Chapter 5 and a bonus scene, just for you readers!
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It was the middle of the night.

And Dipankar lay awake in bed.

He tugged away the blanket to reduce the warmth, feeling restless. He noticed the place beside him empty. And the door was left ajar, too, letting a faint beam of light peek into his bedroom. He got off his bed and walked towards the source of light. The silhouette of the familiar figure stood beside a lantern, leaning against the rails of the balcony.

"Roopvalli?"

She jumped in surprise, turning towards him, her alarmed expression softening. "Oh, it's you, husband. You surprised me back there." And she turned back to the view, facing away from him.

"You couldn't sleep too?" he questioned her, his hand automatically coming to rest onto her shoulder. She shook her head, then slowly turned towards him. "What's bothering you?"

"I... I can't stop thinking about what you said about Revati."

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "You have to drag her into every one of our conversations, don't you?"

He ignored her quip. "She knows that marrying Ballaraja would be advantageous. Uniting both kingdoms would yield so much wealth and power. If you are saying that she faked the incident that day, why would she?"

"Hm... I don't know," she admitted, cracking her knuckles.

"I don't fathom how-"

"Oh, but I can. If she was doing that, she must've had a motive in mind that would benefit her." She gasped as the idea hit her. 

"What is it, wife?"

"I get it, now. If she marries him, she'll have to learn to share both the riches and power with his other wives as the third queen. Being second is bad enough. But if she gets out of the marriage and gets closer to her father, she can slide her way to the throne of Vaibhavgarh and be the sole ruler of it! She is much more cunning and cruel than I thought her to be."

"Don't you think it's a bit of a stretch? You make her seem so much more... monstrous. But, all that you said fits so perfectly..." he trailed off. Roopvalli smiled up at him, a two-sided smile. To him a placating one, but to her, one of success.

"Let us sleep on it, husband. We might be able to make sense of it later."

* * *

It was a little past three in the morning when she had taken a bath.

She wanted to prove herself to Suruchi that she was capable of handling the tasks, well and before she arrived. Then, her teacher would be impressed. And she would finally start training! She hoped this 'brilliant' plan of hers would work. Revati, once ready, had packed her sewing materials in her bag and was headed to the castle main doors where flowers would be delivered for the castle pooja every day.

I better carry the flowers from here instead of going all the way down to the valley. Suruchi won't even suspect it. Revati assumed gleefully, as she gathered bunches of flowers. 

When she reached the training grounds on the hill, she saw that all of the pots were filled with the rainwater that rained at dawn. She smiled to herself.

But the big pot wasn't completely filled. So she poured the water that she had brought when coming up to fill it. All she had to do was offer the flowers to Goddess Kali, keep the water-filled vessels back, and run around the ground.

Ah... Now I can relax without having to carry out any of the tasks. Clever me!

Suruchi came up by then, pleasantly surprised.

"All done," Revati said.

"That was quick!" she exclaimed. But as she neared to inspect the water, a knowing look covered her face. She looked at the flowers and turned a few of them over.

"Fill the pots with water from the lake and pluck the flowers from the valley," Suruchi said.

"But I just did!" Revati protested.

"Then pray tell me, how there is mud around each of the vessels and there are light imprints on the ground? Or would you care to explain how all of the flowers have not even a tiny bit of the uneven stem? They have been neatly cut by the flower seller, have they not? And the pots, you kept them here overnight for them to fill up with rainwater?" Suruchi questioned calmly.

Revati lowered her head slightly. "Yes, I did. But does it matter?" she asked. She cursed her trainer's accurate observation, Revati was hoping she wouldn't notice.

"Yes, it does. Now go complete your tasks, princess," Suruchi replied with a sarcastic smile. 

"The laziest are the most clever and creative," she mumbled out to no one in particular, shaking her head at the princess as she walked past her, grumbling yet again.

"And don't repeat this next time! You better know that I have the eyesight of an eagle!" she yelled after her retreating figure. She fished out a new tapestry for her to sew.

* * *

Roopvalli rose from the chair, picking up her now-finished letter, and walked towards the door. She softly closed it behind her as she checked the hallways. They were, thankfully, empty. She walked towards the castle doors where a postman would be stationed so she could post her letter.

She abruptly halted as she heard someone's footsteps around the corner. Her panicked eyes darted around and tried to hide the letter behind the fold of her sari. But Dipankar had spotted it. He smiled as he neared his wife.

"I see you have a letter there," Dipankar said with a raise of his eyebrows, gesturing to her hands.

Unable to conceal it she said, "Yes, it's actually for my... uh, how do I put it... my childhood friend who is, also a relative. A very distant one, I consider her as a sister though."

