Raghu and Jack were on their way to work, but Jack's sleep-deprived face was hard to miss. Raghu eyed him suspiciously, wondering why Jack looked so exhausted despite leaving early the previous day.
"So, how's Mitthu?" Jack asked, inquiring about the ailing camel they both cared for.
"Good," Raghu replied. It had been almost two weeks since Jack arrived, and by now, Raghu had picked up a few English words, while Jack had learned some basic Hindi phrases.
"Hmm, that's great," Jack said, relieved. "He was so ill yesterday. It's good to hear he's fine now."
Raghu nodded in agreement. "Umm... Jack," he said, hesitating.
"Hmm... what is it?" Jack asked, turning to face Raghu.
"Rajkumari Indravati..." Raghu said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What about Rajkumari Indravati?" Jack asked, curious.
"Tumhe acchi lagti hai kya wo (Do you like her)?" Raghu asked, his voice still soft.
But Jack didn't understand the question. "What!" he exclaimed.
Raghu's eyes darted around, unsure if he should continue. "You... you... umm..." he stuttered.
"What is it, Raghu?" Jack pressed, impatient to know what Raghu was trying to ask.
Raghu took a deep breath. "You like... Rajkumari?" he asked, his voice still barely above a whisper.
Jack's eyes widened in surprise, as if he hadn't realized his own feelings. He was taken aback, unable to respond.
"Umm... no," Jack finally denied, trying to sound convincing.
Raghu's face lit up with relief. "Hah, good," he said, seemingly satisfied with Jack's response.
As they continued walking to work, Jack couldn't shake off Raghu's words. He had been trying to deny his feelings for Rajkumari Indravati, but Raghu's observation had hit a little too close to home.
Jack's mind wandered back to the moments he had shared with the rajkumari. He remembered the way she smiled, the way her eyes sparkled, and the way her laughter made him feel like he was the only person in the world.
He couldn't believe he was actually thinking about her like this. He had always been careful to keep his feelings in check, but there was something about Rajkumari Indravati that drew him in.
Raghu's voice cut through Jack's reverie. "Hey, Jack, you okay? You seem a little distracted."
Jack shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, that's all."
Raghu nodded sympathetically. "You should get some rest tonight. We can't have you falling asleep on the job."
Jack smiled wryly. "I'll try my best."
As they arrived at the stables, Jack's face lit up with a warm smile as he approached Mitthu's enclosure. He gently reached out to brush the camel's head, his hands moving with a soothing gentleness. "Are you feeling good, my friend?" Jack asked softly, his voice filled with affection.
Mitthu, sensing Jack's kindness, nuzzled his head against Jack's hand, clearly enjoying the attention. The camel's eyes seemed to gleam with contentment, and he let out a soft hum of appreciation, indicating that he was indeed feeling much better.
With Mitthu seemingly on the mend, Jack turned his attention to the day's tasks. He began to methodically clean out the camel's enclosure, removing soiled bedding and replacing it with fresh straw. Raghu, meanwhile, started to prepare the morning feed for the other animals in the stable.
As they worked, the two men moved with a comfortable silence, their movements practiced and efficient. Jack's sleep-deprived haze began to lift as he focused on the physical labor, his muscles warming up as he worked. Raghu, too, seemed to be in his element, his hands moving quickly and surely as he measured out grain and hay.
The sound of birds chirping and the rustle of animals stirring in their enclosures filled the air, creating a soothing background noise that accompanied the two men as they worked. As the morning sun climbed higher in the sky, Jack and Raghu continued to labor, their tasks a familiar and comforting routine.
**At lunchtime**
Raghu called out to Jack, "Jack, khana khalo!" (Jack, let's have some food!)
Jack smiled and replied, "Ho!" (Okay!)
"Chalo!" (Let's go!) Raghu said, already starting to walk away.
Jack followed, but his expression turned confused. "Hmm, where? Aren't we having lunch under the tree?" he asked, referring to their usual spot under the banyan tree.
Raghu shook his head. "No, not... tree."
Jack's curiosity was piqued. "Why?" he asked, always eager to know the reason behind everything.
Raghu grinned mischievously. "Chalo na! Raste mei bata dunga" (Let's go! I'll tell you on the way).
Before Jack could protest, Raghu grabbed his hand and started dragging him toward the inner palace. Jack stumbled to keep up, his confusion growing.
"Hey! Wait..." Jack protested, trying to pull his hand.
**At the entrance of inner palace**
As they reached the inner palace, Raghu quickly covered Jack's face and head with an old cloth to conceal his identity. "Hey, Raghu, what's going on?" Jack asked, his voice muffled by the cloth.
