Chandravati 

The dawn breeze carried the scent of jasmine and sandalwood through the high jharokha windows of Chandravati’s inner palace. Silk streamers in silver and blue swayed above the marble courtyard, where palace maidens strung marigolds into garlands for the festival. Somewhere in the temple courtyard, the shankh sounded, deep and resonant, summoning blessings for brothers and sisters across the land.

“Princess Tara, please stop running, you'll get hurt,” the maid requested, running behind Tara. 

“Hurt me? My bhai sa will never let me get hurt,” Tara giggled while running. The palace corridors were filled with Tara's cheerful laughter. 

“Princess Tara, please be careful on the stairs,” the maid requested while following Tara. This was a routine for Tara. 

Every day, she would go on the roof of the palace to see if her bhai sa had returned. Every day, she would be disappointed not seeing her bhai.

But today, Rakhsha Bandhan Tara knew her bhai sa would return no matter what. Tara had prepared a beautiful rakhi for her bhai sa. 

Panting from her climb, Tara placed her hand on her chest as she stepped onto the palace roof. Below, Chandravati glowed in festive spirit, its bustling markets alive with music, laughter, and the fragrance of sweets.

Beyond the great gates, the mighty mountain loomed—a barrier separating Chandravati from their bitter rivals, the kingdom of Suryagrah.

Behind that mountain resides Suryagrah. If we say the distance from Chandravati to Suryagrah was not much, yet they were miles apart from each other. 

Both kingdoms hated each other both wanted each other's blood. Battles for trade routes, broken alliances, and some past grudges. A few days before, they received news that enemies were spotted near the Chandravati border. 

So her bhai sa went to investigate the matter, and Tara trusted her brother's ability and skills. She knew he would come back from it, and then she would tie him a rakhi she had made herself for him. 

“Bhai-sa,” she whispered, closing her eyes, “you always came back, no matter how busy you were. Please, Mahadev, protect my brother.”

She had a bad feeling since morning, but she shrugged it off. It's said that if you think badly, bad things happen, so always think about good things and positive things. 

Suddenly, an injured bird fell down, Tara's eyes widened she quickly ran towards that fallen bird. She gently picked it up and caressed the bird's back. 

“It seems to be injured, Bai sa,” the maid said. Tara's eyes filled with tears. She couldn't see anyone's pain. 

“I'll nurse it so that it will fly again.” She carried the bird back to her chambers, mixing herbs into a paste with surprising skill for one so young. Carefully, she applied the medicine, whispering encouragement as though the bird could understand.

“I hope this will help you, little one.” Tara let the bird rest. 

***

Suryagrah 

Meanwhile, in Suryagrah whole palace was hustling and bustling for the rakhi celebration and also to celebrate the victory of their prince who would return from the battlefield. 

“Did you know Yuvraj never lost any battles”? One of the maids spoke while they were decorating the palace. 

“And you know what, Yuvraj is so kind-hearted, no wonder everyone likes him so much,” another giggled while blushing. 

Yuvaraj Veer Suryavanshi was the pride of Suryagrah. He was an excellent swordsman, Good at literature, and a born leader; in short, he was an all-rounder. 

Despite all these, Yuvraj Veer was lonely; the scar his mother gave him made him distant and cold. 

But that doesn't mean he would disrespect any woman; he would respect every woman, even his mother, who left him. 

“What are you girls chit-chatting about? Quickly finish the work, bhai sa may come anytime now,” Princess Myra scolded the maids. 

Her brother was returning today, she was more than excited, also today was Raksha Bandhan. She loved her brother very much. 

He was the one who became her emotional support when their mother left them. They have only each other because their father is busy with the kingdom's responsibilities.

“Ji bai sa, we'll finish this work soon,” the maid replied, bowing. Myra nodded just then sound of the dhol indicating that her brother had arrived. 

“Bring the pooja thal quickly, bhai sa has returned,” Myra instructed the maid and rushed towards the main door. 

As soon as she saw her bhai sa safe and sound, she quickly hugged him. “Congratulations, bhai sa, for winning the battle.” 

Veer gave Myra a warm smile and wiped her tears. Myra smiled and applied a tilak on Veer's forehead and did his arti. 

Veer pats Myra's head and goes into the palace to greet his father and give him the detailed report about the battle just happened. 

