Chapter 11
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Chhaya was never one to hold grudges. She only avoided, ignored, then conversed as if nothing was wrong between them. Charu was aware of this, so she took no offense.

And they were back to being normal a few days later. Charulatha frowned whenever she saw Netra with her, but reminded herself not to. Surya was doing well with training and navigating in the dark, but calculations and mathematics had nearly given up on her. Lady Suruchi had surprised her the next night.

"I have heard from Bahula that you are doing quite well in co-"

"Her?" she cut her aunt with a scoff, "Please, she hates me."

Suruchi lifted an amused brow. "Well, she doesn't seem to when she's speaking of you and confirming that your combat skills are excellent."

Surya hid her surprise with a hum and mumbled the rest, "Maybe she's just trying to butter you up to get close to you or something."

"'Maybe she's just trying to' what?"

"Oh nothing, maybe she's just trying to be a good teacher." She covered up with a convincing nod. But the look in her aunt's blind eyes told her that she wasn't convinced.

"Mhm, I have impeccable hearing, though my eyesight is useless." The young princess heard the cracking of knuckles somewhere in front of her. "Now, what do you say for combat in the dark? Well, not complete darkness, it's not Amavasya today, and the moon will grace us with his presence. Let's go to the gardens."

The woman pulled out a long strip of cloth from beside her, pulling it over her eyes and tying it at the back. Surya watched in wonder. "Bhagini, why are you-"

"It is maddening to be able to see blurred images but not a clear outline, Putri. In my room, there's complete darkness so I let my eyes breathe. When there's going to be light, I usually use this translucent cloth. Thay way, I can lightly see the fire torches but not other details to strain my eyes. I must look like Gandhari now, don't I?" she joked, a grin playing on her lips.

Her niece let out a soft laugh, "Indeed you do, my aunt, Maharani of Gandhar!"

Suruchi stood up and moved towards the door. Surya immediately went to her side to guide her through the hallways.

She might know her room very well, but not the building.

A hand swatted her elbow all of a sudden. "I'm blind, not a cripple," came the dialogue that she had gotten accustomed to in the few days. She muttered a 'yes, Bhagini' and stepped to the side. She was surprised when her aunt walked along the hallways as if she could see!

"I do take a stroll around the academy at night, every night," Suruchi replied to her unspoken question, coming to a halt. "I couldn't navigate through my room for half a year, then I slowly learned to explore the palace with a Veer Naari at my side. Uma, Bahula, and the twins were a great support. I cannot count the number of times I stumbled and fell, the times I bruised myself, the times I bashed into walls and procured myself splitting headaches... Ah, I'm glad those hard times are over and I'm at ease with my...er, condition."

"That must've been hard... If you don't mind me asking, how long did it take?"

"Well... nearly two years to move through my room and tend to my needs, and around five more to familiarise myself with every inch of this building."

"Oh," she uttered softly, "That's impressive..."

"Is it?" her aunt hummed. "Come Putri, let's go."

They walked with nothing but the soft clinking of the motherly figure's anklets to keep them company. The trill of crickets burbled to their ears as they walked upon the cool but dry grass-bed. The young woman's eyelids fluttered close as the fresh air trickled down her windpipe.

"This is the East wing, is it not, Bhagini?"

"Yes. And I want you to guess why we are training here." Suruchi spun around and stopped.

"Er... something to do with vāstu, Lady Suruchi?"

"Yes," Her short, one-worded answer was expectant.

"It is because... of a feature of the direction of East according to Vāstu," Surya stated, fully knowing that her answer was vague but said it anyway.

"Thank you for establishing the obvious, putri," her aunt replied wryly. "Now what about the un-obvious?"

Her cheeks heated up, but her voice came clear. "Because it is Lord Indra's direction?"

"Yes, but more specifically, this is the direction of growth and power. That is why the training is done here. Now, toss me a sword, any one." Suruchi said, her hand going around the waist to tuck in the pallu of her saree. Her aunt made a disapproving sound when a twig crunched beneath her foot.

"Toss it to me."

