Next Day, Padma’s painting was completed. The royal family was impressed with the work of Avikam. Avikam claimed that it was one of his best works. He indeed brought life to the wood. A faint smile was on Padma’s lips. She knew that was not the best of Avikam’s work. For a moment, their eyes met sharing the secret. The King Rawwal Bikka loaded Avikam with gifts, apart from the usual small ten bags of gold coins for his work.

The next day, the Welcome Day, the painting would be unveiled in presence of the entire suitors, marking the beginning of the contests. All the suitors were present in Garvpundir. It was time of festivities after a long time. Smile hinted on every lip. Citizens of Garvpundir were making a fortune. All inns were full; people had started renting out a room or two to the crowd that came to Garvpundir to witness this Swaymvar. The eateries were busting with people and so was work for washer man. Even the lady of the night’s calendar was full. This event breathed a life in slowly to the crumbling economy of Garvpundir. 

Twenty-three princes and kings of major kingdoms, thirty from minor kingdoms participated in the Swaymvar. 

A bright clear Sun kissed the dawn of The Welcome Day. As a part of the ceremony, all of the guests were escorted to the main courtyard where they would pray Sun God for his valor and blessing. It was a grand affair. The reverberation of the hymns by hundred priest, monotonous rolling of drum from the distant main gate of the city, the echo of couch shell accompanied by the ceremonial bells filled otherwise quite morning. Dressed in only white breechcloth, the suitors bravely endured the freezing morn of a snow clad kingdom; holding on to the fragile warmth of the morning Sun. Padma, Jaiwanti and few ladies of royal family were witnessing the entire ritual from the balcony of the second floor. The stone carving on the window acted as a veil for the people in the courtyard. The end of ritual was marked with distribution of alms to poor. All of the suitors wanted to outshine others. Clothes, coins, gems and food was distributed by the suitor in the name of Princess Padmakishori.

After the ritual, the guests were taken to their chambers for some time off after which they would participate in more ceremonies in Swaymvar hall. The group met in Swaymvar hall in afternoon. Padma took her seat behind the veil of flowers in a corner of the hall. She could see everybody in the hall, but no guest could see her. This was a chance for the suitors to win heart of the Princess. Dressed in their finest clothes, the suitors sat with sober expression. The external trade and the negotiation minister of Garvpundir introduced each of the suitors with brief information about the kingdom. After the introduction, the suitors could walk to the center of the hall and address the Princess directly behind the fragrant veil. If he so desired, he could send her a present. Kavita would collect the gift and hand it directly to the Princess.

One after another, the suitors introduced themselves. Some of the suitors took her breath away. Well built, strong, tanned with strong jaw line and biceps. How desperately Padma wished that one of these younger men win her. The last suitor was Uday Sangha. Jaiwanti was signaled her daughter to listen carefully. The minister of Garvpundir went on and on with his introduction. Finally, the king plodded his way to the center of the hall.

In an imposing voice, he started,

“I am a descendent of Suryavanshi King Chidatma Sangha. The blood flowing in this vein is also nourished by another illustrious Suryavanshi family. My mother Akshita was the Prime Queen of my father. She hailed from the Kingdom of Datta. She was the only pampered daughter in a family of seventeen sons. I was crowned when I had seen thirty-two rains and it has been more than thirty spells of rain that I have guided my empire to reach greater heights. Prosperity of my kingdom speaks for itself, Princess Padmakishori would be lucky, if she becomes Queen of my empire. Here is a gift for Princess Padmakishori from Jodhgargh, sent by the Prime Queen.”

After saying this, the King went back to his seat.

Kavita took a wooden box from King’s attendant for Padma. The Queen Jaiwanti opened it for Padma. It was a copy of Ramayana written on a leaves of gold. The greatest gift that a parent can give to their children is the wings to chase their dreams. Padma felt her wings being clipped as Jaiwanti passed it to her. Without a word, the Prime Queen of Jodhgargh had effectively passed on the heavy burden of carrying on with the family traditions of both the kingdoms. Sweat broke on Padma’s forehead. Her heart was desperately praying for any other prince to win her. How would a mere girl of sixteen summer expected to be a Queen of a King who had ruled for almost twice the years that she has drawn her breath?

Padma excused herself from the series of dance and drama show that followed. She wanted few hours in the cold embrace of her mountains to accept her fate.

Few hours after, all the suitors proceeded to the forests where the first contest would be held. The action had shifted to the forest for a two phases of moon. The days passed quietly, but the nights crept slowly for Padma. The sweet reminiscence of Avikam emanated from her, uncurbed in its original rawness.

It was a surprise to Padma when the King Uday Sangha was declared runner up in the hunting contest. Crown prince of Dwaitayanastra had won the contest. He had hunted a tiger, a wild boar among other animals. A smile crossed Padma’s lips, the little giant King could not win in spite of him getting the best hunting ground. The young prince had brought a ray of hope in Padma’s heart.

