Chapter Forty: Royal Rajasthan
The morning after Amritsar, the group dragged themselves to the airport with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Percy was somehow bouncing despite the early hour. "RAJASTHAN! PALACES! FORTS! CAMELS!"
Honey, clutching coffee like a lifeline, nodded weakly. "Camels. Yes."
"CAMELS, HONEY! WE'RE GOING TO RIDE CAMELS!"
"I heard you the first seventeen times."
"SEVENTEEN IS NOT ENOUGH!"
Keiran was also bouncing, because he was three and sleep was optional. "Mamma! Camels! Like Rex but BIGGER!"
"Much bigger, baby."
"Rex not scared! Rex brave!"
"Rex is the bravest."
Keifer, carrying approximately forty-seven bags, caught Jay's eye. "We're really doing this."
"We're really doing this."
"Another week of chaos."
"Another week of beautiful chaos."
He kissed her forehead. "With you, always."
---
The flight to Jaipur was short.
They descended into a different world—pink rising from the desert, palaces and forts dotting the landscape, the Aravalli hills in the distance.
Percy was pressed to the window. "PINK CITY! I SEE IT! IT'S ACTUALLY PINK!"
"Percy, we're all trying to see."
"THEN LOOK FASTER!"
C.N. was already researching. "Jaipur was founded in 1727. The pink color was originally to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876."
Percy waved dismissively. "History later. PINK NOW!"
---
They landed and immediately felt the heat difference.
Not oppressive, but definitely warmer than the mountains. Keiran stripped off his jacket.
"Mamma! Hot!"
"Rajasthan is warmer, baby. Desert climate."
"Rex like warm. Rex cold in snow."
"Rex has opinions about everything."
"Rex KNOWS everything."
---
The hotel was a palace.
Literally—a converted heritage property with courtyards, fountains, and enough marble to make Percy's eyes pop out.
"WE'RE STAYING IN A PALACE! A REAL PALACE!"
"Percy, inside voice."
"THIS IS MY INSIDE VOICE IN A PALACE!"
Honey grabbed his arm. "Let's find our room before you embarrass me further."
"IMPOSSIBLE! I'M TOO EXCITING TO BE EMBARRASSING!"
C.N. watched them go. "He's going to be insufferable here."
"He's always insufferable," Rakii said, snapping a photo. "But the lighting is good."
---
They gathered in the courtyard after settling in.
The plan: Amber Fort first, then the City Palace, then maybe some shopping if anyone survived.
Percy had a list. "CAMEL RIDE AT AMBER FORT! ELEPHANTS MAYBE! SO MANY PHOTOS!"
"Percy, we're all here. You don't need to announce everything."
"ANNOUNCING IS MY LOVE LANGUAGE!"
Keiran tugged Jay's hand. "Mamma, camel today?"
"Today, baby. Camel today."
"Rex EXCITED!"
---
Amber Fort rose from the hills like a dream.
Massive walls, intricate carvings, courtyards upon courtyards. The approach alone—winding road up the hill, the fort growing larger with every turn—took everyone's breath away.
Even Percy was quiet.
For approximately thirty seconds.
"THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING THING I'VE EVER SEEN!"
"You said that at the Golden Temple."
"GOLDEN TEMPLE WAS AMAZING THEN! THIS IS AMAZING NOW!"
"Your amazement has no loyalty."
"LOYALTY IS FOR PEOPLE, NOT SIGHTS!"
---
They entered through the Sun Gate and emerged into the first courtyard.
The scale was overwhelming. Palace after palace, mirror work and frescoes, views of the surrounding hills and the Maota Lake below.
Keiran stared. "Mamma, this big."
"Very big, baby."
"People lived here?"
"Kings and queens, a long time ago."
"Rex wants be king."
"Rex can be king today."
Keiran held Rex up. "Rex KING OF FORT!"
Percy immediately bowed. "All hail King Rex!"
Rex, being a stuffed dinosaur, accepted this tribute gracefully.
---
They explored for hours.
The Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) where the king heard petitions. The Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) with its intricate mirror work. The Sheesh Mahal—the Mirror Palace—where tiny mirrors covered every surface.
Percy spun in circles in the Sheesh Mahal. "LOOK AT ME! I'M A THOUSAND PERCIES!"
"One Percy is already too many," C.N. muttered.
"THERE CAN NEVER BE TOO MANY PERCIES!"
Honey caught Jay's eye. "Help."
"You married him."
"My point exactly."
---
Keiran loved the mirrors. "Mamma! Look! Baby Keirans everywhere!"
"Lots of you, baby."
"Rex everywhere too!"
Rex, reflected approximately nine hundred times, seemed pleased.
Keifer pulled Jay aside in a quiet corner. "Hey."
