OSR SAMYUKTA part 41 – Life afresh at Sawai...
Aryanagar; the capital – Inside a humble dwelling
"These words are not mine...well... my husband was also an Aryavart once... remember?"
Pausing the affectionate guidance that had moderately managed to uplift her dazed brother from mental upheaval; the wise sister flashes him a hearty grin and then turns to face the endearing visage of Pari. Aware of how the long awaited presence of the adored youth must have delighted her mother immensely; Sakshi metes the woman a generous smile, while continuing to successfully hide the silent turmoil within. After pausing for a pensive moment; the illustrious daughter proceeds to squander no further time and swerves matters to a more sombre update "By the way...ma...I have brought all the items that you had asked for... the bazaar was too crowded today... we must leave soon... we do not have much time to catch the tanga to Sawai...have the bags been packed...is there anything else I must do...what about..."
Bringing her fervent chatter to a tapering halt; the young lady perceives that the silent youth sitting aside was becoming increasingly bewildered by the abrupt graveness in her subject.
Turning around to glance at the baffled Veer with a quick smile; the inundated Sakshi hastily commences to give him a quick solemn brief, effectively remaining capable of hiding the sinister fears plaguing her conscience "As you might know, we only have few days to surrender...we are desperately fighting to have many issues sorted out...we have to transport everyone from the orphanages, the shramik hospitals and old age homes that my husband and his friends were in the process of establishing... we would have to salvage as many things as possible, before Maharaj sends forth his troops to destroy these institutions... hence, I arrived from Sawai early this morning to have a few tasks sorted and to take ma along, on my way back...she was about to come to Sawai now to help us with everything... besides, it is not safe for her to stay alone here anymore..."
Pondering on the reasonable clarifications; Pari experiences a sudden sense of unwillingness to follow their predetermined plans with the unexpected development of Veer's arrival at their home. Abruptly interrupting Sakshi by pulling her aside; the woman begins whispering to her daughter in agitation, her frantic message however remaining audible to the startled youth "But how can I come Sakshi... I don't think 'he' would come...leaving him in this state here... all alone... I cannot... after 16 years I finally get a chance to spend a day or two with my son....please don't take that away too..."
Daunted by the repercussions of her mother's unforeseen withdrawal from their cautiously pre-planned course of action; the anxious Sakshi swiftly tries reasoning with her, maintaining a low pitch as she does so "Ma... but I...I... thought he would come to Sawai too, wouldn't he? He does not want to return to the palace...staying at the capital, would only mean he would be answerable to yuvraj, ranima and maharaj... for now; he has no means and no place else to go... he needs some time to recover from all this... a short stay at Sawai with the children and with us, would only help him recuperate from the sorrow...after that he can decide to do what he feels best for himself... besides ma, with all the chaos going on at Sawai, we could definitely use an extra pair of hands..."
Remaining an uninvolved bystander to their hushed yet coherent exchanges all through; Veer feels moved by the problems that the Shramik family were facing, while simultaneously appreciative of their unending regard for him. Quietly pondering on the purport of their evolving discussions, the youth grows to discern irrefutable sense in Sakshi's counsel "Hmmm...Sawai...that does not seem too untoward an idea... being amidst the playful presence of children, I shall be able to find peace within myself... besides, how better to protect the orphanages and Dhruv Kumarji's remaining institutions, unless I actually stayed at one of their residences...if I stay at the capital, Dharam and ma shall come looking for me anytime...besides, there are so many faces here that I never want to see again...Agni...Jai mama... maharaj... and most of all, that vile blacksmith!"
Having ultimately arrived at a decision that seemed sensible enough; the young Shramik feels surprised to witness the parley between mother and daughter still persisting with endearing fervour. Amused by their exchanges and yet profoundly awed by their selflessly valiant concerns; the silent Veer courteously leaves them to their private chat, despite being the primary topic of concern.
"But Sakshi... I do not want to force him... not at such a time in his life..."
"Ma...please...at least till we think of a solution for what to do about the children...if they summon me or your son-in-law for questioning...then there would be someone from our family along with you, to take care of matters..."
"Sakshi...Sawai is half a day's distance from the capital... if he is urgently required at the palace, it would take him long to return..."
"Ma...but... then...would I not want to spend time with my brother after sixteen years...all of us could stay together as a family, at least for a short while... I would never be able to do so again, in case I am a...arrested...or t...taken away forever..."
"Sakshi! Please don't utter such words..."
Starting to feel unnerved by how the debate was distressing everyone in the room with sordid reminders of the depressing future; the emotional Veer swiftly resolves to restrain their train of morose thoughts. Reluctant to watch the sensitive mother and her undaunted daughter suffer anymore grief; the youth finally suspends his reticence and intercedes with a suggestive question "But...didi... maaji... the morning tanga to Sawai would be leaving shortly wouldn't it... we must make haste if we have to catch it... a...are your belongings ready..." he pauses with a faint smile "I...I...I have no possessions to pack!"
Aryanagar; the capital – The streets
Rushing through the congested lanes during the humid morning and storming past mobs of insensitive commoners embroiled in their own tasks; the inundated trio desperately hope to reach the depot in time for the morning tanga. Compelled to fight off the heaving and shoving of surrounding crowds throughout the course of their journey; the small family simultaneously strive to balance the many bags of personal items and articles drooping from their burdened shoulders. Their generally radiant features marred by the agonies that each was inwardly suffering; the close knit group endeavour to maintain an indistinct profile the whole time, particularly in consideration for the famous personage travelling in their midst.
