~Samyukta~.::Dharam and Veer::.parts 1-41 - Page 6

OSR Samyukta part 39 – The final straw...

Having silently savoured the deteriorating plight of the princes all along; the malicious Agni seeks to inflame the circumstances by forgoing his restraint in order to enact demonstrative of his loyalty to the mistreated petite "Tch... tch... you hurt her Veer..."
Deliberately carrying out the vile deed of placing his large arms on her delicate shoulders in a mock show of support; the brute subtly controls the revolted Shera from squirming out of his grasp, as he fervently turns to glance at the reactions of the young prince. Slyly heeding the escalating anger in Veer's vigilant glares; Agni notes the extent of jealousy raging in him and provokes the vulnerable prince with a sarcastic disclosure "Are you feeling protective Veer? But... why... your possessiveness perplexes me... she tried to divide two inseparable brothers... she acted so fascinatingly helpless... in fact you gradually became blinded by her charm, in spite of being aware that she had caused you trouble in the past...she tried to entice you, when she knew she was someone else's..."

The tyrant's crude remarks significantly adding to his intense ongoing turmoil; the aggravated Veer crunches his fist in an intimidating manner and cautions his foe to cease his wild pursuits "Stop it...stop it Agni... now... I am warning you..."

Disregarding the threatening spectacle of the young royal; the scheming Agni tuts in disapproval, before retorting with an offensive comment "Oh! You can slap her... but if I touch her, you get jealous...she is 'my' slave Veer... by the way...purely to satiate my curiosity...tell me...what was the nature of the relationship you shared with her..."

Unable to withstand the horror of being the subject of such a disgraceful discussion anymore; the petite frees herself from the rogue's clenches and falls pleadingly at his feet, hoping that the desperate act would bring an end to the monstrosity "Please end this Rajkumar Agni... please... I beg of you..."
While Dharam becomes increasingly repulsed by the morose events; the wicked royal remains untouched by Shera's sorry display and seeks to resume his atrocious dialogues, infuriating the already turbulent Veer beyond comprehension. Unwilling to tolerate the demeaning nuisance for even a single moment more; the hysterical Veer abruptly extracts his glistening dagger from its holder and violently lunges forward to place the weapon at Agni's neck with a menacing exclamation "Agni! You don't know how to heed warnings, do you? Why do you want to know the nature of my relationship with her when even I am unsure of what it 'was'... maybe a friendly acquaintance...but I do know what it is 'now'... she is an enemy of mine... standing on the opposite side of the camp, with you... she has tried destroying me many times...but, I shall not accept defeat... henceforth, I shall make sure I destroy her...and...destroy...'you'..."

Affrighted by the blood beginning to ooze from the neck of the repressed Agni as a result of the explosive outburst; the nervous Dharam dashes forth to intercede the disaster and frantically strives to haul his sibling back with anxious cautions "Veer stop...you already have enough troubles besetting you... killing this rogue will achieve you nothing... please let us not resort to this form of violence... we shall exact revenge in proper manner..."
Following a short bout of drastic struggle; the overwrought crown prince eventually manages to forcefully restrain his seething brother from committing the sudden assault. As the three princes pause to gasp for their breath; the wrathful Dharam bawls at Agni for having perpetrated all of Veer's mounting agonies, feeling immensely depressed at having been unable to alleviate his brother's excruciating woes so long "Agni...you think so highly of yourself, but in reality you are worthless and detested by all... you are the biggest shame of the Vardhan lineage...I will annihilate you...leave you to rot in the prisons of Aryanagar... " subsequently turning his attention to the desolate girl; the vindictive Dharam lowers his deafening pitch to an angry murmur, while taking her to task irately "And...you... you of all people... I had warned Veer long ago not to associate himself with you... but... but...you...you deserve no sympathy...no sympathy at all...you have..."

Interrupting Dharam's rude criticisms; Agni retaliates with an inflammatory rebuttal "Stop being hypocritical! Why do you keep raving about your glorious ancestry when you do know that it was the same household that killed thousands of Shramik newborns to protect you...and to protect itself...to..." suddenly noticing a myriad of dissimilar expressions transpiring on the faces of the two brothers; Agni realizes that the younger prince had not been made aware of yet another dire truth by his older brother. Swiftly resolving to take advantage of the circumstances; the rogue wastes no time in enquiring deviously "Veer! Don't tell me that you are not aware of this either! My my... no wonder you are very upset about everything that transpired today..." aware of how profoundly his provocative statements could degenerate the already vulnerable relationship between the two siblings; the shrewd Agni continues with feigned alarm "Now...now...I realized that Dharam did not tell you about the investigations concerning the orphanage... but... but... did he not tell you anything about tragedy that happened 17 years ago... worst of all, he even knew of my relationship with Shera... did he not try warning you... I never expected this...well... you both blame others of dividing you... but, you both seem to be in disharmony yourselves..."
Observing how his devastating words had demoralized the very essence of the young prince; the pitiless tyrant feels avenged of the insult to his vanity brought about by Veer's impudent onslaught. Silently laughing in contempt; Agni concludes his games with a significant vow "Ha! Veer... if this is your plight now...I will definitely relish your expressions when you will soon be imprisoned on being insinuated in the monetary scandal... when you two brothers are permanently separated ...and when Aryanagar goes to a proper war with Gadhwar's allies, after a few weeks."

Compelled to stay a passive audience all along; the petite watches the ongoing mishaps in despair, dismayed by the manner in which the crafty villain was successfully managing to tear the princes apart with his schemes. Languishing in guilt; the enfeebled girl laments the fact that she had been manipulated into participating in the conspiracy against the two noble princes. Shuddering at the thought of how her cooperation with the vile prince would now jeopardize the lives of many; Shera remains petrified by the questionable futures of her tribe, the orphanages or even the kingdom itself. Already mortified by limitless burdens; the enmity of her only amiable associate becomes the last straw that demolishes her endurance, reducing Shera to nothing more than a sunken figure, who haplessly wished she were dead before facing anymore tragedies in her life.

Aryanagar; The palace – Outside Veer's chamber

The gloomy monsoon day being uneventful for most occupants; the nonchalant palace inhabitants go about executing their daily routines, largely uninformed of the untoward predicament simultaneously evolving in some enclosures of their palace. With the sinister outcomes of the morning assembly having barely begun to spread through the long corridors of the royal residence, the grave distress of a few members of the ruling household is still obscured from the majority of palace inmates. The torrential surge of tragedies since the assembly, carrying many severe repercussions with it; the prime victim of the circumstances continues to be the relationship between the two distinguished princes of Aryanagar.

