A Royal Engagement

February 6, 2010 – 1:10 PM

Inside the Pandey family's modest yet warm living room, the air was thick with both excitement and tension. The old wooden clock on the wall ticked away steadily, marking the passage of time, but for Raja Ram Pandey, the moment felt frozen.

Seated across from him, Krishna Deva Raya, the Crown Prince of Vijayanagara, sat with a composed expression. His presence was overwhelming yet oddly comforting, his deep brown eyes filled with sincerity. Beside him, Smriti Pandey sat quietly, her hands resting on her lap, waiting for the conversation to unfold.

Bhanumaya Pandey, Smriti's mother, watched intently, her fingers nervously twisting the end of her saree. The rest of the family lingered in the background, peeking from doorways and corners, unable to contain their curiosity.

Finally, Raja Ram broke the silence. His voice was calm but laced with concern.

"I have heard about your identity, Your Highness… and I also know why you came here."

Krishna smiled politely. "Uncle, please… don't call me 'Your Highness.' You can just call me by my name."

Raja Ram nodded but did not let his guard down. His expression remained serious as he leaned forward slightly.

"I understand that you are here for my daughter, Smriti." He let out a sigh, his fingers tapping lightly on the wooden armrest of his chair. "But to be honest, your identity worries me."

Krishna listened patiently.

"You are the Crown Prince of Vijayanagara, and one day, you will be the King of a great empire. How can I be sure that you will make my daughter happy after marriage?" His voice held the unmistakable tone of a father protecting his daughter.

Smriti stiffened beside Krishna. She had expected this question but said nothing, allowing Krishna to speak for himself.

Raja Ram continued, "I also know that your country allows its royals to have more than one wife. You are a future king. How can I trust that Smriti will always have a place in your heart? That she won't be replaced by another woman someday?"

A deep silence fell over the room. The weight of his words settled heavily in the air.

Krishna exhaled softly, understanding the pain and hesitation behind Raja Ram's words. He could see the worry in the man's eyes—the fear of his daughter being thrown into a world where she might be neglected or mistreated.

After a moment, Krishna spoke, his tone firm yet gentle.

"Uncle, I understand your concerns." He leaned forward slightly, his hands resting on his knees. "But let me promise you something today. Smriti will be my first and final wife. There will be no one else."

Raja Ram studied his face carefully, searching for any sign of hesitation or dishonesty.

"I will marry her not as a duty, but out of love." Krishna continued. "She will have the official status of my queen, and I will love and respect her for the rest of my life. My father and mother have always wanted me to marry for love rather than for political gain. And they are happy with my choice."

A few moments of silence stretched between them.

Raja Ram leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind. He had raised Smriti with love and care, watching her grow from a little girl into a strong, intelligent young woman. Letting her go was not easy.

But looking at Krishna now—the sincerity in his eyes, the confidence in his words—Raja Ram knew he had lost this battle.

With a deep sigh, he finally gave in.

"If my daughter is happy with this decision… then I have no reason to stop it." His voice wavered slightly. "Smriti, is this what you want?"

Smriti's cheeks turned pink, and she nodded silently.

Seeing his approval, the family members who had been eavesdropping burst into cheers.

"YAY! OUR BIG SISTER IS FINALLY GETTING MARRIED!" a small 10-year-old cousin squealed, jumping excitedly.

"And she's not just marrying anyone—she's marrying a king!" a 15-year-old cousin grinned. "Now I can show off at school. The rich kids will finally know that my sister is going to be the Queen of Vijayanagara!"

The room filled with laughter and excited chatter. The Pandey family's status was about to rise, and they all knew it.

Fixing the Wedding Date

As the initial excitement settled, Raja Ram turned to Krishna once again.

"So, when can we call the pandit and fix the wedding date?"

Krishna smiled. "Whenever you think is best, Uncle."

A priest was called in immediately. After checking their horoscopes and analyzing auspicious dates, the pandit declared that February 25—just 19 days away—would be the most suitable day for the wedding.

The family rejoiced at the decision.

Preparations Begin

Due to Krishna's royal status, the wedding preparations moved at an extraordinary pace. A grand venue was quickly chosen—Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The temple, known for its spiritual significance and architectural beauty, was a fitting location for a royal Hindu wedding. Furthermore, Krishna's family had a royal palace in Thiruvananthapuram, ensuring the perfect setting for the grand ceremony.

The Deva Raya royal family, with its influence stretching across Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and even the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, had palaces in almost every state of Vijayanagara.

When Krishna's father, Shriranga Deva Raya, and mother, Fulmati Devaya Raya, received the news of their son's wedding, they were overjoyed.

"Finally," Shriranga Deva Raya said, relief evident in his voice. "Our son is getting married."

Fulmati Devaya Raya smiled warmly. "Soon, we will have grandchildren."

However, both of them felt a pang of guilt. Due to urgent royal matters, they wouldn't be able to personally conduct the wedding rituals, a responsibility that traditionally belonged to the parents of the groom.

Still, they were immensely proud of their son.

The Pandey Household Bursts into Life

After Krishna bid farewell to Smriti and her family, he returned to Vijayanagara to make preparations for the wedding.

As soon as he left, the Pandey house became a whirlwind of activity.

Smriti's cousins gathered around her, chattering excitedly.

"Didi, don't forget about me after your wedding, okay?" a younger cousin clung to her arm. "Make sure you invite me to the palace!"

"Smriti Didi, help me get a rich husband too!" another cousin teased, winking.

Smriti's face burned with embarrassment. She quickly turned and ran into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

She flopped onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow, her heart racing.

She could hardly believe it.

"Krishna is finally going to marry me…" she whispered, a soft smile forming on her lips.

She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting.

The man she had loved for years—the one she had waited for—was finally going to be her husband.

And soon, she would step into a new world, not just as a bride…

But as the Queen of Vijayanagara.