mantra

@aeshakhanna​

“It hardly seems fair for them to make me fight, there’s a palace guard competing after all. How in the world am I supposed to win? You wouldn’t happen to secretly be master swordswoman who can train me overnight?”

“Well, if it remains any consolation, I am confident our future leader’s swordfighting skills are not all that matters,” Aesha smiles reassuringly, “I’m no master of swords, myself, but I do know that skill and strategy are equally important to brute strength when it comes to a duel,” Aesha replies for good measure.

“Just avoid getting accidentally stabbed and I am sure you’ll be fine...” she says, realizing it’s likely far easier said than done. 

Tails

Tails

Tails

Tails

Heads

Heads

“Oh, but imagine, what if the challenge was about saving yourself from the tiger?” she mused with a playful smirk on her face, “how fitting it would be for only one competitor to be alive at the end of it, no chance of future rebellion at all - it would’ve been quite a masterstroke by the Maharani I believe - I suppose she doesn’t need to care about public opinion now that she is retiring. Lalita shrugged nonchalantly. She firmly believed most people were small-minded and petty, and trying to win the adoration of the masses had thus never particularly interested her.

“Not the rice, Aesha!” it was difficult to hide the amusement in her voice as she gave the girl a friendly pat on the back, “I think it would have something to do with the incident in Lasgarh… where that messenger was mauled to death… do you remember? But what was the messenger bringing? Do you remember?” Lalita questioned, unable to pinpoint the facts of the case that had happened quite a few years ago. 

“It would certainly be clever...and remarkably effective,” Aesha agrees, already reminded of the impressiveness of Lalita’s forethought, “...though I imagine a challenge of such deadly proportions is perhaps better saved for the end of a competition rather than the beginning...I’m certainly hoping for a bit longer of a show myself...” Aesha admits with a slightly sheepish grin. For her part, Aesha was a great appreciator of theatrics and show, thrilled and the chance to watch Parakram greatest compete for such an honor.

A slight blush of embarrassment dusts Aesha’s cheek at Lalita’s next comment, but she laughs it off, loosely rembering the story Lallita mentions, “If I recall correctly I think the messenger was delivering a message regarding some sort of weaponry shipment...” she tries, as the details slowly come back to her. Aesha typically didn’t follow most cases but the Lasgarh case was the rare exception, given that the mauling had taken place next to an area she had only just returned from on one of her dye-collecting trips. 

It was all a bit overwhelming thought Romil, but more exciting than he’d anticipated. Or perhaps it was merely the broiling anxiety in his stomach making the throngs of ambitious and suspicious people appear as lesser threats. As he heard a more welcome voice, Romil couldn’t help the fond smile that broke across his face. “Luckily no live tigers are involved—yet. Perhaps that’s the next step in this venture.” He glanced about, the drumming hum of other peoples’ whispers nearly drowning out his own. “Just a fake tiger, with a real note, both suspiciously placed.”

The sound of a familiar voice greets her ear like melodic music, a comforting presence among the otherwise chaotic atmosphere. Romil had always been a dear friend to Aesha and it was especially nice to converse with him somewhere other than the crowded market. Still, with the eruption of chatter the palace was beginning to feel more and more akin to the bedlam of the marketplace. “A fake tiger and a real note...it sounds like a terribly strange set up for a celebratory feast,” Aesha remarks, “You really think they’ll be live tigers next?” Aesha asks, having always placed much faith in Romil’s judgement. 

He knew what people were murmuring - it was no secret to most that the invitation that had been extended to were here to play to the maharani’s whim. He recognized the familiar voice, knew her voice too. Perhaps the seamstress was here by the request of the palace. He felt no need to question her standing, she was certainly not one to be pursuing the game. Though there was the smallest voice of doubt that kept him alert of all that were present. 

“A tiger loose in the palace would be amusing,” he chuckled, mirth gleaming in his eyes as he conjured his imagination to produce the scene in his mind. “With all this noise, you’d think the Maharani’s already declared the winner,” he said, careful of his implications. He meant no ill will but needless to say, he was hungry for all the frivolities to end. For the love of Parakram, one would think there was a war with the poise of all gathered in the palace. 

The Parakram palace had always been somewhat of a home to Aesha, but her invitation to the palace had still surprised her. At first she had assumed her invite had come by way of her mother, however, as the night progressed, she was becoming slightly more confident that perhaps she had earned an invitation of her own avail.

“I suppose amusing, is one way to put it...” Aesha replies with a small chuckle, unsure if she fully agrees with the sentiment herself. Still, over the years of procuring his business, she had grown mostly used to Suraj’s thoughts and perspectives. The nobleman, however, manages to produce a truer laugh from Aesha lips at his next comments, “Chaos has certainly erupted through these halls,” she agrees, “Though imagine If the Maharani had declared I winner I do think there would be a far richer array of reactions...at least a few more disappointed faces...” she mused nodding her head towards the array of animated conversations that surrounded them. 