Unbeatable when united; the brothers steadily begin to collapse under the oppressive spate of calamities, leaving them incapacitated to even try and amend the sorrowful rift in their otherwise sound relationship. Rendered inconsolable by the ordeal; the young royal eventually finds himself drained of all spirit, as he is forced to accept the discouraging fact that further dispute would not alleviate such complicated issues. Inept to brave the disunity with his loved brother any further; the crestfallen Veer resolves to prolong their confrontation no more and proceeds to end the conflict at once.

Numerous hardships haunting his conscience from the early hours of that ominous morning; the battered prince harshly shrugs away the concerned grasp of his brother from his shoulder, suddenly interrupting Dharam's reasoning with abrupt resentment "Enough Dharam... this is getting us nowhere... you do not want to appreciate my feelings and I cannot seem to sympathize with yours... I cannot seem to understand why or how you could have discussed such significant issues about 'me' with 'Agni'... I cannot seem to understand how you could have obtained all of this devastating information and yet kept it all hidden from me... so... don't... waste your breath uttering another word in your favour... I do not want to talk about this anymore... in fact I do not think I can even look up to you as a brother anymore..."

Greatly anguished by the estranging statements of his brother; Dharam strives to appeal for a reconciliation, aching at how he could unearth no means to halt the crisis from disintegrating further "Please Veer... please just once... just once listen to what I have to say...you have listened to that horrid rogue's monologues... would you not care to even hear me out...to apprehend my intentions..."

Instantly raising his hand to arrest the whelming pleas; the pessimistic Veer curtly desists the crown prince's fraught attempts to appease him "All that Agni said... it was true...now, you cannot refute that, can you?"

Cornered by his sibling's awkward retort; the despondent Dharam struggles to counter Agni's deliberate strategies that had effectively misled his brother "Y...yes but the manner in which he put it across...it was all meant to..."

Feeling immensely fed up of the evolving aimless conflict of opinions; the heartbroken Veer gauges no point in allowing his brother to vainly progress with additional explanations and rudely intrudes his efforts "Dharam...why don't you let go of this issue for now... anyway, I want to spend some time alone... with none around to bother me...will you at least grant me this right...please..."

Pausing his rigid dismissal; the hurting Veer fretfully realizes that the upset crown prince refused to surrender to the situation and instead pursued with dejectedly furnishing further clarifications in his favour. Subsequently resorting to the only means of bringing an end to the tirade; the unforgiving young prince shoves his brother away and commences his departure towards his chamber, the belief of being cheated by one's own, too painful to overlook.
Refusing to even return Dharam's desperation with a proper glance, before leaving him; Veer faintly wipes the tear blurring his eye while he continues through the passages leading towards his quarters, commanding his guards with alarming bitterness as he does so "Shut these doors now...you shall not allow anyone to come through, till I say so...none shall enter these doors, unless I provide the permission...not even Maharaj... I hope my orders are clear."

Watching Veer's spiteful withdrawal in aghast; the rueful Dharam discerns how Agni's deceitful plans had practically reduced him to nothing more than a silent witness of the disastrous events involving both, himself and his younger brother. Having succumbed to the tyrant's crafty conspiracies that effectively managed to discredit his intentions; the older prince feels downcast at how his disagreements with Veer could only spell doom for their own future. Abandoned to helplessly stare at the gradual detachment from his eternally affectionate sibling; the tearful Dharam remains a humbled spectator, as the forlorn figure of his brother gradually disappears through the mighty iron doors.

Though having left the presence of his sibling behind with blunt aggression; the heavyhearted Veer inwardly crumbles at the grief spurred by his seemingly irreparable misunderstandings with Dharam. The profiles of familiar sights around him beginning to appear indistinct; the delirious royal hastens through the corridors of his spacious formal chamber, simultaneously dismissing all of his attendants and parlour maids with a frantic set of orders. Reclusively making his way to the solitude of his palatial private quarters; the enfeebled Veer falters into his bedroom and draws the drapes to the extravagant enclosures behind him. Faced with the vast stretches of his personal chamber; the confounded prince briefly gazes at the empty spaces in a daze, before blankly commencing his journey across the room. His senses numbed by the chilling ambiguity of his present and the uncertainty of his future; the oblivious Veer walks up to the ornate dresser located at a far corner and then begins hurling all of his flamboyant ornaments onto it in an erratic fashion. Subsequently proceeding to follow the routine task of returning the sword to its holder; the inattentive prince fumbles with the hilt attached to his cummerbund, when he suddenly realizes that the carrier was empty.

The unwitting act incidentally summoning the dreadful images from the unnerving revelation that transpired a short while ago, the episode returns to freshly haunt the disturbed Veer once again.
Reluctantly faced with the aggrieving recollections of how he had ferociously rid the gifted weapon at the feet of the very blacksmith who had presented it to him; the prince feels his intellect steadily dimmed by a haze of thoughts.
Numerous related memories associated with the mystifying girl unfortunately evoked; the shaken prince momentarily recalls how her former facade of cheerfulness starkly contrasted with the true depths of her repulsiveness "Rajkumar... this is my token of appreciation... I sacrificed many nights crafting this sword for you...if you can find a weapon more exclusive...the edge of a blade more mortal... a stronger alloy... a sword as weightless...then I shall gladly rid you of the burden of this sword." "Oh! Curious folk! Heed my story...There lived a youthful regal prince...Commanding splendorous valiance...But that which actually possessed extraordinary brilliance...Was an exceptionally crafted sword that now adorned his hilt!""
The brief flashes of their warm sequence of affiliations gradually becoming embroiled with the cold actuality, the increasingly disoriented prince is affronted with random imaginations of the pair of Shera and Agni heartlessly mocking at him "What happened, Rajkumar Veer? You did not even have a hint of suspicion as to what we were conjuring behind your back... wait and watch how we both shall ruin you...you shall rot in prison for something you never did... ha... ha... ha... how ironical... you behave like an honourable protector of innocents, but you didn't know that you come from a family that murdered thousands of infants..."

****

"Rajkumar Veer... can you hear us... Rajkumar Veer... Rajkumar Veer..."
Rudely awakened from his entranced stupor by the distant sounds of the muffled shouts; the unconscious Veer opens his eyes to alarmingly discover nothing but darkness encircling him on all sides. Startled for a few moments; the bewildered prince briefly tries to focus his awry thoughts, swiftly realizing that he had been curled on the regal chaise for a substantial while now. Wasting no time; Veer arises from the recliner and flexes his fingers that had become stiff from inactivity; concurrently darting glances around the grey sceneries to judge the time of the day.

