In an open coliseum, there stood a bulky man, who was looking like a giant with his huge size of biceps, overly broad shoulder and palm tree like height. He was hammering up his own dust-clad chest and busy shouting, yelling at crowds of Avanti kingdom while challenging them to fought with him and conquered. Almost he slayed down the selected important wrestlers of Avanti on ground kissing position. His pride was as high as it touched range of the great mount Meru. He was satisfying his name, Urjita, the fatty and bulky.

The king of Avanti was hell worried as some outsider came, challenged and defeated all his good malla yodhas. It was as shameful as heart wrenching for him, as no one was there ready to accept challenge. His senapati would do the honor, if he was not been injured badly. Still the senapati got up and requested theking to allow him to accept the challenge.

"I can't do that even if you ask for anything now. First, You are injured. I don't want my pride, one of my jewels will face something horrible in this matter." The king said sternly.

"But, your Majesty. Our honour is at stake." Senapati tried to make the king understand, still holding his injured limb and left hand.

"Even so, I don't."

"I am accepting your challenge, O great winner." Came a voice from crowd who stood at stadium.

Then everyone become baffled and let the intruder to go ahead freely leaving space for him to descend down. It surprised the king as well Senapati too as they were looking at the direction in awe. When majority of known big faces and bulky people didn't attempt, then a boy accepted the challenge.

Cladded with brown attire with a white cloth inside, that boy covered his face with a mask leaving only his visible blazing flower petals eyes which was quite contradictory to his attitude. A little sword, which was hung in his waist, he took it out, jumped to the arena, and crushed ground in one hit while lowering his head in the form of showing his respect to the king. The king raised his hands in ashrivad mudra and encouraged him.

That boy already figured out the Urjita's pattern of winning. No doubt, Urjita was muscular and more powerful than he was; but he was not as graceful and intelligent like the boy. The boy smiled inwardly as he got what it took to win Urjita. He actually had to do nothing but let Urjita drained all his energies by himself and utilized it for his favour.

'If you think can't win against a giant power, and then borrow his power in your favour. Utilize it the way you want, then victory will be yours. Remember your intellect is more powerful than any physical strength.' The boy remembered his Guruji's word and bent down touching his forehead on the ground as if taking the blessings of mother earth.

Urjita was in fury seeing a mere boy was challenging him. His pride and ego both were hurt. His rage made him blind. He marched toward the boy with full strength, but the boy dodged it. It happened continuously. The giant man tried and the boy successfully ducked away.

Public even lost the interest after few rounds, when the boy noticed the already tired body of the Urjita. He estimated then it was the last amount of energy the man was left with, he instigated him knowingly. Just when Urjita was jumping on the boy to smash him on his weight, the boy was prepared on his plan; he jumped on his big thigh on one leg pressing it hard to the ground and the other landed directly on his face crushing him on the ground. It felt like a big banyan tree fell on ground due to earthquake. The crowd cheered up for their winner.

Before Urjita fell down, he pulled down the turban com mask of the boy, to see his face. He laid in shock seeing it's a girl rather than a boy, her thick midnight knee length hairs covered her face. Siding away her hairs and tying it with a thin cloth piece, she smiled at her opponent with an extended helping hand. There was a pin drop silence among the crowd.

The Senapati stood up immediately not caring his injuries, being appalled and stunned at turn out of events; so as the king.

"Adrika?" The Senapati just uttered in a low mumble.

"Do you know her?" The king asked.

"My daughter." The Senapati said lowering down his head, " my apologies, O my Majesty. I will handle her."

"No need." The king started to descend down to the podium followed by few guards and Senapati himself.

By the time, the king reached both the competitors came and kneeled down bowing their heads to pay their respect. The king told them to straighten up. He praised Urjita, gave him his share of reward as runners up, and bid a good bye as he was from other kingdom.

To their surprise, Urjita bent down in front of Adrika to show his respect, "master."

Adrika made him stood up, " I am not your master. I am just a mere subject who couldn't bear her kingdom's disgrace. You shouldn't do that in front of me."

"But that was my condition before the competition started. The winner will be master and loser his slave."

"We are children of same Paramatman for which he didn't do any discrimination and I should obey his norms. If it was your condition I am not accepting it, I freed you." Adrika said calmly and the man seemed in tears.

"No one ever treated me with such honour. I will be always at your service whenever you call for me." Urjita gave his details written on a palm leaf and another wooden box covered with red silk cloth as token of his gratitude and took his leave graciously.

The king was very much impressed with her noble thoughts and the highly talent for which she had no pride.

"Adrika, why are you here?" Senapati scolded his daughter, in a soft tone. The king stopped him.