Preoccupied enough to be oblivious to the vast surrounding crowds and yet cautious enough to control the tone of her voice; the spirited lady angrily delves upon her latest awareness of the shocking means in which the orphanages had been exposed. Unable to come to terms with the revolting facts that she had just learnt from her brother; the enraged Sakshi feels devastated by the news of the deception. Her eternally beauteous profile dimmed by disheartenment ever since her recent knowledge of the awful reality; the young lady angrily mulls on how the scandalous betrayal of her institutions held dreadful implications for the future of many.
As the family relentlessly pursue with their pace; the grim Veer gradually becomes a passive audience to his sister's outpours; while the offended Sakshi continues to mutter her disgruntlements, much to the dismay of her cautious mother "Rajkumar Veer...I know that your honest deeds were exposed in a wrong manner when you were trying to send the sacks of grains to us... but, all this while; I was under the impression that Rajkumar Agni had come to know of the truth and set you up, through one of his men... I even pondered on possibilities that Yuvraj Dharam might have blurted something...or that some other minister or noble had overheard something... but... but..."
Too overcome with disappointment to heed the purport of her mother's words; the frustrated young lady perseveres with her anguished murmurs, while keeping up her dynamic strides through the busy streets of the bazaar "Ma...I cannot get myself to believe the unimaginable treachery...the craftiness... how heartless... I am utterly disgusted...in spite of being aware that so many lives were at stake... how could one commit such atrocities for money and power... I shall never forgive her..."
"Sakshi didi! You? Here? In the capital?"
Having failed to foresee his presence in their company and now faced with the discomforting revelation; the startled girl subconsciously reacts by whispering a soft exclamation "Rajkumar Veer!"
Unwittingly tinkering with the corner of her veil; the girl composedly resolves not to emphasize the untoward issue and turns away from the sight of his disgusted frowns to converse with the kind family. However; on suddenly discovering discouraging expressions on the faces of the perturbed ladies too; the perceptive Shera instantly senses that the amiable Sakshi and Pari had also been made conscious of her reality.
Momentarily fazed by the awkward circumstances; the petite falters in dealing with the confounding condition, as she tries to make up for the prolonged stillness amongst them with petty chatter "D...didi...I did not know that you had come from Sawai... How is jeejaji...and the children?"
Having waited for a reaction from her seemingly disloyal friend so long; Sakshi glares at Shera for a few moments, before answering in a sarcastic vein, additionally aggravated by the irony in the question "Why...how do you think they would be?" she pauses bitterly "It has barely been a month since I wedded my husband... and now you have taken everything away... my house, my husband and my children...the last person I expected to wreck my home was you!"
Disheartened by how the honest family were gravely misinformed of her intentions; the noble petite quietly strives to cope with the tormenting reality, knowing that her friend was thoroughly unaware of the horrid compulsions that had led to her act of betrayal. Shuddering at the harrowing reminders of how Agni had tortured her into confessing her knowledge of the orphanages; the mortified girl feels both, culpable and immensely sympathetic for the dire state of her dear friend.
While the blacksmith gallantly resigns herself to staying a silent victim of their justified anger, the furious Sakshi indignantly persists with her outrage "When you came to Aryanagar, a few months ago...it was at this very bazaar that I met you... you seemed slightly ignorant of your surroundings... I took it upon myself to aid you... I helped you find a place to settle...I got you in touch with the few people I knew to assist you in setting up your shop..." unmindful of the fact that a few commoners had stopped by to observe her seething outpour; the emotional Sakshi concludes on a tearful note "You have repaid me very well... very well indeed Shera... or should I call you 'Ananya'..."
During the following few moments of unpleasant silence between the two estranged friends; the hurt Shera struggles to accept the grief that she would be welcome company to the generous family no more. Eventually marking Sakshi's rising impatience at her prolonged stillness; the resilient petite is forced to sadly admit to the unpleasant yet inevitable confrontation, knowing that she could do little to explain herself "I wish I could justify myself... I sincerely do...but didi...at this point, I...I cannot..."
The sounds of her soft voice and the sight of her enchanting presence having made him increasingly uncomfortable since the very moment that Shera had arrived, Veer feels appalled by the very idea that he was still compelled to tolerate her presence. Pursuing with his struggles to suppress the painful horrors of how he had held such high regard for a traitor; the enraged Shramik finally lets go of his reticence in order to ensure that the gathering was dispersed as soon as possible "Didi, as long as we stay around her, the chances of us facing troubles would only multiply... you said that our tanga was about to leave... why waste our time here...anyway, she might be concocting a new plan now and this could be her new strategy to sell us to Agni..." he pauses with a stern frown "Let us leave... now...please..."
No sooner than the unforgiving Veer completes the grim suggestion; his opinion is immediately met with uniform approval from the small group, who were well aware of their constraint for time. Deciding to squander no further time on the morose subject; the heavyhearted family subsequently depart from the scene to make their hurried way through the crowds, refusing to acknowledge the lone girl with even a mere farewell as they do so.
Having been abandoned to surrender to the vile clutches of fate once again and forced to let go of yet another person that had truly loved and cared for her; the wronged girl painfully mulls on the distressing episode, a myriad of emotions simultaneously whelming her being "If only all of you knew what I was going through...the entire truth... I wish you learn of the facts and of the regard I hold for all of you... I know that Rajkumar Agni plans to end my life after his need for me is done with... but, I beg of the Lord that I will at least live to see you all discover the true reasons behind my silence..."
Aryanagar; the palace – The royal terrace at the queen's towers
Fashioned with sweeping floors of marble and gliding boundaries of balustrades; the grand terrace in the queen's towers, boasts of both; expanses of enviable proportions and charm of unsurpassed magnitude. Stylishly segregated from the adjoining royal chambers; the majestic terrace, one of the favourite retreats for both royal mothers, remains a haven of sanctity from the constant bustle in the main towers. Imposing its elegant presence on the west frontage of the palace; the colossal balcony proudly floats over the beautiful gardens of parijaat and rose buds below. While refreshing gusts of breeze effortlessly invade its open stretches after sunset, fragrances from the palatial lawns below waft through its spaces; thus leaving the terrace delightfully serene every evening.
