| Baahubali | Official Updates & Discussion Thread #14 | - Page 109

Devasena was returning from drying her hair behind the caves with Sambrani. She was still unable to understand why all were fussing so much over her. But her heart felt light. And seeing Mahendra and Naayaka happy she did oblige. But there is a limit.

She managed to get rid of them and went to the backyard of the cave and stood happily in the sun that was just spreading its pleasant light. It was a beautiful morning.

Suddenly she heard a lot of commotion and rushed inside through her cave to see everyone standing like a statue but only with teary eyes. Devasena frowned and came to the entrance of her personal chamber only to find Naayaka hugging a man with tears overflowing.

Was that really Naayaka?'

Was all she could think. But then the man hugging Naayaka moved away and stood in light and her world stopped!

For a moment world stopped rotating and then it was spinning in such a pace that he could not take. Neither could she. Both stood there and moved not an inch. It was Naayaka who moved to Devasena and held her around her shoulders. Devasena still stood unmoving.

Same was the case with Amarendra. He stood unmoving. But both their eyes never left the other. Both their eyes brimmed with emotions and also tears.

In front of Amarendra's eyes came a vision where he saw a fire consuming the life of his wife and son.

In front of her eyes came the vision of her being told that her husband was stabbed and thrown down the mountains.

But standing in front was..

"Rani Devasena"

She turned slowly to Naayaka whose eyes were as teary as hers.

"Ha?"

Naayaka looked at Amarendra.

"This is not a dream."

He said as let her go and pointed to Amarendra.

Devasena walked slowly towards Amarendra. He too took baby steps towards her. Devasena missed her step as she neared him. She was not used to walking as she was chained for 25 years until last day when her son rescued her.

Amarendra immediately caught her in his arms not minding his still protesting muscles that were not used to movements like this as he was in unconscious all these years until he woke up 2 full moons back.

Both looked at each other. Closer this time. Something disturbs her very much as she pushes him and walks back into her cave as fast as she could manage. Amarendra looks around at loss of words. At that time he feels the hand of Aslam on his one shoulder and Naayaka on the other.

"Chachu! Looks like she has gone through a lot to believe in reality"

"You don't know what she has been put through! We have been struggling past 25 years to release her"

"Woh sab baad mein. Chachu! Go! Talk to her"

But Amarendra was already on his way to their personal chamber in that cave. Inside he saw Devasena looking outside aimlessly trying to calm her breathing. Devasena turned feeling his presence but turned back.

Amarendra neared her.

"Deva!"

It was just a whisper.

"Don't call me that! I am not Deva! I am Devasena"

"Really?"

"Yes! I am Deva only to my husband."

"Hmm! True! Devasena is Deva only to her husband"

"Who are you?"

"I am a man! Just a man! Trying to convince myself that my wife is still alive and standing in front of me"

Devasena took a deep breath.

"But looks like the queen in her is yet to believe me"

"You expect me to believe this? Then what should I do with what I believed all these days?"

"What was that?"

"You should know that"

"In that case, You should know what I believed all these years too Devasena"

Devasena stood unmoving.

"I believed that my wife and my son were burnt to death. I never wanted to live after that. I almost got myself killed in the hands of that so called brother of mine. But was saved but only to live like a corpse, with no conscious. Today I make my mind to kill and die and today I see you! Now tell me, what should I believe?"

Devasena turned to him. He looked tired. HIs skin looked shrunk around his lips. He took a proper look at her. She looked like a rugged doll. Pastel saree, no bottu, grey hair here and there. But one thing stuck him. Her eyes, were still the same. Fierce, bold yet vulnerable. They were door to her soul.

Devasena looked into his eyes, the same calm composed yet that twinkled while being naughty. Only the eyes looked as if they have lost their life.

She felt him taking her hand and keeping it on his chest. She felt his steady but feeble heart beat. Automatically her fingers curled up making him smile, but in contrast his eyes well.

"Today only I feel this Devasena! I feel my heart beating today. For a fortnight, since I woke up, I never felt it! I thought I will never feel it"

He cupped her cheeks. She was already knew that this was her Amarendra, but the moment she felt his heart, she became sure of it. Her eyes that till now showed nothing, welled with unshed tears while a tear rolled down from his eyes wetting his cheeks.

She immediately contained it.

"I don't like to see this in my husband's eyes!"

"Deva"

There was a sob in his voice and next moment Amarendra's face was in her crook and she could feel the wetness caused by his tears.

Automatically her hands went to his hair caressing them and calming him down. Both sat down and his head was still hidden in her neck crook.

"Amarendra!"