May be, I would escape that loathsome old giant 

Padma’s happiness did not last for long. The next contest was a game of Chausar. Best players from countries far and wide were brought in to test the suitors. As hours passed one after another, the suitors either lost or resigned. The day’s end saw only twelve suitors still playing. The game continued the second day. The second day ended with Vrisa, ending the game with a draw. Only three players remained to be tested for the last day. Helplessness turned into anger and bitterness. Her family was paving way for the King Uday to win her and rule over her life. Padma stood on the bank of the river of her life watching its natural deluge being barraged by her family for political gain. On third day after the two other suitors left the game, the player opposite of King Uday resigned. She could taste the bile in her mouth when Kavita brought her the news that the King Uday had won the game of Chausar.

In the rigged contest, King Uday was leading, followed by the Crown prince of Dwaitayanastra, Vrisa, and King Talin of Vrindachal. The last contest – Shastraat would be the deciding factor.

King Uday was looking forward to the last contest. It was his forte. He loved Shastraat and he loved winning too although, Uday entered this contest on continuous urges of his Prime Queen Roopdevi. Roopdevi had been Uday’s companion for more than three decades. She had been his friend, and consort. The life would have been perfect if only she could give the kingdom an heir. When thirteen spells of rain did not implant seed of new life in Roopdevi’s womb, it was time for her to share her husband. It was the Prime Queen’s responsibility to bring new generation to the world and to provide the kingdom with the security of a bloodless and smooth transition of power from one generation to another. Roopdevi had to pave path for a new bride who would give the kingdom an heir. It was she who finally convinced Uday to marry again. Roopdevi found a good partner for her husband in her friend, Devi Prabha – Princess of Kaskinda.

With advent of Devi Prabha once again, the kingdom of Jodhgargh was upbeat with hope and happiness. Two wives of King Uday met as old friends. Their friendship, their endless giggles and chatter resumed from the minute they met. The gap of years when the friends were busy in their lives melted. Two queens who were friends soon became two sisters sharing their lives. Two spell of rain finally brought the shower of mercy that the kingdom was waiting for. Queen Prabha was carrying soul seed of the King Uday. It was a miracle that queen Roopdevi too was carrying hope of an heir. Queen Prabha was like a lucky charm for Roopdevi, who miraculously got pregnant after all the physicians, and witch doctors had declared Roopdevi’s uterus too weak to nurture a life for nine months. Both the queens were pregnant. It was an occasion of double joy for Uday. Uday wanted his Prime Queen to taste the joy of motherhood and be the mother of the future King of his kingdom.

Happiness of the kingdom did not breathe for long. Queen Prabha died during childbirth and her son followed her within one cycle of the moon. After two lunar cycles, Roopdevi gave birth to a daughter. The kingdom was plunged in grey steel vault of disappointment and grief. Once again the kingdom was without hope of an heir.

Roopdevi’s search began again. Years passed before she could find a suitable princess who could bear the king a son. This time the bride would be younger and from such a land that would be different from the sands of Jodhgargh. This search took her to the wet and lush green land of Matheli. Princess Ekashi Omana hardly a maiden of nineteen spells of rain became the third wife of Uday Sangha.

Time floated. Yellow leaves got scorched in the fiery Sun, danced on the rain drops, and wafted on the cool blast from North; still, the news that the kingdom was waiting for never arrived. One cycle of season gave way to another and then to another and then to yet another. The younger brother of Uday, who was just a boy when he ascended the throne, became a man. But it was not the boy the kingdom wanted to see grow up. They were waiting for another boy to be born and grow up to become a man. The kingdom prayed with the king and queen for an heir. Hope was getting feeble; the queens were getting desperate and insecure as the king was entering the wise age of sixty spell of rain. His soul seed was getting weaker, and the kingdom impatient to know the heir. Uday was slowly making up his mind to announce his brother, Devdan Vir Sangha, who was now the Commander in Chief as his heir.

Roopdevi was not a stranger to the king’s thoughts. She could read her husband. It troubled her. She knew the history of Jodhgargh. It was a difficult decision to accept and equally arduous could be the outcome. In such times proposal of Swaymvar of Princess, Padmakishori came. For Roopdevi it last straw of hope that she could clutch. She was the one who persuaded Uday to participate in the Swaymvar. This time, Roopdevi was hopeful of an heir. Padmakishori was young, and from a formidable mountain region. The mountains have been fabled to have blessed their girls with high libido and strength to nurture even the weakest of the seeds to full life. Roopdevi’s sources had informed her about Padma’s unbashful youth, beauty, blithely nature, and her wide hips with strong frame to bear sons. Roopdevi was wishing that Padma’s peach perfect skin with reddish cheek and lips and dark big eyes would seduce Uday. Somewhere deep in her heart, Roopdevi knew that the strain between Uday and Ekashi was the reason Ekashi could not give the kingdom an heir. Roopdevi blind love made her believe that Uday could still sire an army. It was the fate that had been playing with her hopes. It gave her a weaker womb that could not carry a life, pulled Prabha away from the land of breath, took the heir to the forest of stony eyes and lastly brought Ekashi in Uday’s life, who did not care about providing kingdom with heir. Padma was Roopdevi’s last hope.

