She slowly tried to get up. Her whole body felt sore. The sunlight blurred her vision. She rubbed her eyes and stood up, looked around her.
'Where am I? This is not Hiranga.' She felt she was still dreaming and pinched herself but realized that she was not at all dreaming but standing in the midst of reality. She searched all around and found she has no weapons with her. She decided to move a little further as to at least know where she has arrived. It looked like a grassland, an uninhabited place. As she moved a little she saw some cattle grazing in the land; gathering all her energy she ran towards them. She searched for herders near them and found some people sitting under a tree, she speeded towards them in water dripping clothes slowly losing her consciousness.
Dhruv broke into Jiva's room as their hush hush was getting on his nerves.
"Prince, what is happening? Can someone kindly tell me." His voice was a bit derisive out of anger rather than pleading.
She slowly opened her eyes regaining her consciousness. She felt bitter all over her mouth as if she was fed with medicines. She tried to get up and looked around. It was a moderate house but beautifully made and beside her, a table was placed with a jug of water and a used bowl with a little amount of some herbal medicine. She could hear some whisperings outside her room and she tried to listen. She tried to get up by supporting the table and dropped a spoon. People outside were alerted and they came inside. They all were middle aged and had a genuine concern in their faces. She calmed herself but brought a natural fear of unknowingness in her face."Where am.. I" She looked at them helplessly, something Amanya is famous for; cosplaying."Girl, you are at Sayyone. Who are you? Why are you here in this state?""Sayyonee.." She took a deep breathe; 'That's one of the border provinces of Amai. But how did I reached here? Until getting well this is the best o
Abhik was searching for his brother all the way. Oh! how can I forget? he thought. He rushed to white pearl mansion and found Yuvan, who was simply basking in the sunlight and enjoying the day gazing at his garden planted in the east of his mansion by himself."Bruddah! " He was sweating and had a sigh of relief. Yuvan was still busy admiring his garden without taking a notice on Abhik."Bruddah, something happened." He went near to Yuvan and pouted but was sad as he was ignored and went to Charan as his complaint towards his brother who was standing beside Yuvan."What happened prince?" Charan smiled when he asked Abhik just to make him happy."Bruddah, just now father majesty had a meeting with those old monsters; I mean the ministers and he seemed to be furious. Now he has ordered a soldier to ask you to report to father. I sensed something wrong and rushed to inform." He completed his speech in a single stretch."Oh." Yuvan was simply listening
"Charan, no need to follow me. Stay with Abhik." He tidied up and started to count down. "Five.. Four.. Three.. Two.. One." and they heard a horse neighing. His mansion guard came and reported " Lord, a soldier from palace is seeking audience." "You can go and ask him to wait. I will be there in a while." Yuvan looked at Abhik with a naughty smirk. Yuvan set to palace with the soldier. Abhik moved to his brother's chair and started looking at the garden and the small fountain in the middle. He was enjoying seeing the white pigeons resting beside the walls of fountain and hearing them cooing; their white feathers looks golden with the sunrays due to the setting sun gave it a warm to eyes something really calming and meditating. He slowly closed his eyes. Yuvan reached the imperial palace and waited to meet his father emperor. An eunuch came out from his fathers study chamber and asked him to go inside. The big iron doors with gold carvings opened and h
The crocks cooed early in the morning marking the arrival of next day. Amanya got up early and was perfectly fine. She felt more refreshed and relaxed, something she never experienced in her whole life; maybe she thought, her burdened was lowered temporarily and this care freeness brought her refreshment. She walked out from her room and saw Alok washing his face and getting ready for breakfast. She walked towards the kitchen and tried to help but was stopped by the maids. They reminded her that she is a guest and should be treated well. They suggested her for a walk and to enjoy the beauty of Sayyonee. She nodded and went outside standing in the courtyard, basking in sunlight and waited for Alok. The morning rays washed her face and she shined like a sunflower. Alok accompanied her and they took a scroll nearby. A small but beautiful village with almost twenty five to thirty families. Peaceful in all terms and enjoying their life in harmony. At some point she felt envious of
Yuvan was having his breakfast in his garden in the white pearl mansion. While he was eating; his sword suddenly captured his attention. He put down his bowl and spoon; took the sword and it was drawn from its sheath. He felt a strange beauty radiating from it. The scene of the white rose petal in his sword (in Hiranga) flashed in his mind. He heard a stone falling to his fountain. His eyes which were dreaming just a while ago woke up and had an aura of king filled in his iris. He looked around and stood up, went to the last flower pot near fountain and rotated it. The rocks piled near the fountain moved and a way was opened in between the rocks and wall. It was an outdoor secret room in his mansion. He went inside lighted a torch and the whole ground was illuminated. "Bruddah, it was hard. I need compensation." Abhik and Charan went to the town in morning wearing casual clothes and disguising themselves following his orders. "Ok, ok you will be rewarded. Now t
They both were still in a daze as they never imagined the cobras to interfere in the matters of Amai. "Master, Charan war literally driven nuts by cobras as he always considered them as his biggest enemy; If the information is right, then why are they helping us and if the economy of Amai shatters or a fight occurs, then the biggest profiteer will be Hiranga as they will get rid of their biggest enemy or if it's wrong then why are they targeting us and what's their plan? They are getting more and more complex." "They were always complex but its just that they never showed it completely." Yuvan said it with a straight face. "But now I am really curious to know the reason for why they started showing their complex side." "Bruddah, do you believe them or not? Abhik was confused after hearing both the possibilities from Charan. But Charan already knew his master's answer since he followed him like a shadow from his childhood. So without waiting he asked his quest
The next morning was all cloudy. That was a sudden and an unexpected change in the climate. All year around, Sayyonee rarely receives rainfall and is a grassland unlike the capital. The day itself was strange. Amanya was having a bad feeling for the day as she felt something bad is on its way. She woke up with many plans for the day but was mentally backed off. The main plan for the day was to visit the cursed pond with Alok as he promised. She even asked permissions from the elders to which they resisted at first but later agreed. She was standing in the courtyard, in a confused state whether to listen to her mind or heart. She stood there looking far at the direction towards the pond as if it was calling her. "Apeksha di, He saw her lost in thoughts. What are you doing here alone?" She was suddenly appalled "Huh??" "di, I am asking you what are you doing? Didn't we decide yesterday that we will set to meet the legendary cursed pond today." She was pro
The day had no sign of sun. It was all windy and dark. They were walking in a hurry and Alok was leading the way. Both of their faces had difference of day and night. On their way they saw some vague figures walking towards their village from far. Amanya and Alok paused for a while and looked at them. The climate and angle was not favorable for them. They were three to four men and were holding something, they noticed. "Alok, they don't seem to be from Sayyonee." "Maybe they are here from nearby village to lend a hand in the festival. Let's go di." They ignored them and continued with their exploration. On the way Alok started to talk about the festival as he knew his sister wanted to know about the festival, but his di was occupied with other thoughts. In short what she only heard was that the festival will begin three days from now and will be for one week straight. Even though the pond was near to Sayyonee she could feel her each step. As they were getting
"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