ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND (SS)||Complete - Page 20

Next day, Tara left home immediately after Aradhana left for the palace.

"Show me what you learnt yesterday." Mrityunjay stood at a distance from Tara folding his hands.

Tara grabbed her sword and swiftly moved it in the air. Then she remembered how Mrityunjay was practicing it the day she saw him bare-chested and followed the same act.

Mrityunjay clapped at her extraordinary learning speed.

He came near her and straightened her hand which was holding the sword.

"Hold it this way. It will add force in your attack."

Tara shivered at his touch. He was telling her many other things about the sword like how to hold it, how to move it but Tara was lost in watching him.

"Tara," he clicked his fingers.

"Y...yes..." she said, realizing she was doting him.

"Are you listening to what I am saying?"

"Yes I am listening."

"Really? Then show me what I said just now."

"Now what Tara? You said you heard him but you didn't. What will you show now?" She murmured.

"I am waiting Tara. Show me now." He said it loud and clear.

Tara started moving her sword left and right swiftly.

And then tried to take a quick round and ...

"Your sword should protect you, not hurt you." He said straightening her sword which was somewhat tilted towards her.

"Now attack."

As his sentence ended, Tara without any delay attacked.

"Good, but you need to put your full strength in your attack. Now see."

He attacked her. Tara was not able to manage herself and fell on the haystack kept there. Mrityunjay laughed seeing her on the ground. He laughed more because of the hay stuck in her hair.

Seeing her sad look, he stopped and made her stand. Then he helped her clean herself. There was a stalk of hay stuck near her left ear. He carefully picked it out and while removing it, his fingers touched her cheeks and she got goosebumps.

Seeing evening approach, he rode her out of the forest.

"Be careful. That vampire is still out."

Saying this, he galloped Maria back into the forest.

Vampire Nandini was healed in the period of one week. And as Mrityunjay said, she was out for Tara and Prince Aditya.

In the palace, King Jayraj was worried after hearing news of the disappearance of two of its citizens.

"I don't know what is happening. How can people suddenly disappear?"

"You don't worry father." said the Prince coming into his chamber.

"Tomorrow I am leaving the palace to search for them." He added.

"But just now you were attacked and now again you want to leave the palace."

Nirmala was worried for the prince as any mother would be after a life threatening attack on her child.

"Mom I am not just your son, I am also the prince of this place and this place needs protection just like you think that I should be protected."

"He is right my Queen. Our people need protection and he is also the future king of this place. He should know how to protect his kingdom."

The King caressed her shoulder. Seeing no way to stop the prince, she agreed.

"Ok then go but be careful, because you are also answerable to Princess Meethi, your wife."

Princess Meethi heard all the conversation as she was standing outside the chamber.

"I need to stop him." She rushed to her room.

When the prince went to his chamber, he was surprised to see the princess covered with four blankets and the healer standing near her. He rushed to her.

"What happened to her?" He questioned the healer.

"Prince she is suffering from fever."

"She was all right today morning and suddenly fever?"

"Please come with me."

He took the prince some distance away from the princess.

"Prince she is ill because of insecurity, the attack on you and the disappearance of two citizens. Spend some time with her and she will be fine." He left saying this.

"I need to delay my search by two days."

He called Minister Fahim and ordered him to start the search and soon he would join them.

Here Tara's face was lit up with the same joy which was lost a week ago. Aradhana was happy to see her daughter's smile back.

"It must be the Queen's magic. I should thank her."

******

Next day Aradhana left early.

"My Queen." She bowed in front of her.

"Your words did magic on her. My daughter is back my Queen. Thank you."

"It's good news Aradhana. Your daughter is like a daughter to me too. I am glad to know she is back to her life." said Nirmala.

She was happy to know that Tara must have met Mrityunjay which had also made him cheerful but she was sad for Meethi and Aditya as again he was going on a search. One son's smile was coming back and the other's going.

Seeing the Queen sad, Aradhana asked, "What happened my Queen?"

"It's the prince. He is again going towards the forest and Princess Meethi is very worried about it."

After a while the Queen said,

"Aradhana tomorrow bring Tara here. She is the one who can make the princess understand."

She said in hope of Tara working her magic.

"Tomorrow she will be here."

Tara left home as soon as Aradhana was out. She walked fast to reach Mrityunjay's place because Mrityunjay had warned her about the vampire coming back. She didn't want to anger Mrityunjay whose anger had made her suffer for one week because of being away from him. Guruji was still there when Tara arrived. He was sitting in meditation. Upon seeing a man apart from Mrityunjay there, she understood it must be Guruji, his mentor. Govind opened his eyes upon hearing her footsteps.

"I am sorry I didn't mean to disturb you Guruji." she said.

But Guruji seemed speechless for a moment after seeing his grown up daughter after twenty years. She was beautiful just like her mother or one can say more beautiful than Aradhana.

"Her eyes are the same as Aradhana's. I missed her badly. I missed every single bit of her childhood. I wish I can tell her I am her father."

His eyes were filled with tears of joy. Tara was still saying something but her father was adoring his daughter, not paying attention to what she was saying.

"Time has arrived for her powers..."

Before he could complete his sentence, hearing Tara's voice Mrityunjay came out from inside with a knife in his hand as he was preparing breakfast.

"You are here!" He almost shouted.

"Yes I thought it would be good if we started early."

Mrityunjay sensed Guruji's eyes were on him asking what she was saying.

"Guruji she is Tara, who the vampire attacked that day. I am training her to protect herself."

"Good. You must start soon so that she leaves early for home."

Saying this, he caressed his daughter's head. For the first time Tara felt a father's love.

He invited her inside the house for breakfast. The breakfast table was filled with bread, salad, omelets and butter. She tasted the salad and it was very good. "Mrityunjay did you make this?"

"Yes Tara he is a good cook. Any day taste dinner prepared by him."

"Oh... This hunter seems to be more than just a Hunter." She smiled at her thought.

"I am leaving for the other part of the forest." Guruji said leaving the house.

Tara seemed confused and was about to ask Mrityunjay when he said,

"He is also searching for signs of the vampire."

After breakfast, Mrityunjay and Tara went back to the arena.

"Today I am going to blindfold you and then by using your other senses you need to attack."

"But Mrityunjay I am still not skilled in sword fighting, how would I be able to... "

"Do as I say." he ordered.

He wanted her to use her other senses as vampires move extremely fast and normal human eyes cannot catch them. Only careful attention to their movement can make one aware of their move. He blindfolded her with her scarf which was now his.

"Only your ears are your friends. Listen carefully. "

Tara stood quietly.

"Ouch..." She screamed when he beat her slowly with a stick.

"I said pay attention."

And he was about to swing the stick on her again when she held it. Seeing her so quick in learning, he was amazed.

"Okay." he said in a voice which didn't express he was impressed by her.

"Now pick up your sword, you need to practice."

Today Tara was better than yesterday. Something had boosted her capabilities. One can think it to be her father's blessings for her. But today she was fantastic.

They practiced till noon. After that, Mrityunjay left her outside the forest.