In the soft embrace of dawn, the Ujjain palace stirred to life, golden rays filtering through ornate windows, casting intricate patterns on the polished marble floors.

Chhayavritti, the master of shadows, slipped silently above, his form melding with the dim recesses of the ceiling. He moved like a whisper, a flicker of darkness in the burgeoning light, tracing the delicate outlines of the chamber below.

The soft murmur of morning routines below—the clinking of breakfast utensils, the laughter of attendants—served as his symphony, guiding him deeper into the heart of the palace. Skimming above the grand hall, adorned with tapestries depicting ancient legends, Chhayavritti paused, his senses heightened. He peered down, his shadowy essence swirling like smoke, searching for a glimpse of the princess.

He moved stealthily, traversing the beams with the grace of a drifting cloud, but the corridors seemed to mock him, twisting and turning without revealing the room where the girl resided.

Just then, a regal figure emerged in the corridor, draped in rich silks and adorned with jewels that caught the sunlight, scattering it like a kaleidoscope. Chhayavritti's instincts stirred—this must be the queen, and indeed she was Aarvi. As she glided gracefully, surrounded by attendants, he sensed an opportunity.

With a fluid motion, he descended through the air, melting into her shadow, an unseen specter. He followed her, cloaked in darkness, as she glided through the palace corridors. Aarvi's footsteps echoed softly, guiding him deeper into the heart of the palace.

Aarvi finally reached the sunlit gardens, and walked through the flowering bushes. Attendants flanked her, their laughter mingling with the chirping of birds. As she approached the temple, an aura of serenity enveloped the air. The scent of jasmine and incense created a heady atmosphere, one that both calmed and enthralled.

Aarvi entered the temple, her heart swelling with hope, oblivious to the lurking Chhayavritti, who remained hidden in her shadow. As she stepped inside, her gaze fell upon a sight that made her heart lurch.

“Krishneshwari !” she cried, her voice echoing in the serene silence of the temple.

The sound reverberated like a thunderclap, slicing through the tranquil morning. Chhayavritti, hidden in the shadows, felt the pulse of tension in the air. In an instant, he slipped upwards, melding with the intricate carvings of the ceiling, this was the moment he had been waiting for—the chance to finally see the princess.

He gazed down keenly, and saw Krishneshwari, who stood entranced, cradling a magnificent idol of Narayan in her delicate arms. The idol gleamed in the morning light, its golden form towering over the tiny girl. It was a sight both enchanting and alarming.

The child’s cherubic face glowed with innocence, a radiant smile illuminating her features as she giggled, blissfully unaware of any danger. "Maa ! Krida !"

Aarvi rushed to her daughter, her maternal instincts igniting as she gently lifted the idol from Krishneshwari's arms, placing it carefully back in its rightful place on the sanctum. Every day since the little one had learned to walk had been an adventure, each moment filled with wonder and a hint of mischief.

Aarvi knelt beside her daughter, her heart swelling with both adoration and concern. "Yeh tumhari gudiya nahi hai, putri." she gently explained.

In response, Krishneshwari pouted, her face scrunching up in playful defiance. Folding her tiny hands, she looked up at the towering idol of Narayan, her eyes sparkling with both mischief and innocence.

"Jabse chalna sikha hai, tab se adhik natkhat ho gayi ho." Aarvi murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind Krishneshwari’s ear.

Chhayavritti, cloaked in shadow high above, watched intently. Despite the curse that fogged the little princess's memory, a glimmer of divine essence surrounded her. It pulsed with an ethereal glow, illuminating the place like moonlight piercing through thick clouds. He could sense her innate power, a dormant flame waiting to be reignited.

The morning light filtered through the temple's ornate windows, illuminating the child’s pouty face, her eyes sparkling with innocence. It was impossible for Aarvi not to smile. The little princess, with her cherubic features framed by cascading curls, was an embodiment of pure joy, even in her defiance.

Unable to resist, Aarvi knelt down and scooped her daughter into her arms, cradling her close.

"Arrey re... Aise krodh nahi karte." she murmured, her heart swelling with love.

Sitting down on the cool stone floor of the temple, Aarvi nestled Krishneshwari on her lap, the vibrant colors of the temple's murals casting a gentle glow around them. Aarvi closed her eyes, guiding her daughter's tiny hands together in prayer.

To Chhayavritti, concealed in the shadows above, the sight was breathtaking. The air shimmered with a soft, golden light, radiating from the little princess, a faint aura of divinity that felt almost palpable. Yet, he recognized the irony; she remained blissfully ignorant of the power within her.

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A/N

Little Krishneshwari has learnt how to speak now 😭✨