His mind slowly regaining lucidity; the woeful succession of events that had led to his sorry plight inadvertently dawns upon the fatigued prince, making him wish he had never woken. Neglecting the pleas from outside his bedroom and continuing to grovel in depression; the first ensuing thought of comfort for the emotional Veer comes in the form of a sudden intense longing to meet with the comforting personage of his mother.
Taking the consequent resolution to seek the solace of the only person he trusted in order to earnestly bemoan his miseries to her; the forsaken royal progresses to regain his composure before doing so. Straightening the crinkled attire and adjusting his sleeves; the embittered prince commences his heavyhearted strides through the dark sweeping spans of his quarters in order to collect his weapon. Pausing in frustration for a few moments; the morose royal picks up his former sword from its holder with a spiteful sigh and then starts his approach towards the curtained doorway of his chamber.

Subsequently emerging from the dimness of his secluded bedroom into the well lit expanses of his formal lobby, the grim Veer suddenly discerns the distant presence of the small audience of maids that had been eagerly anticipating his arrival. Apprehending that the crowd had been waiting for long; the prince lifelessly walks up to the modest gathering to inquire into their attendance, when he gradually notes that the group of maids were encircling the forlorn figure of Pari.
No sooner than he notices the worried expressions on the ladies; the dispirited royal is about to suspend the silence to query them on the issue, when an alarmed maid unconventionally intercedes his greeting with a tense exclamation "Your Highness! You had withdrawn to your quarters for an entire day...its well past night now... you have not had your meals either... ranima is extremely worried... she came here numerous times to check on you... she is impatient to meet you...however... you asked not to be disturbed so...we...did... not...call out..." pausing her agitated notification; the anxious lady proceeds to indicate towards the troubled commoner in their midst "Anyway, Rajkumar Veer...this lady has been stubbornly waiting here since noon... we advised her to return later...but she refused to comply... therefore... ultimately...we were forced to disturb you...we apologize..."

Abruptly interfering with the proceedings; the destitute Pari forgoes the restraint that she had held onto so long and astounds everyone by moving forth to fall at the feet of the unaware prince, bursting out into tearful laments as she does so "Rajkumar Veer please save the orphanage... please save my children... please save Dhruv and Sakshi… how did the authorities come to know about all of this... this noon, the soldiers came to my home and threatened me with a stern warning... Maharaj has given us a three day notice... we are supposed to give ourselves up and surrender everything...all the institutions... the belongings... the shelter...and the children too..."

Aryanagar; The palace – Aryavardhan's formal chamber

Well confined from the bustling passageways and commotions of the palace; the ambience of the late evening appears breathtakingly surreal in the grandest chamber of the entire palace, its midst now elegantly lit with successions of bronze lanterns. Elevating the interiors to appear enviably glorious; the flickering lights from the numerous lamps beauteously highlight the gold on the etched walls and the painstaking patterns on the marble floor. Encircling the alluring panorama of the vast hall; mighty pillars erected all along its perimeter lend the space an imposing characteristic, while scores of sumptuous furnishings complement the chamber befitting for the official usage of the king.
However, marring the routine splendour of the monarch's formal quarters; the sinister night witnesses an unfavourable atmosphere, as the room is reduced to sustain a string of discouraging familial discussions within its walls for a considerable length of time. Grouped in the centre of the sophisticated chamber; the perturbed members of the ruling family continue to battle their differing viewpoints on the disturbing nature of the recent developments in their home, but with little relief. Slumped on the grand couch; the downhearted Nivritti refuses to let go of her unnerving fears, the prolonged efforts of the affectionate Swathi to pacify her hardly showing result. Terrified by the outcome of her brother's decisions; the unsettled Niritti stares at the irritant king apprehensively, aware that he had now become tired of the persistent appeals being put forth by the crown prince.

Flustered by the failure of his numerous attempts to save the orphanages from destruction; the woeful Dharam battles to come up with further notions that would help his purpose, despite being conscious of how his perseverance was stressing his own kin. Heedful of the compulsions of his father; the considerate prince cautiously strives to carry out another trial in support for his cause, dreading how the latest tidings would devastate his already vulnerable brother "Pitaji... how about... what if we postpone taking any action, till the next assembly... we could then request the ministers... the nobles... to exempt the laws for orphanages alone...we could..."

Attending to the unyielding outlook of the crown prince; the vexed monarch interrupts his son with a harsh refusal, as he begins frantically pacing the room in annoyance "Dharam, I think we have discussed this matter enough... the utmost that I would be able to do is give those Shramiks some more time to surrender... that is all...it is better if you learn to accept the reality...and make Veer accept it too... he is already about to face a lot of problems, as it is..."

Listening to her brother's dictum in panic; the gloomy mother immediately responds to the decisive statements by sitting up to make a heartfelt request, folding her hands pleadingly "Bhaiyya... please do not do this... take pity on him... shutting himself within the four walls of his chamber, Veer refuses to even see me... he has eaten nothing since morning...the very fact that he is unable to endure the incidents proves that he is innocent of all crimes...please bhaiyya..."

Faced with a myriad of confounding attitudes that his family members displayed towards the circumstances; the brooding Aryavardhan momentarily buries his frustrating dilemmas to reply in a passive tone, sincerely trying to calm his sister's fears "Nivritti, I was harsh at him in the assembly... but, don't worry... I shall use all my power to avert troubles from harming him... I shall definitely do all I can..." immensely disappointed by the unlawful deeds of his dear nephew that had resulted in the dismaying situation; Aryavardhan adds pensively "But... if he has indeed stolen the money, as implicated... I...d...don't know what I could do to drop the charges..."

His speculations suddenly intruded by the unexpected sounds of a distant shuffle; the curious monarch is compelled to divert his attention from the current parley to the source of the vague noise at the entrance of the chamber. Following pursuit; the remaining members in the room turn to observe the regal archway, when they thereupon witness the compelling persona of the youngest prince spiritedly emerging through the threshold. His appearance fatigued by the recent strains and yet, his expressions depicting unwavering intensity; the dynamic royal instantly perceives that his forceful entry had brought his family's ongoing discussions to a standstill.

