Time Stamp: Vikram Era: 21 Phalguna 1632 (March 1574), Prayagraj City
As Siddharth and Sonakshi walked out into the busy streets of Prayagraj, his heart was racing with joy. Even at night, the city was full of people and things to do. Lanterns hung from doors and lined the streets, giving the city a warm, golden glow that almost looked like magic. There were lots of sounds in the air, like laughing, music, and people closing their shops.
Sonakshi whispered, "Stay close to me, Siddharth." She held his hand tightly. "We need to stick to the well-lit, well-traveled areas."
He nodded and looked around with wide-open eyes, amazed by what he saw and heard. A lot of different kinds of people went down the main street, where they were. There were still people selling their goods, and the smell of street food filled the air, making Siddharth's stomach growl.
They went to a stand that sold sweets and Sonakshi bought a small pack of pedas. She gave Siddharth the sticky white circles and said, "Try this."
He took a bite, and his eyes lit up with happiness. He savored the sweet, soft taste and said, "This is delicious!"
Sonakshi smiled, glad to see that he was having fun. "There's a lot more to see. As we walk, please come along.
As they walked down the street, Siddharth saw people doing music, dance, and gymnastics for the crowds. A group of singers played traditional instruments, and the night was filled with the beauty of their music. There was a group of dancers nearby who twirled and moved smoothly, their bright costumes swirling around them.
"Everything is so beautiful," Siddharth exclaimed, shocked. "I've never seen anything like this before."
Sonakshi said yes. "At night, the city comes to life. It's a new world outside, full of life and heat.
As they walked by, different shops and stalls gave them a look into the empire's rich cultural diversity. There were booths offering handmade pottery, jewelry with lots of small details, and bright textiles. Artists showed off their skills by making beautiful things in front of the crowd.
At one point, they came across a speaker who had a large group of people glued to their seats. The person telling the stories had a deep, expressive voice that was full of heroics, adventure, and magic. Siddharth listened carefully and was totally interested in the story.
"Long ago, in a kingdom much like ours," he said, "there was a brave prince who embarked on a journey to save his people from a great evil..."
The story hit home with Siddharth and made him think about the things he needed to do. He knew that one day he would have to lead and protect his people too.
As the group moved on, Siddharth saw different people around him. People bought and sold things, kids played in the streets, and older people sat together and told stories and shared their knowledge. It was a rich fabric of life, and Siddharth felt very close to his people.
When they got to the busy market area, there was even more going on. There were stands with lots of light that sold everything from rare spices to intricate lanterns. Lots of different sounds were coming from people talking, vendors calling out their goods, and people negotiating for the best deals.
One of the booths selling beautifully made toys caught Siddharth's eye. He looked at Sonakshi with wide eyes and asked, "Can we look at those?"
"Of course," she said, showing him the way to the stall.
The seller, an old man who looked nice, smiled at them. "Good night, little one. Would you like to see some of our best toys?"
Siddharth happily nodded and looked at the toys with interest. There were bright spinning tops, delicate figurines, and animals made of wood that were carved in a very detailed way. He picked up a small elephant made of wood and admired how well it was made.
The seller told the young man, "You have a good eye." "That elephant is one of my finest pieces."
Siddharth smiled and put the elephant back on the stand. "Thanks." It's so beautiful here."
Though they were still exploring, Siddharth felt more and more grateful for the city and its people. He understood that the lively life he saw was the empire's heart, and it was his job to keep it safe and healthy.
The young prince was mesmerized by the sights and sounds around him as he walked with Sonakshi through the busy streets of Prayagraj. At night, lanterns lit up the city and gave it a warm glow. The air was filled with the delicious smells of street food, the music of musicians, and the laughs of people having a good time.
Siddharth let go of Sonakshi's hand at one point because he wanted to see more. After being drawn to a stall with lots of bright toys and other things, he walked off. As soon as he turned around, he saw that he was circled by people and couldn't see Sonakshi.
When Siddharth realized he was lost, he became scared. His eyes filled with tears, and he began to cry because he was scared and overwhelmed by all the new faces. A young girl nearby noticed him as he stood there crying his eyes out.
The girl, who was about 14 years old, smiled and seemed sure of herself. She wore simple, classy clothes that made it clear that she came from a wealthy family. Even though her eyes were determined, they softened when she saw the child in pain.
She had been coming to Prayagraj for months to find someone she was sure was there. She went to the city because she had a vague feeling that the person she was looking for was nearby. A recent trip to the government area made her even more sure of this.
She got closer to the crying boy and felt a strange feeling all over her. The thought of this child, even though he was crying, made her heart race and made her feel like she knew him.
She asked him softly, "Are you lost?" as she got down on her knees.
He looked up at her with tears running down his face because he was scared and confused. He couldn't say anything because he was crying so hard.
She softly told him, "Don't worry," and took his hand. "I'll help you find your way back. Let's go on a little adventure, shall we?"
The girl led Siddharth through the busy streets and told him stories and pointed out interesting things to keep him from thinking about how upset he was. They went to a sweets stand and she bought him some pedas, which made him smile even though he was crying.
"See? "The city isn't so scary after all," she said in a calm voice. "There's so much to see and enjoy."
Slowly, Siddharth's tears stopped because he felt safe and at ease with the girl. Being around her made him feel better, and he was drawn to how kind and strong she was.
As they walked along, the girl's mind wandered to the strange skills she had learned since she got there. She was given superhuman strength and the power to control fire in a meeting with beings from an other world. She didn't remember much about that time, but she did remember being told that she would know the person she was looking for when he was close.
The group finally got to a less busy area of the city, near the palace district. The girl saw Sonakshi, who looked worried, desperately looking for Siddharth.
"There you are!" When Sonakshi heard this, she screamed with joy and ran over to them. "I was so worried!"
With a smile, the girl gave Siddharth to Sonakshi. "I found him getting lost in all the people." Take good care of him."
Sonakshi gave a grateful nod. "Thank you very much! As we looked around the city, he must have gotten lost.
Sonakshi got a small note from the girl. "Be careful to keep your child safe," she told him in a soft but strong voice.
Sonakshi looked confused for a moment, but she took the note and nodded. "I will." Again, thank you."
After one last look at Siddharth, the girl turned and disappeared into the crowd. She had put off her goal, but she had not forgotten about it. Until the time was right, she would stay close and make sure he was safe.
Siddharth held on to the pedas the girl had given him as he and Sonakshi walked back to the castle. He missed someone and longed for them in a strange way, like he had met someone important but couldn't remember why.
He thought about the nice girl who had helped him that night as he lay in bed. He had never heard of her before, but her strength and kindness had stuck with him. He had no idea that they would meet again, and the link between them would grow stronger over time.