"Adrika then. Very beautiful name, completely justified you, dear." The king said.

"I am honored, my Lord."

"I have one task for you, will you do it?"

"Anything for our kingdom, your Majesty."

"Its not for kingdom but personal. Will you do it?"

"I will consider it after listening." Her reply was fearless and on the point.

"Adrika, where is your manners?" Senapati sounded disappointed and vexed at his daughter's reply.

However, the king chuckled. He was admiring her bravery and sincere answers .

"Senapati Mahodaya, I am talking to her. Let me without any disturbances."

"I am extremely sorry, my Lord for intervening like this. My child normally has a good etiquette. I don't know what happened to her now." Senapati tried to justify his daughter's act in fear if any punishment would be rewarded to his precious daughter for her blunt talking.

"Let her be honest with herself." The king told to Senapati and turned to Adrika again, " I hope you will do my task, dear."

"I want you to be royal life guard to princess, Ila. You must know she was already betrothed to the prince of Kashi and I need someone as intelligent and honest with skills to guard her." The king finally let out what he thought.

"I am very sorry, my Lord. I think there are warriors that are more skilful in palace more than I am. I am not here with any greed to get any position at royal palace." Adrika voiced out her thoughts with little worry.

"But they are not angels. You will be that one, our warrior angel."

"I have one doubt."

"Ask freely."

"If I will be an angel, if I will stay with princess for all the time; what if Prince of Kashi will fall for me, then what will be your decision?" That made the king stunned. She was more intelligent than he guessed. For others it was an inappropriate question for which she should be punished; but the king knew she was testing him through this. He started to envy Senapati for having such graceful and intelligent daughter who had all abilities more than any princess did. She would be a priceless possession for his kingdom and he would never lose it at any cost.

"Adrika....." Again, Senapati interfered but stopped at King's look.

"Then I will gladly marry you off with the prince. Because you are going to be my daughter from now on, this Avanti kingdom's daughter." The king replied with a pleasant smile.

"Then I am ready to be at royal service, your Majesty." She bent down to touch his feet this time and he blessed her.

Warrior angel

Ila was blabbing that in her unconscious state. She was taken to home after doctor said everything was all right, but still she was chanting the same thing. Indrani got worried for her daughter she dialled Adhrit, which went, disconnected. She sat near Ila and caressed her face and hairs with affection. Her motherly instinct knew the things that her daughter was going on not because of any physical stress. It was something else, which hit her subconscious. She decided she would find a solution to it.

Adhrit was running madly at archaeological site after that fateful clash with Adyant. Said his eagerness or restlessness, made him run miles around the whole area. He didn't even know in the process of running, the file he held fell on somewhere scattering the important papers. Thankfully, Rohit was following him who collected all those.

Rohit was beyond appalled seeing his boss in such state. He never did see such devastated and windy Adhrit. He didn't know; but he felt downcast for his boss. After walking few more steps, his eyes fell on completely broken down form of Adhrit. He was not his arrogant boss, but looked like a child who lost his parents in crowds.

Adhrit was sitting on the ground without caring much about surrounding; his face was facing ground with pearl drops touching mother earth seemingly. His both palms held his head tightly, eyes closed and lips trembling. Rohit ran to him after witnessing his boss's pitiful situation.

Rohit went near him and sat down near him, placing his hand on Adhrit's shoulder and squeezed it in assurance.

"Will you leave me too?" came the immediate question from Adhrit whose eyes were completely red then due to continuous wailing.

"Never, boss." Although Rohit was shocked to hear such thing from Adhrit, but he answered truthfully.

Rohit was loyal to Adhrit more than even he could imagine. That didn't happen suddenly, it was a gradual process. From saving him from life threatening disease with treatment in abroad, to warning the college thugs who was harassing him, to liberating them from the clutch of their greedy land lord; Adhrit did so much for the father-son. Rohit would never forget his clemency and kindness. Though Adhrit was arrogant, throwing his anger on him all the time; he knew his boss had a golden heart more than those who faked their goodness. He liked because his boss never pretend anything. He was what he showed. Moreover, he could not imagine his days would complete without Adhrit's scoldings. Weird enough, but true.

But, the question was why his boss was mad for the guy who just bumped into him? Did he change his preferences? Rohit shivered on that thought. Before he could think, further he was crushed into a hug by Adhrit, which made his doubt more firm. He made a face and released himself as soon as possible. What if his boss would demand for that guy now? He would go mad soon if not immediately. He thought Adhrit was better being rude to him, rather than showing his vulnerability. He should maintain his distance from his boss. His wild imaginations went on a haywire before he was pushed to reality.