Sceptical of the purpose for their gathering; the vehement prince shortly surveys their expressions with a wry grimace, before swerving his gaze to hurl a brief glimpse at his mother. Watching the upset Nivritti swiftly descend from the couch to approach him with grave regard; the despairing Veer faintly painfully gazes at her for a moment and then resolves to waste no further time in revealing the purpose of his unanticipated visit.
Turning to face the monarch with overt grimness; the fuming prince adjourns the unsettling silence by questioning his uncle with an audacious query, startling his entire family while doing so "Maharaj ...are the jails of Aryanagar large enough to hold half of its population...you are going to imprison me...to imprison the Shramiks...who else, maharaj?"

Immediately offended by the unforeseen impudence in his nephew's remark; the displeased Aryavardhan vindicates himself with a thunderous reply "Veer that is enough! You were associating with a place that actually supported revolutionaries...you handed them money... first of all, such charitable institutions are illegal..." incidentally noticing the dismal figure of his sister standing beside her son with heavyhearted frowns; the king moderates the tone of his voice, as he continues sternly "Anyway... don't worry...we were just debating on how to clear you of blame... let the investigations proceed...I shall use my influence to try and have the charges dropped...but... then... I warn you not to repeat such acts again Veer ..."

Instantly sensing that the monarch's rigid stance would aggravate her temperamental son; the caring mother tries to compose the situation by ensuing Aryavardhan's counsel with a few soothing words of advice to the prince. However; even before the disconcerted Nivritti is able to express herself properly; the disgraced Veer returns the king's advice with a fervid reply, passionately defending his questioned integrity "Maharaj... are you suspecting me of stealing the money... I do not need anyone to cover my tracks, when I have done nothing... I did not hand them any donations... the only few coins that I handed over to Dhruv Kumar was money out of my own pocket... if there is a single witness who says or can prove me otherwise let me know... why would people think that I would be unlawfully associating with the rebels, when I was the one who saved Aryanagar and my family from the revolutionaries...you trust the words of devious tyrants like Agni and Jai mama, but not my sincere efforts"

Failing to be persuaded by Veer's argument; the king regretfully dampens his nephew's desperate hopes with an unconvinced reply, his heritage and upbringing not allowing him to denounce the norms of the kingdom for a few Shramiks "Veer... even if the orphanages are only harmless shelters... I cannot change my decision... it is against the law... the nobles and ministers would never agree... and they are right...if we show leniency in one matter, the subjects will start taking us rulers for granted in many more issues... I specified all this to Dharam too... has learnt to admit to the reality...it is better you do so soon..." forgoing the seemingly trivial debate about the orphans with a dismissive frown; the worried king proceeds to continue with a word of warning, feeling genuinely fearful of the implications that the scandals had for the future of his young nephew "Veer...forget about the institutions and the Shramiks for some time...your mother... your mami... Dharam... I... we are all concerned about you now... the way that the facts were presented in the assembly, has made you appear irrefutably guilty of all misdeeds...do you know how difficult it would be to prove otherwise...what do you propose to do to achieve the task of certifying your honesty to the nobles..."

Suddenly observing the discouraged Veer disregard the monarch's counsel with a resentful smirk; Dharam feels increasingly dejected by how his father and brother were both, adhering to their respective stances in stubborn manner. Deciding to mediate the deteriorating exchanges; the unnerved crown prince promptly walks up to his sibling to intervene the discussion "Pitaji please wait...Veer, do not overlook pitaji's words... nothing of the sort shall happen... I shall never allow anything to happen to you...I assure you... no harm shall ever befall you... I can confidently state that none in this room would ever suspect your intentions... and I am sure nothing shall happen to Dhruv's institutions either...just keep your hope up... trust me..."

Darting his brother an indifferent glance in response to his rueful efforts; the afflicted Veer queries hurtfully "Trust you? I did Dharam...I did...I did... and what did I get..."

Having been caught unaware by the growing dispute within her beloved family all along; the distressed Swathi finally abandons her reticence to interrupt the young prince's hostility with a stunned exclamation "Dharam! Veer! What is going on...stop this...stop it now..."

His attention grabbed by the chidings; the shaken Veer turns to observe the sorrowful expressions on the face of the loving queen and experiences a momentary surge of guilt for his impropriety. Consequently lowering his pitch to a soft murmur, the miserable prince asks his aunt fervently, wallowing in self pity as he does so "Mami...tell me...do you conform to His Highnesses' faith too... do you suspect my beliefs and my deeds as well...no one seems to understand me..."

Profoundly saddened by the young royal's heartbreaking plight; both, Nivritti and Dharam cast each other deplorable glares before stepping close to Veer in order to alleviate his woes. Expressing their undeniable concern for the lonely prince; the two doting members try to reason with him sympathetically "Veer, don't be silly...we are all here for you...you still don't understand what everyone is trying to explain... your deeds are not wrong... it's the manner that you have done them in that has needlessly tainted your reputation... had you let others know about everything beforehand...had you convinced everyone about your work prior to carrying it out... you would not have brought these problems upon yourself..."

Comprehending how even the two people closest to him refused to share his views; the exasperated Veer desolately stares at the melancholic figures of his mother and brother standing beside, irately spurning their reluctance to understand his perspective "Ma... you might not be aware... but Dharam, are you really as naive as you sound now... if I had announced my actions to everyone, don't you know that the corrupt commanders and nobles would have only destroyed the place... that's why I had to hide my actions... anyway, all of you say what you have to... but, I know that I was not wrong... I am not worried about consequences..."

Growing tired of his sibling's constant repulsions and adamancy since that morning; the overwhelmed Dharam begins losing his patient temperament and grits his teeth in irritation, as he blurts out a corrective reply "Well that has always been your issue... you are never worried about consequences... you 'have' to think about the outcome of one's actions... you 'have' to consider other's opinions too... one man alone does not and cannot run the kingdom..."

Provoked by Dharam's rebuttal; the inflamed Veer curls his fists in wrath and promptly returns the firm guidance with a roaring challenge "Fine... as you say, I shall consider other's opinions... I shall resign my fate and the fate of the orphans to the decisions taken by the 'supposedly respectable' nobles of Aryanagar..." he pauses furiously "But before that I need an answer...ask your father... what would he... what would the ministers propose to do with those unfortunate children...what would their destinies be..."

Disappointed by how no words seemed to relieve the mounting woes of her outraged son; the appalled Nivritti rushes forth to reconcile the steady lapse of optimism in the negotiations and holds her son's face with an urgent bid to calm him "Veer... enough now... enough my child... you have been burdened by too many dilemmas... too soon...hence you are unable to..."

