Chapter 5: Shalu Will Behave

A marriage alliance is really great. I repeated it like a mantra, every step echoing in the corridor. People bowed, murmuring, "Rajkumari Shalu." I hugged the royal decree, grinning like a fool. The paper was stiff, the seal heavy in my hands.

Then I saw Kabir, arms crossed, lips thin, eyes dark. I was scared and turned to run, but he caught me. His grip was gentle but firm. "Do you know what a marriage alliance means? Why did you insist on going? This isn’t a child’s game!" His voice trembled with frustration, more like an older brother than a teacher. He dragged me towards the royal study, "Come, tell Raja Saheb you don’t want this."

"No." My voice was small, but sure. I shook off his hand. "I want to go. I don’t want to stay here. I hate you. I hate it here." Tears spilled down my face. "You’re marrying Third Princess—why do you care about me?"

"No one cares about Shalu. Shalu wants to leave and never come back." My grip on the decree tightened as I spoke. Kabir stared, speechless. I ran, sari flying behind me. When I reached my new palace, all fear vanished.

It was bright, clean, red doors and no rats. A plate of rose barfi waited on the table. I touched the soft bed, sighed. "A marriage alliance is really great."

Preparations for my wedding and Third Princess’s happened together. Flowers everywhere, dholaks thumping, cooks bustling. I heard Third Princess made a fuss, so Raja Saheb locked her up till the wedding. Kabir didn’t come to the palace again. I stopped caring—spent days eating, growing round and happy.

On the wedding day, ayahs scrubbed me with rose water, dressed me in red silk, heavy dupatta. I was pushed into a red doli. The air smelled of sandalwood, soan papdi melting on my tongue. Outside, the shehnai played. "Aren’t Raja Saheb and Maharani coming?" I asked, peering through the curtain. Rain fell, the courtyard empty.

"Rajmata said she’d come too. Where is everyone?" The old ayah squeezed my hand, "Time is tight, Raja Saheb is busy, so we had to leave first." Auspicious hour can’t be missed, I reminded myself. "Raja Saheb is busy, Maharani too. Shalu knows."

I sat upright, put down the red dupatta. My voice was nasal. "It’s okay, Shalu will behave. Amma, let’s go." I wanted to ask Raja Saheb for a name, but the moment passed. Hiding under the red, my cheeks burned. "Shalu will behave. Shalu doesn’t miss home, doesn’t miss Ma." I wiped my tears with the dupatta, then grinned. "Ma, Shalu is getting married, marrying the richest king of Kaveripur. Once I become queen, I’ll light a diya for you every day. Even Yamraj will give you a massage!" The ayahs laughed, their voices soft as the rain.