Thousand Shades ..a fanfiction.. - Page 40

Swayam stepped outside, the held out his hand, first for Raghu then for me. "Kalpi" he announced. I turned, A crowd had gathered on the steps, watching as the soldiers approached. Mritunjay led the way, and I took Raghu's arm. The group of women chatted excitedly at the gate of the Palace.

I could'nt recognize who is Antra, Sharon, Taani, Varali... The girl holding the Pooja's Thaali applied tilak on his head, then a woman stepped forward.

"That must be Asva, Swayam's mother" I whispered to Raghu.

She wore a silk dress, though her clothes suggested great wealth, her face conveyed simplicity. "Welcome back, You look well but I guess conquering the world is difficult work" she said warmly, and for the first time since meeting him I saw his smile reach till his eyes.

"Well, there will be a feast tonight. Your sister has arranged it." She said. A girl appeared behind Asva, and I felt my brother tense at my shoulder. This was the girl Swayam had warned us against.

"Varali[Pic]" Mritunjay said, embraced his sister.

"All of Kalpi is waiting for your Triumph ceremony and while you've been gone I've arranged it all" she said breathlessly. She pulled his brother inside the palace, "Rey, I'll meet you soon" she shouted while movng inside. Reyaansh was embarrassed at this.

I thought that if she was my sister, I would want to slap her. Asva stepped forward, embraced Reyaansh and Swayam, "So both my sons are back" She walked down few steps where I and Raghu were standing. "Are these the children?" she asked Swayam.

He nodded, "Kria and Raghu"

She blinked rapidly, "They are smart." Swayam laughed, "What had you expected? A pair of WILD CATS?"

Raghu and Reyansh looked at me then at eachother and giggled. She hugged us sidewardly, "I know you had a terrible voyage but welcome to Kalpi" She said. The girl holding the Thali came and applied tilak on mine and Raghu's forehead.

"Welcome Prince Raghu" she smiled at Raghu, "Welcome Princess" She embraced me, She was sweet by her nature atleast I can have one friend here I thought. "She's Taani." Swayam said.

"Taani, show Raghu and Kria their chamber. I'll come myself to prepare them for the feast after giving a look to preparations for tonight" Asva said. We crossed the atrium to another open-space, there was a long garden in the center with channeled fountain. At the end of formal dinning table, across the hall, next to baths, were more chambers.

"This is my room, this is for bhai, that's for Sharon next to it of Antra and this one for you" she said. Swayam opened the wooden door for us. It was a beautiful room, It had nothing like Vardha.

"Lord Shiva! What are they wearing!" A girl said in Hindi from the door while her eyes were on us, Swayam seemed lost in his world, I looked at Taani "She's Sharon, Bhai and Sharon... I mean Sharon and Bhai they both ah"

"I got it Taani", I smiled.

Swayam moved towards Sharon, each of us looked here and there to avoid their romance though Raghu was a little shocked. "Sharon, My love. Don't speak so loud they speak perfect hindi" color flooded her cheeks. Asva came from behind.

"Ahm! Its time to prepare them. Swayam take Raghu to your room" she said. Swayam and Raghu left for his room, Sharon and other girls also left to get ready except Taani[look].

I saw a strikingly beautiful girl standing behind her, "Slave Neha" Asva said. I guessed her age nearly eighteen, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad to see your safe arrival in Kalpi, Princess Kria. We're going to prepare you fot tonight" she said.

She let a fire in the braizer and plunged a metal rod into the burning charcol. "Do you wish to wear your pearl necklace tonight" Taani asked. "Yes"

Then Neha pointed me to the steaming bath, "Inside. Do wet your hair, we need to curl it"

"But I already have curls"

"These will be smaller"

I stepped out of the bath, Neha took out a dress of deep pink color from her basket. I followed her and Taani's instructions, in the mean time Raghu[look] and Swayam[look] entered the room. "Its ridiculous, you look like you're wearing a bed sheet." I said in our mother tongue.

