The gods and goddesses are known to bless their truest devotees in abundance, and so they blessed the King of Amritgarh, Amritraaj Bhadrashekhar, and his queen, Raani Gauthami, with a daughter after fate had taken away their only son.

Prince Bhairava had lost his life at the tender age of sixteen in a tragic war, leaving behind a kingdom draped in mourning and parents broken by grief. Years later, hope returned to the palace in the form of a child.

She was named Raajkumari Saudamini, though to her parents she was lovingly called Amrita, the nectar that healed their wounded hearts.

Unlike other princesses of her time, Saudamini was raised not only in the gentle arts expected of royal daughters but also in the disciplines meant for a future ruler. She learned governance, diplomacy, warfare, and law alongside scripture, rituals, and household traditions taught by the queen and her attendants. The king wished her to be strong enough to lead if destiny ever demanded it.

Every day, she would escape the palace walls with her cousin sister, Raajkumari Chitrangada, and make her way to the nearby village to meet her friends. Worried for their safety, the king and queen would send the royal commander after them. Without fail, he would find the girls in the same place, perched upon the branches of tall trees, laughing freely as they shared fruits with village children.

What surprised the commander the most was the presence of his own son, Veera, who was of the same age as the princess. He was always there, cleverly helping Saudamini slip away from the commander’s watchful eyes.

One day, tragedy struck the village. One of Saudamini’s friends died due to complications from early menstruation, worsened by ignorance and lack of proper treatment. By the time the royal physician arrived, the child was already gone.

That day, the princess returned to the palace changed.

She stood before the king and asked for permission to allow the village children to study alongside her and be educated as scholars, so that ignorance would never again steal a life so cruelly.

The king asked what she would offer in return for such a decree.

Without hesitation, Saudamini placed her fate in his hands. She surrendered her right to choose her life partner and promised instead to give the kingdom scholars who would make Amritgarh proud.

Moved by her resolve, the king agreed.

The very next day, teachers were sent to the village, and a school was established for all young children. Saudamini herself sat among them, learning alongside her friends without distinction. The queen ensured free nutritious meals for every student and arranged monthly health checkups for the village.

Among all the students, Saudamini noticed Veera as the most dedicated and focused. In their free time, he taught her archery and swordsmanship, skills he had learned from his father, for his family had served the future rulers of Amritgarh for generations.

Yet this troubled her heart.

She had seen armies fall in battle. She had lived through the loss of her brother. Veera was the only child of his parents, and the thought of him being lost to war one day filled her with fear. Determined to protect him from such a fate, she decided to send him to the town along with two other students so he could pursue higher learning and become one of the greatest scholars of the state.

At fourteen, Veera bid farewell to his family, friends, and the village he loved, and left for the town to study.

In his absence, Saudamini visited his parents every week, gently asking if any letters had arrived from him. When they did, she would sit with them and read his words aloud, making sure his presence never truly faded from their home.

Slowly, Saudamini grew into womanhood under the gentle care and unwavering love of her parents. She remained deeply devoted to the divine, forever mesmerized by the beauty of creation, praying to Shree Narayana as she had done since childhood beside her mother. With time, her movements became more restricted. She was rarely allowed to leave the palace without her personal army following closely behind.

“Raajkumari, there is troubling news. Foreign goons are attempting to abduct Raajkumari Chitrangada on her way to Amritgarh,” one of her daasis informed her urgently.

Saudamini stopped weaving the flower garlands in her hands and rose at once, facing the daasi with sharpened focus.

“Tell them to untie Chanchal. I need to leave immediately,” she commanded.

The daasi bowed and rushed away. Saudamini joined her palms before the deity, whispering a silent prayer, before leaving the sacred chamber and entering her private quarters.

She removed her royal ornaments and dressed swiftly. She wore a plain white skirt and wrapped a thick, tightly bound cloth blouse around herself, layered securely until her chest was fully covered. Over it, she pulled on a long white gown with full sleeves, tying the loose edges firmly with the attached strings. She tore a strip from a plain white cotton cloth and used it to bind her long hair, covering it completely. A protective shield was secured across her front and back.

She slung her bow and arrows across her shoulders and draped a red shawl over her face before stepping out of her chamber and walking through the palace corridors.

