OSR Samyukta part 33 – Dharam begins to suspect Shera!
Aryanagar; Orphanage at the village of Sawai
Treading the large expanses of greenery under the dimming rays of the soft twilight yet again; the agitated older prince hurriedly sifts his glances through various groups of marriage guests, as he continues on his hunt for his brother. With every quest to locate Veer's whereabouts amidst the crowds; having returned him only amazed frowns from awed children and excessively generous offers of help from unfamiliar commoners, the overwhelmed Dharam becomes frustrated.
Following many unsuccessful searches of all the sites housing the wedding gathering; the disappointed Dharam lets out a deep sigh, mumbling irately to himself "Getting this entire retinue gathered to start for Aryanagar seems to be more difficult than it used to be organizing children in the Gurukul... I wonder where Veer has disappeared off to yet again..." resuming his tired steps through the open areas around the orphanage, the prince scoffs at his brother "In front of everyone else, Veer acts like he despises the very company of girls... and what do I find here... sometimes he is absorbed in conversations with Daksha... at other times enjoying his moments with Ananya..."
With the name of the petite incidentally reminding him of her recently disclosed information once again; the prince anxiously debates with himself on the authenticity of her warning "I don't understand this young blacksmith...there is always something very strange about her... I cannot believe that she manages to hear all these sorts of information only through palace gossip... why did she seem so disturbed..." aimlessly shifting the overhanging branch of a large tree; Dharam scans for any sign of his sibling in the vicinity, while still mentally occupied in debating on all the plausible reasons for a plot against him "So...someone is planning an attack on me and on Veer... ha! Who could it be other than Agni... Jai chacha... or any of their allies...in fact, this could be a part of the plans that I overheard Agni making...but then...how would Ananya know all this... does she have some connection with the maids that work for Agni...I wish I had more time to question her..."
Smiling warmly at the endearing persona of the young prince standing in front; the realistic Dhruv reveals a rare glimpse of his heartfelt sentiments, as he begins confessing his immense gratitude to both, Veer and his noble associates "I did mention this briefly to the Yuvraj too... how noble are your family indeed... Yuvraj Dharam... Rajkumari Siya... your very self... everyone is indeed remarkably large-hearted...none possessing airs of authority or superiority... this is a completely different picture to what Aryanagar is accustomed to watching for so long...we can now hope for a better future..."
Nodding his head at the humble address; the embarrassed Veer pats the hands of the touched groom in order to ascertain him "You need not have left behind the celebrations just to fulfill these formalities Dhruv Kumar..." pausing his words; Veer shifts his attention towards the tearful mother facing him and speaks up softly "Maaji... please don't fret... I will come back soon... please convey my regards to didi too...the guests would be waiting for you...you both should return to the canopy..."
Eventually inundated by his futile attempts in the hunt for his brother and the puzzling account revealed by Shera; the disturbed prince ceases his pursuit for a short while, silently wondering on how to proceed. Just as he is about to turn around and restart his journey in another direction, the prince comes across a few familiar voices emanating nearby and slowly commences to walk in the direction of the sounds, to investigate them. On finally unveiling the trio of Veer, Dhruv and Pari occupied in hushed conversation at a quiet corner secluded from the wedding bustle; the crown prince becomes baffled by the discovery and gradually halts his steps, a short distance away.
With no time to spare; Dharam begins mulling on the appropriate course of action to interrupt their privacy, when he inadvertently overhears the emotional Pari declare her earnest feelings to Veer, thus letting out many alarming facts unknown to himself.
"No R...Rajkumar Veer, but we had to tell you all this in person... your presence here has given us immense joy... this is the least we could do for someone who has helped the orphanage in so many ways...you helped rid the revolutionaries who used to visit here... you donated money to us... in fact, you are like a saviour to us Rajkumar..."
Momentarily taken aback by the relentless barrage of praise from his affectionate hosts; the bashful Veer corrects her "What I gave you was hardly donation..." he continues spiritedly "Anyway... my group has been awaiting my return for quite a while now... I should leave as soon as possible, or Dharam would lose his temper..."
