Rewari Kingdom, Inner palace of bawal, night of 13th March 1557
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Prince Aditya and Princess Meenakshi rode back to the fort city of Bawal. Aditya was struck by how the city had transformed overnight. The festival decorations had breathed new life into the streets, lifting the atmosphere and easing the tension that had hung over the city.
The air was thick with the fragrant aroma of incense and blooming flowers. The streets were alive with vendors selling fruits, diyas (traditional lamps), and sweets. Despite the festive ambiance, an undercurrent of fear remained; the recent purge had left its mark, and the people still watched the procession with wary eyes.
