A Princess For Christmas (Of The Dreams We Seek)

Six

"Do they keep elephants here?" Avni nodded. "I wish I could see one in reality" Avni gave it a thought when Callahan said

"Now, now Sifi, don't bother the good lady." Avni looked at Callahan. "It is not a bother. Elephants are very distinctive part of our culture and there is a place which let's you interact with them. Let's take you to the Village of the elephant keepers. Are you up for it Sifi?" Serafina smiled. 

"I love you Avni" And both the girls hugged each other.

"Are you ready?' Avni asked looking at a very excited Serafina. She was looking at the elephant in front of her. 

"Your highness, you can get your hands dirty you know? Some people find this as a blessing for their good future." Avni told Callahan who was watching them from afar.

 "leave my grumpy brother out of this, tell me Avni where should we begin?" Serafina asked and then Avni begin instructing her. "That was fun, now last step let's decorate it." Avni said. And all the girls begin their handy work, even Seraphina showed her artsy hand on. But Avni cannot. She was getting frustrated, when suddenly someone hold her hand guiding it to the patterns she wished to draw. 

"There you go Miss Avni. Sometimes, all you need to do is ask for help and it might come from unexpected places." Callahan said. But that wasn't what was bothering Avni at all. It was the fact that she couldn't able to control her fingers as well as she used to. That was definitely not very good.

After that they were allowed to take a ride on the elephant they just groomed. And feed him too. It was a very gentle creature. But Avni was having fun for a change. Maybe the Royals of WinterDell were not such a bad company after all. 

Maybe she can put aside the arrogant attitude of the Prince and this trip would be something worth remembering. "Where to next?" It was Callahan, it was quiet surprising how he was the one asking this question not his sister.

 "There are palaces of the old kings around, in fact the Rajasthan is a place where you can find many such architectural wonders, that is if you are interested in seeing it." Callahan nodded. They visited few forts next. Jaigrah Fort and Nahargarh Fort were on their list. "This is where the Kings and Queens of ancient India lived?" Callahan asked. 

"They sure did and they lived a very luxurious life. Imagine this place in a working order, servants, soldiers, maids, Queens, and their separate wings, draped with beautiful tapestries. Intricate patterned drapes laid over a big bed that dominated the room where the Kings slept." He stood closer to her. "Must have been magnificent, having so many queens to handle?"

She felt his breath on her neck making her look in his direction. "You might just relate once you get one for yourself, or two." She joked. 

"Maybe you can become the royal ambassador and stay there under my wing Miss Avni. Unfortunately, I can only take one queen at a time. Otherwise, I would make you one just to see you power of diplomacy and negotiation." He told her.

 "Oh no, I am not a Queen material Your highness, and not a wife material definitely." She said. "Oh is that so, then why your friends keep telling me about this boyfriend of yours?" She looked away. That confirmed Callahan's suspicions about what they say might be very true.

 "It is not like that your highness, he is not my boyfriend, we are just very close friends that's all." Why is he interested anyway? 

Avni cannot understand his intentions of trying to have so much of information about herself. He should not be concerned with her love life, no matter how much non existing it may sound.

"I am hungry" Serafina complained. And it made his brother smile. Her sister has a unique attachment to food, that she can eat anything that looked remotely edible. "Any suggestions Miss Avni, to serve your little guest?" He asked looking at Avni, her silence was too much for him and he just wanted her to talk to him if He may.

 But She was very good at maintaining her silence for him, this is not how he wanted remember her at all. He knows he might not meet her after this, or he meet her in very different situation where all he can do is what diplomatically correct for his people or country. 

Since he is not a King yet, he need not to care for that, what is diplomatically correct. And create what she says was an international incident. It was a phrase he can never ever forget, to create an international incident with her on a foreign soil to him.

 "I have an idea, are you up for it Your highness, to try some of the local cuisines?" And as Callahan suspected Serafina was more than ready. But he cannot say as much.

"That was delicious" Serafina said as the stopped at the last location of their trip the markets where she was planning to buy Serafina something unique, something she always will remember her with. 

"Yes, your idea of delicious Sifi, over spicy food." Avni looked at Callahan who just had his first encounter with the spicy treats of India. "Mine was delicious, it is not problem Cal, that spicy food doesn't suits your palette. I love it, and every time I visit, I am going to make Avni take me to a new different place and we are going to try new cuisines all over this country." Callahan shook his head.

 Avni was carrying her since it was a crowded place, no way they can accommodate a wheelchair, and Serafina didn't minded being closer to her idol. 

"Princess, I don't know how you dress, but today I will show you how Princesses in our country used to dress, as a souvenir and a remembrance of this trip I would like to present you with some very traditional Indian outfits for your collection. How would you like that?" Serafina hugged her. "I will love it Princess Avni"

"Look at this, it will look beautiful on you Sifi" Callahan was not even paying attention what they were doing. Girls and shopping, this one trend was fairly common at any part of the world. He might just get something too. 

For his friends back home? But that would have been true if he had any friends back home. He was missing that from his life. And then something caught his eyes. It was a ring, of very intricate pattern. It was lovely. Will make a very lovely gift for someone special. He walked into the shop as Sneha saw him and nudged at Avni.

 "He will be robbed" Sneha told her. Avni shied and walked in to save the naïve prince, who doesn't know B of bargaining. "That is a very special piece, Sir it will adorn the very delicate hands of Queen of this state." Avni heard the shopkeeper say. 

"The original is at museum." She was glaring at the shopkeeper. "But it is a very good copy with very precious stones adorned over it, not exactly cheap copying the art madam." She crossed her arms over her chest. 

"Not much you are telling it to be. Or shall I check it with other jewelers who do sell the authentic items in real." The shopkeeper turned silent. "That's what I thought." And then she held Callahan's arm and laid him outside the shop and to his surprise he let her lead him.

"We are done, any more place we can visit?" Avni looked at them sadly. "No, I guess we could have visited the wild life sanctuary but it is a day's journey and we don't have enough time for that at all. Sorry Sifi but we need to return and tomorrow is the fund raiser." Serafina nodded. 

"Alright let's go back to airfield." Avni said. "Actually, we cannot, the plane needs a little maintenance, we might have to spend the night here." They all were surprised to hear Callahan say that. "And how we are going to get last minute reservation to the nearest suite your highness." Avni asked. 

Just as the Driver came and said "Reservations are confirmed sir, they are awaiting your arrival." It should have surprised Avni, but now a days, Runnings with the Royals nothing seems to surprise her at all.

Callahan turned around and looked at Avni. "You are saying?" She shook her head. "Nothing your highness, nothing at all." Callahan got into the car and told the driver to drop them at the hotel. 

As they settled in for the night, Avni saw he was alone walking out the hotel premises, still looking like a poised King who rules and own this place. 

She decided to follow him and without second thought of hesitation she walked out of her room and out of the hotel door to the path he just took. 

Word Count: 1522  Words