Pained by Veer's impending departure; Pari is unable to assume a formal stance to respond to the prince's farewell and maintains her silence, as she mentally chides her compulsion of having to let her son go "Why do you have to abandon your family so soon... you are leaving your lone sister's wedding without having even a single meal..."
Perceiving the depth of emotions buried in the eyes of the quiet mother; Veer suddenly undergoes a strange myriad of sentiments and then forcefully subdues his unfamiliar feelings in order to utter a few parting words to Dhruv "Please convey my love to the children... I wish you and Sakshi didi a happily married life..."
Not sure if he had stumbled upon their conversations by chance, or overheard facts that were deliberately meant to be hidden from him; the already troubled Dharam feels even more distressed, as he meditates on the recently revealed truths "What! Revolutionaries used to visit this place? Weren't all people with any knowledge of the revolts or revolutionaries supposed to report in for questioning after the war... so, did Veer intentionally spare this family from interrogations... even if the family may be noble and their intentions honest... even if Veer was only trying to protect this orphanage from the evil forces in the administration, he is not fulfilling his duties as part of the ministry of defence... if anyone found out that he has been shielding an institution that was harbouring revolutionaries, he would be eligible for punishment... and the family too... I need to have a word with him on this..." staggering a few paces backwards from his location; the dispirited prince resumes his walk towards Siya's entourage, constantly delving on the new uncertainties plaguing his thoughts "And Veer has been handing out donations to the orphanage? Where did he get the money from? But... but... why has Veer been hiding all this from me... is it deliberate or has he stopped trusting me?" oblivious of the random salutations being offered by people passing by; Dharam desperately tries to deal with his insecurities "No! Have faith in your brother... I am confident Veer would never do anything wrong... he has been busy with his new responsibilities and hence failed to mention all this... I shall have a chat with him once we return to Aryanagar."
Enroute Aryanagar from sawai
Having ridden through numerous lanes of less-acquainted villages for a considerable while; the royal party hasten on their course in absolute silence, from the peripheral village of Sawai, back to the central capital of Aryanagar. Unmindful of curious inhabitants, examining the unusual sight of a small royal gathering passing by their rustic streets; the royal retinue nervously travel along, hoping that their bold venture of abandoning the capital would not have raised an alarm at the palace.
However; unlike his quiet associates; Veer eventually becomes tired of observing increasingly lonely lanes and decides to end the haunting stillness marking their hurried return home, by sharing a few light-hearted observations with Dharam, riding beside "Dharam...look at Bhalla... I have never seen him so calm and content on such tiring long journeys ... having been the only one of us to have sneaked in for the dinner at the wedding, he is looking forward to more delectables at the feast in the capital now too..." watching his generally amiable brother barely respond with a superficial smile; Veer becomes worried and persists hesitantly "What happened Dharam? Why are you so reticent? Are you anxious about being late for the feast? We can quicken the speeds of our horses... and easily sneak in during the feast..." pausing to gasp for breath, the young prince suggests "Shall we ask the charioteer to increase his speed too?"
Flogging the reigns of his speeding horse; the irked Dharam resolutely looks ahead at the forlorn pathways, as he corrects Veer by yelling above the noises of the hooves "No we cannot... the feast was meant to be at night, not midnight... we shall never reach on time!"
On heeding the tone of his reply; though unaware of the genuine reasons for Dharam's anxieties, Veer realizes that the older prince was not in the right state of mind for playful frolic and decides to leave him alone. Just as the young royal turns ahead to silently continue with their hushed advance to the capital, the princes realize their comparatively serene travel come to a sudden end, with an ear-piercing scream, from behind.
Startled by the shrieks; the royals immediately cast glances behind them to catch the menacing presence of six cloaked riders, advancing from the dust storms raised by their horses, towards the Niphaudi princess' chariot. Even before the princes could come to terms with the evolving horrific turn of events; two nimble attackers make headway in the direction of the four guards around the carriage and manage to engage the soldiers in instant horseback combat. Defying any onslaught from the stunned soldiers with astute skill; the two aggressors destroy the might of the proficient Aryanagar sentinel in no time, with merely a few calculated strokes of their weapons.
