Scene 1 — The Morning After
Morning sunlight slipped through the wooden shutters of Tara's room.
The sounds of Haridwar were already beginning outside.
Temple bells.
People calling to one another.
Animals moving through the streets.
The distant rush of the Ganga.
But inside Tara's room...
Silence.
Tara was completely buried beneath her blanket.
Only a small portion of her hair was visible.
Malini entered the room carrying a tray.
She looked at the bed.
Then at the sunlight.
Then back at Tara.
She sighed.
Malini: "Tara."
No response.
Malini: "Tara."
Nothing.
Malini walked closer.
Malini: "Wake up."
Tara shifted beneath the blanket.
Tara: "Mmm..."
Malini: "It's morning."
Tara: "Good."
Malini stared at her.
Malini: "That's all?"
Tara: "Yes."
She pulled the blanket higher.
Tara: "Morning can continue without me."
Malini sighed.
Malini: "You have a meeting today."
Tara remained completely still.
Tara: "There's plenty of time."
Malini: "You said that yesterday."
Tara: "And I was correct."
Malini: "You were almost late."
Tara finally opened one eye.
Tara: "Almost doesn't count."
Malini placed the tray on the table.
Malini: "You've been sleeping like this since we arrived."
Tara rolled over.
Tara: "Because this bed is comfortable."
She hugged the pillow.
Tara: "We've been sleeping on moving carriages and temporary bedding for days."
She closed her eyes again.
Tara: "Now we're finally in proper rooms."
Her voice became increasingly sleepy.
Tara: "Let me enjoy it."
Malini folded her arms.
Malini: "You have a ministerial meeting."
Tara: "Later."
Malini: "Tara."
Tara: "Later."
Malini: "What if I tell you Aryav and Kavya are probably already awake?"
Tara opened her eyes.
Tara: "...They're definitely not."
Malini raised an eyebrow.
Tara: "I know them."
Malini looked toward the door.
She had a feeling Tara was probably right.
With another sigh, she picked up the empty tray.
Malini: "Fine. I'll check on them."
Tara smiled beneath the blanket.
Tara: "See? You're wonderful."
Malini: "I'm beginning to regret that."
Malini left the room.
She walked through the ministerial quarter toward the room assigned to Aryav and Kavya.
She knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again.
Malini: "Aryav? Kavya?"
Silence.
Malini slowly opened the door.
Both deputy ministers were still asleep.
Aryav was sprawled across his bed, one arm hanging over the side.
Kavya was buried beneath her blanket, barely moving.
Their clothes from the previous evening had been tossed onto a nearby chair.
Neither showed the slightest intention of waking up.
Malini stared at them.
Malini: "...You're both worse than Tara."
Aryav suddenly moved.
Malini stepped back.
Aryav: "Five more minutes..."
He immediately went still again.
Malini rubbed her forehead.
Malini: "Wonderful."
She walked toward the window and opened the shutters.
Bright sunlight flooded the room.
Aryav groaned.
Aryav: "Close that..."
Malini: "Wake up."
Aryav: "Why?"
Malini: "Because you're ministers."
Aryav: "Unfortunately."
Kavya stirred beneath her blanket.
Kavya: "What time is it?"
Malini: "Late enough that Tara is still sleeping."
Kavya immediately went silent.
Aryav slowly opened one eye.
Aryav: "...She's still asleep?"
Malini: "Yes."
Aryav closed his eye again.
Aryav: "Then there's definitely plenty of time."
Malini stared at him.
Malini: "You two are hopeless."
She walked out of the room, muttering beneath her breath.
Behind her, Aryav and Kavya returned to the most peaceful sleep they had experienced since the expedition began.
For the first time in days, the ministers had discovered the greatest luxury Haridwar could offer.
A bed that wasn't moving.
Chapter 5 — Scene 2: The Bathhouse
By late morning, Haridwar was already alive.
The streets around the guest quarters were crowded with merchants, pilgrims, travelers, and carts carrying goods through the city. After several days on the road, however, Tara had only one thing on her mind.
A proper bath.