However; despite the architectural beauty of the surroundings and the attractive appeal of the pleasant dusk; the terrace could not have witnessed a gathering preyed upon with more despair in its long history. Slumped atop a symmetrically arranged set of divans; as the handful of members from the royal family exchange their solemn views on a wistful note; the melancholy on the glamorous faces of the broken family appears unmistakably apparent.
Plagued ever since the horrifying discovery of Veer's departure; the queen of Aryanagar feels increasingly afflicted at being compelled to behold her sister-in-law's unceasing apathy and her son's persistent state of turmoil. A quiet victim of the dire developments; the compassionate Swathi watches the proceedings in horror, as her confounded son carries yet another frantic attempt to comfort his depressed aunt, though unwittingly submerged in guilt and doom himself. Having stayed by their side throughout the painful juncture; the fretful queen remains unable to do much other than helplessly sympathize with her family's overwrought condition, while the loyal Bhalla is reduced to standing quietly beside his friend in muted gloom.
Having repetitively subjected the depressed Nivritti to encouraging speculations every now and again since Veer's disappearance; the oblivious crown prince pursues with both, his agitated advice and his bouts of pitiful apologies to her. However; despite the tenacity in the prince's persistent efforts; Nivritti continues to be so overwhelmed by the grief of losing her son that no word or attempt manages to have the desired effect on her sufferings. An audience to Dharam's grievances on this evening too and a primarily silent observer of his exploits for a considerable while now; the lonely mother eventually resolves to put her nephew at ease after a long interval of silence.
Swerving her blank gazes from the darkness of the night; the distraught Nivritti observes the prince's weary face and ceases her prolonged reticence to pacify the brooding Dharam sitting beside her feet, her tone and features harbouring a deathlike fatigue "My son...enough now... why are you still blaming yourself for all this...how were you to know that all of this would have happened one day...I know that you never meant anything in the tone that Veer mistook it to be...you have apologized many times...don't be so harsh on yourself" she pauses lifelessly "Besides, he was stating angry abuses to your father too...the tiff was bound to spiral out of proportion...I totally understand you Dharam..." erupting into a weak smile; the pale queen pats his face feebly, as she continues with regard "Now stop fretting so much over this...go, have your meals... I don't want you to..."
Oblivious to how beholders were becoming increasingly unsettled by his strangely unending restlessness; the intent prince brings his ramblings to a momentary halt and then feverishly nods his head to correct himself, slowly rising from the floor as he does so "But then why do I strongly feel that he should have left to Sawai...to escape his turmoil at the capital...well..if not yesterday, he could have travelled today too...I shall enquire once again...in fact, now...as soon as possible!"
Watching him arise with evident intentions to vanish from the palace for yet another search mission at the late hour; the tense Swathi painfully delves on how her generally composed son had now forgone any sense of rationality "Dharam ...this unseen obsession of yours is starting to scare me... it would not help solve the unknown reality of Veer's whereabouts either... you have not been yourself for the past two days...no food... no sleep..." just as she pauses to wipe the tear blurring her eye; the queen suddenly recollects in alarm "Oh Lord...the kul pooja is to be held on the day after tomorrow...if only I had not invited the Niphaudi monarchs for it... the aura in the palace is so morose... how could we ever welcome them with a smile... how could we even begin to explain all that has been transpiring here..."
Snapping from her thoughts on viewing the crown prince routinely seek the blessings of both mothers in his preparations to depart; the apprehensive Swathi quickly clears her choked voice and advices him on a desperate note "Dharam... stop son... please heed my words... everyone is fatigued now...why don't you rest for the time being... you have hardly slept or eaten for the past two days... as a crown prince, you have numerous problems to tend to... don't exasperate yourself such... rest... at least for a short while...you shall then garner strength to face the forthcoming day..."
Coerced to restrain his advancing pace on attending to the nervous opinions uttered by the queen; the absorbed Dharam gradually turns around, his initial reaction to the recommendations being a few hesitant glimpses. No sooner than the grim prince decides to contradict his mother by putting forth his views on the matter; he suddenly discerns how shaken the two queens already seemed by the string of calamities currently vexing them. Though disinclined to follow a counsel that would require postponing his urgent pursuits; the essential virtues in the crown prince inadvertently dissuade him from disobeying Swathi's benevolent wishes.
Left with little option but to temporarily stall any task during the night; the displeased Dharam suspends his preoccupying notions after a long pause by acknowledging Swathi with a faint affirmative nod. Concluding his responses with an unconvinced sigh; the lone prince eventually decides to leave the terrace and the presence of the queens in order to squander the night in the loneliness of his own chamber.
The corridors
The radiant vista of the palace now dimmed down in preparation for the impending night; the queer duo of the striking crown prince and his chubby friend continue their journey through the stunning passageways and stately courtyards in comparative silence. Traversing the long palatial paths leading towards the towers that housed the prince's chamber; the exhausted prince remains oblivious to the occasional salutations from passing maids and attendants, which on the contrary, the receptive Bhalla feels very willing to acknowledge.
Accelerating his strides to a hurried trot every now and again in order to keep up with the fleeting pace of the towering Dharam; the plump Bhalla becomes steadily haggard by the fast trek, successively forced to catch up on his breath numerous times. Regularly hurling worried glances at the ongoing aloofness of his generally sociable friend; the forlorn Bhalla finally decides to cease the long absence of conversation between them and musters the courage to confess some of his inferences on the recent misfortunes.