"Hey."
"This place is incredible."
"It really is."
He kissed her softly. "Not as incredible as you."
"That's cheesy."
"Your cheesy."
She laughed against his lips. "Always."
---
They found the others near the elephant ride area.
Percy was already negotiating. "I want the BIGGEST elephant! The most PHOTOGENIC elephant!"
"Percy, they're all elephants."
"ELEPHANTS HAVE PERSONALITIES! I NEED THE BEST ONE!"
C.N. pinched his nose. "This is going to be a long day."
Rakii was already photographing everything. "The light here is perfect. Absolutely perfect."
David was trying to climb something. Freya pulled him back. "David, no."
"DAVID YES!"
"David, there's a sign."
"SIGNS ARE SUGGESTIONS!"
Mica was also trying to climb something. Calix was also pulling her back.
"We have a type," Felix observed.
Bridget laughed. "Chaos attracts chaos."
---
The camel ride was... an experience.
Percy mounted his camel with unnecessary drama. "I AM A DESERT KING! LOOK UPON ME AND TREMBLE!"
The camel looked supremely unimpressed.
Honey, on her own camel, was laughing too hard to speak.
C.N. refused to ride. "I'll document. From the ground. Safely."
"Scared, C.N.?"
"PRUDENT, Rakii. There's a difference."
Keiran rode with Jay, Rex clutched tightly. "Mamma! Camel walking! Camel moving!"
"Yes, baby. Camel ride!"
"Rex likes camel! Camel friend!"
The camel, a gentle creature named Gopal, seemed to accept this assessment.
Keifer rode beside them, grinning like a kid. "This is amazing."
"Right? Best decision."
"Top five decisions. After hiring you. Marrying you. Etcetera."
"That's three decisions."
"I'll think of more."
---
After Amber Fort, they visited the City Palace in Jaipur.
More grandeur. More history. More Percy commentary.
"LOOK! PEACOCK GATES! GREEN! BLUE! YELLOW! SO MANY COLORS!"
"Yes, Percy. We see them."
"I NEED PHOTOS WITH ALL OF THEM!"
"You're going to have nine hundred photos by the end of this trip."
"NINE HUNDRED IS NOT ENOUGH!"
---
They wandered through the palace museum, seeing royal costumes, weapons, manuscripts.
C.N. was in his element. "This sword is from the 16th century. Look at the craftsmanship."
Percy peered at it. "It's pointy."
"That's... yes. Swords are pointy."
"POINTY IS GOOD!"
Rakii photographed everything. Yuri filmed everything. They occasionally got in each other's way and argued about angles.
Mica found a mirrored wall and spent ten minutes taking selfies. Calix waited patiently.
Felix and Bridget found a quiet courtyard and simply sat, enjoying the peace.
David found a peacock and tried to befriend it. Freya watched, amused.
Aries and Ella explored at their own pace, hand in hand, occasionally stopping to read plaques.
---
Jay found a quiet spot overlooking the city.
The sun was beginning to set, painting everything gold. The pink city lived up to its name in this light—warm and beautiful and timeless.
Keifer joined her. "Thought I'd find you here."
"Best view."
"Second best." He kissed her shoulder. "Best view is you."
"You're very smooth today."
"Rajasthan brings out my romantic side."
She laughed. "Good. Keep it coming."
---
Dinner was at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city palace.
The food was incredible—laal maas (spicy mutton), dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi. Percy ate until he couldn't move.
"I'm full," he announced. "I'm actually full."
Honey stared. "That's a first."
"The food here is too good. It defeated me."
C.N. nodded. "It's really good."
"Did you just agree with me?"
"On food, yes. Don't get used to it."
Percy beamed anyway. "PROGRESS!"
---
Keiran fell asleep halfway through dinner, face in his kheer.
Jay wiped him off and carried him to the hotel room, Rex dragging behind.
Keifer tucked them both in—Keiran first, then Jay.
"Best day?" he murmured.
"Top three."
"What's number one?"
"Every day with you."
He kissed her softly. "Smooth."
"Learned from the best."
---
Outside, the others gathered on the rooftop, watching stars over the pink city.
Percy was quiet for once. "This trip was a good idea."
"Your only good idea," C.N. said.
"HEY!"
"Kidding. Mostly."
Honey hugged Percy's arm. "It was a great idea."
"Yeah." He kissed her head. "It really was."
Felix and Bridget sat close, watching.
Mica was actually still, leaning on Calix.
David and Freya held hands.
Aries and Ella were wrapped in each other.
Yuri had his camera, but he wasn't filming. Just watching.
Rakii took one last photo—the group, silhouetted against the night sky.
Perfect.
---
End of Chapter Forty