The words from Amanya were not enough to impress Ashok. He couldn't figure out the reason for her tolerance towards Amai or Mekala. Though he despised the whole Amai, its king, commander, and those old greasy ministers he admired its crown prince. He decided to cross her orders and ignite the game.Wild winds screamed all its way in the west. The tempest was increasing day by day; the land had no remaining traces of green. Scouts from the military camp was the only noise in the cold desert. The soldiers were diligent, ready to attack like a cheetah. The fire lamps around the tent were the only warmth in the west. The crimson light kissed his lashes and refracted through his eyes. He gazed at the white pearls tangling with wind. But what he could see was her warm smile. It was replicated on his face. "Bruddah!!" Abhik was perplexed at his brother's smile. "Bruddah!! Why are you smiling?""Her smile is contagious. I can't help it." Yuvan smiled foolishly."I just hope di is fine. Bru
He was sad; even the morning rays couldn't curtain his tears. He caressed his ring, " I am sorry to let you suffer. I.."Abhik barged into Yuvan's tent and paused before him. He was panting loudly that he forgot his reason for visiting."Bruddah, you are awake?? Huh.. he had a sigh of relief which was easily replaced by excitement. Di..""Di??" Yuvan finally noticed his brother's arrival. "what happened?""Crowned prince; seriously?? Can't you see it?" Abhik commented sarcastically, pulling Yuvan's hands towards the door of the tent."Strange!! The whole snow melted in a single night. The ground looks as if it never existed. But the reason for this sudden melting and climate change?""No more reasons; Yuvan turned to the battalion, Order from the crowned prince - Pack the stuff, dismantle the temporary tent, we are leaving the west today itself. He turned towards Charan, Bring my horse."Their journey was unbelievably smooth. They camped their night near a lake. It too looked like a
The court had mixed opinions on Yuvan's attitude towards Apeksha; some praised his loyalty while others doubted a Hirangan. They saw her Hirangan origin as a threat to Amai but no one dared to openly attack his beloved. His majesty had the latter opinion but knowing his son's temper, he choose silence.Yuvan was too excited that he started to vic his words. He hugged her in complete contentment."You waited for me in the garden, right?" Yuvan spoke softly."I wanted to welcome you alone." She whispered."I am here to be welcomed alone, your highness." He bowed.She laid on his lap in the pergola and listened to his west expedition. He talked ceaselessly in excitement. But when it was her turn to talk about the past months, she was silent. The amorous pergola suddenly turned dull. Yuvan saw her dripping tears in silence."I just remembered a task. Apu, I will be back." He smiled and hugged her and walked out with Ashok who was waiting outside.As he passed the gate, his smile was repla
The victory arrival of the crown prince was reserved to be marked in the scrolls of history. The night was going to feast. All the palace was busy in preparing the banquet. Yuvan was summoned to the court by the king. He met his father in the king's chambers. The meeting was short and secret between them.Naman and Ashok rushed to meet Amanya. They met her in their secret base inside the palace."Commander, an alert message!""What happened today? General is here by himself to report a message.""Lord, just now the prince talked with the majesty and it was a short one. Our cobras assume that it was about you or else it won't be this crisp.""So you want me to be alert?""Lord, nothing can harm you. It's just about how you want to take things. War and peace, cobras are ace in both."She smiled at Naman's concern. After observing the whole conversation, Ashok decided to meddle;" Commander, Mekala was warned by the prince himself. From her nature, she is not someone who will stop with a
The night is long and grand. As the feast continued, envoys from almost every kingdom in the Mekong continent arrived with gifts for the newlywed couple. The hall was filled with praises for the princess. Dancers moved with the drums and lighted the hall. They tossed wine and celebrated the victory. They danced around the guest and one passed a note to Ashok in the midst."maid of Mekala sneaked into the commander's room and cobras removed the danger placed by her according to your order."Ashok disposed of the note; " Sorry Devi; even if you say you want to know the results, we can't just watch you getting hurt." As he was thinking about the next move, Mahesh entered the hall and greeted them. Upon his sight, Ashok fumed in anger, He facilitated "If your daughter doesn't know her limits let me assure you, she will have a short life."The dance was followed by the royal orchestra. A guard approached Yuvan. Ashok identified him; he is loyal to Yuvan. Something was fishy with his sudden
Ashok and Abhik stood near her while Yuvan was earnestly conversing with Charan. From his intense talk and Charan's deep breathing, it was certain that they were defending Mekala's every move. Yuvan walked back and sat near her. He was silent but held her hands in assurance as if he was promising 'I won't let anyone harm you.' The whole atrium was quiet regarding the recent events.The loud ringing of bells falls on the hall abruptly. All the guards suddenly pulled their swords and covered the king. It was the bell for extreme emergencies. A battalion of soldiers following the sub-general surrounded the hall. The whole scene looked like a coup d'état. The king stood from his throne in apprehension."Your majesty... she is a cobra..." He pointed at Amanya. The soldiers surrounded her with their swords and spears ready to slash her. Vexed at their accusations, Yuvan pulled his sword at them while she was silent as if she foresaw today. Their commander's tranquil face relieved Ashok thou