Refusing to succumb to the affectionate display; the raging Veer considerately removes his mother's clasp from his face and then ensues with accosting his brother, Agni's harrowing revelations from that morning having harassed him every moment since "Dharam ... ask maharaj if the fate of these orphans, would be the same as the fate of thousands of Shramik infants that were annihilated years ago?"

The dreadful words uttered in an impulse by the maddened royal instantaneously brings the untoward proceedings in the chamber to an abrupt halt, as the shattered members find themselves unable to react to the disclosure for a few moments. While the faltering queens slowly proceed to hurl each other horrified glimpses; the fazed Dharam glares at Veer agape, speechless at how his brother had curtly broached an abominable topic with the king in such a brash fashion.

Having discovered the princes' knowledge of the tragedy with profound shock; the intimidated monarch studies the expressions on the faces of the two brothers with rising alarm, the colour rapidly draining from his grim visage. Inconceivably daunted by his compulsion to explain the horrendous historical events to the virtuous brothers; the stupefied ruler uncovers how the ensuing moments blemished with dishonour, had rendered his voice parched.
Watching the two restless princes alternatively stare at him and at the two queens, in panic; the cornered Aryavardhan eventually decides to cease the daunting stillness in the room, stuttering to come up with a relevant reply "N...No...d...don't glare at your mothers...they did not know about it till later...b... but... how did you both learn of these morose facts..."

Numbly covering his mouth in angst caused by his father's admittance to the atrocity; the ashen Dharam drastically overcomes his choked voice to question the reason behind the newly uncovered revolting reality of his father "Pitaji... then it is true...when Agni mentioned it, I refused to believe him...but... but... why... pitaji... why destroy the pride of our lineage by such barbarism... how would we ever be able to make it up to those mothers..."

Cringing in agony at the wrecked sight of the crown prince brought upon by the unexpected exposure of his own reckless past; the ashamed monarch fails to meet eyes with Dharam's disbelieving glances any longer. Never having expected to face a circumstance where he would be answerable to his son; the remorseful Aryavardhan struggles to provide a feeble defence in his support, gradually hanging his head in shame as he does so "It was a terrible thing to do... I was overcome by grief...16 years ago...a soothsayer mentioned that the future of Aryavarts... that 'your' life would be threatened by a Shramik born on that Aashad poornima... hence; in frenzy, I obeyed my brother... I followed Jai bhaiyya's advice...I was ready to resort to anything I could do to save you... I have never forgiven myself for those deeds ever since...forgive me...Dharam..." he pauses "forgive me Veer..."

Crumbling under the disgrace marring his glorious impressions of the monarch; the inconsolable Dharam continues to remain mortified by the heartbreaking discovery, while the fearful Nivritti becomes aghast by the course that the ongoing discussions were taking. The chilling details inevitably bringing back unwanted memories for the terrified mother; she silently recollects how the disasters on the fateful day had shaped the course of events that had led her to secretly adopt Veer.
However; oblivious to the sorry condition of both, the infuriated Veer feels disgusted by the flimsy rationale tendered by the monarch in the justification of so fiendish a deed that had taken the lives of numerous infants. Suspending the prolonged interim; the young prince shouts aloud, reiterating his theories to his muted sibling "Now do you realize why people arise to revolt... it is because of such cruelty and oppression that revolutionaries are even born in the first place......" pausing for a moment, the wrathful prince repeats his pledge with contempt "Ha! Just to make up for the wrongdoings of my family, I shall continue to protect the downtrodden... I will lay my life down for them... not take their life, like their very king who was meant to protect them, did..."

As the seething Veer pursues with his rants; the latest humbling turn of events leaves the demeaned king with no premise to retort to his nephew. While the perturbed queens unhappily detect an escalating discourtesy in the manner of the young royal's speech; the devastated crown prince fails to understand how to react to the unfolding turmoil. Paralyzed by the sorrow of Aryavardhan's involvement in the cruelty; the benumbed Dharam is forced to remain primarily unresponsive to his sibling's justified outcry against the king for a short while. Wrestling with the trauma of the treacherous exposal; the crown prince remains unaware of what embittered him more; the obnoxious past of the king or the fact that he had no grounds to defend his father from Veer's heartrending taunts. However; after a short while of enduring the abusive words against his father; the devoted son in the crown prince gradually finds the unfamiliar constraint of passively watching the ongoing insults too aversive to bear.

Nevertheless; blinded to the petrified expressions of the remaining family members and unruffled by what they thought of his misdemeanour; the overwrought Veer continues revealing his hatred of the kingdom's endless prejudiced scandals "Maharaj, you have sent forth orders for the people to evacuate the orphans, in spite of my incessant efforts to explain the situation at the assembly...have you become so blinded by your status, class, money and power...please... I request you to dismiss your orders once again ... because...because ...if ...if not, I shall be forced to ensure that the decision is stalled... even if it means that I would have to do so, by standing against you...I shall not allow a similar misfortune befall these orphans, as it did the Shramik newborns many years ago..."

Viewing the untamed animosity against the ruler of Aryanagar; the agonized Dharam feels unable to permit the onslaught in silence any longer and ultimately renounces his withdrawn stance with a grim request "Stop it Veer...enough now..."

Unperturbed by the crown prince's cautionary note; the uncompromising Veer assertively walks up to his sibling, wrenching his knuckles in grit as he quotes a resolute oath "I told you Dharam...I shall stop at nothing to protect the innocent even if it means going against my uncle, the king... I cannot stand back and nod my head to all sins..."

Feeling steadily goaded by his younger brother's never ending allegations and rude irrationality; the enraged Dharam frowns scornfully, returning the censures with a starkly cynical statement "I was not standing back and nodding my head... I was opposing this as much as you...but when you become possessed by anger you fail to perceive anything reasonably... anyway... these arguments seem to be heading nowhere... let us forsake this for now...all I request you to do is to refrain from using that tone to pitaji ever again...at least exhibit some respect for the fact that he is much older to you..."

Scoffing the authoritative remarks with an undisguised smirk; the depressed Veer furnishes a severely bitter response, unable to overcome the resentment at how he felt cheated by his own older brother "Dharam...I can only show respect to those, who demonstrate respectful actions…"

Having noted the continual hateful exchanges so long in shock; the aggrieved queens cast each other desperate glimpses, sensibly resolving to bring an end to the deteriorating circumstances as soon as possible. However; the demoralized crown prince overruns their intentions and swiftly responds in explosive anger, the latest comment against his father, too derogatory to tolerate "Veer...I have been patient so long...my father might be wrong in a few of his decisions... but that does not give you right to speak to him in this tone..."
Already ravaged by a plethora of troubles and now crushed by the evident enmity with his sibling; the unwitting Dharam ignorantly sets out to project his father's virtuous side by unintentionally stating a few harsh reminders "For so many years my father protected his sister and you...risking his life... risking the safety of his kingdom... do you realize what would have happened if he had chosen not to do so...at least display some gratitude for the sake of that Veer..."

