"Your weaknesses are your thorns."

I sat on the couch, facing the balcony. The cool winds played with my locks and touched my face tenderly like a mother touching her child's visage. The sweet aroma of ratranis mixed in the air filled my nostrils and gave abounding peace to my mind. The dribbles in the water of the artificial pond created a fascinating musical piece and the fireflies surrounding it gave off a feeling that they were dancing to the beats of the melody. The swing attached to the mango tree next to the fountain moved gently and if I didn't know better I would have mistaken the fireflies for the nymphs dancing and playing in my garden while basking in the calmness of the full moon. A smile graced my lips at the whole scene and I subconsciously reached out for my necklace but nothing was to be found. I let out a sad smile remembering the events of today.

"Sorry to disturb you Rajkumar and Rajkumari but Queen Sudharma is demanding the audience of Rajkumar." A guard whom I recognize as the one who let us enter the chamber a few moments ago said standing behind the curtains hanging on the main entrance.

My brother sighed at the news, after thinking for a moment he just nodded and raised his hands to dismiss the guard. "I think our little chit-chat is over for now but why don't you accompany me?" Bhrata extended his hand. I looked at his face, a small smile graced his face. His gentle eyes were asking for permission and scrutinizing my reaction at the same time.

"If you say so bhrata." Smiling, I accepted his request and we left off to mother's chamber.

The whole journey my ears were focused on the faint footsteps, the tap of his footsteps, and the jingle of my anklets created a piece of unique music and I tried to catch up with his fast pace and long strides. We crossed alleys after alley, and took many turns to reach our destination. I had so many things to talk about, show him everything that changed in this palace like the new painting of our family and the latest sculpture that was added to my father's collection this year but nothing came out. Lost in our own thoughts we finally reached the chamber. On our arrival, we sent a dasi on the door to inform mother about our arrival. She went inside leaving me and my brother to wait outside the chamber. Meanwhile, my mind created all sorts of scenarios on why my mother called for bhrata Shakuni.

"Stop overthinking." an amused voice from my brother brought me back to the present. A small smile graced his face and he muttered something which I failed to catch upon. Before I could ask him anything the daasi came out and allowed us entry.

The pages of books fluttered under the flickering light of the lamp. Sighing, I closed the window and sat on the chair. Next to the books a dairy sat on the red silken cloth, its golden cover glistened under the faint light and the intricate design felt just right as I trailed my finger on them. A gift was sent by my brother after he got to know what happened in the chamber after he left. Opening it I stared at the small note written on the first page.

"Try pouring your feelings here sister."

My mother has always been an aficionado of embroidery and her interest could be easily noticed as soon as a person enters her room. Every piece of cloth had embroidery on it, be it a table cloth, curtains, or the clothes of her closest handmaids. Wherever my eyes could go every surface was covered with flower patterns, vines and designs as if I entered a garden of threads.

Sitting at the center of this garden was my mother, stitching yet another cloth. Her hands were moving swiftly and her eyes squinted, she was completely focused on the movements of the needle, creating a red rose on the white cotton cloth. Intervened amidst its own thorns and vines, the rose attracted my attention to it. The exquisite design could fool people into believing that the flower was real but after spending my whole childhood with her and learning this art directly under her tutelage, I was quite used to this scene.

Noticing our arrival she smiled and motioned us to sit next to her. My brother was first to move, dragging me along with him. He sat on the right side of mother, leaving the other side for me. A daasi served some refreshments and snacks which I was really thankful for. Keeping my head bowed I engrossed myself with the snacks trying to ignore the chats of my mother and brother.

"How are you feeling now Gandhari? You were absent at the welcome ceremony of your brother held at court this morning." My mother asked me out of the blue rendering me speechless. She was not looking at me but nevertheless, I could feel she was analyzing my every move. My hand subconsciously reached for the necklace and I calmed myself by feeling it between my fingers.

"Mother dear she was making sweets for me and I must say those were better than the ones you make." My brother joked and sipped the water in front of him. A lazy smile rested on his face and he blinked at me, my sweet brother, always there to save me.

"Oh is that so." My mother chuckled and cut the thread off. Changing the thread of the needle she sighed. "Well, then I could only hope she won't be busy making sweets during your welcoming function tomorrow."

"I won't." I cut her off hastily. "Sorry I lost my composure, I won't miss the welcoming function of my brother." I smiled sheepishly with my fingers still on the pearl necklace.

