Chapter 21

The sun rose over the hills surrounding Vilaspore, dousing the palace and the whole land with its warm but intense light. As usual the temple atop the hill remained deserted but few who braved the climb, stood outside the closed doors bowing in reverence at the deity inside. Their faces however remained glum as the doors to the sanctum sanctorum had been shut after the untimely demise of their beloved maharani, who had been the patron and a regular visitor to the temple.

Maharani Padmini's death was not the actual reason the temple was shut but certain inauspicious happenings had made the family arrive at such a decision. The temple priests had tried desperately and reverentially to offer prayers and incense galore to appease the deity but to no avail. The royal family had also consulted with several other priests from famous temples in Rajasthan and all over India to find a solution to the predicament. The high priests dressed in silk with ash smeared on their foreheads, arms and chest had conducted week long ritual sacrifices to remove the ill effects but nothing was effective. The lamps refused to remain lit. Fresh flowers when offered withered immediately and the most strange occurrence was that the fifty bells that were in the outer courtyard of the temple complex refused to toll. When the commoners who visited tried to reach for one of them, the bells would swing from one side to the other out of reach. After many attempts they all gave up hoping and waiting for the familiar sound to be heard again.

Keshav Satara stood on the first floor balcony looking toward the hills in the direction of the temple, musing about the historic structure. No one knew when the temple was built but it was there ever since Vilaspore existed. He had heard tales of how the massive stone structure had remained unharmed even when there was a terrible earthquake some hundred years back. It was the property of the Vilaspore royals and it was said that only the true Maharanis' of Vilaspore could light the grand lamp in the outer court.

'When will that hour arrive?' he thought sadly.

The image of Nandini stepping inside the palace floated in front of his eyes. He sucked in a breath as he remembered what had happened when she set foot on the threshold. The bells of the temple had rung. His heart started beating faster and a sense of calm washed over him.

"Is Princess Nandini the answer?" he asked himself in a soft voice.

The sound of a bell being rung from a small shrine in the premises of the palace reached his ears. Overjoyed Keshav joined his hands in reverence and bowed in the direction of the temple. He had received an answer.

In the second floor open terrace Abhimanyu was seated on one of the many woven wicker chairs, soaking in the sun. His bare feet was propped up on the large teak wood table. A butler was standing nearby though not immediately in the line of sight awaiting orders from the prince. On a smaller table beside him was a mug of hot black lemon and mint tea from which he took an occasional sip. The mint in the brew was refreshed his body. He wondered if there was any medicine in the world that could refresh his soul. He rubbed a hand over his face trying to wipe out the effects of sleeplessness.

After his midnight adventure he had tried many a time to fall asleep but he just couldn't. Nandini's eyes brimmed with tears and her face etched with pain was all he could see whenever he closed his eyes to sleep. It irked him and he tried various methods to distract himself, unfortunately nothing had worked out.

Over and over the plea to give her a chance to explain rang in his ears. Why was he so bothered about that, he didn't know? Even if he did give her a chance could he trust what she would say to him? He wasn't sure of that either. So why bother in the first place. She was a deceptive witch who can't be trusted.

He ran steady fingers through his hair twice or thrice in a bid to sidetrack the train of thoughts. Nandini had always managed to create a flutter in him ever since he had first laid eyes on her causing his heart to falter and she had been barely fifteen. He let out a sigh, closed his eyes and turned his face up toward the sun. The heat from the sun kissed his face enabling him to focus on things more important than the woman whom he had tried to kiss last night.

Thankfully he was able to control himself otherwise the consequences could have been far worse. As his head was occupied with such notions his phone rang and he grimaced looking sideways knowing full well who the caller was.

And he was right. It was Uday. The call yesterday afternoon asking him to meet amused Abhimanyu. Picking up the phone on the table beside him he answered the call without any hurry.

"Yes," he said in a clipped tone.

"Can you please tell the idiots at the gate to let me in?" Uday's agitated voice came through.

Abhimanyu reached for the mug and took a sip before answering.

"Have a care in what you say. They are just doing their jobs . . . perfectly if I may add." Before Uday could reply to that he continued. "Just give the phone to them."

Uday complied telling himself that it was his need and not the other way around. The guards on getting a go ahead from the prince opened the gates wide for the car to enter and closed it immediately after. As he viewed it from the rear view mirror his brows knit in confusion. Abhimanyu was getting obsessive over security nowadays. The four guards posted at the gate were not the usual palace security. There was something strange and fierce about them. He was quite sure that these men were the ones who were present when he had come with Nandini but that time they had let him in only asking for the details and taking note of the car number. Today they had refused to let him in altogether without prior appointment from the yuvraj.

