The Prince and The Convict

Set up in the 15th century, Sambhalpur Orissa. The story is about the crown prince of Orissa and the daughter of the local merchant. 

The crown prince Shatraguna deva was a handsome, mean, arrogant prince who was feared by everyone in the palace including the king and his brothers. He executed anyone who came in his way. He was ruthless towards his enemies and loved conquest. But unknown to them, there was a soft side of the prince, he was a hopeless romantic and believed in true love. 

In the same empire lived an ugly girl named Shyamala. She had dark skin and large eyes. Her father Shyam dev couldn't find a match as all the men were disgusted by her appearance and rejected her. Her father scolded her for not being beautiful like her stepsister whose husband owned the shop from which they get their daily earnings. Her stepmother admonished her and her stepsister ignored her. Shyamala wanted to run away from her family as she thought that she was the one who caused such a pain to the family. So that night, she ran away from her home leaving a letter for her family to find. 

One day the prince got the news that his father, the king was assassinated on his way back to the palace. The prince was shocked and immediately asked the guards to find the assassin. While the kingdom prepared for a funeral, the queen Kamala advised the prince to marry a princess from the neighbouring kingdom so that he can secure the throne. The prince agreed and decided that he would marry the princess of Vijayanagara, Urmila devi. The marriage proposal was sent the princess and luckily she agreed. The queen was ecstatic and immediately ordered the people to prepare for the wedding and the coronation of prince and princess.

At the same time the head of the guards came in and said that they have found the assassin. They dragged a bruised shyamala and said that the woman was responsible for the King's death. The queen disgusted by the girl's appearance asked the guard to throw her in the servant's quarters and sentence her to death on the day of the Prince's wedding. Shyamala pleaded the guards to leave her but they paid no ear to her words. They threw her in the quarters and gave her rags to wear . Shyamala cried at her fate and cursed herself for getting into this situation.

 

One day the prince was practicing archery and was going farther and farther to test his skill. Shyamala was cleaning the floor and noticed the prince and pit behind him. She ran to the target and destroyed it. The prince got angry and raced to Shyamala. He gave her one firm slap and asked her why she destroyed his target. Shyamala pointed her finger to the pit behind him and said that he would have fallen down the pit if he would have taken another step back. The prince realised his folly and turned to apologize to the girl but she was nowhere to be found. The prince vowed that he would find her and thank her. The next day the prince was walking through the palace when Shyamala came running to him.

The prince was happy and was about to thank her when she pushed him to the ground. The prince got angry and opened his mouth to yell at her . She yelled at him' Are you blind? Don't you see where you are walking to?? I just mopped the floor and you are stepping on it. You might slip, fall and break your back. Why are you so careless about everything. Do I have to warn you about everything?'. The prince felt the floor and realised that it was indeed slippery. He stoop up and said' thank you very much, young lady. You saved my life twice. I am indebted to you . I will offer you anything you want'. Shyamala answered' I don't want anything from you, just be careful the next time.' The prince was surprised by her answer and smiled at her. Shyamala stayed emotionless for a while and returned his smile.

Then a maid called her and she went away running. The prince realised that he had found someone who cared for him despite knowing his terrifying personality and fell in love with Shyamala. That night, the prince visited the maid's quarters . The price knew he couldn't find her in this way so he pretended that he was falling into a well. Then a voice yelled' hey stupid!!, why are you jumping into a well. Are you mad?' . The prince recognised this voice. The voice of his beloved. When he turned to face her, she was huffing and puffing. The prince smiled. Seeing this, Shyamala got angry and dragged him outside.

Then she yelled' mister, do you know how dangerous it is to jump into a well to bathe in it'. The prince was dumbstruck, did she think that he was jumping into a well to bathe in it. She continued' go bathe in the male servant's quaters if you want to bathe now'. Wait did she think I was a servant, the prince thought. The prince smiled thinking that as long as she thinks that he is a servant he would have time to woo her. The prince asked' I am bored of my life in the palace serving as the Royal archer so I wanted to end my life, that is why I came to jump into the well'.

Shyamala was shocked and lowered her head' don't you have someone to cry for you when you die?' she asked. The prince looked at her for a moment and then answered with love' if you will be that someone, I will be happy'. Shyamala looked up to find that the Prince's love filled eyes we're staring back at her, she answered shyly' well I don't have anyone to care for me when I die and I don't know whether anyone cares if I will'.

