RAABTA

The nobles were summoned in urgency in the early hours of the morning and they had assumed it was Adhiraja Ishaan Dev who had called on them. Everyone was rechecking their files and speeches. The courtroom seemed to come alive. Vamsi Gupta was bracing himself for an official complaint against how the state was being run in his absence and Niranjan Verma prepared his defence for the same. A buzz went through the courtroom as Maharani Priyambada arrived alone. The noblemen exchanged glances. The ministers looked confused. She took her high chair as Devdoot declared the courtroom was in process. “You might be wondering why I am here alone even after the Adhiraja arrived earlier this week as you have seen.” Maharani Priyambada cleared her throat. “You see, he has been taken ill by a mysterious fever in the mountains and…” A gasp escaped everyone’s lips. “Is he alright, Your Majesty?” Niranjan Verma asked. Maharani Priyambada nodded. “He is now. He is out of danger and…” “Then why is he not...

Adhiraja  Ishaan Dev was pacing the palace garden early at dawn, his hands behind his back, his long robe brushing against the dew of the fresh green grass. His eyebrows arched like ripples on the water of the lotus pond beside the garden. On one hand, the delay caused by Kumar Viraj’s health made him worry about how Priyambada was holding the administration. He had received letters from Minister Niranjan Verma to reassure him otherwise. In his letters, Niranjan Verma not only hinted at his liking for the Maharani of Neelambargarh he surprisingly mentioned Priyambada’s visit to his ailing wife. Ishaan Dev was reassured that the Suryapalians are slowly taking a liking to Neelambargarh and its people and he wished Vamsi Gupta too would follow eventually. On the other hand, he felt feverish and sick, perhaps from the weather change they faced in the mountains. Suryapali was more tropical. He was not used to diverse weather. He didn’t bother anyone with the feverish feeling and cold he...