Cittaja || Indian Historical Romance

5.

The Kings of the Kalika Empire had set up wonderful stands and steps near the bank of River Taarini. The whole stretch of the bank was well constructed for the ease of people. The breadth of the river was stretched to a long distance. They were cleaning twice a day so that all the muck and algae was cleared and people won't slip.

But more beautiful than the construction of the river bank was the princess who sat by it with her maids. The moonlight flashed at the waters and her hair cascading down from the bun fluttered like that of makaradwaja. Her Kanchi silk outfit. Indigo blue skirt and pink voni. A few Mandara flowers decorated the bun of her hair. Perhaps she had visited the family goddess of the empire, Sri Chandika. The Mandara flowers were perhaps from the nirmalya of the goddess.

Shakrajit dragged himself towards the princess. "Didn't anyone tell the Princess that it is unsafe for beautiful women to be out at night?" He asked, teasingly.

She turned around and Shakrajit was sure that she had to be Rati herself. Her choker necklace was nicely hugging her neck. He took a deep breath and went closer to her. "I think I should stay with you just in case some danger falls over you."

"His highness is rather funny. How can you protect me from your own self?" She asked, making her maids chuckle.

"I would tell you the secret when these butterflies accompanying you flutter away and get eaten by a frog." Their chuckles were cut off by that comment. They glared at him. He pulled out his dagger, making them almost jump out of his in fear. The only one who didn't get scared at all was Mayurakshi. She sat there with the exact same calm as before. They moved away from him but stayed close enough to her that they could instantly jump at her rescue.

Shakra sat down next to her. But he almost regretted it. Being anywhere near the girl only fed his obsession over her. Especially her scent. That musk, sandalwood, and jasmine perfume she always wore. To be honest, her perfume almost made her seem like a fresh newly arisen flower bud. It called to that deep animalistic part of him but she was like a confident tigress who didn't worry about any animalistic tendencies.

"It is quite a shame that your undaunted fame with battlefields and knives are being used over poor and fearful maids." She commented, chuckling.

Her waist was decorated with a gemstone studded girdle. There was only a little skin teasing a show. He sighed loudly and laid back over the stairs dramatically. She passed him a look, her peacock eyes had a question within them which disappeared quickly.

"Tomorrow, there is a celebration of Amma Chandika. Don't leave before that." He suggested her, just wanting an excuse to keep her around himself. She passed a thin smile.

"I'll think about it." She answered and then stood up. That's when he finally saw the whole peacock. The peacock rested on her shoulder blade and the feather extended towards her neck. The peacock was hidden by her voni.

Shakra watched her stand up and walk ahead. He knew well that she wouldn't look back. His peahen wasn't a lovesick bird like him. She was a confident and undisturbed parrot who wasn't bothered by any other creatures around her.

Just when he was about to sigh loudly at his state, his heart shouted loudly when the peacock-eyed lady moved just a little back from the building she crossed to look back at him. Her eyes widened in a bit of surprise when she saw him catch her looking back at him.

Shakra stood up and dashed towards her. She looked back. The proud peahen pretended like she hadn't looked back at all. "You looked back." He said with the biggest grin.

"So? I was just checking to see if you need help in case someone silently attacks you."
Shakra laughed. "Attack me? Who would want to attack me?"

"What? I can name 8000 people, Yuvraj."

He grabbed her arm and pulled her between himself and the wall of the building. "You did look back and turned red when you realized that I caught you looking back." His smile wasn't troubled by any of her words.

"Yuvraj..." The maids exclaimed. Slightly scared of him but unable to leave her alone.

"That isn't a sign of anything, Yuvraj. You could invest the time and energy that you spend on me over some other princess and would have even had a few children by now."

"So, you do assume me to be impressive enough." The odd surge of happiness that filled him when she looked back was almost infectious.

"That's not what I said."

"Yuvraj, your soldiers are coming this way. It wouldn't be well for the Princess to be seen like this with you. People will say rude things." The maids requested him.

"More than half of the kingdom knows that their Yuvraj has a special place within him for the Princess of Krishneri."

"My sister would love to fit the bill."

"Only that there is a little problem with that. My heart only sees you."

Mayurakshi laughed. She knocked over his chest. "Does it normally sound like this or my idea that inside there is empty is true?"

"It's a secret. Don't tell anyone. I do have it but the only one it recognizes is you."
She rolled her eyes at him. Even when she tried to act unbothered, his happiness couldn't be taken down even by an anu. The diamond on her nose pin flashed light. Her round brown eyes were decorated with deep black kohl. The tiny floral designs were by the corner of her eyes. Her lips had a deep red tint almost like the mandara flowers she decorated her hair with.

"Yuvraj..." The soldiers came ahead but looked down, not looking up at the two. He sighed and moved back to let her go. The maids quickly dragged her away with them.
Shakra looked at the soldiers. "What happened?" He asked them.

"Yuvraj, you have been summoned by Mahadevi Amritakumari." They answered.