The party was in the full swing. The prince was dancing with the one who he had dreamt of all his life. She was more beautiful than his dream. Yes she was the One. He knew nothing about this mysterious girl and he didn’t want to lose a moment. He just wanted to keep looking into her deep blue eyes. He just wanted this dance to go on forever. She was so light footed, so graceful. The little blush on her cheeks showed that she too reciprocated. The aura around her made her look like a goddess. Oh! the music should go on. Let the world stand witness to this dance. It’s not just a dance. It’s a silent union of two souls whose saga will be sung till eternity.
It was midnight and the clock stuck 12. The moment the clock struck for the first time, her eyes grew large; making her look all the more pretty. Panicky, she turned back and ran towards the gate. Those deep eyes, golden hair, hour glass figure, looking ethereal in the white gown simply disappeared in her chariot, leaving prince and the rest of the gathering smitten. Nobody had seen her before but today she shone like a moon amongst the stars. Envied by all girls and sought after by all men was this petite beauty that had appeared from nowhere. She had stolen the heart of the prince and had left the party without a word or a promise. The only thing left was the glass slipper that had accidently come off during her unexpected sudden departure.
Was she a goddess, a fairy, an enchantress or a princess of a neighboring province? She couldn’t have been a commoner. Her gaiety, the richness of her skin was not ordinary. Whoever she was she had become talk of the town and an irrevocable desire for the prince.
Back home Cinderella was doing away with all the exquisite fittings and was smiling to herself. The night had felt so right, so complete, so beautiful.
Interrupting her thoughts, the door bell rang. She shuddered. The realization dawned on her. She was just a maid. A poor orphan. It was a dream. And now she was awake. She had resumed her senses. How can she ever think of marrying the prince. The bell rang again.
The step sisters and her step mom came in frustrated. They asked her if their rooms were clean. Grumbling to themselves they retired into their rooms. In her humble corner, she tried to sleep but she could not. She was thinking about the prince. He was so handsome, tall, broad shoulders, ebony black hair, dark eyes, and strong arms. She felt so loved in his arms, just the way she had felt when her parents were alive. Safe. She thought of his touch, the way her heart skipped beat every time he smiled at her, his undivided attention. She felt so special.
Would he look for her?
Oh why is she expecting he would. He is THE PRINCE. He would not have time to look for someone like her. With this one thought the magic of the moment completely came to halt and tears sprang out from her eyes. Hugging the pillow she cried hard. How could he not look for her. Why didn’t he ask her for the marriage right away? Will she ever meet him again? Will she ever feel that touch again? Will she ever marry him? She wanted to run away from the truth. Coz at the moment, the truth was that she is just miss nobody- a maid. She slept crying.
Next morning, her step-sisters and mom discussed that mysterious girl as some wanna-be, an impostor. They talked bitterly about her. Hell they were right. She was an impostor acting like a princess. It was all an illusion. She was quiet, trying not to look sad. She simply carried out her household chores.
Why had she at all gone to meet him? Why at all did he have to have dreams that are so unattainable? Why can’t she be like other girls? She loathed herself for not being realistic.
She tried concentrating on work but she could not. She tried to tell herself that party’s over. But something always pushed her to go on.
Why couldn’t she keep his eyes off her mind? Oh god! Wish she had known the future. It’s too much to take?
She thought of the way her parents died. Her mom looked so pretty, so peaceful, in a deep sleep. Did she know that her daughter would suffer the pain of her death all her life? She remembers her father’s smile as he introduced his new wife. Did he know that his one decision would rather take away everything from his daughter? All her dreams, all her rights.
The pain of losing the prince reminded her of her existence.
“Death is simple, peaceful and life is difficult, full of struggle”.
She misses her mom and Dad. If they were alive she wouldn’t have to hide her identity. She could have met the prince charming as herself. She could talk to him. She couldn’t stop imagining how life would have been different. But now the truth is that her parents were dead and there is no one who she could count on.
The days went on and there was no news from the prince. She was almost certain that her dreams would never come true. She had decided she would wipe him off her memories. She tried to hate him. His eyes, his touch, his feel, his curved lips, his embrace….Oh how could she!!! It felt so right. God! Please help. Let her sufferings come to an end. She had lost hope.
We all know how her wait ended… It was a fairy tale…It had to end well… But life is no fairy tale. The pain that people suffer here waiting for their desire to come true is not for days or months…Sometimes...... it never ends....
