WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 17: The Princess is Poisoned

It was a beautiful morning; the sun was blazing happily. The flowers had already bloomed to its best and seemed as if they are smiling at each other. Birds flew here and there in urgency seeking food for their offspring.

Lovely parrots started to chirp among themselves sitting on the Palace garden. But one Parrot ignored all these and flew towards the window of Princess Chamber. It was carrying a ripe red apple in its beak. It flew through the open window and landed softly on Princess Chitrakshi’s bed. Looking here and there it dropped the apple on the bed and began to fly out of the window as if nothing happened. Unfortunately no one noticed it!

**

Vaachaspati walked slowly towards the temple. It was indeed a bright morning; he smiled happily at the flying birds.

“Should go to market, and bring vegetables.” He remembered his wife champaka’s words. Suddenly a small bird dropped dead in front of him from the tree. “Oh god! A dead bird. Is this an omen?” Vaachaspati cried aloud. He was terrified at once; time and again these omens did tell him something about what is going to happen. He suddenly felt helpless.

“Oh Lord! Save the Princess.” He looked at the sky and prayed loudly, he could only do that.

**

The market was crowded very early. Earlier, there was no time for Wazir and Nazir to chit chat. Happily, they had sold their fruits to the customers.

Slowly the crowd began to thin as the sun soared high. Nazir and Wazir were very happy with their business today. It was time for an afternoon chit chat Nazir thought to himself.

“Oh! Bhai Wazir, I see lot of guards everywhere.” Indeed it was true; there were guards everywhere, almost all around the Palace. Many were pacing in and out of the Palace as well.

“Bhai Nazir, don’t you know? The King has ordered for extra protection.” Wazir was surprised at his twin brother Nazir, although Nazir had not been in the market since two days. He thought at least he would have been informed by others.

“Why is that so, Bhai Wazir?” Nazir certainly had not moved away from his home since two days, he was very much sick.

“Bhai Nazir, he suspects an attack from Mountain Witches.” Wazir began to explain him the ongoing events in detail.

“Bhai Wazir, those dirty Witches, not again!” Nazir muttered under his breath and began to count the coins.

“Bhai Nazir, I am to send apples to Palace today.” On the other hand Wazir was very happy. Sending apples to Palace was like earning a fortune; the King was always generous towards vendors. 

“Good for you Bhai Wazir, I did that five days before. I hear Princess is very fond of apples.” Nazir began to take the remaining oranges and started to rub them gently with a fresh cloth.

“Let the Lord bless her, Bhai Nazir, for she is giving us the bread.” Wazir smiled.

“And don’t forget the gold coins, Bhai Wazir,” Nazir teased him.

“Few more gold coins and I am going to build a house, Oh! Bhai Nazir.” Wazir was looking forward to it. He had been planning to build a house of his own since long. He remembered his wife’s nagging; at least he could breathe easily once after he built his own house.

“Wonderful Bhai Wazir, I shall help you too.” Nazir looked at him affectionately suddenly remembering the help Wazir rendered while building his own house in Swarnapuri Kingdom just a year ago.

**

Bakula looked at his own image in the river. They had been immensely disappointed with the old Warlock. They were very eager to do something in order to save the Palace and off course the Princess. As the sun began to get down the three sat in silence looking at each other. Finally Bakula broke the silence, it was intolerable to him.  

“I am really disappointed.”

“Me too, I thought he would do something.” Vasundari responded immediately, she too disliked the silence. 

“But he cannot Vasundari; he told us he has promised some one that he would not kill any Witch.” Atma explained her with patience; indeed he was the one who had understood the great Warlock.

“Yes, But I don’t want to wait until something happens.” Bakula picked up a stone and threw it into the river. He was too angry with himself for not able to convince the old Warlock.

“Me too, but what can we do?” Atma tried to console him.

“You know so many Mantras, can’t you do something?” Vasundari was looking for other options on the other hands. She knew Bakula was very good in Sanskrit mantras and Vedas.

“My Mantras are only for praying.” Bakula smiled sadly.

“Can’t you do something?” Vasundari turned her attention towards Atma. She did not like to leave the things so easily.

“No Vasundari, I too cannot.” Atma nodded his head in despair.

“Only one thing we can do is to -” Bakula stood up at once.

“Is to??” Atma and Vasundari exchanged a curious glance and uttered at the same instance.

“Wait.” Bakula said with a throwing scornful smile at the two and began to walk home.

**

Chitrakshi walked into her lovely chamber; just as she entered she saw a lovely parrot flying away towards her window. How lovely! She thought and went to the window to see it. But the lovely parrot just screeched harshly at once and flew away.

Chitrakshi was very disappointed; even parrots did not wanted her friendship, feeling very disheartened she walked back to her bed. To her surprise she saw a lovely ripe red apple on her bed. The apple seemed to invite her to taste it; it still had a very fresh aroma. Chitrakshi at once took the apple in delight, she loved apples very much.

“I shall never tire of eating apples.” Chitrakshi began to munch it with hungry fervor.

“Hmm - Delicious, I wonder who brought it.” Chitrakshi exclaimed as she continued her munching.

**

An hour later Mani walked into Princess Chitrakshi’s private chamber, she had been searching for her in the garden. It was time for her mid day meal; Mani thought anxiously and entered the chamber.

“Princess, Princess, where are you? Time for your meal.” Mani called loudly.

Suddenly she saw something unusual! Mani was taken aback, for Princess was lying on the ground near her bed in an unusual posture. She ran towards her in an instant and was astonished to see thick white foams dropping from her mouth. 

“Oh Lord! Princess, Princess, What happened?” Mani cried in despair.

She knelt down at once and checked her wrist for pulse, there was a weak pulse. 

“Oh! God! What happened? Princess, please talk to me, Princess, Princess.” Mani tried to wake up the Princess, but in vain. Chitrakshi seemed to have lost consciousness. She carefully looked here and there and saw a half eaten apple nearby.

“Oh! Apple, and - and white foams, GUARDS! GUARDS COME HERE, QUICKLY -” She called the guards at once.

****