He shook his head not wanting to dwell too much on these matters. He had come here to inquire about Uttara and if possible put in a word for Nandini.

Half an hour later Uday found himself on the second floor sitting face to face with Abhimanyu. The latter was sitting with his right foot atop his left knee and a bored expression plastered on his face which Uday duly ignored.

The moment Nandini had expressed a doubt that Abhimanyu would have had a hand in Uttara's disappearance, he had made up his mind to confront him. But what he was not prepared for was the awkwardness. Five whole years had gone by since they had a civil conversation. Societal duties had thrown the three friends into the mix now and then but he and Vikram had taken extreme care to avoid Abhimanyu and likewise. If protocol had forced them to acknowledge him then a single nod had done the trick. No one had suspected the truth because in the royal circles it was a well known fact that Abhimanyu had changed a lot after the death of his mother.

Uday observed his old friend for quite some time unable to formulate words which hadn't been a problem in the past. He had changed a lot from the mischievous, flirty and let go attitude to being a ruthless, emotionless and cold hearted person.

"How are you Abhi?" he spoke at last.

"As you see," he replied nonchalantly.

Uday looked around the terrace wistfully. "We had spent a lot of time here you, Vikram and I . . ."

"Yeah, well not anymore." Abhimanyu cut him abruptly. "The terrace is strictly forbidden for any get together - formal or informal."

Uday leaned forward. "Abhi I . . ."

"I am guessing you have come to meet me for something important and not go down memory lane to discuss worthless things," he spoke rudely.

"Worthless things??? Is that what our relationship was? . . . Worthless!" exclaimed Uday hurt at his words.

"The answer is in your question. Was - that is the status of our relationship."

Uday sighed shaking his head in resignation. "It is true what they say about you. You really have become a stone."

Abhimanyu let out a short laugh. "You are being too polite Mr. Rathore. I am not a stone but a brutal boulder that can crush your very life. I have no qualms about it. So I repeat, what is it that you want with me?"

Uday steeled himself. "Where is Uttara?"

"I beg your pardon? I don't think I heard it right?" the prince drawled leaning back more comfortably in the wicker chair.

Uday knew that Abhimanyu was trying to goad him. "Uttara – as in your sister, where is she?"

"And why should I tell you where she is?" There was a dangerous glint in Abhimanyu's eyes. "Who are you to my sister that I should divulge that information?" he countered.

"Why don't you ask her that? I think she can answer that question quite well." Uday replied trying to quell the mounting anger.

"I don't need to ask her anything. But as you gladly took me through the nostalgic path of the yesteryears I will tell you this much. My sister is an independent individual. She is capable of taking decision of her own and to an extent abides by it too . . ." Uday was about to interrupt but stopped on seeing Abhimanyu's hand. "Let me finish . . ." he said and continued. "As her brother I have certain duties toward her well-being. Currently I am fulfilling those duties."

"Does keeping her away from me fall into that list?" Uday questioned in anger.

Abhimanyu did not care for the tone. "Maybe, . . . whatever it is I have an advice for you?" he leaned forward. "Uttara will never be yours."

The anger that he was so badly trying to suppress burst out of him like a volcano. He stood swiftly toppling the chair he was sitting on in the process.

"You cannot keep her away from me Abhi. We love each other and I know for sure in my heart that she will come to me. I know you will try to separate us but there is something called fate. I believe in that."

Abhimanyu sneered at the words. "Good for you! But there is a trump card which will ensure that your dream will blow away like the wind does to the chaff. You do know what she wants don't you?" he titled his head to the side smirking as recognition dawned on Uday's face. "Come on Uday tell me what she wants," he urged him to answer.

Uday stuffed his left hand into the pocket of his jeans and turned his face away so that Abhimanyu could not see and gloat on the hurt and pain that was clearly visible on it. "She – she wants everything between us to be like it was before," he said in a glum voice.

Abhimanyu spread out his hands. "There it is!" he said triumphantly. "You know as well as I do that 'that' is impossible in this lifetime at least. Come to think of it I wouldn't want friends like you in the next seven either," he added in a serious tone.

"You are the one to say Abhi. What would Vikram have to say then on what you did to his sister?" Uday blurted in frustration.

Abhimanyu's eyes blazed with fury on hearing the accusation being repeated yet again. "You better leave Uday before I do something to that face of yours."

Uday scoffed feeling happy that he had managed to unnerve Abhimanyu. "At least I behaved decently with Uttara. But you . . . you behaved despicably by trying to rape the sister of your best friend and that too right here in your home!"

