chapter 20 part- 1 #3
Holding it beneath the nearby oil lamp, she slowly rolled it in her palms.
"Hmm..."
"What exactly are you?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"So many strange symbols..."
"Are these even words?"
She traced one faded mark with her fingertip.
"No..."
"This doesn't look like any language I've ever seen."
She sighed.
"If only..."
A familiar voice interrupted her.
"Priya..?"
Ashnoor's eyes widened.
In one swift movement she rolled the scroll shut and slipped it beneath her pillow.
The chamber doors opened.
Queen Chhavi entered with several palace maids.
Every maid carried something different.
Silk garments.
Jewellery boxes.
Perfumed oils.
Handmade blankets.
Hair ornaments.
Even many hand embroidered slippers.
Ashnoor stared in disbelief.
"...Ma?"
Chhavi smiled warmly.
"Were you sleeping?"
Ashnoor quickly shook her head.
"No."
The maids carefully placed every tray around the chamber.
Ashnoor looked from one gift to another.
"...All this?"
"For me?"
Chhavi gently sat beside her.
"For whom else?"
Ashnoor laughed helplessly.
"This is far too much."
For a brief moment...
Chhavi simply looked at her daughter.
Then she quietly picked up a folded crimson dress.
"I had this stitched..."
"...on your fifteenth birthday."
Another.
"This one..."
"...for your eighteenth."
Another.
"I bought these bangles during Diwali."
"And this shawl..."
"I embroidered myself."
Her fingers trembled.
"Every year..."
"I bought something."
"I knew no one would wear them..."
"...but I couldn't stop."
Ashnoor felt tears sting her eyes.
She slowly leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her mother.
"I'm here now, Ma."
"You don't have to wait anymore."
Chhavi hugged her tightly.
"Yes".
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"Now it's my turn."
"I'll spend the rest of my life making up for those lost years."
Neither mother nor daughter noticed the palace maids quietly wiping away their own tears.
After several moments...
Chhavi gently cupped Ashnoor's face.
"Enough tears."
"My daughter needs proper rest."
She lovingly tucked a loose strand of hair behind Ashnoor's ear before helping her lie down.
Just as she had done years ago.
She softly stroked her daughter's hair.
Humming an old lullaby.
Ashnoor's eyelids slowly grew heavy.
Half asleep...
She murmured unconsciously,
"...Ma..."
Chhavi froze.
Her eyes overflowed.
She bent down and kissed Ashnoor's forehead.
"Sleep peacefully, my little princess."
"You are home."
She quietly stood.
With a final loving glance, she signaled the maids to dim the lamps when karandev appeared on the entrance to meet Ashnoor but forcefully send for rest to his chamber by his mother after having earful of scolding.
Outside, Shyama settled into the adjoining attendants' chamber with the newly appointed palace maids personally chosen by the queen to assist Ashnoor.
The palace slowly fell silent.
Hidden beneath Ashnoor's pillow...
The ancient scroll waited patiently.
As though it knew...
Its secrets would soon awaken a destiny long buried by time
on other side
Three days after the temple fair...
The towering walls of Amber finally appeared on the horizon.
But prince Abhimaan did not ride through its gates.
Instead...
Nearly twenty horsemen disappeared into the dense forest overlooking the capital.
A temporary hidden camp was established among the rocky hills.
No royal banners.
No campfires after sunset.
No unnecessary movement.
To the outside world...
They simply did not exist.
A detailed map of Amber lay spread across a wooden table.
Abhimaan listened silently as one spy after another delivered their reports.
"The Amber royal family princes and princess just returned safely."
"The palace remains heavily guarded now."
"The royal princes have resumed court."
Abhimaan nodded.
"The scroll?"
The spy lowered his head.
"No sign of it, Maharaj."
Another stepped forward.
"We tried to ask in the markets and near by but "
"No one has seen a jeweled metal scroll case."
Silence filled the tent.
Suraj frowned.
"Perhaps the traitor lied."
Abhimaan immediately shook his head.
"No."
"He believed he would survive."
"A dying man never lies and a captured man bargains."
"He was bargaining."
Ummag crossed his arms.
"If the scroll entered Amber..."
"Where did it disappear?"
Abhimaan slowly walked toward the map.
His finger rested upon the road leading from the temple.
"There was only one royal palanquin and a princess has just returned and there was only one palanquin..
It means Amber princess travelled inside it."
He paused.
"The traitor hid the scroll beneath the cushions."
Suraj nodded.
"Yes."
Abhimaan continued.
"If Prince Harshvardhan or karandev had discovered an unknown royal container..."
"They would never hide it."
"He would immediately summon his advisers."
"It would already be known throughout the palace."
"But our spies heard nothing."
He looked at the others.
"Which means..."
"The prince never found it."