Chapter 32: Silks and Secrets
General POV
The towering gates of Ayodhya's royal palace stood before Shon once again. Six months had passed since he last crossed them. This time, he wasn't a wandering boy with a borrowed bow—he was an assistant to a merchant, dressed neatly, sharp-eyed, and confident.
Mohan Das stood beside him, holding a list in his hand and a proud smile on his face. Their bullock cart was loaded with the finest silks, rare embroidered fabrics, and handpicked jewelry.
As the guards led them through the inner courtyard, Shon couldn't help but look around. Everything looked the same—grand, quiet, timeless. Yet something inside him had changed.
They were welcomed into the royal display hall, a spacious room lined with golden pillars and a cushioned dais for the royal family. Not long after, King Rajendra Dev entered first, followed by Queen Veenaprabha, graceful as ever. And then—
Princess Vaidehi.
Her presence was like the first ray of dawn. She walked with poise, but her eyes flickered with something only Shon noticed—recognition. And something else.
Joy.
The queen noticed it too.
---
Princess Vaidehi's POV
Six months.
Six long months without knowing who he was, where he went, or if I would ever see him again. Every day since our last meeting, I had found myself standing near the temple garden, hoping. Wondering.
Was it foolish?
Mother and father thought I was sad because I was turning older. They tried everything. Stories. Music. Festivals. New dresses.
But my thoughts were never here. They were always with him—the boy with quiet eyes and a strong spirit.
And today, when he walked into the room behind that merchant, it was like my heart had been handed back to me.
I tried to hide the glow on my face.
But I saw mother noticing.
---
General POV
Shon and Mohan Das bowed respectfully. The merchant spoke first, praising the royal family's honor and generosity. Shon silently arranged the goods, placing them delicately on display stands.
One by one, he opened rolls of fabric—deep violet silks with gold zari, royal blue handloom with peacock feather patterns, and a scarlet one with silver embroidery so intricate it looked like starlight stitched into cloth.
Queen Veenaprabha watched closely as her daughter's face turned pink with excitement, not over the clothes, but over the boy presenting them.
Shon began showcasing the fabrics with practiced ease, his voice respectful, confident, and warm. "This silk was woven in the hills of Gandhara," he said, lifting a shimmering fabric. "It flows like water and glows like moonlight."
The princess leaned closer, fascinated not just by the silk but by him.
He continued with the ornaments. "This necklace carries the blessings of river pearls—meant for someone with a heart as pure as the Sarayu." He looked straight into Vaidehi's eyes.
The queen saw it. The king saw it. Even the palace maids pretended not to notice.
Shon had priced each item four times higher than normal—a trick he had learned from the market. Royals rarely negotiated, and higher prices only added to the value in their eyes.
Princess Vaidehi's eyes sparkled with each fabric revealed, but her gaze kept drifting back to Shon.
He spoke gently, describing the origin of each cloth, the technique used, the city it came from. He was calm, respectful, but never submissive.
King Rajendra Dev leaned back on his seat, observing. He chuckled softly.
"The boy is clever," he whispered to the queen. "He marks up prices like a proper merchant but sells it with such grace, who could mind it?"
Queen Veenaprabha didn't smile.
She was watching her daughter.
The glow on Vaidehi's face wasn't for the fabric. It wasn't for the jewelry.
It was for the boy selling it.
And she knew it.
---
Shon's POV
I couldn't believe I was back here.
And in front of her.
I had seen many faces in the market. None stayed in my mind.
Except hers.
She looked even more beautiful than I remembered. But it wasn't just her clothes or jewelry. It was her presence. Her eyes. The way her smile reached only half her lips when she looked at me.
I focused on the fabrics. I explained them in detail. I offered one piece in her favorite lavender color—just a guess. Her face lit up.
It wasn't just about the sale.
It was about making her smile.
I think I did.
---
General POV
The queen stood and picked up a set of bangles from the display.
"This is fine work," she said aloud. "You must be proud of your boy, Mohan Das."
Mohan beamed.
"I am, Maharani. He learns fast."
"Hmm," she said, then turned to her daughter. "Vaidehi, choose what you like."
The princess picked a sky-blue fabric and a delicate gold necklace. Her fingers brushed Shon's as she took the cloth. She blushed. So did he.
The queen saw it all.
The king saw only the happiness on his daughter's face.
He leaned back, satisfied.
"We'll take these. Send the final bill tomorrow," he said.
Shon bowed. "As you wish, Maharaj."
As the display was wrapped up and packed again, Shon glanced once more at the princess.
She looked back.
And for a second, they smiled.
Not just in politeness.
But in recognition.
Something had started. Not with words. Not with declarations.
But with glances, silk, and silence.
---
They began to leave. Mohan walked ahead, talking with the guards. Shon followed, but just before reaching the palace gate, he stopped.
"My bag," he muttered. "I left it in the display hall."
He quickly turned around, retracing his steps back through the corridor. As he entered a side passage, he halted.
Princess Vaidehi stood there, alone, the sunlight pouring through a lattice window bathing her in gold. Her lavender dress matched the glimmer in her eyes.
"Looking for something?" she asked, her voice playful.
"My bag," Shon said with a nervous smile. "I forgot it."
She held it up. "You mean this one?"
He walked closer. "Yes… thank you, Princess."
There was a pause. They stood just a few feet apart, surrounded by silence that hummed with something unspoken.
"You were good today," Vaidehi said softly. "At showing the silks. You made it… interesting."
Shon chuckled. "I hope I didn't overdo it."
She smiled. "You could sell rain in a storm."
He laughed. "That's a new one."
A brief silence returned.
"I wanted to ask you something," she said, suddenly serious. "Will you be my friend?"
Shon blinked. "Princess… I'm just a commoner. You're—"
"I'm Vaidehi," she interrupted. "Not a title. Not a crown. Just a girl. And I'd like to be friends with the boy who sells moonlight silks and speaks like he's seen the world."
Shon looked into her eyes. Honest. Open. Beautiful.
"Then yes," he said. "I'd be honoured to be your friend."
A genuine smile spread across her face.
"Meet me tomorrow," she said, "near the Sarayu. By the bend where the old banyan tree stands."
"I will."
She handed him the bag.
He bowed slightly. "Thank you."
And with that, he turned and walked back to the gates, where Mohan Das was still waiting. His heart beat a little faster.
She watched him go, then turned and disappeared down the corridor, her cheeks still warm.
Tomorrow, their friendship would begin under the whispering trees by the holy river.
And fate would take another step forward.
Back in the cart, as they left the palace gates, Mohan clapped Shon on the back.
"I don't know what magic you used, but I think we just made the biggest sale of the season."
Shon looked ahead.
"I just sold them what they already wanted."
He wasn't just talking about the cloth.