In one fluid motion Abhimanyu got up and lunged forward catching hold of Uday's T-shirt with one hand. With the other free hand he punched him in the jaw. Uday caught unawares staggered for a second before falling on the ground. The butler who had been watching the exchange between the men was astounded at the sudden attack of the prince. He immediately ran down in fear to fetch help. Abhimanyu strode over to Uday and lifted him by a fistful of the cloth. He brought the man to face him and looked him in the eye. "Say it again Uday . . . I challenge you to say that again to my face."

Uday smiled with drops of blood trickling from the corner of his lips. There was a huge bruise on his jaw and it was turning purple with every growing second. "I won't cower Abhi. The truth is the truth and it is bitter. You are responsible for Nandini's condition. You and you alone."

Abhimanyu tightened his hold on the T shirt for several seconds then shoved him away. "You have never asked me my side of the story. Do you know what had happened?"

"Do you?" Uday counter questioned wiping the drops of blood away with the palm of his hand. He pushed himself off the ground and stood unsteadily reeling under the effect of the blow. 'His attack skills are strong as ever,' he thought wryly.

Meanwhile the butler returned with Keshav Satara and Bhim on his heels. One look on Uday's face was enough for Keshav to understand what had happened.

"Kumar sa?" Keshav called out.

Abhimanyu was standing near the terrace wall facing the hills. "Baba please arrange for a first aid box and some water."

Keshav signaled the butler who left immediately. The men stood in absolute silence while Uday touched the skin of his jaw gently inspecting the damage done. After few minutes the butler reappeared with a first aid kit. Keshav took it from his hands and went to Uday. The butler straightened the toppled chair gulping in fear. Keshav then urged Uday to take a seat and the latter complied without a murmer.

"Uday sa may I?" he asked. The younger man nodded in agreement. Keshav opened the box and took out cotton, an antiseptic lotion and a cream of some sort and laid it on the table. He dipped the cotton in the lotion and dabbed it on the cut in the corner of his upper lip. Though it stung, Uday clenched his fists tightly to avoid letting out any sound. Keshav then applied the cream on the bruise.

"Uday sa, the bruise is beginning to get purple. Please use this cream daily, it will help." the older man handed the tube to him.

Uday shook his head. "No need baba, I am fine. Thank you for your help."

Keshav did not press further as he understood that the situation was quite tense. It was wise to remain quiet. Just then a maid appeared carrying a tray with a jug of water and a glass. Keshav motioned her to place it on the table. The maid obeyed and left immediately.

"Baba please leave us," said Abhimanyu.

Keshav, Bhim and the butler bowed. Once they were alone Abhimanyu turned to face Uday. His face betrayed no emotion whatsoever on seeing the bruise.

"You and Vikram had always accused me of doing a heinous thing. What you forgot to consider is am I capable of doing something appalling to the girl I once liked!"

Uday's head snapped up on hearing the confession. "You like her?"

Abhimanyu leaned on the terrace wall. "Correction – its in the past and it would remain that way no matter the circumstance. You were ready to judge me so quickly that you forgot to ask me what happened. You did not see that she was faking everything. Did not see that she was equally guilty in the matter. It was convenient to put the blame on me right 'cause I am a man." He scoffed. "Women go scot free always."

As he was speaking Abhimanyu thought he saw a small movement near the door. "Who is it?" he asked loudly. On receiving no answer he let it go thinking he had imagined it.

Uday's brows knit in confusion. "Don't say that I did not try to contact you. You refused to see me or answer my calls. I sent you messages after messages asking you for an explanation. What does that say Abhi?"

"That made you assume I am guilty? Did it ever occur to you that I was completely broken? My mother died believing that I had committed a crime! What would you do if you were in my shoes? I don't need to answer to any of you but my mother – it was to her that I wanted to prove I was innocent."

"And Nandini? What about her? Do you know what happened after that?"

Abhimanyu turned his face away. "I don't want to know anything about her," he said stubbornly. "As for you and Vikram. You were supposed to be my friends and no matter what, friends trust each other. Both of you believed the first lie that you heard . . ."

"We saw it Abhi . . . we saw it with our own eyes!" Uday cried out in frustration. "Why cant you accept it?"

"Even if I have to give up my life I will never accept accusation for something I did not do." He stood up straight and walked over to Uday. "I have spoken so much to you only because you are the son of Sushma aunty, who was a good friend to my mother."

He turned his back to Uday. "I think its time for you to leave!"

Sighing heavily Uday got up from the chair. "Truth will prevail please remember that." As he reached the door leading to the exit he stopped abruptly and turned. "I am going to find Uttara no matter where she is and I am going to help Nandini with whatever she needs. Keep in mind that she is not defenseless like last time. Just because you both are tied by fate doesn't mean that you can treat her shabbily. If you try to do anything to her I will relate everything that happened to Virendra uncle."

