Change In Tides

2.

Scene starts with the hustle and bustle of servants. Several servants moving here and there, all carrying some or the other things. A lady in her early 80's was busy supervising the decorations of this busy hall. Though she was not at all young, her beauty is still significant. Her golden hairs were tied in a huge beautiful bun indicating their long length, along with the brown beautiful almond eyes which were so innocent yet experienced. She was wearing a deep red coloured saree with heavy jewellery and a beautiful big bindi adoring her forehead.

" Use yellow tulips in between. "
"No not like that, change them into ring shaped and layer them."
" What leave those places empty, I'll ask someone to hang Raahi's photo there."
" Ohh ohh and make sure the ring is of perfect shape, Raahi doesn't like disoriented things." Her sweet and melodious voice echoed in the beautiful palace of suryagadh. She was none other than the wife of former king Prakash and eldest daughter in law of suryagadh, lady Nandani herself. Every thing about her was screaming her royalty from her clothes to her nature. Just by looking at her one can easily recognise her kind and calm nature. Her face though experienced did not looses its innocence.

The reason for lady Nandani to create such havoc among the servants were the twin celebration going to held in the palace of suryagadh itself. First was the grand celebration for completion of Silver jubilee of her brother in law Raahi and his wife Naina. Both the former king, prakash and his wife Nandani loves Raahi and Naina dearly. They want all the preparation to be perfect so that the occasion can be the most memorable one for the chief minister and his wife, thus got involved in the decorations themselves.

Second reason for the celebration was the return of the youngest generation of the royal family. The kids were returning back after 12 years completing their education in warfare and politics, both important for royals. All nine Princes of suryagadh were sent to gurukul at very young age for their warrior training. Prakash wanted his successors to be capable of handling the responsibility of throne perfectly and beautifully.

The palace was decorated beautifully with red, blue and yellow tulips arranged in a Cris cross manner along with some layered ring designs of pink roses across the hall. A couple couch was placed in the middle of the hall surrounded by red and pink roses and yellow tulips spread on the seat. Set of 17 chairs on the both side was covering the rest of the remaining empty space offered by the hall. Each chair has its own foot rest and a resting table alongside the chair. The attractive and powerful thorne of suryagadh was placed excatly across the couple chair. Guest had started to arrive from the door right behind the left twelfth chair whose back facing the door. Within an hour, all the seats were occupied with the royals of allied Kingdom. May it be the king or the prince, each of them were awed by the beautiful arrangement to celebrate Raahi and Naina's day.

After the initial rituals done by parents of Raahi and Prakash, the drinks and foods were served to the royal families along with entertainments presented by the folks .this The lunch ceremony was ended in around 3-4 hours, after which fest were opened for the citizens.

During the whole ceremony, three pairs of eyes from the balcony were eagerly looking at the doors, waiting for their nine sons. They were by their attire looking like they belongs to some great royal backgrounds. The beauty of these ladies were unmatched even in their mid 50's. The longing in their eyes to meet their kins was clearly visible in their eyes.

Its time for sunset, all the guest took off to their Adobe after enjoying the the hospitality offered by the palace of suryagadh. Gaurds were ordered to close the gates of the palace as it's the rule made by father of Prakash, the great king Surya himself, that after sunset none of the family members were allowed to go outside the residence.

Just before gatekeeper was locking the door, Madhav, who was incharge of soldiers, noticed two inlarged shadows on the both side of the throne as of guarding the ruler and their throne. Turning his head he could see 9 dark figures standing side by side at the entrance of the palace. Though dusk was covering their looks one can easily identify the warrior built body of all the none men standing at the doorstep of the palace.  Madhav whose face at first showed shock was now covered in suprise. He hastily ordered two of the soldiers to inform former king prakash and current king Aaditya the arrival of the nine princes and other three to lot the corridor attached with gate.

As the soon as the news reached to the mother's of those nine princes, their feets turned into wheels just to see their kids once again. Behind the the three royal ladies, all the elderly men of the family along with the eldest female occupant of the family. Till the time they have reached the gate, whole corridor had been lightened up by the flames, credit goes to Madhav and his soldiers. This light helps the member of the family  to see the faces of the princes.

The royal mother's couldn't believe their eyes, are they the same kids we have sent for education, was the question is their mind. There query is genuine. The lean looking boys who they have sent were lost somewhere. Instead the heavenly looking warrior took their places. Both youngest sons of Veer and Radhika, standing on the right side of their eldest, who were even thinner than the paper were now carrying swords as if it's weighs nothing. These Identicals twins then looked like malnourished were now  has a height of approx 6'8, tallest among all. Their pitch black  doe shaped eyes with shoulder long black hairs on the fair skin was making them look heavenly. A small gracious smile of meeting their family was adding the final touchup to their looks.The second eldest son of Veer and Radhika, standing on the left of his elder brother was a dusky man with doe shaped black pitched eyer. In his shoulder lays a beautiful bow intangaled with his black hairs were clearly indicating his choice of weapon. One can, even without seeing his skills, tell the the level of archery he had mastered just looking  in his sharp eyes. In the middle of the three brothers, stood the oldest son of Veer and Radhika. He's the eldest of the 9 brothers and 1 sister.Unlike his brothers he has a beautiful amber lotus shaped eyes and a reddish brown hairs with a very fair skin. On his shoulders rest his strong mace and face a calm smile. A smile of meeting his family after a long time. A smile of having sauntary of his family. Protection of his father, love of his mother and spoiling of the uncles and aunts and pampering of grandparents.

Next to Yash stands Dhruv, a dusky brown eyed man, looking at his mother with tears in his eyes. In his hand rests a beautiful black shaft. He is the excat copy of his father, from appearance to nature. Whereas his younger brother, with black eyes and soft black hairs were the perfect resemblance of his mother. In between the two brothers stands the eldest son of Aditya and Deepti, Daksh, who the was man full of pride. His black eyes and hairs along with the dusky skin was showing the perfect combination of his parents apperance.

At last stands the youngest of all, son of Som and Roshni. Both the brother were almost identical, brown headed fair men with bluish eyes, the look they inherited from their mother, but mind from their father.

All the three sets of brothers were standing at the doorstep of the palace looking at their family with a certain happiness on their faces. Before any  foot could step inside, a elderly high pitched female voice stopped them.

All the faces turned towards Nandani,   the lady who was behind everyone, suddenly came forward with a beautifully decorated thal filled with some sandalwood, curd, raw rice, vermillion and a beautiful gold diya. Seeing their grandmother with the arti thal for their welcome, the faces of the princes lots up just like the diya on the thal. Giving her grandchildren a warm and auspasious welcome, she kissed all those nine foreheads and let them enter the palace. All the brothers touched the feets of the elders to take the blessings, lastly coming toward their mothers.

As soon as the ladies touched the faces of their kids, the dam which had been held for last 12 years finally broke. All the longing, fear, care and just everything came out in the form of hot waters pouring down the eyes from the god who otherwise known as mothers.