Chapter 7

ArYa/Ash

@Arya.100

"That was brave, what you told Reyaansh," Swayam said. "Or very foolish," my brother put in angrily. "Why? Isn't it the truth" I demanded. Swayam, Sharon, Raghu and Antra were settled on Raghu's couch and Taani and Neha were on mine, Taani gently applied jasmine oil on my head as I informed her about my headache.

"It doesn't matter if it's the truth, you're lucky Mritunjay didn't hear you" Raghu warned me. I glanced at the door, soon Asva would appear and order us to bed. "What do you think will happen to the prisoner caught?" I said, "Exactly what Mritunjay said, his hands would be chopped off"

"And Adhvrushya will do it?" Raghu asked quietly. He had removed his Turban and Antra was carresing his forehead, he smiled at that. "Or someone else also can do it. But there is no one more loyal than Adhvrushya and Reyaansh. They would strike their own throat for Kalpi." Swayam said.

"But why does Kuru uses the symbol of a Scorpio" I asked.

"Because scorpio was the symbol of rebellion which took place fifty years ago, He's trying to say that the rebellion is back to end slavery"

"But how has he gone against the laws?"

"By sneaking into the arenas and freeing the gladiators. And by helping husbands and wives who've seperated by slavery escape."

"Escape where?" my brother exclaimed. "To their homelands." I glanced at my brother, who must have understood what I was thinking, because he shook his head sternly, But what else was thre to hope for? If this Kuru was willing to help the slaves return to their homeland, why wouldn't he help us to return to Vardha.

Swayam continued, When the footsteps echoed the hall Swayam got up, "Mom" he said. The door of our chamber opened, and Asva's face appeared next to and oil lamp. "Swayam, why are you standing?" she asked sternly. "Going to sleep" he grinned back at us, then kissed his mother on her cheek.

"I'll see you in morning" he promised and left, Sharon, Neha and Antra also left bidding bye. Raghu layed back on his couch, Asva kept the lamp on the table. Taani tied my hair in a braid and left giving a hug, I layed back on my bed. Asva covered me with thin blanket.

"How was the feast?" she asked kindly. I shot a questioning look at Raghu, "Tiring" I admitted. "It will be even more tiring tomorrow, I would like you to be prepared for tomorrow evening's rituals in shiva's temple and in night feast. It will be larger than what you've seen tonight, Now both of you take rest." She carresed my cheek and left.

___________

The sunlight hit my face I guess morning was there, "Get up Kria, we'll be late" Taani said in raising a voice. "What is it Taani, Is it morning? and if it is then let me sleep we have the ritual ceremony in evening." I said hiding my face in blanket.

"It's time for the ritual, you slept not only slept in the morning but also in the afternoon" she said moving around my bed. I jumped off the bed, "Then why didn't you wake me up? and where's Raghu?" She opened my braid, gave the towel, "He's downstairs with everyone, Reyaansh was responsible for taking you and everyone to temple and it was his decision to allow you to sleep. Now its getting late, Hurry."

Within some minutes I was out of the bathroom, clothes that were brought to the chamber were insulting. I crumpled the beaded dress in my hands. The beads only covered most important places, otherwise I might as well have been naked.

Taani, Neha also had the same reaction like me, Antra left the room on seeing the dress. I sat on my bed covering myself with towels, if it was Reyaansh's responsibility to take me and Raghu to the temple then these clothes must have been his choice. Antra came back, "You don't need to wear that"

She handed me a silk outfit, I wore it but the thought of that Reyaansh wanted me to wear the beaded dress was upsetting me. I sat in front of the mirror, made my hair. "Is Princess ready?", Reyansh entered. I didn't look at him and simply focused on myself, He went to Taani, Neha and Antra. I guess they told them about the dress incident, but why was he behaving in such a way as if we wasn't aware I thought.

I was looking outside the window while being in front of the mirror, I stood up but wasn't knowing he's behind me. I turned, my hand hit his cheek. I looked at him but couldn't know about his next reaction. His face was worth looking, little tensed, a little confused or maybe a little angry, I wasn't able to control my laughter.

I laughed at him, even Taani, Neha and Antra also laughed. He was continuously looking at me, maybe he would shout but instead he too laughed. I Held my ghagra and ran, He followed me. I ran downstairs, finally sat next to Sharon.