Raghu smiled mischievously. "Rajkumari's anniversary," he whispered.
Jack's eyes widened in surprise. "Indravati's birthday!" he exclaimed, his voice loud enough to attract the attention of nearby guards.
Raghu's face turned anxious. "Jack, stop! Tum Rajkumari ka naam aise nahi le skte" (Jack, stop! You cannot say the princess's name like that).
But it was too late. A group of heavily built guards, clad in traditional attire, including crisp white dhotis and sacred janeu threads draped across their chests, surrounded them. Each of them wore a majestic turban on their head, and some carried swords or spears. One of the guards, his eyes blazing with anger, glared at Jack.
"Oye!" the guard growled.
Raghu quickly intervened, his voice respectful. "Ji..." (Yes...).
The guard's gaze narrowed. "Rajkumari ka naam kisne liya tha abhi?" (Who said the princess's name just now?).
Raghu stumbled over his words. "Kisi ne bhi nahi... apne galat suna hoga" (No one said that... you must have heard wrong).
The guard's face turned red with rage. "Accha! Bewakuf samajta hai kya, tuje kya lagta hai hum sabhi behre hai?" (Do you think I'm a fool? Do you think we're all deaf?).
Raghu trembled, trying to placate the guard. "Nahi..." (No...).
The guard's eyes fell upon Jack, who was still wearing the cloth to conceal his face. "Oye! Tune ye kya pehna rakha hai itni dupher mein?" (Oye! What are you wearing in broad daylight?).
Raghu quickly intervened. "Wo mere saath kaam karta hai, uska insabse koi lena dena nahi hai" (He works with me, he doesn't have anything to do with it).
The guard's expression turned even more menacing. "Tujhse pucha kya meine?" (Did I ask you?).
Raghu's eyes pleaded with the guard. "Nahi, please...".
But the guard was relentless. "Oye! Chehara dikha apna" (Oye! Show me your face).
Raghu grabbed the guard's hand, trying to stop him. "Ruk jaiye!" (Please stop!).
The guard pushed Raghu aside, sending him tumbling to the ground. Jack, who was trying to protect his identity, could not endure seeing his friend getting treated like that.
The guard reached out to grab him from his collar, Jack's instincts took over. "STOP!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the palace corridors.
The guard's eyes widened in surprise as he stumbled backward, releasing his grip on Jack's cloth. Jack's face was finally revealed, and the guard's expression turned from anger to shock.
The guard's eyes locked onto Jack's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Jack's golden hair, deep blue eyes, and pale skin seemed to mesmerize the guard, who looked like he had seen a ghost.
"Oye firangi!" (Hey, foreigner!) the guard exclaimed, his voice dripping with contempt. "Teri himat kaise hui humari Rajkumari ka naam aise lene ki?" (How dare you say our princess's name like that?).
Jack struggled to break free from the guard's iron grip. "Stop... stop it!" he said, his voice strained with desperation but his eyes were still full of courage looking straight into the guard's eyes.
The tension hung in the air like a challenge, waiting to see who would make the next move.
"Kya ho raha hai yaha pe (What's happening here)?" a loud voice boomed, causing everyone to freeze. A handsome man and a woman emerged with a retinue of guards, surveying the scene.
"Huzur..." the guard stammered, trembling with fear. Every man present bowed their heads in respect, acknowledging the couple's authority.
Jack recognized the pair as the same ones he had witnessed fighting previously. The man's piercing gaze swept the area before settling on Jack.
"Yaha jundh bana kar kyu khadhe ho tum sabhi (Why are you all gathered here)?" the man demanded, his voice firm but controlled.
The guard hastily explained, "Hujur… wo ladka Rajkumari ka naam le raha tha (Huzur, that boy was saying the princess's name.)"
The man's eyes locked onto Jack's, and a hint of recognition flashed across his face. "You... do you enjoy inviting trouble?" he asked, a sly smile spreading across his face.
Jack stood silently, his eyes fixed on the man. The man's smile grew wider as he grasped Jack's face.
"Speak up! What's wrong, cat got your tongue?" he taunted.
The woman, Megha, intervened, placing a gentle hand on the man's arm. "Ruk jaiye, Swami. Aaj is shubh din esa kuch unuchit karna thik nahi hoga" (Please stop, Your Highness. It's not auspicious to do something wrong on this sacred day).
The man's expression darkened, but he eventually released Jack's face. With a curt instruction to his guards, he turned to leave. The entourage followed, abandoning Jack and Raghu to breathe a sigh of relief.
"You okay?" Jack asked Raghu, helping him to his feet.
Raghu nodded, still shaken. "Hmm."
Both men shared a look of gratitude, aware that their lives had just been spared.
To be continued...