Chapter 12
1152 Words
ON THE OTHER HAND
"Goodness! " surya was truly surprised at what he saw.
Sher Khan was dead but the reason was more interesting. A girl!
She was dressed simply in a embroidered skirt with no jewelries at all.
A second look on her face and recognition hit him. She was the girl, whom he saved in the pool from drowning.
"What are you doing here? " words slipped out of his mouth as he looked at the girl.
"I could ask you the same! " she retorted.
Sharp tongue! He thought, Sher Khan was not a weak opponent at all. It was true he was going to loose but then how come this simple girl killed him, with a ease of blinking?
He was impressed but then masking his expression he asked again, "do you know who are you talking to? " generally his voice was enough for people to feel intimidated. But the girl didn't even budge.
"No I don't know and neither I want to know! " Rajani stated firmly. And once again Surya was surprised at the girl's audacity. With her each and every word she reflected power and authority. She had a strong personality, rare in female specimens.
"Don't you even have the basic manners, woman? " Surya looked at her in the eye and expected her to step back this time but what he saw once again made him surprised as hell. She smirked.
"Talking of manners? Well it should be you lying on my feet, thanking me with all your being for saving your life, Man! " She called him man the same way in which Surya referred her as a woman a few moments ago, mimicking his voice.
"You? You saved me? " Surya stated which came out more as a question.
Rajani nodded in response.
Well now Surya knew his answers that how he was still alive, and he should sincerely thank the girl. But he was never going to thank the girl who talked to him in that tone and specially after she said those words when he should lying on her feet thanking her with all his being!
Whoever she was and whatever she did took a back seat when she disrespected the king, disrespected him!
Rajani didn't even caste a second glance on him before taking the long strides and picking up the coconut shells from the ground.
"I never told you to save my life! " surya said before following Rajani to wherever she went.
But Rajani not even looked back at him and just continued her walk on the rough path of the forest.
"Besides, I have seen you before, ......in the palace. " he stated once again curious at what would be her reaction.
"I know! " She said and took a turn to right.
Soon followed by Surya, "from as much as I remember from our last encounter, I saved you....so now, favors cancelled out! "
Rajani abruptly stopped in her tracks and turned around to look at him directly. Surya looked at those mesmerizing, black eyes, which spoke of fire, power and strength. Not only her eyes but each step she took, each word she spoke were filled with strength. But her physical features were ironically soft, her milky white flawless skin gave a pure aura to her being, her coal black hair which cascaded down till her waist made her more attractive, but those pink lips as rose petals made her outstanding than any other women he had ever laid his eyes on.
"I never knew, two words would hurt so much! "
This sudden statement pulled him out of his initial trance. "Pardon? "
He asked as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion about what she said.
"I never knew that two words like 'thank you ' would hurt you so much to say. " she said once again retreating to her path.
Surya huffed in anger, What did she mean by that?
Before he could say another thing, Rajani took a turn once again and now they were facing the beautiful lake.
Birds chirped and a few rustling sounds of running animals were heard before Rajani kneeled down near the water.
Surya still stood there frozen, looking around in awe.
The place was extremely beautiful, in a bright morning this was heaven he thought as he sat on his haunches and drank a lot of water through his palms.
Surya took an ample of water in her palm and put it into his already ruffled hair. And sighed in relaxation.
"Eyww..." Rajani said looking at Surya and made a disgusting face.
"You sure, you don't know who are talking to. " he said moving his head amusingly.
"So do tell me your highness...who you are. " she said putting both her feet into the water.
"On the right way....I am Surya pratap singh Rathore....king of-"
"Umarkot. " his sentence was completed by Rajani who now looked at him wide eyed, her mouth slightly open.
He nodded and expected to receive a number of sincere apologies but then this girl never does something believable.
He heard a fit of laughter, as she rolled on her back in the ground and laughed her heart out.
"You don't believe me? " He asked in seriousness.
She stopped laughing and opened her mouth to say something but said nothing and started to laugh again. Tears trickled down her eyes as she continued to giggle.
After a few moments she sat up once again controlling her laughter, her expression suddenly serious.
"So now let me introduce myself....I am Queen Shivanya....you may know. " she said and started to laugh her heads off.
Surya watched her, beautiful as she was!
***
PALACE OF AJMER.....ROYAL COURT
"Your majesty, it was a disastrous war....no one is spared....no one is alive.....even the king is assumed to be dead, according to the sources sher Khan would take over the throne under sultan shamsuddin. "
"But there is no news from princess Mallik-"
"That is enough for the day the court is adjourned! " The king stated cutting off the courtier before the secret of her daughter came out in front of his wife. His problems increased two folds because now, he soon need to find his daughter in Umarkot. And maintain the political instability as well.
He looked at his wife who now clearly held a frown on her face....he needs to do a lot of explanation.
But how could he tell her that, her daughter whom she thought is in the care of her dear aunt, sleeping peacefully in the palace of Ajarbagh isn't there, but in Umarkot or maybe dead.
The thought itself made his heart beat faster, as he took out his handkerchief from the silken over coat and swiped away the sweat visible on his forehead on the coldest month of year.
He needs to do something soon!
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- Writer
