Ravi Varman expected his people to be disappointed, but instead, there were celebrations in Suryapali like they had won a battle. He received a hero’s welcome. People poured onto the streets, some shedding tears of joy watching their loved ones march back home. Some prayed and others cheered. Some women rushed into the troops to find and hug their children and husbands. Others wailed, finding their men absent from the troops. But the people of Suryapali hailed their king. Perhaps they were glad that it was over after all. Ravi Varman was overwhelmed to see his children at the threshold of the inner palace as soon as he got down from his horse. Maharani Sumedha wiped away her tears as Chinmayi ran to her father. He walked up the steps, holding her hand, and took Aruna Dev in his arms. Then he smiled at Sumedha. She suggested that he rest, but he wanted her to see him in court. Suddenly, her smile faded. She knew why.
Ravi Varman made sure she met Trinayani Devi first and apologised in person. He informed her that her entourage would be ready to take her to Neelambargarh with proper state honours the very next day. She looked weak, yet she smiled and, to his relief, forgave him.
“I just need to ask you one thing.” He said, eyeing Sumedha, who nodded in approval.
“How was Trishaan Dev eligible for the throne?” Trinayani Devi looked at both of them at his question. She knew it was time to tell the truth. Because the truth didn’t matter anymore.
“Subhashini… his mother was a friend of Mandakini’s.” She said.
“Why did you lie to all of us then?” Ravi Varman frowned.
“It was the princess who wanted to save the child after his mother passed. I didn’t have the heart to refuse. But you know the complications…” Trinayani Devi watched his face fill with regret.
“We treated him wrong all his life and then expected him to do the right thing for us.” Trinayani Devi silently agreed. He was right.
Ratnawati was now getting used to the chains on her feet, weighing her down. She wasn’t ready to walk in them yet. And once she heard the rejoicing crowd outside, she was sure her son had won the battle and she didn’t need to be in prison any more. That was exactly when the guards came in to take her to court. While being dragged, Ratnawati made a mental note to appeal to his humane side, the son and the father. She looked up to find the queen beside him, and the courtroom full of nobles and ministers gasping at her. She looked at them, and all she could see was hatred in their eyes. What were they staring at her like that for? She didn’t actually murder Trinayani Devi; she intended to.
“After going through the investigation, the queen of Neelambargarh conducted in my absence, I concluded that it was Rani Ratnawati Devi who had both access to and the motive for murdering the late king.” Ravi Varman’s words sent a shiver down Ratnawati’s spine. The ministers murmured and gasped. Sumedha expected her to throw a tantrum. Perhaps even be dramatic. She was surprised by the calm with which Ratnawati stood, facing her son, accepting her defeat.
“I feel ashamed as a royal and her son that she could go to such an extent for her ambition.” He looked at his mother briefly. Our ambition, Ravi. I did it for you. He looked away and inhaled. “And she framed the Maharani and the Maharaja of Neelambargarh wrongly. Can the defence minister tell me what the punishment is for killing the king and scheming to kill his queen?”
“Death by hanging, Your Highness.” The Defence Minister didn’t flinch. It was Sumedha who placed her hand on Ravi’s head and shook her head. How could he… He looked away, tightening his jaws.
“So be it then.” The ministers looked scared. They never expected to see this side of Ravi Varman. Ever since he came back from war, he looked like a different king, wise, calm and just. The guards were about to take Ratnawati away, but she chose to stay put and looked up at her son.
“Can I be granted one last wish? To speak here.” Ravi Varman looked up at her words. How was she so calm? It was Sumedha who gave her permission.
“I have no regrets. I was married here from a small state as an alliance. From an early age, I was taught to use my brain and beauty if I wanted to make a mark in my husband’s life, and I did just that. I respected him. But being a mother made my whole world revolve around my son.”
“Don’t blame it on me.” Ravi Varman said under his breath. Ratnawati smiled faintly.
“I am not blaming him, but from the minute I held him, I knew my son was going to rule Suryapali. Surely, I am not proud of some of my choices, but who is? I did what I had to. I have no regrets because…” She looked up at Ravi Varman, standing near the throne of Suryapali, the crown on his head, as her eyes were moist. “My dream came true.”