"Let's go." Adhrit said with a smile that made Rohit jumped a little in fear.

"Thank you." That was definitely not his boss.

Did he possessed by some spirit? He should talk with his father.

After that, they went to see the statue, which was talk of town then. Adhrit's feet automatically pulled toward statue like some magnet pulling iron. Disrobing the veil slowly that covered the statue, his eyes met those lotus petal of the magnificent creation what he dreamt before. He stood dumbfounded for the phenomena was happening around him didn't feel natural. How his mere dream turned out to be astonishing truth. Touching and caressing the face of statue, he felt kind of electrifying haul engaged him an enchanting attraction. His eyes closed automatically as his one palm held the statue's finger and his forehead joined her. Like a witch's spell, he felt bewitched. He remembered the ruby studded ring adorned the delicate finger of statue, which the prince made her to wear.

"Where was the ring?" Adhrit mumbled to himself. He was certain about that; but discarded the thought, might be it was lost in time.

"What was that? Show me Adi?" Jamyang asked Adrika who was busy looking a beautiful Ruby studded ring.

"I found it from survey site."

"And you took it."

"It was mine to begin with."

"From when?"

"Don't know. Just feel like." She shrugged and wore the ring in her finger. It suited her, felt as if it was made for her.

"Look at the delicate filigree designs. How delicate and exquisite twisting is created as if an enigma of sorcerer's incarcerate celestial. It looked like very ancient design." She said in trance.

Jamyang noticed the change in her demeanour, he shook her hard, " That's why I am saying it might be with statue. Let's return it."

"Never. Don't act like a saint now." She poked her tongue out. She added, " do you forget we are con partners."

"We decided we won't do it."

" I am not going to return this unique piece."

"Okay. Now let's get you eat." Jamyang left the topic there as for him she was important, not what she was doing. She was happy, then he too. Adyant strictly made rule no one should let her be sad, else the last day would be near for the unfortunate person and he didn't want to become Adyant's first target.

Rohit was more thankful for the rest of ride was silent with his boss was merged with somewhere in his thoughts.

After reaching home, Adhrit announced he was going for a short nap. He definitely needed it to sort out his jumbled up thoughts. He turned to Rohit, who got other thou now, "I hope you will get the girl by evening?"

That was a question more than a statement with a demanding sly devious voice; but Rohit couldn't be more happy for his boss returned to his usual grumpy nature and his doubts were disappeared like fragrances in air. He flashed a big smile unknowingly.

"I asked you something? Didn't say to show me your thirty two fang and tusks." Adhrit said irritably.

"I am just so happy, boss."

Another glare form Adhrit and Rohit spoke what he was asked before, "we traced her house. Our people are there guarding. They were out of town for few days. I heard she will be returned by this afternoon."

Rohit replied with a victorious smile.

"Good for you. Let's see." Adhrit went with that.

Ravi kaka was too much baffled watching those banters then. He asked his son, "What happened to you? Why you are behaving like this?"

"Nothing ,papa. I am just happy."

"For what? Adhrit's scoldings."

"Apparently yes." Rohit went to his room humming a romantic number leaving Ravi kaka shocked.

What was happening in that house?

What would Rohit said to his father, that he imagined his boss as gay. He was afraid of his father more than his boss was then. More than Adhrit, Ravi kaka might make him run for miles with a spatula behind him for such absurd such.

The dim sapphire light from the arrowed chandelier spread across the room giving a feeling of warmth. The curtains were raised precisely up to quarter of the glass wall. In centre there laid a king size bed made up of expensive mahogany woods. The neat white sheets were shining more than moon; but the face that laid on it showed various torment and afflictions. Adhrit's eyes were shut tightly, but he clutched both side of sheets like his all life dependent on it. He was murmuring something in his dream.

'Please come back to me once. You promised to be with me forever. You said you loved me more than anything. Can't you forgive me for once? I feel emptiness without you. My existence meant nothing when you are not with me. Please dear.'

Ravi kaka who went to wake him up heard him. He saw Adhrit was crying in his sleep. He didn't know what kind of torture and pain Adhrit was going through, he felt very bad. When Adhrit was child, he got afraid of his dreams and shared with Ravi kaka. As he grew older, he crushed all his emotions inside and become something else, which he didn't want.

Ravi kaka always felt, Adhrit's parents were responsible for what he became. They had always time for their younger son, Aditya but not for Adhrit. From the childhood, they always ignored him like plague while showering Aditya with everything.Adhrit was deprived of anything as an orphan, difference he had parents too. When they left for states, they took Aditya with them and pushed Adhrit to boarding school in the name of incomplete study might affect his career. Ravi kaka was proud what Adhrit became, his hard works made him. He was a self-made man. Importantly he was not self-obsessed like those high society brats. He saw Aditya had become big name in film industry; still he didn't see both brothers talk once, let alone hospitality. Sometimes he was confused with the family's secrecy.

