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“And just like a miracle, the world had never seen
The Sun and Wind pledged peace in the plains
The Maya blessed, and the Heemdevi praised
And Akhilesh Ranjan is mesmerised by them.”
It was the Rajputra who stood up once Akhilesh Ranjan finished his poem. For a moment, he thought he had offended the prince, but Rajputra Mrityunjoy praised him, followed by his peers around them cheering as the Rajputra took a ring off his finger and handed it to a grateful poet.
“When I become king…” He made the cheers stop with a hand gesture, “You will be my court poet. I give you my word.” Akhilesh Ranjan couldn’t believe his ears. What would his father say now? He bowed to the prince again and again. Amidst the cheering crowd, Raj Kunwar Shankar Aditya made his way to find the prince of Neelambargarh, once again lost in poetry. He shook his head at the commoners around him who bowed and gave his friend a warning glance. That made Rajputra Mrityunjoy disperse the session of poets as he went and hugged his friend.
“When did you arrive from Maanwari, Shankar?” He asked as the prince shook his head.
“An eternity ago! But if your mother doesn’t see you in the next few moments, she will make sure our heads are off!” The seriousness in Raj Kunwar Shankar’s voice made Mrityunjoy chuckle.
“When has she ever scolded you?” He shook his head. “I get all the scolding.”
“Because you are older than us.” The princes walked down the cobbled path towards the inner palace premises.
“Umm… how is the Raja and Rani of Maanwari?” Mrityunjoy asked, “I hope travelling here wasn’t difficult. Heard some of the roads on the Heemdevi caved this monsoon.” Raj Kunwar Shankar looked at his friend keenly.
“Why don’t you ask the real question?” He said with an amused smile.
“What real question?” Mrityunjoy frowned.
“About my sister. What else?” Shankar made a dash for it to make sure he had a head start before the prince chased him.
Rani Smriti was making garlands on the palace lawn when she heard the commotion and watched the princes come down from the cobbled path, across the lawn and right towards her.
“Mother, save me!”
“Your Highness, he started it.” Smriti stood up as the boys stood before her, panting.
“What are you two doing?” She frowned. “Will you never grow up?”
“Especially you, Mrityunjoy.” The boys’ smiles faded as the Maharani of Neelambargarh appeared before them, and they bowed. Her voice was stern.
“Your father led an army at your age.” Mrityunjoy heard his mother speak. “And this is your engagement ceremony, is this how the Yuvaraja should behave?”
Rani Smriti protested feebly, only to be reminded of how they were at “his age”, and Mrityunjoy and Shankar departed to the inner palace. The moment they left, Priyambada lost all her sternness and held Smriti’s hand.
“I am worried, everything is in a mess, and the guests will arrive tomorrow. And he seems to be engrossed in music and poetry.”
“Don’t worry, Priya.” Smriti shook her head. “He has indeed taken after you. Have the flowers arrived?”
“I sent Devdoot’s boys to get them.” She glanced over her shoulder to find Urvi arriving with the flowers.
“Should I help with the guest wing now? The boys are back with the flowers.” She bowed and said with a smile. Priyambada sighed. "And Vrinda is taking care of the kitchen."
“Oh, Urvi, what will I do without you?” Urvi bowed at her words and left to inspect the guest wing. Her boys came running, only to be stopped by Vrinda for the flowers.
"Don't run like that." She snapped. "There are royals around."
"We are not scared of you." The younger one sneered as the older one rolled his eyes.
"Then let me tell your father to give you two an earful." Vrinda frowned. "I bet he is at the stables now." The boys ran again, petrified of the idea. Vrinda smiled as she noticed Urvi watching them from a distance.
Maharaja Ravi Varman of Suryapali watched as his enthusiastic elder queen double-checked the gifts that were to be sent to Neelambargarh for the hundredth time.
“I need everything to be perfect, Kausani.” She said. “We are representing the family. Should I pack something for Nayantara as well?”
“Why don’t you do the same for that General our aunt married?” There was a hint of judgment in Ravi Varman’s voice. “I bet he is family, too.”
“He is. And Nayantara and the princess rarely see us; she is family.” Sumedha said sternly as Ravi Varman gave up. Rajkumari Chinmayi arrived and bowed to her father before discreetly walking to her mother and asking her about her new drape.
“It isn’t your engagement, why do you care?” Rajputra Aruna snapped at his sister the moment he walked in, making Ravi Varman frown.
“Is that how you talk to your sister?” He scolded the prince sternly. Sumedha dismissed her daughter’s queries as she was too busy with her list when Chinmayi frowned.
“Fine, if none of you care, I am going to someone else.”
