Charan gripped his sword and slowly opened the door. A man was standing in cover wearing a black cloak. He slowly raised his head. Charan immediately paved the way for him and closed the door.
"Greetings prince." There was a wave of relief. Abhik stood and greeted him.
"Naman, what are you doing here and that too in this..?" He looked at him from top to bottom implying his cloak.
"An important message."
"What happened?" Yuvan stepped in.
Naman looked around and checked all the windows, rested on the chair "Lord, Sayyonee annihilated to ashes."
"What?? How?"
" As per official records it is due to lightning; but I don't believe it. On that day I was in Dashur. It is true that that day had a downpour with thunder but it was not strong enough to burn down an entire village.
Actually since this is an important matter, his majesty asked me to arrive here earlier and check the situation precisely. After I arrived this happened. None e
She was not prepared for his visit even though she knew he arrived. Her mind was blank all of a sudden. Charan raised his sword at her, "Who are you? " He asked in a tough note. "I.. I came to pay respect for the dead." "Pay respect?? You don't look like a girl from the Sayyonee tribe." "Sir, let's move to another place. After all, let their souls rest in peace." She asked him with an unhappy face. Abhik was really impressed with her guts and thought of it. He whispered to Charan and they moved to the front gate of Sayyonee, now just a pile of burnt rocks. Yuvan was silent and was simply looking at her with an inner smile which contradicted the actions of Charan. On the way she gestured to cobras in their sign language carefully ' not to meddle'. "Now tell us, why are you here??" his sword still pointed at her." They helped me once and sheltered me. So I came to pray for them." "Fine, now let me ask you, who are you?" S
"I am from Hi.. Hiranga." That sentence startled them and Charan directly pointed his sword towards her. But she was not afraid and looked straight into his eyes as she was expecting his reaction. "Since I dare to believe you then I hope you will at least respect me to complete what I wished to say." Even though Charan was not satisfied with her identity he still dropped his sword back to sheath. "I am a dancer and I came to Amai due to my research about Amaian folk dance. I have heard a lot about the cursed pond so I decided to visit it before leaving. On my visit I got injured near the pond, so the people of Sayyonee rescued me and treated me. " "What injury?" Abhik was curious about her story. " I slipped and almost drowned." "When was it?" "Almost 3 or 4 weeks" She said it without much thought. "If you were cured then why did you stay back?" Charan acted fast. She smiled slightly at him, " Can you let me complete my words?
The whole house was taken by shock. Everyone's eyes bulged out as they couldn't believe their ears. A wave of silence tinted with goosebumps followed except him, Yuvan. He was looking at her with twinkling eyes. "Ah! What did you say?" She looked at him in disbelief. "I said,' Will you be my wife." He went near to her by a step but was held by Abhik. "Bruddah,??" "Mister, I don't even know you. What do you mean?" Her voice was a little stumbled as her throat dried up suddenly. "I mean, he smiled a little and looked at Abhik, are you willing to put up an act with me" "Huh??" The word was echoed as the reaction of four other people present following his each sentence. He gestured to them to sit as his face expressed that what follows is a serious matter. "I can see you are a person with a good heart. So I will tell you. Actually, we are sent by his majesty to investigate this case undercover; We are from his imperial army
As soon as they left, she locked the door in a hurry, dragging Alok who was standing in the threshold of the house bidding them farewell. That was a completely unexpected move which shocked her. "Di, that was a nice plan. You actually befriended the new official. Now it's easy for our revenge. But the marriage part is a little.." She looked at him in helplessness," What just happened was not my plan." "Lord, what is he up to?" Deva bowed to her. "Deva, ask our cobras to tail him more seriously. I want to know his every move and don't report this to Hiranga for the time being. Let me sort out this mess." "Yes commander. He thought for a while, But lord, it doesn't make any sense. What does he mean by marriage even after knowing you are from Hiranga?" "Deva, are you sure about the purpose of his visit?" "Yes lord, we have confirmed with the captain, he is here to investigate the treason. And according to our cobras, he started fr
It's early in the morning, the sun slowly started painting the skies from red to light blue. The front courtyard was full of pigeons chirping and eagerly waiting for their master to feed them. Alok scattered their grains for them while she placed two benches in the shade and gestured them towards it. Abhik helped her in setting them. "Now since we are in the same team, let me introduce myself formally. "I am Yuvraj, appointed here as court official and he is my brother Abhi, with me as assistant official. That is Charan, as inspector. We are here to investigate the Sayyonee arson incident. " He looked at her to know her response. "Since you have introduced yourself, then now it's my turn. I am Apeksha, wife of Yuvraj, the newly appointed court official." That response was unexpected but most wished one for him. He literally wished it to be true in mind. "Since then, I have a doubt; Yuvan went near her, This is our second meeting, why did you believe us?" He p
By evening he got the keys for his allotted mansion and went to pick them from the hotel with Abhik. Charan stayed back instructing the servants to tidy up the mansion. His new colleagues also waited to help them in shifting. After a while they heard the sound of a cart. They went near the gate. Servants helped them in unloading their luggage and they gathered in the garden for tea. "So friends, let me introduce, my beautiful wife; Apeksha" "Hello." She wished them with a genuine but mesmerizing smile. "Lord, your introduction is too short." "I am Apeksha and this is my brother Alok." "Sister in law, to be frank you don't look like an Amaian." The court guard looked at her dressing and raised his doubt in curiosity. "Oh; actually my mother is a hirangan descendant and father an Amaian citizen. And I inherited my face and dressing from my mother." "Then?" "My mother adopted Amaian citizenship and was expelled fro
Alok was perplexed in her smirk. That was devilish. He tended towards her and whispered " di you mean ??" "Don't underestimate yourself as well as your opponents. Take it as a lesson." He thought for a while, "then?" "They will be in the dark and you will never know them; it's for your own safety and it will always protect you." They continued with their talk as he was feeling lighter and relaxed. Suddenly she noticed a secret code sent by the servant present, she knew someone was coming but didn't alert Alok as she thought giving him more information would leave him in a complex and risky state as she is under watch. "Di look, Abhi brother is coming." She nodded her head and had a smile but she already knew about his arrival. Abhi was walking towards her swiftly, "Alok, Bruddah is looking for you." "Huh?" "We can only investigate the arson case at night as not to startle the snake. He asked you there for some information." Alo
He was standing before her holding a set of blankets, she moved aside her heart still beating rhythmically echoing Abhi's words. She closed the door, and looked at him while he was rolling out the blanket on the floor. "Lord.. this?" She pointed at him, "I am really sorry, to avoid suspicion we have to sleep in a room but I promise I won't disturb you." She laughed at his innocence, " I believe in you lord." "hmm, can I ask you something.." he was a little hesitating to ask, "You tell me," She was curious about his hesitation. "Since we know each other, can you.. can you not call me lord anymore. It makes me feel like I am a stranger. Just call me Yuvi." "Yuvi??" "Hmm, it will avoid suspicion." "Am I that bad at acting? you are always afraid of suspicion." "No.. No.. You are really good." that I am falling for you; he whispered. They both were looking at each other as the situation was beco
"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