Author's Note: This was originally meant to be a published novel, but due to time and resource constraints, I'm publishing it here first. I hope you enjoy the sprinkle of culture throughout the Episodes! 

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A wrinkly but gentle hand glided over her swollen belly, frequently pressuring the different sides. Calm and anxiety washed over Indumati like the teasing waves of the ocean at the shores. The last time she was examined, she had been warned of not exerting herself.

Nandini, the royal midwife, had overseen the births of many nobles in Ayodhya. Her patience, experience and dedication to making expectant mothers enjoy their pregnancy were why she was appointed the royal midwife. She spent additional time with the expectant fathers to be more involved with their wives and to understand the pain and pleasure of being parents. But with her talent and intellect came her straightforward manner, which made her the only one in the kingdom who would dare to threaten a noble and a royal. Amidst her musings, she moved to check the pulse point. Indumati looked on affectionately as Nandini, the wise, did the best anyone could possibly do. 

"My queen," said Nandini, her eyes shining with her toothy smile, "Your heart is calmer this week. It gives me so much pleasure to feel the babe fine too."

"Well, I do have a rather serious midwife who doesn't let anything come in between her and the babe she is about to help give birth to." Indumati felt herself smiling back at her as she responded. 

"My queen, I say this only to ease this precious and fragile journey. Every moment of bliss, sorrow, and distress compounds together and remains with both you and the babe. My queen, you must laugh when you want to cry, and breathe when angered."

Like the lightness of silver bells, a distant memory tinkled in her head like a reminder.

"Nandini," exclaimed Indumati, "You remember when you had informed me about my dream in my previous pregnancy?"

"Of course, my queen. The prince had brought great peace upon the land."

"Well, I had a strange dream again. I do not know what to make of it."

"Let us hear it, Your Majesty."

And she recollected her dream, recounting even the colours present, Indumati felt great peace wash upon her. She looked at her midwife, deep in thought.

"Well? Is it strange?"

"Your Majesty, it is rather peculiar how distinct your previous dream was compared to this, while sharing a thread of resemblance to the recent one," she paused. After a few breaths, she explained, "My queen, I think you could be expecting a girl. We'll see more significant signs closer to the due date, but I do believe it will be a girl. And what a girl she would be! Full of compassion, being the reason why her mother, the queen, won't feel sorrow."

She smiled and took my hand into her crinkled, soft ones. 

"My queen, a son that will bring peace to the land, and a daughter that will bring peace to you. I think you will have a beautiful motherhood."

And with those words, she left the queen and her close attendant, Chanda, smiling to themselves, basking in the happiness that awaited them.