Chapter 7: Navaratri Festival:
Cinduri's POV:
When I arrived at the Navaratri Festival, everyone turned to stare at me.
"Who is that beautiful Princess," they all whispered.
"Who are you, beautiful Princess," asks the Prince himself. I looked up into his eyes, but I said nothing. He then asked me to dance, and I tried to remember the flowing motions of my beloved Godfather, the snake. I twirled and dipped. The anklets jingled on my feet. The festival lights made my dark eyes shine. As I danced, the Prince could not take his eyes off me.
. . .
Later, everyone gathered to light the lamp for the goddess Durga, in whose honor the festival is held each year.
"It is midnight," says the Prince, "time for the aarti. They asked me to perform the ceremony, and I want you to join me."
"Midnight," I asked, "I must go!" I then dashed away through the crowd. The Prince tried to catch me, following the sound of the bells on my feet. But I got away.
Yuvaraja Abhinav's POV:
She was gone, but I then saw something sparkling on the road. I picked it up and it was one of her anklets. I stared into the dark night, remembering her eyes, her hair, her gentle smile. I vow to love her forever. "Wait, I can use this to find her! I'll try every maiden in the village... except Strange Shreya!"
"I want to sniff your feet," says Strange Shreya.
Thakur Raghu's POV:
In truth, I am the leader of a group of thieves and the plan was to have the Prince marry my daughter so she can take over... but typical, she can't even win over a man! I'll have to do something about this!
To Be Continued
In the next chapter, the Prince makes an announcement.