Having given his choice of words a great amount of time and thought; the stout royal pants and gasps for air as he timidly commences his speech, all the while entertaining the belief that he was about to render an admirable sermon "Dharam...fate and fortune would only help you, if you are willing to help yourself...why are you blaming yourself...try and recollect...Veer had been very aloof and dismissive of our company for almost two weeks...you tried reasoning with him many times, but to no avail... hence, the pent up anger in you... the inherent wrath in him... all together... ruined the situation... 'both' of you are similarly at fault...stop dealing with the matter with such angst and try to hunt for him calmly...only if 'both' of you abandon insecurities, can you solve the situations!"
Receiving no response beyond a few nods of approval throughout his discourse; the discontent Bhalla tries to instigate the preoccupied Dharam into providing the anticipated appreciation with a sullen frown "My... my... Dharam don't you feel like lauding me for my advice... the last time I remember making such wise explanations was...was..." shortly mulling through various episodes from his own vivid history; the royal suddenly recalls a similar precedent and proceeds to convey the incident with a smirk, while inadvertently rushing forward to keep up with the speedy prince "The last time was...when our Guruji was about to cane me...he discovered that I used to eat those fried nuts from a food stall outside the Gurukul..." gradually reliving the fun filled days; the nostalgic Bhalla ardently deviates from his message to a short spell of fantasy "Oh! They used to be so tasty... I wonder if we get such a preparation anywhere in and around the capital..."
His fancy whims abruptly curtailed by the disapproving glimpses of the silent prince walking aside; the offended Bhalla returns Dharam's ungrateful gestures with a resentful groan, silently justifying his intentions to himself "I was only hoping to cheer you up Dharam..."
Letting out a sad sigh; Bhalla eventually decides to forgo his delightful delusions on a selfless note, subsequently wondering if a new line of thought would provide temporary relief to the cheerless persona of the crown prince. Soon after; the lovable friend comes across a commendable idea and veers from discussing the unfolding mishaps to convey a fresh set of notions with renewed ardour "Rajkumari Siya's family are to come here aren't they... her arrival here would be a welcome change for you from all this... imagine what 'bhabhi' would say if she finds you in this state... and if I am not wrong...due to all these problems; you have not tried to correspond with her recently, have you..." continuing to trail behind the sombre Dharam; he pursues teasingly "Hmmm... she shall not be happy when she arrives here...wait and see how a princess scorned shall have her revenge..."
His friend's well intended mockery finally managing to evoke a reaction from the withdrawn prince; Dharam pensively tapers his rapid steps to a slow halt and then turns to glance at his inquisitive friend with a surprised remark "Your jest suddenly sounded like something 'Veer' would say to me..."
Able to apprehend the honourable objective in the deliberate mischief; the touched prince finally grants Bhalla the appreciative smile he had been awaiting so long. Resuming his reply to Bhalla's chirpy taunts; the emotional Dharam answers in a low tone; the reminders having agreeably nudged him into a myriad of fond memories, both sad and joyous "Bhalla...Siya's nobility is unparalleled... far from being angry with me for neglecting her... she will become as affected about all of this, as I am..." his attitude now distinguishable by the obvious pride he held for his beloved girl; the solemn prince continues with charming reassurance "I know I have wronged her...and I shall apologize to her when she arrives... but, I am confident; she will wholeheartedly understand the anguish I am going through..." the instinctive recollections of Siya's endearing features and manner providing him brief yet desirable comfort; Dharam persists in a mellowed vein, the confidence slowly escalating in his tone "She will know that I shall bring Veer back, even if it means I have to carry out a few deeds against my principles... even if it means meting out orders without the assembly's knowledge or the noble's permission..." he pauses with a sudden spell of excitement "Do you know... in order to temporarily stall any action from being taken on Dhruv Kumar's institutions, I have had to covertly threaten all commanders in the capital...now that should compel Veer to return!"
Silently amused by how the unwitting prince had managed to swerve the chatter back to the subject of the missing Veer, Bhalla immediately retorts on a light-hearted note "Ha! Actually 'you' are the one, who suddenly sounds like Veer now..." he continues with a forewarning; his argument however, carrying potent significance "You are behaving impulsively, not thinking practically Dharam... we must definitely bring Veer back and we are all frantically trying too...but in the midst of all this chaos, don't forget that you continue to be the crown prince of Aryanagar... so never give up your sense of rationality on any account...it is what makes you, who you are..."
Having concluded his rare yet irrefutable words of wisdom; the plump royal once again discerns a short while of distracted stillness between the two of them. Starting to feel bewildered by how to progress conversation with a friend so unusually introverted; Bhalla hesitantly elects to reveal a dilemma that had been troubling him, ever since the reality about the younger prince had surfaced. Wholly aware that grievous crown prince would not exchange views on any subject otherwise; the curious Bhalla nervously clears his throat and then stammers to divulge the delicate query having nagged him so long "B...by the way… I...I... wanted to ask you this... but didn't know how..." he pauses awkwardly "When you do manage to bring Veer back.... w...w... would they accept him in the palace once again, now that everyone knows his lineage...would they permit him to live in the palace like the remaining Aryavarts...not just Agni, or Lord Jaivardhan, or the nobles... but all others too..."
Suddenly presented with the perplexing question that he knew was lurking in the minds of many; the gallant prince erupts into a meek smirk, haplessly communicating his views on the issue that had evidently rattled his thoughts too "I don't care about the others Bhalla...but, all that I know is that I would not have had even a fraction of the happiness in my life had it not been for Veer ... I want to apologize and bring him back...I will convince pitaji to accept his proposals ...and to accept him...!"
