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The sun had begun to set, casting a warm orange glow over the small village of Chandrapura. Vikram, disguised as a commoner, sat inside a humble hut, surrounded by his loyal men who had been living in Chandrapura with fake identities. The men, around five in number, sat on the floor, their eyes fixed intently on Vikram's face as they discussed the plan to infiltrate the palace.

Vikram, meanwhile, sat on a low stool, a intricately woven reed mat beneath his feet. He was having his dinner, a sumptuous meal of Handi Gosht, a rich and flavorful lamb curry cooked in a clay pot, served with a side of fluffy basmati rice and naan bread. The aroma of the curry wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of sandalwood and incense that burned in the corner of the room.

Three ladies, dressed in simple yet elegant saris, attended to Vikram's needs, serving him the food with a quiet efficiency. They moved with a fluid grace, their hands moving in tandem as they refilled his plate, poured him a cup of cool water, and fanned him with a large palm leaf. One of the ladies, a young woman with a shy smile, carefully placed naan bread on Vikram's plate, her eyes cast downward in respect.

As the men discussed the plan, Vikram listened intently, his eyes narrowing as he considered the details. "So, you are saying that the palace guards change shifts at midnight?" he asked, his voice low and even.

One of the men, a grizzled old warrior with a scar above his left eyebrow, nodded. "Yes, Maharaj. And we have arranged for a man inside the palace who will help you inside the palace when you enter."

Vikram nodded thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the faces of the men seated around him. "And what about the inner palace guards?" he asked.

The one with a scar above his eyebrow said again "Maharaj, there's nothing to worry about the inner palace guards because once you enter inside the palace as a servant no one will doubt you."

Vikram nodded thoughtfully while having his food

As the men finished their discussion, Vikram finished his meal, his plate empty except for a few crumbs. He washed his hands in a bowl of water that one of the ladies had placed before him, and then dried them on a cotton cloth that another lady handed him. Rising to his feet, Vikram nodded to the men, his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity, Vikram nodded thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the faces of his loyal followers. "So, we are agreed," he said, his voice low and even. "I will enter the palace tomorrow morning as a servant, and we'll bring our plan to fruition, no matter the cost."

The men nodded in unison, their faces set with determination. One of them, a grizzled old warrior with a scar above his left eyebrow, spoke up. "We have arranged for a servant's uniform to be left for you at the entrance of the palace, Maharaj. You will put it on and make your way inside the palace."

One of the men, a tall and muscular warrior, stepped forward and bowed low. "Maharaj, your room is ready. Please follow me."

Vikram nodded and followed the warrior, who led him to a small room at the back of the hut. The room was simply furnished, with a low bed and a small table beside it. But it was spotlessly clean, and the bed was covered with a soft, white sheet.

As Vikram entered the room, the three ladies who had served him earlier rushed to help him, their hands moving quickly as they pulled back the covers and fluffed up the pillows. One of them, a young woman with a shy smile, helped Vikram remove his shoes, while another lady helped him with the blankets.

A third lady, an older woman with a kind face, asked Vikram, "Is there anything else we can get for you, Maharaj?" her voice soft and gentle.

Vikram shook his head, his eyes already closing as he felt the softness of the bed and the coolness of the breeze that rustled through the leaves of the trees outside. "No, thank you," he said, his voice low and even. "I just need to rest."

The ladies nodded and bowed low, backing out of the room as they did so. The warrior who had led Vikram to the room placed a water jug beside the bed, and then bowed low. "Maharaj, I will be outside if you need anything," he said, and then left the room, closing the door behind him.

As the door closed, Vikram felt a sense of peace wash over him. He closed his eyes, feeling the softness of the bed and the coolness of the breeze that rustled through the leaves of the trees outside. But his mind was still racing, his thoughts consumed by the plan that he had set in motion.

And as he saw these visions, Vikram's eyes grew heavier and heavier, his breathing slower and slower. Finally, he fell into a deep sleep, his dreams filled with visions of power and glory.

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Rajsri was lost in thought as she walked through the palace gardens, her feet carrying her along the winding paths without her even realizing it. She was thinking about her little brother back in the village, and wondering when she would be able to visit him again.

