Cittaja || Indian Historical Romance

28.

The 10th time, the hawk returned empty handed. Shakra sighed loudly.

"What is even on with her?" Shakra asked Karma. She was nicely ironing his dhoti with the pleats and making them look nice. The steam from the iron plate was visible.

"Possibly trying to evade you. Things didn't go as she wished for so obviously she is ignoring you."

"Atleast could have given a courtesy letter..."

Shakra sighed loudly once again. His dreams and wishes were filled with Mayurakshi. Oddly enough, he had been able to go without a burst of temper. Shakra is usually the entitled Prince who gets extremely annoyed and irked when things don't go the way he wants them to.

Karma handed him the dhoti. Shakra wrapped it around himself. Mayurakshi was overtly fond of the colour red. So, Shakra was beginning to wear a lot of red. Karma quickly decorated the jewelery over him with perfection. She tied half of his hair in a bun and left half down. Then placed the crown on his head. His shoes were placed before him.

Rang Bhavan was the official residence of the Crown Prince. It was made near Taarini riverbank. The palace had eight security towers, seven bedrooms, six servant quarters, five balconies, four inner courtyards, three study rooms, two gardens, one kitchen, and one temple room. The bathing kund was made just a little away from the palace. Water was drawn from the river through water wheel. The water was heated in the kund with heating system set below.

Shakra was followed by his advisors towards the Court. Karma stood right behind Shakra, almost like his shadow. His eununch was treated with just as much respect as Shakra himself. Shakra was greeted by the soldiers on the way to the court. He knew most of them by name and even their family members. He greeted them back with a smile.

He reached and saw Ameya and Abhinav. They greeted him with a grin. Right behind him, Kamaljit entered with Saahiti. While most orthodox members of the court didn't like the presence of the girl who was passionately outspoken but they stayed silent knowning the affection the Emperor had for her.

The two, Kamaljit and Saahiti, were great friends. They had similar personalities. Both their interest in arts were a point of friendship between them. They were closer in age too. Both of them were 18 years old, Kamaljit being a season older than her.

Shakra saw Abhijit enter and his eyes fell on the two laughing and animatedly talking about something. Shakra grinned knowingly. His brother could try and hide by things never miss Shakra's eye. Abhijit soon ignored them both and took his place next to Shakra.

"Something itching you, brother?" Shakra asked.

"Nothing is itching me. No idea what made you think that."

Shakra laughed, "Sure. Pretend that you don't know what I am talking about."

"I don't mind their friendship, Anna. If that's what you are thinking."

"She didn't ask your opinion whether you mind it or not."

Abhijit gave him a look. The two friends quickly made their way towards Shakra.

"Anna, Saahiti and I were thinking about going to visit the sea." Kamaljit started, a very hopeful look in his eye.

"Yes. It would be so interesting to see the sea. It has been a long time I have gone there. Rajkumar says that there is a beautiful temple there too. Now, if I can't visit it, this will be a shame." Saahiti added, the excitement peaking within her tone.

"Both of us want to go together, if you don't have a problem. Mahamatya won't send her alone and I won't have a co-artist without her."

"Co-artist?" Abhi asked.