Tavern, Amer Village
The room was abuzz with activity as the waiters busied themselves with serving the feast. A sumptuous spread was laid out before them. The scent of food filled the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the group.
Meera, sitting at the head of the table, smiled contentedly as she ate her food without any complaint even though the food was subpar according to her. She watched her servants enjoying the food she had provided for them.
Her attention was momentarily drawn to a young boy, who was a waiter, seemed to be struggling with a particularly large serving tray. Without hesitation, Meera rose from her seat and gently took the tray from him. "Here, let me help you," she said with a kind smile. "You shouldn't overexert yourself."
The boy's face flushed with embarrassment, but he nodded gratefully and hurried away to tend to other duties. Meera watched him go as she felt good helping someone who was having difficulty.
Meera then took her seat once more as she watched the conversations flowed around her but she didn't notice that the servants were looking at her when she helped the boy. This small act of kindness shown by her made Meera gain approval of the servants unknowingly.
Her attention was then drawn to a group of slaves huddled together at the far end of the table. One of them, a tall and strong-looking man, seemed to be growing increasingly anxious. "I wish we knew when we were leaving," he muttered, his voice laced with impatience. "We have to reach Surat as Master Kerridge commanded." The others nodded in agreement, glancing nervously at their Mistress Meera, who appeared to be one of the nicest owner to ever exist.
Meera studied the man for a moment, noting the lines of tension on his face and the way he clenched his fists. Meera knew that there was no need to worry because she was given ample time but to know more about the situation Meera approached them, her curiosity piqued. "Is everything alright?" she asked gently.
The slaves fell silent at her approach, and one of them, a young woman with haunted eyes, spoke. "My lady," she began hesitantly, "we are concerned about our journey."
"What is it that troubles you?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm. The young woman took a deep breath. "We have heard... rumors from the customers in this tavern, my lady. That the road ahead is dangerous especially during the winters because of food shortages which leads to people acting as bandits." The others including the patrons at the other tables nodded in agreement, their and the servants fear mirrored in their expressions.
She understood their concern. The slaves were all under a great deal of pressure from her husband who demanded the servants for her safety who told the servants to make sure that his wife reaches Surat safely without any harm after she had finished her personal business in the palace.But with bandits on the road the servants had to try harder to ensure Meera's safety.
"I understand your concern," she said softly, her voice carrying across the table.
The other slaves on the table were remained silent as she spoke. They turned their attention to the princess. "I assure you," she continued, "we will leave within the next few days. Until then, please bare with it."
When the other slaves heard Meera speak like this, they all begged to not plead with them. She should just command them and all of them will follow her orders because she is the Mistress of the house.
Meera relented to their request when she saw how they were behaving. Even though Meera tried to blend in with the society for the last fifteen years but sometimes her sensibilities from the 21st century over took her for brief moments. Today was one of the moments. It happened because ever since she returned to the palace after four years ever since her 'good father' married her off.
Her uncle Bhau Singh, who was the current ruler of Amer Palace, allowed her to stay in the palace for a few days just because she brought him a lot of expensive goods as gifts and also as a form a curtsy.
Meanwhile her mother, Sisodiniji Damyanti Deiji lived separately from her father and his concubines who were also cooped up in another place, with her only blood brother, Prince Jai Singh, in Amer Palace. It was this reason Meera came to Amer Palace after four long years but her mother didn't speak with even once. Damyanti did not even allow Meera's little brother to talk with her. This whole thing saddened her a lot.
When the feast was over after an hour and a half, Meera bade the slaves farewell as she started heading towards the palace. But before she could exit the village, Meera was drawn by the commotion happening near the Maota Lake shore.