Whispers of Lotuses

7 months ago

ShiriHoonMain

@ExoticDisaster

This prompt was suggested by Ramya in Submit a Writing Prompt Thread

As the morning sun spilt golden light over the landscape, Asmita, with her long hair cascading like a waterfall of dark silk, played her sitar. Her fingers danced gracefully over the strings, weaving a soft melody that echoed through the meadow.

Princess Asmita grew up in the grand kingdom, nestled between majestic mountains and serene rivers. The only daughter of King Rajendra and Queen Meera, she was raised with the expectation of ruling one day. However, her true passion has always been music. From a young age, she discovered her unique talent for calming the waters with her melodies. Legends said that her voice could even mend the hearts of those who have lost hope.

Despite her royal upbringing, Asmita felt a profound loneliness. She found it difficult to relate to the other nobles, who often viewed her as just a princess, rather than as an artist with a deep yearning for understanding. Her closest confidante was her beloved sitar, which she would often play by the riverbanks, where she felt the most at peace. But the longing for a true friend—someone who could comprehend the depth of her soul and share her love for music—remained unfulfilled.

But when she sang, she lost herself in the rhythm, feeling the pulse of the music sync with her heartbeat. The struggles of the day dissolved into the notes, and she felt a sense of freedom and release. Music was her language, her form of meditation, and every time she played Sitar, she rediscovered a piece of who she was. It’s as if the sitar and her voice were two halves of a whole, echoing her innermost thoughts and desires.

Meanwhile, Seher had always found solace in the pages of her books. With a knack for losing herself in intricate plots and vivid characters in folklores and love stories, she often sought out quiet corners of the garden where the sunlight filtered through the leaves. She was engrossed in her storybook. She often got lost in the world of knights, castles, and enchanted creatures, but today, something pulled at her heart—a faint, enchanting sound. Curious, she gently closed her book and rose to her feet, drawn to the music.

Crossing the brook delicately, her feet barely making a sound, she approached the source of the melody only to see Asmita lost in music.

Growing up in a grand palace surrounded by luxury, Princess Seher has always been captivated by the stories of legendary couples like Jodha and Akbar, Heer and Ranjha, and Mumtaz and Shehzahan. These tales were shared by her grandmother, who emphasized the importance of love and partnership in overcoming challenges. Seher’s parents, Sultan Mujabin and Mallika Ruksana, had encouraged her to seek a love that was both passionate and respectful. However, they also held traditional views about royal marriages, often expecting her to marry someone of equal standing.

As a child, Seher was often found in the royal library, poring over historical texts and romance novels, developing a deep desire to find a true partner who would appreciate her intellect and spirit. Her longing for a genuine connection drove her to wander through the gardens, visit local villages incognito, and listen to the tales of love from commoners and travelers alike.

Though she was kind-hearted and compassionate, she was also fiercely independent and sought to carve her own path, rather than merely fulfilling the expectations placed upon her.

Till today, it was only love stories that fascinated her but for the first time, she was in awe with the sound of music and the musician.

As the last notes faded into silence, Seher clapped softly, not wanting to disturb the spell that had been cast. Asmita looked up, her hazel eyes sparkling with surprise and delight.

“Thank you,” Asmita said, a hint of shyness lacing her voice. “I didn’t realize anyone was here.”

Seher took a tentative step forward, her heart racing. “I followed the sound. It was like magic in the air. That was… beautiful. I’ve never heard anything like it.”

Asmita smiled, a warmth blooming on her cheeks. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Music is… a different kind of magic, isn’t it?”

“Yes! It’s like love stories, but it speaks without words, I love reading!” Seher’s enthusiasm bubbled over. “What inspired you to play?”

Asmita hesitated, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I often feel stories in the music, just like you feel them in your books. Each piece tells a tale of its own.”

Seher felt an instant kinship with Asmita. “I would love to hear more. Can you teach me?”

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, Asmita seemed taken aback. “You want to learn? But I’m still learning myself!”

“Exactly!” Seher said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We can learn together. I can share my favorite love stories, and you can teach me about the music. It sounds perfect!”

Asmita’s smile widened, and a gentle laugh escaped her lips. “That does sound perfect. I would like that very much.”

And with that promise, under the watchful eyes of the ancient trees and the whispering brook, two princesses found the beginning of a beautiful friendship, one that would weave their dreams together.

Days turned into weeks, and their bond deepened. Seher and Asmita explored their kingdoms together, discovering hidden gardens, ancient temples, and forgotten ruins. Each adventure was accompanied by Asmita’s melodies, which seemed to echo through the very fabric of the land. Seher, in turn, would tell her tales of brave heroines, of love that conquered all, and of dreams that soared beyond the stars. It felt like they were two halves, completing each other's souls, two stars meeting in the infinite galaxy, and before they knew it, their friendship blossomed into a unique kind of affection towards each other, an affection that knew no boundaries.

