In this journey I intended to keep myself away from my mother's treasure but I wanted to know what had been taken from Vardha. My curiosity overcame my dislike. When I arrived the doors of the chamber were already thrown open.
Light streamed from the windows onto the rich panels. Hundreds of statues and stolen marble pieces were pressed against the walls. I stepped inside, then heard the swift footsteps of someone rushing to hide.
"Who's there?" I demanded, and a man appeared at my mother's wooden desk. I could see from his tunic that he was from Mritunjay's army, and was holding a marble piece of Lord Shiva in his hand.
"Well, good morning." He took several steps towards me and smiled, "The men were right. You are a pretty girl."
Immediately, I turned to run. Then a streak of metal flashed in the doorway ans someone's arm lashed out. A heavy blade struck deep into the panels where that man was standing, and at once the man dropped the marble piece.
I didn't move. I didn't even breathe. "I hope you are going to return that," Reyaansh said.
The man bent to collect the statue, his trembling hands knocked over and broke its tiny arm. When he rushed to leave, Reyaansh caught him by neck.
"You will never touch anything that belongs to Mritunjay." he said.
The man did his best to choke out in response, but Reyaansh tightened his grip. "Next time, I will aim for your throat," he promised. He shoved the man away, then turned his gaze on me.
*Their outfits/look in journey*
"What are you doing here, Princess?"
"A book, I wanted something to read" I lied swiftly.
"So find it" he said angrily, and made his way to the marble piece. He picked up the broken arm, held it up to light before throwing it into the water through the window.
"No! don't throw it away that's very old statue" I told him. He looked up, and I could see that he did not wish to be disturbed.
"Well, thank you, Princess. Unfortunately, Mritunjay is not interested in keeping a broken marble piece. But since you're interested in art. why don't you tell me which pieces you believe are most important?"
I had seen Reyaansh in fury, and did not with him to make him more angrier, so I pointed to a statue, and he raised his brows.
"Akshayapatra?" Reyaansh asked.
I was impresses that he could identify a emperor whose reign had been more than a 400 years ago, "How did you know?"
"I had read Vardha's history. What else?" he said curtly.
I mistakenly pointed to the bronze statue of my mother, and suddenly tears were welling in my eyes. I tried to blink them away before Reyaansh could see. "You can weep, but it wont bring them back. Kingdoms rise and fall on wish of gods." he said turning other side.
"Lord Shiva has never turned his back on Vardha! He will bring me back home"
Reyaansh's voice grew threatening, "I would be very careful where I said that, Princess."
But I raised my chin determined not to be afraid, "I know about your history Prince Reyaansh, Your father King Dhaumya lost his life in war. Mritunjay your father's so called friend took over your father's empire. Now you live as his adopted son"
"How very brave! but you will feel differently when you'll be in Kalpi" his lips twisted into sardonic smile. I spun around and crossed the library but before I left, I glimpsed the Ganesha's marble piece. It was beautiful even in stone.
When I reached out to touch it, I glanced back at Reyaansh and saw him watching me, then thought better its better to leave and walked away.
__________________________
Inside our cabin, Raghu was pacing. "Where have you been" he cried. "On the deck"
"I've been looking for you, Ishaan" I followed his gaze to the bed where Ishaan was lying between the cushions.hardly moving. "Kria, he's burning even hotter than before"
"Then we must call ship's physician!"
"He already came." Raghu didn't add anythig more. "And? Raghu, what did he say?" He remained silent and only shook his head. I rushed to Ishaan's side. "Ishaan" I whispered, pushing his hair away from his forehead.
Slowly opened his pale blue eyes, "Kria didi" he reached out and placed his small hand on my face. The tears ran down my cheeks. For next few days Raghu and I constantly were with Ishaan. When Mritunjay had his meals, we didn't join him. When sailors spotted fish alongside the ship, we didn't go to see.
The three of us were the last of Vardha's empire, I had nothing more in the world than my brothers. Several times a day, Reyaansh brought trays of fruit but physician said there's no hope.
"You will keep the door closed, Mritunjay sickens easily. We must move the two of you to different chamber" Adhvrushya said, though Raghu and I protested at this but Adhrushya was firm. "Mritunjay wants you alive."
On the end it didn't matter before we could shift to new chambers, Ishaan began to moan. I took him in my laps and slept. He couldn't eat, he couldn't even drink and by the morning his small body lay rigid on the silk sheet of the bed.
"Ishaan" I whispered when he didn;t move, "Ishaan" I cried. Raghu shook him, "Wake up! Ishaan, we'ew almost there. Wake up!" but even such a lie wouldn't open his eyes. Although Raghu began to weep, I was too numb to cry.
I smoothed my little brother's hair from his face, "My little Prince" I whispered and kissed his cheeks. Raghu stood up from bed, "What have we done? Why are gods punishing our family like this?"
"Shh! give him some peace ! he heard enough anger in his life" I said sharply.
When the news was sent to Mritunjay, the soldoers returned to collect Ishaan's body for burial in water. Raghu stood infront of his bed, "Only murderers are buried in water" He shouted. "Tell Mritunjay, No" I said. Adhvrushya stared at us, "Kria, Raghu, there are many days left at sea, and no material to keep his body fresh. Let your brother rest in peace." he said.
While the soldiers wrapped Ishaan in the sheets of his bed, I strained to see his face one last time, the little lips which often trembled in fear and called me "Kria didi" He'd been timid child and my mother's most favourite.
We followed the soldiers to the courtyard to the side of the ship, All the important members of Mritunjay's clan were gathered. I held on Raghu's arm to keep myself from collapsing on the deck and when the soldiers dropped the tiny body onto the sea, my brother dashed to the railing.
"Ishaan" He shouted, "Ishaan" cried desperately. Reyaansh held him back, "Take him to the chamber, find him some good food and wine. He'll feel better" Adhvrushya said. Several men escorted Raghu to chamber but I remained on the deck.
Whole day I was on deck letting my hair whip in the wind, I was too tired to push them away thinking about my little brother. He hadn't even been given a decent burial and had been tossed in water like a criminal.
But what fate lay ahead for Raghu and me? I thought many terrible ways to die and wondered if Ishaan had escaped the worse pain. I put my hands on the polished railing, with one jump there would be no more tears, no more loneliness.
"I wouldn't think it, Princess"
My back tensed, I thought everyone had left, but I spun around and found Reyaansh with his gaze fixed on me. I again turned towards the water, he came closer and stood behind me. His hands beside mine.
"Have you ever seen the body of a drowned man?" He whispered in my ear. I slightly looked at him, then looked at the water. "It swells four, even five times its size, then turns black until the skin peels away"
My fingertips grew white as I gripped the rail, I could imagine the condition. He stood beside me, taking support of the railing. His gaze was fixed on me, "Do you want to end up in that abandoned condition?"
"It's better to be in that abandoned condition than to be in Mritunjay's prison" But I turned from the railing and Reyaansh got what he wished for.
So People.. hwss it? Accha laga to do hit lyk and comment and nahi laga to bhi plzzz doo tell..
Edited by K.R_ackraal - 12 years ago
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