Chapter 6

**Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and thus does not revolve around the real world. Words or incidents mentioned do not signify anything related to the real world. **

Imagine your whole family being slaughtered like animals in front of you, and you are standing in front of the killer and you cannot do anything but obey their command of serving them. How pathetic this might feel?

Shivantika couldn't do anything but sit, with her head touching the floor, and greet the killer, who turned out to be the Crown Prince Ahil Chandra of Braheshwat.

"The Girl in the middle will serve me; others may go to the Royal Princess as decided." Shivantika, surprised at his words, tilted her head a little to the up. Glancing at him, she saw their eyes meet. Both remembered the days from Ampranam when they spent time with each other.

"Yes, yes, Your Royal Highness, your words are our command", said the Manager, and asked Shivantika to thank His Highness.

With tears flowing through her cheeks behind her veil, she did as she was asked and left to pack her stuff.

Nayantara came from behind, grabbed her wrist, and asked for her sudden change of attitude. Hugging Nayantara, she told her that Ahil is her Veer from Ampranam, and she does not know what to do now and is in a dilemma.

"According to what you have told me, Veer and Radha were siblings, and if Veer is here then too would Radha. I guess soon the questions would be answered, it is just about a matter of a few more days" said Nayantara.

Listening to what she said, she understood one thing for sure if Ahil is Veer, then Radha might also be the Royal Princess. Shivantika asked Nayantara to serve the Royal Princess in the mean time and to meet her at midnight near the watch tower situated between the palaces of the Crown Prince and the Royal Princess.

While they were discussing, Madhumita outside eavesdropped and heard everything.

Shivantika greeted Nayantara goodbye and left.

When she stepped out of the department, she saw a horse carriage with a person sitting inside it.

"The Crown Prince awaits you," an elderly servant standing outside the carriage said, his voice laced with forced respect. "His Highness favors you greatly. You should be honored."

They all started moving towards the residency palace of the Crown Prince.

Shivantika never wanted to go with him or serve him. She was still carrying the dagger that her mother handed her before dying to kill the person responsible for the bloody massacre.

Seeing Ahil sitting inside the carriage, she could imagine a hundred ways of killing him with a thirst for blood and revenge in her eyes.

When arrived at the gate leading to the Crown Prince's chambers, the Prince stepped outside of the carriage and stepped his right foot forward on the stoned ground. He got enchanted by Shivantika, to whom the breezing wind was complimenting.

As Ahil stepped outside the carriage, the gates automatically opened and the servants with their heads tilted downwards, of which Shivantika was now a part, and Ahil went inside. The moment they went inside, Shivantika saw the whole palace decorated with paper flowers(also called Bougainvillea) with colors different from pink purple, red, and white, ranging from all the colors available in the entire world. The blowing wind made the scene even more captivating and mesmerizing. After all the many weeks, Shivantika finally smiled, though it was for a few seconds but those few seconds were enough for Ahil.

Lagging, Shivantika was scolded by the head servant, who always stayed with Ahil. He ordered her to stay with them.

She tripped to stay close to them.

When they entered the main hall, Ahil asked all the servants to leave and close the doors, along with the head servant, excluding Shivantika. The moment they all left, Anirudh entered the room and closed the doors.

Shivantika just stood there staring at the floor, but when Anirudh came, her eyes widened seeing him and it added a cherry on top when he said "Your Highness, your command has been fulfilled. Your servant has kept his word. Ampranam's Princess is in front of you."

Seeing him say this, she couldn't stop herself from exposing herself and saying "What are you talking about? Anirudh bhaiya(brother), what is all this? What do you mean by that?"

"Thank you, Anirudh. You've been a loyal servant" replied Ahil to Anirudh.

Anirudh greeted farewell to the Crown Prince and Shivantika by addressing her Princess.

When he turned back to leave, he threw a small piece of crumbled paper piece towards Shivantika escaping the gaze of the Prince.

Seeing it, she immediately grabbed and hid it.

"Are you not going to remove the veil off your face, Shivantika? Or shall I call you Maithili?" Ahil turned towards her and called. He was domineering, and chivalrous but also with tenderness through his eyes.

Tears welled up in her reddened eyes as she glared at him, her figure slumped against the ground, a palpable aura of anger radiating from her when she removed her veil from her face with her left hand.

After fleeing from Ampranam, Shivantika was forced to abandon many of her lifelong habits, this included using her left hand. It was her first time after a long period of time to use her abandoned habit.

Ahil took a step towards her, knelt, and sat in a squatted position; took his right hand forward towards her face when she took out the dagger given by her deceased mother and pointed it at Ahil and attacked him. However, he was lucky enough to dodge the attack. He grabbed her wrist and turned her holding her wrist, resulting in her back pressed against his chest.

As Shivantika resisted and struggled against his restraint, Ahil whispered in her ear "Looks like your demeanor has undergone quite some transformation, Your Royal Highness."

As Shivantika broke free from his restraint, she outraged and busted out through her tears. She screamed and cried out.

"A transformation you say?" she shrieked, her voice laced with rage, "After what you've done to me, my family, and my kingdom, you still have the nerve to say that. What do you even want from me now? Being your puppet wasn't enough for your throne games, that you again played dirty and brought me here. Let me go, I request you, I don't want anything. If a barren land is all you desire, then Ampranam is all yours."

With tears streaming down her face, Shivantika scanned the room, looking for a way out. Seeing only a window, she hurried towards it. From the height, she saw Kayati and the Miltayi River below. Her mind filled with the need to escape, she stepped onto the edge, holding her lehenga. Before she could jump, Ahil grabbed her hand and pulled her down. They both fell, with Shivantika on top of him. She fell against his chest, her head resting there, and Ahil's hand softly cupped her head as if to keep her safe.

As Shivantika opened her eyes she saw the position, in which she was lying. She hurriedly stood up and slapped him on his face.

"How dare you? Why don't you let me go? Even if I die, how does it matter to you?"

The slap made Ahil very mad. He was upset with Shivantika, but he spoke calmly because being a crown prince no one ever dared to touch him without his permission but she directly slapped him. He said, "You deserve to know the truth, Shivantika. Listen, neither I, Suragini nor Braheshwat were involved in the downfall of Ampranam. No one was. Not even your step-brother, Sidharth, or your biological brother."