“Is that someone else me?” Haimanti smiled at the threshold as Chinmayi ran to her, complaining about her brother, as Haimanti was busy caressing his hair.
“You spoil them too much.” Ravi Varman shook his head at the younger queen before he left, and Sumedha looked up at her children.
“Please leave us alone, both of you. Haimanti, come look at the gifts.” She nudged. “We are leaving at dawn. You could come along.” Sumedha did not force her. She knew how hard it was for her to face Ishaan Dev and the Neelambargarh allies. Some wounds never healed.
“No, I will be fine here.” She reassured the queen.
Raja Viraj was taking a walk through the corridor after a sumptuous feast held in his honour by Maharaja Ishaan Dev, and he stopped at the sound of a peacock’s shrill call. His eyes travelled to where the bird sat on the private terrace gardens, and before he could admire its beauty further, he heard giggles. He walked discreetly to the archways leading to the gardens and caught a glimpse of his daughter running around playing a game of blind man’s buff, her drape falling loosely over her shoulder, sweeping the grass gently, and her smile making her face glow. They said she looked like him, and he never saw it until today. Her smile was eerily similar. He suddenly had a hint of sadness in his heart as he realised she was growing up. Tomorrow she would be engaged and next married. And before long, she would be queen of Neelambargarh. He was suddenly aware of the eyes of her would-be in-laws and their guests around. What would they think of her? Would they judge his upbringing? He was about to step in to stop her when he heard a stern voice behind him.
“Let her be.”
“But Priya…” he didn’t need to glance over his shoulders; he could sense her amusement.
“We were all young once.” She smiled. “Let her remain innocent till she can.” She made him glance over his shoulder at her smiling face. “Soon she will have to take care of all this and that son of mine.” She sighed. "He hasn't grown up yet, why should she?" Raja Viraj nodded silently with a smile,
“I haven't had the chance to talk to you but... I was surprised that you wanted my Aditi for Mrityunjoy. It is my privilege that Maanwari and Neelambargarh can have this alliance.” Priyambada shook her head as her smile lingered. “Typically, what Raja Viraj would say.”
He raised his brows, confused a little, “Meaning?”
“Meaning he is always diplomatic, thinking of political alliances and whatnot. However, Kumar Viraj would see it differently.” She shrugged. he raised his eyebrows, amused.
“Is that so?” He was curious. “How would he see it?” He crossed his arms and waited for her answer.
"Well, he would know what was in the hearts of his little girl and my not-so-subtle boy, like Smriti and I did." She smiled. He frowned at her words and shook his head. "And he would also believe that it is something beyond that."
"Something beyond that?" Raja Viraj frowned at Priyambada's hopeless stare. "What is that?"
“Fate.” Priyambada made him smile faintly. “Fate that there was something that always bound Neelambargarh and Maanwari together. This time…” She watched the princess at play. “This time the relationship has a name,” he nodded in agreement.
“And also, it is slightly less complex.” He made her chuckle. “Yes, slightly.” She agreed.
"I waited forever,” Rajputra Mrityunjoy complained as Rajkanya Aditi looked sternly at him. “What can you expect? There are guests around, I am not here for the idle summers. Your mother was loitering in the corridor till a while ago.” She snapped. “Besides, why should I answer at your beck and call?”
“Because I am the future king of Neelambargarh,” he made her smile.
“Well, I am the queen.” She shrugged.
“A king is always making the decisions. Everyone else follows.” Mrityunjoy was quick to add.
“Oh really?” Rajkanya Aditi sounded amused. “Have you seen your parents in the palace at all?” They shared a suppressed laugh, careful not to alert the guards about their midnight tryst in the garden.
"I witnessed a poet today," he looked mesmerised as the princess listened. Mrityunjoy was a patron of art. Taken after his uncle, as her father often said. "He wrote an epic poem."
"What was it about?" She asked eagerly. He smiled, trying to remember the plot.
"Enmity, war, relationships, love?"
"Such an odd combination." The princess seemed amused. "Was it a tale of a prince and a princess who fell in love?" He nodded reluctantly.
"Also, a prince and a princess who were enemies." He shook his head. "He called them the princess of the wind and the prince of fire or something..." He could not recollect.
"Isn't it odd how people just happen to come together?" She seemed to be lost in thought. He nodded.
"You know, after the engagement, I will be declared the official heir," he sounded excited. "Then Father will hand the precious book written by our scribes over to me. To pass on to our children." Rajkanya Aditi blushed a little at his words as she asked coyly, "What book?"
"The one where the history of the land is written. And the dynasties. Father says Neelambargarh and Suryapali were in a never-ending war." Rajkanya Aditi frowned slightly at Rajputra Mrityunjoy's words. "I should read about it. Apparently, I have a role to play in that."