“You killed him.” Ravi Varman shook his head. “You killed my father. Your husband. The king.” Ratnawati wiped away her tears. “Don’t you dare try to justify that!”
Ratnawati didn’t speak any more. She was taken away by the guards and given a feast for her last meal. She was executed at dawn. Nobody attended her execution.
Haimanti stood at the fresh tablet erected in the memory of fallen soldiers in the town square. Her eyes were moist and she lingered her hands on the names of her brothers and Trishaan Dev. She was grateful that Ravi Varman honoured Trishaan Dev as a martyr even after knowing his truth. She picked up a fresh flower from her basket and placed it down in front of the tablet. It was dawn, and the streets were not crowded yet. She had to leave before anyone saw her. A rider flashed past her towards the palace. She frowned. A messenger? What could be wrong now?
The moment Priyambada hugged Mrityunjoy, he cupped her wet cheek and called out to her. Priyambada was overwhelmed. She held him close and cried, making the confused child cry as well. Smriti was busy nursing Raja Viraj back to health and thanking god for his survival. Ishaan Dev, however, wanted to see his aunt first.
Mahadevi Mandakini thanked the gods when she heard Trinayani Devi would reach the capital around the same time they would. She couldn’t wait to go back to the capital. Shivanandan was recovering from his injuries, as he reassured her in letters, but she wanted to see him in person to know he was telling the truth.
“I am asking you the truth about Trishaan Dev.” Mandakini’s heart skipped a beat at her nephew’s question.
“He is dead, isn’t he?” She asked, unsurely.
“Yes, he is. But that doesn’t change who he is. Who is he?” He asked. “I know your story about the concubine is untrue.” Mandakini Devi sighed.
“Sit down, Ishaan. I will tell you everything. But it might be tough to accept.” She said as she sat down beside him.
“Why? “Ishaan Dev frowned. Mandakini Devi smiled faintly.
“Because we grow up with the idea that our parents, our kings and queens, are all perfect reflections of morals and righteousness, but the reality can be far from the truth.”
Ravi Varman sat down with the scroll that had arrived at dawn, his face pale and his palms cold. Sumedha woke up to find him looking down at the carpet like a statue as he sat on the edge of the bed. She assumed it was because of his mother. He had spent a sleepless night in her arms, lamenting about his failures as she reassured him.
“What is wrong?” Her touch jolted him. “Is it done?”
“I… am responsible. This is Karma, Sumedha. This is my sin.” He handed her the scroll with trembling hands. Sumedha picked it up with a frown. She gasped as she sat down beside him. Rani Devastuti could not make it through the long journey. She died on the border along with her unborn child. It was Raja Sarthak’s message to Suryapali. “You will pay for it.” Sumedha didn’t know how she could react. She was numb, and she couldn’t breathe. She looked up at her husband.
“It is not your fault…” She managed. He shook his head. “It is. I told him to make her travel. This is because I sinned. I executed my mother,” he stopped as Haimanti arrived at the threshold and clearly didn’t expect to see him there. She bit her lips and turned to leave. Cursing herself for the habit she developed over the past few weeks of rushing to the queen at dawn. Sumedha stopped her.
“Stay, Haimanti. There is something I want to talk about. To both of you.”
Ravi Varman knew quite well that two wrongs never made a right, but he couldn’t turn Sumedha down. She was right, the girl had nowhere to go and nobody to respect her after knowing she was with Trishaan Dev. It was true that there were times when Trishaan Dev acted like a brother and protected and guided him. Although Ravi knew it was for his own agenda mostly, he felt a sense of responsibility. A sense of giving Trishaan Dev respect that his father never did. He could do it by preventing Haimanti from being another victim of circumstances for the man she loved, like Subhashini was. But he was clear that accepting her as a wife would only be social and not imply any responsibilities otherwise. Haimanti was grateful to Sumedha for saving her and her family's name. She vowed to spend her life guiding and protecting Rajputra Aruna Dev like her own child. Perhaps she could do away with some of Trishaan Dev’s sins that way.