One evening, under a canopy of stars, Seher shared a fairytale of two princesses from different worlds who fell in love despite the odds. Asmita listened, her heart swelling with emotions she had never dared to name. When the story ended, the silence between them felt charged, a palpable energy that made the air shimmer.

Seher turned to Asmita, her eyes reflecting the starlight.

"What if our story could be like that? What if we could write our own fairytale together?"

Asmita's heart raced, understanding the unspoken truth that hung in the air between them.

"I want that," she whispered, her voice trembling with hope.

In that moment, surrounded by the beauty of their worlds and the magic of their connection, they leaned in, their lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss. It was a kiss filled with the promise of love, acceptance, and the courage to defy the boundaries that sought to keep them apart.

From that day on, Seher and Asmita became inseparable. They celebrated each other’s festivals, shared their cultures, and wove their dreams together. Their love blossomed like the flowers in the gardens they cherished, vibrant and full of life.

However, as the saying goes, love cannot be hidden forever. One fateful evening, while they were lost in conversation beneath the ancient banyan tree, a guard from Asmita's palace stumbled upon them. His eyes widened in shock, and he rushed back to inform the royal family of what he had witnessed.

The news spread like wildfire. Seher's father, the Sultan, was furious when he learned of the romance.

"A union with a Hindu? And Princess? It will bring shame upon our family and our faith!" he thundered, pacing the marble floor of his grand chamber. The Sultan called upon his advisors, demanding they find a way to end this disgraceful affair.

On the other side, Asmita's family reacted with equal anguish.

"Our lineage has always stood firm in our traditions. How could you do this, Asmita? You are jeopardizing everything our ancestors fought for!" The Maharaj Rajendra’s voice trembled with anger and disappointment as she spoke to his daughter.

Caught in the crossfire, Seher and Asmita were summoned to their respective courts. The Sultan and the Maharaj confronted them separately, both demanding they end their relationship. The two girls, filled with conviction, stood their ground.

"Love knows no religion or boundaries!" Seher declared, her heart racing.

"We deserve the right to choose whom we love, regardless of our backgrounds and gender." Asmita added, her voice strong yet tender.

But both the parents were unmoved. They saw only the potential for conflict, and they insisted their daughters must marry suitable suitors from their own cultures. This shattered the fragile world of the princesses. Seher sought shelter in her books, while Asmita found solace in her music, both grappling with a future that threatened to tear them apart. Yet, a spirit of resilience ignited within them, and they decided to strike back against the unjust fate that awaited them.

Seher wrote to Asmita, pledging her loyalty to their love, proposing they elope, forsaking their thrones for a life beyond the conventional, a life defined by their hearts' will.

In response, Asmita painted a portrait, symbolic of their love, a rose with thorns, a tale of passion that defied boundaries, and a symbol of their courage to fight for their love. They decided to meet at the confluence of the river Yamuna and river Ganga, a place where the divine rivers merged, a symbol of the unity of their souls.

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Seher's heart raced as she glanced at the entrance to the garden, waiting for Asmita.

"You made it!" Seher said breathlessly. "I was afraid... that you wouldn’t come."

"I would follow you to the ends of the earth, Seher. Nothing can keep us apart," she said as she took Seher's hands in hers. "Our love is stronger than any boundaries they try to impose on us."

Seher’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she squeezed Asmita's hands, feeling the warmth of their connection.

"But what if they find us?" Sheher asked, her voice trembling.

"Then there will be another love story that people will remember, just like in your books. We will write our own story, one that’s filled with love, not fear. I refuse to live a life without you, Seher."

Seher nodded, her heart swelling with both fear and hope. They shared a long, lingering gaze, their foreheads touching softly.

"We vow to live and die together. If this world won’t accept us, then let us create our own."

"Yes." Asmita replied. "Together, we’ll build a life filled with love, away from all this. No walls can contain us when our hearts are united."

As dawn broke, they gathered a few belongings and left a note for their families, expressing their love and their choice.

With the first light of day, Seher and Asmita embarked on their journey, hearts racing with the thrill of the unknown. Little did they know, their families had begun to realize the depth of their daughters' love, and the news of their disappearance sent shockwaves through both kingdoms.

Their departure that night was swift and silent. Seher left behind her unfinished manuscript, a story about forbidden romance, while Asmita abandoned her sitar. They met at the confluence of the two rivers, hand in hand, hearts beating in unison, two princesses, now united in their love beyond the realms of societal norms.

As dawn broke, they were found by the guards, two bodies on the banks of the holy river, entwined, as if in a final embrace. Some say they chose death over a life without each other, others that the divine rivers themselves took them in, their spirits now forever merged.

Whether it was the choice of two lovers or the will of a divine force that had brought them to this end, the truth remained shrouded in mystery.

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