"Oh, then let me deliver it. You need not take the burden, after all, your family is mine," he said, reaching for the letter.

"No!" Roopvalli exclaimed. Upon seeing his puzzled reaction, she added, "No I mean, I'll do it. I wanted to take a stroll in the garden, anyhow."

Dipankar simply gave her a quizzical glance, muttered an 'alright', and headed inside.

Roopvalli released a breath. Phew! That was a close one, she thought. She reached the doors and approached the postman.

"Deliver this safely," she said. Lowering her voice, "Be discreet, and make sure this letter reaches him in private." She muttered the address to the messenger who nodded, bowed, and left.

"Step one: accomplished. Step two: I'll have to wait for his response," she mumbled out loud as a wicked smirk grew upon her lips. She lifted her head smugly and looked over at rose blooms in the garden. I might take a stroll after all.

* * *

"Now right, then left," Suruchi instructed Revati to lift up the two rocks on each side of the weighing scale as she held the handle behind her neck, her hands fisted around the handle above her shoulders. The rocks were weighed down to the ground as she released the handle.

"Why do I have to do this?" she huffed.

"Go back, now lift both of the rocks together," Suruchi told her.

"But-"

"The more easily and faster you are able to lift both of the rocks, the sooner you will start actual training," she said.

That effectively shut the princess up. She attempted to lift the whole weighing scale with the rocks but could lift them off the ground only an inch high. After many, many unsuccessful tries, Revati walked up to Suruchi and said,

"Why do you always give me such complex tasks? Why don't you start with the training already?" she whined.

Suruchi looked into the distance and spoke. "A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor. Food in abundance did not make a hardworking farmer. Submissive enemies never made a brave warrior. Yo-," she said, giving the princess a once-over look, "-you wouldn't stand a chance if I went easy on you."

With that Suruchi walked off. "Dismissed for today."

Revati stood in the middle of the ground, her eyes blinking, her expression in awe. "That, is my best friend and maid?" she whispered.

She shook her head and gathered up her things. She changed, packed the embroidery, and headed back to the castle. She made a mental note to ask Suruchi how she appeared at the castle at her place so quickly. And how she kept herself so calm and neat, unlike her disheveled self.

As she descended the stairs she noticed that all the torches were lit. She knew that before of course, but something about them made her want to think.

How are the torches li -

She nearly fell down as she tripped on her skirt. She gripped on the railings to balance herself. Revati decided that till she reached her room, she would mind her surroundings extra well. She took in the fresh, post-rain smell of the gardens.

Everything is merry, people are happy, nature is happy, I'm happy!

Revati thought childishly, as she let out a sigh. A sigh awaiting bliss. Until her smart brain decided to butt in,

With Roopvalli around, that's never gonna happen.

Ugh! I swear I need a break from my brain sometimes. But if I ever were to do that, I might be forced a break from my kingdom forever!

Shaking her head, she went into the castle, thinking of checking on Roopvalli every now and then.

* * *

"Swami, I would like to go on a pilgrimage."

The request caught Dipankar by surprise. "Oh? And where would you like to go?"

"The Nandishwara temple. It is a holy place and has a scenic river beauty," Roopvalli replied, smiling.

"That is a beautiful place, especially this time of the year. But I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I am very busy with all the new governance work Father has been giving me. And if I want to gain his approval I'll have to work hard. Sorry wife, I cannot leave-"

"Oh, that's alright!" she exclaimed. "I know how busy you can get. I was in fact talking about a solo pilgrimage. I will be escorted by a few ladies-in-waiting and guards."

Dipankar scratched his jaw. "The temple lies on the outskirts of the kingdom, doesn't it? Near river Vachi? It might not be safe..."

"You worry too much. I will have guards with me, I won't be alone. Besides, I could really use this travel. I don't do much around here and it gets tiresome just staying here doing nothing. I will go and come back safely. It's only a matter of two days."

"Fine," he reluctantly agreed. "You may go, but take the King's blessing before you depart tomorrow."

She scoffed, crossing her arms. "It's just a blessing for namesake. Also, I will be leaving today, I have packed everything already. I don't want to be late for the pooja tomorrow morning."

"As you wish, wife. I'm glad to see you back in your traveling spirit, again." He smiled good-naturedly at her. She smiled back, only, her smile was far from good-natured.

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How was the chapter?
Who do you think the letter was addressed to?
I'm sorry for the delay, was busy with schoolwork and didn't find time to do this.
Did you guys like it? If so vote and comment.

Thank you for reading ❤️
- Chinmayi, the brink of 14.