The two princes ride against each other vigorously as sweat trickles from the brows of their muddy faces. The elongated game takes them through rough terrains and increasingly shabby lanes. Not minding the dipping light, they continue till their trails have led them a considerable distance from the centre of the kingdom. Dejected about not being able to locate the route to Agni's treasure, the game begins losing its charm. Discomforted by the increasingly unfamiliar silhouettes, they reduce their pace to a trot.
Dharam "Its getting very dark … Everyone at the palace must be getting worried... it is going to take us a while to get back...." he looks pleadingly to Veer for approval...
Veer smiles "Ok...we will start again tomorrow but earlier -what do you think?"
Dharam smiles thankfully and then says "we would need to ask someone the quickest route though… "
Veer trots around the deserted place in circles and then looks at Dharam's sunken face "you wait here… I will quickly locate someone to help out with directions and be back in a few minutes"
He kicks his horse rapidly and rides away before Dharam could try and stop him.
Dharam tugs on to the reigns of his restless horse and tries keeping calm as he waits patiently in the dark for Veer's return. A few moments later a faint sound of muffled cries alerts him. He quickly darts around to locate the direction of the noise. As the cries become increasingly prominent, he descends from his horse stealthily. He pacifies his tired horse by whispering in its ears and ties it to a tree nearby.
He clinches the hilt of his sword as he tip toes through the rustling leaves and shrubbery.
Peaking through the branches of a tree, he is taken aback to find the scarred faces of three ruffians glaring at him. The three men are holding down a small girl who is desperately trying to kick them off.
After a few brief moments, Dharam slowly advances
Ruffian 1"looks like a spoilt brat lost his way"
Ruffian 2"why don't you just mind your own business and get going along? Want to die?"
Dharam "No – wanted to show off my sword!"... he moves forward carefully..."leave the girl alone"
Ruffian 3 "Enough of this nonsense! Let's finish this off quickly... I am hungry"
Two men step away from the girl and remove their weapons as they come face to face with the prince. A few tense moments ensue.
Dharam then swiftly pulls out his sword and a long fierce battle follows. He defends himself against the sharp daggers while consequently inflicting wound after wound on the two ruffians. To ensure the girl's safety, he leads the ruffians away from her. The fight continues for a while till he starts feeling the days adventures starting to take a toll on his stamina.
A sudden hard blow from behind knocks the sword off his hand. As he quickly turns around, he feels the sharp sting of metal in the flesh of his shoulder. The third ruffian laughs heartily.
Trying not to think of his blood soaked robe, he ducks a few blows before he is hauled to the ground. As the ruffian picks the royal sword and runs towards Dharam to inflict the final blow, he is distracted by the loud screams of a menacing rider on a horse charging towards them.
Veer jumps off the galloping horse kicking two of the ruffians out of balance. The third man scrambles to pick up a weapon and charges towards the injured prince. The blade is stopped in its tracks by the fierce grip of Veer's bare hands. Veer stares at the ruffian who looks shockingly at the blood trickling from Veer's fingers down the blade
Veer "Did you think you would get away with it? Don't dare... don't even dare...." He then turns in Dharam's direction and laughs "Dharam, which of these unfortunate men decided to hurt you?"
As Dharam glares in his direction, Veer takes the hint and smiles cynically at the man. He lunges forward and finishes off the offender with one victorious stroke of his sword. The remaining men quickly find themselves no match for the skilful young warrior. As they desperately try to flee the area, Veer draws two knives from his hilt aiming it at them. It ends up killing one and maiming the other. He walks up to the injured man and manages to obtain all information about the kidnapping plot and the parents of the girl.
Veer "aaah your clever ploy foiled... tch tch... your companions have left you all alone...Do you want to join them now or later?" the man sobs loudly.
Veer "Ok... we will just leave you here to the mercy of the forest for the night. If you are lucky to survive the night, the soldiers will come to fetch you in the morning.... if not...a hungry animal or two....might erm.."
Not minding the pleas of the injured man, he worriedly turns towards Dharam. Dharam nods his head and sternly points in the direction of the unconscious girl. Veer sighs for a moment and then runs towards her. He loosens the tight ropes on her and fetches some water from the lake nearby to sprinkle on her face.
She wakes up trembling and quivering with fear. Veer shushes and hugs her comfortingly. He removes his robe to wrap her and carries her to the foot of the tree near Dharam.
He then nurses Dharam's shoulder gently while the injured prince winces with pain.
Veer "is it painful.... a lot....I ..."
Dharam "ok ok ok... enough of fussing over me... I am all right – I'll live!... give me that piece of cloth now..." He snatches it and starts tying it around Veer's injured hand "It will get septic... always want to show off, don't you?"
Veer "oy... you are alive because of me ok... did they forget to teach you how to say thank you in the Gurukul?"
Dharam "oh... so..you think I couldn't have..." He is interrupted by the increasingly loud sobs of the worried girl.
He softly strokes her hair and puts his hand around her "Don't worry. We are going to take you to your parents. No one will harm you now... are..are...are you hungry?"
The girl cries "No I just want to go back to my parents now..."
The princes smile at her coyly. Veer stands up and carries her towards his horse while Dharam takes his sword and proceeds to his horse.
The girl wipes her tears "If the king of this country Raja Aryavardhan was as brave and caring as you both, we wouldn't have to face all these troubles. He doesn't even care for this part of the country... or what goes on here.... I am very very lucky...thank you both so much... "
Dharam and Veer look at each other very worriedly
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Hope you enjoyed it 😳
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