She called in a feeble voice trying to lift his face. But he did not oblige.

"I thought I would never hear you call me that way Deva! My life was in dark completely! You don't know! It was hell! My every minute of life in the past years, I felt like cursed for living. My only drive was to punish him!"

"I know!"

She let him vent out everything. She did too. Her eyes were overflowing. Both were trying to feel each other, trying to understand this reality.

"Amarendra look at me!"

HE shook his head like a kid. She chuckled. A heart felt one unlike all this time. Her life was back. Her eyes took a mischievous glint. Her hand that was lingering near his arms pinched them making him wince.

"When you don't listen to your wife, she finds ways to make you listen to her."

"You never changed much!"

He laughed happily and she joined him as their eyes were still welling up. Once the laughter died down, she took his hands in hers and kept it on her cheeks.

"This day, the god has blessed me with the biggest gift ever"

"It is my gift actually!"

"Surprises are not over yet Amarendra."

Amarendra raised his brow. At that moment they heard footsteps that came running towards the cave. Devasena smiled and raised her brow turning in the direction of their cave entrance. Frowning Amarendra turned and his breath stopped for a second time. There was a young man standing there with the young girl he saw in the woods. But that was not the important. The younger man was younger picture of himself. It was like seeing himself a 25 years back. He stood up immediately with Devasena on tow.

"Deva?"

He could not muster up the courage to utter the words.

"That is our son Mahendra"

She said keeping a hand on his shoulder. Amarendra's eyes brimmed again. Mahendra looked at his mother once who nodded her head.

Mahendra ran to him looked at him for a moment and next moment he was about to fall at his feet when Amarendra held him a shook his head in denial.

"Mahendra!"

That moment he heard his father whisper his name, Mahendra's eyes welled up. Amarendra took his son in his arms. Devasena looked on smiling.

Amarendra opened one arm and looked at Devasena who joined them. It was a beautiful family moment.

Avantika's eyes widened at this. It dawned on her that the man she saw in woods was her Shiva's father. Rani Devasena's husband and the actual king of Maahishmati.

Amarendra moved back and took a look at his son.

"You have grown up Nanna!"

He ruffled his hair. His son was a little tall than him. He smiled.

"Avantika, Tell Naayaka that today to prepare Boorelu with lots of Bellamu"

"And also Bobbatlu"

Devasena looked at him frowning. Amarendra turned to Mahendra.

"Nanna! Today is Chaitra Krishna Paksha Pradhama"

"Nana?"

Mahendra frowned scratching his head. Amarendra smiled and turned to Devasena.

"Am I really seeing this?"

"What?"

"Looks like your wish has come true deva!"

"Nana?"

MAhendra got impatient. What was his father talking about. Amarendra laughed out loud. His wife's wish came true indeed.

"Today is the fortunate day when your mother landed on this earth Mahendra!"

Mahendra's smiled wide. Avantika and MAhendra ran out in search of Naayaka

"Puttina roju Shubakanshalu Deva!"

"I forgot completely!"

"That's why I am here!"

"Past years.."

"Not now Deva! I want to cherish this moment! And I have a gift for you"

He diverted both their minds. Because the wounds around her wrists and beneath her eyes were clearly visible making his blood boil. But this was not the time. He was here now and he would make everyone pay for what was done to his family.

continued below

He put his arm around her shoulders and both slowly walked out where Aslam stood in one corner looking at the youngsters making weapons. He was really mesmerized by their art. Aslam looked up to see Amarendra and Devasena approach him. His eyes welled up seeing Devasena like this, talking every step like it was still difficult for her to walk. He had seen her move faster than light in the past.

"Deva!"

Amarendra called her once they stood in front of Aslam. Devasena frowned and looked up at Amarendra.

"Your gift"

Devasena scowled. Amarendra chuckled.

"Your first son Deva"

Devasena looked at the man who stood there wearing pagdi and long angarki and looked like a Pathan in every aspect. She looked as his eyes welled up.

"Ammi"

He did not even say it out loud.

"Chote Khan Saab!"

She cupped his cheek and ruffled his hair smiling.

"My Chote Khan saab is all grown up now. Looks like his father!"

On hearing his father's name, Aslam's hung his head.

"What happened?"

"Abbu.."

"Aslam!"

Amarendra nodded his head in denial signalling to Devasena who looked sad as well.

"Chachi"

He called her trying to distract her. Devasena Scowled. Her hand that was caressing his cheeks held his ears making him wince and cry out loud.

"Ahh!"

"Chachi? Who is chachi?"

"Muaf karna Ammi"

"That's better!"

Amarendra laughed. His Devasena hasn't changed at all.

