefully, framing her face, while a gold choker and matching bangles glimmer in the light. Her fair complexion irradiated in every direction as she stared in wonder at the woman she had become.
She was Diana. She was Audrey.
Mrs Chouhan entered the room in a hurried manner. She looked all around the room until her eyes finally found Audrey.
"There you are!" she said, "Prince Adeel's chopper has just landed. Your presence is required at the great hall. Now."
Diana said nothing. Mrs Chouhans exasperation was fake and unnecessary. Just like the pretense she made while entering the room.
Mrs Chouhan was Adeel's aunt from his father's side. Diana has hated this woman every day for the last five years She was noisy and nosy. Most importantly, because she insinuated the idea of obscene aristocracy. Audrey was a late bloomer, but Diana had early menstruation. After her death, Diana had her timely period, and the personal handmaiden made a big fuss after she found out. Soon, everybody kept whispering that the flower had finally bloomed. One day, she was summoned to the chamber of ladies as Audrey. They congratulated her and announced there would be a ceremony to celebrate her fertility. She felt happy and proud, only on the day of the celebration the ladies said she needed to have her small lip pierced. Diana thought a lip piercing was not a big deal. But then they took her to a curtained chamber where a female surgeon told her to lift the skirt.
It was the most painful experience that Diana had to go through. She remembers refusing vehemently that day, but Mrs Chouhan said, that if she wanted to be Adeel's bride, she must respect this tradition. "It was done by all the past queens," was her answer. Later Diana found out it was a lie, and the last queen, Adeel's mother, had announced it entirely an aesthetical choice.
Diana swore an oath that the first person she would banish from the palace after becoming queen was her.
Presently, she abided her without protest. Mrs. Chouhan was not a courteous woman to wait for her. She was always on errands and made always an uproar about her nonexistent duties. Diana found herself standing alone in the long corridor. She heaved a sigh. Soon she would be thrown amidst an ocean of people, however, even then she would be alone.
As she walked past the flamboyant decorations, she took a deep plunge through the memory lane. The destiny of her was shaped by the incident five years ago.
Audrey and Diana Shah were born in Spain. Their father, Nisab Shah was head of a publishing conglomerate and brother of the queen of Mahastan. Nisab Shah despised the king and left the homeland as a teenager. He only returned when his sister was on a deathbed and swore a pledge to marry his first daughter to the crown prince.
Audrey and Diana were only two at that time. Nisab Shah didn't think it wise to divulge the information to his family right away. His wife Anastasia didn't know about their daughters fates till she died. After their mother's demise, the sisters were brought into the palace.
Audrey and Diana were astounded to witness the luxuries of palace life. Audrey was older by two hours than Diana, so she received a royal welcome. It was true that they had been rich, but being treated like a sworn queen was nothing less than living a fairy tale life. And they were treated differently.
The sisters were never on good terms. They were not like regular twins who were soulmates owing to their identical beauty to each other and unmatched from all the other. Audrey was demanding and reproachful. She took advantage of her being older, from kindergarten to home, everywhere. Diana was indifferent to Audrey's pride until she came to realize her privileges. Jealously got the better of her. She is no better than I am, why should she get everything? Diana hated her even more.
But she was clever and didn't show her true emotions. When Audrey used to enthusiastically show her off with the many glittered jewellery which she was showered off by Adeel's relatives, Diana burned in malice.
Once Audrey was absent from her chamber as Diana came to seek her for the equestrian lesson. Her jewelry was scattered on the floor. Diana absentmindedly picked up an emerald engraved tiara given to Audrey by their cousin sister. She was just about to try it in the mirror when Audrey entered.
"What are you doing?" she hissed.
Diana didn't reply. She stood rigidly holding the tiara in her hands.
"P.U.T T.H.A.T D.O.W.N" Audrey commanded her in a regal manner. And before Diana could do anything, she snatched the tiara from her hand. "Don't ever touch my things". Audrey said and gestured for Diana to leave.
She had remembered the insult. When Audrey fell of the cliff, Diana made sure to bury that tiara with her.
Someone abruptly rushed in front of her and resurrected her to reality. Diana gasped. It was Sahil, Adeel's brother-in-law and Audrey's first lure in the palace. Before her death, the vile girl established illegal romantic affiliations with anyone. Sadly, Diana was Audrey to them, and Sahil was a lascivious man.
"Careful princess," he said mockingly, "the prince might think you are short-sighted and have a bad impression on your very first meeting."
He said, all the while staring shamelessly at Diana's naked shoulder. He made a slurping sound, gnashing his teeth against his tongue. Diana felt her whole body shivering at the sound.
"Excuse me, you are on my way," Diana said resolutely.
"Why, of course, princess." He barely moved.
Diana's breasts were going to brush against his chest if she endeavored to cross him. She wasn't willing to do that. So she patiently waited.
"You are looking very pretty. Prince Adeel is not fond of pretty girls. He likes rough. You know what I mean." Sahil bared all his teeth and smiled.
Diana clenched her jaw. God knew what Audrey and Sahil did behind the curtains. She assumed it could be very scandalous, judging by the way Adeel approached her the first time she was alone.
"Thank you for the compliment, Sir. As for Adeel's liking, let me take care of that. I am his sworn bride and it is my duty to look after his comforts." Diana replied to Sahil very politely.
It looked like Sahil had drunk a bitter syrup. But he managed to excavate the sly smile again and, this time, moved to make the way for her.
"Well then, I wish you good luck," he said.
Thanking him again, Diana walked. She gradually fastened her pace. She was definitely going to meet with poisonous greetings from the ladies of the high court for being late. Not that her presence mattered most but they loved to see the girl miserable.
Upon entering the great hall, she had to greet countless people. Highborns and film stars, arrogant gents with their falsely prejudiced woman. Diana had to lie about how beautiful and elegant they looked. The laughter and clamoring truncated with a blow of royal horns announcing the arrival of the royal consort.
Diana noticed Adeel's sister, and Sahil's wife, Aneesha was now standing beside her. In all those years, Diana hadn't been able to figure out one person in the palace. It was Aneesha. She was difficult to perceive and understand and was the eldest among her generation.
Despite all the oddities, Diana was feeling excited. Finally the time has arrived to meet him. But where was Adeel? Diana looked hard at the faces of everyone arriving with the consort, but he was not to be seen. Soon, the confusion spread among everyone.
"Where is the prince?" One of his uncle's called. "He is not here."
Everyone looked dumbfounded. Diana felt her heartbeat fastening. Has he not come, has he abandoned the throne And ME!
With the sound of a slight giggle, she looked at Aneesha. Watching her perturbed expression, Aneesha said, "Adeel won't let them make a scene. He won't be greeted by these people."
Diana steered her eyes to the baffled audience. "Where is Jamadder?" Another uncle called, "He went to fetch Adeel. Ask him."
The servant named Jamadder walked at the front of the empty palanquin. He wet his dried lips with his tongue before speaking.
"Prince Adeel refused to ride with the palanquin," he said, "He told me to advance without him, and he would come by foot after taking a detour of the city."
Whisperers flooded all the entrances of the great hall. The royal hosts were embarrassed and felt insulted. Diana saw Mrs. Chouhan and the other ladies were trying to convince the guests into the feast. No one looked at her, no one asked her to join. She felt her honor plummeting to the ocean depth. Avoiding the gazes of anyone who would stop her, Diana departed from the great hall.