#padmaavat

"I am not scared!"

Meenakshi exclaimed, whipping around to face her lady's maid, and best friend, Rukmini.

"Dayavayi onnu aalochichu noku, thampuratti. This is not a child's game." ("Please think about it carefully, princess. This is not a child's game.")

Meenakshi scoffed. "Ithil ippo entha ithra aalochikaan? Sultaante katthukalkku marupadi nalkuka mathram aanu njan cheythathu." ("What's there to think? I merely sent replies to the Sultan's letters.")

Rukmini let out a sigh, pacing the chambers.

"Thamburan ith arinjal... Thampuratti valiya abadhathil aagum!" ("If the King finds out... You will be in a lot of trouble!")

Meenakshi rolled her eyes, plopping down onto her bed, not having a care whether the king finds out.

"All I did was get rid of a problem for my father. The king would have declared war if he had read Khilji's letters. I distracted the Sultan, too."

Rukmini raised a brow. "You seem like you're enjoying it."

Meenakshi chuckled. "Rukmini, nee shradichitundo? Sultan nalla aaveshatodeya marupadi aayikunnathu. Mashiyokke padarnnu, katthukal ethra vegama etthunathu! I have got him wrapped around my finger." ("Rukmini, have you noticed? Sultan responds quite eagerly to my letters. Ink splattered, and how quickly those letters arrive! I have got him wrapped around my finger.")

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"She has got you wrapped around her finger, Sultan!"

Malik Kafur's voice carried a hint of jealousy along with anger as he braided Khilji's hair.

The Sultan ignored his servant, humming his favourite tune as he drank from his wine goblet. He swayed his head, anticipating the thampuratti's next letter.

Malik sneered, accidentally tugging too hard on Khilji's hair.

"Malik Kafur!" Khilji exclaimed. Malik flinched, muttering a string of apologies before going back to braiding his hair.

Before Malik could complete, the Sultan sunk into his bathtub, his mind wandering to different scenarios with Princess Meenakshi.

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Months passed. Khilji and Meenakshi never stopped writing letters.

One night, Rukmini reluctantly brought the new letter to Meenakshi. Meenakshi had a wide smile plastered on her face as she opened the letter.

Instead of words, she found a portrait.

A portrait of Allauddin Khilji.

A gasp left Meenakshi's mouth. The man was beautiful. He had two scars adorning his left cheek, right beneath his eyes. Yet, he managed to look menacing. His smirk was exactly how she imagined.

Immediately, she turned to Rukmini. "Rajachitrakaran evide?" ("Where is the royal painter?")

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Khilji paced his chambers. "Malik, unki chitthiyaan kyun nahi aa rahe?" ("Malik, why haven't her letters come?")

Malik shrugged. "Pata nahi, huzur."

Khilji sneered at his royal painter who stood nearby, his head bowed. Khilji grabbed his sword before stabbing the artist right in the heart.

"Shayad rajkumari meri tasveer dekh kar khush na ho." ("Maybe the princess isn't impressed by my portrait.")

Khilji twisted the sword once again before pulling it out, throwing it aside as the painter's body fell to the floor.

Then, one of the servants rushed in with the letter. Like a starved beast, Khilji snatched the letter from the servant's hands before opening it.

His eyes widened in shock.

He was staring at the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.

"Wah... Toh yeh hai 'Dakkan ka Kanwal'." ("Wow... So this is the "Lotus of the South".")

Malik scowled at the portrait. "Huzur-"

Khilji raised a hand, silencing him.

"Kal hum Venad ke taraf kooch karenge." ("Tomorrow we shall march toward Venad.")

Malik let out shocked gasp. "Lekin, huzur-"

Khilji shook his head, laughing. "I will finally meet the woman of my dreams."

Malik stood quietly before leaving to inform the army.

Khilji fell back onto his bed, holding Meenakshi's portrait right to his chest.

"Ah, Venad ki thampuratti, soon you will Mallika-E-Jahaan," Khilji mumbled, closing his eyes to dream of the princess.

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