From Marriage to Marwar

Whisper's of Unity -2

Here's another chapter ✨

The journey back to Marwar was long and arduous, the silence broken only by the rhythmic crunch of sand beneath the camels' hooves. Amara and Vikramaditya rode at the head of the caravan, a tense distance between them despite their newfound pact. The weight of the prophecy pressed on them both, a secret buried deep within their hearts.

Days bled into nights, the unforgiving desert landscape mirroring the turmoil within. Amara grappled with doubts. The plan, crafted in the twilight of the Starlight Oasis, seemed audacious in the harsh glare of reality. Would the Jaisalmer council, desperate and distrustful, believe their fantastical story? What guarantees did they have that the knowledge wouldn't be used against them?Vikramaditya, ever the pragmatist, wrestled with his own reservations. Trusting Amara, a foreigner and a woman, was a gamble. Yet, the desperation in her eyes mirrored the plight of his own kingdom. The rebellion within Marwar simmered, fueled by the drought, and whispers of Das's treachery reached his ears with each passing day.

One evening, as they camped beneath a sky ablaze with stars, Amara decided to break the silence. "We cannot afford these doubts, Your Majesty," she said, her voice firm. "Our kingdoms teeter on the brink, and suspicion will only hasten our fall."Vikramaditya sighed, the sound heavy in the stillness of the night. "You speak the truth, Amara. Yet, how can I convince a council driven by fear and desperation to trust a prophecy spoken in shadows?"

Amara uncorked a waterskin, offering him a drink. "We don't offer them blind faith," she countered. "We offer a solution. The knowledge from the Starlight Oasis speaks of ancient water channels, hidden beneath the sands. If we can locate them, it could be the answer to both our problems."

A spark of hope flickered in Vikramaditya's eyes. "These channels… are they truly real?"

Amara shrugged. "The figure seemed… trustworthy. But even if the legend is half-true, it offers a chance. We can propose a joint excavation, a collaborative effort that benefits both Marwar and Jaisalmer."Vikramaditya nodded thoughtfully. "A gamble, but one worth taking.  However, to gain an audience with the Rajya Sabha, we need more than whispers and hope. We need something tangible."

Amara's eyes gleamed. She reached into her satchel and retrieved a small, intricately carved stone tablet, retrieved from the chamber within the Starlight Oasis. "This," she declared, "might be our key."

The tablet, cool and smooth to the touch, was etched with an elaborate map, its symbols indecipherable at first glance. Yet, as Amara traced the lines with her finger, a sense of familiarity washed over her.

"These symbols…" she murmured, "they resemble the ancient texts I studied in secret. Perhaps…"Days turned into weeks as Amara and Vikramaditya pored over the tablet, deciphering its cryptic symbols. Slowly, a glimmer of understanding emerged. The map depicted not just the location of the hidden channels, but also a forgotten trade route that once connected Marwar and Jaisalmer.

The discovery filled them with renewed hope.  This wasn't just a solution to the drought; it was a bridge, a symbol of a once-shared past that could pave the way for a peaceful future.

Finally, they reached the outskirts of Jaisalmer, a city cloaked in an air of despair. The once-vibrant streets were deserted, houses crumbling under the relentless sun.  A palpable tension hung heavy in the air, a city on the verge of exploding.

Vikramaditya, adorned in his royal robes, took a deep breath. "This is it, Amara," he said, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness.  "Let us hope our gamble pays off."

With the Jaisalmer guards flanking them cautiously, they entered the grand council chamber. The room was filled with weathered faces etched with worry.  At the head of the table sat Maharani Padmavati, her regal bearing a stark contrast to the despair that clouded her eyes.

Vikramaditya bowed deeply. "Esteemed Maharani, esteemed members of the Rajya Sabha, I come to you not as a conqueror, but as a bearer of hope."

He then launched into his carefully prepared speech, detailing the prophecy of the Starlight Oasis, the knowledge of the hidden channels, and the rediscovery of the ancient trade route. Amara stood beside him, presenting the deciphered map of the tablet as tangible proof of their sincerity.The council chamber was silent, the members exchanging skeptical glances. Finally, Maharani Padmavati spoke, her voice raspy with exhaustion.

Thankyou 🤍☁️👀