Escapade

Rajkumari Priyambada ran through the dark forest. The rain and mud made it difficult for her to wade through as her skirt draped around her legs, was soaked and muddy, hugging her body, making it difficult for her to run faster. Desperate to get through without getting caught, Priyambada lifted her clothes to her knees and ran as fast as she could. She could feel her breath and heartbeat over everything, but had to go on. Her knees were weak, and her injured head still throbbed. She thanked her stars for paying attention in self-defence classes. A fire in the tent gave the enemy no option but to vacate it and douse its flames. That occupied them enough. Now all she had to do was find her mother and go across the border to her maternal uncle’s kingdom. Once she reached there, she would be safe. Perhaps her mother and brother are already there. Her thoughts ran as fast as she did. She didn’t know how she would find her mother, but she was not ready to surrender without a fight.

Yuvaraja Ishaan Dev Varman inhaled sharply, watching the soldiers douse the fire that engulfed the tent using buckets of water from the riverbank. The princess’s allies Devdoot and Urvi stood bound in chains.
“How did she find something to light a fire with?” His voice boomed through the night. “Who helped her?” He took his dagger out of his waistband and held it to a shivering Devdoot’s neck. He seemed a little too thin to be the bodyguard of the princess, but it seemed like he was trusted enough with it. And Ishaan Dev found his body language quite feminine for his liking. The young man had his eyes lowered and his head bowed. Ishaan Dev checked his temper. He already regretted sparing the infant prince. The wails of a mother begging for the life of a four-year-old in her arms disturbed him. She was ready to trade her state and her daughter for the life of her infant son. She oddly reminded him of the women he had left behind back home, his mother and sister. He didn’t go near the acquired “prize”, but he could see she was barely of age. He had agreed to take the risk of letting the Wind clan's infant prince survive, under his terms. He was perhaps not as ready for war as he thought he was. He was not ready to kill a four-year-old as a potential threat.

If he didn’t try to find her, there was a good chance she would be eaten by some animals that night, and if she survived, she would never find her way to her mother. He had made sure of that. Was she even a threat? Ishaan Dev grunted. He knew his conscience wouldn’t let him be.

“Bring me my horse.” He instructed, picking up his sword. “Let’s find her before she gets preyed on by the wolves.” Urvi looked up at his words as he mounted the sturdy white stallion, Vidyut, and rode off into the darkness.

Priyambada was alerted by the sound of approaching hooves as she sought an ambush in the ruins of an ancient temple in the darkness of the night. Her only escape. She had run inside and hid behind the black-stoned Phallus. She knew the architecture around was quite familiar to those in the fort. Did that mean the enemy was still within the borders of Neelambargarh? She folded her hands to the Lord. He knew how to keep her safe. He had always protected her. She closed her eyes and sobbed.

“Save me, O Lord!” She whispered. “Save Neelambargarh from these evil people!”

Yuvaraja Ishaan Dev pulled the reins of his horse as he came by the ancient temple. Something seemed to draw him towards it as he alighted and walked up the broken moss-covered steps of the temple, to only be met by a large hooded snake. The sound of the sword swinging behind her made Priyambada gasp in alarm as Yuvaraja Ishaan Dev cut the approaching snake into two“God have mercy.” He spoke under his breath, realising he was standing before the one who wrapped the snake around his neck. The next thing his eyes fell on was the shadowy figure behind it. The sight of Ishaan Dev had filled Priyambada with chills to her bones as she couldn’t feel her legs anymore to escape. She was trapped with the black-stoned Phallus between her and her impending doom, Ishaan Dev. On whose side the Almighty was, Priyambada wondered.

She looked more fragile than he remembered when he had first set eyes on her in the tunnel. She was still unconscious as he was told when she was brought to the camp. He hadn’t shown any inkling of interest in his prize. The enemy was killed, the kingdom was soon to be his, and everything else came in addition to that. Even this pain of a responsibility he had taken up in one weak moment, seeing a pleading mother’s tears. He cursed himself for that. His father didn’t approve, but neither did he stop the prince. Perhaps Rajadhiraj Trikal Dev was aware that his son would eventually learn from such mistakes. Now, Ishaan Dev wished his father had stopped him. This was his doing. He looked into the blank but fearless eyes looking back at him. Her body could look as fragile as an injured prey, but her eyes were fierce.

“How dare you escape?” He jolted her with his heavy voice as he crossed over and picked her up, grabbing her upper arm forcibly. It hurt her. He knew it did. He just couldn’t care less. His eyes had primitive hunger in them. Of revenge, anger and the unfinished lust he had to give up on for… this? He expected her to fear him. Surrender to his might. Ishaan Dev was taken aback as she struggled to free her hand. Her other hand reached for the trident that stood beside the stone statue. Anticipating her move, Ishaan Dev landed her on the ground with a resonating slap.

“Now I see why enemies shouldn’t be treated with respect. You don’t deserve any.” His voice did very little as her jaws tightened. She removed the locks of hair falling over her face and looked up at him. “Accept your defeat like a true royal and surrender to your fate!”

