Chapter 21 The Intimate Moment
A slanting ray of moonlight entered the chamber through the window and formed a silver strip on the floor In that very light Nirag stood and the blade of the small decorative dagger gleamed in his hand His fingers were wrapped so tightly around the handle that his joints had turned white His breaths were short and fast forming small clouds of mist in the cold air His eyes held no tears Only an empty deep despair like the water of a well that had run dry
He raised the blade The coldness of the steel touched the veins of his neck where his pulse was beating rapidly He closed his eyes The muscles of his jaw tensed He gathered strength in his body to press the blade deeper
But the blade did not move
Nirag eyes widened in shock The blade was frozen in the air an inch away from his throat as if trapped in some invisible solid air He strained his wrist and pulled but the blade remained stuck there and only a faint vibration echoed in his hands
He looked towards the door
Anvay stood on the threshold and his right hand was raised forward A dim golden yellow light was emanating from his palm swirling slowly in the air and encircling that blade Anvay face was serious and his brows were furrowed His eyes held a firmness that seemed far older than his age
He entered the chamber and closed the door softly behind him Then he jerked his hand downwards The blade suddenly released from Nirag hand and spun in the air before falling to the ground It struck the stone floor with a sharp clattering sound and rolled away
Anvay reached Nirag and grabbed both his wrists What were you doing Nirag His voice trembled with a mixture of anger and fear Have you gone mad What has gotten into your head
Nirag lowered his gaze His shoulders slumped Then what should I do Anvay His voice was a broken whisper I have no other way This is the only way If I am not in this body then Andhak Void will also die He will go with me Let me go Let me end myself Let me go
Anvay held Nirag hands even tighter and shook him as if waking someone from a deep sleep Pull yourself together Nirag Come to your senses Look at me Look at me He turned Nirag face towards himself Calm down Everything will be fine Listen Margdarshak Agni will find some solution
A gleam flashed in Nirag eyes What
Yes Anvay said softening his voice Margdarshak Agni and Margdarshak Neer are going to Margdarshak Tomorrow morning To find a way to cure you
Nirag kept looking at Anvay in astonishment as if it was taking him time to understand the meaning of his words What Pitashree learned the truth
Anvay nodded and a sorrowful smile was on his lips No Nirag Margdarshak Agni has not told him the truth yet But they will both leave for the Tapobhumi at dawn tomorrow To Margdarshak He has all the answers
Nirag body suddenly seemed to release all its tension He stumbled and sat on the edge of the bed as if his bones had melted He hid his face in his hands and his shoulders began to tremble lightly His breaths were breaking into sobs
Anvay picked up the water pitcher nearby and filled a cup and placed it in Nirag hands Drink this Calm down He said and stroked Nirag head Everything will be alright You are not alone
After a while when Nirag breaths had steadied a little Anvay took his hand in his own His fingers rested on Nirag wrist where the pulse was now slow and regular I have full faith Anvay said softly That Margdarshak will definitely find some way He always does Now you should sleep Hmm Rest
Nirag raised his eyes and looked into Anvay eyes Those eyes held no fear that he had seen in the mirror nor the hatred he had dreaded They held a steady unshakable faith A refuge that neither wavered nor moved Amidst that dark sticky despair this faith was like solid ground
Nirag closed his eyes and let out a long trembling breath Anvay gently laid him down on the bed and placed a pillow under his head He covered him with a heavy silken blanket Nirag eyelids were growing heavy as the exhaustion of his body and the emotional strain had taken hold of him
Anvay sat there until Nirag breaths became deep and regular and the muscles of his face relaxed into rest Then he stood up and walked to the door He stepped outside and closed the door behind him He wedged a wooden latch against the door handle from outside A simple but effective lock He stood there for a few moments listening intently Only the sound of Nirag sleeping breaths came through
Far away in Nabhgadh the fragrance and sweet sounds of music mingled in the air The palace was decorated with garlands of marigold and jasmine flowers and there was a bustle of wedding preparations everywhere The chamber of Prince Aakshansh was quiet He sat at a square table and before him was a thin copper scroll He picked up a pointed pen and began writing carefully on the copper scroll
Dear Vedika
How are you I hope you are healthy And that there is happiness and prosperity in your kingdom too The wedding preparations are going on in full swing here Sometimes amidst all this busyness the heart seeks solitude and then I remember you I hope you are very happy and taking good care of yourself and your family
He finished writing and gently blew on the copper scroll to dry the ink Then he went to the window from where a cold gust of night air was entering He placed the copper scroll on the palm of his hand and placed his other hand over it A faint white glow emerged from between his fingers and wrapped the copper scroll in a transparent bubble like layer He extended his hand forward and the copper scroll rose into the air and floated Then it flew out of the window and into the darkness of the night like a glowing firefly
