Chapter 64

Next morning.

Rudra was feeding shambhavi. She makes face when he picked up glass of milk. He smiles and shook his head. Radha maa and shrijana comes to see her. Radha maa examines her. She says.

Radha maa: how are you two doing today?

Shambhavi: very well except he already started getting naughty. Nowadays he kicks a lot. May be he too. Likes to tease me like his father.

She gives Rudra a side look.rudra looks at her with narrowed eyes.

Shrijana: Rudra also used to kick his mother when he was in her womb.

Shambhavi: like father like son.

Radha maa gives her medicines and ask her to rest.

In the afternoon

Rudra was thinking about the incidents happened till now. He was getting more and more doubtful. All the things were pointing towards sameeksha but a part if him was still not ready to believe that his childhood friend could do something like this. Shrijana was with shambhavi. Shambhavi was knitting a sweater for the baby.sameeksha comes there.

Sameeksha: maa you have not eaten anything since morning. You go and have something I'll stay here.

Shambhavi: Dai maa..plz go i don't want you to starve for me.

Shrijana goes from there leaving them alone. Sameeksha sits beside her and fakes sympathy.

Sameeksha: i wanted to,talk to you.

Shambhavi: yes of course..you can say anything.

Sameeksha: you know when rudra's mother died he became so lonely and depressed that he cut himself off from outer world for few years. Though maa gave him all love and support but she couldn't fulfill that emptiness of his life.

Shambhavi: i know and i know him that he never told anyone how he feels. My Rudra is like this only..he never shows his pain to anyone but his eyes speaks everything.

Sameeksha: what i am trying to say is that he loves you a lot..more than anything else..i have never seen him like this before. He is madly in love with you. If anything happens to you then he won't be able to bear it.

Shambhavi looks at her shocked

Sameeksha: don't get me wrong shambhavi.i am just telling the possibility. You know your condition. You are too weak to give birth to a child.even you don't want him to become lonely again.

Shambhavi: no never..i can never imagine him going through the same phase of loneliness.i can't see him sad.

Sameeksha: they you have to make sure that he'll not left alone..

Shambhavi: even if I die..our baby will be with him. A part of me will always stay with me..

Sameeksha: but a baby can't fulfill the need of a soul mate..even a baby needs a mother. I am sorry if I have said anything wrong but I know you want rudra's happiness and you should make sure he remain happy always.

Sameeksha successfully manipulated shambhavi. He left from there leaving shambhavi thinking. Few moments later Rudra comes and saw her sitting all gloomy and sad. He goes near her,take her hand in his ask.

Rudra: what are you thinking?

Shambhavi: I want to say something but promise me you won't get angry.

Rudra: I promise.

Shambhavi: if anything happens to me..if I die..

Rudra looks at her sternly and she stops but he promised her that he won't get angry so he told her to continue.

Shambhavi: promise me..you'll get married again if I die.

Rudra taken aback hearing this. He looks at her shocked. For the first time he saw fear in her eyes. Not the fear of death but fear of loosing him,fear of thinking about leaving him alone.

Shambhavi: I know my condition..there are very less chances that I survive after delievery. What do you think I don't know anything..i know watching me like this you are dying thousand deaths every day.i know you are in a lot more pain than I am.

She cupped his cheek. His eyes turned red. He was almost on the verge of breaking down in front of her but he makes himself strong. He kissed her forehead and sweetly asked.

Rudra: what would you do if you were in my place? If I was dying then you too would have got married again?.

Shambhavi becomes speechless hearing this. She smiles and say..

Rudra: that will never happen. Remember what raj purohit said about me..i have "akhand saubhagya" yog ..i will die as a suhagan whether today or tomorrow. You have a very long life.

Rudra: what do you think only living is enough? There is no point of living when you don't have your life with you and for me you are my life..you are everything to me..i love you...more than you could ever imagine..more than you'll ever know.

She burst into tears ad hugs him. He caresses her head.

Rudra: take rest..don't stress yourself thinking about all this..you are not going anywhere. You'll stay with me forever.

He lay her down and soon she fell asleep. After she asleeps Rudra furiously goes out of the room.he comes in the hall and calls everyone. Hearing The tone of his voice which was full of anger everyone comes running.

Vajramitra: what happened son?

Rudra: who was the last person to meet shambhavi?

Everyone looks at each other. Sameeksha gets scared. She hesitatingly said

Sameeksha: I was..

Rudra: what did you say to her?

Sameeksha: nothing..but why?

Rudra: then why the hell she told me to get married again if she dies?I know those were not her words.

Everyone becomes stunned.

Rudra: let me make this clear to you and to everyone for once and for all. I don't only love her,I am mad for her,obsessed for her and that madness and obsession is growing day by day. Don't make me show that side of mine which you all never want to see.

His voice was stern. Watching only a glimpse of his madness for shambhavi was enough to scare them.

Shrijana: son,,we know how much you love her..

Rudra: you all seriously think that I can forget her..do you think I can forget the woman who gave me so much love, the woman who changed a ruthless man into a cheerful person, the woman who is performing my mother's shraadh since past 11 years.

