The sun was setting in the horizon; the outer walls of the palace were painted in a deep red by the dying rays of the sky. Moon will take over the lighting soon. Devasena looked at her kingdom from the heights of the palace. Pain has been her companion since the day her Amarendra had left the world. She never cried. She stood strong. Torture, loneliness, shame, she couldn’t even remember all the sorrows she had faced in her life and she had endured them all. But what she was facing now was not something she could endure. It was not only hers to be suffered alone but also that of her children Mahendra and Avantika. Having power is a terrible thing sometimes; you have to use it even when you don’t want to. Being the Rajmatha of the great kingdom of Mahishmathi, her decisions would always be made placing her kingdom above her family.

After the war with Bhallaldev there was peace for about two years. Devasena had thought that the people of Mahishmathi are finally safe but it was only a false bubble she had created in her mind. The kingdom of Sarayuha had unexpectedly attacked Mahishmathi. Without even declaring a war they came at night with an army and attacked the city. They killed men, women and children without mercy. When Mahendra came to know about the attack it was too late but he was successful in defeating the army of Sarayuha and killing every single person who had tried to destroy the kingdom. It has been 28 years since the battle. Mahendra was devastated by the events and he had to close the gates to Sarayuha and stop all trades with them to make sure no one from the country entered Mahishmathi again. The Kuntala river was blocked to stop the boats from coming to the city and the docks where closely watched. Mahendra was successful in stopping that nightmare from spreading to their dreams again. Later, Avantika came to Mahishmathi. The next five years were the best of their life. Despite of the conspiracies brewing in the kingdom they were still happy, the family was together and it was the greatest strength. But all their happiness was shattered by the disappearance of her grandchild.

Mahendra blamed himself for everything that happened. Mahendra and Avanti hadn’t smiled for years. Even now they had a sad tint when they smiled as though they were going to cry. Avanti had to fight soon after the delivery and the bleeding left her body weak. She could never give birth again. That not only became a personal sorrow but a political one too. The Mahishmathi throne had no heir now. Devasena was to choose someone from the royal family, any male whom she thought was capable of ruling to ascend the throne after Mahendra. Only a male can be chosen. If her grandchild was there she could have married her to a suitable man in the royal family and made him the king but now the right to the throne is forever leaving their hands. The heir of Baahubali will not sit on the Throne of Mahishmathi again.

In Mahishmathi it was always hot, unlike Kuntala which had the tint of cold breeze even during the midst of summer time. But for the last twenty years no matter wherever she went, Avanti had always felt a chill in her spine all the time. Like she had felt when she was standing in her chamber in Kuntala realising that her child was gone. Avantika stood near the blazing fire watching the way it danced in the wind. Her eyes glowed deep orange. There were no tears; she had forgotten to cry long time ago. But pain was still there, she wished her heart was numb like the Mahali Mountains that stood in the cold for thousands of years. But she couldn’t ever stop the pain; it flowed in her heart like how the Kuntala River flowed through the valley. Not stopping, even in the coldest snows or the harshest sun. It just keeps on flowing as though it would never stop. Avanti was lost in thoughts and that is when Shivu softly touched her shoulder and stood close to her body. Avanti was his strength; she has always been that since the day he found her mask at the feet of the Jalparvath. Shivu calmly stood there, really close to his soul.

When Shivu had reached Kuntala after clearing the mountain pass he couldn’t believe what he heard. Kuntala was attacked and that too was a well-planned one. He entered the palace gates and the palace ground was a ruin. Though the bodies were moved, there was still blood on the soil and the white platform. Shivu’s eyes were filled with tears when he entered Avanti’s chamber. She was lying there, on her bed, looking at the wall. There were maids in the chamber and they left as Shivu entered. Avanti didn’t look at him. Shivu looked at the crib and his heart broke in two. Avanti moved her stare from the wall and looked straight at Shivu. He also looked at her. His eyes had questions but he could sense so much pain in her that all he wanted was to hold her tight and let his tears blend in with hers.

Years had passed; Shivu and Avanti had gone through a lot since their childhood. But today, what they were going through was not something that would only affect them but also Mahishmathi. Shivu and Avantika had no heir and that meant the next king of the Mahishmathi will not be from their line but someone from the royal family or of royal blood. It hurt them every day that their child was lost but now losing the throne was another pain that Shivu and Avantika have to suffer. But they were ready to go through that too. They were together and nothing was strong enough to hold them down as long as Shivu and Avanti were together. Within the next one month a male heir will be chosen by the court to succeed Shivu and rule Mahishmathi.

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‘A woman can help too’ Sahasra was tying the rope to the ship to fix the sails when she spoke to Kshitij. Sahasra had a very busy and secretive week. She had to go on a voyage, that too without the knowledge of her queen mother or anyone else. Only the guardians knew about this. She took extra care to make sure Varun never came to know about her plans. He was very protective of her and he was the future king of Sarayuha. If he ever comes to know that Sahasra was going to Mahishmathi for peace talks he would never allow her to leave. To her mother she will be in the northern villages teaching children. Sahasra always visited villages and outskirts and helped the people there. Though her mother always objected but it was a lie that her mother would always believe. Sahasra left the palace by morning and went to the Temple of Heles for blessings. She didn’t know when she would reach Mahishmathi or if she would ever reach there. But it was a risk she was willing to take. Two days back she had visited the houses in the outskirts and the situation there broke her heart. She was ready to face any adversity in order to rescue her people.

Sahasra sat legs folded in the rocky ground of the temple. Its carvings told innumerable stories. It might be about their Gods, people and their culture. Sahasra sat there for hours listening to the peaceful silence of the place. Sahasra left the Temple by afternoon and went straight the docks. She was wearing her warrior like clothes and walked to Kshitij’s ship. Her heart was beating fast. Kshitij was alone in the ship. His crew was out to gather sufficient supplies for the journey. He didn’t see Sahasra climbing the coir ladder and entering the ship. He was trying really hard to tie the sails. Kshitij was very strong and well-built but the coir looked really huge and the sails seemed heavy. If he let go the sails will open and the wind will make it tougher for him to tie them up.

Sahasra: You seem like you are in a lot of trouble.

Kshitij: No I am not, I am having fun tying these ropes and my hands are not aching at all.

Sahasra walked to his side and she pulled the ropes to her side and helped in tying them.

Sahasra: A women can help too.

Kshitij: Yes, she sure can. They both tied the ropes together.

After tying the ropes Kshitij started moving things from one part of the ship to the other, which was definitely not needed but he had to distract himself from admiring how beautiful Sahasra was, she was not just beautiful but strong too with immense courage and undefeatable will and she was wise beyond her age. He was in awe of this woman who was standing next to him. But even though he tried his best to conceal he knew in his heart that he was hopelessly in love with her, maybe since a few hours, maybe a few days, maybe since ages or the last life. He felt somehow connected to her. Maybe that is how a person feels when he is in love. Kshitij had never fallen in love before so he couldn’t describe it but Sahasra was that woman with whom he wanted to voyage to the horizon, without thinking about anyone or anything, just them and their love.

Sahasra watched Kshitij smiling, a lost beautiful smile, the kind that made him soft. Instead of beating fast her heart became calm, like her soul was in desperate search for something and finally it was found. Sahasra smiled too. The suns mixed layers of clouds with blue, grey and orange, like how various emotions were overwhelming the hearts of Khitij and Sahasra. It made no sense at all but still was beautiful to behold, like the colourings of the Sarayuhan skies.

Amrutha