Mounting her horse, Chanchal, she rode out with her army. Riding beside her appeared another horse, carrying Raajkumari Kalavati, the princess of a neighboring state. Kalavati had been raised in Amritgarh for several years after her mother’s sudden death, as her mother had shared a deep bond with the queen of Amritgarh.

“Where are we going?” Kalavati asked, making Saudamini smirk beneath her veil.

“To the border of Amritgarh, to witness the fall of Amritnadi,” Saudamini replied calmly.

“Are we serious? As far as I know, Maharaj would never permit us to go there. Goons are always watching the borders. Oh wait…” Kalavati halted mid sentence as realization dawned on her, making Saudamini chuckle. “Am I thinking correctly?” she asked.

“You should never doubt your wisdom, Kala, especially when you already carry the strength of a future ruler within you,” Saudamini said, urging her horse to move faster. Kalavati followed without hesitation.

As they entered deeper into the forest, they halted and dismounted.

“Check ahead,” Saudamini instructed, signaling the soldiers to inspect the path.

Two soldiers moved forward and soon returned, confirming that the road appeared clear.

“Mount up and stay alert,” she commanded before climbing onto Chanchal again, allowing two soldiers to lead the way.

“Something feels wrong,” Kalavati murmured, earning a quiet nod from Saudamini.

Saudamini gently rubbed Chanchal’s neck. His ears stiffened instantly as he let out a sharp warning sound, causing her eyes to widen. Kalavati’s horse and the others echoed the same alert.

“Everyone, watch out,” Saudamini shouted.

The army halted just in time as sharp arrows flew through the air. Soldiers ducked low to avoid them.

Saudamini and Kalavati jumped off their horses, turning sideways to observe the direction of the attack.

“They are close,” Kalavati whispered.

Saudamini crouched as if to inspect one of the arrows, but instead she swiftly pulled an arrow from her quiver, aimed her bow in haste, and released it. A scream echoed from within the bushes.

“Attack,” Kalavati yelled.

Arrows rained into the foliage from all directions as the army fired relentlessly. Cries and screams followed.

They mounted their horses again and moved deeper into the forest. Saudamini kept her gaze fixed ahead until Chanchal let out another warning sound. Her soldiers straightened instantly, gripping swords and bows, while Saudamini and Kalavati positioned themselves among them.

A group of goons stood blocking their path.

“What do you want?” one of the soldiers demanded.

“Gold, diamonds, gems, the kingdom of Amritgarh, and Saudamini,” they replied.

The army burned with fury, while Saudamini’s eyes sharpened with lethal calm.

“You dare address the princess by her name? Do you know the punishment for such insolence?” Kalavati asked coldly.

“Now a mere woman will teach us right and wrong?” one of the goons sneered.

That was enough.

The soldiers attacked without waiting for command. Kalavati joined them without hesitation. Saudamini’s gaze locked onto the man who had spoken.

She stroked Chanchal’s back, urging him forward slowly. Without warning, she drew her sword, tightened her grip, and spurred Chanchal into a sudden charge. In a single, precise strike, she severed the man’s head from his body.

Blood splattered across her white garments. In the force of the movement, her veil slipped away, revealing her face. The remaining goons froze in terror.

“Anyone who dares disrespect a woman deserves a death worthy of hell,” she thundered.

Seizing the moment, the army slaughtered the remaining attackers, leaving none alive.

“You fought well,” Saudamini told her soldiers, “but remember, violence is not always the only solution.”

The soldiers bowed their heads.

“Do not lower your gaze,” she said firmly. “Stand straight. You are not weak.”

They obeyed at once.

“Wait a few steps away. Guard the forest. If anything suspicious arises, deal with it,” Saudamini instructed.

Kalavati turned toward her, confused. “Where are we going?”

“How can we leave without seeing Amritnadi?” Saudamini replied softly. “And I cannot meet Chitra like this.” She gestured to the bloodstains on her clothes.

The army withdrew, granting them privacy.

They allowed their horses to rest beneath the shade of tall trees and carried fresh garments from their satchels as they walked toward the river.

The sight of the waterfall left Kalavati spellbound. Laughing like a child set free, she ran beneath the cascading waters, letting it drench her completely. Saudamini watched her with a soft chuckle, amused by her unrestrained joy and her surrender to nature.

