Chapter 45: Part 42

Vaidharbhi...

When i rushed outside to join the line, i found the mami (aunty) who was helping me for many days in this royal work. She held my hand and i grabbed her hand tight. She was also living me in the same house but she was always working in the daughter's house of giridharan tha tha. Giridharan tha tha never knew the way i was been treated.

After coming to this kingdom the smallest amount of peace i had in the forest was also been snatched away from me. My swamy (lord who bought her) would do everything to make me cry. He would at times slap me. At times push me down. It felt so bad. His family which includes his wife and son were equally harsh to me.

I have to work for them from shubham to sandhya but no food will be given more than two times a day. I would at times store them in a small pot or brass vessel and while cleaning the vessel behind the house i would eat something. I was barely given a decent cloth. The veil which i wear to close my face was always torn. I had two blouse and two skirt. I have to wash them and put them in rotation. They are starting to tear. Many places there are holes but i was not given even the worst cloth they have. They said i am waste of space. I would gulp every harsh word they say just for a thought that some where some where my Mukundh is searching for me and would come to take me away from this narakam(hell).

But the way they are treating me is so worst that i almost tried to jump in the well. But i know Mukundh, my Mukundh will come. He would never give up his words. When we climbed in the bullock cart i felt someone is looking at my direction. When i saw who that was i could find a senak was looking at me but to be precised my body. I tried to shield how much ever i can. If i pull one side to close my legs then the other side of the dress would start to tear up. Some how managing i closed my legs and he saw me. Those eyes were having a raw emotion of a simham (lion) looking at a small mayuri (peahen). I was his prey while he was my predator.

I held the near by lady's hand. She was called Gowri. But i know it is not her real name. Just like me she was also been kidnapped and infront of her eyes her husband was killed and her daughter was sold else where. She still don't know where her daughter went. Her husband was a weaver. She said her husband was famous for weaving silk cloths and his cloths always has a value in the market. She used to say more stories whenever i felt low or whenever she felt i was so low. She was the only one who was there for these past months but we would never meet in the day time. It is always in the night time after every one goes to sleep  i would go to the back side to find her waiting in the back door. At times she brings me something as she knew the swamy (owner) family would never feed me.

The senak was not looking else where but to me making me shrink in fear. Suddenly he placed his hand on my foot. I gasped. He chuckled. I tried to pull that away from him but he started to move his hands through my leg. I tried to release myself from him. Even though i was inside and he is walking his hold was tight. "Feisty... i admire that..." he said and took his hand from my leg which was below the knee. I gasped when he placed his hand on my hand. I tried to pull my hand from him but he held my wrist tight. There were many laughter surrounding us. I tried hard to remove myself from him but he held me as a iron hold.

"How much feisty will this bird be if the veil which is covering her show me ??" he asked and tried to touch my veil. I would rather die than to make him look at me. I pushed him back making him stumble few steps. Before he could even think of touching me i slapped his face. He froze. I breathed hard. My eyes widened and i saw my hand. What have i done ?? I have called the yamaraj (lord of death) for myself. What have i done ??

Before i could even process he held my arm the upper part and pulled me.

"You are going to pay for this dasi..." he whispered at me. My entire body was trembling in fear. He let me go and i fell on gowri ma's lap. She wrapped me and i held her tight burying myself to her.

When we reached the swamy's house the senak was no where found. I sighed in a relief. Walking through the back gate i started to work straight away. The swamy's (owner) wife was yelling at me for not preparing the dinner for them. I trembled but nodded my head and started to prepare the dinner. After preparing i went to my small place which was the kadai arai (store room). I had a small bag which had my other cloth. I wanted to see the ring but when i started to search for that it was no where found. My breath was laboring. Where is the ring my Mukundh asked me to keep ?? I searched from paran(loft) i was searching in the kalanjiyam (storage area of grains) but no it was not found. The only symbol for me to live is now missing. I broke down and cried. I cried hard and screamed hard. Why mahadev why me.... i cried but he is not listening to me. He is not listening to me at all.

"Are you searching for something Ponni ??" came a mocking voice of my swamy's (owner) son. I went to the other side of the room and was not looking at him. "If you are looking at the ring thn don't worry you won't get them.." he said making me suck a harsh breath. He knows... He is the one who has stolen the ring.

"If you are thinking what did i do to the ring...." he paused. I was nodding my head. To them i am wordless woman. " I sold it..." he said so normally. I whimpered. The only symbol of my love is gone. I wanted to kill him. Turn ma durga (goddess of war) just to tear him part by part. "And you know how much they gave ??" he asked me mockingly.