Discerning the undertone of the disgruntled words; the indignant young prince becomes unfathomably outraged by the demeaning rebuke and advances to exhibit his contempt of his sibling by grabbing his coat curtly, any little sense of rationality that he possessed now long gone. Precisely when the three monarchs rush to control the damaging havoc and separate the feuding brothers; the hysterical Veer effortlessly overpowers the feeble restraint of his mother and begins throttling Dharam by his collar, uttering extremely distressing replies as he does so "So is this what it has come down to... you have made us conceive that we are seeking shelter here, in your palace...that me and ma are refugees... but, why would you drag my mother into all this..." while the hostile brothers persevere with their violent ruckus; the breathless Veer concludes lividly "Fine ... I shall take ma along... and leave this palace... anyway this place has started suffocating my sentiments... why live under the roof of a household that condones murder of innocent Shramiks and imprisons anyone who assists them... in fact why wait...I shall leave this very night...I am aware of how to support and protect ma by myself!"

OSR Samyukta Part 40 – Veer abandons the palace

Heeding their victim's reinstated admission; the hostile threesome cast each other ugly glances, silently resolving to make use of the situation in their favour and thus avail the opportunity for some freely available assistance. Not content at having exacted petty revenge; they pursue with their harassment of the lone Shramik, as another uncouth man from the mob follows his friend's nasty conduct by dictating an additional instruction tersely "Now go... and replace the broken pot...fetch a fresh pot of water...you can then compensate for our loss by offering us your services in our shop for the whole of today...we might think of letting you go, after that..."

Following their demanding taunts; the unruly crowd restlessly await a reaction from their victim for a few moments, but only discern a strangely persistent stillness haunting the midst of their awkward gathering. Watching how the peculiar youth continued to remain unresponsive to their commands and absorbed in his thoughts; the impatient men move forth to nudge him into providing an answer.

No sooner than the boisterous group are about to raise their hand on him once again, the provoked youth finally retaliates by raising his palm to stop them in their tracks, his assertiveness and flair still evident in spite of the adversities he was undergoing. Unused to such disrespect; the offended young man proceeds to convey his assailants a stern caution "Stop! Who do you think you are addressing!"
Simultaneously reaching for the side of his crumpled cotton tunic; the youth tries to grab the handle of his sword out of vigilant habit, only to dismally apprehend that he now carried neither the hilt nor the weapon generally tucked within it. Just as the numb youth apprehends the troubling reality; he is curtly forced to abandon his subconscious actions with the sudden exclamations uttered by one onlooker. Slowly looking up to glimpse at the reason behind the startled shriek; the disinterested young Shramik stares at the face of the jittery villager, remaining unmoved by the expressions of mounting panic on his ashen face.

Continuing to fixedly staring at the youth that they had been troubling so far; the tense commoner takes a few hesitant steps behind, stuttering in disbelief as he does so "R...r...rajkumar Veer... w...we did not r...recognize you...we are sorry..."
As the two remaining ruffians swiftly grow to realize that the observation of their friend was indeed true; the terrified trio gradually begin retracting their pace, daunted by the repercussions of their mindless actions. Though shocked by how an imposing prince that used to guard Aryanagar atop a majestic horse and powerful retinue not so long ago, was now roaming their lanes like a vagrant; the men bear no nerve to persist any exchanges with a warrior whose reputation for might, preceded him. Fearing for their lives; the nervous brutes decide to return the forlorn Veer his solitude as soon and possible and stagger and stumble in their strife to seek a hasty exit from the scene, thus leaving the depressed youth to his self-imposed confinement once again.

Hoping that the large street might have a water-well; the weary youth falters past shoddy shacks for a considerable while; before he eventually manages to catch sight of a water-well, a moderate distance away. Relieved at the thought of being able to quench his thirst; Veer wipes his sweat-laden brows and begins to accelerate his steps towards the lone reservoir, smirking at the fate that had reduced him to such a state. However; when barely a few yards away from the reservoir, the reclusive Shramik suddenly notes the unwanted company of another crowd concurrently approaching the well and brings his pace to a gradual halt, debating on whether to advance or not.

Simultaneously having marked the arrival of the apparently attractive young man standing a short distance from them; the group of beautiful Shramik girls dart each other coy glances, wondering about the unfamiliar youth about to use their well. As they continue moving towards the well; the chirpy girls swiftly understand from his aloofness that the young Shramik was unwilling to approach the reservoir in their midst and break out into abashed smiles, amused by Veer's endearing silence. Chattering to each other all along; the vivacious party arrive at the platform and begin to draw the water from the well, deftly passing the pitchers around at the same time. Commencing to relish the refreshing water by drinking it and splashing it on their faces; the bevy of girls indulge in bouts of gossip and giggles, while continuing to remain quietly intrigued by the withdrawn presence of the ruggedly handsome youth all through.

Unhappily aware that he was the subject of their conversations; the listless Veer resolutely stares at the ground below in staunch defiance of the obvious gazes being darted in his direction. Eventually apprehending that the group of girls did not seem ready to evacuate the reservoir anytime soon; the displeased youth makes the unfavourable choice of leaving the area with his thirst still unquenched.
Lifelessly beginning to retrace his steps; the fatigued Veer swings around and starts his progress in the other direction, the entire scenario at the water well having brought many undesirable buried memories about the enthralling petite back to his mind

"Shera, my companion...she discovered the forbidden realities of the orphanages...she acted so helpless that you became blinded by her charm, despite being aware that she caused you trouble in the past... she tried to entice you, when she knew she was someone else's.... why are you possessive of her...she is 'my' slave... what was your relationship with her?"
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The drive to stay alive for the sake of the defenceless orphans being the only force fighting the losing battle against hunger, sleep and exhaustion; the enfeebled youth pursues with his speculations on where he should spend the night without raising much alarm. Hugging his arms close by to ward off the cold; the vulnerable young man casts blank glimpses around him to survey the unacquainted turnings and lanes, wondering if it was weakness that was making him feel so chilly since the evening. His visions now starting to progressively blur; the few concerns that he held for his health finally manage to overcome the trauma having clouded the mind of the youth so long, as he races through ideas in his fazed mind on the ideal spot to settle for the night.

