Chapter 1
"Shut the doors! lock them as firmly as you can" my mother Kaveesha shouted. When the doors thundered shut, Ira(our official handmaiden and my dance teacher) drew the metal bolt into the place. Then, suddenly there was silence. Only crackling of the torches filled the chamber. Ishaan, my little brother began to cry. "Be quiet" my Mother snapped.
I approached the bed and took Ishaan in my arms. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Look we're all together" I promised. "Where's father?" he cried. I stroked his arm. "He's coming." but he knew I was lying and his cries grew more high pitched. "Father," He wailed "Father!"
My mother crossed the chamber to the bed and slapped his little face, startling him to silence. His lips began to tremble, before he could cry again Ira took him from my arms. She climbed the marble staircase to first floor and I joined Raghu on the bottom steps. He shook his head at me.
"You should have slapped him Kria" he said. "He's a child Raghu."
"and our mother is fighting for her crown. How do you think she feels, hearing him crying for father?"
I wrapped my arms around my knees and looked at the piles of timber. I felt tightening at mt throat, as if the air I was breathing suddenly wasn't enough. At top of the stairs, my mother handed the sword to Ira. "Stay here and watch the windows, if they forced you know what to do" she commanded.
My brothers and I followed my mother's step to first floor. Outside soldiers were beating the door and pressing their face one by one to grille. "Stay behind" my Mother instructed. We did as we were told, and I dug my nails into Raghu's arm while our mother approached the door.
There was a muffled sound of voices as she appeared before grille, and then the man on the other side told her to surrender. She raised her chin. "I will surrender, When your emperor Mritunjay gives me a word that Raghu (Outfit) and Kria (Outfit) will rule over the kingdom of Vardha" she said through the iron bars.
We moved closer to hear the soldier's reply. "I cannot give the assurance. Your Majesty. But you may trust that Mritunjay will treat you and your children with respect."
"I dont care about the respect" she shouted.
I had never thought of this way, and as I moved forward to glimpse the soldier's face in the window, a man's arm caught me around the waist. I felt the cold tip of metal at my neck. "Maa" I screamed, and before Raghu could leap forward to defend me, a line of soldiers descended the stairs from the second story.
They had come from the open window. Two held Ira and Raghu and a third held Ishaan by arm. "Let me Go" my mother's voice was sharp as warning. He freed her wrist, his built was well-muscled and a powerful chest in his late thirties. I wondered if this is Mritunjay.
"Take them to Mritunjay, he wish to see them" he said.
My mother raised her chin. "Who are you?" she demanded.
"Adhvrushya, Former consul of Kalpi and Commander in Chief of Mritunjay's army... " Raghu Looked across the chamber at me. Ishaan was Crying hard, Soldier holding him left his arm. He ran and hugged my waist tight. The man holding me chuckled softly. "Can uh loose ur grip a bit at my waist, my brother is scared." I said.
"Yaa! sure" he said with attitude and loosened his grip.
"Lets Go, Reyaansh" Adhvrushya said and my mother's eyes flicked to him. "Reyaansh, I know you" she said and stepped forward. Reyaansh left my waist, but there was nowhere for me to run. The room was surrounded by soldiers. I picked up Ishaan and stood next to Raghu.
"You Are Reyaansh, Son on Emperor Dhaumya...Prince of Kalpi. He lost his life in war and your father's friend Mritunjay took over Kalpi. Now you are the adopted son of Mritunjay and work under him. How proud you have made your Father" she said in a dry tone.
Reyaansh (Outfit) clenched his jaw, "If i was at your place Empress Kaveesha, I'd save my words for Mritunjay."
"So why isn't he here? Where is your mighty conqueror" she demanded. "Perhaps he's looking over his new Palace" Reyaansh said. She turned to Adhvrushya, "Don't take me to him".
"There's is no other choice."
"What about my husband, Hariaksa? Where is he?" she asked. I saw that Adhvrushya passed to Reyaansh, and I felt a tightening in my chest. "You may ask Mritunjay yourself"
"And my children?' Mother asked.
