Royal Palace, Dima
Maharani Vaijayanti was aware that General Chandraveer and Raja Indraneel knew each other from the time of their days as students in the Sarvaan gurukul.
In fact, the deceased wife of Raja Indraneel had played matchmaker on behalf of the shy Chandraveer and the girl he liked, at that time, resulting in a loving marriage.
Maharani Vaijayanti was lost in the past events but came back to the present with a jolt.
"Greetings, Empress mother! Are you well? This son got worried when your message was delivered," Prince Anirudh's pleasant but anxious voice interrupted her reverie.
Dressed in a brown silk shirt paired with an off-white color dhoti* and a broad golden belt around his waist, Prince Anirudh came forward and bent down to touch his mother's satin shoes encased feet.
"Yashasvi bhav*," Maharani Vaijayanti's stern face creased into a smile looking at a face so similar to hers.
At the age of 20, Prince Anirudh had broad shoulders, and a tapered yet muscled body, indicating a strenuous exercise regime. He had a squarish face, and a wheatish complexion like his mother but there was a noble air surrounding him.
"It is your younger sister who is adding to the greys in Our hair," the empress told him about his sister's latest behaviour.
Prince Anirudh shook his head and said, "Empress mother, why are you fretting over such a small matter?"
"Princess Anara dreamt of her maternal grandfather being unwell and became agitated. Her unease kept increasing through the night and as a result, she left for Bharani early this morning," he said with a casual shrug.
Maharani Vaijayanti smiled at her son's brazenly concocted tale. "We will send a message to your grandfather, just in case someone is staring at us in secret. Have someone make sure that a carriage with the princess's close attendants is dispatched quickly towards Bharani. We will let your father know about it personally."
Prince Anirudh took in the worry lines around his mother's eyes and frowned.
Had it not been for his emperor father's weak and indecisive mind, would his mother have to toil so hard and plan on his behalf? Or would his sisters have to sacrifice themselves in order to add strength to him as a compelling candidate for the throne.
Being the emperor's eldest son, he should have been named the crown prince already but the emperor's reluctance to name an heir was a source of discontentment for him and his empress mother.
Moreover, it had given hope to the other princes in the palace. The royal court had become a divided land with various factions trying to build their camps resting on Raja Indraneel's vacillating mind.
Prince Anirudh held his mother in high esteem, not because she was his parent but because of her personality. She hailed from a glorious military background and was skilled in the art of war. Her views were decisive and she had a commanding presence.
Even though his emperor father had a sharp mind and ruled judiciously, he hadn't been able to overcome his inglorious past.
Had it not been for the empress dowager's guidance and teachings, Raja Indraneel would have continued to lead a scholarly life in anonymity.
"This son shall follow the instructions," he bent down to touch her feet before taking his leave.
Outskirts of Dima city
A nondescript carriage was whizzing past the surroundings while the two occupants were lost in varying thoughts. Princess Anara was smirking gleefully at her successful escape while her closest maid, Laasya, was trembling at the thought of the punishment which awaited her when she went back to the palace.
The princess had not given her any chance to prepare. Except for the clothes on their bodies and a pouch full of coins, they had nothing else with them.
"Princess, should we stop somewhere to freshen up and eat something? The sun is about to hit the middle of the sky. You have not even had a morsel ever since we left," she said timidly.
Princess Anara was irritated at being reminded about such mundane details but suddenly, her stomach announced its protest with a soft rumble.
"It is not safe for us to stop so close to the city. Wait for a while. Once we cross the main way and get on the hilly, rocky terrain, we will take a break," the princess told her.
Princess Anara was trained in sword fighting and was a proficient horse rider. Had she chosen to ride the horse, it would have been a much shorter journey but she knew that her maid would not be able to follow along. Also, for this trip, Princess Anara wanted to remain low-key and didn't want to attract any attention towards herself.
Laasya compressed her lips and lowered her head. She had been with the princess for four years now and knew her temperament well. Once she decided upon something, there was no one who could change her mind.
She looked at the beautiful girl in front of her. In the kingdom of Mandhaar, Princess Anara was famous for her gorgeous looks. But that wasn't all. Her skills in playing the sitar* and chess were unrivaled amongst her peers. It wasn't surprising that she was the emperor's most cherished daughter.
Dressed in a pale pink long dress with a maroon cloak on top, Princess Anara's delicate and pointed face looked like an immortal who had descended on earth. Petite and fair skinned, she had taken her good looks from her father, just like her elder sister, Anira. The only difference was that her sister was a shy beauty while she was a prickly rose.
Laasya moved her eyes away. Princess Anara wasn't someone whom one could stare at indiscriminately.
Suppressing a sigh, she could only pray that she would be allowed to live when they reached the palace. Wanting to see if the groom was worthy or not… only Princess Anara was the one who could do something like this and still go scot-free!
*Dhoti - a garment worn by male Hindus, consisting of a piece of material tied around the waist and extending to cover most of the legs.
*Yashasvi bhav - a blessing which means - may you gain name and fame by your actions
*Sitar - a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music