Royal Visit
PRISHA walked carelessly along the hallway, her eyes fixed on the phone in her hands, a baby pink coloured headphone on her head as well as she sang along and nodded in accordance to the music.
It has just been a few days since she left the hospital, going to school had become the least in her priority, what recently happened had sent chills down her spine and going outside the palace was a no no for her.
She had resolved to remain indoors for the meantime.
“Good morning Your Grace”, a maid greeted and walked passed.
She looked up and nodded, “morning”, she replied, still dancing and singing to the music from the headphone.
She got to her mother’s room and halted, then raised her right hand to knock on the door.
“Come in”, someone replied, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t her mother, it was a maid.
She opened the door to behold her mother sitting on the stool at the dressing table, about six maids surrounded her, all trying to primp her up.
“Woah!” She mouthed as she entered, “seems someone is going somewhere today”, she closed the door behind her and walked towards them, smiling.
“Good morning my Princess”, the maids greeted in unison, genuflecting as well.
“Morning pretty maids”, she replied and walked to the front of her mom.
“Beautiful morning Rani”, she bowed in front of her.
Arya smiled.
“Morning my Princess, how was your night?”.
Prisha nodded, removing the headphone from her head and dropping it on the dressing table.
“Fine mother. Where are you going?”.
“To a friend’s house”.
Prisha rolled her eyes.
“This friend must be so great to have been the host to the Queen today”, she folded her arms.
Arya laughed.
“You can say that again”.
“Mm, really? So who is this friend?” She winked.
“Well, my best friend… a childhood friend as well. Mrs Roshan is her name, you know… it’s been a long time since we saw each other so I decided to go see her today”, she smiled.
“I see”, Prisha sighed.
“You coming with me? Let the maids…”.
“Aw no no”, she shook her head, “the fear of the unknown outside is the beginning of wisdom momma”, Arya bursted into laughter.
“You won’t remain indoors all the rest of your life Princess, you need to put that behind you and move on, it has happened already, the guards are now doubled”.
“If they wish, they should be tripled, I’m going nowhere for now”, Prisha concluded, picking up the headphone from the dressing table.
“You are growing daughter, be guided”, Arya said.
Prisha nodded, fixing the headphone on her ears.
“Heard you mother, take care and be safe”, she waved her left hand and walked out the room.
Arya sighed as the door closed.
*
*
*
Rina singled out her water can from the rack beside her, dropped it on her desk, opened and began gurgling down water as fast as she could, she was damn thirsty.
Zaina glanced at her and pulled up a disgusted face.
“Ew… you drink like a camel”, she said.
Rina nodded, still drinking.
“You know how long I have been thirsty?” She asked after drinking.
“Would it help me out?” Zaina replied, her eyes down on her book as she was busy with her sums, she had concluded within herself to get it done before any other thing.
“I don’t even care if it’s gonna help you out or not”, she sat up and scratched the back of her head, yawning.
Zaina glanced at her.
“Hungry?”.
“Of course, what are you still doing? Please let’s go before someone dies of hunger”.
“I must finish this, before any other thing”, she said.
Rina sighed and began piling up her books on the desk.
Just then, Vidya came up to their desk, her school bag strapped to her back, she seemed to be leaving school.
They looked at her with eyes widely opened.
“Leaving already?” Zaina asked.
Vidya nodded.
“Yep, I’m actually spending half day today, I will be hosting a visitor in an hour’s time”, she glanced at her wrist watch.
“Not just any visitor though”, she continued, “a royal visitor, the Queen is actually visiting my humble abode today”, she smiled broadly.
Two students sitting in front of them gasped and turned to look at her, that was when she realized her voice was a pitch higher.
“Yes?” She glared at them, and they instantly turned back to their books.
Zaina scoffed and glanced at Rina who waved her left hand, rolling her eyes.
“So, about the project…”, Vidya continued.
“You will receive the leaves later today, at your house”, Zaina interrupted, licking her lips.
Vidya smiled.
“Oh, okay. Thanks so much, you have really been a good friend. See you guys tomorrow, bye”, and she turned and left the class.
Rina sighed.
“What a friend you have got”, she said.
Zaina scoffed.
“Me? Not me, us”, she stated.
