Sikva, the capital city of Kavish

The arogyalaya, Kavish's prime health centre bustled with activity under Nakshathra's supervision. Her health camp program had not only provided a stable earnings for the physicians but also gave the people of Kavish to be treated if extra care needed. Although the new shift in arogyalaya displeased some, Nakshathra garnered appreciation from the citizen of her country. For obvious reasons, the king appeared pleased with the young princess's choice of action and announce to provided necessary aid to the camp for the people country wide.

The news spread along the wind. Herbal roots made to Sikva in tens of cart loads from the north of Kavish. The Samdanath family renowned to export dried nilan berries sent a shipload from their farms. Oil extract experts from the interior place in Kavish volunteered to offer their skills. While new set of apparatus filled the arogyalaya shelves. The centre received attention for the first time in many years where health was neglected by many underprivileged people. Those working in arogyalaya too, saw potential on keeping their jobs.

In one section of the hall, junior physicians loaded the medical apparatus and materials in secure boxes while on the other side, herbalist did a final count on the pots of herbal portion and decoction they had prepared the night before. Nakshathra stood with her own bag of apparatus in her hand and watched as each box loaded into the cart when she heard her name being called.

A slender lady cladded in an expensive saree with jewellery adorned from head to toe minced her way in Nakshathra's direction. Her black hair bounded on top of her head looked darker in the dawn with hair ornaments shinning from the reflection of the torches around. The deep red coloured lip parted to stretch a smile as their distance shorten. Parthiban's wife, Ahalya surprised Nakshathra in her gaudy appearance at a time as early before sunrise.

Nonetheless, Nakshathra plastered a smile suiting her sister-in-law's. "What a pleasant visit in the morning?" She greeted cheerfully and added. "What brought you out here at such an hour, anni?"

Ahalya giggled, her jewellery tinkled along. "I don't seem to find you in the palace these days. You are way too busy to meet us so I figured to make a visit myself."

"Some habits need to change, anni and this change is for the better. There are a lot more we can do when we are outside then living in the comfort palace," Nakshathra said. "For me," she added like an afterthought sighting a slight change in Ahalya's expression.

"Well, different people, different outlook." Ahalya scanned the surrounding of the busy arogyalaya. "Oh, its quite crowded here. Why don't we go to somewhere quiet?" she asked.

Nakshathra checked for the time at the clock stuck on one of the Aker towers. She had two hours before her team of physicians goes to set up the camp for the day. Nakshathra could use the time sparingly for her sister-in-law who had come a long way from the palace to meet her.

They left the busy arogyalaya and entered in to a small tea shop moderately embellished to serve the physicians and other walks of lives in the vicinity. The bell on the door rang and a lady in her mid-fifties ran to greet Nakshathra who she was familiar with and Ahalya. "What a lovely morning, Danya akka? This is my anni," she introduced and sat on one of the nearby tables.

"Greetings Your Highness." Danya bowed to Ahalya. "What would you like to have, Your Highness?"

Nakshathra helped Ahalya to make her very first order in her life, careful enough not to make her uneasy. She listed the variety of teas served in Danya's shop and suggested pastries one can only taste in the shop. They sat in silent for a short while as Ahalya observed the shop in amused yet with a scrunched face. Nakshathra enjoyed the expression but cut the silent short right after their breakfast was served.

"You have something to tell me, right?" Nakshathra begun as she sipped the steaming chrysanthemum tea.

Ahalya hummed in response relishing the refreshing roselle tea she had ordered. "I thought I could pull you out of your tight schedule since you hardly look after yourself, you newbie workaholic." Ahalya tapped the table lightly and laughed.

"Ever since your self-discovery, if you put it that way, you have been a rather serious working royal than any of the other princesses in the palace. I am not sure if I should be proud of you or pity you," Ahalya added with a hint of dislike.

Nakshathra observed Ahalya over the rim of her tea cup. The change in Ahalya's demeanour as someone soft and caring switched as to someone judging her. It struck her that Ahalya might be one of the many who disapproves onsite working princess. She plastered her ever-charming smile. "You need to be proud for all the good reasons, anni. I am no more self-blaming myself nor do lock myself and I am more considerate than I was. You should really be proud of me," Nakshathra replied tactfully.

Ahalya studied Nakshathra's face for a long while. "Maybe you are right but all I can is pity you. For exhausting yourself," she said as she took Nakshathra's hands in hers. "You should take rest. You look tired, your eyes have lost its glow, your hairstyle needs change and look at your skin, so dry." Ahalya pointed changes of which Nakshathra herself did not see on her.

She certainly did not have a dry skin maybe her hairstyle needs a change but why was Ahalya pointing them out. What has outer care has to do with exhaustion and rest?

"I want you to take care of yourself at the best, Nakshathra. You will need them the most in next few weeks. You should look pretty, glowing, flawless like the most beautiful princess in Kavish."

Ahalya's concern bewiled Nakshathra. Her sister-in-law never showed any interest in grooming anyone before and Ahalya's sudden eagerness on her appearance, provoked her curiosity.

