LEGACY ||Indian Historical Fiction||

17||BLOOMING BONDS

Chavi woke up and saw Tara already up and getting ready to go to work. She never got any time with her as she would return in the afternoon but Chavi would have practice then. She would come back by the time Tara already left. She felt like she was putting Tara through things she didn't deserve.

"Tara," she meekly called out.

Tara turned as she braided her hair and smiled at her, "Oh, you're up. Don't you have your practice today? Adarsh was saying you've landed a pretty big opportunity..."

Chavi simply walked up to her and gathered her in a hug. Tara sensed the guilt in her actions but didn't much appreciate it. She hugged back nonetheless, for she too missed her friend at times.

"I do have practice today." Chavi said.

"I know. You better get going it's already late. Your Acharyaa would be furious." Tara pulled away from the hug but still held Chavi's arms, "Whatever you're feeling now, will pass. I love my work at the jewellers. I love to serve you. So let me go to work happily. Like I've let you pursue dance happily."

Chavi smiled before Tara hurried her away to take a bath. Tara, on her way back, felt a sharp pain shoot up in her ankle. She looked at the dressing Abhik had tied over two days ago. It had grown more than a bruise. It probably wouldn't go away if not treated properly. She sighed and ignored it. It won't kill her, will it?

She grabbed the keys to the jewellers and hurried out of the house. She did however regretted the things she said to Abhik but also was furious that he had generalised her as a maid who looks for personal benefits everywhere. So much for meeting him again in eleven days.

•••

"I hope the accomodation is to your liking," Adarsh spoke as Ishani looked inside one of many houses that Adarsh owned.

"Well, I won't be here a lot anyway. I like enjoying the different culture and practices here. So I'll be around the kingdom seeing places." Ishani set her bag down, "Will you be my tour?"

Adarsh smirked, "Are you trying to-"

"I might be" Ishani completed with a smirk on her lips as well as she picked out her clothes from her bag.

Adarsh shrugged, a little baffled at her forwardness, "Do you hit on everyone this openly?"

"I don't hit on anyone at all unless they're handsome."

"Okay-stop." Adarsh who was complimented endlessly in his kingdom for his dancing and princeship, found her compliments hitting his chest with more force than any other.

"I can't give you the tour of the kingdom until I finish my practice around noon. Would you be fine waiting?"

"I...I would. Are you sure we can cover the entire kingdom if we start by noon?"

"We won't be able to cover even the capital provinces by today. It would take atleast three days, at my speed, to see all the parts of the kingdom."

Ishani contemplated if she could spend additional three days. Darsh could handle the kingdom, Abhik and Rajat were there anyway, her being gone for three days wouldn't matter much. She looked at Adarsh who waited for a reply.

"Well, I'll be glad to extend my visit. I'll have to take a bath now. You can give me the address of your academy, I'll-"

"No, come to the academy with me. It'll be only three hours until I finish my practice. I can wait outside if you want." Adarsh now reciprocated her work back to her. Ishani seemed flustered but agreed. She shooed him out the house and closed the door.

She hurried in finding ink and paper from her bag and writing to Darsh that she'd be delayed a few days. She signed it and rushed to the window, she put her hand to her mouth to blow a bird whistle. An Ashokdhari soldier in disguise picked up the letter.