Shrijana's eyes widened when she heard that. This was something which no one has ever expected.

Rudra: that women is my life.i will save her at any cost even if I have to die.

He gives sameeksha a killer look and goes back to his room. He came back and saw sham sleeping peacefully. His doubt on sameeksha was getting stronger.rudra decided to keep an eye on her.

Two days later ( at night)

Rudra decided to talk to sameeksha. He goes to talk to her in her room. He knocks but nobody answers. He waited for few minutes and goes inside but to his surprise no one was there. He was about to leave when he saw that big trunk of hers. He thinks of opening it.he hesitate at first but then opens it. He searched the trunk. He saw some clothes and jewellery. He thinks

Rudra: these are shambhavi's but how come they are in sameeksha's trunk. He look fir more and become she'll shocked when he found out the ring which he gave shambhavi few months ago. She thought she lost it and even cries for days for that ring. He saw a woodoo doll. A piece of shambhavi's dupatta was draped on it. He understood everything. He needed no more proof. All his doubt got cleared what he was thinking was true,sameeksha is behind all this but he failed to understand why. He blood was boiling in anger, his eyes were enraged. He took all the things of shambhavi and leaves the room. Sameeksha as usual was coming after meeting with jwala. She was sneakingly going towards her room when she saw Rudra standing infront of her.she got horrified,she tried to run away but he grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the hall. She pleads him to let go but he dragged her more roughly. He throws her on the floor. Everyone except shambhavi was already present there. Shrijana was standing numb and in complete disbelief,birju heart broken, vajramitra and Baldev shocked and disgusted. Radha maa and gopal speechless. Sameeksha gets up and cries badly.

Sameeksha: what did I do?

Rudra shows her the woodoo doll and all other things. She gets hell scared. She knew she is caught and she can't escape this time so she tried to act innocent.

Sameeksha: I don't know how these things come into my trunk. I have no idea..

Rudra: but I didn't said that I found all this in your trunk.

Sameeksha's eyes widened in fear. She was completely shaken. She knew she won't be able to face Rudra's wrath.rudra looks at her in intense anger and hatred. Nobody tried to stop him.

Sameeksha: Rudra I am sorry..plz forgive me..

Rudra slowly steps forward towards her. He was enraged as if he is gonna kill her. He was fuming in anger. His fist clenched.

Rudra: you tried to kill the woman I love, you tried to kill my unborn child and you are expecting me to " FORGIVE YOU"..

He yelled forgive you so furiously that everybody shake in fear. His voice echoed in the whole palace. Even shambhavi woke up with a jerk. She got worried hearing rudra's enraged voice. She calls for a daasi.

Shambhavi: take me to the hall.

She goes to the hall with daasi's help. Sameeksha was shivering in fear. She never saw Rudra in so much anger. It took all his strength to stop himself from killing her. Sameeksha was heart broken and sad. She cries badly. Shambhavi comes there.

Shambhavi: whats happening here?

Sameeksha looks at her and becomes enraged. She walks furiously towards her.

Sameeksha: all this is happening because of you. Why did you come between me and Rudra?

Shambhavi: what are you saying sameeksha?

Rudra: stop it sameeksha or..

Sameeksha: or what? You will kill me..i know. Rudra l love you since childhood but you never saw my love for you. I have only one dream and that dream was to become your wife, queen of this kingdom but this girl ruined everything. She came between us. She snatched you from me. I love you more than her more than anyone else. I hate her..she snatch away my love from me thats why I wanted to kill her. Thats why I did black magic on her.

Shambhavi becomes shocked and hurt hearing all this. Rudra was slowly loosing his patience. Shrijana goes and slapped her hard but she didn't react and becomes more furious. She grabs shambhavi's arms harshly Shambhavi was weak so she couldn't defend herself.

Shambhavi: you were a princess..you could have got anyone but no you eyed on my Rudra. You'll pay for this. You and your child both will be dead.

She pushed shambhavi hardly. She was about to fall, shrijana and Radha catch her on time but still she got hurt a bit and sits on the floor. She cries in pain. Rudra finally loses his cool. He grabs her neck and pushed her hardly against the wall.

Rudra: how dare you touch her? I will kill you right now.

Shambhavi nods in no. She gets up despite the pain and walk towards Rudra to stop him. Radha maa and shrijana helped her. She put her hand on his shoulder. His grip loosen from her neck when he felt her touch. He looks at her, she looks at him pleadingly and shook her head in no. Rudra immediately release sameeksha and she falls on the floor.

Rudra: soldiers..take her away before I lose my temper again..go...

Soldiers takes sameeksha away but she kept saying that he won't be able to save her. Shambhavi was shattered. She cries. Rudra consoles her and hug her. Suddenly she faints..rudra lifts her in his arms and take her to the room. Rudra lie down an unconscious shambhavi on bed. He gently pats on her cheek to bring her into consciousness. Radha maa was sitting on the other side of bed. She checks her pulse.

Shambhavi: she is fine. She is in a shock but she'll be all right. The time of her delievey is near. All this will make things worse.

Rudra: that won't happen. We got the culprit soon i'll find out about that tantrik too.

In the morning.