Scrambling on with his aimless stroll; the drained Veer tiresomely marches for a while longer, till each step begins to become far more laborious than the previous one. Nevertheless; just as the misfortunate youth feels as though he was nearing the verge of collapse, fate favours him, when he unexpectedly discerns distant sounds of what seemed like the resonance of melody.

Pausing for a moment to concentrate on the rhythms; the pale Veer quickly fathoms the beauteous music be a devotional song in the local dialect being recited at a holy place, thus receiving the much needed ray of hope that would uplift his oppressed self "Such beautiful Bhajan! Finally...a Shramik temple...yes that would be ideal...they wouldn't ask me too many questions... they would definitely give me some water... maybe some food too...and possibly allow me to spend the night there..."

Aryanagar; the capital – Inside a humble dwelling

With the refreshing beams of the morning sun falling upon his ghostly visage, the worn out youth crinkles his eyes in defence of the strong rays compulsively rousing him from his slumber. Yielding to the urge of fighting the need to wake up; Veer groggily attempts to toss away from the disturbing sunlight, when creaking noises from the rickety cot that he was laying on successfully manage to drag him out of his trance.

Proceeding to open his eyes in haste; the unaware youth takes a few moments to study his hazy surroundings; trying to focus on vague outlines of what appeared like muddy walls and a thatched roof. Eventually deducing his vaguely familiar vicinity to be the humble abode of a Shramik; the alarmed Veer swiftly toils to understand how and why he was resting in the unexpected locale of a commoner's dwelling. Seeking to resolve his temporary state of oblivion; the perplexed youth strives to come to his senses; when he finds his attention subsequently grabbed by the familiar voice of a lady, hovering from not very far "How are you feeling r...rajkumar Veer...I hope you rested well..."
Just as the bewildered Veer turns around to view the source of the voice; he notices the known silhouette of the gracious Shramik mother approaching him with a dented plate of food in her hand and a pleasant smile on her lips.

Waging a formidable battle within her conscience; the distressed mother restrains herself from displaying any emotions on the now widely-known secret to prevent causing her already harassed son any further discomfort. Halting beside the confounded young man; the affable Pari gently helps him comfortably sit up on the cot, while she progresses to sit on the floor beside him. Observing his lifeless stares; the mother feels perturbed by the ongoing apathy of the young Shramik and not knowing how else to broach conversation, begins by casually updating him with events from the previous night "Rajkumar Veer...I had stayed back at the temple last evening in order to recite a few bhajans... when I stepped out, I found you lying in a corner...you had probably passed out...I then requested a few men at the temple to help me bring you home ... it was only after coming here that I recognized the person to be you...due to your attire...I... I had not identified you initially..."

Pausing for a brief while in anticipation of a reaction to her statements; the lady feels concerned on observing nothing apart from a persistently dispirited silence in the generally vivacious youth. Hoping to put the speechless Veer at some ease; the anxious Pari enquires affectionately "Rajkumar Veer...have you not eaten for long...here...I have brought some food for you..."

Unnerved by the prolonged awkwardness persevering between them; the worried Pari aspires to evoke some expression from him, as she decides to inform the reticent youth of the commotions triggered in the capital ever since the discovery of his absence "Yuvraj Dharam... ranima... maharaj... all of them have been frantically searching for you since daybreak yesterday...soldiers, attendants and messengers have been touring the capital in the look out for you...they came here numerous times enquiring about your whereabouts too...in fact, Yuvraj Dharam is spending a great amount of time and effort seeking you... they are all extremely worried...obviously, since I only discovered your presence very late last night, I have not been able to inform anyone yet."
Wrestling with her feelings to put on an aura of optimism; the selfless mother concludes her statements with sensible advice on the delicate state of affairs, gallant enough to bury her own pain while desiring the best for her son "Don't worry Rajkumar...at first, please have some food to gain your strength ... I shall then send the message to ranima... the soldiers shall come to pick you up... you must return to your home soon..."

Just as the lady dotingly indicates towards the plate she had been holding on to for so long; the inconsolable Veer eventually ceases his silence to utter a sullen retort "I have no home..."

Feeling increasingly angst by the state of aloofness that her son was going through; the saddened Pari tries to pacify him softly "Please don't say that...Rajkumar Veer"

Pursuing with his distant manner towards her; the demoralized Shramik disapproves the mother's display of regard and respect for him "Please don't address me by that title... it does not suit me anymore!"

Comprehending the extent to which the once powerful prince had been devastated by the exposure of the reality; the downcast Pari feels helpless at being unable to draw him from the pangs of depression. Filled with regret at being ignorant of how to alleviate his woes; the apologetic mother attempts to convince the morose son once again, her voice choked with emotion as she does so "All of this is my fault...I probably should not have come and complained to you in that fashion... I am sorry...I apologize for everything...but, please don't give up hope... nothing will change... you should return to the palace...you have a noble family that dotes over you so selflessly..."

Instantly brushing off the optimism in her beliefs; the anguished Veer grimly opposes the advice being given to him, the string of deceptions having made him recklessly bitter "No...this world is a selfish place... 'you' did not want me... 'ma' only needed me to have the comforting presence of a child after losing her family and so she adopted me...why did you even have to let go of me in the first place..." bringing his unpleasant grudges to an abrupt pause; the detached youth finally amasses the will to meet eyes with the heavyhearted Pari for a few moments. Unhappily gazing at the sign of heartrending tears beginning to whelm her eyes; his resentful manner marginally tones down, as the spiritless Veer pursues on a rueful note, unwittingly starting to feel disturbed about his inappropriate demeanour towards her "Maaji, all those instances that you helped me ... took care of me... invited me for the wedding... showered me with love and concern... was it only because you knew what my relation to you was...would you have cared for me otherwise..." he looks away pitiably "I feel as though I belong to none..."

Immensely hurt by her son's judgements; the agonized Pari tearfully progresses to correct his opinions of her by reminding him of facts "Rajkumar Veer! If you must know, there has not been a single day that I have not pined for you... I let go of you, because that was the only means I knew to keep you alive..." pausing her defensive stance; the magnanimous mother swiftly reminds herself of the intense gloom that the youth was already facing and alters her tone to a more sympathetic one, not wanting to cause him anymore woe "You say such words because you are very angry... your anger is justified... but please do not think such of your own mothers... neither ranima...nor me... only we both would know the pain and suffering that we have been undergoing everyday of our lives for the past sixteen years!"

