RAABTA

Devdoot was sceptical about the arrival of the royals from Meendeep as soon as Maharani Priyambada called him into the inner palace and informed him that arrangements were to be made for the Meendeep royals in the guest wing and they would be staying for a while. Although he knew it was his duty to serve Neelambargarh and its guests he was not sure how unbiased he could be if and when he crossed paths with Kumar Mahendra. The rumours he heard were rather scary. Meendeep had been burnt to the grounds by Suryapali and somehow miraculously Mahendra and his family escaped. The Maharaja found them roaming like destitute in the forestlands of Neelambargarh and although he was yet to come back after inspecting the ports and increasing security there, the royals were immediately sent to the capital. Although in her last trimester, Urvi had reduced much of her work by the order of the queen, having more people around to serve meant there was a chance she would probably come across Mahendra or h...

Mandakini Devi entered the chambers allotted to her in the royal inner palace and immediately noticed the paintings on the walls and ceilings which were richer in art than that of Suryapali. She was informed by her chambermaid that the queen herself chose every curtain and furniture in her room to match the traditional ways of Neelambargarh. If it were a few years earlier, Mandakini Devi would have held it against Priyambada, but now she seemed to find herself appreciating the handloom work on the bedsheet and the paintings on the ceiling. There was a small step to get up on the bed made with curtains around it and the chests of clothes also acted as a dresser. There was a mirror in a corner and the small window looked over the private gardens. Once she stepped out of her room she could see the inner courtyard, the only place she was allowed to be in beside the corridor of her chambers, and if she looked up she could spot the king’s chamber and terrace gardens. The shift into the royal...

Two kinds of emotions grow in people with distance. One, when they cannot wait to reunite again and count the days to it, and second when they are so used to the distance that they are often comfortable without each other. The moment Ishaan Dev’s eyes fell on the entrance of the inner palace, amidst the welcome his queen arranged for him, he knew he was counting days to see them again. Seeing Maharani Priyambada’s figure on the threshold with little Mrityunjoy wiggling in her arms, Maharaja Ishaan Dev not only felt overwhelmed but also realised that he had been away for several months. Mrityunjoy not only looked bigger he even appeared different. When he was just a month old and everyone around them used to say he looked like his mother, Ishaan Dev could never figure it out. That day when both mother and child stood at the threshold, their wide eager eyes looking for him, he could sense the familiarity between them. Ishaan Dev walked up to the threshold, with a smile as Priyambada appe...

Rajmata Ratnawati Devi was staring out of the window as a strong wind gushed over the capital of Suryapali. It was a cloudy day and the curtains swayed almost by the vases kept with fresh flowers near the window of her humble room. Rajmata Ratnawati was not one to turn to god as a last resort. Instead, she sat in her rather simple brown drape, playing with her silver bangles unmindfully as her thoughts ran. Maharaja Ravi Varman had not approached her for any council since that day, and it worried her about her position. Even Rani Devastuti didn’t seem to come by every day since Ravi Varman started visiting her. Rajmata Ratnawati had to do something now. She had to perhaps apologise to Rani Sumedha and start over. Sumedha was timid and kind. She would forgive her with a few tears. She asked her maid to request a meeting with the queen. As the maid left with a bow to do the needful, she stood up to check her appearance in the mirror. The guard declared the arrival of Trishaan Dev as Rajm...

Devdoot ran through the corridor of the inner palace of Neelambargarh with the scroll he had just collected from a messenger of Raja Viraj in hand. The colour of the wrap indicated it was urgent and he had to deliver it to the Maharani as soon as possible. It was the break of dawn and Rajkumari Mandakini was at the temple. Watching Devdoot run with a scroll in hand made Rajkumari Mandakini’s heart skip a beat. Was it bad news? Were the Maharaja or his mother alright? She looked across from the temple premises and Kund towards the grounds where Shivanandan and his men were camped. As she stepped forward towards the camp hoping to see him, the maid stopped her. With apologies, she informed her that it was the queen’s order that she was not supposed to meet the general from Suryapali or his men until the Maharaja arrived. With a sigh, Mandakini made her way back to her chamber.  Maharani Priyambada was getting dressed with the help of Vrinda and the maids as Urvi stood briefing her ab...