Due to the havan, the entire family had been on a fast which was meant to be broken with the coconut prasad* distributed post the puja was over, after which normal food could be consumed.
All the females, older and younger except for Katyayani, escaped to their rooms to have another bath and change clothes after seeking blessings from Kirtidev. The guests were scheduled to arrive within the next hour and they were supposed to be out at the entrance to receive them with their best foot forward.
Kirtidev looked a bit tired and after seeking blessings from the priest, his body swayed a bit.
Katyayani quickly walked up to him and supported him to a nearby chair.
Picking up a small copper pitcher from the nearby table, she poured some water into a small copper cup and offered it to him. "Grandfather, have some tulsi* water. I have asked Bhadrak to place your breakfast in your room instead of the study. Eat a little and then rest for a while before changing and coming out."
Kirtidev looked at his two sons who were busy listening to whatever their assistants had to report at this moment. There was simply no one paying attention to him apart from this little girl who had hardly stayed by his side during all these years.
With moist eyes, he nodded his head and after taking a couple of sips, he patted her head gently and started to walk towards the pavilion where he lived.
Katyayani gestured to one of the servants, who was standing there, to aid the old man.
Even though there were palanquins in the mansion to go from one pavilion to another, Kirtidev refused to sit in one and preferred to walk on his own.
After seeing him go, she motioned to Eka who was standing on the side.
"Panditji*, please follow this woman. Vegetarian food without any onion and garlic has been prepared for you," said Eka to the old priest as she handed over his dakshina* and a few sets of holy clothes which had been prepared for him.
The priest weighed the small pouch containing his fees and a smile spread across his face. The sound was not that of bronze coins and the weight was not less. He proceeded towards the place where food had been arranged for him.
Royal Palace of Mandhaar
The third prince, Prince Suketu, was getting ready with the aid of a few maidservants when the guard at the door loudly announced. "The Royal Queen, Rani Indumati is arriving. Everyone, at attention!"
Prince Suketu's hands froze for a moment in the middle of straightening his sleeve cuff but then he relaxed the next second and the gentle smile on his face was back.
With a hand gesture, he ordered the attendants to move away and turned his gaze towards the rosewood door which was without any fancy embellishments on it, indicating the plainness of the third prince's pavilion.
It was said that the third prince was only concerned with learning of texts and following the virtues of sages. Neither did he have any military training nor any remarkable accomplishments, except for social work which he conducted during his free time by living amongst the common people of Mandhaar.
Prince Suketu didn't seem to have any political aspirations or even calibre and was secretly referred to as the faithful tail of Prince Anirudh.
All in all, a harmless eighteen year naive prince!
"Son…" a tinkling, almost girlish voice came from the doorway and the smile on Suketu's face remained warm.
"Queen Mother! Why did you take the trouble to come all the way here? All you needed to do was send someone to call this son to your chambers," he said with tenderness in his voice.
He closed the gap between them and bent down to touch her silk clad feet.
Rani Indumati had a doting expression on her face as she caressed the top of his head. "Yashasvi bhav!"
Dressed only in an indigo shirt with a stark white silk dhoti, Suketu looked like the epitome of a gentle nobleman. As always, he wasn't wearing any ornaments except a thin chain with a pendant which he had on his neck since his childhood.
Standing bare feet at 5'9 feet, he had a thin figure and pleasant, plain features. Except for his birth mother's really fair skin, he hadn't really inherited any of her spectacular features which had caught the eye of the emperor at the time.
In fact, his fair skin gave him an effeminate air instead of adding to his charm.
Prince Suketu had never shown any skills in learning the military art. Instead, during his growing years, he had attached himself to a group of sages and learnt the holy scriptures from them. The sages left Dima after a couple of years and went back to the ashram* in the forest and Prince Suketu continued to live in the palace but followed a simple lifestyle.
Prince Suketu became known for his literary skills and noble deeds across the length and breadth of Mandhaar.
"Leave us alone," Rani Indumati's voice rang in the room.
As the only daughter of Prime Minister Vasumant, the most powerful minister in the royal court of Mandhaar, Rani Indumati had been brought up with a lot of care and indulgence. But she had not become spoiled and arrogant. Instead, she had learnt strategy and long-sightedness from her father.
The end product was a wilful but charming girl who hid her cunningness behind cuteness, quite skillfully. Her only vice or rather indulgence in life was - 'to look good'.
*Prasad - in Hinduism, food and water offered to a deity during worship. It is believed that the deity partakes of and then returns the offering, thereby consecrating it. The offering is then distributed and eaten by the worshippers.
*Tulsi - Holy basil
*Panditji - Priest
*Dakshina - is a Sanskrit word which may mean any donation, fees or honorarium given to a cause, monastery, temple, spiritual guide or after a ritual to the priest.
*Yashasvi bhav - means eternal success or fame for eternity
*Ashram - a hermitage, monastic community, or other place of religious retreat.