Sikva, capital city of Kavish

The sun shone through the drawn curtain caressed Nakshathra, gently waking her up to a new day. Stretching up her aching body, she yawned as her peripheral view caught Arunya moved from one corner of the room to the other, bringing out Nakshathra's dress for the day and prepared hot water for her bath. The princess watched as her friend of the same age as her worked effortlessly with a little smile lingered on Arunya's thin lips.

'Such a hardworking girl, she deserves better. Maybe one day, I should pamper her the way she does to me. For that I should race with her to wake up early,' sighed Nakshathra. It has always been an unanswered question of when Arunya sleeps and when she wakes up. She always stays up late with Nakshathra, wakes up before her, makes early preparation for the day, brings her food on time and keeps her companied almost all day long while updating her on important palace affairs. A trusted buddy, Arunya was Nakshathra's shadow—following her lady when they aged fifteen. It was the start of the burgeoning friendship between the young Nakshathra and Arunya.

Certainly, Nakshathra had ignored Arunya in past few months and had completely neglected her friend's wellbeing in the times where she was in an emotional turmoil. Even then, Arunya never shunned from her duty, she took care of her troubled lady and served with everything that Nakshathra would have needed at that time.

Nakshathra continued to gaze on the petite girl moving around. There seem to be no end for Arunya's work, will she even sit down for a moment, Nakshathra thought.

She jumped out of the bed and strode in Arunya's direction; Nakshathra pushed her to sit on one of the seats. She held Arunya by her shoulders.

"Will you stop moving here and there for some time?" Nakshathra scolded, Arunya had been rushing in and out, corner to corner.

"But it's getting late, Nakshathra. You need to go to the ayurlaya and pick up the herbals for today's camp. Also, you promised them for a story session," Arunya reminded, tucking the stray strands of her hair behind her ears.

"It's all right. They aren't going to go anywhere. In fact, they will be happy if we don't turn up at all," Nakshathra said as she loosens her knotted hair letting its wavy end tumble down to her hip.

"Sit down and let me give a quick head massage." Arunya quickly offered.

"No! I can do it, Arunya. I also want you to take the day off. No need to do anything from this moment. Go back to your room, rest. Go out if you want." Nakshathra placed her hands on her hips and ordered. If she could just make the girl's day, she would be at peace.

Vigorously shaking her head and going around Nakshathra, Arunya refused to take it. "No. No. No. Not today."

"Why not?"

"Today is a busy day for you and they are one bunch of mischievous kids. You will need more help than you need any other time."

"But . . . You need rest too."

"My darling, Nakshathra. I'm fine. If it makes you happy, I'll take a day off tomorrow. Happy?"

Excitedly nodding her head, Nakshathra scampered to the bath area as she stimulated the roots of her hair. Arunya was her responsibility and Nakshathra might have disregarded her duties before but she will never do that again. Arunya deserves better than just being a lady-in-waiting for her.

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Dhruva woke up earlier than he desired, the bustling noises from the merchant street across the guesthouse had disturbed his sleep, he stared vacantly at the flat ceiling. For the past four days Dhruva and his Yujyagana had been visiting one of the farmer's fields. They came across the farmer while strolling on their first day at the outskirt of Sikva, an aged farmer trying to plough up his land without any helpers. Seeing him struggle alone, Dhruva offered his help to the farmer and the rest followed.

In return of their service, paid with hearty home cooked meal for the four of them and it had to be the most delicious food they had in months. Considering, they had done all the heavy work in the field, the farmer took up the rest of the job, ready to let his god-sent helpers go. "I can take care the rest of the work now. Thank you for the help. May God bless you, young men," said the farmer, a lone tear fell from a corner of his eye. "You made me miss my lost son lesser, thank you."

Dhruva learnt the only help the farmer had, was his son and he had gone missing without a trace a few months ago. The farmer also mentioned his son wasn't the only one missing but a few more. The young prince's mind quickly drew a possibility of them being taken away just as some unknown group took Vadivel and the others. He hoped they did not get tangled in the illegal trade of slave and if they did, he prayed the farmer's son be among fugitives coming back to Kavish with his Yujyagana.

