The palace was buzzing with festivities swaddled with excitement and bliss for Maharaj has announced the annual Shiv puja. Taps of hurried steps pulsated the whole back palace with servants hurrying to finish their given tasks and women storing their nest of attire for the functions while the children ran along the corridors and grounds teeming with energy and enthusiasm.
"I had the messenger hurry with the instructions for preparing the temple kitchen" Niriksha said cheerily walking into the busy chamber strewn with samples of silks, incense, silver and gold wares, pulses and many more miscellaneous articles. The festive week always lifted her mood.
"Thank you so much Niri" Sambhavi raised her bejewelled head slightly from some scrolls and papers, sending her younger sister wife a small distracted smile, "I just sent condolences to the royal cook and his family. He would have already been to the village setting up the things otherwise."
"Yes Jiji (elder sister), his brother's death was so unexpected." she replied, sitting down next to a basketful of uncounted silver bel leaves that would be distributed amongst the masses after the rituals, "At moments like this, thinking of the unpredictable wheels of fate and time makes me shudder."
"That is life dear Niri, we can only seek some semblance of constancy in those who accompany us on its wild rides" Sambhavi added, "That is the only way you can maintain sanity, through hope and devotion and commitment."
"Hmm, so finding the right companions is important." Niriksha hummed in, "What if we make mistakes..."
"Niri, that is why much thought and effort is put in them dear...sometimes you say some absurd things" Sambhavi said kindly, shaking her head fondly before assuming a more sombre tone "That reminds me, will Aryamik be joining? Did he say something about it?
Niriksha looked up cautiously from counting the little silver trinkets. She was not unaware of their husband being more expressive to her than Sambhavi, the whole palace knew but Sambhavi's accepting demeanour to it always left a gnawing feeling deep inside.
"No he did not. He must have been in great hurry and the circumstances there uncertain" she finally said.
"Oh I see. Let's hope he can turn up for the puja. I will write to him tonight informing him of the dates" Sambhavi replied, a gentle smile on her lips, "Will you be making your special almond kheer tonight? The kids have been asking for it for a while"
"Of course Jiji, why not?" She answered, returning the smile, as both ladies delved back into their works.
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The clamour of the festive preparations that had had the palace enwrapped around itself had ebbed considerably or rather most of the crowd on which it had subsisted on had departed to the age old royal temple of Mahadev- the guardian deity of the kingdom for eons. No King of the dynasty had failed to observe the austere week in devotion to the God and this year was no different.
But true to the nature of perpetuating traditions, the joyous spirit of rejoicing reverberated in the excited footsteps and ever pleasant smiles plastered on the faces of the sparse inhabitants of the palace eagerly waiting to join their dear ones at the family temple and the doe eyed youngest daughter in law of the household was one of them.
The night before the departure was scheduled, had opened itself to a red sigh in Nirksha's bathing chambers and sweet crimson hues had dyed over the travel plans.
"Eenchara, go make sure there are enough incense sticks in the temple. I will run by and get the prasad and milk."
Niriksha sauntered in the direction of the private kitchen even before Eenchara had the chance to respond. A small grin of satisfaction spread across her lips as she approached the little table next to an east facing door, the thin curtain dancing to the whims of the strong winds. It was not winter yet but the nip in the air pleasantly tickled against her warm, freshly bathed skin.
Quickly tucking her hair behind her bejewelled ear, little droplets of water still gliding down the long black locks hanging loose till her hips, she dipped her fingers into the soft mass of saffron hued dough kept in a brass bowl, her nostrils delighting in the smell of ghee mixed in sugar as her palms rolled the ladoos into shape with meticulous ease.
"Vir would love them with almonds" she muttered fondly to herself, placing the last round sweet on a golden salver, edged with fresh flowers before hurrying to the inner storage chambers for expensive, imported spices and dry fruits.
Not long after, the cozy little kitchen found itself company again but in place of the beautiful, regal princess as one might have expected, in walked a dishevelled looking man, steps faltering slightly and ungraceful, hands stowed inside the pockets of garments completely distinct from every little thing that surrounded him.
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"What are you doing?"
Tony looked up, mouth half open at the incredulous shriek. His eyes widened, registering the presence of another human being in the room.
"Who gave you the permission to eat those, even touch those at all?" Niriksha continued sternly, "How did you come here?"
He raised both his hands in surrender, gulping down the last remaining morsel of food in his mouth. Clearing his throat, he took a deep breath as his energy starved brain tried to come up with a witty enough response but her next actions swept him by surprise. The admonishing anger that had dribbled out of her was now suddenly replaced by a nervous, fidgety disposition.
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Framing Shards
FanfictionHe had a past, she a present. When they collide fragmentation of lives is inevitable. But cleaning the shards is no easy , throwing them away equally painful. Sometimes the third option is needed to implemented, framing these broken shards of life a...
