A Tale Of Love (On Hold)

SECRET EXCURSION

RAJKUMARI CHITRA

I peeked around the corner from behind the pillar. Ok no one. And slipped past the night maids. Somehow it felt as if the security is pretty lax today maybe the reason is Maharaj. I had tried sneaking away many times before when I was young but always caught and punished but this time it's kind of good feeling.

I removed a lantern from one of fixtaures as I exited the palace area. Maharaj called me near South gate. Strange as I asked around. Southern gate is not guarded by palace guards. It's desolated place where no one ventures. A perfect place for secret excursion.

But I wasn't naive enough to think it's not guarded but in fact one with most heavy security. Probably guarded by Maharaj's personal troops. After alot of sneaking around I finally released my tense nerves. I looked around in the darkness when I felt him approaching me from the darkness and for a second I thought that his eyes are glowing.

He was dressed in commoners cloths but it didn't help him to hide his majestic. Neither did the previous king nor any of the princes had the majestic. Now I think back to them. They look even cowardly. Hiding behind the guards ruling over people because they think it's their birth right. They forgot their responsibility as the rulers.

I smiled softly at his lofty grin as I sat on the carriage. I had seen them pass on the roads as I did the chores for Mitra. My eyes widen in suprise as Maharaj himself sat in the place of  coach driver but before I can object that the carriage had already took off on the road.

I stabilized myself using the side of carriage as the horses rushed off. After a time I let my eyes wander off soaking in everything. The unpaved roads, the small huts, the small fields dotted with crops. Somehow even the ever stationary stars and moon looked more beautiful than fort.

Slowly we stopped in front of the fair. The deti festival held after years of postpondings. I heard my old nurse talk about it. She said when she was old it was a marvelous sight. I took everything in as we walked to the temple. Even if the people unintentionally gave us some space he put his arm covering me so no one bump with me. Somehow this special attention made me feel special.

I have to seperate while going to do Puja. Apparently any men or boys other than the pandits can't enter the Devi's premises. The older women guided me to do the pujas. They all looked of well off families. "Is he your husband ?" One of the older lady asked me her hair more than half grey.

I opened my mouth not knowing what to say. She laughed at me thinking I was too shy. My face burned in embarrassment. Who won't be. "Take this leaf." She said handing me a huge leaf. "Either you write your name and your husband's name on it. Or leave your handprints. And then release the leaf with a diya in Lake water. My mother used to say the couple whose lamp burns throughout the time the wife do nine rounds around temple their martial life will be filled with happiness."

She thrushed the leaf in my hand and went away. I watched mutely at the leaf in my hand. He is not my husband. I might like him but he is the King while I am just a lost princess. Me and my sisters are alive at his mercy. Me doing this ritual. It's... It will be outrageous. I kept the leaf on near by plateform for writing and stepped away.

I had not even gone for three steps and came back and lifted the leaf. As I wetted the dry sindur I prepared for Puja to write my and Maharaj's name on the leaf. I thought. Forget it. No one has to know. I will hide it in my heart. I wrote my name Chitra Devi beneath his. I don't know his exact name but I had heard the rumours in the Dalpatgarh fort. He is called Ayudhik Vijay Kumar. I wrote Ayudhik Vijay in most beautiful handwriting I can muster up. Last time I wrote something was a years ago.

And then I took the leaf to the Lake side and lit the lamp. Admiring his and my name together for the first time I let it float by itself. There were many other woman beside me doing the same. I dragged my feet away from the lakeshore before giving it one last lingering glance. The lake water was not still. Some small waves were surging now and then. They even overturned quite a few leaves and exhausted many lamps.