Contents

Starting Part Click Here

~Last of the series~

In the never-ending, sun-soaked corridors of Agniv Mahal, Maira continued to cradle between longing for love and spending quiet hours with herself. But on one breezy morning, as she looked herself in the mirror while adorning her silken saree, something changed. A scintillating ray of sunlight graced her reflection and it occurred to her that all this while, she was looking for happiness outside, whereas the purest happiness she ever felt always came to her from within.

This thought came with a sheer grace in her demeanor. Her eyes sparkled with joy and her lips hummed a soft little tune. While she had always been kind, with each new dawn, she showered more love and became gentler towards everyone around her. She would greet the workers in the marigold fields with liveliest hellos and she would spend more time with the peacocks, singing and dancing in their company. And slowly, she realized that the more love and hope she radiated, the brighter her own world became.

From that moment, there was no going back. Her heart became a fountain of happiness. Now, she laughed easily, passing the joy to everyone around. Stirred with enthusiasm, she even found more ways to love herself and her precious life. She would tell stories of love and bravery to the children and spend the afternoon hours immersed in the company of people. And, every day, just before the sun dipped into the horizon with its golden and pink rays, she would step out of the Mahal.

She would run to the marigold fields nearby, the air chiming with the melodious sound of her anklets. And as she caressed the fresh marigolds with her soft hands, she would remember her treasured childhood, the grandeur of Agniv Mahal and its people, and her newfound happiness. As these thoughts circled her mind, she would shed a tear of gratitude, followed by the most beautiful smile she could muster. You see, she had learned to live at last, and she was finally free.