While Myra started preparing for the Rakhsha Bandhan ceremony. 

***

Chandravati 

It was evening, and Tara was still on the palace roof waiting for her bhai sa. She had not eaten anything since morning. 

“Bai sa, please eat something, you have not eaten anything since morning,” the maid pleaded to Tara, worried about her health. 

But Tara stubbornly shook her head, she won't eat anything until and unless she sees her bhai sa. 

She knew her bhai sa would return today, and until he comes, she won't move from her place. 

The maid was worried about Tara. She knew how stubborn Tara was. Just then, Maharani Rajeshwari Devi walked in. 

She was Tara and Aditya's mother; she was a poised, elegant woman with a calculating brain. 

After the death of her husband, Maharaj Prithvi, she handled the Chandravati on her own despite the opposition of the royal board members. 

“Rajkumari Tara,” hearing her mother's voice, Tara quickly walked towards her. 

“Ma sa” she bent down to touch Rajeshwari's feet. Due to her mother being busy with work, Tara had spent too little time with her mother. 

Rajeshwari kept her palm on Tara's head, blessing her. “Why are you here? Shouldn't you be practicing now?”

Rajeshwari wanted both her children to be good at everything, whether it's swordmanship, battlefield knowledge, or literature. 

“Ma sa today is Rakshabandhan. I am waiting for bhai sa to return,” Rajeshwari sighed 

“I don't want to skip your practice, go for your practice now.” Her tone was not strict, but it was stern. 

Tara's heart sank; her mother only cared about this kingdom and not her children. 

Tara quickly nodded and left the palace room and went to practice. For hours, Tara practiced her sword skills until she didn't feel any sensation in her arms. 

Suddenly, a maid rushed into the room, “Bai sa, are you okay?” The maid asked worriedly.

But instead of replying to her, she asked the maid, “Did my bhai sa return?” Tara asked with hopeful eyes. 

The maid looked down, nodding, and a bright smile formed on Tara's lips. Forgetting about her pain, she left the practice room and rushed towards the main hall where her bhai sa would be. 

As soon as she reached the main hall, all she could she was silence, there was no sound of dhol, no one spoke anything, they all just stood surrounded by the corpse of her brother. 

Seeing her brother's lifeless body in the middle of the hall, Tara's legs almost gave up. She gathered her courage towards her bhai sa. 

“This is a joke, right?” Tara asked, shocked. She looked at her brother. 

“Bhai sa chaliye uthiye bohot hogaya majak ab tho apko rakhi bhi bandhvani hai,” Tara spoke, shaking her brother's lifeless body. 

(Brother, come on now, wake up, we have to celebrate Rakshabandhan also)

Receiving no reply, she shook his body again, “bhai sa uthiye na ap uth kyu nahi rahe hai yei koi sone ke vkt hai kya” 

(Brother, wake up now? Is this time to sleep?

Tara looked at her mother, who just stood there trying to take in her son's death. 

“Ma sa tell bhai sa to wake up. im waiting for him since morning.” Tara held her mother's hand hopefully. 

“Princess Tara, Prince Aditya is no mor—” 

“NOOO STOP IT DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT NONSENSE YOU ARE TALKING HUH”  Tara yelled at her brother's right-hand man. 

“My brother can't die, he is the best swordsman, he can't die.” Slowly, Tara's leg fully gave in she on her knees. 

“My brother can't die, he can't.” Tara's eyes were filled with tears. The bad feeling she was feeling since morning was this. 

She hugged her brother's body, crying on his chest. 

“Bhai sa, you promised me that you would never leave me, then why..why did you leave me bhai sa?” 

Her mother, Rajeshwari, who was barely controlling herself, walked towards Tara. 

First time after years, Rajeshwari hugged her daughter; she knew Tara needed her mother today and not Maharani Rajeshwari. 

She hugged Tara tightly while controlling her tears. Feeling her mother's warmth after years, Tara couldn't help but hug her even more. 

She always wanted her mother's embrace, which she finally got, but not this way. 

Tara stopped crying and looked at her brother's lifeless body. She wiped her tears she pulled back from her mother's hug. Her eyes were cold. 

“I won't spare anyone, I'll destroy every person who is behind my bhai sa’s death”