The Cursed Princess of Suryagarh: Book 1

13. The caged princess of Suryagarh

Adya and Shreya continued to stroll through the magnificent garden in tranquil quietness, watching as the artificial lights in the palace sprung alive one by one, visible through the windows and balconies, twinkling in tandem with the stars in the sky. The shadows scuttled yet again in a bid to cast a pallor over the entire fort, the clouds gathering especially over Agni Bhawan to inundate the edifice in darkness. Potent nebulousness fighting with the last string of hope alive in the hearts of the residents of Suryagarh and winning as the sun set and the evening arrived. Darkness so rich and so impenetrable that even spirits and ghosts, if any, would be afraid to crawl their way into the arcane and mystifying twilight.

But then Adya and Shreya continued to stroll through the magnificent gardens in tranquil quietness, watching as the artificial lights in the palace sprung alive one by one.

Adya was clicking her tongue and peeking behind from time to time, fiddling with her fingers and pouting her lips. Shreya was about to ask her what the issue was when the princess turned around and started talking to Balwant Singh. 

"What happened to your legs, Balwant Kaka? Why are you limping?"

Balwant Singh's lips curved into a smile. "Nothing at all, Princess. Old age is catching up."

Adya thinned her lips into a line. "You have to live a long, long life. Better you get yourself treated soon."

He chuckled. "Always ready to serve the throne."

An impish glint shone in the princess's eyes. "I am so thirsty, Kaka. Can you please go to the kitchens and ask them to prepare my favourite lemonade for me." She cleared her throat and let out a very audible cough, massaging the skin on her neck with a grimace on her face and batting her lashes at him. "So parched my throat is."

Balwant Singh was jolted into action and concern flashed across his aging face. "I will call them up right away, Your Highness."

"No, no, no, no, no!" Adya piped. "I want the one you make for me. With mint and all those herbs. Exactly the way you make."

A pink tint touched the man's cheeks. "How sweet of you, Princess. I will personally go and prepare two glasses of lemonade for you and madam. But," there was a parental admonishment in his tonality, "you will not go anywhere by yourself. I will ask Jagjeevan Singh to chaperone you."

"Of course, Kaka." Adya tittered in a farcical manner. "I am the caged princess of Suryagarh. I know! I am not going anywhere."

Once the man bowed and hobbled away, Adya dropped the smile and let out a sigh of relief. "Okay," she swerved towards Shreya, "now it's time for some mischief."

Shreya wiggled her brows at the girl. "What do you mean?"

"Now," Adya giggled, "the caged princess of Suryagarh is going to be the liberated princess of Suryagarh."

***

Shreya beseeched the girl not to make a rash decision. Shreya begged the girl to reconsider her choice. Shreya implored the girl to at least have someone accompany them. All of it was because she knew how furious Aarush Chauhan was going to get on learning of the ruse by the two girls and how Shreya Awasthy was again going to be on the receiving end of the man's rage. But it seemed like the cursed and caged princess of Suryagarh was too adamant to listen.

As soon as Balwant Singh was out of earshot, Adya hurried to the white Mercedes that had brought her into the palace premises, unlocked it with the remote in her hands, and gesticulated at Shreya to follow suit with a wide grin etched on her features.

Shreya, after a momentary phase of bafflement, gave in to the demands and went ahead to stand next to Adya. The princess pirouetted at her spot to ensure not another soul was in the vicinity and was keeping an eye on them, and a jubilant twirl later, she instructed the guest to take the passenger seat while she quickly slid behind the wheels. Shreya was reluctant at first, unsure of what was happening, but when Adya batted her lashes at the guest, Shreya conceded to the situation and sat next to the girl in the vehicle.