The Tale of Three Sisters

In reaching our goals, is it enough that we trust in God and leave everything up to him? Or is it acceptable if we leave it with our companions? Or should we reach our goal by any evil means possible?

“The Tale of Three Sisters” by R. S. Chintalapati tells the tale of three sisters who each take one of the above paths to reach their goal and concludes with their fates narrated.

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Illustrated by Sravani Dhulipala

Before Valria’s crown passed to the stewards, there were three princesses who could have adorned it. However, their doom was destined because the three sisters loved the only Prince of Stroke.

Neither of them knew that their sisters loved the same prince nor did they intend to share among themselves their affection. Maybe because they feared that the others might seek him for themselves.

The eldest of the three sisters was considered by the people to be the most gorgeous. She was an adherent believer in God and prayed every dawn with a thousand flowers. Ever since she fell in love with the prince after his royal visit, she pleaded with God to make him her husband. Though she desired him more than anything else, she was never prepared to propose her feelings.

Though the second sister was not considered as beautiful as the eldest, she was valued as a scholar. She knew that she ought to express her feelings to the prince if she intended to earn his affection. So mustering her courage, weeks after the prince’s royal visit, she wrote an epistle before ordering one of her maids to get it delivered by a messenger in secrecy.

The youngest was considered to be the least attractive alongside possession of a rotten mind. Due to her insecurities and her actions, she earned a lot of hate by everyone around her. Desiring to know every word spoken about her, she engaged in recruiting and managing spies. Due to this, she got to know that her sister sent a note to the Prince of Stoke and was taken aback.

Though she commanded her forces to hunt the messenger and stop the epistle by any means, it was beyond their grasp. Presuming that the prince would prefer her sister due to her beauty even if she approached him now, the youngest sister decided to turn her ugly by any means.

After expressing her intentions, one of her maids suggested that she visit a witch. Following the suggestion, the princess met a witch and offered her a lot of gold. The witch presaged that black magic can perhaps at times have undesirable consequences.

Getting concerned about the time being wasted, the youngest princess commanded the witch to act immediately and couldn’t foresee the peril. Obeying the princess, the witch cast her charm.

Overnight, the second sister’s eyes turned completely white and her skin was filled with blisters. As time elapsed, she fell ill of a mysterious sickness that healers couldn’t help her with and within a couple of days, she was dead.

Though her sister’s ugliness made the youngest princess a bit content in the beginning, her death made her feel guilty. Even the madness within her couldn’t protect her from the pain she experienced in playing a key part in killing her sister. This drove her so insane that one night, she jumped out of her window to silence her mind once and for all.

The eldest sister was heartbroken and kept praying for peace while still seeking to earn the prince by God’s grace. Unfortunately, after the demise of the last two princesses, the Prince of Stoke married the girl he loved.

Neither did he acquire the note that the second sister sent him, nor did he know that the eldest sister waited for him. The most ill-fated aspect was that he didn’t even remember about the third sister until the word spread across kingdoms that she killed herself.

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Credits

This contribution is edited by Sreekar Ayyagari & Tarun Chintam & illustrated by Sravani Dhulipala.

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Product

This flash fiction is available in paperback & ebook.

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