The following morning, Alfred awoke from the guest bed in his room, stretching and yawning. As usual, he didn't dream, but he was so excited to see Princess Amisha again. God, she's so beautiful, he thought, I hope I see her today. Man, I hope she's not too busy. I'll go out of my mind.
Rushing out of the bed, he threw the silk bedspread off of his body and started to strip himself of his pajamas, putting on a simple blue dress shirt with a blue tie and a pair of dark blue slacks from the piled of folded clothes sent for him, courtesy of the Prime Minister. He had done the same for Ivan, Francis, Arthur and Matthew because they did not have extra clothes with them. Once he was dressed, a maid opened the door slowly and came into the room, walking toward the bed in order to make it.
"You guys come promptly to make my bed, huh?" he asked. "Thanks!" The maid looked at him strangely, picking up his pajamas and folding them neatly, placing them on the pile.
"Do you speak English?" Alfred asked. The maid stood there and looked at him.
"मैं आपको समझ में नहीं आता," she said in her language.
"I don't know what you are saying," Alfred said, wiping the lenses on his glasses before putting them on.
The maid left the room with Alfred following soon after. Once he was in the hallway, he saw Francis standing there with a navy blue suit jacket over a light blue dress shirt. The Frenchman smiled at him and waved.
"Bonjour!" he said cordially.
"Hi, Francis," Alfred said, approaching him. "Do you konw where we are supposed to go?"
"I'm not sure, but I hope it is the dining hall. I need nourishment," the Frenchman said. "I saw you with the princess last night." Alfred looked at him strangely.
"Oh?" The Frenchman approached him in a casual manner, but the American decided to listen to what he was going to say.
"If you ever need...love advice, please consult me," Francis suggested. "I have had my share of ladies and I'd be happy to—"
"Stop right there, Frenchman," Alfred said, placing his hands in front of him. "Before you go any further, please watch what you say because I could be accused of being in love with a betrothed princess."
"Betrothed? To who?" Francis questioned.
"That...prince in black we saw last night, "Alfred answered.
"That ugly one with the mustache?" the Frenchman questioned with fear in his voice. "I feel so bad for her. If I were a pirate, I'd steal her heart in an instant!"
"Don't tell that to the Maharaja," the American said with a laugh.
Later that morning, all of the guests met in the grand dining hall for breakfast, and as everyone awaited the arrival of the Maharaja and his daughter, Alfred, Ivan, Francis, Arthur, and Matthew were introduced to two older gentlemen by Sadar who were archaeologists who had come to India in search of a rare jewel sacred to a secret underground cult. They were both Englishmen named Roger Smith and Lewbert Winston.
Roger and Lewbert both had grey hair and matching mustaches, but Roger had deep brown eyes and Lewbert had eyes as green as Arthur's. The two were both thrilled to know that there was a young Englishman to socialize with, and as they spoke, the two older gentlemen brought up the topic of what they were set to find.
"Since you five young men are apprentice archaeologists, are you familair with Dillī kā gahanā?" Roger asked, looking at Arthur in specific.
"No, what is it, sir?" the young Englishman asked.
"It is Hindi for the 'jewel of Delhi'. That is its literal translation," Roger said, looking at him blankly.
"A jewel?" Alfred asked. "We gotta go find it right now!"
"No, Mr. Jones," Lewbert said, placing his arm around his shoulder. "In fact, it is said to be a sacred stone bearing the essence of Black Tara."
"Black Tara? That doesn't sound good," Alfred snorted.
"Black Tara is actually an aspect of the Hindu goddess Tara. She is often depicted with blue or white skin, and she has light-colored eyes. Black Tara is a very powerful supreme being in Hindu beliefs," Lewbert explained slowly as if he were mentally challenged. Alfred nodded, deep with understanding of his speech.
"Interesting. Very interesting," he said as he walked to the table along with his group members to await the presence of the Maharaja and Rajkumari Amisha Mani. He stood in front of the same silk, firmly-stuffed floor cushion as the Prime Minister announced their arrival down to the dining hall.
"Presenting His Supreme Majesty, Ruler of all India, the Maharaja Ravi Adhiraj and his daughter, Her Royal Highness Rajkumari Amisha Mani," he announced, moving aside as the doors opened to the Maharaja and his daughter walking through the same doors as the night before.