Within the few moments that the guards are mercilessly crushed; the remaining assailants decide to take instant advantage of the shocked state of the princes. While the princes invest their might in trying to swerve their fleeting horses around, to fight the onslaught; the attackers waste no time in charging forwards and an intense clash ensues between the two oppositions. As three vicious men pounce upon Dharam with deadly weapons, two others drag Veer from his moving horse to the ground. Bruised by the nasty fall and lying in the precarious midst of blinding dust and wild horses stomping around; Veer languishes on the dark soil, struggling to withdraw the sword from his hilt.
Abysmally worried for the safety of his family; the cornered Dharam wrestles to yoke the strength of his will and skill, as he simultaneously balances himself on his steed, extracts his weapon and begins tackling the three men, assaulting him. However, despite Dharam's trials to repel strikes from all directions; the trained horseback warriors succeed in inflicting many superficial injuries on his being, including a deep gash on his left arm. Though striving to disregard the blood drenching his left sleeve; Dharam bawls in agony on heeding his helpless brother's screams, caused by the sadistic men trampling Veer with their horses to thwart any possibility of the prince being able to use his sword.
Observing the fate of his powerful friends; Bhalla forcefully represses his intense terror and gallantly stays with the charioteer in a meek attempt to protect the girls from a single attacker, till he is also rendered defenceless by a few injuries. Watching the horrifying unfolding events from a far corner of their chariot; the shaken Daksha protectively hugs Nanda, to stop her from wailing uncontrollably at the unexpected formidable twist to their destiny. Huddled beside her quivering friends, as she lifelessly surveys the excruciating sight of wounds being wreaked upon her loved ones; the shocked princess mentally implores the Lord for her companions' safety, unaware of her own faint state.
Continuing to brave many painful wounds; the tortured Veer feels guilty on discerning the treacherous situation facing his family and perceives the lack of time available to recoup himself and assist his brother in fighting off the assailants. Grinding his teeth to overcome the throbbing pain in his body; Veer manages to elude a few offensives on him using his agility and finally manages to reach out and grip his sword.
With the setting sun giving eventual way to the tranquil moonlight, destiny gradually begins favouring the noble princes fighting for their loved ones, rather than the malicious rogues meting out the vile attack. While the two brothers relentlessly pursue with their combat; they comprehend the skill that the villains possessed at wielding their respective weapons and realize the depth of thought and plot behind the well-planned attack on them. Wrestling with fatigue; the wounded Dharam dismounts his horse and joins the overwhelmed Veer, as the brothers try to tap their remaining vigour and combat proficiency, to wound their attackers, one by one. While the weary brothers jointly work to defend any further inflictions from their encircling assailants; they gradually accomplish the feat of slaying the dwindling rogues, one after another. No sooner than five of the six criminals are brought to their terrible ends; the enraged princes glare at the sixth lone remaining man and swiftly block his pathway with their swords, hoping to capture him for interrogation. However; unfazed by the dreadful fate of his companions, the man remains well-versed with his orders if the mission did fail and thus ends his life by mortally driving his weapon through his own body.
With no time to stop the unfortunate development; the breathless princes stagger towards the dying man in alarm and eventually accept the unwilling outcome after a short while, before they turn around to face one another. Sympathizing with the other's sorry state for a few moments, the emotional siblings engage in a manly embrace, sharing their relief at the favourable end to their horrid ordeal.
After a short while; Dharam retracts himself to examine his brother's bruised arms and scratched face, simultaneously asking Veer with genuine concern "Veer...are you all right?"
Nodding his head affirmatively in response; the sensitive Veer feels touched by the empathetic expressions of his injured older brother, as he enquires in return "What about you Dharam?"