Tara walked alongside Malini and Kavya, while Aryav and Satyadhara followed behind them.
Tara: "I swear, if I have to wash myself from another brass basin, I'm going to lose my mind."
Kavya: "You've been complaining about that since yesterday."
Tara: "Because it is unpleasant."
Malini: "At least you finally have the chance to bathe properly."
Tara: "Exactly."
They continued through the busy streets.
Tara looked around at the unfamiliar roads, trying to recognize the landmarks they had passed during their earlier visit.
Tara: "I still don't understand how people know where they're going in this city."
Kavya: "We've been here for two days."
Tara: "And?"
Kavya: "And you still don't know where anything is."
Tara: "I know where everything important is."
Malini: "Such as?"
Tara paused.
Tara: "...The guest quarters."
Kavya laughed.
Before they could continue, a familiar voice came from behind them.
Yash: "Minister Tara."
The group turned.
Yash approached them carrying several folded sheets of paper.
Aryav: "Yash? What are you doing here?"
Yash bowed respectfully.
Yash: "Deputy Minister."
Yash then turned toward Tara.
Yash: "I've been exploring the city since yesterday, Minister. I thought it would be useful to familiarize myself with the roads and important locations."
Kavya looked at the papers beneath his arm.
Kavya: "Are those maps?"
Yash: "In a manner of speaking."
He unfolded one of the sheets.
It was a rough but surprisingly detailed map of Haridwar. Streets, markets, temples, river crossings, and important buildings had all been marked.
Tara leaned closer.
Tara: "You made this yourself?"
Yash: "Yes, Minister."
Tara studied the map for a moment.
Tara: "That's actually impressive."
Yash: "There are still areas I haven't properly surveyed, but I have enough information to navigate the main parts of the city."
Aryav looked over the map.
Aryav: "You've been doing all this while we've been resting?"
Yash: "Yes, Deputy Minister."
Aryav: "You work too much."
Yash gave a small smile.
Yash: "Someone has to know where everything is."
Tara pointed toward the map.
Tara: "Speaking of knowing where things are, we're looking for a bathhouse."
Yash immediately folded the map.
Yash: "I know of one nearby, Minister."
Malini: "Perfect. Lead the way."
Yash: "Of course."
The group followed him through the streets.
The bathhouse stood in a quieter part of the city, away from the busiest markets.
It was a spacious stone building arranged around an open courtyard. Separate entrances led to the men's and women's sections, while attendants carried brass vessels of hot and cold water between the rooms.
Steam drifted through the open arches.
Tara stopped at the entrance.
Tara: "Finally."
Malini: "You sound relieved."
Tara: "I am."
Kavya: "You'd think we hadn't bathed in days."
Tara gave her a look.
Tara: "We haven't bathed properly in days."
Kavya: "Fair."
The men and women separated at the entrance.
Tara, Malini, and Kavya entered the women's section.
Aryav, Satyadhara, and Yash entered the men's.
Men's Bathhouse
The men's section was calm and spacious.
Stone walls surrounded several bathing pools, with smaller private areas along the sides. The air was warm from the steam, and the sounds of flowing water echoed through the chamber.
Aryav looked around.
Aryav: "I have missed this."
Satyadhara: "A proper bath?"
Aryav: "A proper bath."
Yash: "The road has not exactly provided comfortable conditions, Deputy Minister."
Aryav: "That's an understatement."
They entered one of the pools.
Warm water immediately began washing away the dust and sweat accumulated during the journey.
Aryav leaned back against the stone edge.
Aryav: "That feels much better."
Satyadhara: "It does."
Yash remained quiet for a moment, enjoying the warmth himself.
Aryav glanced toward him.
Aryav: "So you've really been exploring the entire city?"
Yash: "Most of it, Deputy Minister."
Aryav: "And you made that map yourself?"
Yash: "Yes, sir."
Aryav: "Good work."
Yash: "Thank you, Deputy Minister."
Yash reached for another sheet of paper he had kept with his belongings.
Yash: "I also marked several locations where we can purchase supplies."
Aryav looked at the paper.
