Lust Or Love?

Chapter 13

Unknown

"Time has come.....the princes are naive.....the princess is gone....and now it's time for the king to go!

Be ready!

-nayak"

This letter was sent to some of the selected households in the town.

In the middle of the night someone furiously knocked on their doors, cursing the man there when they finally opened the door They found nothing but cold air and a piece of paper which held a notice from Nayak.

Nayak?

Who was he? Creating political instability in Ajmer and mind washing the near and dear once of the king?

Royal court

"This is crime! If Shankar seth have tricked the poor farmer and took all his land then he should be punished! "

King Araman stated glancing at the courtiers and scanning their expression, often. Because he could feel something was wrong, too wrong.

He could sence that there was something or someone who was creating havoc and separation between him and the common public. It wasn't until the last vasant panchami when he realized it.

Each year a carnival was held in the town of Ajmer on the occasion of successful harvested crops, on vasant panchami.

And the King was the one to announce its starting. People would cheer as king Araman would cut off the ribbon and the fair will start.

But this year, none came to inform him about the festival and when he interrogated Sushen Pandey the head scholar about it, he said that no carnival was organized. And ironically later he found out that a festival was organized where he was not invited.

He felt insulted and angry and consulted this matter with few of his courtiers. They all stated that the persons responsible for this should be punished. But king thought otherwise and ignored it as the matter of fact, thinking that he should not punish someone for such a little thing.

But now he felt guilty for leaving that matter so easily, there was no need to punish but he should have investigated.

Pushing his thoughts aside he once again concentrated on the case in front of him.

"What do you want to say on your behalf shankar seth? "

"Your majesty, I don't know what this man is saying about. " shankar seth stated pointing to the poor farmer.

"He came to me to sell his land and we both agreed on a price and I bought it! ......I don't know what is his problem now? "

"And you? What do you want to say? "

"I....I..." the poor farmer stuttered.

"I n-never went to sell my land to seth....in-instead he had came to me with a proposal to sell my land....b-but I refused....the land is my everything....I earn my living from it! Why would I sell it? " tears furiously flown down his eyes. "Do justice your majesty....do justice! " he said crying helplessly.

"Shankar seth, why do you think this man had sold his land to you? "

"Of course for money your majesty! "

"What do you think he have done with the money, because he still lives in the same little hut and eating half meal? "

"We already have him investigated Shankar seth....it did not seem that he have received any money. "

King Araman said and left shankar seth tongue tied, he knew he have no answer to it because he was the guilty here.

Before he could state the punishment for Shankar seth, someone spoke up.

"With all due respect your majesty, I don't think Shankar seth is guilty. " a courtier stood up.

And then the other, "I agree with him. .....your majesty, if shankar seth have really given the money to lakhan singh....then this would be wrong decision to punish him instead of lakhan singh. "

Anger boiled within king Araman now, the man stated his decision wrong in front of the whole court, loud enough to hear.

Before something else could happen two more courtiers stood up from their seats.

"We agree as well! "

"It can be a wrong decision! "They said in unison.

What was this happening a open protest?

It is believed that the king is the shadow of god and it is against the rules to question his decision in any prospective.

And here stood his own men questioning his every statement.

That man has now successfully turned his own men against him.

King Araman thought, if he didn't amend everything back and replenish the situation, he is afraid that he will loose his kingdom.

People are against him, and now his men are against him. What was wrong?

***

Jungle

"You really don't believe me do you? " Rajani heard the man in front of him asking.

"Of course I do, your majesty! " Rajani said sarcastically.

And he groaned.

It was past midnight. The moon spread it's glorious rays kissing the tree tops and giving the message of peace to everyone. And in the middle of the forest sat two tormented souls finding their own peace of mind in front of a small bonfire.

No one spoke, they sat together to get the heat but their minds were miles away from each other in exact opposite direction.

Ones thought wandered around her family and if they would have received the message of war in Umarkot and if they would be looking for her.

And another thought about how he is going to win back what was his!

A sound of horse was heard and both of them stood up trying to fathom the direction of the intruder.

A dark figure was riding on a horse in the darkness. His face was not revealed. He had it covered by a blanket.

Was he another man sent by shamsuddin? But he was alone!

At lest they thought so!

Surya pulled out his sword and came forward, blocking away Rajani from his view. The intruder was strange, he didn't pull out his arms instead he swiftly walked towards them. With the blanket covering most parts of his body.

"Don't come any closer! " Surya threatened and surprisingly it worked. The intruder stopped on his tracks and bowed down.

What? Rajani was confused.

"Your majesty.....it's me.....Kumar! "

The man said.

A smile pulled up on Surya's face as he herd it.

"Kumar! " he said while running to him and pulling him into a hug.

And here Rajani stood, watching two men hugging and greeting each other in the middle of the night in a lonely forest.

What was going on?

And most importantly why did he called him, your majesty?

Was he really the king of Umarkot?!

Her heart started to beat loudly, unknowingly she saved her biggest enemy?

Did she just committed the biggest mistake of her life?

She saved the man, who Is a threat to her family, her father!

No! This can't be true!