Judging from the determined reply how the controversy had failed to impede Dharam's motivation to return the younger prince his due home; even the generally unmoved Bhalla feels compelled to admire the inseparable relationship between two brothers. Awed by their selfless friendship and brotherhood that remained beyond the gruesome compulsions of society; the appreciative friend concludes his messages with an earnestly hopeful wish "They shall find him Dharam... 'you' will find him...do not fret...he cannot neglect your company for long... he will return... mark my words..."
Aryanagar; the palace – The royal terrace at the queen's towers
Subconsciously tinkering with the borders of her silk veil; the overwhelmed queen continues to muse over the aggrieving recollections of her nephew, her voice parched with anguish as she does so "I shall pull him by his ears so hard that he would never decide to cause his mother or mami such agony ever again...I miss him so much... his frivolous pestering... his mischievous smiles...his dauntless lies... so much so that I cannot even begin to imagine how much you must be missing Veer, Nivritti..."
Casting another glance to her side, only to dejectedly note that Nivritti's petrifying disconnection from her surroundings had shown little improvement, Swathi feels unable to cope with how the lone mother persisted to be unresponsive to any reassurances. Having attempted all means to console her sister-in-law, but to no avail; the discouraged queen becomes increasingly upset by a dilemma of not wanting to let the mother nurse her own wounds in isolation and yet not knowing how else to pacify her. Contemplating on the crisis for a long while; the quiet queen decides to embark on a critical enquiry for which she had not dared to seek an answer yet, hoping that it would provoke the withdrawn mother to respond.
Letting out an uncertain sigh; the worried Swathi cautiously puts forth her reservations to the inexpressive Nivritti, bearing in mind how affected the younger queen already was by the current crisis "I... I... didn't know how to ask you this in the last two days... but, w...why did you hide the reality from me for so long Nivritti... I would have never thought that you would keep such a momentous truth from me..."
Ensuing the unnerving interrogation; a short while of baffling silence marks the secluded terrace, before the younger queen eventually decides to reply to the question posed to her. Gradually forgoing her lasting listlessness; Nivritti proceeds to softly remind her despairing sister-in-law of the staggering yet undeniable truth, while still staring into the blankness of the dim skies "Bhabhi, would you have been able to accept him as your nephew, if you knew he was a Shramik child..."
Conscious of how the queen of Aryanagar had been rendered momentarily speechless due to the fact that the embarrassing query had no polite answer; Nivritti smirks joylessly before resuming her dismal explanations "I know I voice your thoughts when I say that he would have been shunned, had people come to know about his reality when I brought him home... he would never have been allowed to dine with us in the royal dining chamber... pray with us in the holy shrines... move with us like he was allowed to..." the miserable mother concludes on a woeful note "I know all of that...as an Aryavart, I carry such ego in my blood too..."
Having outspokenly justified her past actions; the tormented Nivritti eventually turns to glance at her distressed sister-in-law in order to weigh her reactions to the honest facts. As each queen observes the crestfallen features on the face of the other; they sadly gaze at how the trauma had demoralized the only friend that they had ever known of, bringing heartrending tears to their generally cheer-filled eyes.
After giving her deed some thought; the tearful Nivtitti finally gives up her lingering sense of detachment and confesses the remainder of the dark secret to the supportive sister, something that she had done to none else before "Bhabhi... on that night, when I saw that baby in the basket, it was the sight of that small helpless child that stopped me from wanting to kill myself... on that night he was a means to fill the void in my life... but today, he 'is' my life... my one and only...my son..." proceeding to helplessly break down into a fit of heartfelt sobs; the forsaken mother wails aloud "The last memories that he has of me are the abuses that I hurled at him...I even slapped him...how destroyed must he be that he left without even meeting me or bidding me a farewell..."
Startled by Nivritti's unanticipated disclosure about the past; the alarmed Swathi takes a few moments to recover from the horror, till she finds the collapsed sight of the destitute younger queen too pitiful to bear. Swiftly abandoning her state of shock to tend to her lamenting sister; the understanding queen restrains her tears and moves close to Nivritti, supportively patting her hand as she simultaneously tries to calm her fears "No Nivritti...he did not leave the palace because of you... he left because he was devastated with the truth and with all troubles that had led up to that ominous night... he will be back to meet you..." gradually experiencing a strange sense of relief to witness some signs of emotion from a mother who had been paralyzed by misery for the past two days; the considerate Swathi repeatedly reassures the mourning queen "Maharaj and Dharam are trying everything in their power to seek him and bring him back...Veer will come back... don't cry... Nirvitti...Veer will return... we are here for you... everything shall be all right...Veer will return soon."
Though outwardly conceding to the encouragement in order to oblige the selfless support that Swathi had depicted all through; the heartbroken Nivritti silently refutes her innocent beliefs, tearfully debating over the agonizing reality of her future with her son "No...my heart tells me that Veer will never return to the palace...not after everything that happened...the only solution to ensure that I don't exhaust my life, wallowing in depression and solitude...is for me to reunite with him... and the only way that I can rejoin Veer in future, is if I leave the palace too... I should probably do so...immediately after my older son's wedding... my home is not where bhaiyya stays, it is with Veer..."
Her sentiments for her son too strong to surrender; the hurt mother continues to seek the faint ray of hope now seeming visible to her, wholly unaware if her notions were realistic or not "In whichever mode that Veer chooses to live... by any means that he decides to fend for himself.... however he settles to provide for me ...I shall accept it... ultimately, if my son who has always lived like a royal, can adapt to a commoner's life; then so can I... after all, I am an exiled queen too...hence; even if challenging, I will try to adjust to the new lifestyle...but, I will be there by his side to support him..."
