• They say that massive revenge is success, but Keechak feels that massive success is revenge •

Long chapter ahead!

Magadha

Subhadra and Malini walked side by side towards the open courtyard, where the workers were ordered to assemble to hear the prince's address.

As always, it was Malini who broke the silence between them. "Rochana, where is Tarini? I don't see her anywhere." Malini inquired, looking around.

Subhadra glanced at her, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "I told her to go home." She said, her voice steady. "With Prince Keechak addressing the crowd about the upcoming tax hikes, there's a lot of tension in the air. Who knows, protests and even riots may break out here. I felt its not safe for her to stay back in the middle of all this."

Malini nodded in agreement. "You are right. I just hope the new regulations won't be too hard that we need to plan protests in the first place." Subhadra nodded. And exactly after a minute, Malini began, "Also don't worry about my fiancé, Rochana."

Subhadra flashed a curious look at Malini who smiled confidently at the former.

"The Yadavas are forbidden from entering Magadha, so even if that man somehow manages to learn that I'm hiding here, he won't be able to hurt me." Malini continued and Subhadra nodded to acknowledge her statement.

"But why don't you annul the engagement and free yourself from this bond, Malini? That way you wouldn't have to hide in constant fear, afraid of being caught." Subhadra suggested, her words flowing in a careful tone.

Malini let out a long sigh, "All thanks to those damned rules of the Yadavas." She said bitterly and Subhadra swiftly looked at her friend, shocked by the sharpness in Malini's voice.

An anger surged in her veins, but before her emotions spiraled out of her control, she quickly reminded herself, "Don't react, Bhadra. You are no longer the Princess of Dwarka. You are just a mother who is trying to survive for her child."

And as Bhadra battled to keep her expression neutral, Malini continued, oblivious to the storm she was stirring in her friend's mind, "They insist that both parties must agree to the annulment, whether it's a marriage or an engagement."

Subhadra turned her gaze away, trying to find a way around the rule. But then, Malini's next words struck her like thunder, bringing her mind to an abrupt standstill. "But let's forget about the fact that the Yadava Princess herself did not follow this rule. After all, royalty never follow the rules they make."

Subhadra gripped the edges of her skirt, her expression steady as she tried to steer the conversation in a different direction. "I think we are losing focus Malini. Why bring other people from the clan into this when they had no part in what you underwent?"

Malini, however continued, her senses clouded by the wounds of her past. "Its because I just can't stand the Yadavas. They are nothing but empty promises of love and protection. My fiancé was no different. He was charming, yes, but beneath that lovely smile, he was nothing but a selfish and heartless man. I've had enough of him and his kind."

Subhadra's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she found it hard to suppress the surge of anger rising within her. How could Malini so easily dismiss and generalize her clan?

While she agreed that Malini's fiancé was overall a horrible man, it didn't give her the right to disrespect the Yadavas as a whole. However, calming herself, she began, her voice low and controlled, as though a quiet fire burned behind her words.

"Why don't you approach the Woman's Protection Council in Dwarka then? They have the authority to override the rules when the circumstances warrant them to." Malini stopped walking, and looked at her with a mix of skepticism and confusion, "The... what?"

Subhadra frowned, "Aren't you aware of its existence? I mean, every kingdom has one. I have been told that such councils provides assistance to all those women who find themselves trapped in situations like these."

Malini scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, that good-for-nothing council of Dwarka! I doubt it does anything it promises."

Subhadra's breath caught in her throat at Malini's scorn, and a sharp anger rushed through her veins. The Women Protection Council had been a source of pride for the Yadava kingdom.

And as the Princess, Subhadra knew how much effort her Bhabhi Rukmini and Bhabhi Satyabhama put into advocating for women's rights. The idea of dismissing it as 'good for nothing' was irritating.

Additionally, it had been Subhadra who was instrumental in drafting the powers of the council. And by that experience, she knew that all Malini had to take a step to reach out to the council and everything else would automatically fall in place.

"Look, Rochana, I'm not saying this out of some blind hatred for the Yadavas." Malini began, "Have you heard about the case of Princess Subhadra, the Yadava Princess I mentioned earlier?" Subhadra halted in her steps. What was Malini going to say now?

"What do you mean?"

"This Princess was a royal, and she was ruthlessly murdered by her own husband's family. I am sure she would have turned to them in distress, before things went south."