"A hundred gold" i sat on the floor in a thud. How am i going to get the ring back ? I just blinked. My eyes are not having any more tears. Days ran as water running in the river. But i couldn't earn two gold coins when will i be able to get the hundred gold coins but will the ring be there. Where did he sell the ring. Why is that always me and my life is been used as a puppet in the hands of rakshas (demonic) people. I am tired of crying. I am broken beyond repair. I am name less. I am family less. I am soul less. I am just a corpse. I am just a corpse.

I sat in the back yard after the hectic chores for the family which they bought me. Hunger was long time gone. There were no more tears for me to shed. I miss my father, my little deer Vamsi and mostly my love. I am hopelessly waiting for him to come to me. But i know now it is not possible.

There was a sudden commotion and i stood up as why at this time there was this confusion ?? Suddenly i was been surrounded by the sevak of the kingdom. Sekav for me but why ??

"I took that ring from her case. She was the one who stole it... "came the response of my swamy.

Stole ?? what did i steel ?? The sevak did not ask me anything rather one guy who once messed with me slapped me hard making me feel dizzy. My cheeks hurt and i could taste my own blood. "You little thief.." he growled making me finch in fear and pain as he was holding my hair.

I was scared. Scared was understatement. I was terrified when the sevak claimed i stole the very important jewel of the kingdom. I did not steal anything. This is the only memory of my Mukund with me. He gave me saying this is his mother's ring and he would get it back from me on the day of his return and asked me to make sure it is safe. I did that but now i am being accused of holding a royal jewel.

They did not hear my plea. I was been chained with heavy iron chains and been dragged by them on the streets. I couldn't fight with them. I begged them to stop but no, they went deaf to me. That moronic sevak was the one who enjoyed this scene. Throwing me in the kalagraham (jail) they said the trail was tomorrow and i would be hanged. I heard the king would always go blind when it comes to crime. Small or big, man or woman he would give justice to everyone. He was calm but there was always calm before storm. He was ruthless. Hunted the other kingdoms who came there way. Would kill anyone who comes his way but never ever punishes the innocent. Should i need to fight for this or should i need to just keep quiet. Rather than living in this humiliations, all i wanted was to die. I am going to make it worst so that there wont be any inquiry but just execute me. I am tired of waiting for Mukund any more. I don't have anymore hope that he will come and find me.

The next morning this moronic sevak pulled my chain making me dash in the iron rods which was separating us. "You little girl, you should have known whom are you messing with my little girl.." he spoke in a disgusting voice. I dragged myself from him but he pulled me forward with the iron chain. Dragging me to the main court he threw me infront of all. I fell on the floor as i was been thrown by them. I felt disgust. I covered my torn dress with my veil but nothing seems to cover my dignity.

"Sabhajano (hey people of the grand hall) she is the one who stole the ring." a sevak yelled making me boil in anger.

"I did not steal it, you spineless, It was given by my love. And dare you call me a thief. I yelled in the great hall. I was still been in the iron chain, It was hard for me to even lift my arms yet i stood there with my head high." This was the first time i am speaking after i was been kidnapped. I was been held captive for more than half a year. It felt so harsh for my throat to use my voice but i am going to make it. I have to make it so that i would leave this life forever and be at peace where my amma and appa are there waiting for me with my little vamsi.

"How dare you raise your voice you thief..." the sevak from my left yelled at me. Yes this was it. I can finally be free. I was just waiting for this moment. Closing my eyes i smiled hearing the sevak removed his sword from his armor.

I closed my eyes just to think of how i met my premika (love). The day he was drenched in his own blood. The first time looking at his mesmerizing blue eyes. The day he tried to fight with me but i applied more turmeric just to make the wound to burn. The day i wantedly placed hot food on his hand making that burn. The day he held me when i was about to faint. He thought i thought it was rama anna but i know it was him who held me.

The day i was been taken in the market for a human sacrifice. The way he came back to save me. The day he gave me my amma's chain. The day i started to feel that he is my pathi. The fun which we had in the annual function in my village. The day we danced. The day i saw Nala dhamayanthi puppet show. The day he got me my little son Vamsi. Those days were we spent with each other as pathi and patni (husband and wife) when appa was going to speak with Devendra family. Everything every good thing i thought. His face. Those pearly teeth. Those pomegranate coloured lips. The way his anga vastram (body cloth) covering his body. His poonal(sacred thread) bared chest. Those tight yet warm holding hands those arms where i would always sleep.  Everything around me was Mukundh and i would always have that thought when i die.

"Mukund...." i whispered with a tiny tear pricking my closed eyes.

Seconds passed but i couldn't feel any pain. Not yet.

"One more step towards her, i won't mind beheading you, you filthy dog." came a roaring voice. Gasps were heard. I had no wish to open my eyes.

Everyone stood there frozen. Everything around me stood still. Am i dreaming ?? I whimpered a cry.

I could literally hear my heart beat.

The voice.

