Infiltration and Trust
In the previous part:
Trust is a fragile thread—as difficult to win as it is to maintain. 'Kusuma' had gained entry into the palace of Chandangarh, but keeping one's identity hidden amidst the sharp eyes of clever companions like Bhama was nothing short of an ordeal by fire for the Prince.
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With his keen intuition, the Prince had sensed Bhama’s secret surveillance, which was only natural. Therefore, while remaining alert around Bhama, he set about winning the trust of the other members of the palace.
Disguised as Kusuma, the Prince assisted the Princess's companions in their tasks as if he had been performing such service for lifetimes. In the process, he even learned tasks he had no prior experience with.
For his safety and privacy, the Prince would bathe separately on a secluded bank of the river, ensuring no one had the chance to see his physique. His reasoning was that others would mock his sturdy build, which caused him embarrassment. Due to the Queen's explicit orders, no one pressured him further.
Furthermore, acting with great restraint, the Prince never assisted in strictly private tasks, such as changing the Princess's attire. He did not wish to inadvertently see the Princess in an inappropriate state; and for such critical moments, he seemed to have 'an entire book' of excuses memorized.
As the days passed, the Prince became completely integrated into the palace atmosphere. Due to his strong physique, he would help the companions with strenuous tasks that those delicate maidens found themselves helpless to perform. The positive result was that the companions began to seek his help without hesitation. When these reports reached the Queen through Bhama, she too felt somewhat relieved.
Nevertheless, she had instructed Bhama to remain like Kusuma’s shadow. Although this caused the Prince some inconvenience, he did not worry about it. By now, the Prince had learned almost every event associated with the Princess's childhood, except for the mystery of the blindfold. It was now clear that this secret was guarded only between the King, the Queen, the Royal Preceptor, and the Princess herself.
Now, the Prince intensified his efforts to win the Princess's complete trust. He stayed near her like a shadow. Whenever the Princess felt even slightly helpless due to her blindfold, Kusuma would instantly appear there. It was as if he intuitively knew every wish of the Princess's heart, though he himself did not know the reason for this mysterious intuition.
Gradually, he became an indispensable part of the Princess's life. Wherever the Princess went, Kusuma was with her. The Princess had begun to speak with him with more intimacy than before. Several times, when the Princess's hand inadvertently touched Kusuma, she felt a strange shiver and sensations, but she ignored them, considering them a figment of her imagination.
Day by day, the Prince became fully absorbed among the palace of Chandangarh and the Princess's companions.
Meanwhile, Dhruvdev secretly kept tabs on him and, finding the opportunity, would meet him in disguise.
One day, when they met secretly, Dhruvdev teased, "Prince! How long will this masquerade continue? We must also return to our own country... are you planning to forget your kingdom and remain a maidservant for life?"
The Prince laughed off his words; and this happened at almost every meeting. The most astonishing thing was that all these events were reaching King Sukarmaditya in Sauvirnagar through the spy Karnasingh, yet he remained silent. Perhaps the curiosity to know the mystery of that blindfold was now shared equally by all.
In these days, Kusuma began to lead among the Princess's companions. Considering her a fearless woman of sturdy build, everyone kept her with them without hesitation, as her presence was of great help to all.
Whenever a laborious or heavy task arose, Kusuma would step forward and say with a laugh, "Oh sisters! Let me do this work. The Creator has given me such a strong body for this very reason, otherwise, my consuming food and water would be in vain!"
Hearing her words, everyone would smile and gladly accept her help.
Gradually, along with the companions, the Princess and the Queen also began to believe that Kusuma was an extremely fearless and cheerful woman, whose unfortunate husband simply failed to recognize her worth. For this reason, sympathy for her deepened in everyone's heart.
'To be continued...'
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In the next part:
Kusuma has won a place in everyone's heart, but is that 'strange shiver' rising in Suvarna's mind a sign of a great storm? Will the Prince's power of 'intuition' lead him to the truth of that mysterious blindfold, or will Bhama's sharp gaze destroy everything?
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✍️ From the pen of ‘Nishabd’
🖌️ Images created with the assistance of Gemini, ChatGPT, & Copilot
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