"They'll be coming with you."
***********
We all were in our mother's room. "Where is he? Why is waiting? I want to know what's happening outside!" My mother paced her room back and forth, until it made me sick to watch her. Ira implored her to sit down. Raghu was again and again arguing with me "He's not going to kill us" but I argued back by saying "I don't think he's going to set us free either.'
There was a knock, and we all froze at our places. Ira and my Mother opened the door. "What?" she looked at the faces of three men. "Where is he?"
Ishaan scrambled from the bed on my laps. "Its him" Reyaansh pointed at the man standing between him and Adhvrushya. "So you are Mritunjay?" she spoke in our mother tongue. "Don't you know Hindi?" Reyaansh demanded.
"Of course" my mother smiled.
"Then please use it"
"So you are Mritunjay?' she repeated in Hindi. "Yes. And I presume you are Kaveesha." and the three stepped forward. "Queen Kaveesha" I said. "Kria, sit down" Raghu whispered and pulled me back. Although Mritunjay and Adhvrushya were shocked my reaction, Reyaansh just smirked. Mother glared at me.
"Be quiet Kria, Let me talk."
"For now Shall I sit?", he had his eyes on our mother, as if he suspect that she might grow wings and fly away. He seated himself while other two remained standing. My mother threw a venomous look at Mritunjay.
"Where is my husband, Hariaksa?"
"Im afraid, you'll never meet your husband again." Some of the color drained from her face, "Why will I never meet him again?"
"Because he is dead." My mother gripped the arms of her chair, and I covered my mouth with my hands. "I will allow him a burial at Vardha as per your wish" he added. Raghu, Ishaan and I hugged each-other tight. Ira held our mother.
"In three days we'll sail to Kalpi with you and your children, my soldiers are taking your treasury along to Kalpi" he said while we were shock.
Mritunjay gave Reyaansh sideways glance, then rose to depart. When he reached the door, my mother cried out. "Where are you going?". "To have a view of Vardha." He turned and his eyes settled on me.
"Shall I take your children along?" he said.
I ran from bed and fell to my knees at my mother's feet. I wrapped my arms around her legs. "Don't send us with him Please, Maa, please!". Something seemed to pass between them, and my mother nodded. "Yes, take my children with you."
"No, I won't go" I cried. Reyaansh stepped forward and held my arm lightly, "Come" he said but I wrenched my arm from his grasp. "Don't make us go, please" I screamed.
Ishaan was crying, and Raghu was pleading with me. At last she threw her hands up and shouted "Go, Ira get them out of here." I didn't understand what was happening. She came to me, touched my pearl necklace and ran her hands over my hair, my arms, my cheeks.
"Maa" I wept.
"Shh" She put her finger on my lips, then took Ishaan in her arms burying his head in her soft curls. I was surprised that Mritunjay waited so patiently. "You listen to whatever Mritunjay says" she told Ishaan. She turned to Raghu and me "Be careful, watch over them and do as you are told."
So guyss.. hww was it? Lyk it to do hit lyk tab n comment... n accha na laga to be do telliyoo
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Comments (137)
Pleasure baby :))haha! thank you :p :D
11 years ago
thanxxx yaaa bt zaada mat sochoo khud hi pata chal jayegaa in necxt updatee...
11 years ago
Thanxxx yaa diii... n nahi... Raghu is nt wid taani... :)
11 years ago
Omigod! that was like a hidden talent of your to me, i never knew you were such a great writer, ur way too amazing, just keep up the good work, and the story, well seems to have something new, oh hey, just realized bte, you planning on Raghu with Taani? well, don't he way too a charmer for a girl like her, don't get me wrong, but you know, it's just, he's a little too good for her :pp
11 years ago
ur more than welcome love :))
11 years ago
thanxxx yaaa
11 years ago
thanxxx jazzzy... balle balle
11 years ago
thanxxx
11 years ago
thannkkk uhh
11 years ago
tahnnxx manuu dii
11 years ago