The museum was buzzing with excitement. Prerna Agarwal, a college student, walked through its grand halls . This trip was supposed to be a fun escape, but something about this place felt like it was calling to her.
The highlight of the museum was...
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The sun was just beginning to rise, painting the horizon in hues of gold and crimson, as we prepared for our journey to the ancient shrine. The air was cool, carrying with it the faint scent of jasmine from the palace gardens. My horse, a magnificent white mare named Chandrika, stood ready, her mane neatly braided by the stable hands.
Viraaj, Manik, and Adinath were already waiting near the stables, their horses saddled and ready. Viraaj was dressed in his usual dark attire, the black - but in common people clothing - still giving him an air of authority. His sharp gaze met mine as I approached, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of concern in his eyes.
"Ready, Princess?" he asked, his tone formal but his eyes softer than usual.
I swung myself onto Chandrika with practiced ease, adjusting my dupatta to shield myself from the morning chill. "I told you to call me Shivanya, didn't I?" I replied with a small smile, enjoying the slight irritation that flashed across his face.
Manik chuckled, nudging Adinath. "She's got you wrapped around her finger, Viraaj. Maybe we should start calling her Queen Shivanya instead." They must be joking .
Viraaj shot them a warning glare. "Enough, or I'll have you both riding behind us the entire way."
The banter lightened the mood as we set off, the sound of hooves echoing against the cobblestone paths of the palace grounds. The journey to the shrine was long, the path winding through dense forests and rocky terrains. The trees stood tall and ancient, their gnarled roots weaving intricate patterns into the earth.
As we rode, I couldn't help but let my modern instincts slip into the conversation. "You know," I began, glancing at the men, "if this were a movie, this would be the part where the hero and his sidekicks crack a joke to lighten the tension."
Manik raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "A... movie?"
Realizing my mistake, I quickly recovered. "I mean, a story. You know, like the ones the bards sing. Don't they always have a bit of humor before the big adventure?"
Adinath laughed. "She's not wrong. Maybe you should take notes, Viraaj. A little humor wouldn't kill you."
Viraaj rolled his eyes but didn't respond, instead urging his horse forward. I smirked, satisfied with my quick save.
The journey continued with light-hearted conversations and occasional moments of silence as we took in the beauty of the wilderness. By midday, we reached the base of the hill where the ancient shrine was located. The structure was partially hidden by overgrown vines and moss, its stone carvings weathered by time but still majestic. Intricate depictions of gods and celestial beings adorned the walls, their eyes seeming to follow us as we approached.
We dismounted, tying our horses to a nearby tree. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. Inside the shrine, the air was cooler, the faint smell of incense lingering despite the passage of centuries.