“Then treat me like you should. A piece of meat. To have the pleasure of taking and killing.” She stood up with a little stumble to face him. “Or perhaps killing first, before having?” Ishaan Dev inhaled at the sheer audacity of the girl. How old was she? His mother always said only the bravest and boldest gave a fight till the end. Which one was she?

“What happened? Kill me already. It is better than living every day around all of you.” Her voice was challenging. Ishaan Dev’s eyes lit up. Was he admiring her? Rajkumari Priyambada could not tell. The man looked in his early twenties, rugged and fair. His hair fell to his shoulders in waves, and there was a mark on his chin, perhaps a permanent mark left from the blade of a sword in the past. He wore stubble, very unlike men his age, who preferred a moustache. Ishaan Dev stepped forward, closing the gap between them, trying to intimidate her. But Priyambada stood her ground, unnerved. His lips curved just a little. Was he smiling? Amused? Taunting? Priyambada frowned.

“Oh, trust me, had I wanted, you would have been dealt with this very moment. I don’t spare betrayals.” The sound of more hooves approaching made Priyambada feel weaker on her knees. Her body was giving up on her. She knew there was no escape from this torture any time soon as Ishaan Dev stepped back and the guards surrounded her.

"But killing you will be like sparing you. I would prefer to imprison you so that you remember the lesson of messing with me every day you breathe and survive." She struggled in the arms of the two soldiers who now caught hold of her as her hawk eyes watched the prince mount his horse and leave, gesturing at the soldiers to follow him back to the camp, without sparing a single glance at her.

Comments

You Deserve More

Ajabdeh woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm on her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between them, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly, but he was holding on to it so tightly. Ajabdeh's heart beat faster and faster. What do I do now? How do I not wake him? What if... why is my hand in his? She was utterly confused. " Am I...In love?" Pratap was staring at the sleeping figure on the bed as he stared back at the rain. Then he frowned as he noticed that she shivered. He closed the windows of the room to make it cosy, then sat on his side of the bed. A lamp flickered on her side like always, and he stared at her sleeping figure as he put his blanket over her as well. She shifted a little in her sleep to make herself cosy again. Her payals and bangles made a rhythmic sound, breaking the silence of the room. Her hand was out of her blanket and on the pillow in between. He tried to slowly put it ...

Purnota: Chapter Four

The group of youth provided by the Pradhan proved efficient for Aniruddha’s liking as they helped him survey the villages, create a set of data and provide a rough idea of how much fund was needed to rebuild the roofs and fallen walls. “What if we make them permanent? That way, the next cyclone will cause less damage. Pakka houses may also get other facilities like toilets and…” Aniruddha suggested as his eyes shone in the flickering light of the dimly lit kerosene lamp in the living room of Pradhan’s house. Drops of perspiration had formed on his forehead in the load-shedding, and the mosquitoes buzzed around them. For the first two nights, Aniruddha could barely sleep in the unfamiliar surroundings with buzzing insects, sounds of the unknown, and eerie animals here and there at a distance. Stories of snakes climbing up to the second floor through windows despite the mosquito net protecting his four-poster bed kept him alarmed. By the third day, after a day’s survey through the villag...

Towards You

The Afghans, after Sher Shah Suri's untimely demise, were at loggerheads for power. Their troops near Mewar were now led by Mehmood Shah. They secretly captured territories in the forests and waited to attack Mewari camps when the time was right. Rawat Chundawat and his spies had confirmed the news, and Udai Singh sent a warning to Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now that it was out in the open, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. His internal rebellion against his commander did not help his cause. His spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. It was then that one of his aides suggested a perfect plan. Maharani Jaivanta Bai had decided to go to the Mahakaleshwar Temple near the outskirts of Chittorgarh, in the forestlands of Bhilwara. They had travelled a long way and across the Gambhiri river that meandered during...

Purnota: Chapter Six

Kalindi waited outside the hut, on the torn mat they usually slept on, using the hand fan to drive away mosquitoes as she stared at the empty path leading out of the house, the path Bondita had taken some time back. It was almost an hour. Did the foolish girl escape or land in trouble? To her relief, she could hear her nephew snoring away indoors, reassuring her that they were at least not caught by the villagers till now. She was sure Bondita would return empty-handed and hurt, and that she would have no other way than to accept the proposal from the Pradhan. That morning, her Kaka would accompany Sarkar Moshai to the adjacent village to talk to a family friend of the Sarkars. They were looking for a bride for their sixteen-year-old eldest son, who worked as a labourer in Sealdah. Kalindi had tears in her eyes. Not much had changed in these years; not much of women’s fate was different, wasn't it? Kalindi was about ten years old when her father took her to the Roy Chowdhury house ...