Same voice after many months.

A warm arms surrounded me making me hide from the entire universe. I did not move a muscle. I was scared what if i move and this dream would go away.

(I personally fell in love with this pic and i couldn't help but keep that here. I would love to thank this artist who had perfectly painted this picture even though it is not for this book but i cannot help it but use it.)

"Your nerve to behave like that to your Maharani (queen) ??" he yelled making everyone gasp including me. I was still holding my eyes close shut. I cannot come out of this swapnam (dream). This is too good to be real. This is not real. It is a swapnam (dream) Something he would always do and i love being caged in that. He slowly placed his finger on my chin with one hand and with other hand he held me tight to his body. He placed his thumb on my eyes and rubbed it.

"Hey mahadev if this is a swapnam please don't wake me up."

"Priye..." He called me. I chocked a sob. Please narayana let this be real. Let this be real. "Would you open your eyes for me... for your Mukundh ??" he pleaded. I clutched his vastram(cloth) tight and slowly opened my eyes. I couldn't move else where but to his eyes. They were same eyes but it was not as bright as it was. It held so much pain just like mine. Was he in pain just like me ??

He came... he came.. my mind yelled at me. He finally came. A tear pricked my eyes but i dared to blink them coz i was scared as what if he would disappear when i close my eyes.

He tried to dragged me with him but i was been held back due to the heavy iron chain. He growled when he saw my hands are been in chain and i was scared of his temper. He was not my Mukundh. He would become angry but not this much. He is someone i never knew at all. He is strange not the sweet person who would always smile at me.

Before i could even say anything another familiar figure came to me running and hugging me tight.

Rama anna ?!

Rama anna broke the hug and examined me and when his eyes landed on the iron chained hands and legs. "Release her this instant." He yelled turning the other side of the hall. The sevak who chained me and threatened me came shacking releasing me from the iron chain.

I saw both of them. They were dressed in silk. They were wearing beautiful ornaments. They screamed royal yet i could see my lame guy who would dance with me in the village festival and draw me water from the river and does the chores so that i would sit and enjoy the wind. Without wasting any second Mukund scooped me in his hands and held me tight in his heart. Rama anna shielded me just like the way he always does. How much i missed his closeness. How much i missed his warmth.

"Do you know how many places i searched for you ??"  he asked me. I saw him. He was in a verge of breaking down just like me but yet again those nightmare haunted me. How was our village been raided, how dad was been killed by those thugs and how they sold me to the Giridharan tha tha and how i was treated by the family and how he killed my Vamsi whom i protected like my own son.

"Priye.." he whispered looking at me with his palm on my cheek with concerned eyes. I held him tight and did not say anything but cried my pain out. Pain of my father's demise, pain of separation from my love, pain of the death of my little deer everything.

"I'm sorry for everything.. i promise you from now on you will never cry again. I will make you have a life which i always dreamed to give you. I would do anything for your happiness. Do you get that my love ??" he asked me. I nodded my head and held him tight.

"How is my little Vamsi ??" he asked me making my eyes warm remembering the day how my little boy carved for freedom only was given with three arrows. I held him tight and cried thinking of how cruel a man could be.

"The thugs, they killed him. They killed father and they destroyed the entire village and sold me to the greedy landlord. I fought hard, for him , for me for father for us but they empowered me by holding my hair and cutting them in disoriented manner and sold me to that guy. I couldn't save him.." was all i said and cried. I still couldn't forget how my little boy cried when they pierced the arrows on his fragile body and how his eyes lost it's light.

He did not speak but held me tight.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered. I couldn't say anything.

"How are you here ??" I asked him. He held my face and said "this is where i live." I was looking at him confused. Only royal families are allowed to live in a palace. "How are you allowed to live in a palace. What would maharaja say for that ??" i asked him but he chuckled. "Well he will never say anything priye." he said. He is confusing me again. I want to know the answers.

"Who are you really ?? Will you say me atleast now ??" i asked him. His eyes held so much pain but he was not leaving me at all.

"I'm Maharaja Abhayankara" he said and i lost my words and saw him with my eyes wide. I am dreaming aren't i ??

The ruthless king is none other than the boy i fell in love with ?? What has the life has gotten me ??

Before i could even think of anything i could see black dots. I was slowly falling into the pits of blackness. This is so soothing after so many months. I want to be in this and never come back. Someone is yelling at me but i could hear just few whispers. They are begging me. My eyes rolled back. My body was unable to hold straight.

I was falling deep so deep...

I am now at peace....

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Hello to my lovely people. The most anticipated chapter has come. So yes they have met and i would like you to tell that this is the prologue part. We have come to the fair end of this story. SO here it is ...

How was it ?? Did you all like it ?? As promised i have updated. Next update next week.

Until then

Shri...