Yash: "Grain, fodder, lamp oil, cloth, and other necessities. There are several merchants who regularly supply travelers."
Satyadhara: "That will be useful before we leave."
Yash: "That was my intention, Officer Satyadhara."
Aryav continued studying the map.
Aryav: "What about the roads?"
Yash: "I've marked those as well."
He pointed toward several routes leaving Haridwar.
Yash: "This road follows the river for part of the journey."
Yash: "This one moves farther northeast."
Yash: "And this is the route I would recommend for the main convoy."
Aryav: "Why this one?"
Yash: "It's wider than the others. It will still become difficult once we reach the mountains, but it should be more manageable for the supply wagons."
Satyadhara nodded.
Satyadhara: "That's important. We have too many wagons to risk taking a narrow route unnecessarily."
Aryav: "Agreed."
Yash folded the map.
Yash: "I'll show it to Minister Tara during the afternoon meeting."
Aryav: "Good."
For a while, none of them spoke.
The quiet sound of water filled the room.
Aryav eventually closed his eyes.
Aryav: "Seven days on the road."
Satyadhara: "Yes."
Aryav: "I'm starting to think I understand why Tara likes sleeping so much."
Satyadhara smiled.
Satyadhara: "She works hard when she's awake."
Aryav: "That she does."
Yash: "Minister Tara has been handling a considerable amount of responsibility since we left Kannauj."
Aryav opened his eyes.
Aryav: "She has."
Satyadhara: "And she's doing well."
Aryav nodded.
Aryav: "Better than I expected, honestly."
Satyadhara: "She planned most of this expedition herself."
Aryav: "I know."
A small silence followed.
Aryav: "Still, I'm glad we're staying here for a few days."
Satyadhara: "So am I."
Yash: "It will give everyone time to recover before entering the mountains."
Aryav: "Exactly."
The three settled back into the warm water.
For once, nobody had to worry about wagons, scouts, schedules, or mountain roads.
They could simply sit and rest.
Women's Bathhouse
On the other side of the building, Tara had discovered the same relief.
She lowered herself into the warm water and immediately relaxed.
Tara: "Oh, this is wonderful."
Malini smiled.
Malini: "Better than the camp?"
Tara: "By far."
Kavya: "We really should have done this earlier."
Tara: "I agree."
Malini: "At least we're here now."
Tara leaned back against the stone edge and closed her eyes.
Tara: "Nobody wake me for at least an hour."
Kavya: "You have an afternoon meeting."
Tara opened one eye.
Tara: "I said an hour."
Malini: "We'll make sure you don't miss it."
Tara sighed.
Tara: "Fine."
The three settled into the warm water as the noise of Haridwar continued outside.
For the first time since leaving Kannauj, the expedition finally felt like it had slowed down.
The three remained in the warm water for a while longer, enjoying something they had all been missing since the expedition began.
For once, nobody needed to discuss the road immediately ahead.
No wagons needed to be moved.
No scouts needed reports.
No guards needed instructions.
They could simply sit.
And breathe.
After some time, the group finally left the bathhouse.
Tara stepped back into her clothes feeling considerably lighter than she had that morning.
Tara: "I feel like an entirely different person."
Malini: "That's what happens when you actually bathe properly."
Tara: "I was bathing properly."
Kavya: "You were surviving."
Tara gave her an annoyed look.
Tara: "There is a difference."
Aryav: "I'm inclined to agree with Kavya."
Tara: "Nobody asked you."
Aryav smiled.
Aryav: "I know."
Yash waited until they had all finished before approaching Tara.
Yash: "Minister Tara."
Tara turned toward him.
Yash: "I thought you might want this."
He handed her the folded map he had made earlier.
Tara opened it and looked over the markings.
Tara: "You really mapped quite a lot."
Yash: "There are still sections I haven't covered completely, but the main roads and several important locations are marked."
Tara folded the map carefully.
Tara: "Bring your notes to the afternoon meeting. We'll go through them there."
Yash: "Of course, Minister."
The group began making their way back toward the guest quarters.
