Princess of the dawn

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Moti ran quickly to Jodha's rooms. She would have loved to not have given her the box because she was afraid about Jodha's reputation. But in the end her loyalty and her curiosity won out! She was curious about what was so important that the young ruler Jodha sent a messenger! From a distance she heard loud laughter from Jodha's room. Her two younger sisters were with her. Moti took the box to her chamber. She didn't want to embarrass Jodha in front of her sisters.

"Moti, where have you been? I called for you!" Jodha called out to her.

"Mh, I was in the kitchen for a moment."

"Did you chitchat with the girls there again?"

Moti bowed her head embarassed.

"It's fine, Moti, I'm just teasing you!" grinned Jodha.

"Jodha, it's your turn! Ask us a riddle!" her yonger sister Sukanya demanded.

"I don't feel like it anymore" said Jodha. "I'm always supposed to ask the riddles."

"You can do it best jiji" Sukanya flattered her.

"One last jiji" Shivani begged.

"No, I don't like anymore. I can not think of anything more. Don't you both have to go to your lessons?" replied Jodha.

"Mhh yes, but it's much more funnier with you!" Shivani pulled a face.

Jodha laughed. "Uh-Huh! Off with you both."

The two sisters pouted and ran out of the room. Jodha and Moti were alone.

"Jodha, I have something for you. I'll fetch it" said Moti quickly.

"What ...?" called Jodha out. But Moti was already gone.

Shortly afterwards she entered the room with the box. Jodha looked astonished at the box. The familiar carvings of the wooden box caught her eye immediately! It couldn't be! Or maybe yes?

"Moti, where did you get that?" she asked breathlessly.

"You will not believe me!"

"Now tell me!" she exclaimed impatiently.

"I was called to the gate beforehand. A messenger was waiting for me there. I ran over and there was a young man in simple clothes. He said he had a box that he could only hand over to me. After I assured him that I was Moti Bai, he told me that he came from Shahenshah Jalal-ud-din Muhammad, and gave me this box. He said that he has the assignment to wait for a message. I sent him to the stable and said I would have him called when I needed his services. Jodha, what's that supposed to mean? Why is the young ruler sending you a box again? What do you have to do with him?" said Moti with a disapproving expression on her face.

Jodha was speechless!

"What did you say? That's from Jalal?" Slowly a slight blush crept into Jodha's face.

"Yes! And the messenger is waiting for an answer. It must be very important that he even waits for it!" Moti said mockingly.

"Moti, save your breath!" exclaimed Jodha, offended. "Give it to me!" she ordered.

Jodha opened the box and as expected from her a cage with more pigeons came to light. „Three more messages I can send" she thought happily. She quickly gave the pigeons a few pieces of fruit and looked to see if there was anything left in the box. Yes, there was a letter! She quickly grabbed it and broke the now familiar seal, rolled it up and began to read:

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Sometimes things don't seem the way they are