As soon as Dharam gives Veer a false positive assurance of the state of his health, the troubled princes bring their brotherly moments to an abrupt end in order to investigate the condition of their companions, waiting behind them. Having dismounted the chariot after the turmoil; Bhalla remains absorbed in fussing over his injuries, while the tearful Nanda struggles to reconcile herself with the mishap. Standing silently beside her associates; the saddened Daksha feels more helpless, as she observes the pain that Veer was braving, caused by the torture that had been meted to him.
However, being the most affected of all; Siya stares at the grimacing pain on Dharam's face all along, failing to come to terms with the appalling realization that the recent occurrence had revealed "I cannot bear to see you in such an afflicted state Yuvraj ... those men were looking to take you away...take your life away forever...leading such a protected life in Niphaud, little did I know of the perils behind the life of a monarch... this evening has taught me many lessons... I came across the hardships that common people faced at the wedding ... and now I have faced the harsh reality of the dangers in a ruler's daily life... if and when you go for war... how could I stay calm and just resign myself to my fate, if something were to happen to you...no... no...I cannot..."
Aware of how shaken his girl was, on having witnessed the unacquainted sight of bloodshed, violence and strewn bodies; Dharam valiantly strides up to Siya and tenderly grasps her shoulders to pacify her.
Suddenly unaware if she would have the fortune to cherish his comforting touch in such manner forever; the insecure princes shudders at his grip and retreats a few steps, to question him spiritlessly "Yuvraj...we only got betrothed yesterday... why such an anguishing incident today? They were about to slay you..."
Noticing Siya withdraw from his affectionate hold; the worried Dharam again advances a few steps and enfolds her soft cheeks in his palms, in a bid to assure her "No Siya... everything shall be fine...I am fine... I want you to leave Aryanagar on a happy note tomorrow..."
Indicating to her prince's gashes; warm tears begin streaming from Siya's unconvinced eyes down the prince's palms, as she refutes him "You are not fine Yuvraj... all this is not fine..."
Watching the couple's upsetting exchanges; Veer feels disheartened by how disturbed the cheerful princess had become and attempts to soothe Siya's grief by reminding her of his steadfast support to them "Bhabhi... please do not be so unhappy... you know that as long as I am alive, I would never let any harm come to either of you..."
No sooner than the princess falls silent on attending to Veer's caring words and smiles; the benevolent Dharam adds a further wise phrase of advice, to help Siya rein her fears "Siya all this is a part of life... you should understand that I am only human... I am not invincible......but... but at least in such mishaps, your support in the form of your courage would make me stronger... both, physically and emotionally..."
Immensely moved by his intelligent counsel that reflected the extent of his regard for her welfare; Siya finally begins to feel a sense of relief and subconsciously leans her forehead on to his torso, seeking his emotional support. Swiftly perceiving the sensitive nature of the couple's interactions; Veer, Daksha, Nanda and Bhalla proceed to their respective stations to grant the couple a few rare moments of privacy, prior to their return home.
Oblivious to her surroundings, as the elated Siya continues resting on Dharam's chest; she inadvertently listens to the steady pulses of his heart and prays that she should have the fortune of being able to listen to his unfaltering heartbeat in life and spirit, forever. As Dharam responds by wrapping his strong arms around her protectively, Siya's delicate state makes her succumb to the solace of his firm hug, while her femininity unwittingly yields to the feel of his hands on her exposed neck and shoulders.
Feeling uplifted with his emotions being momentarily aroused; Dharam neglects the throbbing pain of his wounds, to whisper a final batch of soft reminders into her ears "Did you forget what your royal priest had said about our relationship... that I shall progress to become a ruler of Aryanagar; while you shall remain beside me all through... that God has willed this relationship and your future lies with Aryanagar, despite anyone's approval or disapproval... everything will be all right Siya... your prayers shall not go unanswered..."
Nodding her head in agreement to his consoling justifications; the pacified girl gradually withdraws from his overpowering presence, to convey her renewed stance "I shall be strong...henceforth... if that is what you want...for your sake...Yuvraj Dharmavardhan..."
Gradually realizing that their frail modes of mind had given way to a brief interval of intimacy; the embarrassed Siya draws herself away from her prince, while Dharam comprehends her reservations and smiles understandingly to mask the abashment.