Abhik and Ashok were more furious with Yuvan's silence than with the schemes of Mekala. They confronted him in his mansion. He was standing at the pergola;"Yuvan, this was the same pergola where you saw her tears and strolled into the mansion of Mahesh. Don't stand here, even the plants won't forgive your silence.""Bruddah, you disappointed me. I don't ..""Lord.. all the maids in the white pearl who were near to the princess have vanished to thin air. I think someone is framing princess.""Yes Yuvan, imagine if she is a cobra her cloak won't be that easily found by the search group. Cobras are famous for their secrecy and their magnificence in spying. It's ..Its..""I know!!!" Yuvan smashed his hand into the stone walls of the pergola. His blood from his knuckles touched the leaves in red."I know... I believe her more than anyone in this world." His hands slipped through the stones and his bones couldn't handle his falling body. He kneeled and screamed with his head pressed to the
The mask and black cloaks were enough for the hostages to understand the situation. They were tied and silenced but their folds were removed. Intense light gushed into their eyes leaving their vision blurred and retaining its power gradually."All the maids here are lackeys of Mekala placed near the commander. Cobras with lord are assembled in a room." Deva informed Ashok."Check among them and confirm for the mole. As for them, they had tried to poison Devi before. Starve them and put them in the dark prison.""Ashok, I have a gut feeling, we don't have a mole among us.""Your reasons?""If we had a mole who is capable of trapping the commander, then he should be able to lock us both. Also, the mole doesn't know that Devi is commander Amanya. This contradicts the above statement.""I hope so." Ashok stroked his chin."Lord, a guard walked in; we have confirmed no one in the room is a mole.""Ok." Ashok stood from his chair and walked towards the window. The night was colder than the
"It has been fifty years. Why don't you go inside to see him?" Aras stood near his sister who was on the border of Amai for five decades waiting for him. "I am afraid; If I meet him again... " She sounded tired. "Even after all these years you still can't let go of him. Why don't you return to heaven?" "Because of my selfishness, I ruined his two life. I have to make sure that his next life will be smooth and prosperous. " "You just want to meet him for the last time and tell him, you never misunderstood nor hated him." "Maybe... Yes. I don't want him to leave with regret and disappointment. I want him to be happy for eternities from now on." "My little sister is grown up..." Aras hugged her with his left hand. Loud bells gonged all around Amai. The king is dead... She pressed her hand in anguish. She was sweating, her breath was getting denser. 'He is coming... I am meeting him... For the last time. Will he resent me' Her mind was full of thoughts? "Apu... " She turned back.
They went back with Naman and Ashok. Her death was his biggest punishment and he was punished for a lifetime. He sat on the aisle for a whole day. Tears rolled and caressed his lips dropping on the mask in his lap. All envoys left Amai fearing Hiranga. Amai was completely alienated from that day. Abhik and Charan stood beside him. He loved his di and Ashok was a brother to him. It was as if he lost all his siblings on that day. They couldn't process her death or the newly introduced cobras.A sudden thought struck Yuvan and he rushed from the palace. He rode his horse like a madman and entered his mansion. Abhik and Charan followed him. When they reached there, they heard his cry. It was from his room. They saw him collapse on the floor."Bruddah..."They saw him clenching the mask and weeping hardly. "They took everything, everything she had here except this mask that witnessed her... last... tears.""Out... Out..." He pushed both of them out of his room and ordered every person to b
"Amanya... Apeksha..." His legs were shaking. Was it because of the poison or her name, he was not sure. The day from Sayyonee to the last feast flashed in his mind. His face was sad,"was it all a plan?" The undercover legacies of Amanya ringed his ears."Whatever she planned was her responsibility just like you planned beside her as Yuvraj. But.. meeting you and falling for you were pure accidents." Ashok answered his whispers."Accidents??!!" His red eyes stared at them in umbrage."For you, she left her country, her crown, her privileges' of a queen; but... you let her down.She trusted you, to be with you she was silent about Amai's injustices. Every day was a thin ice. She walked on it just to live with you.""You let her down..." Dhruva roared.Jiva stared at Yuvan, "On that day, when you barged into my kingdom; I just asked you one thing and it was her happiness. You promised me; then where is she??" his eyes were red."You can't even protect your wife from these hypocrites, h
