The First Glimpse and an Unknown Sensation
Previously: Prince 'Jivandas' and his clever friend 'Muhbola' are gathering clues about the Princess’s mystery from the streets of Swarnapur in disguise. Muhbola has discovered that the Princess visits the Shiva temple on the banks of the Sobti River every morning at dawn. Now, moving forward...
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Meanwhile, the Prince was staying in a room at the 'Shivdham' inn under the pseudonym 'Jivandas'. He had not eaten while waiting for his friend Dhruvdev. Since Dhruvdev was late, the time for dinner had passed, but the wonderful duo of lassi and jalebi brought by Dhruvdev satisfied both his hunger and his long wait.
Enjoying the jalebi, the Prince asked, "Tell me friend, what secret information have you gathered?"
Finally, he added, "Apart from all this, a special piece of information is that the Princess comes to the Shiva temple on the banks of the Sobti River every morning for worship. There is a crowd of devotees there, so we can see her from a distance."
Hearing this, the Prince was internally pleased and said, "That is excellent! Tomorrow we too shall go to the banks of the Sobti. I must also see that famous morning radiance of Swarnapur."
Dhruvdev teased, "I will look at Swarnapur; you just gaze at the Princess! I have heard great praise for her beauty. Now, rest, because only if we sleep on time will we wake up at dawn."
After some light conversation, both friends tried to sleep. The exhausted Dhruvdev fell into the embrace of sleep as soon as he lay down, but the Prince remained awake late into the night.
With the first ray of morning, Dhruvdev woke up and roused the Prince as well. Both friends bathed in the cool waters of the Sobti and set out for the Shiva temple. Upon reaching there, they learned that some time remained before the Princess's arrival, so they performed the worship of Lord Mahadev along with the common folk and came out to the outer courtyard.
They began to admire the natural beauty surrounding the temple complex. The temple was situated at a slight elevation from the city, offering a panoramic view of the entire Swarnapur. They learned from locals that the royal family worships their deity in this very temple, and festivals are often organized here. The grandeur of the temple was worth seeing; it was surrounded by vast gardens and orchards. Restrooms were built for visiting sages, and a large dining hall (Bhojshala) was operated by Maharaja Manvendra Singh for continuous food service. From that height, it seemed as if the King was looking after the well-being of his subjects from there itself.
Standing on the high platform of the temple, the two friends looked sometimes at the mountain peaks and sometimes at the golden radiance of the city. Suddenly, there was a commotion in the atmosphere. The shout 'The Princess's carriage has arrived' echoed all around. Being on higher ground, the Prince and Dhruvdev were not only saved from the push of the crowd but also had a clear view of the Princess. They looked down intently.
Whispers began in the surrounding crowd. Someone said, "Who comes to visit Lord Mahadev with a blindfold over their eyes?"
Then another replied, "I have heard that she removes the blindfold during the moments of worship in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and puts it back on as soon as the worship is over."
Another spoke, "Whatever it may be, the purpose is beyond understanding."
A tide of curiosity surged among the people, while some remained silent and gazed at her with devotion. The Princess entered the temple with her friends, the doors closed, and after some time, she came out, mounted the chariot again, and departed. During this time, the Prince was as if in another world. Dhruvdev placed a hand on the shoulder of his lost friend and brought him back from the world of imagination to reality. Seeing the Prince silent, Dhruvdev also said nothing, as he himself was going through a strange sensation. Both friends returned to the inn in a quiet mood.
Hearing this, the Prince smiled slowly but said nothing. He lay exhausted on the bed, staring blankly at the wall.
Dhruvdev grimaced and said, "Hmph! Now what is this? It seems that like the Princess's eyes, a blindfold has been tied over our Prince's mouth as well. A great disaster! Had I known you would observe such a 'vow of silence', I wouldn't have turned this way. Look at me, I am rambling here and you are just smiling faintly."
When there was still no reaction from the Prince, Dhruvdev said irritably, "Fine, continue your silence, I am going to tour the city. Staring at walls is not my cup of tea."
Dhruvdev departed from there, and the Prince, as if he wanted exactly this—to be in solitude.
'To be continued...'
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In the next episode: "Wrapped in sky-blue and yellow garments... Suvarna glowing like a gem!" What unknown pain arose in the Prince's heart at the very first glimpse, making him silent even before his childhood friend? What will this silence bring?
To find out, keep reading...
🌷 (If you haven't started reading 'Princess Suvarna' yet and are not familiar with the beginning of the story, here is the link to the First Episode. Additionally, the Subscribe button is now available on the blog, so don't forget to subscribe to get updates on new episodes... Thank you! 🙏💕) 🌷
✍️ From the pen of ‘Nishabd'...💕
🖌️ Images created with the assistance of Gemini, ChatGPT, & Copilot...🦋
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