Lotus among the Roses

🪻 Fragrance 🪻

Kumud was up early today. Even the sun was not up the horizon......

 Currently, she was sitting beside the large bronze mirror, the reflection portraying her pensive expression. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each more tumultuous than the last. The upcoming palace celebration loomed over her like a dark cloud, and she knew the stakes were higher than ever.

She had made three requests to Vritra, each one crucial to her plan. The first was to uncover the truth about the Varman family, a name that held secrets entwined with her past life as Padmini. The second was to spread a rumor about the Dwivedi family, a move designed to sow discord and distract her enemies. The third was to secure loyal operatives, a necessity in the dangerous game she was about to play. 

Her fingers tapped away as she continued to devise a plan..... not to strike, but to spy.....

Renuka and Amita were currently preparing a fragrant bath for their mistress, while Rasika was busily preparing her dress and jewellery for her mistress.

Atula, the eldest of the three new maids was observing her new mistress, while she grinded for her a herbal ubtan for her.

" Miss, the bath is ready..... " Renuka said in a low voice, pulling Kumud out of her reverie.

" Ah! yes.... I am coming.... " Kumud said shaking her head, while quikly moving towards the bathing chamber.

Atula followed in with Renuka, when she heard Kumud speak, " Atula, can you prepare perfume from lotus flowers?"

Atula was startled by the sudden question, but she instantly sobered up and answered respectfully, " Yes miss. I have been trained in preparing herbal concoctions and perfumes as well. 

" Okay then, prepare for me two bottles of perfume out of the Persian rose flowers, along with with my blue lotus perfume. Take your time preparing the rose fragrance. I will tell you what to do after it is done." 

" Yes miss...." Atula bowed her head in acceptance.

" Also, when we go to the palace today, take some poison with you" Atula's head jolted up at Kumud's words. 

Horror spread in her heart as she contemplated if her new mistress was planning to kill someone when she heard Kumud's next words.

" Don't worry, I am not dumb enough to try and kill smeone  in presence of the Samrat......" Atula's heart calmed doen a bit, though she could clearly feel Kumud's laughter filled gaze at her.

" The poison....  preferably take something that can cause delusions or hallucinations..... like Opium" Kumud mused, as she started to rub the freshly made ubtan on her body.

" Yes Miss.... " Atula slowly whispered, her voice covered up by the splashing sound of water.

Kumud waved her hand to let Atula withdraw, at which she immediately leapt out of the room.

The other three maids were completely unaware of the conversation that just transpired between them. They looked at each other and shook their head as they could not make out the heads or tails of the situation,

" Renuka! Rasika! Bring me my clothes..... " Kumud called.

Both the maids immediately went inside the chamber, to help Kumud dress up, while Amita started picking flowers for her mistress's nitya pooja.

In just a few moments, Kumud dressed in her simple pink saree, began her nitya pooja ceremony. Her melodious voice, singing bhajan, rang across the courtyard, creating a serene atmosphere.

Vikram and Ketki, who were running about, quarreling, they too quietened down and sat beside her, sincerely experiencing the tranquillity her presence brought them....