Chapter 4
___________

Suruchi guided the crying woman in her arms to her chambers.

"Please Suruchi, go away, I want to be alone," Revati said, refusing to meet her gaze. Suruchi nodded and silently went away.

For several days, Revati did not leave her room. Suruchi brought meals up to her chambers where she ate alone. She started bringing her friends with her to see Revati once in a while and she adjusted better. She went out to the garden more often and she even came down for meals.

One day, Revati decided to open up to her friend about her guilt. She was lying in bed when Suruchi had come up to wish her good night and to blow off the lamps.

Revati called out to her before she left. "I had jus-just gone outside for some air that day, a-and," she managed before she took a deep shuddering breath. "It's all my fault, Suruchi... all mine. Now because of me, our kingdoms will get into a feud. I'm sure he must be plotting something against father!"

"No, no, princess. It was fate, what has to happen has to happen," her friend whispered soothingly as she sat beside Revati's sleeping figure.

"The self-defense that you taught me was all forgotten at the time. All of it was gone in the blink of an eye," she said, sitting up, her confidence more firm this time. "I know a few moves, but I want perfection. Complete perfection. Suruchi train me."

Suruchi smiled at the word 'train'. A year ago, the princess was taught some moves for her self-protection but never brushed the concept of fighting or attacking.

She stood up. "Tomorrow, the restricted garden, at 4 in the morning. Your training clothes are in the left-hand compartment in the hidden panel below."

"How..."

She shrugged. "I thought you might need them someday. Looks like I was right. Remember tomorrow's timings." She told before walking out of her chambers leaving Revati to gape in shock.

"4 in the morning...!" she said to herself as she covered herself with the thick duvet and drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Revati rose early the next morning.

She bathed, got dressed, and snuck into the kitchen to snag some rotis and some fruits. Her hair was a flailing river of ebony behind her as she ran quickly towards the gardens. Once she came to the restricted garden gate, she carefully pushed it open and stepped in. She parted the thorny bushes and ventured inwards.

I'm finally in the restricted gardens! she thought gleefully, as a childhood memory resurfaced. Her friends talked about ghosts in a haunted cave behind the gate. But her father had told her the real reason back then, after she had woken up in the middle of the night and clutched her father's leg, complaining about her nightmare.

He had smiled and caressed her head lovingly as he held her. He had told her that's there used to be another small garden. But because rocks from the rock hill attached to it used to tumble down occasionally, it was declared unsafe and closed for all. After that, little Revati had never been frightened by the ghost tales of the garden.

The king's words rang true. Revati saw a huge, steep, rock hill right in front of her. But luckily there was a tiny crack on the side just wide enough for her to squeeze through. Does father know of this?

As she came to the other side, she stepped into a caving about the size of a tiny room. The rocky walls blocked any hint of sunlight but fire torches were lit up. A staircase cut from rock was attached to the opposite side, leading up. She felt a jolt of excitement as she took in the scene before her, feeling like she was some secret spy in a secret hideout.

Revati swiftly climbed up not wanting to be late for her first session. Her sandals clapped against the sturdy steps as she hurried up. It was a long climb but soon she reached the end where there was a trapdoor above her, wide open. She climbed out of it and to her surprise, saw a huge training center with a temple at the end of it.

She looked back to see her palace in the distance below. This is an amazing getaway to train! I wonder where Suruchi is... she swept her gaze around the place. Nothing. She decided to go to the temple and offer her namaskaaras first. As Revati ran along the green grass, she tied her hair into a tight braid. The temple was small, but oddly rejuvenating just by sitting there.

She set her bag with her day clothes and jewelry down beside her.

"You're late," Suruchi stated as she appeared from behind the pillar.

Revati jumped. "You scared me. And no, I'm not late," she argued, staring at her friend who wore a dhoti and kurta and had tied her hair in a braid. They both were in the same dress code. But their attire with a slight change in color.

"You are ten minutes late."

"I have brought a tapestry that I can sew in between practices so that I have an excuse to tell my family,. Revati handed it over to Suruchi.

"Mhmm. Fill up all the pots with water."

"Wait, I thought we were going to train?" Revati asked.

Suruchi ignored her comment. "There is a lake behind the temple a little far from here. Take the big vessel with you, fill it up, and pour water into the rest of these pots." Her chin jutted out, gesturing towards the several large pots and two small copper pitchers.

"But the traini-"

"Hurry up, time isn't going to wait for you, and neither am I."

