Published on:- 8/1/25 [Wednesday]
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After ensuring Samanvitha had taken her medicine and had fallen into a deep sleep, Shivaal stayed by her side for an hour, his eyes never leaving her fragile form.
The silence in the room was thick, broken only by the soft sound of her breathing. His thoughts were a jumble of concern for her and the pressing matters of the kingdom.
Finally, knowing he couldn't remain there forever, he quietly rose and left the room, his heart was heavy with both personal worry and political responsibility.
He made his way to the royal council hall, where the captain of the knight and a few loyal soldiers were already waiting.
As Shivaal entered, his red-rimmed eyes told the story of a sleepless night.
The men stood in attention as he took his place at the head of the table.
"Senapati ji," the captain of the knight and soldiers greeted with a slight bow, his tone was serious.
"Varnanpura se dusra patra aya hai", The soldier informed him.
"Kya Maharaj ko ishki jankari hai?", Shivaal questioned as he took a quick glance at the letter of Varnanpura.
"Ji nahi Senapati ji! Ishki jankari unhe kal subah hogi. Ye patra mere hath laga hai. Ishliye, ishki jankari sabse pehle apko dena uchit samjhal", The knight said, as his tone was serious.
"Acharya Vishnu, Varnanpura ke liye nikal chuke hai aur teen din bad pahunchenge. Ish beech me ek aur patra, sochne wali baat hai", Shivaal said as his posture was stiff.
"Varnanpura ka dusra patra Rajdhara rajya ke Amrit Sarovar ki wapasi ki mang karta hai. Unka dava hai ki ish sarowar par unka adhikar hai. Aur ye adhikar ishliye hai kyunki Rajdhara ka Yuvraj - 'Samanvitha Gayasen' abhi tak jeevit hai aur niyam ke anusar Maharaj Aryaman ke bad Yuvraj ke sabdon ka mahatva hai", The captain of knight said and Shivaal's gaze darkened.
Shivaal's jaw tightened because the Amrit Sarovar was not just a piece of land; it was a symbol of their power and now it became their heritage, but Varnanpura's claim over the region and giving it up would be a devastating blow for the Kundarastra kingdom.
Shivaal said in a cold, controlled voice, "Varnanpura ke Samrat Ratanveer Varn ko Amrit Sarovar chahiye?".
Shivaal laughed sinisterly.
"Kundarastra yun hi unhe Amrit Sarovar nahi saunp sakta. Yah adhikar roop se ab hamara hai kyunki Kundarastra rajya ne Rajdhara rajya se yuddh me vijayi hua tha", Shivaal said and his voice was full of rage.
The captain of the knights said with concern, "lekin Yuvraj, Varnanpura ek shaktishaali rajya hai. unke senayein durjey hain aur unhe kai prabhavashali sahyogiyon ka samarthan prapt hai. Agar Kundarastra inkaar karta hain, to hume yuddh ka jokhim uthana pad sakta hai".
Shivaal's eyes were narrowing,
"Kundarastra ko samarpan ke lie koi nahi dhamaka sakta. Sena ko taiyaar rakho. Lekin humen ise savdhani se suljhane ki jarurat hai. humen jaankari chahiye. Pata lagao ki Samrat Ratanveer Varn vaastav mein kya chaahate hain aur ve kis prakar ka vyapaar karna chahte hain".
First Knight said calmly, "Hum khufiya jankari ikattha karane ke lie jasoos bhejenge. lekin, Senapati ji, hume bhi kisi bhi stithi ke lie taiyaar rahana chahiye. Agar Varnanpura aagey badhate hain to humen uttar dene ke lie taiyaar rehna chahiye."
Shivaal leaned forward and his voice was cold with resolve, "to phir sabse bure ke lie taiyaar ho jao. main Varnanpura ko woh nahin lene dunga jo ab Kundarastra ka hai. Aur main koi balheenta nahin dikhaunga kyunki Varnanpura ke sath sath Zahranpur bhi yahi mansa rakhta hai"
The captain of the knight and the solders knew this clearly. The meeting continued as Shivaal laid out his plans while his mind was sharp despite his fatigue.
Every decision, every move had to be calculated. Varnanpura had crossed a dangerous line by demanding the Amrit Sarovar, and Shivaal would ensure that they would regret it.
His loyalty to his people, his kingdom, and his family burned bright, and he would not back down.
Shivaal listened carefully to each of his commanders, weighing their advice and forming a plan. Despite the growing pressure, his focus remained sharp. The kingdom's future depended on the decisions they made in these crucial moments.
"Varnanpura Rajya pe nazar rakho aur sath hi Zahranpur rajya pe bhi. Koi rajya itni badi samasya se jhel raha ho aur fir bhi itna shant ho ye samjhna mushkil hai", Shivaal said and then the room fell into a brief silence as the plans were set in motion.
Shivaal's mind never strayed from the task at hand, but there was a part of him that couldn't shake the image of Samanvitha, still weak and vulnerable in her bed.
Every decision he made felt like it carried double the weight - his duty as a ruler and his desire to protect the one person who did not mean anything to him.
As the meeting drew to a close, Shivaal stood and gave one final command.
Shivaal said, "Main sthiti par dainik prativedan chahta hu. Kundarastra achambhit hone ka jokhim nahin utha sakta. Apne aap ko taiyaar rakho".
The knights bowed in unison, acknowledging his command, and with a final glance at Shivaal, they filed out of the room.
Shivaal remained standing for a moment as his gaze was fixed on the map before him, lost in thought.
The game had already begun, and he had no intention of losing.
His tired eyes were scanning the details while his mind was still burdened with the matters of the kingdom.
The rays of the sun gently kissed his face, offering a brief moment of calm amidst the tension that surrounded him.
But before he could allow himself even a moment of respite, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway. The door swung open abruptly, and one of the maids burst into the room, breathless and frantic. Her wide eyes locked onto Shivaal, and her voice trembled with urgency.
"Kshama kijiyega, Yuvraj! Stithi hi aisi hai. Rajkumari... Rajkumari ki tabiyat bahut kharab ho gayi hai". The maid said as she was bowing while kneeling down on the floor.
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