Jahnvi watched the pitter patter of rain from the window of her chamber. The beautiful forests in front of her, soaking in the shower, the tall distant ranges, the cloudy sky, everything calmed her down, putting her to sleep.

"Jahnvi !" The door of her chamber burst open and Gauri walked in wearing a king yellow skirt and blouse with a crimson Dupatta across her shoulder.

"Did you like your room ?" She asked enthusiastically and it immediately made Jahnvi smile.

Gauri's energy was contagious and made Jahnvi's heart feel lighter.

"It's beautiful. I have never seen such a uniquely crafter place before, and the room is decorated so well too." Jahnvi replied truthfully.

Jahnvi's room was a few doors down Gauri's. It was as big as her chamber in Hyderabad but the walls here were made of the same black-grey stone.

The roof was supported by multiple tall pillars, all arranged in two rows dividing the room into three sections, on the left beyond the rows of pillars was the half window that ran along the complete length of the room, giving in ample of sunlight, the middle section housed her large bed and a small love seat placed in front of the bed, and the third section towards the right had a large mirror propped up against the wall with a dresser and a small stool.

From the right section of her room, a small door led her directly into a roman sized bath filled with warm water from the spring.

This fort as much as she had seen it, which was just her room, was a marvel of engineering.

"Wait till you sleep on your bed." Gauri said with a smirk. "Aai saheb has all our mattress made out of special cotton and wool and our pillows made from geese feather."

"Can't wait." Jahnvi smiled, trying to match Gauri's enthusiasm.

"I've got a set of my clothes." Gauri said handing her a pink saree and a small box. "We were informed that the carriage carrying your trunk got stuck in mud and then the axel of the wheel broke, so it may reach the fort tomorrow."

"Oh no problem." Jahnvi replied. "Thank you for these." She said gratefully accepting the clothes with a smile.

"And some jewellery." She said giving her the box. "Malhar told us about .. about the yesterday's incident." Gauri cupped Jahnvi's left cheek with affection and said. "You are so brave Jahnvi, I would have cried and given up if I were abducted."

"It's in the past now." Jahnvi said swallowing hard. She didn't want to open the Pandora's box and relive the moments she has so wonderfully blocked out.

"Get ready and meet us in the inner courtyard, we all sit down as a family and have food in the aangan." Gauri said her pitch raising an octave being her joyful self. "And be quick, I'm starving."

As soon as Gauri left, Jahnvi quickly took a shower and slipped into the blouse and underskirt for the saree which surprisingly fit her well. She next moved on the drape the saree which for a reason was unusually long.

Jahnvi exhausted herself trying to adjust the length in extra pleats and the length of her pallu, she quickly put on a small gold chain she found amongst the heavier necklaces and scurried out.

"Shehzadi." A maid said looking at her and bowed in courtesy. "I'll escort you to the aangan."

Jahnvi gave her a smile and a small nod following her down the wooden steps and through a large corridor.

A lot of fine wood work decorated the palace, the contrast of the oak to the grey stones made the place look regal, it was regal.

"Ah Jahnvi !" It was Parth who noticed her first. Jahnvi managed to let a small smile out. She looked around to see just him and Gauri sitting cross legged on the floor cushions near the low lying table.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I -."

Jahnvi was interrupted by Gauri's laughter.

"Did I do something wrong ?" Jahnvi asked.

"You .. you .." Gauri managed to speak but failed as she rolled laughing.

"Gauri why are you laughing so loud." Aai saheb entered carrying a big bowl and placing it on the table.

"Aai Saheb look at Jahnvi."

"What's wrong .. oh." Aai saheb pursed her lips to hide her smile.

"You look like a pregnant woman with those pleats bunched up around your belly." Gauri said now giggling.

"Yes about this." Jahnvi smiled shyly. "There was too much fabric, I tried to adjust in the pallu and the pleats but it's abnormally too much."

"That's because it's a nauvari saree." Gauri explained. "While your usual sarees are six yards of fabric, nauvari saree is what we Maratha women wear and it's nine yards and you wear the saree a little differently."

"I didn't know." Jahnvi said innocently.

"Aww." Gauri cooed.

"Come with me Jahnvi." Aai Saheb said extending her hand for Jahnvi to take. "I'll drape it for you."

Jahnvi looked at Aai saheb and felt a lump in her throat, the warmth of a mother made her too emotional.

She took Aai saheb's hand and followed her quietly.

•••

Malhar was exhausted, all he wanted to do was shut his doors and stay in insolation for a week, but he knew he had duties to be fulfilled, towards his kingdom, towards his family.

"Raje I have your clothes removed, I'll be taking your sword to the royal blacksmith for re blading and have got your your secondary sword." His man friday said.

"Thank you Yogi." Malhar said. "Has my family assembled for lunch yet ?"

"Yes Raje, Parth dada just left from his chamber as well."

"Very well." He said getting out of the bath and wrapped a white cotton cloth around his waist and one around his shoulder.

He walked into the adjoining room which had been fumigated with the wood of dried sandalwood. He picked the clothes set out a white cotton kurta and a pyjama and donned it.
He picked his sword and slipped his feet into his leather Kolhapuri sliders and made his way towards the aangan.

"Looks like I am not the last one to arrive." Malhar said sitting next to Parth who sat across from Gauri.
"Aai saheb is late, I guess there is always a first time for everything."

"There won't be a first for that ever." Gauri said sticking her tongue out at Malhar. "And Aai saheb isn't the only one missing, my new best friend is too."

"Your who ?" Malhar asked.

"My new bestfr- ah there she is." Gauri said smiling wide.

Malhar turned to look where Gauri was looking only to have forgotten where he was, or who he was and wondered how could someone be so damn breath taking.

Jahnvi walked behind Aai saheb now draped properly in the nauvari saree, a chandrakor on her forehead and glass bangles on her wrist.

"Beautiful." Parth whispered.

"Apsara distay." (Looks like an angel)
Gauri muttered.

"Look at my little Rose here." Aai saheb said wrapping her hand around Jahnvi affectionately. "She looks like an absolute goddess."

"She does." Malhar nodded earning a funny look from his mother. In all these years she had not once heard him praise anyone wholeheartedly on the basis of appearances, but there was always a first time.

Malhar had always been her serious child, and Nanda Bai Bhosley always blamed it on the responsibility he had to burden early on as a child. He had been her most obedient son, most well mannered and disciplined.

Malhar rarely showed interest in household matters, sometimes she believed he didn't care enough. On days she cursed her fate, she had lost her husband but maybe she had lost her child the same, Malhar had locked his inner true self in a shell, his feelings, his emotions, his likes, his dislikes, his thoughts, she knew nothing about them, no one did.

"If I was a man, I'd make you my wife." Gauri said.

"And if I didn't have a wife, I'd make you my wife." Parth added.

"You ? You have a wife ?" Jahnvi asked hesitantly.

Parth and Gauri looked at each other and without spoken words started yet another prank on the newest dweller of the Karndhar fort.

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