The Pearl Necklace

The flowers in the balcony bathed in sunshine, while the Queen was crafting herself a pearl necklace. She was so fascinated by the pearl necklace, that the dominance of the King over her did not resist her to make a new necklace every day, though the king always brutally snatched it from her. The King could not bear disobedience. He would punish that person without showing any sort of compassion, doesn't matter if it is his own Queen. The King did not like his wife to fancy herself a pearl necklace. And there was no valid reason for him to explain 'why? '

Soon, the Queen's necklace was ready. Her eyes shone brightly as she decorated her neck with the necklace in front of a dressing mirror. 

'This is so pretty! ', she admired it. 

Meanwhile, the King saw her wearing the pearl necklace. And The Queen sighted the reflection of King through the mirror and turned around immediately. 

The cruel King groaned in anger and smacked the Queen. 'I won't hesitate to give you more pain. You better don't disobey me henceforth.' The King snatched her necklace. 

The Queen sobbed looking at the finger marks on her cheek and pampered it. 

The King would often make her feel miserable by disrespecting her in every possible way but this was the first time that he got physical. The Queen was in despair. 

She struggled to manage herself. Her kajal spread around her eyes as her tears rolled down her cheeks. Without stressing out more, she eased herself under the sheets of the bed and rested for a while. 

The next day, she gathered courage and marched towards her Father's empire before the sunrise. The sun was up over their head when she reached. Meanwhile, the King was awake and he could not find his Queen anywhere in the palace, nor anyone saw the Queen going anywhere. 

'Please bring the highnesses to their notice that I have come. ', the Queen requested the soldiers on the gate. 

The gates were opened, and the Queen walked towards the highnesses. She bowed to them as a part of the protocol. 

'My dearest, why didn't you inform us about your arrival in advance? We would have prepared you your favourite sweet. ', her father said. 

The Queen's mother caught at once that something was wrong.

 'What's the matter? ' 

The Queen did not respond to either of them. Instead, she removed a sword out of its pocket and cut her index finger. The people present in the palace gasped. 

'Somebody get the lape and a cloth! ', the father ordered in a haste. 

The Queen waved her hand, beckoning the chaos to cease. 

'What do want to prove by this? What has happened? ' 

'Papa, you had announced at my wedding day that if I get into any trouble because of the King, you would cut your finger and punish yourself because you had chosen him for me. ' 

The people went silent, and her father speechless. 

'He smacked me, papa, he smacked me. ' 

The Queen broke down on her knees and released the heaviness of her heart. 

Her mother could not bear seeing her daughter like this. She clutched her from her arms and propelled her to the restroom. 

'Maa, why did you and papa do this to me? ', the Queen laid her head on her mother's lap, 'Maa, I loved him. The Prince, we loved each other. Just because the King was more superior than him, you tied my knot with him regardless of my opinion? ' 

Her mother quietly listened to her, regretting from within. 

The sun had dusked, meanwhile, the King had lost his temper and he had yet got no clue about his Queen. 

He sent his soldiers in the kingdom to find her. But they went unsuccessful to do so. 

'I won't spare her. ' said the King furiously. 

The King's kingdom was known for the unbreakable silk thread, that was found only in his kingdom. Only the subjects of his kingdom were allowed to buy it and if somebody outside of his kingdom demanded, he charged a high amount on it. And if anybody of his subjects tried to sell it outside the border, they were to be prisoned for a week as a punishment. 

The next morning, the Queen walked to the Prince's kingdom, aimlessly, having absolutely no clue about him. 

'Please inform the Prince about my arrival. ', said the Queen to the soldiers, hoping for a positive reply. The doors were opened for her and she was directed to the Prince's room. 

When she entered his room, she saw the Prince wandering behind a long transparent curtain embroidered with silver yarn. As soon as he saw the Queen, he stopped wandering. They both glanced at each other through the curtain.

That moment had paused. 

The Prince made an appearance out of the curtain.

'Oh Prince. ', said the Queen, feeling relieved. Their eyes clung into each other's. 

'Prince -.. ', her voice cracked. 

'This seems like a dream that has come true. ', said the Prince. 

He was overwhelmed, so was the Queen. 

He held her hands and felt the roughness of the tied cloth. 

'Your finger is cut?' 

'Yes. I'll tell you the whole scenario. But I want you to accompany me to my King's kingdom, wouldn't you? ' 

'Certainly, I will! But before we leave, I have something to give you' 

The Prince took out a pearl necklace from his jewellery box and tied it on Queen's neck. 

'I had made this when you were getting married. Hoping, that someday you will come back and I'll tie it on your neck by myself. ' 

The Queen was overjoyed.

 'I know your passion for a pearl necklace. ' 

The Queen explained the scenario to the Prince, while they journeyed to the King's kingdom. The Prince felt really sorry for her and had probably decided to break the bones of the King. But the Queen asked him not to do so. Because if he does, then what difference would remain between the King and him? 

They reached when the sun almost touched the horizon. 

Apparently, the King was out of his mind.

'Where the hell you've been since two days? ', he shouted on the top of his voice. He was partly drunk. 

The Prince held Queen's hand to assure her of his support. 

'She was with me. ', said the Prince, confidently. 

'With you? Who the hell are you? ' 

The drunk King approached them. The Prince safeguarded the Queen by pulling her behind himself. 

The King saw the pearl necklace on Queen's neck. 

'A pearl necklace. ', he laughed. 'A pearl necklace.. ', he laughed harder. 

He looked into Queen's eyes and tried to snatch her necklace. But the necklace didn't break. He tried harder but he failed. 

He checked the quality of the thread carefully, and the Prince made sure that the King doesn't try to harm the Queen. 

'Impossible! ' he bursted in anger. 

'This is not even our silk thread, then how is it not breaking apart? ' 

The king got irritated. 

'Because it's made with love, which is even superior to you and stronger than your unbreakable silk thread. ', the Prince evoked, trying his best to control his anger. 

The King's ego got hurt. He tried to pull the Queen at his side but before he could do that, the Prince smacked him in front of entire palace. Without explaining anything further, the Prince took away his Queen and tied a knot with her.