"Good. Now that you have confirmed your presence I have just the right jewelry for you." She signaled the dasi standing near her to bring something.

"It has already been late and we would bore you with our women talk so why don't you take a rest." My mother dismissed my brother. Getting the message that he was not required here, my brother nodded and left the room. An uncomfortable silence engulfed the room. Neither I nor mother exchanged words but her displeasure for me was clear on her face.

"The rose is beautiful isn't it?" My mother pointed at her work. "Pity the thorns are binding it. Restricting a person to get enamored by its beauty as his attention would more be on the thorns, not the rose. He would try to stay away from the flower to prevent pricking his lip. What are your thoughts on it Gandhari?" She looked at me for a second and then continued her needlework.

"True but I also think these thorns are necessary. A thing as delicate as a rose needs some protection. These vines and thorns are like the knights of this rose." I played with the pearls and stared at her artwork.

"I agree but isn't it the delicate and soft charm of a rose that attracts a person. The very purpose of the rose is to beautify something and when the time comes, get crushed and leave its sweet fragrance to soothe one's mind. Its beauty and charm are for others but these thorns are stopping the rose to fulfill its duty." She countered.

"No matter what they are part of the rose." I answered back.

"Yes they are the part of a rose but when presenting it to the buyer a gardener cuts off all these thorns." This statement left me confused. What was she trying to point at?
Before I could say anything further the dasi came back with a satin-covered box and put it on the table.

"Two days ago I asked the jeweler to make this piece. Hope you would like it." She opened the box and took out a lacha made of uncut diamonds, pearls, and emerald. The diamonds were embedded making a floral shape with emerald sitting at the center of diamond petals. The pearls were dangled freely at the ends making the jewelry stiff and free at the same time.

"Try it." She passed the chocker-like necklace to me. A dasi placed a mirror on the table so I could have a better look and helped me put on the piece. The cold metal touched my neck and I stared at the woman in the mirror.

"Something is not right." My mother mumbled. Thinking for a bit she smiled.
"Oh, I know what it is. Gandhari try this satlara." She took out a satlara made of rose-cut diamonds, pearls, and emeralds matching the design of the lacha.

"Go on but before that please remove that pearl necklace. It would ruin the whole set." My back stiffened at the thought of taking out the pearl necklace. It has stayed with me for as long as I could remember. My fingers are now familiar with the texture of every pearl and somehow this necklace feels like a part of me. Gulping I nodded and my shakey fingers tried to take the mala out. A hook of the lacha got stuck with the string of mala and before I could untangle it the string broke and the pearls scattered on the ground.

"Oh, dear. Where is your mind nowadays Gandhari? Lekha collect the pearls before they get lost." My mother said in an indifferent tone and asked the maid to collect the beads. Her eyes were gleaming which cleared my suspicion. She knew about the hook of lacha and this whole thing was orchestrated. Trying to hold down my tears I tried all the j she gave me but my eyes never left the pearls that sprawled on the floor.

"Perfect. Every piece just sits well. You could go now, I would ask someone to send these to your room." I just nodded, giving one last look to the pearls I left for my room. I heard my mother mumble something about thorns but my mind was too messed up to comprehend what she said. I left the room and a traitorous tear escapes my eyes.

Taking a deep breath I started scribbling whatever came into my mind but something didn't seem right. I tore pages after pages but all my thoughts were jumbled. The writing was hard especially writing down the feeling was the hardest thing I ever did. The tips of my fingers got stained with ink but I was unable to write a single thing.

"Rajkumari, Your mother has sent some gifts for you." A maid informed me. I just nodded and she kept a box covered with a white cloth on the table. My breath hitched on seeing a familiar design of rose intervened in thorns and vines stitched at the corner of cloth but a new addition was there. Pearls were stitched on the tips of the thorns. I clenched my hand on the design and grit my teeth. A scroll fell down. I sighed and picked it up. In neat handwriting list of jewelries sent by mother was written but what caught my eyes was a small line scribbled on the bottom of the scroll.

"Your thorns are your weakness."

I let out a small chuckle.

"Oh, mother. You are so adamant about cutting thorns. I wonder till what extent would you go to remove all the thorns you despise." I whispered and shook my head in amusement. I closed the diary and blew off the flame of the lamp.

Hellos peeps this is a small update. I am really trying not to get killed so yes an early update. Take it as a belated new year gift.

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Till then byes!!!