Agneya - The Unknown King

Chapter 18 - Annual Meet-1

Agni was contemplating her words and smiled after the realisation that she too started to like him.  At the same time, in the middle of the night, two people were sleeping peacefully while hugging eachother with a silk duvet covering their naked bodies.

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It had been a few days since Agneya and Rashmi had a proper talk regarding their life.   One evening, Rashmi told Dakini, "Tomorrow is the Annual Meet of Pranyakta right.  Let's select the dress and jewellery for tomorrow".  Dakini brought a beautiful saree but Rashmi rejected it.  Dakini asked, "Why Rajkumari? It's very beautiful".  Rashmi said, "But it's blouse shows my entire back.  I have to cover it up".

Dakini sighed in sadness as she wanted her Rajkumari to proudly show her Mark just like she had showed off her scar.  And then she said excitedly, "I have an Idea, Rajkumari.  I will stitch another beautiful blouse which will cover your back as well".  Rashmi sighed and said, "For that you will work half of the day today.  Why so much hardwork just for a single day? Let it be, we will choose another dress". 

But Dakini was adamant and finally Rashmi agreed to her words and went on to look for another simple dress.  Dakini asked while starting with her work on the blouse, "Why are you searching for another dress Rajkumari?".  Rashmi replied, "The Royal Family Dinner with all other 5 Royal families is only at night.  But this time I'm going to enjoy the Annual meet fair during the day".  Dakini was shocked as she had always been restricted from roaming around the fair and only attend the Royal dinner.

Finally Rashmi has chosen her dresses and Dakini continued her work since there was still time for dinner.  Meanwhile, Dakshesh came to Agni's chamber and informed about the Annual Meet.  Agneya asked, "What is the significance of this Annual Meet?".  Dakshesh said, "It is actually a grand fair where people from all 5 Kingdoms can participate and also keep their shops to do business.  In normal days, people don't cross their borders and neither do the kings open their gateways.  So this is the only chance to know about the other Kingdoms culture, food and all other specialities.  And moreover, all 5 Royal families will meet over dinner, with the Royal family of Pranyakta and the crown Prince or Princess of those families will have to be present there".

Agneya nodded at him and then Dakshesh continued, "Actually thats the main reason why I'm here.  Samrat has asked me to inform you that you have to attend the dinner tomorrow, as the Yuvraj of Pranyakta".  Agni sighed and agreed to attend and waited for Dakshesh to leave but he didn't leave.

Agni looked at him and lifted his eyebrows asking in gesture.  Dakshesh replied in an excited manner, "Before dinner, we have the whole day to enjoy the fair.   And I have planned for both of us to visit the tent of Courtesans".  Agneya frowned at that and said, "No, I'm not visiting.  How are you fine with visiting a courtesan's place?  You claim to love a woman right.  Then how can you think about getting another woman to bed?". 

Dakshesh was shocked at his statement and then said in anger, "When did I say that I'm getting a woman to bed?  It's just a courtesan, whose life is based on their dancing skills.  Many men go to their place to enjoy their dance and get the special drinks which will be served there.  It is a very expensive place so not all men can go.  But during the Annual meet, their prices are low.  Moreover, our Samrat never calls upon the courtesans to perform in the palace court.  So this is the only occasion where could go and watch their performance".

Agneya realised that the courtesans he saw in their realm is different from this realm and has nothing to do with pleasuring men in bed for money.  So he apologized to Dakshesh, who was very angry.  Then Dakshesh said, "I will accept your apology only when you accompany me to the courtesan's place".  Agni nodded his head and soon Dakshesh went away.  At night, Agni went to Rashmi's Chamber where she was having dinner.  Dakini greeted him and then left the chamber.

"Why are you having dinner so late?", Agneya asked her.  Rashmi washed her hands and kept the plate aside while replying, "We were occupied with selecting dresses and jewelleries for the Annual Meet Tomorrow.  That's why it got late".  He inquired, "Seems like you are so excited about this meet?".  She replied, "Yeah, I was very young when I roamed around the fair and enjoyed the variety of food and other entertainment". 

The next day, the area surrounding the Academy which was used as a ground for setting up the Annual Meet, was buzzing with youngsters from all 5 kingdoms and also some couples who were checking out the clothing shops and many other shops.  Rashmi and Dakini too started to look around the shops especially dresses because the dressing colours, materials and designs of each kingdom differs a lot from one another. 

Rashmi saw a dress shop from Agnipura (Fire Kingdom) and started to see the dresses.  The shopkeeper doesn't know the identity of Rashmi except that she is from a Royal family due to her expensive dresses and jewellery, so he didn't show any negative feeling towards her.  Even many other customers who were purchasing there, knew the name but not the person.  Soon Agneya too came to the Shop and looked at some clothes while standing beside Rashmi.

Dakini nudged Rashmi to look to her right and she was surprised on seeing him beside her.  But to not make it obvious, she bought some dresses and left for another shop but soon he was once again beside her.  After visiting few more shops, she asked him in a whisper, without even looking at him, "Why are you following me everywhere?  People will find out soon if you keep following me".  He replied, "I just wanted to see how you do the purchase and what you are doing.  And the reason why I'm following you after keeping a significant interval and distance is because it won't be noticed by others".

Sighing Rashmi went towards a jewellery shop and was looking at a nose ring which attracted her a lot.  She picked it up but soon it was snatched away from her hand.  And she heard a voice, "Didi, I love this nose ring.  Please, shall I take it".  Rashmi was still in a surprised state and kept looking at her.  Charusheela turned to the person beside her and asked, "Rajkumar Dakshesh, isn't this looking good on me?".  He replied, "It's very beautiful.  And no one else can match this beauty".  Saying so, he looked at Rashmi with a mocking smile.

Rashmi came out of her surprised state and snatched the nose ring back from her sister.  Charu exclaimed in surprise, "Didi!  I told you that I liked it".  To which Rashmi replied, "So?  I didn't say that I'm giving it to you.  Just because you like it, doesn't mean that it will be yours.  Be it the Academic residence chamber or the nose ring, unless I give it to you, it doesn't belong to you".

Charu argued with desperation, "But didi, You cannot even wear it until you become someone's wife.  Then why do you even fight for it?".  Rashmi replied with a smirk, "Neither could you wear this because secondary wives cannot be welcomed before primary wife.  Then why do you even try for it?".  Then she asked the shopkeeper to pack that nose ring and paid for it.  All this while one pair of eyes were looking at her with fury while the other pair was looking at her with admiration and impressed look.

Charu gritted her teeth at the humiliation which made her eyes change colour for a moment before she came back to her normal state.  She thought to herself, "Didi, I cannot let you spoil my life along with yours, even if it is by eliminating you from our life".  Tears of frustration came from her eyes and she went away from the fair.  Following her Dakshesh too went away.  Rashmi gave the packed nose ring to Dakini and went on to check other shops while Agneya kept following her without letting others know.

Glossary:
Samrat - Emperor
Samragyi - Empress
Rajkumar - Prince
Bratashree - Brother
Bhabhishree - sister-in-law
Acharya - Master/Teacher
Mamashree - Uncle (Mother's Brother)
Mamishree - Aunt (Mother's brother's wife)
Bade - elder or big
Chote - younger or small

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Precap:

Rashmi asked, "So enjoyed the dance of the courtesans?  Who among them is your favourite?".

Agneya didn't say anything and just looked at her.

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Hey guys,

Hope you like the chapter.  Do vote and comment if you like the chapter.

Word count: 1500

Thanks,
SM.