Rina laughed, glancingn at her wristwatch, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Yo baby Z, the break hour would be over in thirty minutes time, and…”, she suddenly stopped and began piling up Zaina’s books, taking the pen she was holding and shuffling into her bag.
“Oops”, Zaina mouthed and surrendered, laughing.
“Foodie”, she said.
“Oh yeah, let’s leave please”, Rina said and began dragging her out of her seat. Zaina laughed as she did all this.
“Gosh! You have really been putting on weight, what have you been eating?” Rina stated emphatically.
Zaina laughed.
“Food”, she continued laughing.
Rina shook her head.
“Nope, I think it’s fertilizer”, and they walked out the class.
*
*
*
Vidya dallied by the window, waiting tenterhooks for the royal convoy to drive in.
She had been home for like fifty minutes ago, still no sign of the convoy.
“Vidya”, a voice behind startled her and she turned to behold her mother standing at the doorway and drying her hands with a napkin.
“Is that what you gonna do all day?” She continued, “stand there and wait for the Queen? Won’t you get anything prepared?”.
Vidya muttered words only she could hear.
“Come on, go prepare the dining”, she ordered.
Vidya reluctantly left the window side and walked towards the dining, her mom’s eyes following her.
“Goodness!” She gasped, “you haven’t even changed into your clothes”.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“Oh!”, Vidya mouthed and suddenly stopped to look at herself, she was still in her school uniform, then she ran into her room.
“Look who wants to marry the Prince”, Roshan hissed and went into the dining room.
Minutes later the royal convoy drove in, Vidya rushed into the living room to overlook through the window.
She watched as the cars drove towards the garage and screeched to a halt.
They were two cars in all, royal blue Toyota Glanzas.
The front door to the car behind opened and a guard rushed out, opened the door to the backseat and waited on standby.
The Queen alighted, looking all gorgeous and glamorous in her royal robes.
Vidya gasped as she studied her dress, she was putting on a long red flowing gown, her face and hands filled with jewelries and golds of different kinds.
On her head, glittered a golden royal crown, she held a small silver purse with her right hand.
The maids from the other car had already surrounded her, taking positions and leading the way into the building, with just a guard.
Three guards dallied behind, together with the drivers.
“Vidya, come up”, her mom jolted her back to reality and that was when she straightened up, smoothened the royal blue gown she was wearing and walked towards the door.
The guard on lead opened the door and the queen together with the maids went in.
“Wow!” Vidya mouthed cupping her mouth with her hands, seeing the Queen in front of her was enough to make her pass out.
“Welcome Your Grace”, she genuflected.
Arya laughed and looked her over, was this really Vidya? She has really grown.
She turned to Roshan.
“How are you, friend?” She winked.
Roshan laughed.
“You are highly welcome Your Majesty”, she bowed, “welcome to my humble abode, so elated and honored to have you here”, she said.
Arya laughed out.
“Your daughter… she has really grown into a beautiful young lady, wow, I can’t believe it”.
Vidya glanced at her mom and they both bursted into laughter.
“That’s just it Your Grace. Can we move in?”
“Sure… lead the way”, and Roshan led the way towards the dining.
They got to the dining and settled on the chairs. Then the maids took over, they began distributing the food while the hosts and guests chatted along.
“Wow Roshan, seeing you again brings back old memories, I mean our childhood and all”.
Roshan laughed.
“You can say that again Your Grace, it actually did. The plays we all acted, the playgrounds we all went to, right to when we both finished college, before the great King of Shimla, took you away”, she winked.
Arya laughed.
“He was still a Prince then though”, she sipped some juice from the glass tumbler.
Roshan nodded.
“Yeah, he was. So how is the family? How is everything? The issue of the Princess’s abduction is really disturbing, how is that?”
Arya sighed.
“My dear, it’s something I can’t even tell you about. I just couldn’t comprehend it”.
“Hmm, this is strange. Anyways, how is she now?”.
“Absolutely fine”, she nodded.
Just then, one of the maids walked past Vidya with a jug of water and mistakenly stumbled, pouring some water on her.
“What!” She shouted and got up.
“Are you blind?” Then landed a deafening slap on her left cheek. Holy Moly!
“Vidya!” Her mother called, she flinched and turned to them, she had completely forgotten they were there, both the Queen and her mom were staring at her, wide eyed.