Princess Na’arvi meandered around the pond with her two companions.

“What is that flower?” The new bride asked, while bending over to blow away dust from a bench and then plopping down on the cleaned spot. Her companions removed their slippers and sat down by the pond, dipping their feet in the water.

“Oh, I know this one.” Jui offered eagerly. So, Sya let her have it. “This is the Holy Asayan Lotus. They say it turns the water into Elixir of Immortality. But that must be a lie.” She paused and looked at the flower. “My grandmother drank this water, but she still left us.” Her eyes moistened.

“Everyone knows it is a lie, Jui,” Sya said irately. “There is no need to fill our Princess’s head with fibs.”

“It does not have to be a lie.” Princess Na’arvi mused. Both girls turned to her with interest. “Maybe it is true, what they say. Maybe we are just mistaken.”

“How so, my lady? Do you think this water is Elixir of Immortality?”

“No, no. I just think, may be this is not a Holy Asayan Lotus.” She shared her thought. Both girls exclaimed in unison. Could that be truly so?

Jui suddenly jumped to her feet. So, did Sya. They were staring behind Na’arvi with fascination, which made Na’arvi turn abruptly. It was Prince Indra approaching them, his knights and bodyguards close behind him. The sight of her groom left her short of breath and heart pounding. She wanted to run to him. But the eyes watching them stopped her from doing so. She walked towards the prince instead.

“Regards, my Princess.” Indra addressed Na’arvi, voice rich with timbre, grinning. Na’arvi realized how nervous she must have looked to him and flashed him a thin smile.

“Your highness.”

“Is this rose garden to your liking?” The Prince inquired, with a smile that seemed to hide a thousand mysteries.

She only nodded, turning down her gaze.

“Have you explored the exotic flowers section of the garden, my Princess? It is regarded as quite extraordinary.”

The princess, still quiet, shook her head, exchanging another swift glance with the prince.

“Why don’t I escort you to the section? You can show me which flowers you desire, and I can bring them to you in the evening.”

Not too far stood a pergola draped by gorgeous flowering vines of roses and honeysuckle, which dappled the passageway in pink, orange, and yellow colors, in a bed of green and it led to the rare flowers section. The Prince gestured to Na’arvi to walk ahead, one hand showing the path and the other softly brushing her left elbow. Na’arvi’s heart skipped a beat at the fleeting touch and it spurred her feet into motion. The ones left behind watched as the royal couple promenaded towards the arched passage.

As her womanly instincts kicked in, Sya turned and caught the gaze of one of the knights, who was staring right at her. She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

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Later in the afternoon, when Princess Na’arvi came out of the exotic flora section, she had a black beauty rose in her hand, its darkness shimmering in the sunlight. Her royal husband followed closely and once they reached her companions, his eyes lingered on her for a moment too long before he took his leave. The female threesome also resumed their jaunt to the South Arya Temple, the roses in their basket already wilting.

For the rest of the garden path, Princess Na’arvi frequently sniffed the dark flower in her hand, smiling privately as she did so. The black beauty rose was said to have the most alluring smell of all the roses, and it showed on her reddened cheeks since she returned from her little detour. She chatted away happily with Jui and Sya the rest of the way. They made it just in time for the afternoon prayer ceremony.

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The royal dinner that night was a small private affair. As was the custom, the newly wed would sit next to each other at dinner for the first month. Besides the Queen Mother, the royal couple was joined by their High Minister, Chakrayu. He was a portly man with a thick neck concealed behind strings of pearl necklaces and always wore a flashy turban to cover his balding head. That night, it was a red brocade turban with a white feather pinned to the jewel encrusted brooch in the center. He laughed easily and jested often.

“This Aryashtami festival would be the biggest people will have seen in decades. I heard visitors from all four Kingdoms are already pouring in, my Queen.” He said around a mouthful of food.

“Splendid, High Minister. All four kingdoms should know about our magnificence and abundance, that we can feed them all even if they visit us all at once. This has been an auspicious year and soon after the festival, Indra will be crowned the King. Spare no expense. I want the entire land to talk of the celebrations.”

The High Minister nodded readily, as he crunched on the giant prawn shell and loudly sucked the juices from its leg. No one was enjoying the food as much as he was. Na’arvi had barely touched what was on her plate.

Served on large silver plates was steaming rice in the center with ten courses of vegetables, meat, and seafood around it. There was prawn poached in coconut milk, Hilsa fish steamed in mustard sauce, Rui fish head stew, aromatic goat meat in gravy, roasted eggplant, and many more, all laid out in front of them. Exotic sweets and fresh ripe fruits were waiting on the side. This must be what a starved man dreamt of. Yet, none appealed to her stomach that night. The tempest in her heart since the afternoon promenade had consumed her appetite.

“My Princess Na’arvi, you must try the dates. You must not have them in the South.” The High Minister urged.

“They look wonderful.” Na’arvi tried to show some interest.

“They are. And they are stuffed with almonds!” He said with a childish delight. “I especially requested these from the land of Arabia. The shipment arrived yesterday. If any exotic sweets or fabrics interest you, Princess, let me ….”

“You are very kind, High Minister.” Prince Indra interrupted. “We will let you know.”

“Sure, sure. I have asked my men to deliver ten containers of the Arabian sweets to the royal pantry, my Queen. In my house, that much would not last even one month.” Na’arvi smirked within. She could see the reason why.

“You must bring the children, to meet Na’arvi, High Minister.” The Queen suggested. She, then, turned to Na’arvi. “You will adore them, Na’arvi. One of them is your age. I sense you will have much in common.”

“Sure, sure.” The High Minister Chakrayu assented. “Princess, how is King Chirjeevi? I have not seen him in two years.” The minister continued to converse with the new bride, ignoring her disinterest.

“Father is well, High Minister.”

“I will journey south in three months. I plan to pay him a visit at the palace. Let me know, Princess Na’arvi, if you have any message or parcel to bring to them.”

“That is truly kind of you, High Minister. I will inform you if I have any.”

“Chakrayu, please stay after dinner.” The Queen asked of the High Minister. “We still have much to discuss on the new gateway construction.”

“Gladly, your highness.”

“Would you be joining us, Indra?” The Queen asked Indra.

“Unlikely. I am tired, mother.”

This time Na’arvi did let her lips curve as a mysterious joy filled her.

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