Reyaansh settled near Raghu, "Where is the beaded dress?" Varali demanded, and I realized it wasn't Reyaansh who had ordered that dress for me, but Varali. She wanted to see me humiliated. But when no one answered, she repeated "Where is the dress?" She stepped forward but Reyaansh stepped infront of me.

"Princess is our family member now, and I wont allow any injustice with her." He said, Varali lowered her eyes, "We're getting late so I guess we should move" he completed. The ceremony was excecuted well, It was too crowded when a priest called me behind the pillar.

I looked around and went to him, He passed a paper scrap in my hand. "A thousand blessings," he said as I walked back. As I reached back to my position, I prented to adjust my brooch at my shoulder. I unpinned it and, slipped the scrap beneath, repinned it so that no one could see.

Then my heart began to beat faster in my chest. I wondered what the message might be - rebellion, rescue, delivery from Kalpi - and when I looked up, I saw Reyaansh glancing at me.

___________

We were given time to prepare ourself before the feast but I didn't show Raghu what I had received. Instead I slipped the secret message into my dress. Then I left for the bathing room and read the note.

There is a hope in the temple of Shiva, Vardha is lost as long as Princess and Prince are imprisoned. I wish Princess to come, and I'll prepare for a time when she can rise.

Even if the message was short meaning was clear, if I could make my way to the temple of Shiva, High priest would find a way to return us to Vardha. In the hall everyone was busy, I escaped and was surprised that no one was following me. I didn't bother about the punishment of being caught, I had to take the risk.

The sky had turned black, I walked quickly as the steep incline would allow, being careful not to trop over my sandals. Bands of drunken men lumbered up the road, inviting me to drink. "Come here my Vardha's Princess, there's a thing or two I'd like to teach you about Kalpi."

I simply ignored their gaze at me but when one of them reached out to grab me, I was too slow. "Get off me" His friends began to laugh. He dragged me to the copse of trees, I kicked his shin and screamed. When his hand went down to my lehenga, a shadow loomed behind him.

There was a flash of sword and suddenly my attacker gew still, I didn't wait to see who the shadow was. I crawled through the darkness to the cobbled road, then ran rest of the way. When I placed my first on the temple stair, a hand grabbed my arm and I cried out.

"What do you think you're doing"

Frightened I turened, and saw Reyaansh shook me with his both hands. "What are you doing here Princess" he shouted. "I'm... Wo... aah"

"Think carefully before you lie" I didn't said a word, so he guessed. "You're going to the Temple of Shiva" My eyes must have given away, because he took my arm and wrenched me back. "You're hurting me" I cried. "You were prepared to risk worse"

"Where are you taking me?" I was ashamed that my voice trembled. When he didn't answer, I asked quietly, "Did you kill that man?"

"You think I would allow someone to live who would hurt you?" he paused for few seconds "Or Raghu, Antra, Taani, Swayam, Sharon..." he completed. We kept walking, and his grip on my arm was hurting. I tried to pull away, "Reyaansh leave me, I admit I wanted to run off with priest's help"

He laughed mockingly, "He wont help you, there's only one reason he would contact you" His eyes lingered on my mother's pearl necklace I wore. "No, not the head priest" I shook me head. He stopped walking, and He held me from my shoulder

His face was so close to mine that I could see muscles of his jaw, "Do you understand what that man would have done to you?" I kept looking his in eyes. His hands went to my hair gently caressing them, He moved close erasing those minute distance between us. My lips met with his, taking in his taste.

My feet walked back till I hit bark of the tree never breaking the contact with his lips. He hands still caressed my hair which gave a soothing feel, I slid down the bark lying on the grass. his hand slid down on the chain of the pearl necklace till the pendant, held it lightly, his other hand on my nape. I kissed below his eyes, lips kissed my forehead.

Few moments later, we looked in eachothere's eyes, he realised the momeqnt and got up. I pushed back the hair fallen on my forehead with my palm. He entwined his fingers in mine, "Where are you taking me?"

"Back where you belong," He said.

We walked back to palace, a group of men passed by us but none looked in my direction. They all eyed on Reyaansh, but then also pulled to other side from my waist. Finally we reached the palace, he released my arm. I opened the door of my chamber, "Kria where were you?" everyone asked. "I found her worshiping in the Temple of Shiva" Reyaansh answered for me. Everyone left bidding bye, Raghu blew out the lamps, but in darkness I could imagine see Reyaansh's eyes.

So Hw wass it do tell by ur likes and comments...