Ahana's POV

When I opened my eyes, I was certain I’d had the most vivid, bizarre dream of my life. There was no other way to explain it. I blinked a few times, waiting to see the familiar sight of my cluttered apartment ceiling or at least the museum lights.

Instead, I was greeted by the sight of an ornate ceiling painted with intricate patterns of lotuses, birds, and vines. Soft, golden light filtered in through silk curtains, casting everything in a warm, almost surreal glow. I rubbed my eyes, hoping the odd vision would clear.

"Maybe Rhea spiked my chai," I mumbled to myself, laughing at the absurdity of it all. "Alright, Ahana, time to wake up now."

But the ceiling didn’t change. It was still there, staring back at me as if mocking my confusion. I pushed myself up, a little unsteady, and that’s when I noticed… my hands. They were slimmer, softer, adorned with delicate gold bangles and henna that I was pretty sure I hadn’t applied.

"What…?" I whispered, holding them up as if they were alien creatures. My hands trembled slightly, and my heartbeat picked up. "Okay, this is… definitely weird."

I looked down, only to find myself draped in layers of rich, silk fabric. The material felt luxurious against my skin, a vivid shade of deep red with golden embroidery running along the edges. I ran my fingers over it, marveling at the intricate designs, the fine craftsmanship. My usual wardrobe of jeans and t-shirts seemed like a far-off memory.

Before I could process any of it, a gentle knock sounded at the door, followed by a young woman entering the room. She was dressed in a simple, elegant sari, her eyes downcast as she held a brass jug and basin. She looked up, and when our eyes met, her expression turned into one of pure horror.

"Princess Kalyani! Are… are you alright?" she stammered, looking genuinely concerned.

"Princess… who?" I muttered under my breath. It was as if someone had dropped me into a play without giving me the script.

The maid tilted her head, blinking rapidly. "Are… are you feeling unwell, Your Highness?"

There was a long, painfully awkward pause. I stared at her, she stared at me, and my brain scrambled to make sense of this strange interaction. My instinct was to laugh, to tell her, "Hey, you've got the wrong person!" But something about her wide-eyed, earnest gaze made me hesitate.

"Um… yes," I finally managed to say, nodding slowly, "I’m fine. I just, uh… had a very… strange dream."

She let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders visibly relaxing. "Oh, thank the gods, Princess. We were so worried when you didn’t wake up at your usual hour."

I fought the urge to ask what “usual hour” even meant. Instead, I forced a smile, deciding to play along, hoping that any second I’d actually wake up in my own bed or Rhea would burst in, laughing at some elaborate prank.

"Well, uh… here I am! Wide awake," I said, trying to sound confident. "Now… what exactly do I do… today?"

She looked a bit surprised by the question but nodded. "Of course, Princess. Today you’ll be attending court with your father, the king. The astrologers mentioned something about an auspicious alignment, and he was eager to discuss it with you."

My mind whirled. “Father? The king?” Okay, this was a little too real for a dream. Trying to hide my rising panic, I gave her my best "princess" nod, hoping it was convincing.

"Yes, court. Of course. Very… exciting," I replied, swallowing nervously.

The maid approached with the brass basin, motioning for me to wash my face. As I leaned over, the mirror beside it caught my eye, and I froze. The face staring back at me was not mine—or at least, not the face I was used to seeing every morning. My heart leapt into my throat as I leaned in closer, studying the reflection in disbelief.

Long, glossy hair, a heart-shaped face, delicate features, and wide, expressive eyes lined with kohl. She was beautiful, but she wasn’t me. She was… ‘Kalyani.’ Princess Kalyani. It hit me like a lightning bolt.

"Oh no, no, no, no," I muttered, my voice trembling.

The maid glanced up, her brow creased with concern. "Princess?"

I snapped out of my daze and forced a quick smile. "Sorry! Just… lost in thought." ‘Yes,’ I thought wryly, “lost in someone else's entire existence, apparently.”

She offered a reassuring smile. "Would you like assistance with your attire, Your Highness?"

I glanced down at the elaborate sari draped around me, which seemed to defy the laws of gravity, clinging to my form in some mysterious way. I had no idea how to adjust it, let alone wear it properly.

"Yes, please. That would… probably be wise."

She guided me through the process with practiced ease, and within minutes, I was wrapped in layers of fine silk, my hair styled with delicate flowers woven into the braid. I looked… regal, almost unrecognizable.

"Thank you," I murmured, hoping she wouldn’t notice the slight tremor in my voice.

The maid bowed, looking pleased. "Shall I escort you to the main hall?"

"Uh… yes, let’s do that," I replied, trying to channel whatever inner strength I could muster.

-----

As we walked down the grand, marble corridors, I was overwhelmed by the sheer opulence of it all. Everything gleamed with an otherworldly beauty—golden arches, intricately painted murals, torches that cast a soft, flickering glow against the walls. Servants bowed as I passed, murmuring, "Princess," with such reverence that I nearly tripped over my own feet.

“This is insane,” I thought, biting back a nervous laugh. “If this is a dream, my mind has officially outdone itself.”

At the end of the hall, two guards swung open the heavy, ornate doors to the court. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Inside, the air buzzed with activity—courtiers in elaborate robes, advisors with furrowed brows, ministers whispering in clusters. At the center of it all sat a tall, imposing figure on a throne: King Manavendra, my… ‘father.’

As I approached him, the king’s gaze softened, though he kept his expression reserved. "Kalyani, my daughter. I trust you are well?"

I swallowed hard, my brain scrambling for a response. "Yes, Father," I replied, my voice sounding more timid than I’d intended. "I… feel quite well."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “Great,” I thought, “Kalyani probably didn’t say 'Father' like that. She probably sounded much more confident.”

Before I could further embarrass myself, a voice cut through the silence—a young man with a fierce, protective gaze. His shoulders were broad, his stance confident. He was staring at me, his eyes narrowing.

"Sister," he said in a low, skeptical tone, "are you… feeling different today?"

I blinked. Sister? I tried to keep my expression neutral, giving him a small, polite nod. "Brother," I replied carefully, watching his reaction. "I… just had an odd dream. Nothing to worry about."

He didn’t look convinced, but before he could press further, the king began discussing the day’s agenda, and everyone’s attention shifted away from me.

-----

The rest of the court session was a blur. I nodded, smiled when it seemed appropriate, and tried to keep my mouth shut as much as possible. The last thing I wanted was to accidentally slip and reveal my ‘true’ identity. Thankfully, no one seemed to expect much from Princess Kalyani—she was, as I gathered from a few whispers, more known for her beauty than her brains.

After what felt like an eternity, the court session ended, and I excused myself as quickly as possible, practically fleeing back to my chambers. Once I was alone, I sank onto the bed, burying my face in my hands.

"What is happening to me?" I whispered to the empty room. "I’m Ahana… from the twenty-first century. I can’t be… a princess."

But even as I said it, I felt a strange, undeniable reality settling over me. Somehow, I had ended up here, in ancient India, in someone else’s life.

And as overwhelming as it all was, one thought slowly crept into my mind, bringing with it a curious sense of thrill.

“Maybe… this could be the adventure of a lifetime.”