It was the festival of Raksha-bandhan. The entire town was in a tizzy. The market place had been covered with colourful Rakhis for the entire past month. And today, people ran around with rakhis in their pockets to complete the ceremonies of the day.
The first three hours belonged to the warriors. Since the purpose of this festival was to thank those who protected us, people flocked to the palace to tie rakhis on the wrists of the King and his warriors. They also tied rakhis on my wrist. When I wondered why, father told me that as a princess and future queen, they expected my protection when I grew up. The rakhi was a thank-you as well as a request for continued protection. I nodded, realising the importance of the promise.
The next three hours belonged to the learned and skilled men and women of the country. They protect our knowledge from getting lost, father explained. It is their responsibility to pass on their knowledge so that coming generations may use it and prosper like we are prospering. "Like Shreeman, who teaches me about ants and not wasting food?"
Father nodded.
I hopped off to Shreeman's rooms.
I found him in the gardens, talking to two strangers - a man and a woman. The man was really tall, well built, with skin the color of old temple bells. He had really dirty and long hair. They were tied in long braids that then coiled around his throat. The woman was as pretty as the moon, I remember thinking at the time. She was of medium height. Both were dressed in warriors' garb and carried weapons.
"Namaste Shreeman! I have come to tie you a rakhi!" I broke into their conversation.
"Of course, my child."
"And I must also tie you a rakhi, my dear. Do you know why?"
"Of course I do! It is because when I grow up, I am supposed to protect the people of the kingdom." I was very happy to show off my newly acquired knowledge in front of Shreeman.
All three of them smiled. "That is true," the man said.
I turned to him. He had a strange effect on me. I felt as if I could completely trust this person. They were sitting on a platform that went around a tree trunk and I had been standing on the ground. I climbed into his lap.
"Are you a warrior, sir?"
"Yes. But I am thinking of quitting now, at least for a while."
"Can you quit being a warrior? And why do you want to quit?"
"Of course you can! And I want to quit because I have been a warrior for many years. It is time to do something new now."
"Then, as a thank-you for protecting us for so many years, please accept my rakhi."
He nodded. As I tied him the rakhi, I noticed that there were no prior rakhis on his wrist. I checked the woman and she didn't have any either. So I tied rakhis to them both.
"How will people thank you if you are hiding in this garden?! That's why you don't have any rakhis!"
They laughed and hugged me. "We must leave now, dear girl."
I was so reluctant to let them go. I had climbed off the man's lap and onto the woman's. She was so warm and soft and comfortable. "Is this what a mother feels like?" I wondered, hugging her.
The woman sighed. "Well, you carry on. I'll hang around for tonight, I guess." And she put her arms around me. I smiled contentedly.
The man looked at Shreeman meaningfully. Shreeman nodded. "You can leave it with King Janak. It will be safe."
The man took off his bow and dropped it to the ground. "Alright. From now on, I am a hermit. No longer a warrior."
And he left. I guess the woman also left after a while, after she had sung me to sleep. It was the best sleep I had ever slept.
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