By the time they reached the busier streets, Haridwar had become even more crowded.
Pilgrims moved toward the river carrying small offerings. Merchants called out to passing travelers, while carts loaded with grain and other goods slowly made their way through the streets.
Tara watched the city around her.
It was different from Kannauj.
Kannauj had always felt like the heart of a great empire—vast markets, grand estates, government buildings, and endless activity.
Haridwar felt different.
The city seemed to revolve around the river.
Every road eventually seemed to lead toward it.
Tara: "There's something strange about this place."
Kavya: "Strange?"
Tara: "Not bad strange."
She looked toward the distant sound of the river.
Tara: "It feels like the entire city is connected to the Ganga somehow."
Malini: "That's probably because it is."
Tara smiled.
Tara: "Maybe."
They continued walking.
Aryav stretched his arms slightly as they walked.
Aryav: "I don't remember the last time I felt this relaxed."
Kavya: "Probably because you complain every time you have to do anything."
Aryav: "I don't complain."
Kavya: "You complained about the road."
Aryav: "The road deserved it."
Tara: "He's got a point."
Malini shook her head.
Malini: "All of you are impossible."
Once they returned to the guest quarters, everyone separated to prepare for the afternoon.
Tara entered her room with Malini.
Her formal ministerial clothes were brought out, along with the documents she would need for the meeting.
Tara sat at the table while Malini arranged the papers in front of her.
Tara: "The supply records should be here."
Malini: "Already placed."
Tara: "The expenditure reports?"
Malini: "Beside them."
Tara picked up the documents and quickly looked through them.
Tara: "Good."
Malini: "You seem much more awake now."
Tara: "The bath helped."
Malini: "So did sleeping half the morning."
Tara looked up.
Tara: "That was necessary."
Malini: "Of course."
Tara gave her a suspicious look.
Tara: "You're mocking me."
Malini: "I wouldn't dare."
Tara smiled faintly and returned to the documents.
A short while later, Aryav and Kavya arrived.
Aryav carried a small collection of reports under his arm.
Aryav: "Ready?"
Tara: "Almost."
Kavya placed her own notes on the table.
Kavya: "I've gone through the trade figures. There are several things we should discuss once we're inside."
Tara nodded.
Tara: "We'll deal with those during the meeting."
She gathered the documents.
Tara: "Let's go."
The meeting hall had been prepared within one of the larger administrative buildings of Haridwar.
When Tara and the others arrived, the hall was already beginning to fill.
The room was spacious, with stone pillars supporting the high ceiling and long wooden tables arranged for the visiting ministers and local officials.
Scribes were already seated along one side, preparing writing boards and ink.
Several officials from Haridwar stood near the entrance, speaking quietly among themselves.
As Tara entered, a few immediately turned toward her.
Official: "Minister Tara."
Tara inclined her head.
Tara: "Good afternoon."
They stepped farther inside.
More officials continued arriving.
Some came accompanied by attendants carrying documents.
Others were followed by guards who remained outside the main seating area.
The atmosphere gradually became busier.
Aryav looked around the hall.
Aryav: "Looks like most of them have arrived."
Kavya: "Not all."
Tara glanced toward the entrance.
Tara: "We'll wait."
Yash entered a moment later carrying his map and notes.
He approached Tara and bowed.
Yash: "Minister."
Tara: "You made it."
Yash: "Yes."
He held up the papers.
Yash: "I brought everything we discussed."
Tara: "Good. Keep them ready."
Yash: "Of course."
Satyadhara entered soon afterward.
He looked around the hall before taking his position near the entrance, where several other senior guards had gathered.
The final few officials began taking their places.
Chairs scraped softly against the stone floor.
Scribes prepared their boards.
Documents were arranged across the tables.
Conversations gradually became quieter as everyone settled in.
Tara stood near her place at the head of the ministerial section.
She looked across the hall.
This was the first formal gathering they had held since reaching Haridwar.
And now, with the delegation assembled before her, the expedition was about to enter its next stage.
Tara took her seat.
The remaining officials entered the hall.
The doors slowly closed behind them.