The Emperor asked in a stern voice, "Guards! Have you completed communication with all the surrounding kingdoms? Are all the arrangements for tomorrow's royal festival fully finalized? Tomorrow, I must not hear a single complaint or chaotic noise in front of any guest!"
The Chief Guard bowed with folded hands and replied humbly, "Yes, Your Majesty! The dispatch of letters and messages to all neighboring kingdoms has been completed. The invitation phase is an absolute success. The royal pavilion, seating arrangements, and floral decorations are in their final stages of completion, Your Majesty."
Pleased, the Emperor remarked, "Very well! But listen, starting tomorrow morning, guests will begin to arrive. Tell me in detail—what has been arranged for tomorrow's royal feast?"
Hesitating, the Chief Guard said, "Forgive us, Your Majesty... the dishes will be prepared according to your command. We have not yet finalized any specific menu or purchased the provisions..."
The moment the guard uttered these words, the Emperor's eyes flared red with anger! Thundering in rage, he roared, "What did you say? You haven't finalized the food arrangements yet? You will only do so if I order it? Could you not use your own brains to draft a royal menu beforehand? Thousands of invited guests and royal families will arrive at the palace tomorrow morning—will they eat the soil and dust of the palace for food? For your incompetence, I will dismiss the assembly tomorrow and smash your teeth into your hands! Go gather the provisions right this moment!"
Trembling in fear, the guards folded their hands and cried, "Forgive us, Your Majesty! Grant us mercy! You had not personally mentioned what royal dishes should be prepared for tomorrow, so we did not dare to finalize it, Your Majesty!"
Calming down slightly, the Emperor said, "Always talkative! Fine, stand quietly right here. Tomorrow's festival is in honor of our newly appointed Prime Minister, Rupanjan—let me go ask him personally what foods he prefers! The menu for tomorrow's feast shall be crafted according to his taste."
Saying this, the Emperor briskly returned to Rupanjan's room. He asked with affection, "Rupanjan, we wish to serve your favorite dishes at tomorrow's grand festival. Tell me, what foods do you love the most?"
Rupanjan smiled humbly and replied, "Your Majesty, I am a very simple man from a village. I have never really experienced the taste of exquisite royal delicacies. Therefore, any food prepared with utter devotion is dear to me! Whatever you deem best for the kingdom and arrange, my heart will be immensely satisfied with that."
Hearing Rupanjan's endearing response, the Emperor was deeply pleased. Returning to the court, he summoned the guards and declared a meticulous and lavish menu for tomorrow's royal feast:
"Listen, guards, note down tomorrow's menu with great attention!
Arrangements for the Royal Afternoon Feast:
For lunch, there shall be piping hot, soft, royal luchis fried in ghee, rich potato curry cooked with special spices, sweet chana dal garnished with coconut and cashews, alongside a royal mutton curry made with tender meat! And for dessert, serving pure milk chhana rasgullas dripping with syrup and hot, sweet pantuas soaked in sugar syrup! Since only our close relatives and distinguished members of royal families will arrive tomorrow afternoon, let these special arrangements be kept for lunch.
Evening Beverages and Refreshments:
Our primary grand event and coronation ceremony will take place tomorrow evening! By then, thousands of guests across the realm and Kings and Queens from neighboring lands will be present. Thus, for the evening, arrange for various fresh fruit beverages: chilled mango juice, delicious pineapple juice, sweet lime juice, and various aromatic royal sherbets! Separate uniformed attendants shall be deployed by the palace to serve these to the guests.
The Grand Royal Evening Feast:
And for the royal dinner feast, the menu shall include—aromatic Basanti Pulao crafted with Govindobhog rice and pure ghee, accompanied by spicy-sweet thick gravy mutton curry made with tender meat, authentic raw mango chutney, crispy sesame papads, rasgullas, and pantuas! And listen, at the very end of the dinner, let a special, deeply reverent Paramanna (rice pudding) made with fragrant rice and thickened milk be served! A royal feast remains incomplete without Paramanna!
Go now! As I instructed, begin gathering vast quantities of the finest quality rice, lentils, ghee, meat, fruits, and sweets according to this menu! Let there not be the slightest shortage of food!"
Bowing with enthusiasm, the guards exclaimed, "As you command, Your Majesty! We are immediately deploying the royal chefs and market supervisors to begin the massive food preparations!"
The guards moved swiftly to carry out the culinary arrangements. Soon enough, the hands of time moved forward, and a deep night settled upon both Rupnagar and Junagarh. The surrounding clamor fell silent, and the royal palaces sank into peaceful tranquility. Awaiting that historic and auspicious Sunday's grand celebration, every citizen of the realm, the members of the royal families, and the newly appointed Prime Minister Rupanjan fell asleep—eagerly anticipating the arrival of dawn and the supreme moment of Sunday!