Unbeknown to the queen sitting beside; Nivritti swiftly discovers that the outcome evolved from her deliberation presented a more tolerable solution than the suffering that she was currently undergoing. As the tears slowly begin to dry out from her wet cheeks; the mother ends her speculations with a touching resolve "I owe bhaiyya and bhabi much for all that they have done for me... so to safeguard the honour of the family, I am obliged to stay back till Dharam's wedding... but after that, I shall leave this palace forever too... forgive me bhabhi... forgive me my dear friend for taking this decision, without letting you know... but you would never let me go, if you did... it was 'my' choice on that night to adopt a Shramik child, then it is 'I' who shall have to respect and follow the implications of my own actions...."
Aryanagar; The tribal basti – Inside a shack
Hypnotized by the still ambience of a budding daybreak and its cool breeze that continually wafted in through the rough window; the petite savours the euphoric sensation that the cracking of dawn had, when following a night of comparatively restful slumber. Still entranced in a state where she was not wholly asleep and yet not entirely awake; the subconscious blacksmith continues to be enthralled by the clasp of the luring dawn. Sleeping on one side with both her elegant palms tucked under her cheek and her wavy hair cascading down the slim contours of her effeminate figure; the petite remains blissfully unaware of how ravishing she appeared in a profile so tranquil. Despite being wrapped within a sparse sheet that showed many a sign of dawning and repair; the ethereal girl continues to encounter a temporary sense of security within the covers of the protective blanket, the warmth that life itself had rarely given her.
Seeking the only haven of seclusion that she had throughout the day; the fatigued girl avails her short spell of freedom to the fullest, the only means of escape from the unending physical demands at the shop and the constant mental torment in her young life.
Obliviously engrossed in the privacy and solitude of a surreal world that none could ever invade; the asleep petite pursues to be enrapt in a few gratifying fantasies, when her trivial dreams are gradually interrupted by the sound of a soft whisper, not very far from her ears "What happened Ananya..."
Unaware of why anyone would want to ruffle her from her enchanting reverie and unwilling to find out why; the dazed Shera feels reluctant to sacrifice the remainder of her sleep for anyone. Faintly dismissing the intruder with her fingers, the girl effortlessly slips into her illusory dreams once again, when she detects the echoes of the strangely familiar voice once more, this time a slightly louder murmur "What happened Ananya..."
Stubbornly refusing to submit to the stranger's will; the dozing blacksmith keeps her eyes shut tightly and disregards the peculiar episodes by striving to return to her prior phase of oblivion. However, with the low drone only resurfacing near her ears over and over again; the lone girl is relentlessly pestered by the visitor, thus preventing her from reverting to her cherished slumber.
Eventually left with little choice; the harassed girl attempts a last resort and gracefully turns to the other side, pulling the sheets over most of her face in a mark of rebelliousness. However; her ongoing pursuit to drift off into sleep is countered one more time, when the bothered petite gradually feels the presence of the slim sheet commencing to glide down her head and her face.
Annoyed at the thought that a person would dare to trespass her privacy with such insolence; the aggravated Shera is finally compelled to open her eyes in order to confront the intruder, when she becomes startled by the sight of the revelation. Just as the alarmed girl is about to react to the realization; the attractive young man prevents her from doing so by sternly placing his finger on his own lips with a sly smile, as though warning her to stay quiet.
Subsequently choosing to ignore the confounded expressions on her face; the captivating young man casually proceeds to relax on the floor, occupying a distance not very far from the silenced girl. Stylishly resting on his elbow; the playful youth lets out a taunting smirk, deliberately exhibiting his content at the fact that he had managed to successfully disturb the petite's nap, yet again. Following a short while of mischievous revelry; the cheerful grins on the visage of the young man slowly transform into an enticed smile, as he begins to gaze unflinchingly at the stunning face of the disconcerted blacksmith.
Sceptically observing the subduing yet unavoidable glances now being darted towards her; the bewildered Shera finds herself strangely unnerved by his stares and at the same time begins deriving a strange sense of comfort from his presence. However, with the ego in her daring conscience not permitting her to be ensnarled by such peculiar emotions for long; the proud blacksmith quietly challenges his untoward control over her by deciding to arise from her bedding.
Numb with anxiety, just as the astounded Shera strives to rise from her sheets; the silent observer suddenly takes a bold step and moves near the silhouette of the astounded girl, his attitude unabashed and his manner dominant. The outline of his face now barely any distance away from her mesmerizing features; her heart begins to race wildly at the thought of their proximity, as the speechless girl senses how close the feel of his skin was to her visage. Having been fighting to resist his charms all through; the resolute petite avidly wishes she could teach the intruder a lesson by hustling him away rudely, but her frozen senses and limbs seem unable to obey her adamant notions.
Watching the resistant blacksmith needlessly fight a losing battle; the handsome guest continues to enjoy her vulnerability and the effect that he seemed to have on her, while beholding her beauty with perpetually unwavering gazes all through. Suddenly catching her unaware by advancing even closer; the young man proceeds to whisper a soft pledge to her, giving the unsuspecting girl a slight quiver with the sensation of his potent voice and warm breath near her ear "You cannot stop thinking about me, however you strive... try as much as you want Ananya... did you think you would win every day...every round... I disturbed your sleep today, didn't I... I love competing with you, so I shall always return to trouble you... pester you... after all that is something that gives me much delight!"
Offended by the brazen statements and the reckless behaviour having been exhibited by him so far; the displeased Shera returns his comments with a disapproving retort "Rajkumar Veer...what are..."
Interrupting the petite's pointless critical approach with a teasing smirk; the mischievous Veer chuckles aloud, showing off yet another resounding victory that he had had in their recent encounters. Simultaneously observing how her generally spirited face now seemed ashen; the youth tapers his laughter to a gentle grin and then gazes into her eyes for a few moments, before gradually beginning to fade away with the brightness of the morning rays that the sun brought with it.
