[Recap of the Previous Chapter: In the Shiva Garden, Dhruvdev used his sharp intellect to unravel the marvelous mystery of the three golden statues, delighting the Queen who gifted him a gem-studded armband. The King officially appointed Dhruvdev as the Prince’s primary aide and outlined the framework of their secret mission. Eager to discover their roots, the two friends are ready to renounce their royal identities and head into exile. While Dhruvdev has gone home to seek his parents' blessings, the Prince is busy preparing for the greatest journey of his life.]
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The next day, in a secluded chamber, the King and Queen gathered with Prince Vikramaditya, Dhruvdev, the Prime Minister (Dhruvdev’s father), and a mysterious stranger. From this very room, a secret passage led to a location far beyond the palace walls. At the King's command, the Prince and Dhruvdev entered an adjoining room and donned the attire of ordinary citizens. Their precious, gem-encrusted swords were taken from them and replaced with plain-looking yet sturdy metal blades.
The stranger present there assisted them significantly in altering their appearances. To ensure they looked different, he created a fake scar on the Prince's forehead and placed a mole on Dhruvdev’s chin. He further suggested that they should let their beards and mustaches grow to look older and unrecognizable—a suggestion both accepted readily.
When they finally emerged in their new clothes, they looked like commoners. They wore simple dhoti-kurtas, plain silver ornaments around their necks and ears, modest turbans, and a common cloth waistband. They folded ordinary shawls over their shoulders to serve as bedding or wraps during the journey, and wore simple shoes typical of the common folk. In short, they were now perfectly disguised to blend in with the masses. The King handed them pouches filled with currency for their travel expenses and assured them that more would be sent whenever necessary.
The King spoke, "Kumar! From here, both of you shall depart for your secret exile. In the meantime, he (the King gestured towards the mysterious man), 'Karnasingh', will assist you. He will not always be by your side, but he will appear whenever needed to carry your messages to and from me. How he performs his duties is entirely up to him. You are seeing him for the first time because he does not usually enter the palace; whenever he does, he uses the secret passage, and very few know of him. Regard him as you would regard me. Remember what I have told you. Our best wishes are with both of you."
Kumar and Dhruvdev touched the feet of the King and Queen. The Queen raised them, embraced them, and stroked their heads with her blessings, warding off any evil eyes. At this moment of farewell, the Queen was too emotional to speak much. She only managed to say, "Sons! May all the blessings of my heart be with you. Take care of yourselves and each other. Who knows when I shall experience the joy of seeing you both again." Having said this, her voice choked, and she fell silent.
Kumar said, "Mother! Do not worry; after all, we are still within our own kingdom. In a way, we are in our own home. We shall return soon."
Dhruvdev stepped forward, drew close to the Queen, and said, "Queen Mother! Do not fret, we are together. Just give us your blessings..." (then he whispered into the Queen's ear so no one else could hear) "...who knows, we might return with a daughter-in-law for you!"
Hearing this, the Queen let out a soft laugh and looked at Dhruvdev with a gaze of affectionate, feigned anger. Dhruvdev stood there with an innocent face. The Queen gave him a gentle, loving swat.
The King, Kumar, and the others could not understand what had transpired. The King looked at the Queen with a questioning glance. The Queen remarked, "This is a matter between us, mother and son; do not look at us like that."
After that, no one said a word. Everyone became solemn. Dhruvdev also took his leave from his father. Then, the King reached into a cupboard in the room and performed a hidden action; a portrait on the wall slid aside, revealing a passage. Dhruvdev, Vikramaditya, and Karnasingh entered the passage and vanished from sight. The King closed the door again, and everyone returned from that chamber to the main palace.
Through that secret path, the three emerged far away at the mouth of a hidden cave amidst dense forests. Karnasingh accompanied them to the edge of the forest. There, in a local market, he explained some essential details for their journey ahead and, after handing over two healthy and powerful horses brought by his servant, he took his leave.
Dhruvdev and Vikramaditya were now in the guise of ordinary citizens. They began traveling from one town to another, and from village to village. During this time, they sat among the common people, listened to their problems, and gained a deep understanding of the shortcomings in the administration. They observed that while some officials were sensitive toward the public, the behavior of others was utterly cruel. They recorded all these experiences and secret information in letters, which Karnasingh would periodically collect and deliver to the King.
For the first time, staying among common citizens, the Prince felt the struggle of their lives. Sometimes, he was astonished to see the contentment on people's faces despite their limited resources. He observed closely how ordinary people find great joy in life’s smallest pleasures.
One day, as the two friends were moving forward while conversing, they noticed people dressed in their finery, heading in a specific direction. Upon inquiry, they learned that an annual fair was being held nearby at an ancient Shiva temple.
A spark lit up in the Prince's eyes as he said, "Friend, do you remember? In our childhood, we went to the fair near the Gurukul with our teacher."
Dhruvdev replied with feigned anger, "How could I ever forget! That day, you gobbled up half of my share of jalebis, claiming you were just removing the ants crawling on them."
The Prince burst into a hearty laugh, "Oho, are you still upset about that, my friend? Come, today I shall treat you to as many jalebis from the fair as your heart desires. You'll remember this!"
Dhruvdev smiled, "Well, I am still remembering the old ones! (pausing for a moment) Anyway, let's go... I am definitely having those jalebis today. After all, I have to settle the score! Once you become the King tomorrow, my jalebis will be gone for good. Let's move... I can already smell the sweet aroma of jalebis in the air. Look, the giant wheel of the fair is visible now, and the chatter of the crowd is reaching us."
The Prince knew that when it came to sweets, Dhruvdev’s patience would always give way. So, smiling, they headed towards the fair.
'To be continued...'
[In the next episode: Amidst the dazzle of the fair and the sweetness of jalebis, what special experiences did Vikramaditya and Dhruvdev encounter? What happened next? What other feelings and insights did they face while living among the people? To find out, read the next part.]
Read the next episode here:
https://meetu2nishabd.blogspot.com/2026/04/suvarana-saga-episode-6.html
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