"When life and death are itself unexpected, what more can you expect from it ?" ~ Arjun

⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰

Narrator's POV

A maid ran up to her and she stood speechless at the sight. She pulled Satyabama out of the chamber and closed the door immediately.

"What do I do? I need to inform the King but I can't gather the courage" she said and slowly walked towards the assembly hall.
_______________________________________

In the assembly hall:-

The minister entered the assembly hall with sparkling eyes and congratulated Balram and Arjun.

"Thank you Minister" Balram said and hugged the minister.

"Where were you Minister ?" Arjun asked as he looked straight at the minister with a smile.

"What do you mean?" he asked with a frown.

"I mean you weren't present at the warfield. I thought a minister of a kingdom participated in a war", Arjun said smiling.

"Well....I was just making sure every one was safe in the palace" he said stammering a little.

Arjun was about to say something when a maid entered the room with another lady, both of them were looking down.

"What happened dear ? Why are both of you nervous? You are covering your faces with the veil but we can sense your nervousness " Revati said and Balram nodded.

"Queen ! Princess Satyabama has fainted outside your chamber" one of them said softly.

"What ? How did it happen ?" Balram asked her in a stern tone. The maid was visibly frightened but stood still.

"Let's see what has happened !" Arjun said and all of them left the chamber. The other maid signalled the way and the entire royal family left the hall.

'That was a narrow escape ! The Prince almost caught me red-handed" he whispered and he noticed the other maid standing there waiting for him.

'I hope she didn't hear me' he thought and immediately walked out of the chamber while she followed him behind.
_______________________________________

The royal members reached the room and saw Satyabama on the floor supported by a few maids. Revati and Balram sat beside her and tried to wake her up whereas Arjun stood aside watching the sight.

"Satya.... Satya ! Wake up dear" Revati said shaking Satyabama while Balram was sprinkling water on Satyabama's face.

Arjun was feeling very restless. He felt the chamber void and it seemed as if he had lost something which was very valuable to him. His thoughts of insecurity were distracted by Satyabama's consciousness.

"Satya ! What happened ?" Balram asked as Revati helped her up.

"Brother ! I... I saw... Subhu !" she abruptly stopped pointing towards the chamber.

Balram and Arjun were confused while Revati was tensed. The maid were scared as she sensed everyone's gaze on her. The minister felt it better to interrupt and clear the confusion of the family as he wanted to laugh at their reactions.

"Well.... why not open the door King" he said calmly. Balram nodded and signalled Arjun to open the door.

Arjun nodded and took gentle steps towards the chamber. He slowly pushed the doors of the chamber to witness the bloody chamber. He was shocked and speechless while Revati began crying. Balram sat on the floor with a thud.

"Who dared to do this?" Arjun roared making the entire family tremble in fear. The maid kept her gaze fixed at the ground while the other simply looked at him with a blank expression on her face.

"I am asking you all only ! I will break the hands of that person who did this to my wife !" he roared in anger as hot tears flowed down his cheeks. But no one was in a state to answer his question.

"Subhu" Revati and Satyabama hugged each other crying while Balram was looking inside the room with teary eyes. Arjun wiped his tears and fell to the floor.

"King ! This is such a shock ! I wanted to tell you about this before but I couldn't muster the courage to do so. She was a very tender person and how could anyone slay her with a sword" he said sympathetically. Arjun got up and walked up to the minister and faced him.

"How do you know that she was slayed ?" Arjun asked suspiciously. The minister realised what he had said and befor he could clarify it, Balram put forward his question.

"How did you see Subhadra beforehand ? After Satyabama fainted, I don't think you were here and I see no reason for you to visit Subhadra during the war"

The minister was speechless as he did not expect such questions from them. He was at loss of words but he knew that by remaining quiet, he was furthering their suspicion and anger.

"Well...I told it in a hurry ! I mean I.... I " he stammered badly making them lose their patience.

"Minister ! Please get it straight ! What happened ?" Balram shouted and Revati and Satyabama looked at him with disgust.

"Well..." the minister started when the maid behind him finally spoke up.

"He is getting scared King !" she said chuckling. The minister turned to face her and started "You are a maid ! You have no rights to raise your voice against a Minister !"

She turned away and nodded looking at Revati and Satyabama leaving them curious. But they were able to understand what exactly she meant and they immediately went inside the room.

"Subhadra !" they shouted distracting the two Princes. Arjun went into the room while Balram pulled the minister into the room. The two maids stood at the entrance looking at the sight. Arjun walked towards Subhadra and placed his hands on her forehead.

"You have no rights to leave me Bhadra !" he said before breaking down beside the bed holding her duppata tightly. Everyone pitied his state for he had to endure a lot due to his wife.

Balram was now convinced that the minister was behind the act and looked at him with anger. The minister gulped in fear as he found that he had no ways to escape. He turned and tried to seek away from the chamber.

Balram and Arjun noticed this but before they could do anything, one maid immediately blocked his path and the other placed a sword on his neck leaving everyone awestruck.

"Did you think you really can escape after commiting this crime ?" she said as she unveiled herself making everyone smile.
_______________________________________