Brinda

Blending

Things slowly fell into place but hurriedly fell out at the same time. It definitely wasn't going as easy as King Adigun had initially thought and intended and the longer he stared at himself in the mirror, the harder it felt to believe he was actually attempting to do what he was about to do. Having Suraj with him was a helpful sight but even at that, getting himself into the desired shape was tougher than he first imagined.

"How do I look?" King Adigun turned around, spread his arms apart and smiled at Suraj.

Suraj wore a frown and hurried over to the King. "You will stand out like a sore thumb from the moment you head out of this castle. There is no way anyone wouldn't look at you with all the diamond encrusted jewelry on your fingers and the most important fact that you are black".

King Adigun stared at himself in the mirror for a moment. "How do you suggest I go out then?"

"Like a commoner", Suraj said without mincing his words.

It was as King Adigun feared and the thought alone left him with an uncomfortable itch all over. His parents would scowl, swear and threaten to have his head severed if they knew he was attempting to walk around the kingdom as a commoner instead of the King he was. More so, there was the concern about his safety if he had to go around without using a bodyguard of any kind.

"I can get you some clothes to fit in, but we need proper disguise if we are going to fool anyone that the only black skinned man in the kingdom isn't the King himself", Suraj noted. "We might also have to work on your self-carriage too if we are to survive even a day out there".

"Do as you must but be snappy about it. I need to be out of here before noon and hopefully get to see the market squares and other parts of the kingdom up close and personal", he explained.

"You are aware that you can easily see all these places with guards by your side and ample protection with you while you do so, correct?" Suraj reminded him of the possible hassles they will face on their way.

King Adigun shook his head, "The late King was known to move freely with the people and he was respected for it. Having armed guards out there only strikes fear into their hearts and I cannot win the heart and affection of my love by terrorizing her people now, can i?"

Suraj left without saying a word and it granted King Adigun the opportunity to look outside the castle and far away into the Kingdom. The sight from up there was beyond beautiful; people were like specs of sand, and he could see them go about their businesses with ease. It was similar to that in Chiroma and especially when the market women went to sell their goods every four days which was designated to be the market days.

More so, he had beautiful women often strolling past his view and intentionally doing their best to entice him. It was one of the best views from the castle he lived in back home, and while he felt some hostility being cast his way in Brinda, he was unperturbed and would do everything within his power to get himself in their good graves.

More so, he wanted to do it for Ambika Devi.

"I found the perfect disguise, my Lord!" Suraj barged his way back into the room sounding jolly and excited at the same time.

The man held out some clothing items with holes and looking ragged up before placing them to rest before the King. He also held up some paint and a large turban before grinning from ear to ear.

"We can have you concealed this way and not worry about anyone recognizing you", he said to the King.

King Adigun knelt over and picked up the tattered clothing before wearing an immediate and provoked frown on his face, "Did you feel how thick this clothing is? How am I going to be able to get any ai in it?"

Suraj retorted, "That is exactly what most traders wear at the market because it is durable and does no tear easy. They do not have the luxury of changing clothes every day or buying enough for them to have multiple choices".

The King does want to blend in but the clothing Suraj had brought wasn't fit for a pauper of any kind either. It was hideous to say the least and it stank badly too. He shook his head and then turned back around to look at the other items the man had laid before him.

"Where exactly did you get all these?" he asked.

Suraj scratched his head and replied, "Well, some of the guards were going to toss them away and I figured we could use them. It was just perfect timing for me actually and you could say a little bit of coincidence too".

King Adigun walked over to the sandal right by the dirty looking turban and then picked it up. The sole was flat, the leather was worn and everything about it screamed how it wasn't in any way, shape or form good for a King.

"Are we doing this, or what?" Suraj sounded really excited.

"Why are you somewhat happy about this?" he asked Suraj.

"We never really get the opportunity to do what normal people do. Well, you never get the opportunity to do what every other normal person does and that changes today", he chimed.

"You live in the castle, eat what I eat, and sleep in the most comfortable place a man such as yourself can. What makes you any different from me?" King Adigun asked with a harmless frown.

Suraj shrugged. "To begin with, I blend in perfectly because I am half Indian, and you are clearly from a place of wealth judging by your skin texture and the manner in which you carry yourself".

The King walked over to the mirror and stared into it while Suraj went about getting everything ready for their plan. In his reflection, he saw a man riddled with questions about a host of things he had never really cared about. Life for King Adigun used to be about gaining as much as he could from the spoils of war. It used to be about being the last one standing above his enemies, and it used to be about winning at whatever cost.

"Maybe I did go a little too far with the late King", he thought to himself.

Yet, he could hear himself sounding naïve. The reality of the world they lived in was either they went to war and took over what belonged to another, or they might as well remain with what they have and toil until they can create more. It was far easier gaining by destruction that acquiring by slow and painful process.

"I hope Queen Ambika comes to understand this eventually", he thought aloud before turning around to see the attire in full effect as Suraj held it up with both hands.

"If anyone sees you as a King in this outfit then I may as well get fired from being your loyal servant", Suraj boasted.

The outfit looked hideous and it was just what the King needed if he was going to disguise himself as he intended.