Chapter 13

Raghu was a bit better but still wasn't conscious, I walked down the stairs. Reyaansh saw me and stepped forward. "What? Are you going to kill me as well?" I demanded. "I hope you're joking." He glanced uneasily at the soldiers behind me.

"Mritunjay saved my brother like a bull for the slaughter, so why shouldn't I be the next? And who better to do the job than you?"

I turned to leave, and Reyaansh whispered something into the brown haired soldier. The soldier nodded gravely and left. I didn't bother asking him anything what had been the conversation but simply followed the soldier without letting him know.

He walked to the base of the palace where the earnings were kept, and opened a room where mine and Raghu's name was written. May be it was our depository, I entered the room. "Princess, what are you doing here?" Soldier said.

I looked around the room it was filled with expensive treasury and next to the right corner stood the most magnificent portrait of my little brother Ishaan. He was sculpted in white marble, with painted eyes and brown hair.

I went near the portrait touched his face. "Who did this?" I gasped.

"Reyaansh"

I approached the soldier, "Are you sure?" He nodded.

"We helped him bring it here. There are many others who miss your little brother Ishaan. You're not alone." I couldn't believe his words. "Then don't you think Reyaansh was involved in Raghu's attack?"

He exchanged looks, "Princess, why would he kill a man he was helping to support?"

When I didn't understand he explained. "Who do you think has been putting all the gold in your treasury since you've been here?"

"Asva Maa" I said. He made a face, "Maybe she gave you a couch and food but it was Reyaansh's gold in your treasury. We had counted the coins..." I looked at him with a doubt, "But... but why?"

"Maybe he felt sorry, he had been through the same."

I went to Raghu's room, and sat next to him thinking if Reyaansh really did all this then what did the words in Mritunjay's letter meant. Reyaansh is the most trusted person but what did soldier meant but he had been through the same.

I was lost in my own thoughts when I felt a movement, Raghu's hand touched mine. He opened his eyes, "Raghu..." His condition was weak but still he tried to speak. "Rey... Reyaansh..." my mind gave yes to my doubt it was Reyaansh's hand in it.

"I know Reyaansh did this" but he moved his head in negation. It was Varali who attacked him, he explained in actual I was the one on her target but due to dark my brother was hit by her. I didn't require a reason, Varali never liked me.

Deep humility silenced me, I thought of all the time my brother had squandered at the races and the times when I had purchased furs and silks without ever questioning how the money appeared. I hurried back to my room.

My mind tried hard not to think of Reyaansh, solemn lips turned downward when I'd accused him of Raghu's murder but he really understood my suffering.

That evening Mritunjay was returning with a triumph and all the old as well as new slaves captured were to be paraded behind him through the city of Kalpi. I decided to appear for the ceremony. For more than a month I was moving out of palace.

I (look) dressed up myself well for an official apology. There was a surprised murmur at the Kapli wall as I entered. We were seated at the tallest building to have a proper view of the parade and Mritunjay's return.

The table where I and Raghu used to sit during any ceremony was no longer there. A space was made for me next to Reyaansh, as I took my seat there was an uneasy silence.

"Welcome back," Taani said, each person offered a quiet welcome. Then, slowly conversation resumed between the people present there. It was Reyaansh who concerned me the most that moment, I turned to him.

I was wrong' I whispered.

"About what?" he said shortly. "I underestimated your...Generosity and the marble portrait of my little brother was very kind."

"It wasn't for you. It was for Raghu and Ishaan..." He said. I flushed "Either way. It was very thoughtful."

"Make no mention of it" his voice wasn't polite as before. "I need to talk" holding his hand I moved out to an alone place. I looked around not finding words to speak, "Say something?"

I took out the bangle he had gifted me, "I... I want everything to be the way it was earlier. Make me wear this bangle again, I promise I won't remove it ever again." Looking down I waited for him to react and I was quite sure it would be positive.

"I've some work" he left in quick steps. I searched from him at the steps of the building but couldn't find him. "Where did he go?"

Drums beat out a rhythm to the approaching horses, "There he is" Asva Maa shouted. I came back to the top of the building. Mritunjay was back on white horse, with the slaves being paraded behind him inside the cages. He looked weak.

I could see more and more soldiers joining in, hurrying to help. But as I watched I realized Kuru had come to free the slaves. His men were working swiftly, opening their cage after cage and instructing the prisoners to remain where they were until the signal was given.

Kuru had come with the keys and as lock after lock opened, I could see the prisoners rushing to the sides of their cages. Then one of the soldier understood what's happening. "They're escaping, the prisoners are escaping" he cried interrupting Mritunjay's triumph.

Kuru had masked him face, "Go" he screamed. The doors of Kalpi wall were flung and thousands of prisoners began to flee. Panic ensue the streets. One of the soldiers used his weapon. Leader of rebel, Kuru was arrow struck and I saw him clutch his shoulder.