The palace court was eagerly waiting for him. Envoys from different countries who arrived at the feast of their wedding had not left the country. They were stationed to discuss the recent powerplay of Hiranga in Amai. But what they witnessed shook them. They experienced the psychotic arrogance of Cobra. Though they were feigning courage, their faces were pale. Their fear was evident. The majestic door of the court was opened for Yuvan. He could see the real situation of Amai from them. "What is happening outside?" "Did you catch them??" Questions were flowing from all directions. "Yesterday, Amai was in a fire. All our irrigation fields and shops were burnt and we have concluded that it is done by Hiranga." Abhik and Charan with the subordinate of Mahesh entered the room. Mekala was already present in the court with her father. All the generals were summoned and stationed outside the palace. Soldiers were all over the streets. Within two days the complete system of Amai was in cha
Thick fumes covered the capital. Cries for help spiraled from every direction. Soldiers and people filled the streets trying to blow out the fire. But the fire spread out faster and was multiplying its reach on all sides. Within time, the entire farming of the Amaian capital was burning. They rushed to the nearby fields and joined them trying to bring down the fire."Lord, it was set manually. We smell the oil." Charan reported.People were crying loud in their burnt fields. They lost their hard work before their naked eyes."Lord!! " Some soldiers rushed towards them in fright."Lord, the shops are on fire. ""What??" They couldn't even get time to understand the situation they are in. They hurried with the soldiers. People were running frantically and the streets were in complete chaos. The entire capital was on fire. Soldiers assembled large water pipes and sprayed them. By night they were able to bring down the fire but it exhausted the capital totally. They were afraid to leave t
She was rested in the flower bed. It was filled with white lilies and candles. Even the majestic armor couldn't hide her sorrow. Her sword and mask were removed from the coffin. The entire crowd was silent. Jiva caressed her and adorned her face with rouge and flowers. Tears were dripping in the room engulfed in silence and darkness."Till her end, she was the princess of Hiranga, the serpent queen but she was also the crowned princess of Amai. She should get the farewell she deserved." Jiva tuned towards Ashok and stumbled over Naman who just witnessed her silence."Naman, lead her to Hiranga with Deva. But you should be back by morning.""Prince then you..""I should stay..." He looked at her lifeless body in silence.Yuvan was brought back to his mansion. The entire night in the peak of angst exhausted him. He was tired but resolute to turn every stone he met in his favor. The loneliness around him was submerging him in darkness."Bruddah, Ashok... is missing." Abhik rushed to his
Yuvan was slowly dropping his hopes. The only way to prove her innocence was Mekala but she was too scared even to speak. Despite her state, she insisted on being clean. She admitted to harming and trying to frame Apu but with a fazan that surprisingly vanished from the scene. A cobran cloak and dagger are not in the capacity of Mekala. Only two days are left. He was too reluctant to leave the mansion of Mahesh empty-handed as he is not sure of his next destination or a new lead."Lord..." Charan stopped his horse in the mid of the road. His lips were shivering and his hands on the rein were shaking."Did you find something to save her??" He was miserable."Lord please follow me.." he galloped on the road. Yuvan followed him to the burnt prison. Large fumes filled the clouds above the land. Yuvan got off with trembling legs. He stood in a daze but was stirred by the fall of walls. He rushed in but was blocked from all sides."Apu... Apu..." He screamed with all his strength. He collap
He rolled out of the prison. The thunder stopped but the skies were still dark as if they were ready to mourn for her."She... is..."His lips were dead. He kneeled before the gate of the prison and screamed."Ashok... " A distressed voice echoed behind him. He was feeble for any response. His entire body was numb."What happened??" Another sound forced him to raise his head. Dhruva looked at him in angst."Ashok... Crowned prince and general Dhruva is here to rescue commander back." Deva spoke in a monotonous tone." Let me meet her." He tried to get up but the guilt and remorse were too much for his shoulders.He couldn't face his prince nor a word was uttered from him. All he could do was cry. He cried his heart out. They panicked at his conduct."What happened??"He bowed striking his head on the floor and extended his hands; stained with her blood.He groaned; "I... failed... her.""What?? " Dhruva grabbed his hands tightly, their eyes were red."Repeat it.. if you dare?""Lord...
The spectral darkness gulped the walls of the prison. She was hushed, her tears were rolling down.The deep silence inside the cell was getting interrupted by lightning. A heavy footstep was approaching her. She had decided her end and was waiting for him."Ashok...""Amanya..." Ashok was fuming in vengeance but this mighty word in prison sounded despondent."Ashok... I have decided to leave here." Her words were lifeless."Commander, your guilty sub-captain is here, waiting for your order." His words were suddenly loud as if he dared to proclaim his reality to the entire Amai."Bring my sword and mask. I wish to leave here as the commander of serpents."He was back within an hour. She is going to complete her life in the world. There are many she wished to do, yet she has to go without a farewell."Ashok..." Words from her were a big relief for him, " Come back after an hour. "Her request was strange but he didn't dare to ask her. He decided to wait.She smiled and cried, gazing at