Surya's eyes widened. "I can't, it's too dangerous-"

"Do it, putri. Your aunt will be fine, she isn't a cripple."

She reluctantly stretched her arm, throwing the metal sword to her as her breath hitched and her body poised in a position to push her aunt away from the danger falling on her, literally. Her jaw fell open when the woman caught it with precision and took her stance.

"Close your mouth if you don't want to catch any flies."

Surya self consciously pressed her lips together and raised her sword. She cleared her throat quietly, "Aunt, which one of us will–"

She gasped and jumped back in alarm, away from the unexpected swing of the sword before her. "An attacker will not wait for you to decide who will go first."

Surya's fingers wound tighter around the metal hilt of the sword, brows in a hard line and her gaze turning sharp. Suruchi charged again, but this time her niece blocked her sword halfway. She moved back, raising her sword and bringing it down upon her. But Surya was quick to dodge it. She twisted her wrist to deflect another blow.

The night's tranquillity shattered with the continuous clanging of swords, grunts of pain, and heaves of exhaustion. They now moved slowly, almost crouched, swords lifted above their heads and circling each other as if in a dance. "First  sword to touch the ground loses." Suruchi reminded her, swinging at her just after.

The princess squatted just in time, drawing in a sharp breath as she spotted the glinting metal move overhead her. She rolled back, but as she tried to stand, she found herself unable to move. Drat! I'm stuck, these thorns won't let me free. She cursed.

Surya stilled as she felt rocks beneath her feet. Pebbles, to be precise. She lifted her gaze cautiously and smirked when Suruchi stood unmoving a few yards in front of her.

She doesn't know.

Her fingers went out to dexterously pick up a pebble and flung it elsewhere to her side. Her aunt's head turned towards it. It does seem to sound like a footstep, she thought, throwing another pebble to test out her theory. Yes! She rejoiced when Suruchi shifted her feet and moved.

Surya stood slowly and crept up behind her clueless aunt. She gently raised her sword, aiming at the hilt of Suruchi's when her sword was flung back with such a force that she too stumbled. Her hand shot out to catch the sword moments before it touched the ground.

"Tch, tch, tch. Thought you could surprise me?" The smirk in her tone was evident. "Your opponent is always far stronger than you, remember that."

"Yes, Bhagini." The student replied obediently, smirking when she heard a thud soon after. Suruchi's hand now held empty air, Surya had knocked her sword off. "Only my blade had touched the grass, you had said the sword should. Our match was still on."

Suruchi scoffed, at a loss for words. Surya's lip curled in amusement, I'd never thought I'd ever see this.

"Well, I am blind... But yes, you have a point: your sword had not touched the ground, hence you win." She gently pulled the pallu over her shoulders. "Let us go, it is getting cold and late."

"Yes, Bhagini Suruchi."

"Oh, do keep that smirk off your face!" she exclaimed, shaking her head as she went ahead with a smile.

* * *

"Putri?"

Surya stopped at the call and turned back. "Yes, Aunt Suruchi?"

"Er, never mind, come here tomorrow morning, at Brahma Muhurta, and then go for breakfast. I have something to address."

Surya frowned but nodded and pulled the door open. "Alright, Bhagini. I will," She stepped out of the room, mindful of the sound as she closed the doors.

What might she want to talk to me about? How Bahula 'praises' me? The young Veer Nāri scoffed and looked outside a window as she walked down the corridor. She stopped, all previous thoughts forgotten as her gaze admired the scenery in front of her. The moon was not full, but it shone as if it were the only diamond in the sky. The faraway diamonds sparkled, beckoning her to align them, to play with them.

She smiled and walked towards the window sill, resting her chin upon her cupped hands. "Saptarishi," she whispered, her forefinger moving in the air, drawing imaginary lines on the dark ocean above her. "Aaaand that is all I know to locate," she chuckled. "Which star belongs to which constellation? How far away is Rohini Nakshatrā from the Mrigashīrsha? The math is so confusing! But the stories behind them, now they are wondrous."

She jerked back into the present when her chin slipped from her hands. I better get back, it's getting late.

Surya stretched her arms, took a glimpse outside one last time, and headed to her room.

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