While still flushed by the thought of their recent affectionate spell; the blushing princess quickly looks around to ensure the whereabouts of the remaining retinue, simultaneously stammering to express her views to Dharam "Yuvraj... how would the three of you travel back on horses ...you have deep gashes... Veer and Bhalram ji are in severe pain... we don't have any medication... this place is deserted...shall I temporarily tend to everyone's injuries till..."
Instantly shaking his head in order to halt her anxious mulling; Dharam advices her calmly "Don't fret about all that... we shall be able to manage... let us start now... I suspect that we would have missed the feast, as it is..." he pauses "Anyway, it is better that none of us inform our families about this attack, lest they consider this an ill omen... myself and Veer shall take care of everything..."
While gently beginning to lead the girl towards her conveyance to help her ascend; Dharam scans the unpleasant scene of the remnant spoils of the attack, reviving a few troubling notions in his mind "I wonder who is behind this attack... these masked men didn't sport any uniform or dress that gave away their whereabouts... who else could it be other than Agni himself... or maybe even Rajkumar Harsh...whoever it was, Ananya was right... it was this attack that she forewarned me about... or could there be another one too..."
Palace of Aryanaagar – Dharam's chamber
Meticulously lit brass lamps suspended from the wooden holders of the mighty walls; barely dispense the gloominess of the large palatial room, or the sombre aura of its inmates. Sporting grave expressions; the monarchs of Aryanagar encircle the elaborate remedial arrangements of exquisite oils, ointments, medicines, fresh cotton bandages, needles and linen, procured for the treatment of the young royals resting on comfortable chaises. While the royal Vaidya endeavours to finish attending to the medical needs of the two injured princes; the profoundly fretful mothers interfere with the inundated physician's duties, repeatedly offering their opinions, assistance and recommendation on the matter. Already having to endure the agony of the physician's therapies and the fatigue of the day's turbulent incidents; the brothers silently groan at the additional harassment of constant admonishments being showered by their enraged family.
With his folded hands and severe expressions reflecting his stern disapproval; Aryavardhan notes the ongoing events unhappily, as he resumes scolding the young royals, in an uneasy tone "I still cannot believe that you both failed to make your presence at the palace or fulfil your obligations, because you spent your entire day attending a Shramik wedding... what is the necessity to attend a Shramik wedding? Do you think it is appropriate for us Aryavarts to be attending a Shramik wedding? Every Aryanagar inhabitant that came for the grand feast today was enquiring about your whereabouts... and we had to lie to them..."
Incidentally catching the strong Veer grimacing at the pain being caused by the treatment to his bruises; the aggrieved Nivritti instantly joins her brother, in censuring the princes "And to add to the insolence, you spent the rest of the evening horse racing and sword fighting... what did you both think... that you are still enjoying your time at the Gurukul... look at the state of the two of you... cuts... slashes... torn clothes... now am I supposed to wail for being cursed with such disobedient sons or thank the Lord that you both did not turn up at the feast in this shoddy manner..."
Even before the stressed Dharam or Veer could utter anything in their favour; the indignant Swathi adds to the series of complaints "And why did you have to involve Siya in all of this... we had to lie to her family about her whereabouts for the entire day..." noticing Dharam groan as the physician secured his mild sutures; the doting mother briefly twitches in anguish at her son's misery and then continues her resentment in milder vein "Dharam... you have no idea of the grief you have given us the entire day...what if they came to know the truth about where their daughter has been to... what if something happened to her... how would we answer the Maharaj and Maharani of Niphaud...what if something happened to you..."
Shaking his head in agreement with his wife's sensible views; the displeased king again speaks up bitterly, not allowing the brothers any opportunity to defend themselves "You both never think twice about putting us to shame, don't you...Dharam you are about to get married in two months...about to ascend the throne in a while... and if this is the responsibility you display, I dread to think of what is to come..."