"Kuru's been hit" I shrieked. Panic was there on the top of the building also, everyone ran here and there. "Come here Kria." Taani screamed. I signaled her to leave with everyone.

Varali also tried to escaped, the building was almost empty. I pushed her at the edge of the top, she walked back. "What is it?" She said. I kept on walking in front with anger filled eyes. "Kria, What are you doing?"

I remembered the times I wept over my brother all due to her. Wiping the tears, I pushed her off the building. She was crushed, stamped with feet between the people present down. It didn't matter that I killed Varali as no one knew.

The building where I stood smoke rose from the rooftop, "Building is on fire" a woman screamed. I rushed out of the building to accomplish my second task which was to help Kuru. He did a noble task and being human it was my duty to help him.

While thousands of people ran to escape but I moved to other direction to help Kuru. A woman again warned me to turn back, but I followed the trial of blood into an abandoned shop and heard a man behind counter breathing heavily.

I rushed to him, but as soon as he saw me, he turned his face other away. "Go" he growled. "I'm here to help you Kuru."

"How? By getting yourself killed?" he said.

"No there's a tunnel. It leads to Shiva's temple, and from there you can escape."

"Then tell me where it is, and get yourself out of here" he was trying to hide his face. "I can't describe it. You'll have to trust me" I said. He hesitated and when he turned, I covered my mouth in shock.

"Reyaansh"

"Who do you think you would find?" he asked grimly. I ignored the sting in his words and bent over him. He was losing a great deal of blood, and I ripped of my dress to make bandage. My hands trembled when I touched the heat of his skin. "But how you can be Kuru?"

"There are people who want an end to slavery but I don't owe you an answer." He said sharply. I tried not to think about the sudden wetness on my tunic, though I knew it was his blood.

I was aware of my hair brushing his chest as I tied his binding. it took several knots before it stayed in place. "That's enough, Where's the point?" he said gruffly.

He drew my eyes to a bloodied shaft on the floor, and tough my stomach clenched. Nothing would remain in his body, if he wasn't stitched soon. I offered him my arm, and he took it without complaining. "Can you run?" I asked.

"Yes"

We rushed, Reyaansh leaned more heavily on me then probably intended. I could feel him weakening, and quickly I tried to remember the way Mandira had told me once. "Are you sure where you're going?" he demanded.

I led him inside a shop, the customers had fled without taking their purchases. I grabbed a woman's dress over my shoulder. I would change before we reached the palace. "Where is the tunnel?"

"I don't know but it's here."

Reyaansh stepped behin the counter, where a heavy curtain covered the wall. With aflick of his wrist, he swept it aside, revealing an open door. He stepped inside first, and when he was sure it was safe, he leaned on my arm to allow me to guide.

There was complete dark inside as we hurried. "You should change?" he said. I stopped walking, and though I knew he couldn't see me as I undressed, my cheeks grew warm at the thought of him there. As we continued down the tunnel, his breathing grew more labored. (Her look)

"Where will you go when we reach the temple?" I asked. "To the palace"

"And how will you explain your wound?"

"The soldiers were shooting everyone. They'll simply think I was in their way."

"And will Mrityunjay believe?" he didn't reply. We decided that I'll walk first he promised he'll be behind me. If I returned with Reyaansh only a fool will fail to understand the truth.

When we reached the end of the tunnel, I thought for a moment he might say something more but his condition wasn't good. He reached down and offered me his dragger. "What's this for?"

"You don't remember your first trip alone from palace to temple?" He was talking about the time when I tried to escape with help of priest. "But that was night!" I said.

"And do you think criminals disappear at day? I won't be able to come with you. When the path is clear I want you to whistle then start walking towards Palace" He took the help of the wall for support. "But what about you?"

"Go" he said.

I took few steps ahead but when looked back, he was in pain. My feet gave up, I ran back to his arms, I won't go. I can't leave you alone to die here.' He slightly pushed me back, "You had left me alone the day you took me as the conspirator."

"You can say wateva uh want to, but I'm not gonna leave you here." He lost his balance and fell on the floor. I held him around his waist with his head on my shoulder. We stayed there like that for some time.

"Plz jao" I moved my head in negation, he cupped my face. We faced each other with lips at an invisible distance. I erased that minute gap between us, our lips devoured. "Plz go, I don't want to be the reason for any unforeseen with you."

He asked me to go but I couldn't leave him to be dead, I again moved my head saying no. "For the sake time we spent together, the moments we shared together, for my sake plz go"

He kissed my forehead, "Plz" I hugged him tight and with trembling feet I walked away from him. As per his wish I whistled giving him the indication that path is clear.

So here ends my christmas gift... <3 especially to Riya.

Merry Christmas... <3 do leave your likes and reviews..