Jolted by what she had just experienced; the uneasy petite awakens from her slumber with a startle and momentarily glances at the rest of the asleep members in the shack to ensure that what she had seen was only a delusion. Sitting up in fretful silence; the perturbed blacksmith frowns upon the perplexing episode and commences to adjust her attire and veil, her pulse still fleeting from the disquieting images of the illusion. With many nights increasingly frequented by such dreams and her mind plagued by several doubts lately; Shera chides her inability to stop her conscience from needlessly adding to the numerous troubles and dilemmas she already had.
Though profoundly skilful at turning any dire situation to her advantage; the witty petite struggles in this instance to seek an explanation for the unadvisable conflicts that she was going through. After many moments of contemplation; the self respecting girl takes the much needed measure of belittling the inadmissible thoughts in her mind by availing her strong sense of rationality "Ananya... this is enough... such dreams will help you in no way...are you not battling plenty of woes already... why have you been adding to your miseries lately with such thoughts... remember that Rajkumar Veer despises you beyond anyone else... he holds you responsible for everything that has happened... when he has effortlessly forgone the fact that you were a friend to him once...when he can ignore and insult you at every juncture... I am sure you can easily let go of the memories of his company too... Ananya, you are too impermeable... too strong... to be affected by anything like this..." determinedly resolving to forget about the unintentional happenings; the confident Shera brushes off the episodes with an insistent verdict "Yes, his friendship might have been appealing while it lasted... but unfortunately it was not meant to be... anyway, even if all was well and he were still an Aryavart, none would have permitted any further friendly affiliation between a prince and a tribal girl...now he does not even reside even at the palace anymore... he has left his family and the capital for good... so it would be appropriate he left your thoughts for good too..."
Suddenly distracted by a stir caused in the room with a few ladies now slowly starting to awaken from their slumber; the sensible petite instantly decides to abandon her debate, growing to realize that she had many other daily chores to tend to. Casually combing her fingers through her long wavy tresses; the pragmatic petite deftly ties her hair into a rough knot and then stands up in order to enfold her bedding. No sooner than her sheets are tucked away neatly and the blacksmith starts tending to her personal belongings; a petty commotion from outside the hut catches her attention.
Glimpsing through the opening at the entrance of the shelter; the curious Shera becomes instantly irritated to discover the sly presence of Tasha standing outside, causing a hassle by forcefully constraining the rebellious Manu within the clasp of his hands. Able to discern that the rogue must have come looking for her; the petite lets out a vexed sigh and then drops everything she was handling in order to stride towards the entrance and attend to the quarrelling duo. Stepping out of the shack in haste; the girl comes across the odd pair and becomes growingly surprised by how the two rivals seemed to intently pursue with their brawling, despite her arrival at the spot.
Swiftly hoping to bring the evolving dispute to an end; Shera strives to garner their attention by questioning Tasha on a stern note "Tasha...why are you restraining him in that fashion... let him go."
Hurling a few angry growls at the naughty youngster in a silly bid to depict the superiority of his might; the enraged Tasha finally turns to face his arch enemy, justifying his ongoing deeds bitterly "Well... I had to restrain him because; he was sharpening some twigs and then aiming them at me... I wonder who could have taught him such insolent mischief..."
Still fighting to free himself from the restraint; the vivacious Manu desperately attempts to clarify the issue to the adored blacksmith with breathless whispers, innocently unaware that his captor would be able to hear him too "Didi I did not tell him that it was you who taught me the skill...actually, I wanted to stop him, so that I could warn you that he was coming to meet you... but he stopped me!"
Amused by her ward's lovable excuses and jubilant at the rising frustrations of her much hated foe; the entertained Shera breaks out into a bout of irresistible giggles, enjoying the scenes wholeheartedly. Eventually moderating her chuckles; the humoured girl proceeds to direct a subtle insult at the vile rogue by cheerfully depicting her admiration of Manu's bravery "That is very sweet of you little one...my dear...you can go and play now... remember ... in future, you only have to warn me when intimidating enemies are coming by... I am not worried by vagrants and useless ruffians!"
Though incompetent at apprehending the entire gist of her remarks; the protective child feels elated at the fact that he had managed to favour his loved guardian. Ultimately managing to slip away from the clutches of the now indignant Tasha; the boastful Manu mocks his evil assailant with a funny jeer and then hurriedly sprints away to join the rest of his friends at the grounds.
Observing the receding silhouette of the tiny boy with earnest affection; the touched Shera smiles to herself proudly and then once again turns to address the livid Tasha, her tone now markedly transformed into one of sore animosity "Now that you have been defeated by your equal in battle... what do you want from me, so early in the morning..."
Heeding her query; the wretched Tasha finally perceives the apt opportunity to vindicate the insults that the shrewd girl and her loyal protge had hurled him so long and slowly breaks out into a cynical smile. Sadistically taunting the watchful petite's curiosity for as long as he could; the cunning ruffian intentionally takes a considerable while to reply, before demonstrating with obvious delight his immoral intentions for having arrived "I? 'I' don't want anything... 'Rajkumar Agni' wants to have you..." pausing his vulgar hints in order to study his victim's disgusted frowns; the gleeful Tasha subsequently progresses to amend his statements "I mean he wants to meet you... tomorrow morning... the Niphaudi monarchs are arriving at the palace tomorrow for the Kul pooja …there might be plenty of bustle within the palace, so you should meet him at the groves behind the palace ... not at his chamber... he has arranged for the soldiers to let you in..." displaying a cruel grin; the atrocious Tasha concludes his tidings heartlessly "Apparently; he has something very important to offer you... a very attractive proposal... he asked me to tell you that you would not be disappointed!"
