About the Author:When it came to writing compositions, her kids found her of no help at all. All this changed suddenly one fine day in the year 2000. She had just quit her job at a school's office and did not know what to do with her life. She was saturated with simply reading books. That's when she got home one evening after her walk and took some sheets of paper and began writing. It was like watching a movie that was running in her head - all those years of visualising Indian heroes and heroines needed an outlet and had to be put into words. That's how her first novel, The Malhotra Bride, took shape. With the advent of self-publishing, Sundari is the proud author of three books as on today. Follow her @ Facebook | Twitter | Website | Dear Readers, Today I have Sundari Venkatraman gracing my blog. She is known for her romance novella which she pens with a great elan. Her stories are simple, moralistic without being preachy and most of all entertaining. So when she agreed to to part with one of her short stories, it was a honor. Sharing the story, The Forgotten Heroine by Sundari Venkatraman. Guest Post by Sundari Venkatraman - The Forgotten Heroine She woke up with a start from the vivid dream, her arms aching as she held the silken pillow close to her breasts. Oh how she missed him! She, who had decided not to cry over her husband’s absence, was startled to find her pillow damp with tears. She got up and wiped her face with a small towel that she dampened with the rose water kept in a bowl near her cot. Not long now! He should be back in another six months. Excited, she got ready for the day, not bothering to take help from the number of hovering maids who were at her beck and call. Being a princess had both its advantages and disadvantages. She preferred the silence in her loneliness and the maids’ chatter drove her crazy at times. The past thirteen years she had devoted herself to the service of her in-laws. But as the time got closer to his return, she wanted to take time for herself – brush up on her music and dance lessons. Oh she planned to keep him glued to her side for a long time once he got back. And the day arrived! He walked into the celebrating capital city along with his brother and his wife. While all the citizens’ eyes were on his brother, he knew that one pair would definitely be on the lookout for him. His dark brown eyes roved the palace balconies where the womenfolk waved out from. A gentle sigh escaped his heaving chest as he caught sight of her. And yes, she was eyeing him from the second floor where their chamber was situated, just as he had known. Was it his imagination or had she grown more beautiful than when he had met her last? He was here! Finally! Fourteen years was such a long time and she couldn’t wait to be back in his arms where she belonged. So what if he was the Prince of the country? He belonged to her first and foremost. He appeared taller and broader than before. They had heard snippets of news about the royal trio that had been away for so long. But it wasn’t the same as knowing everything firsthand. “You did what?” she asked, her head on her loving husband’s lap, her face glowing with a satiated smile. He had made thorough love to her, not once, not twice, but thrice in the course of the evening. She still refused to sleep as she was keen to catch up on the past fourteen years. While there had been nothing exciting that had happened in the palace, it was obvious he had a lot to say. “Don’t tell me you weren’t tempted when she threw herself at you?” she pouted, drinking in his handsome features that glowed in the light from the oil lamps. “Don’t be silly my love. I chopped of her nose,” he laughed as her jaw dropped. He could never cease to wonder her, her darling husband. He was a passionate man, notorious for his temper. Was she glad that she was the sole recipient of his love! Urmila sighed as she settled in more comfortably to listen to Lakshman as he narrated the Ramayana firsthand. |