"Fine," she said, slightly grumpy as she lifted the vessel and headed to the back of the temple. Indeed she did spot a lake, but it was far down in the valley below!

A little far, Suruchi? she mentally scoffed.

Nevertheless, she headed down and reached the lake after quite a long time. Revati filled the vessel with water to the brim and started her long climb back. Climbing back up was one thing, and climbing the same way with a nearly three-pound vessel full of water was another. Thankfully, the sun hasn't risen yet and it was cool out.

She finally made it up, heaving slightly. She poured the water into the pots and sat down on the cool rock floor, exhausted.

"Now, go back to the same lake and if you walk a bit further, you'll find a field of flowers. Pick any yellow ones for today and offer it to Goddess Durga," Suruchi voiced from where she was sitting and doing the tapestry.

"Excuse me?" Revati questioned her incredulously. The climb was hard enough, and going back down and coming back up would be draining.

"Last I checked, you weren't deaf Revati. Now, do as I say."

"What will you do then?"

"Finish your excuse." She motioned towards the tapestry in her lap, a slight, supposedly amused grin on her face.

Without a word Revati huffed, her nostrils flaring, as she got up to begin her task.

My task.

My tiring task.

My long, tiring task.

My hard, long tiring task.

Ok, that's enough! Get on with your work Revati. She reminded herself, walking into the valley. Her eyes skimmed over the flowers and decided to pick some yellow Ketakis. A long while later, Revati arrived back at the temple with her arms full of the flowers.

"Now, take a needle and thread, make a simple garland with the flowers. Oh, and walk or run across the ground about five times. Running is preferred," Suruchi said without looking up at her.

Revati rolled her eyes. "Shall I make the garland first?"

"Do both tasks together. Now."

Revati's jaw dropped to the floor, after doing such tedious tasks, she was assigned with more tiring ones without a moment of rest!? This is highly unfair!

"I don't hear or see you running around the ground, princess!" her trainer sang after no response from her mistress.

Glaring at her, she got up and was soon up and running. With the thread held between her teeth momentarily while threading the flowers, her now sweating face, hair wet with sweat splat on her cheeks and temples, the princess could've almost been classified as a common laborer.

Once she was done, she came panting and nearly collapsed onto the floor. "Garland - ready. Five rounds - done!" she reported, cheek pressed to the cool stone pillar.

"Offer it to the Goddess," Suruchi said, finally getting up.

Revati put the delicate garland around the idol's neck, applied a tilaka with the kumkuma, and performed a namaskara.

Suruchi said, "Tomorrow, same time same place. And don't be late. I might get there a little late, but you already get started."

"With training as in actual weapon training?" Revati asked eagerly, excitement in her tone.

"No, with the same tasks you did today," she said, handing her the finished tapestry. "Take your excuse along with you."

Revati's face morphed into a slight scowl, she accepted the tapestry and mumbled something along the lines of, "Some training this is." She was about to leave when Suruchi tutted.

"Uh-uh. My gurudakshinaa?" she asked, raising her eyebrows questioningly.

The disciple handed her some fruits from the fruit bowl there and bowed to her gloomily. "Dhanyawadaha Adhyaapikaa."

Suruchi chuckled at her behavior and left. Revati changed back to her day clothes and headed back to the palace. She fanned her hot face with her veil as she stomped down the staircase. 

She was still upset that she hadn't got even an ounce of training. The cool air calmed her down as she neared the gate of the gardens. She cautiously went in without anyone noticing her. She successfully made it to the fountain without being spotted.

Usually, there used to be a gardener checking his plants at this time but he would arrive late in the winter season, so her timing would be fine for a few months and go unnoticed. Revati sat down, made herself comfortable, and made it look natural as if she was sitting there for a long time.

When half an hour passed and no one came or saw her sitting there from the castle, she realized that no one would see - much less fall for - her pretense. The princess got up with all her stuff and headed back to the palace, running. 

The hallways were so quiet that she was afraid to step in and break the silence. But she did it anyway, slowing herself down and panting slightly.

Revati went to the tapestry room with her bag. Her friends' chatter and gossip drifted to her ears as she entered the room. Their heads all turned towards the princess as she shut the door behind her.

"Rajkumari, gone out for a walk in such chilly weather?"

"Why did you go out? To see to something?"

"Or someone."

They erupted into a fit of giggles. Revati's cheeks were warm. "Of course not, sisters."

