Vidhi Vidhan: The Vengeance of the Throne
Destiny
"What is written in fate happens. Neither a rich man can change it, nor a beggar. Whatever is written, happens. For a moment, a king may become a pauper and a pauper a king, but no one can change the law of destiny (Vidhi ka Vidhan), no matter how many efforts are made."
"But when two unknown hearts are bound by the thread of the same name, was that also a game of fate? Or was it some secret that was about to change both their lives forever?"
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Suryagarh was a kingdom that was a paradise in itself, where the people were very happy. Everyone greatly respected the King and the Queen. Maharaj Virendra Pratap was the ruler of Suryagarh, who reigned with his Maharani Devyani. They had one son, Rajkumar Veer Pratap, and one daughter, Rajkumari Vidhika, who lived in the royal palace of Suryagarh.
One morning, Maharani Devyani asked a soldier, "Soldier, where is Rajkumar Veer?"
The soldier replied, "Maharani, the Rajkumar is practicing his sword fighting."
The Queen said, "Alright."
Maharani Devyani went to the practice hall, where Rajkumar Veer—who was tall and strongly built, with a broad chest, iron-like arms, and long hair—was slicing pots kept in front of him with his sword while blindfolded.
Maharani Devyani said, "Veer, my son, what are you doing?"
Veer turned upon hearing the voice. Maharani Devyani stepped forward, removed the blindfold from the Prince's eyes, and said, "Son, is this how one practices? With a blindfold on?"
Veer smiled and said, "Mother, don't worry. I was just practicing the art of sword fighting while blindfolded, so that even with my eyes closed, I can fight using my sense of hearing."
Maharani Devyani smiled, "Whatever, son. Now come with us. We have prepared special almond milk for you. Come."
Veer said, "Alright, Mother. You go ahead, I'll be there."
On the other side, the King went to Princess Vidhika's chambers and called, "Vidhika! Daughter Vidhika!"
Princess Vidhika suddenly came out from behind the door and said, "Boo!"
The King was startled. Vidhika started laughing.
The King also laughed and said, "Daughter, what is this childishness? You scared me! Look at what you have applied to your eyes and face? Black kohl (kajal)?"
Vidhika hugged the King and asked, "Were you really scared, Father?"
The King said, "Yes, daughter, I was truly scared!"
Vidhika laughed again.
The King said, "Now come on, wash all this off your face and come downstairs. Your mother is waiting for you."
Vidhika said, "Alright, Father. Coming right away. You go."
The King left. A maid came and wiped the black soot off the Princess's face. The Princess's face shone like the moon as soon as the blackness was removed. And her long, open hair that touched her feet, the smile on her lips was like a rose petal. She was so beautiful that the moon would be ashamed.
The maid dressed the Princess, and the Princess, with her graceful walk, went to have a meal with the King and Queen, where her elder brother, Rajkumar Veer Pratap, was also seated.
Nighttime
Chaos reigned in the kingdom of Suryagarh today. The royal palace had been attacked by a masked figure. Maharaj Virendra Pratap was fighting with all his might. Maharani Devyani ran towards Princess Vidhika, but someone stabbed a sword into her back from behind. She fell right there.
Rajkumar Veer Pratap ran to the Queen and began to support her, but it was the Queen's final moments. Maharani Devyani took a promise from Veer Pratap, "Son... will you keep your sister's life safe? Promise me."
Tears streamed from the Prince's eyes, but he said firmly, "Yes, Mother, I promise you. I will not let anything happen to my sister Vidhika." The Queen breathed her last.
Veer Pratap ran to Princess Vidhika and said, "Vidhika, you have to come with me. Run now! The palace has been attacked here!"
Princess Vidhika anxiously asked, "Brother, who attacked? Where is Father? Where is Mother?"
Veer Pratap's face was filled with anger and pain, "Someone of our own did the attack, Vidhika. But now, keeping you safe is my first duty. Let's get out of here!"
The Prince led the Princess out of the palace through a secret passage and said, "You will be married."
Princess Vidhika was stunned and asked, "Marriage?!"
At that moment, Maharaj Virendra Pratap's head was severed in the palace. A masked man sat on the throne, with an expression of triumph in his eyes. He had established his dominion over the palace.
And on the other side, in a broken hut, Princess Vidhika sat alone. Tears were flowing from her eyes. Her world was ruined. Her faith was shattered. But Veer Pratap's promise... and the fear of a sudden marriage... both were suffocating her heart.
The Prince came into the hut and said to the Princess, "Vidhika, I promised Mother your safety. Therefore, you must come with me. Let's go from here."
Vidhika didn't understand anything and just started walking with her brother.
Meanwhile, somewhere else... a young man was getting married. The young man was sitting in the wedding mandap. A commotion was heard: "The bride has run away! The bride has run away!" Hearing this, the young man went out of the mandap and sat by the deity in the temple, saying, "Oh God, what kind of test is this? What should I do now? How will I face society? You must do something now."
The Prince, holding the Princess's hand, took her to the same temple and sat down, hiding his face. He overheard the conversation. So, with his face still hidden, he said, "This is my sister. She was also supposed to get married today, but the groom did not show up. You marry her."
The young man asked, "But who are you?"
The Prince said, "I will tell you all that later. Right now, please get married. Everyone is waiting for you."
The Princess looked at the Prince, but could not say anything.
Hearing the Prince, the young man said, "Alright, noble sir. My name is Ayaan. I am ready to marry your sister. Come, this will save the honour of both your family and mine. Please call your family."
The Prince said, "I don't have a family. It's just the two of us, brother and sister."
Ayaan said, "Alright. Let's go to the mandap."
Vidhika and Ayaan were married, and the Prince, giving his sister away (kanyadaan), said to her, "Vidhika, I know this is not easy for you, but right now your safety is most important to me. No one knows you, but everyone knows me. If you stay with me, you will also be caught. Vidhika, take care of yourself. Ayaan is a very good boy, I know him. Send me a message if you can. Now I have to go. Take care."
Tears came to the Princess's eyes, but she couldn't say anything. Just then, Ayaan came, "Shall we go?"
Vidhika nodded in agreement.
Ayaan took her to his house. All the family members welcomed them, as Ayaan had already told his family the truth about the change in the bride.
The Princess just walked in silence. Ayaan's mother said to Vidhika, "Child, knock over the pot (kalash) with your right foot." The Princess did as instructed.
And Ayaan's sister took the Princess to her room and seated her, and then left.
A little later, Ayaan came there and asked the Princess, "What is your name?"
Vidhika composed herself and said, "V... V... Vidhika."
Ayaan smiled, "Vidhika... a very sweet name. Just like you."
Ayaan moved closer to Vidhika, but Vidhika turned her face away.
Ayaan asked, "What happened, Vidhika ji?"
Vidhika said, "N... N... Nothing."
Ayaan said, "Alright. If you want to sleep, go ahead. You must be tired."
Vidhika lay down to sleep, but her tears wouldn't stop. And Ayaan slept on the floor.
Vidhika recalled that Rajkumar Veer had told her that their Mother and Father had been killed and someone had taken over the royal palace. And the Princess must hide her true identity. She must hide her truth.
The Princess could not sleep. And morning arrived...