It was expected to rain.

The wind blew gracefully, breathtakingly showcasing the beautiful weather. Rain, to others, was a natural occurrence.

But not to Aleena.

Rain was a blessing - a special phenomenon. She loved the sight of raindrops descending from the magnificent blue sky. Her deep love started years and years ago when she was just a mere child.

Just the sight of rain, to her, was more than enough. She didn't fancy getting wet.

Her new friends always told her that she was an introvert, one who finds herself comfortable in solitude. Although they weren't exactly right, it's agreeable that Aleena was the type of girl who found happiness in the quiet, and littlest of things.

These new friends of hers held this opinion because whenever they tried to take her shopping or for other social activities, she mostly excused herself from them. She spent less amount of money, the ones given by her parents, on social activities as well as on shopping.

Aleena was never a fan of expensive pleasures. She was unafraid of her social reputation, the kind of a girl who held no high opinion of those having these things, but of those who had high moral values.

This was the way she was raised by her parents.

The youngest one in her family of five siblings, she was the most loved by her mother. Aleena was the way she was because both her parents pressured a great effort in her upbringing.

She stood, watching her window get wet, attacked by the gifted raindrops from the sky above. She enjoyed the silent yet harmonious sight.

"Aleena!"

The girl twirled around, instantly met with a group of enthusiastic girls. Their smiles stretched from cheek to cheek, shining through the invincible winds.

They were her friends.

Aleena strode towards them, confused as to why they seemed so excited. "I spot extreme enthusiasm," she started, "What happened?"

The girls replied in unison, shocking her.

"The poetry results are out," Aleena repeated, "and I won first place?"

Her friends nodded, squealed, and shone in pure excitement. "Yes."

Shock dawned on Aleena. Zunaira, Mahi and Mahnur's faces were soon overtaken with looks of amusement as they examined their introverted friend.

"Yes, my dear friend," Zunaira stated, her eyes twinkling, "your piece of poetry was the one that bewildered our class teacher," Zunaira's face turned rosy, "heheh."

"Don't joke, Zuni, I'm serious, tell me what's the real thing." Aleena peacefully demanded, "please?"

She found it hard to believe thinking her friends were joking

"How could I even obtain the first place", she thought to herself, "The candidates in the competition were more eligible than me"!

"Aleena, I'm serious, you're the one who stood first this time."

The number of intensity Zuni's words held convinced her at last.

"Are you serious Zuni?"

"Yes!" Mahnur exclaimed, dragging Aleena towards the classroom, "now come and have a look in our class, everyone is surprised to know that your poem snagged first!"

The whispers of disbelief and awe left the students' lips. They found it admirable that though Aleena was doing her bachelor's in psychology, she had nothing to do with the literature department. but still, she scored first place.

The teacher stood, congratulating the candidates, before calling out Aleena's name. "Very few students had chosen this topic and I can surely say that this poem is truly an image of one's inner thoughts and fights. The title of the poem was The inner fears." The teacher paused before reciting the poem.

"There's a place in my mind
Where all the fears lie

It has a starless dark sky
That always terrifies

That place also contains
A little, blurry moon

Some tiny dull flowers
Which are yet to bloom

I wander there everywhere
To search that one hidden light

The light of love and hope
For which I'm ready to fight

The light that taught me
Not to be unkind

It makes me better
And helps me to fight

From the worries and the Fears
From the darkness that's everywhere

Makes me believe in love
That's yet to be shine

I'll wait for that love
that will root out this fright."

He looked at his students with joy glinting in his eyes. "The poem isn't a sophisticated one but yet depicts how a person should struggle to fight the darkness, cope up with their fears. A person, no matter how strong they are, will search for a little light to live. That light is of nothing," he paused for a second and spoke,

"But that of faith."

Aleena joyfully listened to her teacher, before stepping forward to collect her certificate, then return to her group of friends.

She was beyond delighted.

The wide smile on her lips was the most solid proof.

__________

"Sir," a low voice called out from the other side of the call, "I've got something important to report."

A cold voice spoke up. "And what is that?"

"I got some evidence regarding princess Aaira."

His grip on the phone tightened at the mention of her name. "Princess Aaira?"

Aaira was an unforgettable name, belonging to the princess of the neighboring state. Although the monarchs in the states of Pakistan were rarely seen after the distribution of the subcontinent, the citizens still regard their families as their Royals.

Before independence, both Aaira and he had royal families.

Among the elders of them, many kings belonged to the Mughal۔empire.

Although there was no longer a tradition of royalty in Pakistan, the love and respect of the people attached to their families and the highly developed business, on a large scale were giving the same glory to them even today!

He often found himself feared by others. Influential, proud, and arrogant. The Prince, although he possessed immense power that gave him the possibility of being ruthless and not care about his subjects, ensured justice was always served for his people.
He was only a child at the time of his father's assassination. Though a mere child, revenge seeped into his bones, sparking intense hatred for the neighboring state. The assassin was, after all, from the neighboring state.

The most efficient, to him, was to torture them to their limits!

He was young, when he first heard of the Princess - who was previously engaged to him - was declared dead, angst invaded his body.

Not because his fianceè had died, but because he had only discovered the truths after investigations of his father's assassination.

And he realized that he'd lost the perfect opportunity to avenge his father.

The Prince began his revenge with other sly tacts of his, gradually bringing the downfall of his neighboring state.

But now that the most unexpected has sufficed, the evidence of the Princess remaining alive, his wicked plans may soon crumble.

"Bring those evidence here as soon as you can," he spoke through gritted teeth. The fire of hatred was burning in his deep eyes.
This hatred was not for one or two days but many years!

His father, who always sided with him as his friend, was killed by those tyrants!

He was a child back then!
At a young age, he had a lot of responsibilities.

Though, He was not a bad one at heart but it is also true that time changes a person very much!

"Wait and watch, the downfall of your destiny has started princess Aaira..."

................

Rani_dream_faith
(Minahil Rani).
Here's the first chap, hopefully, you all will like it.
Please like and comment, your suggestions, and support are always welcome.