"Chachu! She is all the same!"

"For which I am thankful"

All three had a nice laugh. Everyone in the cave smiled seeing their Queen, King happy. They were blessed.

Naayaka came at that moment with Boorelu and Bobbatlu with Avantika and Mahendra on tow.

"Puttina roju shubakanshalu Rani Devasena!"

He fed her a piece of bobbatu. She too fed him. Mahendra came forward on Devasena's signal. She took one Bobbatu peace and was about to feed him when he shook his head. Devasena frowned. He pointed to boorelu making everyone laugh. Amarendra and Devasena together fed him a boora which he munched happily. Devasena's eyes brimmed thinking of the moment they fed bellam to him for the first time. Naayaka who saw this spoke on.

"Enti Rani Devasena! Yuvaraja's tastes do look different."

"He is perfect combination of both of us"

"Your wish was such Devasena"

"I am not at all complaining."

"But I am complaining Ammi!"

Aslam stood scowling. Chuckling Devasena fed him a piece of Bobbatu which he ate enjoying. Naayaka scowled at the boy.

"What Naayaka? Waahab Khan's son, Aslam Khan!"

Naayaka's scowl deepened remembering her adventure making Amarendra smile.

"Do not worry your brain. Today I am alive only because of him only Naayaka."

"Chachu that is big word! I am here only because of you both who saved me that day in the mela"

"But Chote Khan saab!"

"Ammi! You pull my ears asking me to call you Ammi.. but you"

Devasena smiled. Amarendra was so happy. But Mahendra was scowling. Devasena who saw this called him.

"Aslam, this is Mahendra!"

"Aapka Beta ammi? Just by looking him, I can see you!"

"Aslam!"

"He might look like you chachu. But I see Ammi in him"

That made MAhendra smile and he was impressed.

"Bhai!"

"Bhai ya? Goya? Call me Mahendra! You are elder anyway"

"See I am right Chachu"

Aslam said taking Mahendra in his arms.

"You can never stop praising your Ammi as it is Aslam! Now looks like I have to deal with one more!"

"You should be thankful for that!"

"For having two sons who take their mother's side? Very fortunate!"

"Yes!"

"Nana! You will also take her side only! Naayaka mama told me"

"Hey Naayaka! Revealing secrets already!"

Everyone were happy. Naayaka saw Devasena's eyes growing heavy. Amarendra too saw the same. Naayaka nodded to Amarendra and asked everyone to continue with their jobs leaving them to move to their personal space to rest.

Once in their cave and well settled on their bed, Amarendra covered her with a soft saree and settled beside her. Devasena put her head on his chest. Amarendra's arm went around her and caressed her hair.

"Today I am so happy Amarendra!"

"I am too!"

"Best birthday I ever I had!"

Amarendra closed his eyes as he remembered her last birthday. Devasena who sensed it, gripped the vastra near his chest in her fist.

"You said this is not the moment to think about past!"

"I did say. But I cannot.."

"I cannot too. But for now rest! You look so tired!"

"As if you look so fresh eh?"

With the strength she could gather she bit him on his cheek, very lightly making him wince and laugh.

"Wild cat!"

"Adigo.. Mari!"

"Ok ok! Rest!"

"You too!"

Both of them shut their eyes and this time, both slept very peacefully after 25 years in the arms of each other.

In Maahishmati..!

Bijjala threw the goblet from which he was drinking on the wall opposite to him. He looked at the portrait of his father and then at yet another scroll that was beneath the portrait. It read..

"Raja Ranadev Bhoopati,

I know you have taken Maahishmati into your control making sure to dispose Maharaja Rudraksha! I know you have taken VerraMahendra Puram's special weapons warehouse too into your control. But you have forgotten one thing! Rudramma! Your Brother Vajradeh's wife and Rudraksha's sister.

She has given birth to a boy, a healthy boy. Karma will always come to bite you!

Minister,

Samanthaka."

"Oh Maharaja! You thought you did good for this country by disposing Rudraksha, even though he did nothing but good for the people. You became greedy listening to a no one like Mayanka. And what did you gain? You lost your warriors from Kunthalam, your son, Me, did not have the fortune to enjoy the throne. But Your brother's son, got the throne who ruled by law. My son also grew up in competition with another fellow! If only you stayed as the provincial head, we would have enjoyed some royal status! It was you who had brought us here!"

Saying he threw the scroll at the portrait.

Bhalla who saw this shook his head and went back to his suite as he knew this was his father's daily routine. He never wanted this fate for himself nor his son. But with every delaying moment he was worrying for his son. Did he make a mistake? He did not know and he did not like this feeling at all.