The mere thought of someone in his kingdom abducting and trading humans as slaves enraged him to the extend, he was embarrassed and guilty. He had no slightest idea of the trades and he couldn't be of any help to stop the atrocity. The shake on his shoulder pulled him out of his wandering thoughts. Dhruva returned the farmer's gratitude with a warm embrace and promised to pay him a visit before they head back home.

Tossing on the bed, he sighed and got ready for the day. Leaving his friends to go about their own agenda, Dhruva headed out to explore more of Sikva by himself for the day. He still had to accomplish his mission and the last four days of spending in the field had deprived him from any access to find anyone connected to the higher authority of the palace. Dhruva continued to stroll around with an expectance of meeting one.

"The day's arogya assessment was supposed to be happening in the city hall but I don't know. Marriage is going on in there," said a lady to Dhruva as she carried her daughter on her hip who had come to get her daughter's health checked up.

He too had come to the city hall in hope to get to talk with the princess somehow by at least initiating a small conversation with her. Well, we don't get favourable every day after all. Slowly dragging himself back to the guesthouse, the lady who spoke to him earlier stood a few feet away from him.

"Thambi! The camp is going on in Shuban Vattika. You wanted to go too, didn't you? It's happening there," she yelled, sending the needed information and foot it to the garden.

Thanking her with a wave of his hand, he too followed her at a reasonable distance. If not for the lady he would have ended up losing his way. They spent about twenty minutes on foot and by the time he got to the garden, Dhruva was soaked in his sweat from the long walk and rising heat.

A small bell rang from a corner outside the garden. A coconut pedlar with his cart full of tender coconuts was calling him. Under the striking sun, he craved for it to beat the heat. Within minutes, the lady he met earlier exited the garden.

"Akka. There is no one in there, is it?" he asked, addressing her with respect.

"The vaithiyars are there but most of the children had gone back, done with their check-ups. I have got it done for my daughter too. You should hurry, they will be leaving shortly." He nodded and returned the empty coconut with yearning eyes. He had wanted to savour the coconut flesh but he had to let go off it.

Heading to the nearest entrance to the garden, he heard voices of young ladies walking out with small sized boxes in their hands. Attired in the same-coloured saree, he assumed they must be working for the arogya camp. His heavily built figure standing by the entryway caught their attention.

They examined him from head to toe with their curious gaze, some had their eyes twinkled at the sight of a new man in their place, some had naughty smile stretching on their lips and some simply looked at him. A few with the playful smile murmured to each other and giggled.

"Hush, girls," said one of them. She stood as tall and composed, likely to be the leader of the small group. Her hooded eyes gave him a once over with a mischievously seductive smile.

"I wonder what a healthy, good-looking man doing here?" Her silky voice rolled in a hush.

He hated to be treated the way the lady behaved but his hands were tied. Neither he said a word nor moved an inch as she reduced the distance between them. His jaw tightened. "I'd appreciate if you stop being intrusive to know my reason to be here," he snapped, politely.

She took a step back, offended. "How rude? I was just trying to be friendly and maybe help you a little."

Glances were exchanged between the girls behind her. Their demeanour changed as few left the spot without letting her know. Perhaps she wasn't the head of the group, he thought.

When he heard a couple of voices yelling from inside, he let go a breath of relief. "Someone, get a hold of him!"

She stepped back with an irritating huff. "Not me. I am done with chasing the little brats the whole day," she murmured.

"You can go in. There a few physicians inside playing catch. Go. Go help them and get done with whatever you have come for." She hurriedly said and darted away. "I'll come to see you soon. Don't worry, I'll find you," she winked and ran off.

He managed not to roll his eyes for her cheeky parting words and slowly made his way into the garden. Dhruva caught sight of a young boy running away. Is he the one they are trying to catch? Before he figured out, another command flew his way. "Hold him, please! Hold him!"

Lowering his height for an easy catch, Dhruva lunged and engulfed the young boy with his masculine frame, careful enough not put his whole weight on him. The boy however, did not budge and fought back with equal strength giving Dhruva a tough time keeping him in place. "Let me go. It's bitter and I don't like it." The boy protest and tried to wriggle out of his arms.