The prince held her hands and said' I will, I will care for you , my love'. Shyamala smiled and rested her head against the Prince's shoulders. The prince blushed red for a moment and then rested his head on hers. After a few minutes he asked' I forgot to ask you your name when we first met, may I know your name?'. Shyamala smiled and said' it's Shyamala'.' Shyamala huh, nice name. It suits you'. The prince said.' it does'. She muttered back. From that day the prince met her every night and their love for each other grew

Meanwhile, princess Urmila and her family came to Sambhalpur. The queen welcomed them with great honours. The prince was with shyamala at that time. Shyamala said' wow what a big parade. Who is she?'. The prince shrugged and said' she is the Prince's fiancee, princess Urmila of the vijaynagar empire'.'Oh, he is sure lucky to have such a beautiful and wealthy girl as his wife .' The prince held her chin and said' I am more luckier than him to get you as my wife'. Shyamala's smile faded and she said' well, it is not possible'. The prince was frightened, did she know that he was the crown prince? Then the prince answered' why? Why can't we be together?'.' because..' she started' because, I am sentenced to death by the queen'. The prince was shocked and she continued' they believed that I was the one behind the King's murder. I tried telling them that I was only in the forest because I ran away from my family . I will be hanged on the day of the Prince's wedding'.

The prince was pale and he was shaking. How could they sentence her to death without a proof. The anger inside him flared and said' I will talk to queen about this'. Shyamala was surprised and said' how can a archer persuade the queen? Isn't it impossible for you?'.' Don't worry, I will' said the prince. Shyamala nodded her head and the prince stomped his way back to the palace. When he reached his mother's private chambers, he thundered' why did you sentence an innocent young girl to death, mother!!'.

The queen looked at him and said' oh Shatrugun, where have you been this morning. Urmila wants to see you'.' I don't care' the prince said' now answer my question'.' is this the way you talk to your mother, Shatrugun?. The queen asked .' mother, answer my question'. The prince repeated. The queen lowered her head' it's my duty as a queen to punish that filthy being for murdering your father'.'Do you have any proof that shyamala is indeed the culprit'. The prince asked . The queen said' it is none of your business, shatrugun . 

Anyways Urmila is waiting for you in the northern chambers'. The prince yelled' It is my business to protect the woman I love'. The queen was shocked at the Prince's words and she told' how on earth, did you fall in love with that filthy rag'. 'Watch your tongue, mother'. The prince said' tell them to cancel the wedding as I am going to marry shyamala'. The queen stood up' Shatrugun, you will be grounded until the day of your wedding and that girl will be hanged on the day of your marriage'. She declared. Then the prince was taken to his room and all the doors and windows were locked leaving the prince with no chance to escape. Shyamala waited for the prince to come for her but he was nowhere in sight.

Soon the day of the Prince's wedding arrived, . It was a festival for the people as the prince will ascend the throne and the traitor who killed their king. The Prince came out dressed in his finest clothes. The people were happy and were singing praises. Soon the princess too arrived. She looked like a goddess in those silk and jewels. The priest started the chanting of the mantras. Then the guards dragged shyamala into the mandal. Shyamala lifted her head to see the prince in the wedding. She was shocked seeing her beloved sitting in the Prince's place. She muttered' You, you are the prince himself'.

Then a guard slapped her and said' of course, he is, you filthy animal'. The prince was about to yell at the guard, when the queen came forward and said' now, throw her in the sacrificial altar. This might please the gods and they will shower luck on our kingdom'. The prince yelled 'No!, release her'. The queen turned to the her son and said' now Shatrugun, sit beside your bride and watch your beloved die'. She said with a cruel smile on her face.' not a chance, mother'. said the prince and he ran towards the altar . But it was too late the guards impaled her with a spear. The prince yelled and the guards moved from the Prince's path out of fear. The prince embraced a dying Shyamala . She asked' Why did you lie to me, prince?'. The prince answered' because if you knew I was the crown prince you would never accept me'. Shyamala smiled' guess I part of me already knew you were the crown prince'.

The prince then said' please don't go, shyamala. I will make you my queen and we will be happy forever'. Shyamala said' this is my fate, prince, to be hated by others and die while watching them celebrate my death',and I will accept it. Looks like my time has arrived my prince. I will miss you, goodbye'. . The prince cried watching his beloved slowly die in his arms. The prince then muttered' I won't leave you, my love like I promised. I shall follow you in death even into the deepest and darkest pits of hell'. Saying so,the prince impaled himself with his sword and lied alongside his dead beloved. Soon the queen and princess came to the scene and saw the dead lovers. The queen realised her folly and cried at her son's death. The princess felt sad and arranged for the funerals of the dead prince and the servant. Meanwhile the two star crossed lovers were reunited in heaven.