Alfred's eyes remained fixed on Princess Amisha as she walked ceremoniously to the head of the table. Today, she was clad in an emerald green bandeau top and she was sheathed with a sheer verdant sari with a matching skirt. The skirt had red vertical stripes on the front, but every other part has floral embroidery on it. Her neck was adorned with an emerald and diamond necklace that was less extravagant than the one she wore at dinner the night before, and matching earring dangled from her ears. On her forehead was a bright emerald bindi with a large stone set in silver as strings of diamonds were woven in her hair. The young man's heart melted as the royals took their seats, but the Raja Kumar Chatur soon joined Princess Amisha at her side. She glanced over and sighed, looking away quickly as her father stood up to make an important announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began. "It is not yet revealed to the public, but I am proud to announce the betrothal of my daughter, Rajkumari Amisha Mani, to the Crown Prince of Calcutta, Raja Kumar Chatur! We have not yet set a date for the royal wedding, but it will be in the coming months!"
Everybody clapped, even Alfred, but he only did it as a sign of respect and not to look like the rude one at the table. He watched the princess turn red with embarrassment as the raja stood up and raised his arms up, oozing pride from his boorish soul expecting everyone to go wild for him. When he realized it wasn't going to work, he sat back down in his seat; Alfred could see the pained, anguish look on Princess Amisha's face as they were served their breakfast.
Hot puri bread was on the special of the morning, along with dosas, or pancakes, and rice cakes called idlis; these were served with a lassi drink and with a relish made of mangoes and coconuts. Francis took great pleasure in eating such exquisite food, but because he was proud of being a Frenchman, he still thought that cuisine from his own country was the best. Ivan enjoyed the lassi beverage, as did Matthew, but Alfred did not eat much—he was too concentrated on assessing Princess Amisha's facial expressions throughout the meal. He watched as whenever the Raja tried talking to her, she would ignore him or say very few words. The truth was he didn't know what was really going on at the head of the table.
"Smile, my dear," the raja sneered sinisterly at the princess, who was eating her breakfast. "You are to become a fine queen." She ignored him and didn't obey his order to bear a grin—she did not like him in that manner, and she hoped he would have realized that by now.
"Your Highness," he said, trying to make conversation with her. "You look divine in emerald green. Has anybody ever told you that?"
"Raja Kumar," she said, getting aggravated with his unwanted flirtations. "Please! I am trying to have my breakfast."
"Don't you dare speak to me in that fashion, rajkumari," he snapped in a forceful whisper.
"Then please hesitate to bother me about my clothing," she said coldly. "I dress this way all of the time."
"Are you going to temple today, rajkumari?" Raja Kumar Chatur asked.
"No," she fibbed. "I will be getting henna painted on my hands and forearms."
"That's a first. You are so devoted to religion, rajkumari," the prince said. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure," she answered, continuing to finish her breakfast.
Later that morning, Alfred and Matthew were talking in the main hall together, and it was just outside of the dining hall. Alfred was busy telling his friend about what he observed in Princess Amisha's facial expressions during breakfast.
"My gosh, the princess looked beautiful this morning," Matthew said.
"Hmm, that's a first. You haven't complimented her like that before," Alfred indicated.
"Well, I was too busy eating to notice. The food is so good here," his friend sighed.
"She looked a bit pissed off, though," Alfred said. "Poor girl is being married off against her will."
"Really?" Matthew asked. "I thought that was customary over here."
"Nevertheless, she should be able to choose the man she wants to marry," Alfred disagreed. "Custom or not, you don't exchange your daughter for wealth."
"Exchange?" Matthew asked.
"Yes. The Maharaja is accepting more than half a million of their currency and a crap load of land in Calcutta for his daughter to marry the raja that stood up today at the head of the table," Alfred explained. "The princess told me herself."
"When were you with the princess?" his friend asked curiously.
"Last night. I heard someone crying in the hallway, and it was her, so I just helped her feel a bit happier," Alfred answered truthfully. "Francis thinks I am in love with her, but he's being a brainless jerk."
"She is beautiful," Matthew said with a contradicting sigh. "Are you sure? You seem to be…I don't know…fond of her."
"Well, I'm going to be brutally honest and say that I think I like her," Alfred answered frankly with a sigh. "But I know that there isn't anything she can do about her marriage. The king told her she had to, so she is going to do it regardless."
