Chapter 3

The sun had not risen when she came in sight of Ranaji's palace and landed at the beautiful marble steps.

The moon was shining bright and clear. Gayatri drank the burning, stinging potion, and it was like a sharp, two-edged sword running through her tender frame ; she fainted away and lay as if she were dead. When the sun rose on the sea she woke up and became conscious of a sharp pang, but just in front of her stood the handsome young Ranaji.

He gazed at her so intently with his coal-black eyes that she cast hers down and saw that her fish's tail was gone, and that she had the prettiest little white legs any maiden could desire, but she was quite naked, so she wrapped her long thick hair around her.

Who are you,how did you come to be here? Ranaji asked.

she looked at him tenderly and with a sad expression in her dark brown eyes, but could not speak.

I am your true love she wanted to say, i saved you from the sea but of course she could not speak so she smiled at the prince hoping he would understand.

It’s alright, you are safe now. Are you strong enough to walk? come now don't be frightened...' Ranaji said warmly but Gayatri could only look at him with love.

what is your name?"  he asked.

Gayatri was silent.

finally he said, "I do not know why you will not speak but you still need my aid, Ranaji helped her stand up.

Oh you can’t speak. Not dumb..." he looked confused then smiled sweetly giving her his hand, the girl seems to mesmerized him.

Then he took her by the hand and led her into the palace.

So beautiful." He kept gazing her beauty as he led her inside. She walk so gracefully as if gliding through water."

Every step she took was, as the witch had warned her beforehand, as if she were treading on sharp knives and spikes, but she bore it gladly; yet to Ranaji she looked perfect as they walked she glided through the halls as lightly as a cloud, "how graceful you are!" Ranaji said as he led her into his rooms.

He called his servants and ordered them to bring some clothes, "dress her as an honored guest of the royal palace." he commanded to the royal maids.

Then he turned to her and asked softly, would you like to accompany me to the royal performance today?"

Gayatri nodded eagerly after the royal maids dressed her in a maroon silk dress Clothed in the costliest silks and muslin she was the greatest beauty in the palace, but she was dumb and could neither sing nor speak.

Ranaji led her to the palace hall to introduce her to his parents.

"How beautiful you are!" exclaimed the queen. "where do you come from?"

Gayatri just stared but no answer came from her mouth. 

...... 

Beautiful slaves clad in silks and gold came forward and sang to Ranaji and his royal parents ;one of them sang better than all the others, and Ranaji clapped his hands and smiled at her ; that made Gayatri very sad, for she knew that she used to sing far better herself She thought,"Oh! if he only knew that for the sake of being with him I had given up my voice forever !

Now when the slaves was dancing to enchanting music ; thereupon gayatri felt like dancing lifting her beautiful white arms and raising herself on tiptoe glided on the floor with a grace which none of the other dancers had yet attained. With every motion her grace and beauty became more apparent, and her eyes appealed more deeply to the heart than the songs of the slaves. 

Everyone was delighted with it, especially Ranaji, who called her his little foundling, and she danced on and on, notwithstanding that every time her foot touched the ground it was like treading on sharp knives.  

she charmed everyone especially Ranaji.

you are so special, he said

I will always keep you with me and call you my little companion

Gayatri smiled up at him

her eyes asked, 'is that a promise?"

Ranaji said that she should always be near him, and she was allowed to sleep outside his door on a velvet cushion.

as time went on Gayatri became Ranaji's best friend. He took her with him wherever he went.

He had a man's dress made for her, so that she could ride about with him. They used to ride through scented woods, where the green branches brushed her shoulders, and little birds sang among the fresh leaves. She climbed up the highest mountains with the prince, and although her delicate feet bled so that others saw it, she only laughed and followed him until they saw the clouds sailing below them like a flock of birds, taking flight to distant lands.

they walked through the royal gardens and though she could not speak to him she kept smiling even as her feet stung with pain. 

At home in Ranaji's palace, when at night the others were asleep,she used to go out on to the marble steps; it cooled her burning feet to stand in the cold sea water, and at such times she used to think of those she had left in the deep.

Day by day she became dearer to the prince, he loved her as one loves a good sweet child, but it never entered his head to make her his queen; yet unless she became his wife she would never win an everlasting soul,

I love seeing the world with you little companion. Gayatri would say in her mind.

"Am I not dearer to you than any of them.'' Gayatri's eyes seemed to say when he took her in his arms and kissed her beautiful brow.

"Yes,you are the dearest one to me," said Ranaji.

" for you have the best heart of them all, and you are fondest of me, yet he never suggested making her his bride. he sees me as his friend but i need to be his wife Gayatri thought and if he marry someone else i will turn into mermaid, the slave to the witch. she shivered thinking about such a fate.

you are also like a young girl I once saw, but whom I never expect to see again. I was on board a ship which was wrecked, I was driven on shore by the waves close to a holy Temple where several young girls were ministering at a service ; the youngest of them found me on the beach and saved my life ; I saw her but twice.

She was the only person I could love in this world, but you are like her, you almost drive her image out of my heart. She belongs to the holy Temple, and therefore by good fortune you have been sent to me, we will never part!"

" Alas! he does not know that it was I who saved his life,"thought Gayatri. " I bore him over the sea to the wood, where the Temple stands. " And Gayatri heaved a bitter sigh, for she could not weep.

" The girl belongs to the holy Temple, he has said, she will never return to the world,they will never meet again,

I am herewith him, I see him every day. Yes ! I will tend him, love him, and give up my life to him."

sometimes gayatri begged Ranaji with her eyes please love me best of all love me enough to marry me when she looked at him that way Ranaji would take her in his arms he'd kiss her lightly on her forehead in friendly way but Gayatri hoped that this would change.

to be continued...

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