The Mistress of Distrust
Years ago, in the shores off dust, lay a small kingdom; a King with a heart of gold
Today the King now old and feeble silently weeps his prodigy's fate;
While the village was spared his fortress set ablaze, he curses himself everyday
For he finally sees, it was the seeds he had sowed that reared to bite its own ugly head!
Sweet Little Princess tucked in her bed; safely inside the biggest castle in town
Showered with love, and all the splendor of the land with all its might
The sounds of the waves as a sweet lullaby usher her to sleep every night
Through her window she sees the twinkling stars scattered in the vast night sky!
Good night, my little princess!
She dreams of beautiful places and every time a stranger comes riding a horse
A Prince that she had read of, of inimitable charms and Greek god looks!
The one who is brilliantly ahead of the rest of the pack; will treat her like a lady
She had always believed that's how her Knight in Shining Armor would be!
In celebration of the 21st spring of the beautiful princess, the king called on a feast
A grand festival beckoned young and old from far off lands inside the castle walls
I am told; she descended the grand central steps, like an angel beaming with life
Mesmerizing each and every soul as they behold, the beautiful princess!
Ahh Little Princess! Only if fairy tales were true, you'd have found your prince!
They danced all night; there was wine and women, mirth and laughter
Although all young men wanted to, no one dared to face the King's wraith, until
One charming prankster asked her to join him for a dance, lead her slowly
His touch had lingered on – beyond the night into her soul like never before
Oh Little Princess! Have you found your man?
It was his irresistible charm that led her outside her castle walls
He made her laugh, and cry; he was a prankster and would always be
Made her see the day not always as bright, and in the darkness shined like a light
Led her through the dark alleys, till she was safe and tucked in her bed.
Good night, my little princess!
They'd walk and fight, smile and pine; whisper in the silence, shh!
The town was abuzz with muted whispers; of glances and touches, smiles and blushes
Till a succession of events thrashed her beliefs, breaking her fragile heart
Sweet music was reduced to a mere cacophony; jarring the embattled souls!
Accusations at the charmer left him with a wounded soul breaking him to the core
His heart shredded mercilessly by the same woman that he had so dearly loved!
So fortunate are those that find their other souls in this vast ocean of life
And so unfortunate are those which lose it all comparing love to simply lust!
The 'gem' that sparkled even in the darkest days, lending a shoulder to cry on
Had failed to light the lamp of love in the heart of the ice-maiden
Whose refusal to see beyond herself and those small patches around the gem
Had cost them something so beautiful, love and it was all to gain!
She tossed the gem mercilessly and watched as it sank into the ocean floor!
Oh Little Princess! What have you done?
Years later they still talk of this princess and how she became the mistress of distrust
Who still roams the beaches of the village, in the moonlit hours before the fishermen hit the shores
They laugh at her insipid tale; of how she picks up stones after stones, and polishes them hard
For it had finally dawned her that all which sparkles isn't gold, the gem with a few patches was the one to hold!
And the fishermen say that in the depths of the sea, lives a pretty mermaid
Happy and gay, firmly holding on to this 'gem' she uncovered one day!
While the Mistress of Distrust waits to this day!
Book Talk
Naagin 7
Cricket
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