Even in the best of moods, Nymisha could not rely on her self-control for too long. Her temper was always so close to the surface, so near to eruption. She didn’t trust herself to hold it in for the entire feast, and so, when a distraction presented itself, Nymisha had removed herself from all temptation. She had hoped to find some time alone, as was obvious by the glower on her face as she whipped her head around to face the other. Her expression softened at the sight of Aesha. She knew Aesha. Begrudgingly, she liked Aesha. If she had to endure anybody’s company, at least it would hers. 

“There isn’t a real tiger,” the corner of her mouth quirked in a smile. For once, it was genuine, without a hint of mockery. “A statue, or something. With a scroll.” She had heard enough about it before fleeing to know that much. So much discussion of how to get the scroll out of it’s tiny arms. Nymisha hadn’t gotten a good look at it, but she supposed whatever it was made of, it was strong enough that her first instinct of throwing it to the floor and stomping on it until it broke, freeing whatever it clutched in its arms, would not work. Someone would have tried it by now if so. “Everyone is scrambling over one another to figure it all out. Prove how clever they are.” 

Running into Nymisha had certainly been a stroke of luck on Aesha’s part, relieved that she had finally found someone she knew, as opposed to being surrounded by perfect strangers evening. Nymisha, for all her fire, had always humored Aesha and all her ridiculous ideas, for which Aesha would always grateful for. 

“A scroll?” Aesha echoes, her brows scrunching as if she had entered into deep thought, when in truth, the designer was more confused than anything. Scrolls nor statues were exactly in her wheelhouse, but from the sound of it, she figured there was most likely more to this puzzle than what met the eye. 

“Somehow I feel that joining in on all that action might not do us much good...care to take a stroll with me around the palace? Maybe get a new perspective on the entire problem?” she suggests with a small shrug, “Couldn’t hurt to see if we can find out anything else about this tiger...”

“Intent always matters more than the result, panditji.” Lalita smiled at the old man who looked visibly furious at the fact that a figurine was found in the rice. He demanded the cook be punished and seemed shocked that an accident like this would happen at the Maharani’s own feast - what if somebody had choked on it? Personally, Lalita felt it was close to impossible for anyone to mistakenly put the figurine into their mouths, the idea itself made her snort as she suppressed a laugh. She inconspicuously moved out of the crowd, not willing to engage anymore in the mindless chaos and tussle. She didn’t believe it to be an accident at all, rather a very strategically placed clue. One designed to mislead the fools and entice the others. But nearly everybody’s attention was focused on the figurine and trying to disengage the scroll at this point would not only be time consuming but also futile as she’d have to read it out in front of everyone - it wouldn’t give her any edge over her competitors.

Mulling over the possible interpretations of a tiger within rice, she absentmindedly turned to see Aesha standing right beside her. Lalita liked the girl, not only because she usually always wore her designs - to court as well as on occasions such as these - but also because Lalita genuinely appreciated people who were talented yet unselfish - and Aesha was such a rarity. “Don’t worry, there’s no tiger around, just a figurine with a scroll,” she grinned. Pointing at the crowd she said conspiratorially, “they think it’s an accident, or at the most a riddle. But I think it’s only a part of a bigger picture.” she turned around to face Aesha,“Where do you think the rest of the pieces might be?”

There were certainly very few young, powerful voices within the palace walls, but the woman Aesha found herself beside was certainly one of them. Growing up adjacent to the palace due to her mother’s line of work, Aesha had grown well-acquainted with the typical palace courtiers and bore no particular fondness for their habits nor style. Lalita, however, was always a breath of fresh air, with her bright energy and unique understanding of the world. Lalita was the perfect representative for her garments and Aesha had always taken great pride in the fact someone of such standing was willing to wear her creations.  

In response to Lalita’s clarification, Aesha brings a hand to her heart, as if to breath a mock sigh of relief, “Well that’s certainly good news...I can’t imagine the Maharani could have conducted a very successful competition if all of her competitors had been eaten by a tiger on the very first night,” she laughs jovially before pausing to mull over Lalita’s query. "I suppose if there are other pieces, I wonder if there’s anything to be found in the rest of the rice,” Aesha suggested, before shaking her head, “But that wouldn’t make for much of a riddle, now would it...”

Aesha hummed nervously to herself as the whispers around her grew louder and more forceful, though she seemed to be unable to decipher anything for herself. It seemed to be this way often, for the cleverer forces of the universe seemed to always tread far beyond her grasp. She knew if she were to garner any information of real value, she would have to turn to those around her, hoping that the the more loquacious instincts of the people of Parakram would bear well in her quest for information. An open ear, as it occasionally turned out, could often produce rather successful results. 

“Say, you wouldn’t happen to know what everyone’s chattering about, would you? I’ve managed to catch something about a tiger, but I some how feel a tiger loose in the palace might have caused more commotion...” 

Here is Aesha’s App below!