Have you been to a labyrinth before?
Well, I had been to one when a boy, having misplaced his own notebook, used me to take notes of the tour guide's explanation. I felt quite sick of the ever-changing corridors and turns, and I would have been sick if I had the option to.
And right then, I was feeling 'nauseous' again. Who knew that people would be so fine with living in a maze in the name of a palace? I felt as if our route had taken us around the entire palace, for it took us quite some time to reach The Grand Durbar.
But the very first sight of that hall itself left me awestruck. I was not used to human measuring standards at that moment, nor am I any better today. So, let me describe The Grand Durbar in the best way I can.
It was humongous. Gigantic. Tremendous.
Its roof seemed to be the roof of the entire palace itself, and its length was equal to the palace's breadth.
But despite its size, the way it was carefully planned and designed was an architectural wonder in itself.
A huge, arched entrance with ivory-plated ebony doors led to the public arena, with balconies on two different floors. This area catered to the common people.
Next were the seats for all the esteemed guests of the kingdom, again in a similar design to that of the common folk, only more luxuriously designed and adorned.
These sections of The Grand Durbar concluded in two rows facing each other, with the royal throne on a pedestal. Here, the king sat with the Navratna, the nine gems of the royal court, with the Chief Advisor having the seat nearest to the king.
The Queen had her place on a balcony behind the royal throne, where she observed the proceedings of the court and, if necessary, also advised the king on the various decisions of the court. But sometimes, on very critical occasions, when her direct presence was necessary, she sat next to the king on the throne itself.
But at the moment, the court was all but empty.
The Navratna had just taken their respective places, while the public arena was fast filling up with commoners excited for the day's proceedings.
Princess Deepshikha had her seat next to her mother on her balcony, where she sat, placing me and her journal on the table next to her, while Asha took her seat behind her.
And thus, our wait for the royalties began.
"Why are we here at all?", Deepshikha grumbled.
"The ceremony. You know it well", Asha replied.
"Yes, I know, but what is it about?"
"You know that too."
"No, I don't."
"You forgot the whole discussion your parents had over dinner last night?"
"What discussion?"
"Wait, you mean you sat there chewing on your vegetables and throwing around a few remarks in agreement to whatever your parents were saying, when in reality you were just... just daydreaming?! How could you be so... so... Aargh, you are impossible!", Asha scolded Deepshikha, who until now was absent-minded and engrossed in playing with her pen.
She sat straight up and begged for forgiveness, saying, "All right, fine. I admit I have been a little bit too inattentive lately, but you can't change the past, can you? So how about, instead of scolding me, you help me remember what's exactly going on here? Why are we here?"
Asha sighed and shook her head. "We are here for the inauguration of the Annual Spring Festival, which is…"
"Wait. Stop right there", Deepshikha interrupted Asha. "I don't need another explanation for the purpose of celebrating this festival. I just need to know why we are here, in The Grand Durbar?"
Asha was dumbstruck for a while. Then, she once again scolded her friend, "Seriously, Deepshikha? You are asking that? After all these years? Don't you think you are just being an…", She held back and resumed, "idiot?"
"What can I do?", Deepshikha pleaded her case. "Nobody knows me better than you, Asha. I hate public ceremonies. I get this uncomfortable feeling that everyone is watching me and silently judging me. Oh, if only I could slip away unnoticed right now from here."
"Well, you have to try that later. Look!", Asha pointed towards the main entrance. "Your parents are here."
And so they had arrived.
The King and The Queen, with their glittering crowns and extravagant attire, looked like two stars walking down the aisle. Two very, very bright stars.
Personally, I find the luxuries of royalty uncomfortable.
Only the princess was as simple as she could be compared to her parents, and that's because she wasn't a fan of royal fashion styles like me.
The entire hall broke into the chorus of "Long live King Dharmaraj!" and "Long live Queen Jyoti!"
Everyone rose and bowed their heads in respect and welcome.
The King took his place on the throne, and the Queen took her place by the princess. Everyone settled down.
The King addressed the gathering, "My dear friends, family, and countrymen. Today is a very special day for us. Today, we have all gathered to celebrate the beginning of the Annual Spring Festival, the festival of joy, colors, and hope for a bright, prosperous future. But this year, for the first time in the history of our kingdom, Dharmaskhetra, we will welcome esteemed guests from our neighboring kingdoms. We are privileged to be the hosts of not only the honored kings of these kingdoms but also their families. Let's welcome our guests and treat them to our hospitality!"
At once, a man known as The Durbari stood up with a long list and started announcing the names of all the guests of the day.
Simultaneously, musicians started playing music, and dancers danced to the beat.
"Coming up first, from the kingdom of Devahi, we have King Devasharma and Queen Devahi with their family."
The Royal Family of Devahi was known as the epitome of manners and proper conduct, with even their 5-year-old prince walking in pace with the rest of his family with his body as straight and stiff as a pillar.
The crowd bowed.
The royal family of Devahi nodded their heads.
Princess Deepshikha yawned.
After they had taken their seats, The Durbari immediately announced the next royal family, this time from Deewarnagri, the city of walls, and the royal family also looked as tough as one.
Even Deepshikha, who wasn't interested in the proceedings at all, was amazed by their appearance.
But that's it.
She once again resumed her brooding.
And the announcements and the same procedure continued.
Even I was starting to get bored and wondering if I had a chance to fly with the wind when one of them caught my attention.
That is, the last to arrive were the royal family of Vijaysthal. Except for the fact that it wasn't a family.
Just one man, The King, was walking down the aisle.
And was he a sight to behold!
He wore a simple but sparkling crown; he had a nasty scar down his left cheek; he had a big moustache; and he was quite tall. In every way, he was a fine specimen of human martial superiority.
But what was even stranger than his entrance in full martial attire was that he wasn't even supposed to have come alone. Or at least that's what The Durbari thought as he was stuck on "Prin…".
What was the matter? Where was the King's family?