LEGACY ||Indian Historical Fiction||

13||EXPENSE OF COMFORT

"If if isn't my father's murderers..." Ansh spoke, standing beside the throne of Ashokdhar, looking down at the audience he provided himself with. Vihaan and Aradhya looked at each other nervously for they realised it was Amar's son.

"Don't be nervous, Maharaj, I'm not half as bad as you think I am. Yes, I am scheming on taking down Ashokdhar, but not at the expense of your comfort." He ran his hand along the throne's armrest, "I'll snatch Ashokdhar from you overnight. Wait for that."

"Why are you here?" Darsh menacingly spoke.

Ansh chuckled, "Was it not quite evident? I'm only here to threaten you. For now. When time comes, you'll watch the fall of Ashokdhar with you own two eyes."

"What makes you think you can set feet in Ashokdhar again?"

"I've striked right at the palace of Ashokdhar and have put your necks under swords once. I can sever your heads down the next time." He slowly descended down the stairs. He stood before Darsh with a calm face. His high cheekbones amplifying his menacing eyes. He simply looked at Darsh all over and scoffed. He walked past him out of the courtroom where he saw a few soldiers bringing in Ishani.

She looked at him with a smirk.

"You must be Aja's daughter."

"Maharaj Aja's daughter."

"You could have been quite an asset to us had you not taken Darsh's side."

"I already am, Rajkumar."

"If you being on the enemy's side is asset to us, sure."

Ishani scoffed, "Who do you think wrote you that letter?"

•••

Chavi walked home with sore thighs. Five hours of being in a squat was concerning enough as is. She reached home and saw Tara sitting in front of the clay stove, cooking rice.

"Rice again?!" Chavi groaned. Tara smiled.

"It's a staple here, just like how Roti is a staple in the north. Don't worry I'll make you dishes of the south that'll leave you forgetting the north."

Chavi walked in and crashed on the rope bed. She sighed and winced in pain as her legs were about to go numb any second.

"Did Adarsh come by?" Chavi asked.

"No. I finished at the jewellers and came straight home. Why do you ask?"

"He wasn't with me while I was being punished in the academy."

Tara turned immediately, "you were punished?...That's it, I'm going to talk to your Acharyaa or whoever. How can she punish you?"

"Tara," Chavi laughed, "I'm not a princess here. I can be punished. I can be killed and hit. I don't have any power here."

Tara smirked, "you understand?"

"What?"

"You only lived under the impression of a commoner Chavi. Maharani Aradhya raised you no less than a royal. You can't seem to walk a few miles to get water. You can't milk the cows, you can't cook because princesses are not taught such things."

Chavi felt a pit forming in her stomach at the sharp truth that she swallowed. She looked at the ceiling that was unsettling as well. She ran from Ashokdhar because she believed she hated the royal lifestyle.

"I am not a royal, Tara." Chavi still denied it. If she accepted it, the reason she ran from would be entirely unreasonable.

"You became a royal the very moment you were adopted by a Queen." Tara walked over and sat before her legs. She started massaging her friend's leg that seemed motionless, "I know it's hard for you to accept that. But trust me, you are a royal when you are reduced to your last breath."