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5 days to go–
The golden rays of the early morning sun filtered through the intricately carved windows of Rajkumari Aadrika’s chamber, casting a warm glow over the lavish room. Aadrika sat at her vanity, her dark hair cascading down her back as her personal maid, Diya, carefully brushed it. Diya had a smile on her face since yesterday, happy for her Rajkumari. They had spent a lot of time since Aadrika came in this timeline, the bond they shared was now one of deep trust and affection.
Aadrika’s mind, however, was elsewhere. The events of the previous day—her grand birthday celebration attended by the nobles of Suryagarh and beyond—were still fresh in her memory. But what lingered most was the presence of Maharani Rajeshwari. Rajeshwari had come to Suryagarh not just to celebrate Aadrika’s birthday but also, Aadrika suspected, to observe her future granddaughter- in-law.
“Diya,” Aadrika began, her tone casual as she kept her gaze fixed on the mirror, “is Maharani Rajeshwari still in the palace?”
Diya, always quick to sense Aadrika’s moods, paused in her brushing and met Aadrika’s eyes in the mirror. “Yes, Rajkumari. She stayed the night and I believe she’s still resting in her chambers.”
Aadrika nodded thoughtfully, her mind racing. If Rajeshwari was still here, it was the perfect opportunity to gather some information. Aadrika needed to know if Abhiraj Rao would be coming to Suryagarh soon. After all, her entire plan hinged on their first meeting.
But how to ask without seeming too eager?
“Diya,” Aadrika said, a slight smirk playing on her lips, “I think it’s time I paid Maharani Rajeshwari a visit. After all, it’s only proper to thank her for attending my celebration.”
Diya smiled and set the brush aside. “Of course, Rajkumari. Shall I fetch your favorite sari? The maroon one with the golden embroidery?”
Aadrika considered it for a moment, then shook her head. “No, something simpler today. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard.”
Diya quickly selected a pale lavender sari, elegant yet understated, and helped Aadrika into it. As she draped the fabric over Aadrika’s shoulder, she couldn’t help but notice the thoughtful expression on her mistress’s face.
“Is there something on your mind, Rajkumari?” Diya asked gently.
Aadrika glanced at her with a faint smile. “Just thinking about the future, Diya. There are many things to consider.”
Diya nodded, sensing that Aadrika didn’t wish to share more. She finished pinning the sari in place and stepped back to admire her work. “You look beautiful, Rajkumari. Maharani Rajeshwari will be pleased to see you.”
Aadrika gave a final look in the mirror, satisfied with her appearance. “Thank you, Diya. I’ll go see her now. Please make sure no one disturbs us.”
With that, Aadrika left her chamber, her steps confident as she made her way through the palace corridors. The guards and servants she passed bowed deeply, but she paid them little mind. Her focus was entirely on the upcoming conversation with Rajeshwari.
When she reached the Maharani’s chambers, she paused for a moment to compose herself. She couldn’t afford to let any hint of her true intentions show. She needed to be subtle, indirect. Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly on the door.
“Enter,” came the regal voice from within.
Aadrika pushed the door open and stepped inside. Maharani Rajeshwari was seated by the window, a cup of spiced tea in her hand, looking every bit the dignified queen that she was. Despite her age, Rajeshwari’s presence was commanding, and her sharp eyes missed nothing.
“Rajkumari Aadrika,” Rajeshwari greeted with a warm smile. “What a pleasant surprise. Come, sit with me.”
Aadrika returned the smile with one of her own, though it was tinged with a hint of demure modesty. She crossed the room gracefully and took a seat across from Rajeshwari.
“Maharani,” Aadrika began, her voice soft, “I wanted to thank you for attending my birthday celebration yesterday. It was an honor to have you here.”
“The honor was mine, child,” Rajeshwari replied, her eyes twinkling. “You’re a remarkable young woman, and it was a joy to see you celebrated so grandly. Your parents must be very proud.”
Aadrika lowered her gaze slightly, as if shy. “I’m fortunate to have their support.”
There was a brief pause as Aadrika sipped her tea, gathering her thoughts. She needed to steer the conversation toward Abhiraj without appearing too obvious. Finally, she spoke again, her tone light and casual.
“I noticed you traveled here without Abhiraj Rao. I suppose his duties kept him in Indraprastha?”
Rajeshwari’s eyes sharpened ever so slightly, but her smile remained. “Yes, my grandson is a very busy man. The affairs of the kingdom demand much of his time.”
Aadrika nodded, feigning understanding. “Of course. Ruling a kingdom is no easy task.”
She paused, as if considering her next words carefully. “Do you think… he might have the chance to visit Suryagarh soon? I mean, with all his responsibilities, I imagine it’s difficult for him to find time for travel.”
Rajeshwari’s smile widened, and Aadrika could tell she was beginning to catch on to the real reason behind the visit. The older woman’s voice took on a teasing tone. “Why, Aadrika, it almost sounds like you’re eager to meet my grandson.”
Aadrika blushed deeply, lowering her eyes to hide the smirk that threatened to appear. “N-no, Maharani, I was just… curious, that’s all.”
Rajeshwari chuckled softly, clearly enjoying this exchange. “There’s no need to be shy, dear. It’s only natural to be curious about the man you’ll marry. And to answer your question, yes, Abhiraj will be coming to Suryagarh very soon. In fact, he’s looking forward to meeting you.”
Aadrika’s heart skipped a beat—not out of excitement, but relief. Her plan was still on track. She forced a shy smile, playing her part to perfection. “I see… That’s good to know.”
Rajeshwari’s teasing smile softened into something more maternal as she reached out to pat Aadrika’s hand. “You’ll be fine, Aadrika. Abhiraj is a good man, and I’m sure the two of you will make a wonderful pair. There’s no need to be nervous.”
Aadrika nodded, her fake smile still in place. “Thank you, Maharani. Your words mean a lot to me.”
Rajeshwari gave her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it. “Now, don’t let me keep you. I’m sure you have many things to attend to today.”
Aadrika stood, bowing slightly. “Thank you for your time, Maharani. I’ll take my leave now.”
As she left the chamber, Aadrika’s smile quickly faded, replaced by a more genuine expression of satisfaction. Everything was falling into place. Soon, she would meet Abhiraj Rao, and she would make sure that their meeting was memorable—for all the wrong reasons.
As she walked back to her chamber, Aadrika couldn’t help but feel a surge of confidence. Her plan was risky, but if it succeeded, she would be free of this unwanted marriage and one step closer to claiming the throne of Suryagarh for herself.
The next phase of her plan was about to begin, and Aadrika was ready.
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