"Oh"

The goblets clanked with one another overflowing with wine created their own note in the symphony of music. The tapping of feet on marbled floor while fabricating dance steps that followed melodies of instruments accompanied by chatters of people created another harmony that oddly felt pleasing. Decked in most luxurious of clothes embroidered by threads of gold and silver shimmering on soft muslins paired with shawls of Pashmina or extremely rare materials of Muga Silk- belonging to eastern parts of aryavart- to ward off cold lingering in the air after a long period of winter, everyone was crowing their status shrouded by deceptive words of sweetness and care for one another. The men involved themselves with politics while women through their gossips tried to make things lucrative for their clan leaking out some information that could be called forbidden whispered from one lips to ears of another.

Amongst all this, I was yet again sitting next to my mother donning a perfect upturned smile familiarizing myself with wives and daughters of high class officials, some relatives and few unacquainted scholars. We all were similar yet different in our own ways balancing expectations thrusted upon to us and our sanity. Judging and weighing our every step, we shroud ourselves in self painted beguiling charade only to find solace behind closed doors, sans any escort.

"Pranipat Rajkumari." A dainty figure approached me. Unlike others her face was pristine. While everyone had rouge covered cheeks, her's had healthy natural blush on them complementing her soft nature. The only makeup she had on was a thin lining of Kajal tracing her almond shaped watery eyes making her look like an innocent fairy who descended upon this mortal realm arousing men's heart with desire to protect her from any hardship. Her steps were light and the faint jingle of her anklets were only indication of her approaching steps towards me.

"Pranipat Nityasha." I answered her soft tone of acknowledgement with mine. "It has been long since someone from prime minister's residence attended any function." I said leaning slightly on the arm rest making myself bit comfortable amongst the crowd.

"Indeed. It has been long since we got involved with any celebrations but as you know returning of Kumar Shakuni is not yet another mundane event. We had to come." She smiled softly taking a seat next to me with chair aligned a bit back to mine.

"Of course I know that Nityasha but the events were quite boring without you and Nurvi accompanying me." I half complained letting down the wall of propriety between us.

"Pardon me Rajkumari we have wronged you. I should have attended those events. Forgive me please." The girl exasperatedly pleaded for forgiveness while her eyes dilated in fear misjudging my trial of warming up things as scorn.

"Nityasha relax." I held her hand reassuringly. "I was joking. I know Nurvi and you have other engagements to deal with speaking of which where is Nurvi?" I tried to change the topic coaxing the girl out from her fear.

"Nurvi jiji..." she took the bait and started looking out for her sister.

"She must be busy with her other friends." She mumbled. "You know Rajkumari she was really excited about the celebration and was troubling mother for dresses." Nityasha said in hushed tone trying to hide mischief lingering in her tone.

"We spent hours selecting brocade for our dresses because she wasn't able to choose amongst the sea of options. By the time we were done my legs were already swollen." She complained

"What are you complaining about?" An extensively scary voice of Nurvi stopped her from complaining further. Though both the girls were sisters with age difference of only two springs Nurvi and Nityasha had vast difference in temperaments. Where Nityasha could be considered a meek fairy you want to protect Nurvi would radiate an aura worthy for you to acknowledge her. Her tones are calculated unlike her sister who seem like a small child seeking for warmth and care.

"N-nothing sister!" Nityasha stuttered cowering at her place.

"Oh is it?" Nurvi arched her eyebrow as if challenging the poor girl to repeat her sentence before directing her attention to me. "Pranipat Rajkumari." She greeted me for which I only nodded and signalled her to take a seat.

"Finally the eldest prime minister's daughter noticed me. I thought she is only interested in scolding her sister." I said with a small smile. She clicked her tongue noticing my sharp tone.

"Rajkumari is a great figure. How can I not notice her, it is just that I didn't want to embarrass myself by presenting a whiny sister to her." She said casting a side glance at her sister who gulped and kept her head low.

"Brash as always." I rolled my eyes and waved hands dismissively. "Do remind me why are we still friends?"

"Maybe because Rajkumari is fond of eloquent people?" She grinned and sat next to her sister.

"True." I sighed and continued enjoying soft melody of sitar string along the beats of tabla while the dancers with their synchronized steps lifted the mood of gaiety.

"I have heard they are best dancers of Takshila. Last year finance minister welcomed them in his resident to perform on the occassion of his son's marriage rumors suggests this outlayed him quite a big chunk of his wealth." Nurvi whispered in hushed tone.

"He must love his son quite dearly then." Nityasha commented.