Aryanagar; The village of Sawai – The orphanage
Quietly gazing at how the sun had routinely found its way from the eastern ranges into the bright skies; the serene youth observes the beauty of the orange vista from the unshut doorway at one end of the thatched hut. Just awoken from tranquil slumber and still lying on his thin bedding; the mystified young shramik gently stretches out to flex his rigid limbs, as he studies the sunrise and the new landscape that now featured his morning. No sooner than his palms incidentally brush across the rustic floor, Veer quickly retracts his hands in reaction; forced to realize the stark contrast in the chilliness of the floor to the warmth of luxuriant silk blankets that he was used to waking up in.
Subsequently arising from the makeshift bed; the solemn youth decides to join the numerous orphanage members outdoors, when he inadvertently catches sight of a clay pitcher of water to his left. Subconsciously reminded of how his aunt used to have delicious almond milk exclusively sent over to his chamber every morning; the saddened Veer begins recalling the homely memories, musing on how recent events had brought about such notable changes in his life.
Remaining engrossed in his reflections for a short while; the homesick youth eventually chooses to forgo the upsetting line of thought, when his thoughts are casually diverted by a few playful howls echoing outside. Distracted from his short lived reverie; the young Shramik eventually begins enfolding the rough bedding, simultaneously attending to the noisy uproars from outside that he had been compulsively subjected to for a considerable while now. Heeding the sounds of gushing water, the clanging pots and the clamour of playful children; the intrigued Veer finds the entire experience of waking up to the unfamiliar melodies both, different and endearing.
Soon after; the preoccupied youth straightens out his orange cotton attire and completes tucking the sheets away to a corner, when he is abruptly jolted from the task by the unexpected entry of a train of noisy children, whizzing in from the front door of the shelter. Having hardly made their way into the shack; the boisterous young crowd coincidentally notice their idolized prince standing at a corner of the hut and feel immediately obliged to disregard their frivolous pursuits in order to rush up to the amused youth.
With each enthused child yearning to stand as close to him as possible; some little ones try to claim their positions by getting involved in petty arguments, while some others begin ecstatically interrogating Veer in order to attract his attention
"You are awake..." "We were waiting for you to wake up" "We want to play with you..."
Thoroughly swamped by their vibrant onslaughts; the inundated Veer remains unable to pay attention to any particular child and desperately endeavours to calm down the fervent group, unwilling to displease any of the youngsters. Eventually; ensuing with a few attempts at hushing and organizing the mischievous crowd, the youth becomes marginally successful in quietening the disorderly children. After waiting for a few further moments to ensure that the throng had settled down even more; the pleased Veer then proceeds to gently request his young observers to speak up in a gentle and orderly fashion so that they all could be heard.
Fixedly gazing at the young Shramik all along; the fascinated children barely allow him to complete his statements, before a few restless little ones randomly resume their curious queries once again
"Rajkumar Veer bhaiyya...are you all alone…"
Moved by the apparent innocence in their nature and their adorable behaviour; the affectionate youth erupts into a wide smile, before advising them on a cheerful note, forced to speak above their loud clamour in order to be heard "That is a very long name... you can just call me Veer bhaiyya... and how could I be alone... I am here with all of you, am I not?"
Elated at the fact that the imposing young Shramik was showing keen interest in them; a few members from the ignorant young group begin sporadically demanding answers to more unsolved curiosities, jumping in excitement as they do so
"Rajkumar Veer bhaiyya... I... I... mean Veer bhaiyya... where are the rest of your friends..."
"Where is Yuvraj Dharam bhaiyya... and that chubby bhaiyya..."
"Veer bhaiyya, the last time you came here... you told us that you would teach us how to fight with a sword, but you didn't...please teach us now..."
"Veer bhaiyya...where is your sword..."
Hurled with one ardent question after another; the pleasant disposition of the young man is gradually weighed down by pangs of disheartenment, as he realizes how the nave demands unintentionally goaded him about the sad reality. However; on subsequently glancing at the thrilled faces of his harmless spectators; the touched Veer is unable to help but admire the carefree yet straightforward manner in which their simple minds were capable of putting forth their doubts.
Though pained at how he could not provide honest explanations to their enquiries; the affectionate youth resolves to surrender his discouraged spirit and kneels down to sit in the midst of the petite crowd, before masking the uneasy situation with trivial answers "My friends are busy now, but they will come here soon... and as for teaching you to fight with a sword... hmmm... I would love to... but, you are all still very tiny...a sword would be too heavy for you..." he pauses "I will tell you all what to do... eat well... play well... and then you shall all grow much taller...I can then teach you to wield the sword..."
Instantly disappointed by the fact that they would not be granted audience of the illustrious sword; the group begin to groan aloud unhappily and refuse to succumb to any alternate suggestions being conveyed, much to the overwhelmed Veer's dismay. With their long awaited anticipation of playing with his sword now dashed; the deluded youngsters continue sulking in disapproval, till one astute boy from the group comes up with a temporary solution to compensate for the failure of their original plans "Rajkumar Veer bhaiyya... I... I... mean Veer bhaiyya... all right, if not the sword... then would you at least teach us how to throw pebbles..."
Suddenly finding the idea captivating; most of the remaining children take no time in joining their friend with voraciously revived zest
"Yes just like how Ananya didi did..." "Why hasn't she come..." "We had such an enjoyable time when she had come with you last time..." "We want both of you to play with us!"
The very mention of the blacksmith's name, having already rattled his serenity; the constant reminders of incidents involving her that he once cherished, only embitters the young Shramik all the more. Appalled by how the predicament seemed to progressively worsen, with each of their latest demands more perturbing than the previous one; the desperate youth tries many attempts to divert the young ones, but only to find them obstinately adhering to their whims
"No Veer bhaiyya... we want both of you to play with us..."
"Please Veer bhaiyya...go now... please...bring Ananya didi to Sawai now..."
ciao😳
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
317