Purnota: Chapter Eleven

Bondita opened her window to find Thamma and Jyatha Moshai missing from the lawn. The chairs were empty. Was she sleeping till late? She checked the clock and shook her head. Taking the towel, she hurried towards the bathroom, countering Kalindi on the way. She was reading the newspaper with her rimless reading glasses on. “Umm… why are you here? Where is Jyatha Moshai?” Kalindi raised her eyes briefly and sighed without putting the paper away. Her lack of response puzzled Bondita as she made her way to take a bath. When she came out in a pair of jeans and a shirt, rolling her sleeves up, Kalindi observed her keenly. “Will you be going somewhere?” She enquired. Bondita nodded. “Ah, yes, the District Office, some of my paperwork for the Bar Membership needs to be signed by a Gazetted Officer. Jyatha Moshai knows someone…” “Don’t go by their house… he is in a bad mood.” Kalindi placed some Chirer Polao in front of her and spoke as Bondita rubbed her wet hair with a frown. “Why?” “Oh...

She Left...

The war was over and so were the hopes of regaining Chittor. The Battle at Haldighati had robbed the Rana of all his wealth, and brave men, and bruised him for life. Trying to match up to Akbar or rather Raja Man Singh's army with one-third its strength had cost his bravery dearly. He had lost his friend and companion. He had brushed past death. The only good thing that this war ensured was that Akbar accepted that he cannot have Mewar. His army retreated and left the country in peace after almost two decades and seventeen wars. This war gave something else too. Kunwar Shakti came to help his brother in his time of need. He lived up to his brother's expectations of being loyal to his family. A heavy-hearted Rana Pratap Singh was overseeing the construction work on his lost friend's memorial right where he died, trying to save his master. The Bronze statue of the life-like Chetak stood tall but was no match for the void Chetak has left behind. He was lost in his thoughts as ...

Purnota: Chapter Five

Aniruddha finished reading the book he had carried with him in the dim light of the bulb in his room and decided to pack it away. He was leaving in a few days and wanted to make sure he left nothing behind. The construction work on the school had started, and the Panchayat wanted to give him a thankful farewell he humbly refused. The spotlight should be on Trilochon to help with his next election campaign. Aniruddha did not want to associate himself with the party or the job. He contemplated going back home and telling his father that he had decided to pursue a career in India instead of his initial plan of going back to London. He had been giving it a thought for quite some time, and the day he said it out loud to Bondita, he knew in his subconscious mind he had already decided on it. The more he saw the village, the more sure he was that he was needed by his countrymen. Dadu put faith in him that he could be part of something bigger than himself and his career, and he intended to kee...

Life and You

" Maharanisa! Maharanisa!" The maid-in-waiting ran through the quiet Rani Mahal as Jaivanta Bai, who was sitting in front of the Lord in her room ever since she was back, rushed out of her room, followed by Sajjabai and Veerbai. " What happened?" She asked, her voice calm, but her heart thumping. " Kunwarsa is here... with Kunwarani... She... She...." The maid sobbed as Jaivanta Bai rushed to the room. She stood at the door as her eyes could not believe what she saw. Kunwar Pratap was soaked in her blood as he laid her down on the bed, shouting, " Quick. Rajvaidya..." His eyes stopped at the door as Jaivanta Bai rushed to be beside the unconscious Ajabdeh. The Daasis and Sevaks were running about soon enough. Sajja Bai gasped at the scene. So much blood. Kunwar Pratap had not noticed anything except her calm, unconscious face. Now that he noticed his blood-soaked hands, red, he stared at them as though in a trance. "Kunwar Pratap! Tell me w...

Purnota: Chapter Ten

The rain clouds gave way to the scorching sun the following day as Bondita woke up as the first rays of the sun hit her face and disturbed her sleep. She cursed herself for keeping the window open and sat inside the mosquito net with a sleepy yawn. She eyed the alarm clock on her desk that said 6.30. Bondita scratched her head and pulled the mosquito net up to search for her slippers. She heard the bell ringing from Thamma’s room and the chanting of mantras. A smile came involuntarily to her lips as she realised that she might have come after ages, but everything in Chandannagar seemed to have been at a standstill. She grabbed the Kurti from the chair to change from the top she was wearing and wondered what she could do for the day. For the first time in a long time, she was free from the routine of boarding houses. Her eyes fell on the mess around her room since she had not unpacked the day before. Bondita decided to spend the morning unpacking her belongings. She opened the door of h...

Purnota: Chapter Eight

“ Choto Babu Eshe Gechen ” Bihari rushed out to the portico, announcing Aniruddha’s arrival as Batuk rushed out behind him to welcome his brother. But he stopped at the threshold, realising that Dadabhai was not alone. Being an introvert, Batuk did not quite like guests, especially those he did not know. He knew the drill. Soon, his father or uncle would summon him to the living room and praise his piano skills until he was asked to play. The only song he knew was “We Shall Overcome”, and the blind pride of his family completely missed the disappointment in the guest's faces and false praises. But these guests looked different. As the driver opened the car's back door, a girl, about his age and height, jumped out wearing a pair of plastic slippers and a shabby dress, her hair oiled and braided, eyes wide in astonishment at the enormity of their house. Behind her came a reluctant woman, her hair in streaks of grey, wearing a dirty white saree, with nothing but a bead garland on...

RAABTA

Search This Blog