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
Of her old habit, she got up early and thought of practicing dance for an hour, a method she came up with to work on her martial arts without being noticed. She chose the garden amidst the mansion and beside the resting chamber to witness her dance. It already became her favorite place in the whole mansion. Last night there was a small downpour and the garden was full of flowers with dew drops swinging in its petals. He got up and looked around searching for her. He was walking around the mansion meeting others and felt she was near. He paced up and looked around, his instincts led him to cross the corridors and he passed through the garden. He was stunned at her grace. She was dancing round and round, her scarf flowing with pace around her body, the whole garden and himself witnessing her beauty and the reflection of rising sun rays falling on the dewdrops sparking with her gestures. his heart skipped a beat and he felt she was an immortal descended to earth. She paused and
A big crowd was surrounding the mansion when they reached the scene. They entered the mansion with their noses covered with masks as they could smell the pungent smell of blood everywhere inside the mansion. It was an uninhabited one for years. "Lord, this is the court magistrate of Dashur. He was missing from last night." Yuvan's face darkened out of anger. He tightened his fist, while asking Charan to clear the area. The corpse was lying on the ground facing the roof with his face and lips swollen. He looked like a white ghost with a very pale face. Yuvan asked them to move the body for post mortem. When they moved the body, a white rose fell from his robe which had petals dipped in blood. Yuvan's eyes bulged due to shock. Abhik hurried and picked it, "bruddah, this...??" "Did anyone touch or change the body or any things present?" his anger echoed in the ruins. "Replying to my lord, the crime scene is well preserved as it is an uninhabited
Charan returned to the secret path and saw them standing like statues without any sign of life. He was worried and went near, "what happened, Lord?" Abhik pointed his finger towards the table in the middle of the hall. Charan's eyes got struck all of a sudden as he couldn't believe his eyes. He went near the table and picked the white lily laid beautifully on the table. "Lord, this??!!" "Yes, it's her; the serpent queen. The opponent who started this game with us is none other than the commander, Amanya. Abhik, Charan search the entire room." He ordered in fury. At the same time, Charan looked at the table where the flower was laid. Beneath it, some sheets of paper were kept. "Lord, take a look," he handed over the papers to him. Yuvan had a speed run and said," Stop the search. We got what we needed. They already prepared it for us." "Bruddah, then what next?" "To the coroner's hall". They saw him.. Ashok, the coroner sitting
"I heard from people that the magistrate was killed brutally and a rumor that it was by the serpent queen!" She said it with a straight face filled with fifty percent of satisfaction and the rest with sarcasm. "Lord, don't tease me." "Final result?" She had a fast conversation with him in sweet gestures but rude topics. "He was tortured and bled to death. According to your order, we kept a lily." "Maybe it's karma that he has been tortured by you before and after death." Abhik was back with Alok introducing him and then they went for a tea in the garden meanwhile Alok went back to his study. "Abhi, you look really exhausted, what happened?" "Apu di.. don't ask. It's simply a disaster warning. We are going to face a big case. That is the only thing I can say by now." "Fine, no problem by the way, your brother.." "Did you really miss me or worried about me?" A hand from behind patted her head. She looked up and it
Charan was not in his full form and was lost in his thoughts. After a while he suddenly had a conclusion, "Lord, I firmly believe that there is a cobra among us. They are not gods so how can they predict everything before hand." "Charan, you still don't believe Apu di??" "No Abhi, I am just stating a possibility." After listening to them, Yuvan was silent but then realized this conversation is not going to end and if she overhears it then it won't be good. So he decided to meddle in. "Stop!!, he stood from his chair and walked towards them, "Charan, do you believe in yourself?" That question left Charan speechless for a while and he slowly nodded. He continued, "Then believe in your master and his choice." In the midst of their conversation, they heard a knock over the door; " It's me, Apeksha." That was unexpected and Abhik opened the door for him. She entered and realized the room had a dense aura. "Sorry to disturb you. I bought some tea for you gu
She looked at Yuvan in disbelief, " Lord, I don't believe you are interrogating me now just because you suddenly became curious about my background." Yuvan sighed and shared his thoughts with them, "Apu, do you know about your commander?" "Of course, I know. Lord, don't forget my nationality, not to mention my family background." Yuvan stood from his chair and took the white lily, now almost withered and presented it to her," then, do you know what it means?" She took it from him and carefully observed it for a while and then sniffed it. Her eyes bulged from shock, "It's our commander. Her symbol of identity." "Then who else can use this?" "else!!, Lord, even the king of Hiranga won't dare to use this." Charan interfered, "There are many lilies available in the market, why are you sure about it?" "Yes di, and why did you smell it just now?" "That's because of the unique scent." "Unique??" "Yes, Hiranga has a ceremony called 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