Walking back with him was different. All the eyes that stared at her now kneeled before them. Words from the paralyzed face were too powerful, she thought. Amai was different from Hiranga. In Hiranga, the king is the father of land as well as father of Amanya but in Amai, more than a father-son relation she could feel a king and his subject bond with them."Let me take you to my house, the white pearl mansion. " He loaded her on the horse brought by Ashok. The horse, a majestic beast with a beautiful brown body, spiked through the itinerary of the palace. Other than going to the mansion which was just a few meters away, he toured her through the entire palace as if he was proclaiming, look! this is my queen, bow to her oh Amai.The mansion was full of surprises for her. Though she knew the entire mansion, its layout seeing it face to face was somewhat melancholic for her. The amuses went on to retain all her favorite maids from Dashur. Other than the maids and servants in the mansion,
The day was more politically exhausting. All her three acquaintances were busy with the state affairs; but it was more about convincing the state of an abrupt marriage. The whole Amai wanted to know her, her sudden appearance, identity of Hirangan, reasons of their marriage; all fueled people's curiosity and this folk started from the high ranking ministers to the slaves of jail. But no one dared to set their foot in the white pearl mansion. She had a silent day. All the evening she rested in her new favorite spot, the garden built exclusively for her. She ordered the maids not to step in the garden. From a single day, she could deduce her whole life in Amai. It's not going to be easy. Winning a war needs strategies but here in Amai, more than enemies she should beware of her friends. From the eyes of the serpent queen, she could glean, she had many spies planted with her ready to betray her. Mekala is going to be a tough opponent. Handling anger is easy but to prepare for hatred it's
"Apu.. Apu.." She slowly opened her eyes and saw a parliament of huge shadows surrounding her. She was slowly coming to her senses. "Apeksha..." Yuvan carried her to the flower hut in the midst of the garden. "Apu.. What happened.. " "I.. I... "She took a deep breath and looked around her. She was relieved as it was just a dream. "I was just dizzy. Maybe the new weather. It's fi.." She was shocked as if she saw her demise before her. "What happened? Are you fine?" Yuvan was getting restless at her situation. She slowly took the flower stuck in her robe. "Its...Its... jasmine." She looked straight at him with wide eyes, she clutched him hardly "do we have jasmine vines planted in the garden?" "No.. I guess" He looked around at her clueless behaviour. "Apu.. It's fine, just a flower; maybe you had a bad dream. " He grabbed the flower from her and took her to the mansion. She slowly slipped to sleep. She woke up almost at dusk. It was full of hustle and bustle outside. But she wa
The maids were dressing her for the festival and it seemed to be a very big one with such decoration and preparations. They dressed her in a studding red gown. It was as red as a fresh rose. Her hair was dressed with a veil attached. It had stunning jewels fitted on. The room was full of giggles. As she was almost ready, she heard some footsteps heading towards her amidst the fits. It was exactly 11 persons towards her and most probably women, Amanya calculated from their steps. People around her were suddenly silent and moved apart. A fine lady walked into the room. She had a golden tray in her hand with a few more maids accompanying her. The tray was covered with red silk. The maids bowed before her, addressing her as princess. Amanya looked at her, the only princess of Amai."So you are the beautiful lady who made my grim brother gooey. I am Atri, your new sister." She is as sweet as the reports say, Amanya thought.Atri removed the silk from the tray and it had a crown. It was as
There was a big commotion outside. The horse neigh was followed by many horse steps. But for Amanya, all those steps had no existence, all the chaos outside was mere silence. The gleaming yet gloom walls around her questioned her previous action. Starting from Dashur, why did she agree to his idea when everything was within her grip , why couldn't she let it go. The questions led her to their moments together, which she cherished and avowed. She knew, for her, he was special; special than anyone in this world. But..A loud creak shut her inner voice. She raised her head, her eyes looked for him through the veil. He slowly walked in; closing the door. Yuvan slowly walked towards her and lifted her veil. Amanya cradled her gown tightly. Her eyes still had the gaze, an aura but her actions were contradicting. The time was moving with a creepy silence. They both had a lot to share and express but the spark was still not lit.The silence was killing her. "I..."Her words were hushed by Yuv
They stood before an old mansion. It was a big one evident even with the ruins of time. The moon and stars were their torch. He held her hands, and gestured. She walked with him step by step; a mansion which was even hidden from the eyes of cobras where its each corner had a stench of mystery she followed him with credence. In the dark lane, he walked with conviction as if this was his residence. He paused before a door and looked at her. He pushed the rusted door. It opened with a huge crack sound. She stood staggered. A big trellis, vined with jasmine in its full bloom inside a ruined uninhabited mansion. Yuvan took her on shoulder and passed the trellis to a pergola. The lawn was as fresh as a well maintained one. The pergola was full of green vines. He laid her in the shades of pergola. "When I was young, I came to this place by mistake. Later, when father found me here, he locked this place and stationed guards here." "Why??" "No idea. Someone said that this mansion belonged to
"We failed.."Ashok was perspiring while talking to her. "Devi, our cobras are back empty handed.""You say; should I disperse this batch of cobra Huh?? I just asked you to find an old mansion and you are saying there is none!""Commander, according to the clues you provided, our cobras were trying to track the mansion for almost one month but that place doesn't exist. The directions point towards a lake.""Do you think I am too old to remember a simple way?""No.. Devi I mean you had wine that day, maybe you hallucinated.""Ashok you have guts huh?? to infer that I hallucinated an entire night from just a bottle of wine.""Sorry commander, I will dispatch more cobras and this time I will lead the batch.""No need. Leave it . I still have time to dig that entire lake."It was almost noon. Ashok quickly hid from the maid who brought her mid day snacks."Devi.. This.." He looked at the flower cakes carefully."Its poisoned !!""Hmm.""Devi.. Its Mekala right; How dare she??" Ashok flip
The words from Amanya were not enough to impress Ashok. He couldn't figure out the reason for her tolerance towards Amai or Mekala. Though he despised the whole Amai, its king, commander, and those old greasy ministers he admired its crown prince. He decided to cross her orders and ignite the game.Wild winds screamed all its way in the west. The tempest was increasing day by day; the land had no remaining traces of green. Scouts from the military camp was the only noise in the cold desert. The soldiers were diligent, ready to attack like a cheetah. The fire lamps around the tent were the only warmth in the west. The crimson light kissed his lashes and refracted through his eyes. He gazed at the white pearls tangling with wind. But what he could see was her warm smile. It was replicated on his face. "Bruddah!!" Abhik was perplexed at his brother's smile. "Bruddah!! Why are you smiling?""Her smile is contagious. I can't help it." Yuvan smiled foolishly."I just hope di is fine. Bru