The Sabha Hall was empty except for two lone figures. Laughter, tinkle of jewellery and swish of clothes filled the air and bounced off the intricately carved columns that held up the ornate ceiling. Two figures were busy at play.
Payal was running from column to column and Raja Suvajit was unsuccessfully following suit. Nevertheless, he continued to chase her. After all, every man in the kingdom was trying to capture her and imprison her in his heart.
"Please have mercy, I cannot possibly run anymore", gasped the Raja.
Payal peeped from behind a column, just a few feet away, and disappeared again in a whoosh of clothing and a tinkle of bells. Just one look at her mesmerizing kohl laden eyes and mischievous half smile made him pick up pace. He followed the musical sound of her laughter and found himself standing before the throne of his ancestors.
She sat playfully on the throne, her bare feet swinging a few inches above the ground. The Raja stared in wonder. He had often heard passionate and exciting stories of Apsaras who lived in heaven. Gods, kings, men would all be fighting each other, abandoning kingdoms, throwing away their lives just to be in their arms. Suvajit often wondered whether she was as an Apsara. Surely a human couldn't be so captivating. He was a Raja and yet he felt so slight, so insignificant before her.
"Didn't manage to catch me, eh?", Payal whispered.
"I wonder if anyone can", replied Suvajit as he bounded up the steps and picked her up in his arms.
Payal was unable to think as his hot breath fell on her face. She gazed at him in silence.
"My dearest," he whispered into her ears. "One day the whole world will be at our feet".
She found her voice and replied, "You mustn't speak of such things, Raja. We have no power other than that which is given to us from above. We must wait for God's instructions and accordingly carry out our duties. Everything that is destined to happen will happen."
"No one can ever have any power over you", laughed Suvajit.
Payal laid a hand on his mouth and said, "You are the Raja and I..."
This time the Raja laid a hand her mouth and said, "..and you are mine."
She was lost for words yet again.
Payal was running from column to column and Raja Suvajit was unsuccessfully following suit. Nevertheless, he continued to chase her. After all, every man in the kingdom was trying to capture her and imprison her in his heart.
"Please have mercy, I cannot possibly run anymore", gasped the Raja.
Payal peeped from behind a column, just a few feet away, and disappeared again in a whoosh of clothing and a tinkle of bells. Just one look at her mesmerizing kohl laden eyes and mischievous half smile made him pick up pace. He followed the musical sound of her laughter and found himself standing before the throne of his ancestors.
She sat playfully on the throne, her bare feet swinging a few inches above the ground. The Raja stared in wonder. He had often heard passionate and exciting stories of Apsaras who lived in heaven. Gods, kings, men would all be fighting each other, abandoning kingdoms, throwing away their lives just to be in their arms. Suvajit often wondered whether she was as an Apsara. Surely a human couldn't be so captivating. He was a Raja and yet he felt so slight, so insignificant before her.
"Didn't manage to catch me, eh?", Payal whispered.
"I wonder if anyone can", replied Suvajit as he bounded up the steps and picked her up in his arms.
Payal was unable to think as his hot breath fell on her face. She gazed at him in silence.
"My dearest," he whispered into her ears. "One day the whole world will be at our feet".
She found her voice and replied, "You mustn't speak of such things, Raja. We have no power other than that which is given to us from above. We must wait for God's instructions and accordingly carry out our duties. Everything that is destined to happen will happen."
"No one can ever have any power over you", laughed Suvajit.
Payal laid a hand on his mouth and said, "You are the Raja and I..."
This time the Raja laid a hand her mouth and said, "..and you are mine."
She was lost for words yet again.