"And now, if they could not even protect their own family, what chance do I, a woman of no title, have?" Subhadra shut her eyes, the ground beneath her slipping. Malini shouldn't have said that. 

"Promise me Brata Krishna..."

"You do not engage in anything that involves the royal kingdoms and that is why you still believe in the councils. Not just Dwarka, none of the kingdoms' councils are helpful, including Magadha." She continued, and Subhadra nodded simply, her eyes not meeting hers.

"No, Bhadra. You do not have to do this. We can find some other way out."

Malini's words hit painfully close and brought about various memories, the ones Subhadra had tried hard to forget.

"I don't think I can believe that lie anymore! Everything is lost..."

"We live in an era where a woman's life, justice for her and her whole existence is secondary to a man's desires and wishes, Rochana." Malini whispered, her voice tinged with resignation.

"Stop right there! Why are you even doing this to me, to all of us?"

And as much as she did not want, Subhadra had already begun drawing instances from her life that were parallel to Malini's words.

"With this, everything is clear Arjun. You don't love me, and perhaps, you never did. All these years, you've been simply pretending; going along with it for the sake of our friendship and the bond you shared with my brother. Now that I see the truth, I honestly don't know what's worse- the fact that you never loved me, or that you pretended and lied to me all this time. And now, I will do what I have to do, as both a Princess and a woman."

The words from the past, the events- everything that broke her once and for all played in her mind.

"Okay, if that's the case, Bhadra, let's split. This isn't working anyways."

And with that, Subhadra gulped, striving to take control over her mind again. Things happened in ways it shouldn't have, but now all she could do was to not think about it and survive, if not live like she did before.

"I suppose my only option now is to hide where my fiancé can't find me. And I have come to make peace with it." Malini said seriously, glancing at Subhadra's troubled expression. "Don't feel bad Rochana. Some relationships are destined to bring pain and complications. We can't quite do anything about it."

"Malini..."

"I know this is hard. But its not about one person or one tragedy. It's about the council working to help as many as it can, even if it fails sometimes. It is imperfect but it has given a voice to countless women who were once voiceless. Ask for help..."

Malini's eyes flashed with disbelief.

"No council, no kingdom will be able to help you unless you take the first step. And it is not necessary that whatever happened to m.. Princess Subhadra will happen to you as well." Subhadra added. Malini, still lost in her thoughts, said nothing in response.

As they approached the gathering crowd, both fell silent. Keechak's speech was about to begin, and the noise of the crowd grew louder, drowning out any further words.

* * *

"Where is the Prince?" Malini asked, but Subhadra didn't respond. She was staring at the workers from various fields, gathered together in clusters, exchanging whispers.

Their weary expressions were hard to hide, and despite their efforts to cover it, fear and anxiety were clearly written on their face. Suddenly, the crowd went silent, and Malini nudged Subhadra's shoulder, saying "Here comes Prince Keechak."

Subhadra looked up just as Keechak rode in on horseback, his ministers trailing behind. As he dismounted and walked towards the center of the stage, his gaze skimmed through the gathered crowd. And Subhadra couldn't help but notice how his presence seemed to drain the color from the world around them, making the atmosphere even darker.

Keechak felt a small smile play on his lips, as he noticed the fear in everyone's eyes, knowing the announcement he was about to make would likely spark public outrage, even riots.

Yet, he was confident that none of the workers would dare oppose him, except Subhadra, whose gaze he now locked onto. For a brief moment, Keechak's smile faded as he held her gaze longer than he had intended.

Subhadra, sensing his stare, turned to face him. Although she had expected it, there was something unsettlingly personal in the way he stared at her. Subhadra however remained undaunted, and the silence in the arena, slowly transformed into something more suffocating and oppressive.

"People of Magadha," Keechak's voice rang out, deep and commanding. "Today, I stand before you not as a prince, but as your well wisher. And it is with a heavy heart that I must announce a decision that is essential for our survival." He paused, his eyes scanning the crowd, his gaze sharp.

"The kingdom has fallen into.. peril." He continued, his tone falsely somber. "And to ensure that Magadha thrives, to maintain the wealth and stability, we have come to a conclusion that we must raise the taxes, and increase the fares across the land. This is, as you know, for the greater good of all."

Subhadra glanced at the anxious faces of the workers shuffling nervously, their gazes oscillating between the prince and their comrades and sighed. So much for a throne, she wondered.

