Echoes of Destiny

A Daughter's Heartache

It had been a few days since Vishakha's grand wedding, and Advaita couldn't help but feel a mixture of joy and nostalgia. She had managed to convince her mother to let her attend the wedding, and it turned out to be a memorable experience filled with laughter, dance, and heartfelt moments. Advaita and her friends had rekindled their bond and created cherished memories that would stay with them forever.

As she sat in her room, reminiscing about the wedding festivities, a tinge of sadness washed over Advaita. Vishakha, her dear friend, was now married, and their carefree moments together would be hard to replicate. The thought of not being able to meet and spend time like they used to left a void in Advaita's heart.

Advaita greeted her mother and Maasa with a warm smile as they entered the room, accompanied by a few servants.

"Pranam Maasa, bhabhisa. Aap log yaha?"

 "Haan Advaita. Dekhie hum aapke ke lie kya lae hai." ("Haan, beta. Look what we have got for you.")

Advaita's eyes sparkled with excitement as she glanced at the servants, eager to see what they were holding.

"Yeh rahe aapke jhumke jo aapke bhaisa ne aapse kaha tha. Aaiye jo aapko pasand hai chun lijie." ("Here are the jhumkas your bhaisa promised you. Come on, let's select the ones you like.")

Advaita's face lit up as she admired the tray of beautiful jhumkas, grateful for her brother's thoughtful gesture.

"Dhanyavaad Bhabhisa. Yeh kitne sundar hai! " ("Thank you so much, bhabhisa! They are absolutely stunning!")

"And that's not all. Maasa has also invited some shopkeepers to showcase their collection of clothes and jewelry. We can select some pieces together."

Advaita's excitement grew as she imagined the vibrant array of clothes and dazzling jewelry waiting to be explored.

"That's wonderful, Maasa! I can't wait to see what they have to offer. Let's go and choose some amazing pieces!"

They all made their way to the designated area, ready to indulge in the delightful selection of attire and adornments.

Advaita, accompanied by her mother, Meera, and her sister-in-law, Nandini, entered a room filled with an assortment of clothes and jewelry. Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they scanned the array of vibrant colors and intricate designs.

"Wow, Maasa! Look at all these beautiful outfits. They're absolutely stunning."

"Yes, my dear. We have invited the finest shopkeepers to showcase their creations. Choose whatever catches your eye."

Advaita carefully examined each ensemble, running her fingers over the intricate embroidery and delicate fabrics. As she spotted the vibrant red lehenga, her heart skipped a beat.

She asked a nearby servent to show it to her, as she touched the fabric that felt very soft she was very excited. There were rarely any clothes that looked so elegant and beautiful but were still soft and comfortable.

"I'll have this one. I love the way it feels and looks. It's elegant and comfy at the same time. Do you have more like this?"

"Sure, rajkumari. We have similar designs in different colors."

Advaita browsed through the other options and ended up selecting a blue, green, yellow, and magenta lehenga. But when she saw another red lehenga, she couldn't resist and added it to her choices. Meera, observing her selection, jokingly remarked:

"Maasa dekhie Advaita apne vivah ki taiyaari abhi se hi kar rhi hai. Itne pyaare jode chune hai isne." ("Maasa, look at Advaita buying such pretty outfits. It seems like she's getting ready for her wedding!")

Advaita was shocked by Meera's comment while Nandini responded:

"Jiji Advaita to abhi chhoti hai. Vivah ki baat kaha se aa gayi." ("Jiji, why would she be preparing for marriage? She is still so young!")

While Rani Padmavati retorted,"Kya matlab chhoti hai. Jab hum iski umar ke the, hum Amravati ki saari bhagdor sambhal rhe the."  ("What do you mean by young? When I was her age, I was already taking charge of things in Amravati palace!")

Advaita, feeling emotional, couldn't hold back her tears:

"Maasa aap hume vida kerne ke lie itni utsuk hai?" ("Maasa, are you eager to send me away?")

"Nhi meri nanhi rajkumari. Humne aisa thosi kaha. Aap to humari aakhon ka taara hai, hum kyu aapko khud se durr bhejna chahenge." ("No, my little princess. I never said that. You're the apple of my eyes, and I would never want to send you away.")

Advaita, expressing her confusion, pointed out, "But you mentioned that I should get married and that I'm not young anymore."

 "But what's wrong with what Maasa said? You're already so grown up. You eat all the food in the palace, and we can't take care of you anymore." Ranvijay said entering the room.

"Ranvijay Bhaisaaaaaa!" Advaita whined, looking at her brother Ranvijay. "Maasa, see how Bhaisa is teasing me!"

Meera intervened, trying to lighten the mood: "Oh, come on, don't be so serious. We were just joking. Advaita, you know we love you and will always take care of you."

Advaita's pout slowly turned into a smile as she realized her family's affectionate banter. But when Rani Padmavati mentioned the topic of marriage, Advaita's smile faded, and a sense of sadness filled her heart.

Rani Padmavati gently said, "Parantu Advaita, aapko ek din to vivah karna hi hoga na. Aur ab jo aap badi ho gyi hai, veh din durr nhi hai." ("But Advaita, you still have to marry someday. And now that you are grown up, that day might come soon.")

Feeling overwhelmed, Advaita went to hug her mother tightly, her eyes welling up with tears. "But I don't want to leave you, Maasa. I don't want to be away from our family."

Rani Padmavati held Advaita close, comforting her. "My dear, I understand your feelings. But this is how things are meant to happen. You grow up and leave your family to create a family of your own. Just thinking about it brings me tears. The little baby girl that I once held so close to myself is now grown up enough to be married away. But always remember, marriage is a new chapter in life, but it doesn't mean you'll be completely separated from us. We will always be a part of your life, and your happiness will always be our priority."

"Who made my dearest daughter cry?"

As they were having this heartfelt conversation, a voice filled with authority sounded in the room. Rana Devendra entered along with Siddharth and Arjun, causing Advaita to turn her attention to her father.

Advaita approached her father and complained, "Babasa, look at everyone. They are planning to send me away. They want me to get married, but I don't want to leave you, Babasa."

Raja Devendra looked at his daughter affectionately and patted her head, saying, "Oh, my baby, I won't let you go anywhere. I'll ask the Prince of Suryagarh to come and stay here with us after your marriage."

Advaita looked at her father in astonishment. "Is this really possible, Babasa?"

"Of course, anything I say is a royal order," Raja Devendra replied with a playful smile.

Before Advaita could fully enjoy the idea, her mother broke the bubble of excitement. "That is not how things happen, and did you ask Rajkumar Rajveer if he wants to stay here?"

Advaita's hope faded as reality set in. "So, I won't marry him?"

Raja Devendra chimed in, "But Rajveer is very handsome, Advaita."

"Babasa, now you are also teasing me," Advaita pouted, feeling a mix of disappointment and amusement. She decided to retreat to her room, seeking some time alone to process her thoughts.

As she sat in her room, Advaita contemplated the unfairness women often faced in life. Only women had to leave their homes, the places they had spent years growing up, and go to another place to settle down and adjust with people they had never met. It felt daunting to spend her life with someone she had no idea about.

She sighed deeply, hoping that one day she would find the courage to navigate the challenges that lay ahead and create a life filled with love, understanding, and happiness.