Once Upon A Time,
In a land of tall sky scrapers, there lived two princesses as beautiful as their names Felicity and Madeline. Men fell at their feet and worshipped their ethereal beauty. Their voices were melodious and sweet just like honey. They were kind and generous to a fault, always ready to believe the best in humanity.
Ahh...but you see; they are not like other princesses of lands far far away. Felicity and Madeline do not cry and cower at the first sign of danger. Nay, they are as fierce and valiant as a seasoned warrior. Unlike other dames, they don't lay in wait for their princes to rescue them from distress. Indeed not. They prefer to don their own shining armor, so to speak, and fight their own battles.
One day, they met, fell in love and married their respective princes. They were smart, charming and heartbreakingly handsome. But just like their princesses, Arthur and Richard were nothing like the generic princes of other realms. Unlike those princes, their legendary charm only appeared at the most rarest of occasions. Furthermore, their disposition was as sour as the princesses' disposition was sweet. They were ferocious like a beast and lashed out at all and sundry.
Most feared them and quaked in their presence. But Felicity and Madeline with their calming touch and presence tamed the beasts. Their love transformed Arthur and Richard into true, gentlemanly princes for the dames. Yet the beast still laid within them and at the slightest provocation, unleashed their wrath on all who dared to cross their paths.
Despite the night and day difference in their personalities, the princesses and their beastly princes lived happy married lives. Till one dark day, three wicked witches, Ria, Sheetal and Dipali, entered their lives and turned it upside down. They were foul creatures and used black magic to lure Arthur and Richard away from their homes. The evil sisters took them away to a secret, hidden place that none can easily find.
The dames frantically searched all over the princedom for their husbands but in vain. Heartbroken and unable to come up with an alternative, they braved into the nearby, dense forest that none has ever dared to venture. Within its depth lies magical creatures, most of them enjoy torturing poor, innocent trespassers. But as luck would have it, Felicity and Madeline encounter three sweet, friendly, rotund fairies. With their help, the princesses found the secret location the witches were hiding their princes.
Anxiously they stepped into the dark cave, invisible to the rest of the world. However their anxiety, fear transformed into black fury seeing their husbands still forms on their respective coffin-like beds. The witches were hovering over the princes and touching them most inappropriately. With a shrill cry of battle, the princesses charged against the witches. After a long, bloody battle the three evil sisters were finally defeated and sent straight down to the fiery depths of Hades.
The princesses approached their sleeping hunks and pleaded for them to wake up. But none of their approaches worked. They thought back to all the times they poured over different fairytales and remembered the power of true love's kiss. Praying that the power of true love's kiss is indeed real, they planted a gentle kiss on their princes' lips. Like magic, the princes woke up from their deep, magical slumber and they lived happily ever after with their princesses.
RK (concludes): The END. And now it's time for the princess of this realm to go sleep.
Tara (giggles as she snuggles with her beloved baloo on her bed): Superstar...please tell me another story...pretty pretty please with cherries on top?
Arnav (tucks the blanket properly around Tara): No more tonight baby.
Tara (pouts): But I really liked the story. Mama and mima always say that girls are strong and smart, that we can do anything. I want to hear more about smart, strong girls because I want to grow up to be just like them...just like mama and mima.
RK: Ahaan. You my little star are already the smartest and most beautiful girl.
Arnav (leans down and kisses Tara's forehead): And you will grow up to be smarter than your mama and mima if you close your eyes like a good girl.
RK: That's right...close your eye and count sheep.
Tara (sighs deeply and closes her eyes): Ohhkayyy. Good night daddy and superstar!
Arnav and RK kiss their little angel good night and leave the room. As they exit Tara's room, they notice Khushi and Madhu standing next to the door with a large smile on their faces.
RK (quirks his brows and asks): Biwi why are you showing all your teeth?
Arnav puts his finger on his lips as he gently shuts the door so as to not disturb Tara's slumber. They all move away from the room before facing each other.
Arnav (folds his arms across his chest and inquires): Now why do you both look so amused?
Madhu (grins): So the princesses got to save the day, huh?
Khushi (teases): You surprise me swami.
Madhu (grins wider): We never expected for you to make US into heroes... (teases) Arthur and Richard.
Khushi (laughs): Ohh how I wish we had taken a video during the storytelling!
RK grabs Madhu's waist and pulls her closer to him as Arnav does the same.
Madhu (slightly embarrassed, struggles to be free): RK...what are you doing? Behave.
Khushi (equally embarrassed also struggles to be free): What the...? (Whispers) Arnav let go.
RK (holds Madhu tighter and whispers hotly into her ears): Let's see...you saved me from falling into Ria's trap. You knocked sense into me on the head from listening to Dipali's nonsense that could have torn us apart. Biwi you saved me numerous times from my inner demon. Heck...you literally saved my life by giving me your blood! I'd say that definitely makes you my hero, my savior.
Madhu becomes tearful and leans up and kisses RK's cheeks.
Madhu (whispers): I love you RK.
RK (smiles): I love you too biwi.
Arnav (smirks): Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada...who told you to come to the conclusion that you are a hero?
Khushi (mouth wide open): Huh? (Angrily hits his chest) How dare you Arnav?
Arnav (chuckles): Calm down Khushi. You're so easy to rile up. (Sobers and smiles tenderly) I know I wouldn't be still alive if you hadn't risked your safety and rescued me from Shyam's clutches. You are my valiant warrior princess.
Khushi (smiles tearfully): Arnav Singh Raizada...(blushes slightly) I love you dammit.
Arnav (laughs and kisses her forehead): I love you too Khushi.
The couples remember they are not alone and pull away from each other in slight embarrassment.
RK (deadpan expression): But the real reason for the twist in fairy tale is because Tara should know that she should wait on no man to rescue her.
Arnav (nods his head): Damn straight! My baby girl will certainly not be any of the missish type to cry at the drop of a hat.
RK: My little star won't grow up to be a damsel in distress (looks slyly at Madhu and Khushi) and be like her mama and mima.
Madhu (angrily): Excuse me Mr. Kundra? Did you hit your head and get amnesia that you forgot what you said a few minutes ago?
Arnav (shrugs his shoulders and looks at RK): Honestly I don't know why they are in denial.
RK (nods his head): They turn into watering pots at the drop of a hat.
Khushi (angrily): Watering pots, huh?!?
Madhu (angrily): Khushi don't even bother with their royal princASSES. They think they are so humorous and witty...and we are just dumb, pretty, watering pots of princesses. I say we banish them!
Khushi (nods her head regally): That's right! Laad Governor...don't even bother coming to our room tonight.
Madhu: You two can keep each other company!
Khushi: And keep each other warm!
The girls march off leaving behind their bemused husbands. Arnav and RK know it will take a few sweet words and meaningful actions and their biwis will be putty in their hands. Plus, making up after a fight is much more fun...thrilling. The beastly princes soon follow behind their angry princesses for some nighttime adventure. 😉
Author's Note: Hello darlings! It's rather kitschy but still hope you all enjoyed my version of a fairy tale with a twist. Please do comment and share your thoughts on it! Thanks! 😊
Kumkum Bhagya
Tu Dhadkan Main Dil
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