Roopdevi had coaxed Uday to participate in Swaymvar. He joined in Swaymvar halfheartedly. He could not convince himself to marry a girl who had not seen life, yet when the competition began, he could not help giving in his best. The elation of winning a competition was his need and second nature. He wanted to win the contest, unaware of the fact that Garvpundir was facilitating his victory. He was waiting for the morning for the last contest - Shastraat, his forte to begin.

As Sun skipped from one mount to another to reach its abode, Uday kept his lead. Gods write with inerasable ink. Padma had begun to finally accept her script. Reconciling with fate, Padma started to weave few web of hope.

After all, King Uday was married and had three wives, his experience would be better than Avikam’s. He is participating in Swaymvar to get an heir. Giving the kingdom an heir and later being a Queen mother would be important or rather the most important title after the King. It would not be that bad. Who knows what lays hidden in the deeper layer of the fate, King Uday may turn out to be a romantic person, who despite his age and size could fill life with sweetest moments.

Swaymvar hall was all abuzz with all the suitors indulging in Shastraat with a group of pundits. Uday had been leading in this contest right from the word go. He had immense knowledge and his persuasively articulated his theories and views that kept the audience spell bound and pundits[1] satisfied. Nobody in the room was a match to him. By the second half of the day, King Rawwal had already sent a message to his queen to get Padma ready.

“The Shastraat would not go beyond the day, Uday would decimate his opponents.”

The day end saw King Uday as the winner of the Shastraat. With this win, he had won the Swaymvar.

Padmakishori entered the hall with a garland of red roses. Draped in red and orange silk with a veil covering her head and face, she walked through the hall. Her anklet tinkled, and bangles clanged and her belly chain chimed. Her bare fair feet decorated with red alta[2] walked slowly on the carpet of flowers, holding her garland of life for the winner. Amidst songs, Padma garlanded Uday, selecting him as her husband for seven lives[3] to come. Celebration broke in Garvpundir, every street and house was decorated. A messenger was quickly dispatched to Jodhgargh with this happy news.

Priests were consulted and an auspicious date was fixed for the wedding. Wedding was after two days, in the third quarter of the night.

The world seemed to have gone numb for Padma. In few days, she would leave her home, her parents and her kingdom forever. A new kingdom would be her. All old relations would be pushed in background; new ones would take precedence. Soon, her world would be the one that she had never seen. She knew from her mother, Jodhgargh had no mountains. Mountains had always been there for her, in her moments of happiness and despair, ever listening patiently to her heart’s tattle. It would be like leaving behind a part of her heart, her best friend. At least Kavita, Mani, Smriti and Priyanka would accompany her to this strange land that would soon be her home, her kingdom. It would be like a new birth, where she would define all the relationship and fulfill the expectation from her. A voice kept on expressing her vexation that Padma could not ignore. Her father was giving her away to a man who was almost four times her age for the sake of his kingdom and the man who was to be her husband, was doing so for the sake of an heir for his kingdom. In all this façade of greater good, nobody thought about her.

Two days passed, and the wedding started. In front of the family and well-wishers, Uday and Padma took seven vows, binding them together for seven lives. Padma for the first time took a closer look at her husband through the red veil that covered her head and face. Uday had a smiling eyes and mouth that would break into easy laughter. Padma relaxed a bit. Her future was with this man, a man she had no idea of. He was a stranger and she would soon have to share his bed, and share her body with him.

It could be exciting to be taken on the dangerous and unknown path of sex for a night or two, but if the deal was for a lifetime – a compassionate man would be better.

Her stomach was churning, so was her heart. Padma was afraid that her heady mix of fear, excitement and passion would stain the silk in creamish hue that she was wearing.

The night passed in the reverberation of hymns and the fragrant smoke of sandalwood burning as witness to the holy matrimonial. By the end of the ritual, Padma was too tired to think. Her mind was numb as her body was for sitting in front of fire for no less than two phases of night. She was so glad that the bedding ceremony would be after the ritual of Pumsavana[4]. She would get time to rest to get the weariness of wedding away from her body.

Spring has arrived in the kingdom. The soil had dunked deep the white snow that had lulled her to sleep for months. Now, she was waking up. Little bunch of flowers like little tuff of snow with green stems had lined up the forgotten paths through the kingdom. It would be the last spring for Padma at her home. Next time she would set her foot in Garvpundir, it would be as queen of Jodhgargh, as a guest. Padma’s room was being decorated since morning with flowers, oil lamps, and silk curtains. The priest had calculated the auspicious time for bedding that would ensure a male heir who would take care of both Jodhgargh and Garvpundir.

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