Chapter 8

A minute later, Milady came back – full of sweat – with the British Prince.

The latter got happy too to see Sundarta in the room. He stood up in front of the king and he bowed while Cook came back to her place: standing next to Krishna's throne.

George raised his green eyes slowly to the king, and asked him gently: "Yes… your majesty… What is your decision about the contract then?"

But inside, and for the first time ever in his life, he waited for a decision from the king that keeps him inside the Indian kingdom and particularly in the Michorian palace for more time…

"Prince George, after I argued with my counselors, my daughter, who's one of my best counselors ever, suggested that I meet your father in person, a king to a king. Then, we can know then the British king's intention… Also, it'll be better for you to stay here and to send a letter to your father to come than travelling all this distance just to ask him to come back with you to Michor. Besides also to what I asked you to do while we were having lunch; the Thar Desert and the insupportable heat. Do you remember?"

George did remember Krishna's offer to stay more than 4 months instead of travelling in summer. And he found that an affirmation to stay, and thus to spend more time with Sundarta.

"What do you think about this decision, Prince George?" Krishna questioned.

Inside, George got much happier because he understood the trick Sundarta did to keep him in Michor. He realized that she was foxy, smart and wise.

He hid his gladness and answered the king carefully:

"Your majesty, I understand that you prefer to meet my father in person as he's the one who wants to cooperate with you. Also, I appreciate that you allowed me to stay as you asked me before. And thus, it'll be very regrettable to refuse such a generous offer of you. I do accept again your offer, but I must first get the permission from my father."

"You're allowed to." Bai announced. "It's preferred that you send this letter as fast as you can."

"Once I arrive at my room, I will write the letter and send it to my father." George promised. "And now, excuse me."

The charming prince turned around to leave the room. He looked at Sundarta a fast look that made the latter's heart beating fast…

***

In the evening, a little of minutes before the sunset, George decided to turn around inside the palace to breathe some pure air and to discover the beauty of this immense castle.

When he got out of the balcony, he saw Sundarta reading a book on the edge of the pool.

He got glad to see her. He climbed the stairs down, walking toward Samantha while the latter looked at him, smiled and came back to her book.

George stopped next to his first-sight love while the latter pretended that she was still focusing on her book.

The British Prince said as an interaction:

"It's beautiful today…"

Sundarta looked at him, wanting to know what is the beautiful.

"The weather!" He explained.

"The sunset is the promise of a new dawn…" Sundarta said indifferently, looking at her book.

George grinned as he realized that she was wiser.

He sat next to her, looking at the clear clean water in the pool. After, he asked her, just to keep talking to her: "What are you reading?"

"91- Kalami Bakhar." She quickly answered. "This book is the biography of Shivaji, Shivaji Bhonsale I, the founder of the Maratha Empire."

"Wow!" He expressed spontaneously his surprise. "I thought you're reading a literary novel."

"Why?" She interrogated.

"Because… you know… women in our country read only romantic novels…"

Sundarta looked at him with a reproach look, and informed him: "Do you think that women are allowed only to be 'romantic'? No! Many women across the history defended their kingdoms, families and honors; like Queen Rudrama Devi, the queen who ruled Kakatiya dynasty and fought the Yadavas and she beat them, but she got defeated then by Ambadeva, the Kayastha chieftain after she failed in dealing with him. Also, Queen Durgavati, who ruled Gondwana for 14 years after the death of her husband, fought her enemies and she died during a fight. Her martyrdom day is commemorated as "Balidan Diwas". And there are many other women the history witnessed their bravery, courage and protection for their kingdoms."

George kept silent; truly ashamed and moved by these brave women. He excused her: "I'm sorry I… I'm sorry if I disrespected women… I didn't do it on purpose…"

Sundarta smiled and calmed him: "Never mind… it's okay…"

The sky was getting darker. Sundarta noticed that and so she closed her book and stood up. She wished a good night to George and then left him to her room.

And no need to mention what was George's reaction toward Sundarta…

***

6 days later, the homing pigeon came back to George. The latter opened the latter impatiently to read if his father allowed him to stay or not…

Indeed, Edward accepted the condition that Krishna noted. He mentioned also that he won't travel now because of the heat, and he would start the trip at the end of June. Besides, he allowed him to stay, and asked him to try his best to get along with the king to gain his trust.

George finally sighed of relief. He took the letter and jogged toward the throne room.

When the guards saw him, they directly opened the door. The prince got in and he found Krishna discussing some cases with his counselors and with Sundarta too.

The latter looked at George with a large smile. The prince also once he entered the throne room, he looked with his eyes for The Adopted Princess. He also got happy; he hid his smile but his eyes couldn't.

Krishna asked George:

"George? What is it? Something is wrong?"

"No…" George answered. "I finally received the response from my father."

Samantha's heart started beating while Bai seated straight and ordered: "Well then… what did his majesty say?"

The British prince stepped straight and read what his father wrote of accepting the condition and travelling by the end of June etc…

Sundarta grinned while Krishna stood up, shook George's hand and said: "Welcome to Michor…"

***