Attending to the lady's forlorn clarifications; the young Shramik is gradually humbled into feeling guilty about the pointless hurt he was causing her. Quietly growing to accept his immature handling of the sensitive circumstances; the culpable youth resolves to apologize for his behaviour and wipes the tears clouding his eyes. Subduing his reserve; the young man proceeds to begs her pardon, the meek frown on his face being a marginal consolation when compared to the phases of grave depression that he seemed to be shrouded in "Forgive me for my ungratified conduct...it is impudent of me to be taking out my frustrations on you... you have suffered enough...it is only that after losing what was dearest to me for sixteen years... accepting the new reality seems very difficult."

Encouraged by the change in his approach towards the hapless issue; the uplifted Pari is about to respond to the earnest admittances, when the sombre youth interrupts her with an unexpected stint of actions, a simple effort to make up for his follies. Progressing to descend from the cot and resume a seat on the muddy floor beside the lone woman; the young Shramik indicates towards the plate in her hand, as he faintly requests her consent to partake of its contents.

Extremely pleased by a gesture that she had not foreseen; the gladdened woman readily indulges him by advancing the platter towards him. No sooner than he receives the plate from the loving Pari; the starved Shramik zealously begins feasting on large morsels of the humble food with evident fervour, driven by both; the urge to oblige the wronged mother and the need to feed his ravaged body. As the warmhearted Pari eventually decides to remain quiet and watch her son with motherly gratification, Veer scours through the tasty items of food; intermittently gulping down water from a small pitcher sitting beside him.
Discovering his plate emptied in a comparatively short spell of time; the young Shramik grows to realize how delicious the meal seemed to his ravenous appetite and how hungry he still felt. Contemplating for a few moments; the famished Veer ultimately overcomes his inhibitions and dabs the few drops of tears still fogging his sight, before looking up to feebly implore the lady of the house "Maaji... may I have some more rotis...or any food, for that matter... that is, if you have some to spare...I have not eaten in two days..."

Finding herself instantly elated by the sudden yet welcome change in the youth's attitude; the appreciative Pari dries her tears with the corner of her veil and chooses to act upon his wishes straightaway. Arising from her seat; the enthusiastic woman rushes towards the modest kitchen at one corner of the dwelling and hastily forages through the meagre set of utensils to salvage anymore edibles that she could find. Excited by the prospect of feeding her hungry son homemade food; Pari quickly arranges the collected items of food onto a fresh plate and then dashes back to join Veer, before handing him the new plate tenderly.

Profoundly moved by the mother's benevolent love that contradicted his harsh mutterings not so long ago; the transformed Veer briefly smiles at her with gratitude and then receives the fresh plate in order to commence his next round of meal.
Silently indulging in the modest portions of food while pondering on a spectrum of confounding thoughts for a long while; the affected youth eventually manages to muster some courage to reveal his heartfelt feelings on the subject to his quiet observer "N...n...now I understand why I... I... I felt so different... so e...elevated... whenever I...I met you... and Sakshi didi...it was destiny indeed!" looking up at her with hesitance, the sentimental Veer continues sadly "B...But... maaji... whenever I utter the word 'ma' her face is the first thing that comes to mind... I have always looked upon Dharam as my 'brother'...how am I to forgo all of that overnight..."

Just as the understanding woman is about to furnish her suggestions on the matter; the cheerless Veer resumes his speech with a set of dispirited clarifications, unaware that he was not giving the mother a chance to talk "I understand that you want me to go back to the palace, since you think it is best for me... but, tell me maaji...how could I accept the service of my maids when everyone knows, I am one of them... the ministers... Jai mama... Agni...all of them would make my life living hell... how could I survive amidst the constant taunts and glares..." he pauses wistfully, as he simultaneously wraps up his meal "I argued for rights of the entire population of downtrodden Shramiks...then, would it not be hypocritical for me alone to enjoy the luxuries of palace life..." ending his inferences with a steadfast pledge; the strong-willed youth nods his head in a mark of determination "No...even if ma, Dharam or mami request me to, I shall never be able to go back and live in the palace... ever..."
Having completed the simple yet satiating edibles through the course of his musings; the young Shramik lets out a deep breath and demonstrates the end of his surmises by rising up from his seat. After seeking due permission and directions from the assistive mother; Veer advances to rinse his face and hands at a small backyard behind the hut, before returning to rejoin her in no time.

Though continuing to be alarmed by her son's drastic oath on the critical affair; the supportive woman empathizes with his decisions and decides not to dispute his verdict for the time being, while the downcast Veer progresses to make a few more joyless confessions "Well...it is not that I shall not miss anything... I don't mean the aristocracy...or the title of Rajkumar...or the lush rooms...or the enviable foods...but, I shall pine for the life I lost... my conduct ... my habits... my style of living... I am warrior and that is all I have been throughout... I have been stripped of this right too...I feel as though everything has been taken away... my cherished horse...my prized sword...all memories... my mami's emotional blackmails... my frolicsome times with Dharam...Bhalla's silly antics...the inviting fragrance of rose from my mother's chamber... the sight of the beautiful sunset from my bedroom..."

"A sunset is always beautiful, be it from the view of a palace terrace, or from a hut's humble window, Rajkumar Veer!"
His nostalgia interrupted by echoes of the intelligent remark; the engrossed duo curiously glance at the entrance of the hut in order to observe the arrival of the new entrant. While the amiable Pari welcomes the expected arrival of the pleasant lady with a smile; the perplexed Veer remains awkwardly still, unaware of how to greet the familiar personage.

Glimpsing at the prolonged silence of her younger brother, the graceful Sakshi giggles aloud in amusement as she enters her home with an agile pace, deftly balancing numerous cloth bags hanging from her shoulders. Hurriedly proceeding to a corner of the hut to unload the sacks; the charming sister lets out a tired sigh and then turn around to glance at the quietened youth, before resuming her advice on a tender note "All that one needs to stay alive is clothes, shelter, food and dignity...you possess all four...so you should not feel so forlorn...horses and swords can always be sought later on..." walking up to her stunned brother; the thoughtful lady enlightens him softly "Rajkumar Veer, you cannot and should not give up memories... remember, you have not lost the love of your people... and you never will... you have only gained a new family..."

Her insightful words finally managing to instigate a feeble smile of acknowledgement from the impressed Veer; Sakshi brings her wise words to a closure by disclosing the truth in a hushed tone "These words are not mine...well... my husband was also an Aryavart once... remember?"

OSR SAMYUKTA part 41 – Life afresh at Sawai...