Rakshash Aur Rajkumari (The Devil And The Princess)

44• चिडियाघर

Ambika sat gracefully on a wooden sofa carved in the shape of elephants, their trunks forming the armrests. Her delicate hands swayed the rose petals in a copper bowl in front of her, the fragrant blooms dancing at her touch. The room smelled of sandalwood and jasmine, a soothing mix that calmed the senses.

Rudraksha lounged comfortably beside her, dressed in a simple yet elegant kurta. His muscular frame seemed out of place among the delicate décor, yet his presence commanded the room. Next to him, little Damru, sat cross-legged on a plush cushion, his eyes wide with excitement.

"I think tigers are the best," Damru exclaimed, his voice full of enthusiasm. "They're strong and fast!"

Ambika smiled, gently swirling the petals. "Tigers are indeed majestic, Damru, but I have always loved peacocks. Their colors are so vibrant, and they dance so beautifully when it rains."

Rudraksha chuckled, watching the interaction between the two. "Peacocks are beautiful, but I've always had a soft spot for Bull. They're wise and gentle, yet incredibly powerful."

Damru's eyes sparkled as he looked up at Rudraksha. "Bulls are great too! Maybe one day, we can see a real one up close."

Ambika leaned back, her fingers still playing with the petals. "That would be wonderful, Damru. We could visit the wildlife sanctuary and see all these animals."

As the conversation about favorite animals continued, Damru's eyes lit up with a sudden idea. He bounced on his chair, clutching his stuffed tiger tightly.

"Aunty Ambika, Uncle Rudraksha, can we go to the zoo? Pleeeease?" His voice was filled with pure excitement and anticipation.

Ambika's eyes sparkled with childlike glee, and she clapped her hands together. "Yes, yes, let's go to the zoo! I haven't been there in ages!" She looked at Rudraksha, her enthusiasm infectious.

Rudraksha, however, was less than thrilled. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a smirk. "The zoo? Now? It's hot and crowded, and I don't fancy spending my day surrounded by screaming children and animals."

Damru's face fell for a split second before he put on his best puppy-dog eyes, a look that could melt even the coldest of hearts. "But Uncle Rudraksha, you love bulls! And they have bulls at the zoo!"

Ambika joined in, her own eyes wide and pleading. "Yes, Rudraksha, come on! It'll be fun. We can see all the animals we just talked about. Please?" She clasped her hands under her chin, adding a dramatic flair to her plea.

Rudraksha sighed heavily, running a hand through his messy hair. "I don't know... I really have a lot of things to do." He attempted to sound busy and important, but it was clear he was losing the battle.

Damru, sensing victory, turned up the charm to maximum level. He climbed onto Rudraksha's lap, looking up at him with the most adorable expression he could muster. "Please, Uncle Rudraksha. It'll be the best day ever if you come."

Rudraksha groaned inwardly. The combined force of Damru's innocent charm and Ambika's sparkling eyes was too much to resist. "Alright, alright. You win. We'll go to the zoo," he conceded with a reluctant smile.

Damru and Ambika cheered, jumping up from their seats in a flurry of excitement. "Yay! Zoo time!" Damru shouted, racing around the room with his stuffed tiger held high like a victory banner.

Ambika joined in, twirling around with the same enthusiasm. "Let's get ready! We need to change into our zoo outfits!" She grabbed Damru's hand, and they dashed off towards their rooms, leaving Rudraksha to shake his head in amusement.

He muttered to himself as he stood up, "I must be mad. Or a pushover. Definitely one of those."

As Ambika and Damru ran up the grand staircase, Rudraksha trudged slowly behind, each step filled with exaggerated reluctance. While the other two hurriedly changed into their zoo-going attire, Rudraksha debated if he could somehow get lost in the house and avoid the trip altogether.