"Is that a threat?" Abhimanyu asked rather camly.

"Whatever you may think," the other man answered.

"Just get out Uday before I forget all about Sushma aunty and do something worse to your face."

Uday watched as Abhimanyu strode over to the chair. "Have a good day Yuvraj Abhimanyu Raj Singh," with that he left.

Abhimanyu's face clouded at the audacity of the threat. He smirked. "No one can save her from my hands Uday, not you, not her father nor her brother. She has entered my web and I alone will decide her fate."

Downstairs Keshav was waiting for Uday to appear. He knew that the prince and Uday had some problems among themselves but he did not know what it was. It had all started the day before Maharani Padmini died. Not even the maharaj knew but it had something to do with Princess Nandini that much he was sure. The old noble speculated whether Uday sa took a liking to the princess. Was that why he had accompanied the princess when she came to Vilaspore? Was that the reason the friends fought? Coming to think of it he thought it was possible. He recalled the way he had held her close. Even at that time Keshav had found it offensive. If that was so then he would support kumar sa, he considered angrily. Princess Nandini belonged to Vilaspore and to the yuvraj not a mere commoner even though he came from a good family.

The sound of someone descending the steps was heard. Keshav frowned as Uday appeared at the top of the stairs. The bruise on Uday's face was a deep purple. 'Serves him right,'  the older man thought.

"Keshav baba, I am leaving. Thank you for all your help," he said pleasantly.

"Hmph . . . Uday sa please don't mind my saying this but I think I have to tell you because the future of Vilaspore is at stake," the noble's tone was serious.

Uday looked puzzled. "Yes baba what is it?"

Keshav took in a deep breath. "Uday sa you are very close to the family but you do not control the future."

"Baba I don't understand wha . . ."

Keshav interrupted. "Princess Nandini belongs to Yuvraj Abhimanyu and no one can change that. If you harbor any feelings toward the princess I request you to forget them and keep away from her," he gave a deathly glare feeling proud of himself on having delivered the request cum warning.

Uday stood shell shocked at what the old man spoke. An impish smile formed on his lips as he realized what conclusions Keshav might have arrived at. Donning a serious face he glared back in an equally ferocious manner, "That is impossible baba. I cannot and will not keep away from Nandini. I love her dearly . . ."

'as a little sister'  he said in his head. "You can please tell your Yuvraj to stay away from her."

Keshav's mustache quivered and his eyes grew wider. He blubbered unable to come up with a response. Uday grinned taking leave, wincing as the pain hit his jaw, a strong expletive escaped from his mouth.

The noble walked away in a hurry muttering under his breath. When the coast was clear a figure that was hidden in the space beneath the stairs emerged with a victorious look.

Roopa Sharma had left the staff quarters early to offer prayers at the small shrine situated in the midst of the palace grounds. She needed to do this as it was the first day of 'Operation Abhimanyu'. The blessings of the almighty was crucial for everything to go smoothly. After praying for a long time she rung the bell in the shrine with gusto as if informing everyone that she was not going to go down without a fight. She was in the office when she realized that there was no paper in the printer, even the packet was empty. She looked around searching for a box and not finding any grabbed the keys to the storage room.

The space below the stairs had been fashioned into a small storage room. Basically it held old newspapers, albums, some broken furniture, office supplies and old files. That was when she saw Keshav hurrying along with the butler up the stairs. She stood contemplating whether to follow them or not. Mustering up courage she hurried behind them and on reaching the second floor hid herself in one of the alcoves behind the doors. She could hear voices coming from the terrace. She strained to hear the conversation. One voice belonged to Abhimanyu and the other sounded quite familiar but she couldn't place it. Abhimanyu asked for a first aid kit and when the butler appeared at the door she sunk further into the alcove to avoid detection. 'What was the need for the first aid kit?'  she wondered. The butler returned with the kit and then she moved again waiting to hear more.

Keshav's voice was heard next and then she understood who the other man was. Uday. She waited to hear more but when Keshav, Bhim and the butler appeared she held her breath and waited for them to pass. The duo had moved further away, she came out of her hiding and stood craning her neck to catch a glimpse. What she heard blew her mind away. She was almost going to get caught but she hurried away at the right time.

Now as she stood leaning beside the stairs she smiled heartily. The prayers she offered in the morning was seeing fulfillment. She clearly understood the dynamics of the relationships and they were:

Abhimanyu hated Nandini.

He was out for revenge.

Uday was in love with Nandini.

And all was well in the world.

Humming a tune she picked up the packet of printing paper and walked toward the office with a skip in her step. The road that seemed rocky earlier was not so bad after all.