The storm of horses broke the spell of sleep in the town while it approached every tiny corner of the village in search of the missing queen.
Rajveer's horse stopped at the foot of the temple stairs.
His glance froze at the sight of the giggling mother with her child in her lap.
"Let it be known to the royal house that we found her"
He whispered to a soldier on a fellow horse to his.
Shefali looked back at the whispering voices down the stairs.
Her jaw tightened. She knew it was time for her to make amends.
She got up on her foot, with the baby on her breast.
"Rani-sa,"
Their heads bowed.
"Spare me a horse"
She said, pulling up her anchal that was previously brushing the ground behind her.
Rajveer gave up his horse at the command.
This was the first time she felt the need to have known to get up a horse. She felt embarrassed stepping on a soldier's hand to get up the horse.
Since her health was not the greatest, the horses walked to the palace gates.
Shefali stepped down the horse and went straight to the court knowing important decisions are always taken in the court. Thus there was no need for enclosed discussions in the inner palace.
This was the first time she was stepping into the court with a reason to actually be there. Not because she was called or not because she needed to see someone. She was there for herself, for engraving a new name into the pillar of the court walls.
"Announce my arrival"
Shefali said standing behind the closed doors of the court.
The soldiers did as they were asked to.
The members of the court, including a few House members who were present inside got up in their places.
Before Shefali's stern arrival, arrived the loving cry of the child she held in her arms.
Everyone in the court got up. There were wrinkles in everyone's brows.
"Who is that child?"
Was the mainstream question to all.
Shefali, although, aimed her vision up at the throne.
Eshant's eyes were a mist of worries and questions.
"Where have you been?"
He asked when she spoke none.
"In search of justice. Looks like I was parted one"
She said.
His glance wavered from her to the child in her hand and then to the tilak on her head so preciously drawn.
"Shefali,"
He walked down the tiny stairs.
"Before you say something, let me"
She said, her glance roaming from him to the kingsmen and then to the members of the royal palace who were hurriedly entering the courtroom after hearing another new stunt pulled by the ever-talked-of Shefali.
"I'm going to say something, this court might have never heard of. The Royal family of Rajputana might have never considered a thing of. Yet knowing it all, Rajputana must consider my wish at all costs"
Shefali said, her eyes void of any sort of consideration.
Eshant looked at her knowing what she was up to but he feared he wouldn't be able to grant her a part of it anyhow. He would if he could, but even by the means of giving up on his life he wouldn't be able to.
The court fell silent.
Everyone looked at her waiting for the awaited announcement.
Drucilla, who had originally arrived to see Shefali's newborn, looked at Shefali with a confused frown.
"He is the infamous cursed child of the temple the villagers did not want to own"
She held up the child and everyone took the names of their respective beliefs at his mention.
"Fair enough, Rajputana owns him now... I own him now"
She said pressing him to her bosom while his cries came to a halt.
The most dramatic gasp came from the kingsmen, something Shefali did not expect.
She looked at her family members who were calmer than expected.
"Any objections?"
Her voice was rigid, ready to burn down anyone who stood up.
Everyone's glance stopped at their king.
The people's king.
"I had promised you to grant you anything you ask for but please don't ask for something I cannot. A blood that is not owned by the Chauhan bloodline cannot ascend the throne. If they could, I would have been the happiest to have given it off to Devansh years ago"
Eshant said, his head pushed down, his voice lower in shame.
When everyone was thinking of the curse and how the Royal family of Rajputana had never accepted a blood unknown to their family as a child to theirs... you were forward enough to think of the right to the throne? Shefali thought to herself.
"When did I ever ask you to make him the heir?"
Shefali's question drew his head up.
"Have I ever disrespected your boundaries as a royalty?"
Shefali's voice echoed into the big hall almost marking the end of this discussion.
"Then don't dare any of you to disrespect mine"
Her words came out as a motion of a much-awaited verdict.
She turned around and walked to the balcony that faced the village from the court that was used to announce important hearings.
"Shahdev Raj Chauhan"
She screamed the name for the villagers, who had accumulated down there to know what was the royal palace up to now, to make a note of.
Eshant's heart skipped a beat at the name that was picked by him for their son in the earlier months of her pregnancy.
The royal women walked out not being able to contradict or agree to the decision.
Ekta stayed, her eyes filled with tears remembering the sight of the dead child and the vision of this child who happened to replace the other.
Should I judge her decision when I am not the one going through what she is? Ekta thought looking at Shefali's back.
"Call him when addressing my first son. No one should ever mention the origin of him. Not now, not ever"
Shefali announced not caring to phrase the alternative. It was clear, something not pleasant.
As a courtesy performed for years, they bent down on their knees to welcome the new member of the Royal family and the courtroom welcomed the clatter of baby laughter that echoed for years after.
*
The tale of the adoption reached from ear to ear. Every information of the night was a speech delivered by the proud priest to whoever asked to know of that. It was a tale not heard enough yet when did left everyone wondering what would have been their resolve.
A/N
Do you think what Shefali did was right or was it too selfish of her?
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𝟏𝟓𝟐𝟗: 𝐀 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐚| Indian Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 Ⅰ 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐀𝐉𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐈-𝐁𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘 Shefali Roy had lost her parents in a pandemic when she was just one year old. That was the first time she was orphaned. The next time she was orphaned was when she was seventeen. The army of...
