The grand courtroom, adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering adornments, was a sight to behold. But for Krishneshwari, it felt more like a cage than a throne room. She sat upon the King's throne, a magnificent seat of power, yet she felt utterly insignificant. King Vishrutvaan and his queens knelt before her, their heads bowed in reverence, treating her as if she were a deity.

They offered prayers, their voices chanting hymns in praise of her divine grace. But to Krishneshwari, the words sounded strange. They were not addressing her as a princess, but as Rameshwari, the legendary warrior. She felt a surge of confusion. Why were they addressing her with hymns dedicated to Rameshwari?

But as she listened to the fervent prayers, she realized that they were not merely paying lip service. They were worshipping her, treating her as if she were the incarnation of Rameshwari herself. Krishneshwari felt overwhelmed, suffocated by the weight of their expectations. She was just a child, a young girl trying to navigate the complexities of the world.

'Akhand Maharani se sidha Rameshwari bana diya mujhe...' She thought to herself.

As the hymns continued, Krishneshwari felt a growing sense of unease. She was not a god, she was just a human being, with fears and doubts, with joys and sorrows. Yet, they treated her as if she were something more, something beyond human comprehension. She felt like a caged bird, trapped in a gilded cage, admired but not understood, revered but not truly seen.

Lost in her thoughts, she looked down at the flower garland adorning her neck. As she gazed at the garland, she noticed that all the dignitaries in the court had bowed their heads, their foreheads touching the ground in a gesture of profound respect.

Krishneshwari turned to her father, Dilip, who stood beside her. Her eyes, filled with a mixture of confusion and unease, sought his comfort. Dilip couldn't help but notice his daughter's troubled demeanor. She seemed lost, as if she was searching for something, something that she couldn't quite define.

Sensing his daughter's distress, he stepped forward. "Rajan, yadi aagya ho toh mai Krishneshwari ko kaksh mei le jana chahunga. Meri putri ko vishram ki awashyakta hai."

"Awashya Maharaj." Vishrutvaan smilingly nodded. "Yadi kisi bhi vastu ki awashyakta ho toh hume sewa ka avsar de."

Dilip smiled, and took his daughter away. Krishneshwari, relieved to be excused, followed her father out of the hall. A retinue of guards walked behind them, alert and attentive. As they walked, she leaned into her father's side, her head resting against his arm. As they walked through the palace corridors, Dilip couldn't help but notice that his daughter was still unusually quiet.

"Kya huya putri ?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. "Jab bhi koi shaashak tumhara sammaan-satkaar karta hai, tum pareshan lagti ho."

Krishneshwari shook her head, unable to find the words to express the turmoil within her. The weight of expectations, the reverence, the overwhelming sense of being watched – it all felt suffocating. She simply didn't know how to explain it to her father.

Dilip, sensing her distress, simply caressed her head, offering silent comfort. He had been told that girls her age go through a difficult phase, often prone to unpredictable emotional tides, easily overwhelmed by many things.

As they reached the guest room assigned to Krishneshwari, Dilip suggested, "Van-vihaar par chalna chaahogi ? Maine suna hai ki Sarayu-tat ke van ati sundar hote hai."

Krishneshwari's eyes lit up. Anything that would take her away from the suffocating atmosphere of the palace, away from the weight of expectations, was welcome.

"Ji Pitashree !" she replied eagerly.

Dilip smiled and patted her cheeks, "Toh kal subah sajj rehna. Hmm ?"

She nodded, yearning for the freedom of the open sky, the tranquility of nature, anything to escape the suffocating confines of royalty and the constant pressure to live up to the expectations of others. Dilip, with a reassuring smile, headed towards his own chambers, the guards following closely behind. Krishneshwari watched him go, a sense of relief washing over her.

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, her eyes shut. Ever since she had stepped into Ayodhya, Krishneshwari had been grappling with a strange dichotomy of emotions. On one hand, she felt a sense of attachment to this ancient city. The reverence shown to her, the echoes of her past lives, all resonated with a deep part of her soul. But at the same time, she felt a profound sense of detachment, as if she didn't belong here anymore.

Krishneshwari walked towards the bed, her mind swirling with thoughts. She lay down, the soft silken sheets enveloping her. She thought about the reverence shown to her by kings and emperors, the way they bowed their heads in submission. It was a constant reminder of the divine destiny that awaited her, a destiny that she was still struggling to understand. She thought about the Asuras, the terrifying creatures who had tried to harm her. And then, she remembered the divine interventions.

She wondered what it was about her that attracted such attention, both divine and demonic. Why were the Asuras so obsessed with her ? Why did the gods protect her with such fervor ? What was it that everyone could see, this divine essence, this aura of power, that she herself couldn't perceive ? She felt like an actor on a stage, playing a role that she didn't fully understand.

She yearned for answers, for someone to explain the mysteries of her existence. But who could she turn to? Her parents, though loving, were unable to provide the answers she sought. The wise men of the court, though learned, seemed to treat her with an awe that clouded their judgment. Lost in a sea of confusion and self-doubt, Krishneshwari closed her eyes, hoping for a moment of peace, a moment of clarity. But still, her mind raced with a thousand unanswered questions.

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A/N

Milenge.... Shigreh hi milenge... Sabhi prashno ke uttar... 🌝

(Idhar mai poetic nahi ban rahi, actually jaldi milenge because I just realised 76 chapters ho gaye hai-💀)