Chapter 1

Sia had tears in her eyes, as she heard the story progressing. Aurora replied, “My dear, good people have to pay a far more price for being noble than wicked souls have to pay for being bad. She continued the story. Months passed by and no one ever saw Iraya smile. Iraya went to school and came back. At home, Iraya indulged herself in studies and writing. One fine day, her mother asked Iraya, my dear why are you not happy. Why is my beloved daughter not chirpy like she used to be? Iraya could only reply, “Mother, maybe I need a change of scenery.” Her mother replied,” Why don’t you go to your aunt's place in Arindelle? Iraya said dryly,” As you say, mother. Mother knew something was wrong but she knew her daughter was strong. The next day Iraya left for her aunt’s place. Her aunt was a gracious lady, who loved Iraya dearly.

She reached Arindelle and her aunt held Iraya to her bosom. Iraya was stoic and her aunt could contemplate that something was wrong. She asked her, ”Why is my beloved daughter so gloomy today? Iraya replied,” Aunt I am really tired, can I rest in the room.”

Her aunt replied, ”Yes my dear.” Iraya went to her room and started writing. Insurmountable pain daggered her heart. She was constantly at war, Though we lived happily inside her. Fed with love and care. She walked with an ocean of warmth, A blanket of life that embraced you with serendipity. Euphonious charms adorned abundantly in her radiance. But the forest she was surrounded by was dense. Dense clusters of uncertainty covered her way. And oh her eyes.

Silent whispers reflected the pain she felt. Her eyes were like magic weaving through poetry.

Eyes that cried an ocean of tears Eyes that beholded the ripple of fears. We, her spirits, her soul and her conscience. Before our very eyes. Saw her swimming for the shore where peace lies.

Though she faced disgrace, the world called her an epitome of eloquence and grace.

This is me, this is you.
To the people who never stop smiling.
To the ones who put on a brave face
To the ones who have heard, This is just a phase.
We are in this together!
We wish to hide, to hide in a place where the world ends
Where the rainbows glow in their light, where the horizon bends.
To be coloured in the hues of happiness that never fade,
To be loved of the love we are so afraid of.
She closed her diary and went down for dinner.
Her aunt told her that she was visiting the village tomorrow.
Iraya agreed to go with her.

Chapter 2

Time is a rite of passage. A passage that plonks into misery Or turns your melancholy into merry. Iraya and her aunt went to the village museum. The museum was filled with artifacts and statues of their ancestors. It had paintings of their ancestors, kings, queens, and other nobles who ruled the kingdom. As Iraya walked further, she saw something and jolted to the ground.

It was the same painting which she saw in the temple. The same king and queen stood in the portrait. But this time there was a message which was written on it.

To the one reading this,
I know tenderness is something you deserve,
But life has made you preserve, and persist.
It has made you cry, shed tears, feel unloved, and unworthy, made you give up.
Given you all the bunches of storms and not one ounce of love.
You felt the weight of the world on your shoulders,
Clothed in patriarchy
Embosomed by hatred and a conflicted mentality
Not a soul left with originality
They are called the norms
The unions the world forms
Armed with criticism for unconventionality
And in love with the forged reality
Lamented lies and tales of the untrue
Bleeting like drums of animosity, dear society is it you?
Why do you look at the world with the convoluted reality
And why are we humans not treated with impartiality
Humans are torn pieces of the fragmented universe who want to fit in
When all we are taught from our childhood is to stand out
The duality of the world is what the society embraces
Anyone aside from the race the world disgraces
We are all a bunch of fools too scared to show our broken hearts
And I’m writing this not in search of a greater tomorrow
But a safe place to live in
Where honesty and true joys are the lessons the society imparts
I am writing this letter to you to tell you that yes the world around us is bad.
But that does not mean you sour your originality
For you are the future of us.!

Iraya called for her aunt and asked her to see the message, her aunt told her she could not see a thing. Frightened, she asked her aunt about the portrait and he aunt replied. These were the king and queen of Arindelle, they died because of a shipwreck. Iraya asked about their family.

Her aunt told her they have two sons, one of them is ruling the kingdom and the other vanished since the death of their parents. Iraya could no longer contain herself and went outside to get some fresh air. As she marched her way forward, she recalled everything that happened inside the museum.

To the plight of her misery,

She was the one who unveiled this chapter of history.

.    .    .