Detecting the older prince let out a deep defeated sigh in response to his father's endless chiding; Nivritti perceives that the young royals had suffered their fair share of woes for the day and acts on her wave of sympathy, by swerving the topic after a brief pause "Anyway, having enjoyed your day... tell me, whose wedding was it...where was it held..."
Annoyed by the lack of empathy that they had been shown so far; the childlike Veer shows his dejection at the persistent rebukes, by mumbling a grumpy reply "It was a wedding here in Aryanagar, at the capital...the family that saved my life after the war had invited me for the wedding a short while ago...I did not want to disrespect their invitation," terminating his explanation abruptly, the young prince moans aloud, in an effort to evoke some pity "Ma, can I retire for the night? I am tired of my aching body!" angered by the attackers that had brought him to this pitiable state, Veer adds mentally "Besides, tomorrow morning, I have to counsel with Dharam and begin my probe into these attacks."
Feeling suddenly perturbed by Veer's casual revelations; Nivritti scarcely nods her head to consent to her son's pleas, while simultaneously debating about the afflictions swirling in her mind "That family again! Why does that family come back to torment my thoughts over and over... why do they show such special affection to my son, who so willingly reciprocates the same, at every instant... are my fears needless or justified... I have to meet that mother...Pari...soon... in fact, tomorrow..."
Noticing his mother's downcast visage and changed disposition; Veer halts his departure from the chamber and tenderly leans over his mother's shoulder, as he whispers a concerned query in order to pacify her "What happened ma? You suddenly seem lost... was it something I said...are you not happy about me having attended that wedding?"
Her possessiveness and love for her son still whelming her thoughts and being; Nivritti rejects his affectionate gestures by flashing a few dazed glares in his direction, before curtly standing up and leaving the room, thus profoundly baffling Veer with her actions.
Aryanaagar, the capital – The tribal basti
With the darkness of the still midnight highlighting only a few sharp contours of the dusky girl, casually sitting on the chilly floor of her hut; Shera ethereally folds her hands around her knees as she enjoys her temporary solitariness. Relishing the gentle wafting breeze that swayed her open tresses against her dangling ear rings; the girl sweeps her glances outside the crude window to catch the light of the moon that sparsely illuminated the silent basti, lodging her resting tribe. Briefly tasting the flavour of feeling truly high spirited after a long spell of time; Shera still tries to recover from the charm of the marriage and the exhilarating experiences that she had savoured at the occasion.
Though aware that her dire reality never held any possibility or hope of such blissful fantasies for herself; the tranquil girl unselfishly mulls on all the favourable aspects of the wedding that she had just witnessed "I am happy that I at least had the fortune to attend such a beautiful wedding... didi was glowing with happiness... I hope Sakshi didi and jeejaji cherish a happily wedded life forever with the endearing company of the numerous mischievous children at the orphanage... away from all the evil eyes and viciousness here...." resting her cheeks on her knuckles; the petite smiles dreamily to herself, on recollecting the only disheartening aspect of the entire joyous event "I shall miss meeting didi at Aryanagar, now that she will reside at Sawai mostly..."
Her attention slowly swinging towards the pile of blue apparel and jewellery, neatly tucked away at a corner of her rustic shack; the young blacksmith incidentally begins to reminisce her lovely moments with the princess "What an adorable person Rajkumari Siya is... I wish I could have met her again... just to offer her my gratitude... but the entire royal retinue left in such a hurry..." her deliberation on the royal group inadvertently bringing back her seemingly amicable interactions with the young prince at the wedding; the amused Shera giggles delightfully, while speculating on Veer's ever-intriguing attitude "Rajkumar Veer... always the same reserved self... but, he did manage to smile and speak a few words by himself, without being goaded this time... such arrogance and pride hardly allows him to even start a conversation... expressing himself is a distant probability..."
Turning to observe the powerful radiance emitted by a shining piece of long metal steadfastly reclining against a wall of the hut; the girl stares at the weapon gracefully, continuing to admire the flawlessness in the remarkable work of art.
