Ace of Hearts

11 - The D-Day (Part 1)

Little droplets of water tickled her soles as she ran on the freshly watered flower beds running her dainty little fingers over the petals. The sweet fragrance of wet soil wafted through her nose energizing her further increasing her pace. Her tender palm sized feet padded across the mud mixing the brown with green grass. She paused her sprint when a pair of newly blossomed red roses caught her attention. Her soft fingers wound around the outer petals and pulled at them.

"Chavi No!" a lady shouted a little too late.

The girl turned around throwing her hands in air displaying her achievements waving the two flowers around. Few stray beads of clear water trickled down the petals onto her nose. The girl clutched her trophy tightly and ran towards the majestic building ahead of her ignoring her mother's protests. She turned her head to see how close her mother was and ended up crashing against a pot bellied man.

"Putri Chavi, you know you're not supposed to pluck flowers from the royal gardens right?" asked the head gardener with a fond smile betraying his stern look.

"I know matamah but these are for the princess. So it is okay right?" the little girl posed a question to the man she considered to be her grandfather.

"You are not allowed to meet the princess. This girl will be the death of me." scolded her mother who had caught up to the girl by then.

"No. The princess is my friend. She played with me a lot of times. She will accept my gift." replied Chavi petulantly.

"Chavi this is not any other day. There are a lot of guests at the palace today. You cannot go inside." warned her mother.

The little girl paid no heed to her mother and ran to the palace ducking the crossed spears placed to stop her entry. She turned around familiar corridors and avoided the crowded places with a spy like agility. She skidded to a halt behind the curtains covering the princess' bath chamber and peeked inside.

Every part of the large room was decorated by garlands of yellow marigolds and chrysanthemums separated by white flowers. The fragrance of essential oils and turmeric filled the room suffocating the little girl. Her curious eyes tried to look past the gaggle of royal ladies and maids to find her friend, the princess.

A heavily dressed lady slowly moved to the back allowing Chavi to snag a look at the center. There sat her friend in a yellow breast cloth and underskirt with turmeric paste smeared all over her and drops of milk plonking on her from a brass pitcher.

The same fracture of minute also allowed another girl to get a glimpse of the peeking toddler. The girl beckoned her chief maid and instructed her to bring the little girl to her despite the maid's protests. Tusharika was feeling clobbered among the mass of royal ladies who were behaving extra sweet with her and constantly reminding her of her betrothed in expectations of seeing her blush.

The visual of the peeking girl was a relief which she wanted to hang on to. As Rasika guided Chavi to the center, the royal ladies gasped loudly murmuring among themselves pointing fingers at the terrified little girl. Thoroughly disappointed, the queen of the kingdom decided to take the matters into her own hands.

"Putri she is the daughter of a maid. She is not allowed here." Tusharika could hear the underlying warning loud and clear.

"I know mata but she is just a little girl and also my friend. I want her here." Tusharika hoped her referencing the queen as mother would help her.

"It is against the protocol my dear. Let us not sway away from traditions this auspicious day." Eravati glared at her daughter.

Tusharika pulled the little girl on to her lap and glared back at her mother.