The copper scroll traveled through the paths of the winds crossing hills and valleys until it entered the lush green kingdom of Anandpur It passed through an open window of the royal palace there and entered a chamber settling gently onto a hand
That hand was decorated with intricate patterns of henna featuring jasmine flowers and peacock feathers Vedika looked at the copper scroll in surprise and then a smile bloomed on her face Just then the door opened and her younger sister Vaishali entered with a bunch of flowers in her hand
Vedika sister Look what I have brought She stopped and her gaze fell upon Vedika hand What are you hiding sister Tell me
Vedika quickly hid the copper scroll behind her back but a pink hue had spread on her cheeks Nothing Vaishali Just an old poem
Vaishali tilted her head and a mischievous smile was on her face Hmm sister It seems his message has arrived which is why you are hiding it behind your back From Nabhgadh
Vedika became even more shy She turned her gaze towards the door and said Vaishali look over there Mother is here
Vaishali immediately turned but there was no one at the door When she turned back Vedika was laughing Vaishali stamped her foot on the ground Sister you too You deceive me like this Go I will not talk to you And with fake anger she walked out of the room
As soon as the door closed Vedika took out the copper scroll again and read it Her eyes ran over the lines and with every word her smile widened Then she went to her desk where a peacock feather pen and blue ink were kept She began writing on a new copper scroll
Dear Prince
I am fine Everyone here is healthy I hope you are also well And that everything is also well in Nabhgadh Sometimes even in the peace here I remember Nabhgadh And its prince
After writing she went to the window She threw the copper scroll outward and lowered her hand downwards The earth below shifted slightly and a small pit formed The copper scroll fell directly into that pit and the earth swallowed it The pit closed up exactly as if nothing had happened
Far away in the garden of the Nabhgadh palace Aakshansh was strolling near a rose plant Suddenly the earth near his feet shifted and a copper scroll emerged as if a sprout had burst forth The earth became level again Aakshansh picked up the copper scroll and read it A soft private smile spread across his face
In contrast the air in the palace of Suryagadh was hot and heavy filled with the smell of metal and sweat King Ravi now known as Tej Singh stood in his throne room and his senior minister was bowed before him
Prepare for war Tej Singh said His voice held no fluctuation Just a flat cold command Alert the entire army Everyone must be ready before dawn
The minister folded his hands and bowed his head As you command Maharaj
The king turned his back to the minister and his gaze fixed upon a huge map hanging on the back wall On the map the kingdoms of Prakashgadh Nabhgadh and Suryagadh were marked in colors A deep red X mark was drawn over Prakashgadh as if someone had crossed it out
Prakashgadh has weakened Tej Singh whispered as if talking to himself Agni and Neer are leaving for the Tapobhumi Their path is long and difficult Now only two children remain there One whose soul is in debt to darkness and the other who is trying to save him This is the right time
The minister stepped forward and asked But Maharaj what about Nabhgadh They are allies of Prakashgadh There is also a marriage alliance
The corners of Tej Singh lips rose in a narrow soulless smile Aakshansh and Vedika are so immersed in the colors and rituals of their wedding that they will not even get the news Our spies are already inside the walls of Prakashgadh hiding like rats By the time Agni and Neer return the chimneys of Prakashgadh will be spewing smoke the color of our flags
He picked up a red shiny apple lying on the table He took it in his fist and began pressing it slowly The skin of the apple cracked and its juice oozed out from between Tej Singh fingers Red and sticky It looked just like the red X on the map on his palm And then Nabhgadh will be left alone Like a ripe fruit It will fall into our fist
The minister bowed once more and silently left the chamber Tej Singh was left alone He drew a long heavy sword from his waist The blade was gleaming and well maintained but near its edge deep down there were brown red stains that would not shine away Old bloodstains
He raised the sword in the red evening light streaming through the window The light made the blade glow like fire Your turn has come Agni He said softly and the flames reflected in his eyes Your father killed my father in the great war Looted his kingdom before his very eyes Now I will take everything from you Your throne Your land Your family That boy you have accepted as your son Everything
The gleam in his eyes was not just ambition It was an old black hatred that had been simmering for years now transformed into a dangerous pure flame of revenge This was the same gleam that was in his eyes that day when he was a ten year old boy and had watched the flames of his father burning pyre and had sworn an oath in the name of the royal house of Prakashgadh Today that oath was about to be fulfilled
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