"Your statement is correct, minister loves his son dearly. Afterall he is his only child and as far as I have heard he is well versed in all the veds, puranas and texts. Apart from that he is skilled in swordplay and archery." Nurvi gossiped further.

"Oh is it?" I questioned her with interest.

"Yes Rajkumari, pity he married quite early. I also got to know that his wife is a beauty of Magadh that could compete with nymphs with her fair skin and doe like eyes. Like Rajkumari she too is an ardent devotee of Mahadev." She informed me while staring at dancers as if she was discussing some art forms instead of gossiping.

"Nurvi are you sure you didn't attend any event in past few months?" I questioned half jokingly.

"These are general knowledge anybody on streets knows about all this." She shrugged drinking freshly prepared pomegranate juice served to her.

"I should maybe try going to streets." I muttered shaking my head at my lack of knowledge regarding things.

"Rajkumari is as gentle as rose petals and majestic as the goddesses why would she roam around on filthy streets decked up with hooligans and wasterels." Nityasha added few words of flattery with an innocuous smile on her face which made those words pleasing to hears instead of having bland effects you get from general flattery.

"True. Rajkumari deserves all the comfort instead of these mundane things. If she wants to know anything aren't I there for it?" Nurvi replied biting down her lips to hide her amusement.

"Shush you both and let me enjoy the performance." I clicked my tongue in dissatisfaction and spent rest of my evening appreciating the performances. Soon the night started to reach to it's depths, cool winds swayed the heavy curtains hung on the windows letting the moon peek through allowing it a glimpse of the celebration and joviality of ambience which had now dwindled down slightly.

Though people started to take their leave the performers still continued with their presentations without any change in their enthusiasm regardless lack of audience.

Nurvi and Nityasha went to greet their other friends while I was accompanied by some other official's daughters. Trying to hold up a polite conversation with them I finally signed in relief when my mother stood up and left the hall which meant I too was free to leave. Greeting them farewell I almost hurried away from the company I had into the alley out of the celebration area.

"Be in your limits." I heard someone's hushed voice as soon as I took turn for my chamber making me stop at my place.

"What do you mean? Who are you to remind me that?" Another person answered, her words were followed by a sharp slap that resonated in the dimly lit corridor. A shadow of two female figurine formed on the adjacent walls where one figure almost dragged other.

"Rajkumari should I check?" Sugdha whispered for which I nodded in answer.

"Make sure to be discreet." I warned and waited for her at my spot while she followed the voice.

"Rajkumari I think we should leave this place." Another maid advised which I accepted and strode to my room.

Reaching my chamber I sat on the settee pondering over the events while few maids helped me with the jewelries, few lit up the dark room and rest arranged my bed so that I could rest whenever I wish to do it. Soon Sugdha returned with a bowed head.

"Report." I said while shifting my head letting the maid to unfasten the knot of my necklace.

"Forgive me Rajkumari I lost their trail." She answered me. Though I dismissed her my mind was clouded with thoughts regarding the figures. Their voices irked me for some peculiar reason. The second voice felt oddly familiar but I was unable to pin point the person.

Meanwhile the maids helped me change into nightwear.

"Sugdha could you bring me that diary?" I asked her while my eyes were fixed on the parchment kept on the table fluttering under the gold plated weight. Taking a seat I dipped my quill in the ink while Sugdha opened the diary for me before retreating to corner.

Pressing the quill for a long time on the paper I stared at the black blotch of ink forming on it. Ridiculously they looked intriguing to my eyes and I stared at the blank page trying to muster up words though yet again unable to articulate any.

"Sugdha report the happenings of celebration to me, anything you found interesting." I closed the book and rested my chin on my palm kept on the chair while staring at the flame of lamp playing along soft winds fluttering into the room through the balcony.

"The celebration went pretty well. Everyone was having a great time though the wife's of treasurer and trade affairs had yet another squabble." She replied but before she could say further I interrupted her.

"Weren't they cousins?"

"Answering to rajkumari, yes indeed they are cousins but they were always jealous of one another or so are the rumors." She answered. "Apart from that rumors regarding an envoy of Hastinapur indeed were true. The person who was sitting beside Maharaj was none other than but him."

"Oh." I muttered a single syllable before waving at her dismissively.

"The rumors were true." I whispered to myself. My quill suddenly found words to write and under the flickering light of lamp my parchment were stained with thoughts that were marking my mind and experience of today.

I am not dead. Here is the proof!!! Melancholic_Monody this chapter is dedicated for you.

Runs again underground away form civilization