Published on:- 6/1/25 [Monday]
...

The next morning in the grand royal court of Kundarastra was a magnificent sight.

The throne of Maharaj Abhisaar Samaiyar stood tall on a raised dais, a symbol of power and authority.

The king sat regally as his sharp eyes were surveying the assembly of ministers, advisors, and nobles who stood in respectful silence.

A royal guard stepped forward, bowing deeply and informed, "Maharaj! Yuvraj Shivaal ke aadesh pe Rajdhara rajya ke Yuvrani Samanvitha ko kalkothari me kaid kar diya gaya hai".

King Abhisaar's eyes twitched as he did not respond.

One of the royal ministers stepped forward hesitantly. "Maharaj, kya ye satya hai ki Rajdhara rajya ka Yuvraj ek stree hai. Ek Yuvrani? Agar ye satya hai to Kundarastra rajya pe ishka duprabhaav padega".

The king nodded. His face had a mask of calmness, though tension rippled through the court. The hall buzzed with whispers and the revelation sparked the speculation.

"Chaturai tumhare kaam aayi hai, Shivaal. Lekin yaad rakho, agar tumhare faisle is samrajya ke virodh mein gaye, toh iski keemat tumhe chukani padegi", King Abhisaar thought as he knew why Shivaal threw the crown Princess Samanvitha into the dungeon.

..

On the other hand, the air in the dungeon was cold and damp and the faint scent of moss clinging to the stone walls. Chains hung loosely from the walls, and a single dim torch flickered and cast long, eerie shadows across the chamber.

Samanvitha sat in the corner while her back was resting against the rough wall. Her arms were folded tightly over her knees, and her head tilted upward as if trying to find a fragment of light in the darkness.

The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional drip of water from the ceiling. She winced as her fingers brushed against a bruise on her wrist, a cruel reminder of the soldiers' grip when they dragged her here.

She whispered to herself, "Hum Rajdhara ke Yuvraj hai... kisi andheray mein bandh kar humari himmat nahi tut sakti."

The flickering torchlight danced across her face and highlighted the defiance in her eyes. The world outside might have forgotten her, but she hadn't forgotten who she was.

A sudden noise of footsteps echoing from the corridor made her straighten. Her gaze sharpened, and her breathing slowed as the sound grew louder, nearing her cell. She clenched her fists and was ready to face whatever or whoever came next.

If they thought the darkness of the dungeon could break her, they were gravely mistaken.

The heavy iron door creaked open, the sound echoing through the cold stone walls.

A tall figure stepped inside, the torchlight flickering against their silhouette.

Samanvitha's eyes narrowed as she recognized him - Shivaal.

He stood there silently for a moment, his piercing gaze fixed on her. There was no arrogance in his stance, but his presence carried an undeniable authority.

"Kya chahiye yahan?" Samanvitha's voice cut through the silence like a blade.

Shivaal's eyes scanned her form - her torn attire, the bruises she tried to conceal, and the fierce fire in her eyes that refused to waver. For a moment, he didn't speak, as though weighing his words carefully.

"Akad gayi nahi tumhari," he said finally, his voice low and steady. "Ye kalkothari ka andhera pasand aa gaya kya?".

Samanvitha straightened her spine, meeting his gaze head-on. "Rajdhara ke Yuvraj andhere se kabhi nahi darte. Humari himmat nahi tutegi."

Shivaal's jaw tightened, his fingers curling into fists. "Kisne kaha ki main tumhe todne ke liye aisa kar raha hun? Baat to yahan tumhe sabak sikhane ka hai ki tumhe yaad rahe ki yahan shaktishali kaun hai aur kiska shashan chalta hai".

She let out a sharp laugh, the sound echoing mockingly. "Senapati... Kundarastra rajya ke Yuvraj Shivaal Samaiyar ek bat yaad rakhiega. Rajdhara ka har varis apne rakht mein abhimaan le kar janm leta hai."

Shivaal stepped closer, the air between them charged with tension. His voice dropped to a near whisper. "Tum apne abhimaan par kaayam rah sakati ho, lekin yaad rakhna- yah kalkothari, yah rajya aur tumhara bhagya ab mera hai, Shivaal Samaiyar ka"

Her heart raced, but she masked it with a sharp glare. "Mera bhagya kabhi kisi ke haath mein nahin tha aur naa hi kabhi hoga, Senapati. kam se kam tumhaare to bilkul nahi."

For a brief moment, their eyes locked in an unspoken battle of wills. The silence between them was louder than any words.

Finally, Shivaal turned abruptly and walked to the door. "kalkothari mein apane pravaas ka anand lo, Rajdhara ke yuvaraj. shaayad andhera tumhe wah sikha de jo main nahin sikha sakta"

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving Samanvitha alone once more, her breath uneven but her spirit unyielding.

...

In the quiet solitude of the royal gardens, Maharani Iravathi Samaiyar sat beneath the sprawling branches of an ancient peepal tree.