Gently shifting her face in the dim light to mark her reflection in the gleaming blade of the new sword; Shera studies her kohl filled eyes for a short while and then begins speaking to the weapon, with an air of pride "Hmmm I am merely your subject and cannot dare to exhibit vanity in your presence but, your Highness can afford being miserly with your compliments to me... Rajkumar Veer, I know that I looked no less at the wedding... and... am aware that you realized this very fact too..." continuing to gape at her profile in the blade; the petite feels a warm tone ascending the sleek outline of her soft cheek and then begins giggling at her own childish charades. Swiftly proceeding to brush the strong handle of the weapon with her fingers; Shera continues to address the inanimate object dismissively "I can predict that you would be my most difficult customer, but this sword is no ordinary one either... the extent of effort bestowed upon it by an esteemed blacksmith like myself... the exceptional craftsmanship that it now possesses... this would fetch my tribe handsome money in the market..." she pursues with a false bearing of superiority "But, I took pity on you and did this favour in my spare time... a small token of appreciation for having saved my life and for trying to help out my tribe now... hence, I warn you not be so reserved with your praise for this piece of art or I shall stealthily whisk it back from you Rajkumar..." her playful drama of chiding Veer, unexpectedly reminding her of the more feisty unpleasant encounters with the hot-blooded prince during her initial days at Aryanagar; Shera feels repelled about having to face something similar, ever again "I hope I will never have to face you after the day you find out about me... more painful than the punishment I will be subjected to, would be watching how your impression towards me would degrade to one of immense dishonour, despite the truth that I am doing all this out of sheer compulsion ... now that I have warned Yuvraj Dharam of the attack on his life, I have risked myself ... it is only a matter of time, before I shall be caught..."
Her spirits fading on recalling the miserable possibilities that her future held; Shera swings around to stare at the female tribe members peacefully sleeping under the roof of her shadowy hut. Suddenly feeling very unsettled; the girl refuses to permit her frisky hair locks to play with her face anymore and forcefully tucks them behind her ears, as she ponders aloud "What am I doing? My one mistake can mean the death of my entire family…I am a strong person by nature, I should not have warned the prince... but then, how could I allow harm to such noble people... anyway Ananya, strength lies in doing the right, even in adversity...leave the rest to the Lord!"
Abruptly ceasing her speculations on the vicious nature of the 'cycle of destiny; Shera decides to proceed to the water well at the basti and wash her face with few cold splashes of water, before retiring for the night. Just as the lone girl stands up and quietly steps towards the entrance of the hut, she becomes alerted by a muffled sound outside the hut and cautiously advances outdoors, to investigate the source of the noise. No sooner than she detects the presence of a looming shadow; the shocked petite looks up at the increasingly familiar figure, only to dismally realize that the conniving Tasha had been waiting outside, overhearing her private thoughts all along.
Barely able to contain his joy at the priceless newfound knowledge that he had managed to stumble upon; the guileful man peers at the girl's expressions in order to study her well-concealed frustration, as he begins silently revelling at his stroke of fortune "Should I consider myself blessed that on the rare occasion that I pass by the basti at this time of the night, I caught the shrewd Shera enjoying her solitude and toying with her innermost sentiments... blurting out enough damaging information to secure my future leadership with this tribe and much more..." conscious ofall the disheartened notions that could be spinning in the petite's mind; Tasha begins the conversation, by chiding Shera's impudence cynically "I now know of all your doings and yet you calmly stand here, facing me... how bold of you to have actually warned the Yuvraj! Additionally, you lied to the tribe that your friend's wedding yesterday, was at a temple near Aryanagar...when, I actually know of the precise whereabouts of the function..."
Confounded at detecting how relentlessly the vile Tasha had been spying on her all along with the sole purpose of bringing about her downfall; Shera desolately mulls on the consequences when he would sell all the information to Agni. Knowing that her plight held no solution, as Tasha would never be swayed by bribes or threats in his determination to usurp the tribe; the devastated girl realizes that her comparatively carefree life was more short-lived than she thought.
