Published on:- 8/1/25 [Wednesday]
...

"किसकी खुसबू है, मेरी साँसों में
महकी-महकी सी, जानी-जानी सी
दिल था अभी सीने में
इसको चुराया जाने किसने"

...

Inside the dungeon's cell :-

The dungeon was dark and cold and its damp walls were echoing faintly with the sound of distant footsteps.

Samanvitha lay unconscious on the stone floor as her face was pale and her breathing shallow.

Her fragile figure looked even more vulnerable in the dim light and the chains around her wrists a cruel reminder of her captivity.

Shivaal entered the dungeon with his usual commanding presence and his footsteps were purposeful and hurried.

The guards stiffened as they bowed deeply as he approached. His sharp eyes immediately found Samanvitha who was lying motionless on the floor.

His heart accelerated unknowingly.

For a fleeting moment, his gaze softened, but he quickly masked it with his usual stoic demeanor.

Shivaal's jaw tightened. He had anticipated her stubbornness, but this unyielding spirit of hers was beginning to gnaw at him.

Nandan looked at Shivaal and found a strange and newly different aura was floating around him. Without thinking about anything, he quickly locked the door of the cell and guarded the entrance.

Inside the cell, Shivaal walked closer and his boots were clicking against the stone floor. Stopping a few steps away, he surveyed her condition and his expression was unreadable.

"Kitne din ho gaye Rajkumari ko kuch khaye aur piye hue?", he asked as his voice was lower than his asusual self.

"Do din aur teen raat, Senapati ji," the soldier replied nervously.

For a moment, silence hung in the air. Shivaal's expression remained unreadable, but inside, a storm was brewing.

Shivaal moved closer with slight trembling heart. He leaned towards her face.

He didn't care if she ate or not-or at least, that's what he told himself. But the truth was harder to ignore.

He despised weakness, yet he couldn't deny the flicker of unease that surfaced at the thought of her suffering. He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated by his own actions.

He took a step closer and his eyes were lingering on her fragile form. He crouched down beside her, his hands clenching into fists as if he were trying to suppress an urge to touch her. At the end, his cold fingers finally traced her pale face.

"Jaldi se Sahi Vaidya ko Sheesh Mahal me lekar aao" he said, his tone was clipped.

One of the soldiers nodded hastily and rushed out to bring the imperial physician, leaving Shivaal alone with her.

Her defiance wasn't just a thorn in his pride-it was something he couldn't stop admiring, even if it irritated him.

And the next moment, he carried Samanvitha in his arms and strode to the Sheesh Mahal while commanding.

"Rajkumari kalkothari se bahar hai aur asvasth hai. Ye jankari kisi ko nahi honi chahiye".

Nandan nodded his head as he understood his task and locked the cell from outside and stood at the entrance, guarding to show that Samanvitha was still inside the dungeon's cell.

....

The Sheesh Mahal sparkled in the soft light of countless candles. The walls and ceiling were covered with tiny mirrors, making the entire room shine like a sky full of stars.

In the center of the grand room stood a large and elegant bed. Its wooden frame was beautifully carved, and it was draped in rich red and gold silk.

A canopy hung above and decorated with silver threads, while thin, flowing curtains surrounded the bed, giving it a private and dreamy feel.

Shivaal entered the Sheesh Mahal and a few loyal maids and servants bowed their heads respectfully as they waited for their crown Prince's next command. 

Shivaal gently placed Samanvitha on the bed. The golden light made her pale face look calm and peaceful.

The room smelled of roses and sandalwood, filling the air with a sweet, soothing fragrance.

Everything around them was quiet, except for the soft rustle of the curtains moving in the breeze.

The Sheesh Mahal seemed to pause, as if it was waiting for something to happen, adding to the importance of the moment.

Shivaal's breathing was uneven as well as he noticed how light she felt in his arms, almost as if she weighed nothing at all. Her once-strong frame had become frail, her body was now thin and bony.

A pang of worry struck him as he realized how weak she had grown, her strength slipped away like grains of sand through his fingers.

"Rajkumari," he whispered, as if the word itself held a weight he couldn't lift.