It was already quarter to five. Only one hour and fifteen minutes left for Rohit's dead line. Adhrit was excited and impatience. He was pacing in his office above twelfth floor shined by sun deity himself, not caring what looks he was getting. He was practising, how to talk with her and what to talk with her. His queen. He was giggling like a child. In his excitement, he forgot about his PA Rohit, who was trembling like as if he was going to be sacrificed by anaconda in the forest named, AA enterprises and the slayer would be none other than his boss.

Rohit remembered how Jamyang and Adrika shooed him away as if he had any viral disease. They even threatened him, if they saw him again near their house; they would lodge a complaint against him as harasser. If not that was enough, they were going to stamp him as pervert and stalker. What sin he did committed, that he was getting such treatment. He banged his head on glass wall, which definitely drawn attention of Adhrit who seemed not pleased for disturbance in his one-way thoughts.

Rohit thought in any way he was not going to see next day, it was better to be punished by his boss rather than police, he imagined how Adrika ran behind him with a knife in her hand and shook his head.

"Why are you shaking your head like spring stucked in your neck?" Adhrit asked.

Rohit stared at his boss for a moment and kneeled down in front of him, " I am sorry boss. I am not able to complete your task."

Adhrit felt his blood was rushing as if it had competition with tsunami. He closed his lids tightly and fisted his knuckles, which turned a shade of whiter more, "what did you say? You were so much confident in morning where was that gone. A simple task and you failed."

Adhrit wanted to vent out his anger on something, his fist landed on the table creating a crackling noise and scattering few papers from table. His eyes fell on a photograph and he bent down to collect it. His volcanic eruption halted as if someone sent Sirius cloud to rain on him. He was looking astounded for a picture, which made his whole existence so divine. He was staring unblinking, the picture of Adrika who posed like statue and stood near it. Adhrit was confused who was real and who was statue. A serene smile spread across his lips.

Rohit was waiting for his boss's outburst, stood surprised seeing his calm avatar. He bent little to his boss side to see what it was and thanked his stars for collecting that girls photo with the papers.

"She saved you today." Adhrit pointed the picture.

"I will worship her picture from now on." Rohit's tongue slipped spontaneously unknown to him. His mockery filled tone made Adhrit's arrogance back.

" I am extremely sorry boss. It was just a mistake." Rohit stammered and rushed toward exit door before he got any reward from his boss, only to be banged by the sudden click of the door unlocked and fell straight on ground kissing the maple wood floor. He raised his head with a painful squeak and happily shocked seeing the intruder.

"Leave this poor thing. I heard, you wanted me." That same voice filled with warmth and tranquillity, the voice that felt him like music of streams, soothed him like mother's lullaby calmed him like a fairy's soft touch. Adhrit turned his head and his eyes got glassy blurring his vision.

There she stood with her saffron and yellow combination knee length sundress. Her face glowed like molten gold as the setting sun rays fell directly on her crossing his glass wall, making her appearance like a celestial.

Another vision caught him with his full conscious.

The prince was sitting on a podium under a tree in garden. His gold crown studded with other jewels was placed beside him on podium. His hand covered his face, which was already hung down. The chime sound of payal made him look at direction of source. She was coming to him; wearing the traditional clothes, he gifted her. The yellow waistcloth filled with gold and pearl works cascaded down till the feet, and the saffron heavy worked chest wrapping cloth piece made her look elegant. The saffron veil, pleated neatly covered her from her waist to shoulder and left open there. She never liked heavy jewellery , but she wore the gold waist chain and necklace he gifted her. Her knee length curly hair braided with care leaving few curls howling on her face. He stood up immediately and took her in his embrace. It was heaven; no matter how much stress and tension he felt, he always found his peace in her, his contentment in her.

"Adrika, my queen; you are here." He said ever so softly with all his love in voice.

"The man I love called me Drika." She pouted.

"yes, my queen. Now I am confident I can win the world."

"i will be with you. Always."

"promise."

"I do." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and again took her in his embrace feeling the serenity waving through his body.

Adhrit came out of his flashes and shivered, that time the vision was not blurred; it was clear like water. He was shocked to see the prince was exact replica of himself and the girl was standing before him, his buried feelings came out. Those feelings came back to him again, peace and happiness, he uttered slowly, "Adrika."

Adhrit was slowly walking toward her and drinking her appearance and capturing it in his lens; he took her hands and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles as gesture of greeting, " welcome back, my queen."