Chapter 5 : Devil With No Horn

4 years ago

MsChanadlerBong

@MsChanadlerBong

There were often times in his life when Agastya wondered if being a king was a boon or a bane. As a king he was entrusted with millions of tasks as the responsibility of an entire kingdom rested on his shoulders. There wasn't a single day he could go to sleep without worrying about his country and his people who were no less than children to him. Depsite all the struggles he faced to maintain the peace and order in his country, the prosperity of his country and his people gave him a satisfactory feeling and he couldn't be more proud. 

Agastya was crowned as the king of Malikrazi when he was twenty seven years old after his father's demise. He still remembered the promise his father made him take, to ensure the well being of their country and their people and always take decisions for their well being. Agastya had tried his best to stay true to his words and did his best to be as fair as possible. Now as he sat there in his throne, trying to take one of the most important and difficult decision of his life, he was conflicted on whether he would fair enough. 

He was to choose the crown Prince of Malikrazi who would be rule after him. The answer wasn't supposed to be as complicated as he made it. According to the tradition of Malikrazi, the first born of the king was to be crowned the king. When his father had died, he was automatically crowned as the ruler. No one cared if he was capable enough or was worthy of the title. In fact no one even bothered to consider his younger brother. It was an unfair tradition but it had been practiced since decades and ages and Agastya was compelled to follow the same. The one who would rule after him would be his first born, his son Adwait.

He and his wife, Jyostna had been blessed with a baby boy thirty years before. Adwait was a good child, never broke any rules and always listened to everyone around. But that was one of the problems, a king wasn't supposed to listen to everyone around, he was supposed to make everyone around him listen to him. Adwait had been sent to the best schools, taught everything a king was supposed to know, was mastered in tasks he was to follow. He was a good learner and always excelled in everything he tried. However the problem wasn't that he lacked any quality. The problem was that Adwait wasn't really interested in politics and ruling a kingdom. He was the "simple living, high thinking" philosophy follower. There were times when Agastya wished Adwait had not been born as a royalty but as a normal child then he could have done what he truly desired. But, those were just wishful thinking and the reality was contrary. 

For a moment Agastya let his mind waiver in the possibility about his other two children being the ruler of the country. After Adwait, Agastya and his queen were blessed with twins. His daughter, Aradhna was one of most beautiful baby he ever held. It wasn't an unknown fact that she was his favourite. He had pampered her a lot and he didn't blame himself. Whenever she wanted something from him, she would show her deer like eyes and her dimpled smile. Who could say no that cute face? Even thou everyone around predicted that Aradhna would be a handful once she grew up as she was pampered the most, on the contrary, she turned out to be a kind and considerate person. She was hardworking and made sure everyone in Malikrazi was content. Her charities and her social work kept her busy, so much that he saw her very less nowadays and he missed her. Aradhna would have been a great Queen. She was empathetic and very kind hearted. She would make her day and night one for the well being of their people. But, she acted knaive sometimes. Other's pain and problems blinded her. If she became a queen there was a greater chance people would try to take advantage of her. 

Agastya sighed a heavy breath as he thought about Aradhna's twin. His youngest son, Akir. Agastya had never loved anyone as much as he had loved his son Akir. He had been light of Aastya's life. Unlike his older brother, Akir was a trouble maker. He was known in the palace for his mischievous activities and pranks. As a child, he enjoyed attention a lot. He used to gather people around including the palace help and used to play with them. He always needed to be around people. Growing up he was the palace favourite member. He made everyone laugh including Agastya. Even now, Agastya in the silence of his privacy remembered his son's antics when he was younger, his jokes and would laugh out loud. Agastya had lost his laugh after his son left them. Akir would have an excellent candidate for being the king . It was as though he was born for that specific purpose. It saddened Agastya as he thought of Akir. His light. Since the day he lost his son, his days had been darker and gloomier. He wouldn't be lying if he admitted that he had failed as a father. There was no other reason that justified his son's actions. Why would he do that? Why would Akir go against his words? Do something like that! 

Such questions haunted Agastya's mind every day but there were no answers to them. The only person who could answer them was miles apart from him. Agastya had stopped piercing himself instead had started praying. Praying that his son would return back soon. Back to him wherever he was. "Where are you Akir?" He whispered in the empty night. 

... 

"Prince Akir! I'm sorry!" The man begged as he dropped into his knees, his hands folded in a plea. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to happen. It was an accident." 

"I hate accidents, especially the ones that end up taking someone one's life." A cold voice said back as the owner of the voice casually laid back in the chair. A masked man behind him, handed him an injection. The predator gave a good look before planting it into the arms of man who was on knees, begging for forgiveness. The man shouted as the cold pointed instrument entered his body. He jolted in reaction whilst the liquid started flowing through his veins. He cried out in pain, feeling a burning sensation throughout his body.

"Such amazing drugs are these." The man commented looking at the other one's misery. "I don't need to touch you and yet you are suffering as thou you've been burnt alive. Saves a lot of time right. I mean I didn't have to go through the nuisance you poor man went through in order to burn those girls. I do hope the death is as slow and ever more painful" He spilled with venom laced in his tone. 

The man shouted again, terrified and hurt. "I'm sorry! It was just an accident. I'm innocent." 

"Pray tell me dear mr innocent what part of the incident was an accident? The part where you abused those school going girls or the part where you burnt them alive to hide your hideous crime!" He shouted. His sea blue orbs turning into a darker shade colour. The man shivered in fear as he fell onto his back rolling in the cold floor trying to get rid of the burning sensation in his body that was increasing every second. 

"Prince Akir please" he pleaded for the last time. "I have served you. You are all forgiving. Please forgive me Prince Akir."

"You're right. Akir may have forgiven you but unfortunately the person who stands before you is not him." He smirked. "What is that you all like to call me? The devil! The devil who shows no mercy. You know that I earned the name for a reason. I show no mercy."

"Prince… please." The man begged again. 

"Stop addressing me as that. Prince Akir is dead. I am.." he turned towards his men standing behind him, "what's the latest one I've been given?" 

"Devil with no horn." One of the men immediately answered.

"Right. Devil with no horn. God! You people are as creative as you can be while giving me new names!" He laughed a little before he started walking out. 

"Please! Please Save me! I don't want to die... how could you do this?" the man shouted. He stopped his footsteps and turned around to give the man a good look and smiled, "oh I'm sorry it was just an accident." 

Those were the last words the man heard while slipping into oblivion, the last image that came to his mind of those little girls who he had killed mercilessly while they begged him not to. "I'm sorry" he whispered to no one in particular taking his last breath.