I did, my lady trainer. But not that kind of someone,

"Your face says otherwise," one of them said, smirking.

"Well, it was cold outside and now suddenly warm," she said carefully not to draw any suspicion to the fact that she had been running. Running wasn't a crime, no-no-no. But why would a princess run when she could walk like she owns the place? She did own the place. Besides, the behavior was not fit for a lady, much less a princess.

"Oh, what have you got in your hand there, Rajkumari?"

"I was just finishing my rose tapestry," she quipped in, passing it over. Suruchi had done a marvelous job through Revati told her to make it look like an amateur, like herself, had sewn it. "Not meeting someone," she added with a side glare to her friend who had suggested it. She shrugged innocently.

"Beautiful piece. But... it isn't quite your style," another remarked, not wanting to offend the princess by telling her that this one was actually good. Unlike her previous tapestry fails.

"Oh, I spent quite some time on these now. I must've improved," Revati lied effortlessly, her forefinger brushing back the wisps of hair framing her elongated face. "So what's new, ladies?" was enough from the princess to send them off into rivers of gossips and chatters.

She smiled, subtly excusing herself, and went upstairs to her chambers. She then took out the map and began studying as there was nothing else left to do. She spent her afternoon and evening running errands for her father, checking the granary stock and a few other things.

At night she went downstairs to the royal kitchen. A cloth went around her waist as an apron. She got her hands dirty with wheat flour. Revati took out the dough from a closed container and begin kneading it. She felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Suruchi!" Revati exclaimed. She turned around, startled. "Were you trying to kill me or something? Today morning was more than enough."

She simply grinned and sat down as she dragged a sitting stool. "What are you making princess? Need some help?"

Revati shook her head in a 'no' and divided the dough into three pieces. "It's for one of the guards' children. Poor kids, I say. They are motherless and lack care and their father stays away guarding all the time. I met them yesterday,"

"You can't blame the father. He's a guard after all," she said as she got up to heat the stove. "Where do they live?"

"A few lanes away from the market. I have some old clothes and toys from when I was little. I think it'll fit them snugly for next winter."

Revati hesitantly placed the now flattened-out dough onto the flames. Her friend rolled her eyes as she took them from her and roasted them with expertise and ease for her. "Take some chutney along. It must be in the drawer to your left," Suruchi pointed. "After all, you can't make chutney, can you?"

This earned the grinning maid a sharp glare.

Revati was done with the rotis, she now grabbed the container with chutney and murmured a quick thanks to her. She took off her apron, wore on a dark cloak, and went out of the palace gates and into the market a little far away.

The streets were wet and cold, but that didn't faze her. She was determined to deliver them hot rotis every night from then on until the guard got a long break in the summer.

She entered the house and spotted the children staring at her. Their cheeks were stroked with dirt, their petal lips dry and their clothes all ragged. They regarded her with a curious, questioning gaze. She crouched down to their level, smiled, and told, "Look what I've got you, some nice new clothes and toys."

The toddlers gratefully accepted them. When she also fed them the hot rotis by hand, they were overjoyed. She talked to them and kept them busy with stories.

When she was heading home they all hugged her tight. "Thank you so much, princess sister. No one has ever done this," they said, looking up at her.

Revati was touched and hugged them all back. "I will be back on alternative nights, tell your grandmother to rest on those days. I'll tell you all another story the next time I visit."

They nodded happily and the princess took her leave. She felt content having helped someone, and even more as they reciprocated positive emotions. Revati reached the castle and decided to slip in from the backdoor of the kitchen. It was well past dinner time and she guessed that her father would be taking a stroll through the garden, her brother asleep in his chambers and Roopvalli... definitely not asleep but up to something.

Revati walked past the throne room and headed upstairs. She shrugged off the cloak, dusted it, and hid it under her mattress. She removed her jewelry, kept it aside on the dressing table, and went to bed.

I better shrug off thoughts, good or bad, for later. For ahead of me, are hours of contented slumber.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glossary:
Ketaki - Cosmos flowers (They are beautiful, btw)
Gurudakshina - a form of fee offered in cash (quite rarely), kind or services to one's teacher (this Indian word is hard to put into English words)
Dhanyawadaha - 'Thank you' in Sanskrit
Adhyaapika - female teacher
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That was a sweet day in princess Revati's life!
Hope you guys thought it was too.
Was the training fun?
Let me know by voting and commenting down below.

Thank you for reading ❣️
-Chinmayi, nearly 14.