Current Time.
Sameera took both of her friends to the magical garden. Sameera gave them a tour and they both felt that there was, indeed, magic. The beautiful trees and plants with flowers, The old school vintage benches for the readers, the way the green leaves shined due to the almost setting sun, it all was magical. By the time, they were ready to leave the garden after feeling the beauty and the magic in it, the darkness of the night had already started making its way into the evening sky. Devangi saw a dull yellowish light coming from in between the veins and creepers near a wall.
Devangi showed it to the other girls. Sameera being her adventurous self said, " come, let's go! It would be interesting. Let's see what's there." By the time she finished the last sentence, she was already making her way towards the light. Trishna grabbed her arm to stop her and said, "not interesting, but dangerous." Devangi said, "dangerously interesting then." She continued when Trishna gave her a warning look, "oh , come on! There is no one who'd wait for us here, anyway."
The three girls were orphans. They, now, lived in different apartments but, when they were children, they used to live in an orphanage. So, the three girls practically saw each other growing up. Trishna was always the cautious and mature one, since she was elder than the other two. Devangi was the jolly and carefree one. While, Sameera was the silent sunshine and fierce one.
After a whole lot of convincing Trishna, they went ahead. They reached the wall from where the light was coming. Sameera was moving ahead, while the other two were behind her. She was using her hands to move aside the veins and see what is the source of the light. What they saw, took them by surprise. It was a door, a closed door, and the strange light was coming from the closed door. Trishna looked at Sameera and asked, "where does this door lead to?" Sameera was just looking at the door, bewildered and said, "I've come here many times, but I have never come across this door." Devangi shrugged and being her carefree self said, "then, let's just go inside and see for ourselves what magic is hidden behind this door." Trishna opposed the idea but Sameera favoured it by saying, "yeah, let's go. Besides, it's been a long time since I had some adventure." Devangi who was the most excited tried to open the door, but the door didn't budge. Being unsuccessful in her attempt, she asked Trishna. But Trishna, also couldn't open the door. They wanted to give up and leave. But, Sameera decided to give a last try. When Sameera tried the same, the door opened without much effort, as though the door, itself, was waiting for Sameera to open it. Sameera looked at the two girls and said, "seriously? You couldn't open this?" The girls looked at each other in confusion. Sameera shrugged and looked at the open door, on the other side. Much to their disappointment, they couldn't see what was on the other side. There was a bright yellow white light coming from inside. Sameera went in the door, following her Devangi also went to the other side and with no other choice but to go, Trishna followed the younger two.
As soon as the three girls entered, the door behind them closed on its own, and disappeared. Their surroundings were too bright that they could not even open their eyes. After sometimes, adjusting to brightness around, they realised that they were in a forest. When they looked at each other, they were shocked to say the least. None of them were in the same clothes they were wearing just a few moments before. Their clothes had changed from western to traditional.
Devangi, who was wearing a pink top, denim blue jeans and jacket was now wearing a blue embroidered lahenga with a v-neck blue embroidered blouse and a pink embroidered dupatta which was neatly draped and hung on her right shoulder. Trishna, who was wearing a high neck brown sweater and beige pants a few minutes ago was now wearing a brown cedar and pine floral print lahenga with a matching blouse. Sameera, who was wearing a pink chiffon off shoulder asymmetrical dress was now wearing a pink chanderi and organza lining satin lahenga with a pink embroidered v-neck blouse and an embroidered pink dupatta hung on her right shoulder like a saree pallu, while the end of it was tucked in her lahenga skirt.
They decided to go a bit ahead and search for a civilisation. And when they find someone, ask them that where are they? What is this place? Why did their clothes suddenly change? Was this place some sort of magical realm? There were so many questions going on in each of the girls' minds, but they didn't have an answer to a single question.
They were walking, lost in their own thoughts, when they heard footsteps of horses. They decided to see who's there. They started going towards the sound. When they reached there, they saw an armoured man on a horseback. He got down of his horse and came towards the girls, who were both scared and relieved of the fact that they finally found a living being. He stopped in front of them, and said to Sameera who was in between the other two girls, "finally, we found you, princess." Sameera and the two girls exchanged a look amongst themselves. The man was looking as though he came straight out of some kids action comic. Sameera frowned and asked, "I am sorry, but who are you?"
370 BC.
The commander-in-chief was out for a hunt, looking for the princess. They had been finding her from the last four years, but there were no trace of the princess. That day too, he thought that they would go to the palace empty handed, without a clue. But, he saw the princess in the middle of the forest. He stopped his horse in its tracks and got down. He went towards the princess and said, "finally, we found you, princess." But, unexpectedly, she frowned and replied, "I am sorry, but who are you?" The commander-in-chief said in an explaining manner, "princess, I am the commander-in-chief, have you forgotten? We've been looking for you for four years." The girl shook her head negatively and said, "I am sorry, but I think you have mistaken me for someone else. I am not some princess. I am just a normal girl, Sameera."
The commander-in-chief was confused by the fact that Princess Samyukta, was calling herself some ordinary girl, Sameera. He didn't even know what the name meant. He once again explained, "princess, don't you remember that you came here at night? And since then, nobody has seen you till today. I've even sent a soldier to send the message to your father, King Narayan, that you've been found." Before, Sameera could object, Trishna said, "sir, we actually found her lying unconscious in the middle of the forest. She has lost her memories." Sameera looked at Trishna questioningly. Trishna indicated both the girls to play along. Understanding Trishna's sign, Devangi said, "yes, sir. When she regained her consciousness again, she was asking things like, 'who am I? Where am I?' Since we didn't know her name at that time, we gave her the name Sameera." He looked at the two girls as though seeing them for the first time. He said, "sorry, but who are you two, devi?"
"I am Trishna and she is Devangi. We both are banjarans. For the last four years we are dwelling near this forest only." Trishna answered. "Oh! Thank you so much for helping the princess! You will be given a huge reward for this. Come to the palace with us." Said the Commander-in-Chief. Trishna agreed but only after considering the situation and coming to the conclusion that right now playing along would be necessary for their survival. Devangi, on the other hand, was worried and excited at the same time. Worried for their lives and excited about this adventure. But, it would be appropriate, if one would say that out of the three, she was the one having the most fun. Sameera, opposite to both the girls was trying to understand the situation and take a grasp on the circumstances and the place they have landed in. Her mind kept playing the conversation she had with the commander-in-chief. 'King Narayan.... I've heard this name before. But, where?' Thought Sameera.
After a lot of time, and almost going inside the kingdom, Sameera stopped. Seeing Sameera stop in her tracks, the other two girls stopped as well. Commander-in-chief, after hearing no voice from behind, stopped and looked back. Seeing the three girls stop in their tracks and seeing the princess's shocked expression, he asked, "is everything all right, princess?" Sameera nodded, still not saying a word and all of them resumed their walk to the palace. He was on his horse and the three girls walked behind. He offered Sameera the horse, but she declined his offer politely.
Sameera whispered to the two girls,"I know where we are." Devangi looked at her and asked, "where?" Sameera kept looking ahead and whispered, "in Suryapur ."
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