The vibrant flowers and the gentle hum of bees were a stark contrast to the turmoil in her heart.

The news of the Rajdhara Yuvrani being held captive in Kundarastra weighed heavily on her.

Her usually composed demeanor was replaced by a furrowed brow and a distant look in her eyes.

A maid approached hesitantly, bowing deeply.

"Maharani Devi, kya aap thik hain?" the maid asked softly.

Iravathi shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kaise thik ho sakti hoon? Ek stree, jo apne rajya ki yuvraj ban kar ladti rahi, aaj hamare rajya ki bandi hai. Main samajh nahi pa rahi hoon ki ise kaise sambhala jaye."

The maid hesitated before speaking. "Maharani Devi, Yuvraj apne faislon mein saksham hain. Shayad unhone kuch soch kar hi Yuvrani ko Kalkothari me dala hoga. Aur hum ye kaise bhul jaye ki yuddh ka ant mrityu hota hai lekin Yuvraj ne Yurani ko bina unki pehchan ke bandi banaya tha. Wo prajeet hui thi aur Kundarashtra vijay."

Iravathi let out a weary sigh. "Shivaal hamesha se sahi faisle leta hai, lekin iss baar baat alag hai".

Her voice broke slightly, and she looked at the maid with pained eyes. "Samajhna mushkil ho raha hai ki ek rani hone ke nate mujhe stree ka paksh lena chahiye ya samrajya ka."

The maid knelt beside her. "Maharani Devi, aapka hriday hamesha sahi disha dikhata hai. Aap bas Yuvraj se baat kijiye."

Iravathi nodded, "Haan, mujhe Shivaal se baat karni hogi. Par mujhe ek aur baat samajhni hai... kya Rajdhara ki Yuvrani sach mein hamare rajya ke liye khatra hai ya sirf ek bandi hai?"

Her thoughts swirled as she rose gracefully. The queen was torn between her role as a monarch and her empathy as a woman. She knew she had to tread carefully in this matter. Her steps were measured as she made her way to the palace while her heart was heavy with unanswered questions.

....

At night, In the dimly lit bar of Kundarashtra kingdom, the air was filled with the faint aroma of spiced wine and burning sandalwood.

A private room was lavishly adorned with gilded carvings and intricate tapestries.

Yuvraj Shivaal Samaiyar sat in a relaxed yet commanding posture, a goblet of rich crimson wine in his hand. His sharp eyes gleamed in the flickering candlelight, but there was a storm brewing behind them.

Around him, the atmosphere was lively with laughter and chatter. His loyal companions from Qamarabad and Varnanpura sat in a semi-circle, their voices echoing through the bar.

One of Shivaal's friends, Zaydan - a merchant from Qamarabad, leaned forward while smirking.

"Senapati ji, suna hai apke Sheesh Mahal mein ab ek anokhi bandi rahi hai? Rajdhara ki Yuvraj. Ye kaisa khel hai, dost?"

Shivaal's lips curved slightly into a humorless smile as he swirled the wine in his goblet. "Khel nahi, Zaydan. Ye rajya ki suraksha ka sawaal hai. Jo Rajdhara ke saath hua, uska zimmedar unka apna swarth hai. Aur Yuvraj ko bandi banakar sirf unhe unki galti ka ehsaas dilaya ja raha hai."

Akshat, a nobleman, a painter from Varnanpura, chuckled as he raised his glass and said, "Par sunne mein aaya hai ki woh Rajdhara ki Yuvraj nahi, balki Yuvrani hai. Ek stree ne yudh mein apke sainikon ko takkar di? Ye baat mujhe maani nahi jaati."

Shivaal's expression hardened, and his voice dropped, carrying a cold edge. "Woh sirf ek stree nahi hai. Woh ek yodha hai, jo apne rajya ke liye kuch bhi kar sakti hai. Mujhe uski taqat ka ehsaas hai."

Zaydan smirked as his tone was teasing. "Phir to sambhal kar rehna, Senapati ji. Ek din woh tumhare dil par bhi kabza kar sakti hai."

The men burst into laughter, but Shivaal's face remained impassive. He drained his goblet in one swift motion and set it down with a decisive thud.

"Uska samarthya mujhe prabhavit zarur karta hai, lekin mera hridaya abhi tak kisi ke liye nahi dhadka hai, Zaydan," Shivaal said and his tone was steady yet laced with conviction.

Akshat raised his glass in a mock salute. "Aur agar woh Rajdhara ki Yuvrani tumhe lalkare, toh?"

Shivaal leaned back, his gaze sharp as steel. "Tab bhi jawab wahi hoga, Akshat. Shivaal jeetne ke liye janma hai, aur haar ka sawal hi nahi uthta."

The conversation took a lighter turn, but in the recesses of his mind, Shivaal couldn't shake the memory of Samanvitha's fiery eyes and unyielding defiance.

Her presence in his kingdom had become a storm he wasn't ready to face, yet couldn't avoid.

....

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