"That's what Swayam is wearing" He replied in Hindi, just then he noticed me and whistled, "A Kalpi Princess.[her look]" We followed Asva through the halls and out to the portico. There were many people I could recognize only Sharon in greenish blue dress [her look] and a girl with her.

"You look Handsome" that girl said to Raghu, his blush was visible on his face. "She's Antra[look]" Taani whispered to me. We were assigned our tables, "Swayam, Come" Sharon told him, led him on the table putting her slender arm through his.

They both sat on the circular table, Reyaansh[look] was already sitting there whom I didn't notice. I follwed them and was about to take a seat near when Antra came, "May I sit here?" she asked.

"Hmm Sure" I left that seat for her and thought of taking a seat between Taani and Neha. I waled to the seat when Reyaansh pulled me on the seat between him and Taani holding me on my waist, I tried to get up but he pulled me back. "Excuse me Princess Kria. That's my seat." I heard a harsh voice from behind, it was Varali.

"I guess Princess Kria is already sitting here so you can suit yourself somewhere else" Taani said with attitude.

"Then I guess I'll sit with my brother" she said and left for Mritunjay's table. "Reyaansh, you escaped from her today." Taani teased, "Ya! Thank god"

"Not god! All thanks to Kria" she said, Reyaansh gave a fake smile at mention of name. I was served food in my plate, It looked delicious but the roti's were dry, I looked for butter. It was near Reyaansh's glass, my hands went to pick it up. Reyaansh pointed a knife at me.

I immediately left the butter bowl, he shook his head "Princess, use this to spread butter on your roti."

"Ohh" I took the knife from his hand. In front of me My brother was struggling hard with butter and knife as he never did this work. Antra took knife from Raghu's hand, "Raghu! Let me do it for you" I, Taani and Neha glared at her.

"I think Antra likes your brother" Taani whispered.

Sharon and Swayam were busy with eachother, Antra was busy staring Raghu, Raghu and Reyaansh were busy with discussion of horses only I, Taani and Neha talked of sense. We were talked about gods and goddesses when Antra also joined us.

"I've heard that you worship Sun, Earth and water also?" she asked. "they were old gods, now days people worship sculptures"

"I think Princess is trying to say is that people of Vardha don't worship natural gods anymore, but gods with animal heads" Reyaansh said mockingly. "I guess then you've never noticed a sculpture Lord Ganesha at the entrance of your Palace." I replied sharply.

Raghu kicked my shin, but everyone on the table laughed at this, "Its true, I guess he has never noticed" Antra said. I was having a nice time with my new friends when the doors flew open and a soldier appeared as well. "What is this?" Mritunjay demanded from his table. When he stood people everyone got up from their tables.

"Forgive me Mritunjay but there's a news I thought you might want to hear"

"Has the illustrious traitor *Kuru* been caught?" Reyaansh said.

"No! but one of his followers, he was discovered posting this Message on temple of Shiva." The soldier gave the scroll of message to him, "Another message! And symbol of Kuru at the bottom." He said.

"Has the man been tortured?" Mritunjay asked. "Yes"

"What he has said?"

"That he was paid by a stranger in the forum to nail it up"

"And who that stranger is?"

"Kuru"

Mritunjay left with Adhvrushya to meet him by announcing punishment of Kuru's follower, "Chop off his hands." An uneasy silence had settled. "Will he achieve what he wants?" Sharon asked. Swayam smiled sadly, "No! the most he can hope for is lenient laws"

"If Kuru thinks he will achieve even that, then he's a fool. Kalpi will always has its slaves" Reyaansh said darkly. "Then I guess my brother and I are also a slave to you" I said hotly but I realized my voice had been louder than I intended.

He looked at me, "You both aren't slaves to me at all." He said in anger and left.

Sooo guyss hwss dis 1.. doo telll through your likes and comments...