"Why, anni? Are you going to sell anything using my face as a walking model? I don't see any reason other than that for you to say so." Nakshathra tapped her chin with her finger as if trying to think of other reasons.

"Oh, Nakshathra! I don't do business. Just let me handle your beauty care for next few weeks, please." Ahalya batted her eyelashes.

"Uhm... I don't think that's a good idea," she declined politely.

Ahalya have always been loud in presenting herself even on daily basis, a contrast to Nakshathra. She shook her head seeing herself as her sister-in-law sat before her, heavy jewellery, vibrant coloured saree and heavily done hair while she wrapped in simple cotton saree, minimal jewellery and braided hair. Why is she so concern the way I look anyway?

"But Nakshathra...," Ahalya insisted.

"No, anni. If there is anything concern has to do with how I look then it should be the way I am, naturally. I am sorry to disappoint you but I'm running late, I should be going. See you later, anni." Quickly bidding goodbye, Nakshathra stormed out the teashop leaving a frustrated Ahalya behind.

"Absurd!" Nakshathra commented, rushing to the health camp. Whatever the reason for Ahalya to make the proposal, Nakshathra would never agree to alter the way she looks unless she wants to do it herself. Yet her mind kept wandering as to why the need for a makeover.

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He caught the view of the colourful border wall of Kavish at a distance that stood apart from the surrounding greens. The colourful mural art of various Lord Ganesha's stories was painted throughout the exterior wall as far as his eyes sees. "An auspicious sight and beginning," he murmured as he nudged his horse towards the kingdom well known for its artistic skills, followed by his three companions.

Dhruva believed, his visit to Kavish to be a positive start for a healing process between the kingdoms. It has never been easy. If he succeeds, he can then figure out to work his best to mend their differences without bloodshed by returning everyone who once been taken away from their family. For him, there seemed to be no point on holding them back for no crime of theirs. Those people deserve to live freely without a torturous life and he was determined to make it happen. No matter which kingdom started it, the matter has to be resolved so the next generation need not suffer and live with hatred.

Dhruva and his companions reached the heart of Kavish, Sikva the third day after a good rest in a nearby rest house. The ambience in Sikva had been one of the warmest among many cities he visited in Lambodara. Its light-toned coloured adobe houses were fresh and pleasant to the eyes as compared to Durja, all houses and buildings were of the colour of soil.

Not so long ride later, the palace of Kavish came into view. Shimmering in the shades of yellow, the sandstone building held an image of a golden palace in daylight. Although Kavish was a relatively smaller kingdom compared to Durja, it had all a perfect city needed; well-built cobblestone pathways, designed agriculture spaces, city hall, emergency service booths, town square and more. A well-planned city makes a happy residence. Certainly, visible through the faces of people running their errands.

"Well, here we are in Kavish, the capital of the kingdom. What is your next plan, Dhruva?" Viswa trotted his horse next to his while his eyes roamed around catching the brilliance of the city.

"Go get a place to stay for a few nights before we could find a house that can accommodate us for a longer period of time," Dhruva answered.

"Obviously! Viswa, are you getting dumber or what? That's the first we do wherever we go," chuckled Arasu with a shake of his head.

"I think he had left his mind and heart in Ambikeya. What was her name? Maithili?" Dhandapani teased recalling Viswa and Maithili's silent emotional departure.

Viswanath threw his water-bag on Dhandapani for making fun of his recent love interest. "Shut up!"

"Boys! Come on. There is a guesthouse for travellers close to Shuban Vattika, the city garden," said Dhruva as he led the way following the direction given by the locals.

The place around Shuban Vattika was also known as the traveller's spot and it had been designed for traveller's convenient stay with every necessity built close by to the guesthouse. The place reminded him of Arana Square in Mahina.

The guesthouse was a four-storied building that had its reception desk on the first floor with a storeroom and a stair case on its either side. "Welcome to Anantha guesthouse. I'm Anantha owner of this building." The man behind the desk grinned, joined his palms together, greeting them formally. "That must be a tiring travel, you men look exhausted. Should I arrange a room for four or four rooms each, sire?"

"We will go for two rooms, please," requested Viswa while the rest checked out the lobby with intricate paintings hung on the wall.

"Alright, sir. Please wait, I will head up to check if the rooms a ready to be used. Please take a seat while you wait, sir." Anantha ran up the staircase.

While Dhruva's three Yujyagana waited inside, he headed out for a quick walk and give a try if he could get any possible information of the royals. Strolling around the vicinity asking random questions, he caught a sight of a long queue under a tree far to his left.

"Its medical camp held by the princess. She does it often these days." The stall keeper filled him in as he curiously watched the queue move.

A smile spread on his face; the days in Kavish seemed to be in his favour. They got into Kavish without a hassle, got a place to stay and also a way to reach out to a princess of Kavish. He couldn't stop beaming, all he had to do was keep a track on the medical camp for a few days before he approaches the princess.

"Oh, it's that easy?"