"Our Neelambargarh and Suryapali?" She raised her eyebrows, "Then?"
" My grandmother used to say father and uncle changed history." He reminisced, "Maybe it is somehow connected."
"How?"
"I am yet to find out from that book, that is what I was telling you." he shook his head.
"Can I read it too? Does it mention my forefather? My father?" Her eyes shone in eagerness as Rajpuytra Mrityunjoy frowned.
"How can you? Only the rulers read it," he shrugged. He quickly saw her disappointed face and added, "Well, I will tell you all about it." She smiled again.
"I wonder if it mentions your mother, too." Her words made Mrityunjoy let out a slight chuckle.
"Women don't find a place in history." Rajkanya Aditi wanted to protest. But she remembered what her friends always said. Don't oppose his ideas; men can never take a woman who questions them all the time.
It was late at night, and Neelambargarh was in a silent but excited, happy slumber, knowing the celebrations that awaited them in the morning.
“Why did she need to stay with Nayantara?” Ishaan Dev spoke as he removed his robe. “I mean, she was there all summer.”
“She loves spending time with her cousins. I did too.” Priyambada frowned at her husband. “And she doesn’t know that every time she leaves, her father sulks like a child.” She smiled, amused as he looked up at his wife.
“I have decided that once Rajkumari Chinmayi is married to the prince of Gandak, I will start looking for an alliance for her.” Ishaan Dev’s words made Priyambada gasp.
“Marry off your daughter?” She feigned shock. “How will the father of Rajkumari Swasti of Neelambargarh survive?” Ishaan Dev eyed his wife, chuckling in amusement.
“Why? You seem overly happy.” He surprised her by pulling her by her hand. “I have a way. I will make sure he stays here.” Priyambada shook her head helplessly at her husband’s sheepish smile.
“We have a week full of events starting tomorrow.” She reminded him. “And guests will be arriving. Also, Nayantara said they will be here by midday.”
“Raja Girik?” he enquired. Ishaan Dev could not tell why, but the man seemed oddly different with him for some time now. Especially when Ishaan Dev refused to participate in an internal dispute between Maanwari and Anantanagar over their bordering land.
“No, just her and the princesses.” Priyambada shook her head. Ishaan Dev nodded. He couldn’t wait to see his daughter after a long summer.
Raja Girik sat in the light of the lamp, alone in his palace chambers, writing a letter. He was yet to tell Nayantara about his plans. Well, a part of it. The other part was not to be shared with anyone but Rajputra Aruna. Ever since his issues with Maanwari, he had grown to resent Neelambargarh. He could not help but observe how the teenage Rajputra Aruna was a spitting image of his grandmother. He had started his training in administration under Raja Girik's teacher. And his spies told him that no matter what he tried his hand at, everyone said Mrityunjoy did it better. Raja Girik could sense a growing envy in the young prince about his cousin. He was now writing to Ravi Varman asking if it was appropriate for him to ask for Aruna’s hand for his second daughter from his younger queen. He had no heir. His older one, from Nayantara, was engaged to the prince of Chandramer. The last thing he wanted was a Chandramer prince to claim Anantanagar. He was aware that once he was gone, the lives of his wives and children would be in danger. Anantanagar would be in danger. He would train Aruna to rule Anantanagar till Ravi Varman ruled Suryapali. Then he would devise a plan with the heir of Suryapali to wage a war against Neelambargarh when Mrityunjoy became king. With their fathers gone, the treaty of peace would be deemed void. Aruna could rule over a kingdom greater than Chandramer and Anantanagar’s people, and his family’s future would be in safe hands. It would be easier to incite Aruna against Mrityunjoy since he was now young and naïve about politics. The plan was long, but he needed to do it to make sure Anantanagar did not go to Maanwari. Although it was his nearest kingdom and an ally, its amalgamation with Aswar had strengthened it. They even dared to reevaluate their borders with Anantanagar. He had to think ahead. Before Mrityunjoy's crowning as an heir, he had to declare his intentions of allying with Suryapali so that it would not look planned.
There’s a funny thing about history. Sooner or later, it repeats itself. The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly. From a broader perspective, Humankind travels in a merry loop of repeated feats and mistakes through time, learning and unlearning the same things repeatedly. Does it learn? Does it change? No.
But then did Neelambargarh and Suryapali engage in another epic battle, which, unlike the one you witnessed here, was exactly like the thousand others they fought, where humanity died a slow death? Did Rajputra Aruna give in to the temptations of power? Did Raja Mrityunjoy save his kingdom? Did history repeat itself? Only time can tell.
The End