Shambhavi was awake and was thinking about sameeksha's words but then she realise how shrijana must be feeling after all she is a mithe. She tried to get up but Rudra comes and stopped her.

Rudra: no dear..you are noyt allowed to get up.

Shambhavi: I want to go to dai maa. Now please take me to her.

Rudra: i'll call her

Shambhavi: no no I will go myself.plz Rudra.

She looks at him pleadingly. He melts. He carried her in his arms to shrijana's room. Shrijana was sitting in a corner all gloomy and sad. Shrijana saw them coming and wipes her tears.

Shrijana: why did you come here? If you need anything then you should have called me.

Shambhavi sits beside her and hugs her. Shrijana burst into tears.

Shrijana: I am sorry. I am sorry for what she had done to you.

Shambhavi: no dai naa why are you saying sorry..you are like my mother plz don't say sorry..i have no grudge against her.

Rudra and shrijana looks at her surprisingly..

Shambhavi: I always considered her as my sister. I can never think bad about her.

Shrijana: how can you be so kind hearted? She tried to kill you and you are holding no grudge against her.

Shambhavi: no I have nothing against her. I am not even angry at her. She did all this in love. May be I am the one who came between her and her happiness.

Shrijana: no my dear..the day you came in our lives. We only saw happiness. Its my fault that I couldn't give her proper values.

Shambhavi: you have raised Rudra also. He has your values. Do you still think that its fault of your upbringing? Always remember that you have two daughters sameeksha and me.

Shrijana hugs her and cries. Rudra looks at her proudly. He also consoles shrijana.

Sameeksha was not ready to tell about the tantrik. Rudra couldn't force her coz she was shrijana's daughter and her childhood friend. rudra and birju decided to look for some other way.

Birju: I have an idea..

Rudra: what?

Birju said something to him and he immediately agreed.

At night.

Sameeksha was fuming in anger in prison. She was looking for a way to go out. Some soldiers comes to check on her. They made sure if the door is properly locked or not.when they left she saw the lock was loosely applied. She pulled it and it opens. She became delighted and sneakingly goes out. Rudra,birju,gopal and radha maa were in the hall. Kalki comes..

Kalki: I heard you find out about that man. Here wear these tabeezs.its very powerful.it will save you from all his spells and attacks. And when you find her things dig them inside the ground.

Rudra: take care of her and don't tell her about my whereabouts.

Radha maa: don't worry I'll take care of her.

Rudra goes in the room. She was sleeping. He kissed her forehead and put his palm on her belly.

Rudra: today I'll end all your sufferings and miseries. Your love will give me the strength to fight.

Rudra,birju,gopal leaves the palace. It was their plan to free sameeksha coz they knew she will go to meet that tantric. They follows her to the jungle. She enters the cave. Birju was shocked to see that horrific place. They sneakingly goes inside and becomes stunned to see the scene. Jawal was casting spell on the woodoo doll. Sameeksha was sitting infront of him.

Sameeksha: kill her..kill her right now..i have lost everything today but I'll not let her win either.

Jwala: as you wish.

He was about to stab the woodoo doll with a dagger but rudra attacked him with his sword and cuts his hand. He cries out loud in pain. All the other tantriks attack on them but gopal nd birju handled them. Jwala started chanting some mantras on them but to this absolute fury all his powers failed. He tried to run away but rudra grabs his neck and throws him on the floor. Gopal and birju killed all other tantriks. They set the animal and humans free and they ran away. Birju holds sameeksha so that she couldn't run away. Rudra looks at that tantric furiously. He reminisces the pain and sufferings which shambhavi had gone through in past 10 months and killed him. he looks at sameeksha and pity on her. He was no more angry on her. Sameeksha looked a bit guilty for what she has done and what she was going to do.

Rudra: I forgive you..i forgive you for what you have done.. this is your punishment to live with this guilt forever.i won't punish you and I won't imprison you.

Birju digs a hole in the ground and dug all the things of shambhavi hair,clothes,jewellery and woodoo doll under the ground.

In the palace

It was already morning. Shambhavi wakes up and didn't find rudra infront of him. she already starts looking better. Her health was improved in a matter of few hours.

Shambhavi: radha maa..where is rudra? It never happened that when I open my eyes I don't find him.

Radha maa: he has gone for some work.

Shambhavi: you are lying..i know he has gone somewhere else. Plz tell me you have my swear if you lie.

Radha maa: he,birju and your baba has gone to find that tantric who was doing black magic on you.

Shambhavi gerts scared and shocked hearing.

Shambhavi: he didn't told me anything..why is he gone there? What if anything happened to him? theses tantriks...they are very dangerous..no no its not right..he shouldn't have gone..

Radha maa: calm down shambhavi. He will be back soon. Nothing's gonna happen to him

Shambhavi: how can you expect me to calm down when I know he is in grave danger..i will...

Suddenly she felt pain. he put her both hands on her belly and cries in pain. radha maa checks her pulse. Shrijana comes running.

Shrijana: what happened?

Radha maa: its time..

Rudra heads towards the palace while shambhavi is in labour.

jyoti072014-07-22 02:19:26