The nightfall over the academy's building also brought with itself the stars of pride and joy. Hiranmayi, for the first time since Chavi stepped feet into the building, smiled at her. She went so far as to hug both of her students.
Faint thunder blew caution from the rains as everyone around gathered the clothes hung outside. Animals were cooped up into stables and sheds. The trees rustled, reminding Chavi of a day locked so deep in her memory, yet predominantly. Hiranmayi dismissed them for the evening, having already spoken to them about the pros and cons of their performance.
"I'll go visit the palace and come back, okay?" Adarsh stepped out earning a faint smirk from Chavi.
"Give my regards to Ishani." She said watching him leave.
The warm light of the diyas had kissed Darsh's cedar eyes, making them more beautiful than Chavi thought they could. Amidst his act of being a king, the silent confession in his eyes as he sat before her at the theatre, shook up the last resolve Chavi had.
Had Adarsh not been in the room when they met, Chavi would have broke down, succumbed by the intensity of her feelings towards Darsh. It was a big feat on Chavi's part to have just stood before him, not saying a word instead of jumping into his arms and making his ear bleed with her constant apologies.
As she wandered in her thoughts, she also wandered in the courtyard of the academy. Little rain pellets dropped onto the leaves from heaven above, once, twice, thrice before the clouds broke loose into a frenzy of cold rain, fueled by the quarter-long draining of the lakes and rivers by the sun.
Chavi too, like the rain that couldn't decide between round or oval droplets, couldn't decide if coming to Swarnonnata was for the better or for the worse.
Staying in Ashokdhar, with her family, her husband and friends though it was hard was beneficial then and now. But moving to Swarnonnata, finding new friends and purpose was also beneficial but sadly at the cost of staying away from her husband she so dearly loved.
Chavi reminisced her memories with Darsh. How every other Thursdays, they would take a turn about the capital. He would buy her chopped fruits off a stall after they finish visiting the Vishnu Temple. When they return to the palace, there wasn't a single time he missed putting a flower in her hair before sending her off to her room.
Missing those memories was a stretch, Chavi thought, after she came to Swarnonnata. The mightest task or a minor inconvenience all in ways reminded her of Darsh. Someone she didn't even plan on falling for was now in every while of her thoughts.
"Chavi!" Tara's voice startled Chavi. She looked back and saw her standing beneath an umbrella, rushing to her. It was then that she realised, her hair heavy against the scalp, her cotton saree flush against her wet torso, her fingertips cold and water running down her face.
Tara held the umbrella over her and pulled off her shawl, wrapping it around Chavi hastily.
"You might have dismissed me as your handmaiden, but that does not mean you can dismiss me as your friend." Tara mumbled, earning a smile out of Chavi before leading her inside the academy building and laying her down on the swing.
"What's gotten into you?" Tara scrambled to get fresh clothes for Chavi. She came back a while later and started changing Chavi's clothes.
"Darsh saw me at the theatre." Chavi said and Tara's bangles clad hands halted for a second, "We didn't speak much. But I'm nervous for tomorrow."
"The alliance?"
Chavi nodded, "I hope it goes well."
Tara silently changed her for a while, "Abhik saw me at the jewellers. At lunchtime."
YOU ARE READING
LEGACY ||Indian Historical Fiction||
Tarihi Kurgu||PART- 2- REGAL DUOLOGY|| (Can be read as a standalone) Darsh, the most illustrious son of Ashokdhar, is kind, loving, caring and simply just too good to be the Yuvraj. So, he's all set to become the king. He had his priorities set straight, the ki...
