RAABTA

This is part two of The Throne series. If you have not read part one, "The Sun of Suryapali" , read it first. Maharani Priyambada parted the curtains of her palanquin slightly to catch a glimpse of the bustling streets; the people of Suryapali flocking on either side of the road to catch a glimpse of the entourage of Neelambargarh and, of course, their prince. The entourage was slowly approaching the fortified walls of the palace. The paths were narrower than those back home, and the houses lacked colour and paint. They were just bricks; most of them. Some of the streets smelled of burnt meat, flowers and vegetables. Perhaps the market was nearby, Priyambada inferred as she winced her nose a little at the smell. She suddenly realised how the first time she had entered the city, she was in a trance to miss these scenes. There was the familiar view of the temple of the Lord as she folded her hands to pray softly. The gates of Suryapali were decorated with colourful flags and we...

Smriti was unsure why she was summoned by the queen of Neelambargarh. She was aware that Kumar Viraj now had the mammoth task of co-ruling Neelambargarh with the rather experienced Niranjan Verma. But what could Priyambada possibly want her for? As she entered the inner courtyards of the palace, Smriti could see the urgency with which people moved about. The maids were packing trunks for the journey, the servants were recording rations to go for the journey, and she spotted Urvi with a scroll in hand, trying to arrange for trays of gifts to be packed for the Suryapalians. Smriti felt uneasy seeing the extent of arrangements made to “gift” the Suryapalian Princess the best of things. She didn’t know the princess, and neither did she want to. She was aware Priyambada had to do her bid as a ruler. Yet, she couldn’t get herself to forget all the losses as easily as Priyambada probably pretended to. But Smriti was aware of her position more than ever now. Kumar Viraj had been chosen for a t...

The winter rains and gusty winds were unpleasant weather for Adhiraja Ishaan Dev. The Suryapalian capital was far more tropical weather of the plain lands than that of Neelambargarh, situated on a plateau rather close to the Heemdevi. It rained more in Neelambargarh, and the winters were cold. The wine did very little to comfort him as he kept the lamps of his chamber lit in an attempt to feel warmer. On the contrary, he observed how Priyambada complained that the winter wasn't cold enough. It had been a quarter of the moon cycle since Maharani Priyambada met Kumari Advika of Mait. Although Ishaan Dev was eager to know what the ladies had talked about, he wasn’t sure whether to ask Priyambada. So he waited for her to tell him something, anything! But Priyambada seemed to act like the meeting never happened. She didn’t even disclose anything to Smriti, as per Kumar Viraj. Ishaan Dev was perplexed. What was talked about in the meeting? Worse, did Advika mention him? She must have. Th...

The Kingdom of Mait was in trouble. Not only had the prince of Gandak refused to marry their princess Advika after hearing of her past, but they even accused Mait of treachery, hiding from them the fact that she was a lover of none other than Suryapali’s heir apparent in the past. He had threatened to attack Mait for this insult. However, the truth was that the prince had brushed it aside whenever Advika wanted to talk to him. Now, knowing of her past from his spies instead, he refused to be engaged to her. They spread the stories of her tryst through the land. The Raya Vishayam of Mait was scared. On one hand, there was the safety of his subjects and the future of the prince, his heir. And on the other was Kumari Advika, the daughter who was causing all the trouble. They had been encouraging towards her relationship with Suryapali’s heir, although their faith in the blue-necked One was different from Mait’s faith in the blue One. But Raya Vishyam overlooked all of that with the hope t...