The Maharaja of Neelambargarh rode into the fort with his queen riding beside him, amidst cheers and support from the people. They could see the visible devastation around them, which the workers were busy repairing, and the pain in the eyes of their subjects was evident even when they smiled in hope of better days. Behind them in an entourage were palanquins of Urvi, Vrinda and others, following the larger one carrying Mahadevi Mandakini and Rajputra Mrityunjoy. Devdoot and Abhranaga followed closely with the troops, whose families poured in with eager anticipation. Some people who had lost their families to war were crying and comforting each other. The Maharani of Neelambargarh looked up at the blue flag flying over the palace towers. She was finally home.
Vrinda was waiting eagerly at the gates of the inner palace, a few steps behind General Shivanandan, and after the royals were properly welcomed, the moment she saw Urvi, she broke down.
“What is wrong, girl? I am here now.” Urvi reassured her.
“I heard you were attacked, too.” Vrinda sobbed. “I am so glad we are all alive.”
“I am, too,” Urvi reassured her. Devdoot walked up the steps, watching Urvi reassure Vrinda, who was hugging her and sobbing, and he walked up to them.
“Ahem… if you are done here, go help out. The Rajmata is arriving soon.” Urvi shot a glance at her husband’s coldness as he looked away, and Vrinda narrowed her eyes at him.
“Who is this man you returned with? Where did you leave your husband?” Vrinda snapped before dragging Urvi, who couldn’t help but smile, away towards the kitchen.
Trinayani Devi removed the curtains of the palanquin to catch a glimpse of the streets of Neelambargarh. Crowds had gathered around to catch a glimpse of her, and the unfamiliar place gave her a sense of warmth and security. Her entourage had her maids and guards, restored to her with honour from the queen of Suryapali, who had also sent across some gifts for the heir apparent of Neelambargarh with her blessings. Trinayani Devi was overwhelmed at the sight of Priyambada and Ishaan Dev waiting to welcome her at the threshold. It seemed like ages since she had seen them, and they looked older than she remembered them. Priyambada hugged her, and Trinayani Devi could hold back her tears no longer.
“Forgive me, mother.” Ishaan Dev said as she hugged her son. “I couldn’t help you sooner.”
“You did your best, son.” She reassured him. “All’s well that ends well. Now I would like to see my grandson. I can’t wait to see him.”
“But first…” Ishaan Dev led her down the corridors of the inner palace as Priyambada followed with a smile. “You should meet someone else.”
Mandakini Devi had smiled and hugged her and then bowed.
“I am sorry I forgot decorum, Rajmata.” She made Trinayani Devi smile as they held each other’s hands and wept, and Trinayani Devi looked up at the familiar face behind her.
“Isn’t he…” Mandakini Devi nodded. “General Shivanandan.” Trinayani Devi raised her eyebrows, surprised as he bowed, and she wiped away her tears.
“We are leaving soon.” Mandakini Devi’s words made Trinayani Devi frown as she noticed them exchanging glances.
“Where are you going?” She asked.
“Suryapali and Neelambargarh have signed a treaty, and that means he can go back home. I… The Maharani suggested I go with him.” Trinayani Devi couldn’t miss how Mandakini Devi’s smile reached her eyes after years. She nodded in agreement.
“I'd better not keep you waiting. You waited too long.” Her words made the princess hug her again.
“What about me? When is my turn?” It was Nayantara’s voice that startled Trinayani Devi as she noticed her daughter glowing.
“You are the youngest.” Ishaan Dev teased, “She will meet you last.”. Nayantara stared at him disapprovingly as Priyambada came to her defence.
“Rajputra is the youngest now. Stop bothering her. Besides, soon we will have a younger Nayantara too.” A surprised Trinayani Devi held her daughter as they cried happy tears.
“I told the Raja of Anantanagar that she will stay here till the baby comes,” Priyambada reassured.
“I am so happy that I fear being so happy.” Trinayani Devi sobbed.
“Wait, you have yet to meet the Rajputra.” Priyambada reminded her.