"As ministers of the throne, we are doing what is necessary to keep the kingdom running smoothly," he said smoothly, his words calculated. "We must increase trade, raise your labor to new levels, and ensure that the production continues at full capacity. This is not a choice; it is your responsibility to contribute more."

Subhadra glanced at Malini who sighed at her helplessly.

"Each of you is needed. We need more from you than ever before. And to ensure that these rules are followed correctly," Keechak continued, his voice growing more authoritative, "we have decided to appoint supervisors for each of these fields. These people will oversee your working hours, ensuring that you meet the production quotas, and will act as the link between you and the kingdom. Its their duty to meet the expectations set for their respective fields."

He let the words hang in the air, watching as murmurs spread across the crowd, each worker turning to whisper to the person next to them.

"AND-"

Keechak's voice suddenly grew louder, darker, and the crowd fell silent, tension growing in the air. "If you fail to meet the required output, the punishment will not fall on the field workers but on you alone."

His eyes swept across the sea of faces, making sure the threat sank in. Subhadra's eyes widened as the realization finally hit her. She saw Keechak motion for a guard to step forward and hand him a sealed scroll, and she understood what she had to expect.

"Now, Prince Keechak will announce the names of those chosen to be the field leaders. If your name is called, step forward to collect your badge from Minister Varma." Another soldier declared, causing the crowd to glance nervously at one another.

"Dritha has been elected responsible for the fields next to the Main Temple. Adhira would be held responsible for the fields surrounding the palace. Rihan would have to ensure the requirements are met for the fields by the lake. Ro-"

Keechak paused, his eyes flicking up to meet Subhadra's, his voice tinged with bitterness as he continued, "And lastly, Rochana is the one responsible for the fields on the outskirts of our kingdom."

"Go." Malini's hesitant whisper reached Subhadra's ears, snapping her out of her thoughts. With a determined look, Subhadra stepped forward, her demeanor calmer and composed than anticipated by him.

To unnerve her, Keechak moved toward her, grabbing the badge from Varma's hands. As he dropped the badge in her palm, he couldn't help but notice the unusual calmness in Subhadra's demeanor, a stillness that unsettled him.

Keechak leaned closer to Subhadra, who now stood with her arms crossed behind her back. "I am sure you know that this whole set up is to ensure that I settle my scores with you. You think you are extremely smart, don't you, Rochana?" He whispered, pronouncing her name with a cruel sneer.

Subhadra closed her eyes, feeling the weight of his hatred for her. It wasn't that she was afraid but something in that tone disgusted her. "I will now ensure that you fail to meet your field requirements. And then, I'll humiliate you in front of all the citizens, just like you humiliated me before my ministers."

Subhadra opened her eyes and stared at Keechak, in his eyes as his lips curled up, as though challenging her. And with eyes fixed at her, he continued, his voice now directed towards the ones on the dais.

"And this is the kind of punishment that awaits the supervisors who fail to meet the production requirements." He declared and without hesitation, he grabbed the whip from the belt of a nearby soldier. And in one swift motion, he lashed it across the back of a leader standing beside him.

Subhadra gasped, as she saw the poor man cry in pain, staggering and ultimately falling to the ground. Keechak, on the other hand, glanced across the crowd that stood wide eyed in horror. It took him a second ti hold back the evil chuckle that had almost escaped his mouth.

He then turned his sharp gaze to Subhadra whose gaze was fixed at the man lying in pain, on the floor, her mind still registering the events that had transpired. Malini, who had recoiled with her eyes shut at the sound of the whip, glanced up to find Keechak staring at Subhadra.

And in that moment, to her, he seemed no less than a predator staring at its prey.

* * *

PS: Hey guys! So, how was the chapter? I know this is the first chapter without Bhargavi but me being the author I am, have dropped various hints about the past in this chapter.

I won't be telling you if your guesses are right or wrong because that spoils the fun, so just play along and wait for how things flow. And yes, don't bash based on what's given because it's all half cooked information which is pretty dangerous<3

Anyways, that being said, I'd love to know your guesses on these hints are. My schedule has gotten stricter than before, so updates won't be as regular as before. But I'll be trying my best. Anyways, hope you all are having a great year ahead! :)

Target: 28 votes & 55 comments.

Stay tuned.
Take care guyss!