The Cursed Princess of Suryagarh: Book 1

23. The ancient relic

Two hours.

It had been two hours since one of the backyards of the old palace was getting dug up at Shreya's insistence. According to the foreigner, the relic the Chauhans had been on the hunt for over five centuries lay in the depths of the ground, beneath multiple layers of soil, muck, and grime, within the very confines of the palace where the curse was originally cast. She was so certain of the location that with enough conviction and certitude, she announced the results of the blood ritual to Jagdish. She had a very proud smile on her face as she flipped her hair and tittered at her achievements. Gone were the apprehensions upon receiving a vision of sorts, and she had flaunted her newfound ability with much arrogance.

Aarush and Jagdish didn't want to believe what she was saying. How could the ancient artifact be right in their backyard and they didn't know? That too in five hundred years? But Shreya's vehement belief in what she saw Meera reminisce about needed to be taken into consideration. With some doubts remnant in their hearts, the five of them egressed Meera's chambers, Jagdish locking it behind him, and they hurried down the tapered corridors and steep staircases to arrive at the sequestered backyard at the absolute rear-end of the palace.

One could see the fortifications discernible faintly at a distance with verdant hills beyond forming a glorious background on one side while the other side had the sandstone facade of the palace's pillars and domes. According to Aarush, this end of the palace was never used even when the family resided there, and hence it was not a tourist spot and was rather cordoned off to restrict access to newcomers. Hence, they needn't worry about trespassers as they set off to work, and one quick request at the archaeological office granted them easy passage to the backyard.

Jagdish had strictly forbidden Aarush from inviting anyone else to the discovery, and apart from the doctor, the foreigner, and the pregnant woman, no one else should be learning the reason behind the sudden excavation. Aarush, though slightly befuddled, heeded the high priest, for the old man had his lips set grimly and a sternness in his countenance that the crowned prince had rarely seen. So, the five of them stood in the open passage overlooking the backyard while seven labourers called from the maintenance and repair worksite were digging sporadic holes in the muddy ground.

But again, it had been two hours of futile work with no results in sight.

Aarush peeked at the dying sun behind the green hills in the distance. A gruff sigh escaped his lips, and he peered at the unconcerned girl, who was busy clicking random selfies against the painted background of Radha and Krishna entangled in their eternal trance on one of the walls. "Are you sure it's here? I feel like we are wasting our time."

Her lips puckered once she glimpsed at him. "I saw it in the vision thingy. As in... I felt it. As in... I know." She clicked her tongue. "I mean... I was there, no?" She scrunched her nose. "It was Meera... in front of a mirror... and this was going on in her head. She was wearing a very," she gagged, "orange dress. She had zero sense of fashion, and her jewellery was so horrific that I..." She pursed her lips when she sensed his heated glare on her. "Uh... she was thinking about the location of the artefact the royal family seeks. I read her mind or she said it to me." She flailed her arms as more confusion rattled her brain. "I just know I am not mistaken."

His nose flared, and he looked away. "Had it been present in our palace for so many centuries, wouldn't we have discovered it by now? You are making a mistake."

She scowled at his back. "I am not."

Her obstinate inflection and the manner in which she crossed her arms across her chest, her cheeks flushed and puffed up in annoyance, her lips constantly moving as she cursed under her breath, and her eyes rolling more frequently than he had considered possible—they were a source of amusement and irritation for him, and he as not sure which outweighed what. Nevertheless, he scoffed. "You are so going to regret wasting my time, Miss Awasthy."