Chapter 12

There was light, and I saw books and sketches. Someone had laid me on couch in my room. Taani and Neha were by my side. There were times when I wasn't sure if I was sleeping or awake. As dawn came, Taani pressed cup into my hands.

"Drink" she said. "I can't"

"You've been crying all night. You need fluid," she instructed. I drank but it didn't taste anything. I could hear Reyaansh questioning the slaves in the atrium, and when he came to me, I turned my face away.

"Kria" he said gently. I closed my eyes.

"I know you don't wish to speak, but if we're to find who did this..."

"Just tell me, is... is my brother gone?" I opened my eyes. "Is he dead?" I cried. Taani rushed by my side, "Kria, he was attacked but he's been treated." She said. Tears blurred my vision, then suddenly my mind was clear as ever.

I remembered Mrityunjay's letter for our birthday. "Reyaansh you really wanna know" I demanded. "Yes" he said. "Then give me Mrityunjay's letter!" Reyaansh frowned at me. "Do you think I'm lying? Find Mritunjay's letter!" I shrieked.

Neha handed the scroll to me with trembling hans. "What's in the letter?" she asked nervously. On this, the seventeenth year of their birth, I hope Shiva will wish them well. I read it to myself just to be sure I wasn't mistaken.

I continued reading, only this time louder. There is nothing nearly as momentous as the passing from childhood to adulthood, and it is an occasion that merits serious consideration. When I return be sure she has made herself ready.

Tears burned my cheeks and I looked from one face to the other. "When I return be sure she has made herself ready. He wanted me to ready for Raghu's death, my being ready was for this. Aren't his word meaning death sentence."

"No" Reyaansh said but his no' was all a lie. Mritunjay always had it in back of his mind, my brother's murder. First my parents, then Ishaan, now Raghu...

"Kria" he held my left hand. I lifted up my face, "You always knew about this right?" His face changed expression. "Don't be ridiculous, Raghu was a brother to me like Swayam." He cupped my face.

"Right now only one man in palace is close to Mritunjay." I said. "And it isn't me" His jaws worked angrily. "I want you to leave." When he didn't move, I screamed violently. "I want you away from here!"

I removed the bangle he had gifted me and threw it in a corner. Hurt flickered across his face with a teardrop falling from his left eye. He turned and walked towards the door.

"Reyaansh" Taani called him but he left and Neha went behind him. "What are you doing Kria?" she said. "He knew about this, probably planned it."

"Don't be a fool he would never do such a thing"

"How do you know? He's closest to him." I said. "He wouldn't because Raghu was also close to him" she tried to defend him but I was sure he was involved in this. "Where is he?"

"He's being treated downstairs."

I ate alone, worked alone and once in day gave glimpse to my brother from far as he wasn't conscious from many days. I stood near the door of his room when everyone had left. "Kria" Antra called from behind.

It was long I had seen her and didn't say anything to her. Tears welled in my eyes I took my brother's lover in my arms. The pair of u wept together. She was one of closest to me like Taani and Neha were but she was Reyaansh's sister too.

After that day I maintained a perfect distance from him. He was involved in Raghu's murder I was sure of it as he was there with me to keep me away from Raghu that night. When I said I heard something he replied its nothing to keep me away from suspicion.

I never confessed it to anyone what was between us and how my brother's murder was planned as no one was gonna believe it and no one was gonna punish him for what he did to my brother. Raghu was saved due to god's grace but wasn't cured completely.

I walked into my room, "Kria" he called out. He walked inside, "Please trust me it wasn't me" I looked other side trying to avoid. "How can I show faith on you? When you were involved in it" He tried to come close.

"Just tell how I trust when you were there with me exactly when Raghu, when I told there's something weird you were the one to make me avoid it" I screamed.

"You know what you are saying?" he held me close just few mms apart, I slapped him hard. "I'm saying the truth. You used me to murder my brother. Your promises, words, being close to me was all a lie." I said.

"You'll regret this slap and you words" He said in anger and left but how much more can I regret?

So here end my update... i know its short... do leave ur likes n reviews.