As she turned a corner, she suddenly found herself face to face with Prince Avyukt, who was standing by a nearby fountain, gazing into the water. Rajsri's heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight of the prince, his eyes closed and his face serene.

For a moment, neither of them moved or spoke. Rajsri was frozen in place, unsure of what to do next. Prince Avyukt, sensing her presence, slowly opened his eyes and turned to face her.

Their eyes met, and Rajsri felt a jolt of surprise. Prince Avyukt, however, simply smiled and nodded at her. "Rajsri," he said, his voice low and gentle. "I didn't see you there."

Rajsri curtsied quickly, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Your Highness," she said. "I didn't mean to intrude."

Prince Avyukt chuckled and shook his head. "You're not intruding, Rajsri," he said. "I was just lost in thought. It's nice to have some company."

Rajsri smiled hesitantly, feeling a sense of wonder at the prince's kind words. For a moment, they just stood there, enjoying the peacefulness of the garden.

Then, Prince Avyukt spoke up again. "Rajsri, would you like to join me for a walk?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with friendliness. "I could use some company, and it would be nice to get to know you better."

Rajsri's heart skipped a beat as she considered the prince's offer. She hadn't expected him to ask her to join him for a walk, but she couldn't deny the sense of excitement that was building up inside her.

"Yes, Your Highness," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I would be honored to join you for a walk."

Prince Avyukt smiled and nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Wonderful," he said. "Let's take a walk, then."

And with that, Rajsri and Prince Avyukt set off on their walk, enjoying the beauty of the palace gardens and each other's company.

As they walked through the gardens, Rajsri and Prince Avyukt chatted about everything from the latest palace gossip to their shared love of nature. Rajsri was surprised by how easy it was to talk to the prince.

As they turned a corner, Prince Avyukt suddenly stopped and stared at Rajsri. "What are you doing?" he asked, a look of amusement on his face.

Rajsri looked down and realized that she was skipping along the path, her feet moving in a silly, carefree way. She felt her face flush with embarrassment, but Prince Avyukt just laughed.

"You know, I remember the first time I saw you," he said, a faraway look in his eyes. "You were running through the corridors, your hair flying behind you, and a big smile on your face. You were chasing after a rabbit , and you were completely carefree."

Rajsri giggled at the memory. "Oh, yes! I had forgotten all about that. I was so worried that the rabbit was going to get into trouble."

Prince Avyukt chuckled. "You were so focused on catching the rabbit that you didn't even notice me standing there, watching you. You ran right past me, and I couldn't help but laugh."

Rajsri bit her lips feeling embarrassed. "I'm glad I could provide you with some entertainment, Your Highness." She said nervously

Prince Avyukt grinned. "Please, that was not the only time, you always and often do such things Rajsri."

Rajsri smiled, feeling a sense of warmth towards the prince and his friendly nature.

As Prince Avyukt finished speaking, Rajsri's expression suddenly changed. She looked around, as if remembering something important, and then her eyes widened in alarm.

"Oh no," she said, her voice urgent. "I'm so sorry, but I have to go. I completely forgot that Daima asked me to help in the kitchen for the royal dinner tonight, and I haven't even started yet."

Prince Avyukt's face fell, but he nodded understandingly. "Of course, Rajsri," he said. "You have to attend to your duties. I'll walk you back to the palace."

Rajsri shook her head, already hurrying away. "No, no, your highness, Thank you for understanding."

Prince Avyukt watched as Rajsri quickly disappeared into the distance, feeling a pang of disappointment that their time together had been cut short. But he smiled to himself, knowing that he would see her again soon.

As Rajsri hurried back to the palace, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder at the unexpected encounter she had just had with Prince Avyukt. She had never felt so at ease with someone of his stature before, and she couldn't wait to see him again.

But for now, she had to focus on finishing the royal dinner for tonight . She quickened her pace, her mind racing with thoughts of flavours and spices and seasonings. She was determined to get the job done on time, and she knew that she could count on her own skills and dedication to see her through.

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