The lady swiftly reached them and dropped on her knees. "Arivu! You have to eat these. You can't run away all the time," she said almost pleading. She tried to hold him in place with her single hand while another held a bowl.

Arivu wriggled with great strength; he made Dhruva question his own.

"Arunya, help."

Another pair of hands reached for Arivu's legs and they worked with effort to keep him still. It surprised Dhruva at the number of people needed to hold the boy. After persuading him with a lengthy talk, the physician managed to coax him to eat his medicine. As she fed him the medicine, he took it as an opportunity and showed his anger by biting her fingers, she yelped in pain. Dhruva let him go at last.

"I hate you!" Arivu screamed at the top of his lungs and ran off. The little figure disappeared behind the tall vertically growing creeper wall.

"You are bleeding," the lady named Arunya exclaimed. Clad in a simple saree with minimal jewellery, he assumed her to be an assistant just like the one he met at the entrance.

He then got the chance to take a good look at the lady before him, exhausted and sweating profusely but he smelled a faint flowery fragrant coming from her. He squinted his eyes; the lady looked familiar but his mind failed to get an instant record of their meeting. But after several round of recollection, his mind briskly connected a few dots. Someone from Kavish, a physician, she has the same round face and she had to be her. The dagger girl from Mount Gaja.

Although their interaction lasted for a short while back then and he still remember the little detail of the lady astonished him. He gave himself an imaginary pat on the back.

By the time, he was out of his imaginary praises for himself, the lady already had her quizzical gaze on him. Was she trying to remember where she had seen him too? He wondered.

However, within seconds her gaze switched to a soft yet weary look. "Thank you for catching Arivu, he simply doesn't want to have his medicine," she said, wiping the sweat off her face all the while her eyes assessing the man before her. "If I am not wrong, I think I have seen you somewhere and for sure you are not from here."

He broke into a smile, "You guessed it right. I'm not from here. But you should remember where we met if I say we have a dagger encounter."

"Dagger?" It took her a while to assemble any memory of hers connected to a dagger. Despite her effort to regain any memory, she failed. "I don't remember, sorry."

"Hmm... Here's some hint. Mount Gaja, Vinayagar Chaturthi, a dagger, a man and crushed neem leaves." He kept adding to his list as much as possible to help her remember and when she didn't catch, he gave up. Dhruva lifted his sleeves to show her the scar in hope to recall the incident.

Fortunately, she managed to gather her memory of the night. She looked at him with her jaw-dropped and her widen doe eye darted to the where she had slit his arm with a dagger back then.

He followed her eye, "Great, you remembered! Anyway, the wound healed, thank you for treating me but it had left with a scar. Probably that's why I still keep you in mind," he teased the lady wearing a guilty look.

Her gaze fell to the ground, "I'm sorry for that."

"Old story, don't bother," he shrugged and watched as Arunya gently took her hand cleaned her wounded fingers.

The thought on meeting the princess had completely gone off his head and he sat there watching one physician helping the other. If I befriend with the physician maybe she can help me reach the princess who organises the camp.

"I have never got a chance t—" A mini thunderous chorus of young children coming into the garden from the entryway, interrupted him.

Arivu was leading the group, angry resolute on his scrunched face with his fist clenched like a ball. Behind him boys and girls of around his age marched with him. They stopped many feet away from Dhruva and the two physicians he then murmured to another boy next to him and soon a wicked smile worked on his small lips.

Dhruva caught the sight the physician, whose name he was yet to know but thanks to the bunch of kids he hadn't got the chance, staring with the same curiosity at the small group for whatever they had come to do. What has gotten on with this young boy?

"No more bitter ball!" The children demanded loud and clear. They were openly protesting to stop being treated. Dhruva peered back to the physician as she sank her body and turned away from the group, her lips pressed into a thin line. Clearly annoyed and exhausted.

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Hey, all! Recently I had updated some aesthetic mood boards in the first post. Sharing them here again in case you have missed to check it out.