The Battle Of Hearts A Choice Between Power And Love

Chapter 8 The Day of Celebration

ONE day later , The Day of Makar Sankranti

Philip's POV /Annika's POV

Finally we reached Punjab. At its borders, the guards let us in. The Sankranti festival had just began, even though our initial plan was to arrive before the celebrations started – our unexpected stay at the inn changed that.

Maa and Aryan greeted us at the palace gates. While maa was fussing over me being late, Aryan on the other hand seemed confused with our 'extra' guests. He showed them their rooms and arranged the attires for them.

"The pooja is going start Annika. You have to get ready! You too Lakshmi. Get her ready. Also, I have an outfit ready for you too, my dear" maa placed her hand on Lakshmi's head as a sign of blessings, as she went back to her room.

Lakshmi and I went to my allotted room. One good thing was that this was unlike the inn - both Lakshmi's and my room were side by side!

Two lehengas hung on the wardrobe in my room for me - one was more simpler but still elegant and the other one was heavy and more grand, as today was the main ritual and prayer.

"Well, we should bathe in the river Ganga sometime" Lakshmi suggested. "Soon, everyone will be ready. The palanquin will arrive soon and everyone will be ready to leave, so we must hurry. We have to travel there and there is a temple a little to the west. It is the temple that belongs to the royals, it seems" Lakshmi said, as she made a bath ready for me. I followed her into the bath and sank into the water filled with rose petals. She ground some fresh turmeric paste for me and placed it near the tub of water.

"Shall I assist you with the bath?" she asked.

"It's ok Lakshmi, I can do it myself. I will be out briefly" I said as I started to apply the turmeric paste and scrubbed it all over my skin.

I stayed in the tub for a while, soaking in it for a moment. Then I got up to rinse it off. Then I dried myself and got out of the bathing room.

Since we are going to the river Ganga for another bath and a ritual we should be performing there, I picked the simple and delicate orange lehenga. As I got dressed, Lakshmi got the simple accessories for me - a pearl necklace and some simple bangles. Lakshmi helped me with the earrings as I applied kum kum as my bindhi.

"Where is my maang tikka?" I asked her.

"Here it is" she took it out of a jewelry box and placed it on my head.  

"The last time I tried to take it off, I got it tangled. Oh my poor hair!" I pouted. Lakshmi giggled. "You should learn to behave like a princess!"

"And why should I do that? I don't need to pretend when it's just you!" I chuckled.

"Yeah yeah, whatever" she says as she placed the dupatta over my head and made sure it remained that way. "Ok" she patted my head.

"Now now Lakshmi, enough of getting me ready. Now its your time to shine too! I saw how the Admiral saw you the other day. Why don't you dress up? I am sure he won't stand a chance against you!" I giggle. Lakshmi blushed like a hibiscus flower on full bloom.

"When was the last time I saw you like this? Oh yes, when we were both just kids. Oh god Lakshmi! Look at you! See the mirror!" I couldn't help but tease her. Then I waited for her as she went to get ready.

I went outside the room and waited in the hallway for her. It'd been so long since I was last in Punjab with my family. We were all only about fifteen years old. I remember playing in the royal gardens with Aryan and Lakshmi, laughing and giggling as we played. I leaned against a pillar, recollecting all the memories of the past.