She loosened the bindings of her hair, allowing the long strands to fall freely down her back.

Untying the strings of her gown, she let it slip away, leaving her clad only in the securely wrapped chest cloth and skirt. Kneeling at the river’s edge, she dipped her fingers into the cool water.

Tiny fish gathered around her hand, brushing against her skin. The gentle sensation made her close her eyes as she slowly reclined upon the ground, one hand submerged beneath the crystal clear surface.

Butterflies fluttered around her, settling upon her bare shoulders. Birds filled the air with song, and flower petals drifted down from the trees as the breeze passed through the forest. For a moment, the world felt untouched and eternal.

The peace shattered with the sharp cry of a deer.

Saudamini’s eyes flew open. She rose instantly, turning toward the direction from which the sound had come. Parting the curtains of wild greenery, she stepped carefully through the bushes, her senses alert.

Soon she spotted a trembling fawn running blindly toward her, clearly fleeing danger. Without hesitation, she gathered it into her arms, stroking its soft skin to calm it, while listening to approaching footsteps. Whoever pursued it was close.

A man emerged from the bushes, a bow and arrows in his hands, scanning the area for his prey. Saudamini’s gaze hardened as she fixed her eyes on his back, sharp enough to wound without a weapon.

“Who are you?” she demanded.

The man turned, and the moment his eyes met hers, his breath caught in his throat. Time seemed to still around him, his purpose slipping from his mind.

Noticing his stare, Saudamini turned her back on him immediately.

“Speak,” she ordered.

He swallowed and looked away. “I came to hunt. I apologize if I disturbed your privacy. Just give me the fawn, and I will leave.”

She faced him again, fury burning in her eyes. “It is a baby, separated from its mother. How cruel must one be to harm an innocent life for fleeting pleasure? And do you not know that hunting innocents is forbidden in the kingdom of Amritraaj?”

“I was unaware I had crossed into another kingdom,” he replied quickly. “I will leave and hunt elsewhere.”

He turned to go, but her words stopped him.

“May you become someone’s prey before you ever touch another innocent life,” she said coldly.

He spun back toward her, anger flashing across his face. “Did you just curse me? Do you even know who I am?”

“No,” she replied without hesitation. “And I have no interest in knowing who you are or how powerful you think you may be when you stand within my territory.”

She gently set the fawn down. It darted away into the forest without looking back.

“Your territory?” he scoffed. “This is the kingdom of Amritraaj Bhadrashekhar.”

“Saudamini.”

Kalavati’s voice cut through the tension as she emerged from the trees.

Saudamini sighed as Kalavati approached, worry evident on her face. “There you are. I have been looking for you. You left your clothes…” Her words faltered as she noticed the man. Her gaze moved from him to Saudamini and back again.

“Yuvraaj Aadideva?” Kalavati asked in disbelief. “You are here?”

He bowed respectfully. “My greetings to Raajkumari Kalavati.”

Turning to Saudamini, Kalavati spoke in haste. “Do you not recognize him? He is the prince of Puravdesh. He once saved your father’s life during the war.”

Saudamini’s eyes widened, but she did not bow.

“So what?” she said calmly. “Had I met him as a guest of honor, I would have welcomed him with respect. But today, he stood before me as someone who sought to harm the innocent. To me, that makes him nothing more than a sinner.”

She met Aadideva’s gaze without fear, then turned away.

“Come with me,” she told Kalavati.

Kalavati hesitated briefly, glancing at Aadideva, before following Saudamini back toward the river.

Saudamini stepped beneath the falling water, letting it soak her once more. She closed her eyes, allowing the cold rush to soothe her burning skin.

“You should not have behaved like that,” Kalavati said softly. “What will Maharaj think when he hears of this? He is the future king of Puravdesh.”

“I do not care,” Saudamini replied, her eyes lifting toward a lone flower growing at the top of the waterfall.

Kalavati sighed. “You still want that? You know no one has ever reached it. The path is dangerous.”

Saudamini laughed. “That is exactly why I want it.”

She stepped out of the water and changed into fresh, dry clothes.

“You are unbelievable,” Kalavati muttered as they mounted their horses and rode back toward the road, which the army was already clearing and preparing to welcome Raajkumari Chitrangada.