Goring at the rogue all the while; Shera forcibly swallows any of her tears and gradually strengthens herself by wisely learning to accept fate "When I have spent most of my life enduring immorality, for the sake of others... accepting baba's misdeeds...suffering your worthless existence... and now dreading Rajkumar Agni... I refuse to live the final free days of my life bringing harm to the only few selfless souls I know...so do what you may and I shall do what I consider right..." Aware that Tasha was impatiently awaiting a response from her; the girl decides to stay tight-lipped about his questions to prevent revealing anything that would undo her fate any further and instead returns his rude accusations with a nonchalant reply "Tasha, I am curious... once you become successful at all your sordid aims of dismissing me... after you manage to grab the leadership to this small business that you possess neither the skill nor knowledge to run... would your life and time not become meaningless with none else to spy or plot against..."
Though enraged by her sarcastic statements; even the spiteful Tasha is forced to marvel at Shera's rebellious audacity for a brief while, before extracting his revenge by revealing freshly distressing information that she was deliberately kept unaware of "I don't know if your baba ever informed you Shera... but, Sardar had started looking out for grooms for you, a short while ago ...apparently, he has fixed your alliance with a prospective groom... the family had come home this morning to seal the proposal... Sardar is elated since they do not expect much money, gifts or goods..." he pauses mockingly "Do not fret, the man is handsome... in fact, more well-to-do than us... hardly 38 years of age... and only possesses two wives..."
Noticing her stunned expressions; Tasha rejoices at his successful venture of having shocked the strong girl once again and deliberately ridicules her bleak future, before leaving the basti for the night "I sincerely pray that you enjoy happiness in your newly wedded life with this man... but, how would you juggle your affairs with this new man's family alongside Rajkumari Agni's demands to conspire against the Yuvraj, Rajkumar Veer and everyone else... that shall indeed be a sight to watch... besides, I am not sure your new husband would be entirely happy, if he knew of how many men you continue to be associated with..."
Palace of Aryanaagar – The palace gardens
His early morning weaponry exercises discontinued; the feisty prince steps out of the extensive practise tent, mentally prioritizing various official matters for the day, as he simultaneously mulls on his unresolved concerns over the previous night's attack. Having unwillingly discontinued his favourite sword sessions to tend to a Shramik anticipating his audience for a substantial while now; Veer treads through the the well manicured pathways, enjoying the beautiful aura of dawn. Wiping the refreshing scented sandalwood water dripping down his chiselled face and arms with a stray cloth; Veer crosses the lush palace groves in order to reach the community lawn, where he had ordered the Shramik to await his presence. Arriving at the archways of the empty garden; the prince abruptly halts his steps, on discerning the presence of the enthralling Shramik girl inside, gracefully sitting atop a large ornamental stone. Observing the lovely Shera tinkering with the crevices of the rock that she was poising on; Veer smirks playfully at her trivial pastime, as his troubling thoughts subconsciously diminish, a subtle difference from how her very presence invariably used to annoy him.
On hearing the familiar voice of the prince discharge the sentinel guarding the arc entrances; the petite withdraws from her trivial pastime and stands up to face the prince courteously. As the familiar duo cease their early awkward silence by initiating their interactions with a short bout of formal smiles, Veer incidentally observes Shera holding on to a long narrow jute cloth, wrapped in the form of a sleek parcel.
Majestically striding a few paces into the green grass; the radiant Veer casually probes into the reason for her unexpected presence at the palace "Here? At this time of the morning? Is there a problem?"
Briefly grinning at the loftiness hidden in the prince's amiable manner of enquiry; Shera elucidates earnestly "I apologize for the disturbance... but, I learnt that you would not be arriving at the court or any of the formal meeting areas, till later this evening... hence I had to request for this audience..."
His curiosity spurred by her answer; the handsome royal shrugs his shoulders and persists with the subject "And what matter is of such urgency that you could not even wait till this evening..."
Maintaining her composed bearing, even while revealing elusive hints of her dismal future; the magnanimous girl responds to him "Actually the matter is not very urgent Rajkumar... it is only that I might be running out of... I mean that I might not have the time..."
Ciao 😳
Edited by lashy - 16 years ago
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