"That's not good," Matthew said with worry.
"I can't do anything but befriend her and feel sorry for her," Alfred said.
Just when he said this, Princess Amisha approached him with two of her servant girls standing behind her. Matthew greeted her, as did Alfred, bowing their heads respectfully. The pained look was still in her face as she looked at the two similar-looking men.
"Good morning," she said.
"Hello, Your Highness," Matthew said.
"Hi, Princess Amisha," Alfred said cheerfully. "How are you this morning?"
"I am well," she said with a sigh.
Alfred could tell she was telling a white lie—she was upset whether she wanted to admit it or not. The princess only told him that to keep a positive appearance, and she didn't want him to interfere completely with her life as a betrothed princess even though she saw him as a good soul. He looked at her, and returned the stare, looking into each other's eyes calmly.
"You look beautiful in green, Your Highness," Matthew said respectfully. Remembering the unpleasant compliment of the raja, she smiled anyway and thanked him, relieved it was not another unwanted statement.
"Thank you," she said. Her eyes turned back to Alfred, whose eyes remained on her with admiration.
"What do you normally do around here, princess?" he asked curiously, placing his hands in his pocket.
"Today, I am getting henna painted on my hands and arms," she answered.
"What?" he asked.
"Henna. It is body paint," Princess Amisha said.
"Is it necessary?" Alfred asked.
"Necessary to show people that I am…getting married," Princess Amisha replied with a sad sigh.
"Hey, don't sweat it, princess," he said, moving closer to her as he stared into her intense blue eyes. "I bet you will make a great queen."
"I must be off to temple," she said after a moment of silence. "I told the raja I would not go in order to have my hands and arms painted, but I truly do not want him praying by my side. Who knows what strange things he will pray for?"
"Oh," Matthew said, walking away from the two.
"Where are you going?" Alfred asked, keeping a strange look on him.
"I'll leave you two alone," his friend said, walking off to meet with Ivan, Arthur and Francis. Alfred remained with the princess, looking at her with appreciation of her beauty and regal splendor.
"Alfred," the princess said. "I was going to inquire that you come to temple with me."
"Me? I don't think I should," he replied. The princess looked at him.
"Why not?" she questioned.
"I'm Catholic," he responded.
"Oh," the princess said. "You are of a different faith."
"Yeah," he responded, changing his tone of voice to sound more enthusiastic about her request. "But, if you still want me to go with you, I can. I'd…actually…like to see and learn how you guys worship."
"Oh," the princess muttered. "Thank you very much."
Still dressed in her finery, the princess ordered a few servants to get an elephant prepared to go to the temple just a few miles away from the palace. Alfred let Princess
Amisha go on the elephant's back first shortly before he got on, and the elephant walked sludgy along the dirt road leading them to the temple. During their hour-long trip to the temple, the princess and Alfred talked, delving deeper into each other's cultures.
"So, what is Hinduism like?" he asked. Princess Amisha, who sat in front of him and unknowingly pleased him with the clean scent of jasmine and lavender, turned her head to glance at him before answering his question.
"Hinduism is like any other faith, I suppose," she told him. "We have many gods we pray to—Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, Kali, Sarasvati, Ganesha, Durga, just to name a few."
"How many are there?" Alfred asked.
"Many," she said.
"Which one do you pray to the most?" he questioned, dying to learn more.
"That is a hard answer to give. I respect all of the gods," Princess Amisha said.
"Well, I'm Catholic and we only have one God," Alfred said. "Ever hear about the story of Jesus?"
"I am familiar with it, but I was raised Hindu," the princess said calmly.
"I understand that," Alfred said. "I was only asking if you knew how it went."
"I am familiar with it, but I have not been taught to believe in one god," the princess told him as they came closer to the temple.
"I'm not trying to make you Catholic or whatever," Alfred said, trying to assure her.
"I know," the princess answered.
"You seem so defensive," he argued.
"Why would you think such thoughts?" she asked.
"You just seem…well…I'm happy to see you devoted to religion," Alfred told her calmly. "Even if it isn't mine, I'm happy to see that you have faith in something."
"I appreciate your admiration," she answered as they were taken closer to the temple. When they came off the elephant, the princess looked at Alfred, who stood next to her, marveling at the beautiful architecture of the building.
"This is my temple," she told him proudly.