Shivaal murmured to himself, "Itni shaktiheen aur durbal ho kar bhi itni zid? Mujhe kya zarurat hai tumhare baare mein sochne ki? Lekin fir bhi...... Tum meri satru ho. Fir kyun tumhare baare mein sochne se khud ko rokh nahi pa raha?"

Despite his words, his gaze softened for a moment. He reached out, almost instinctively, but stopped just short of touching her face again.

Shaking his head, he straightened up and his expression hardened once more as he looked at her fragile, motionless form.

Without hesitation, he stepped out of the room and called for the maids.

"Garm paani aur naye vastra taiyaar karo. Rajkumari ko saaf karo aur sunishchit karo ki vah aaraamadayak ho", he ordered firmly and his voice echoed through the grand halls.

The maids hurried in, their footsteps soft against the marble floor, carrying basins of water, soft towels, and a set of simple yet elegant clothing.

Shivaal stepped aside, watching closely as they began their work, his eyes dark with concern.

One of the older maids, her voice calm but respectful, glanced at Shivaal and spoke gently, "Yuvraj, kripya bahar jaiye. Thodi der baad andar aaiyega."

Shivaal hesitated for a moment as he understood the message as his gaze was lingering on the frail figure on the bed.

With a nod, he stepped back as his expression was still unreadable.

"Theek hai," he said quietly before turning and walking out of the room, though his steps were slow and reluctant.

A few minutes later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the grand hallway. The imperial physician arrived, carrying a small leather bag.

The Imperial physician paused at the doorway, where Shivaal stood waiting, his face a mixture of worry and impatience.

"Yuvraj," the doctor greeted with a slight bow, his tone respectful yet urgent.

A few moments later, one of the maids stepped out of the room, bowing slightly before addressing Shivaal.

"Yuvraj, Karya samapt ho gaya hai," she informed him softly. "Ap ab andar aa sakte hain."

Shivaal gave a curt nod, his sharp gaze flickering toward the door. Without wasting a moment, he gestured for the doctor to enter and followed closely behind, his heart heavy with concern.

Samanvitha was now cleaned and was wearing a yellow and green colored silk long skirt and full length blouse, wrapped in a yellow colored veil.

Shivaal shook his head as he stepped aside and watched intently as the imperial physician examined Samanvitha.

He crossed his arms while his stance was rigid, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of worry.

After the examination, the Imperial physician informed him, "Yuvraj, inhein bohot kamzori hai. Agar turant dekhbhaal na kiya gaya, toh inke jeevan ko khatra bhi ho sakta hai."

Shivaal’s lips pressed into a thin line, and he gave a curt nod.

Shivaal responded, "Inka ilaaj turant shuru karo. Mujhe koi galti bardasht nahi hogi."

As the imperial physician began his work, Shivaal stared continuously on her face.

The doctor carefully prepared the medicine, his hands steady as he administered it to her. After ensuring she had taken it, he turned to Shivaal, his expression serious.

"Yuvraj," the doctor began and his tone was calm but firm, "Yah aushadhi inhe theek hone mein madad karegi, parantu iske dush-prabhaav bhi ho sakte hain. Inhe kamjori, chakkar aana ya bukhaar ka bhi anubhav ho sakta hai. Inki baariki se nigarani karni hogi aur yah sunishchit karna mahatvapurn hai ki inhe bharpur aaram aur poshan mile."

Shivaal’s jaw tightened as he absorbed the doctor’s words.

"Samjh gaya. Rajkumari ke svashtha-laabh sunishchit karne ke lie jo bhi aavashyak ho vah karo", he said quietly while his eyes were flickering toward her pale face.

The imperial physician nodded as he looked at the old maid and told her, "Main jald hi Rajkumari ki dobara jaanch karunga. Ish beech me Rajkumari ko garm rakhna hoga aur aushadhi har pahar me dena hoga. Phalon ke rash ka sevan faydemand rehega inke liye. Aur kuch aushadhi bhi hai jo mujhe banani hogi inke liye. Main kisi ke hath bhejwa dunga".

The maid nodded and the imperial physician bowed slightly before gathering his belongings and stepping back, leaving Shivaal to watch over her with a mix of worry and determination.

While a thought was floating in his head, "Jeevit rehna hai tumhe, Samanvitha"

...

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