Now a few months had passed and Svaksha kept on juggling between the two kingdoms. She couldn't abandon her people or her family. Ashwarth and Shresht were a bit preoccupied too; firstly it was solely because of searching a suitable groom for their sister. This task demanded them to go disguised as merchants to the king's land and inquire about him. Svaksha gladly joined these tours which gave her a triple bonanza: Spending time with her best friends, Searching for the suitable groom for her beloved sister Shrishta, Mingling with the people and getting to know their qualms.

Princess Shrishta was married to king Aroudra in a very plush and grand manner. The marriage arrangements, entirely taken care by the trio, made them very busy and tired, making them fall on their beds exhausted. After Shrishta's hand was given away, all heads turned towards the trio, the next in line. Svaksha and Ashwarth downright rejected the idea while Shresht coolly dismissed them with a single line.

"I will marry only when I find the apt girl of my dreams by myself."

Thus he was given permission to tour the nation for a girl of his dreams, when Ashwarth and Svaksha had to endure a strenuous and fun-filled process of declining numerous proposals. One could find these lines whenever you go past the chambers of the prince and the queen.

"No, this one looks like the king of donkeys."

"You call her a princess? Her moustache is the only thing which is attractive."

"Ew, this one is too much girlish. You call him a man?"

"Look at her, she looks like she will die by listening to just a sneeze. And you call that delicate."

"His eyes are doe-like resembling those of a damsel in distress. Ha ha! Oh is it not funny? Alright"

"Ew, this princess looks worse than a toad."

"That one is unique. Yes, a unique sample! Can be used for my archery practices"

"No"

"No"

"Never"

It was at that time the two were destined to be married by the elders of the palace and the two couldn't complain. Actually they were happy but giving that out would damage their self prestige and hence had first put out a lot of drama before accepting the proposal.

Svaksha had moved to Vasavi for a stay of one month upon the request of the royal family. Ashwarth and Svaksha were given a lot of time alone and they used the time by moving through the streets. The world around them was imprisoned in a glair white silence. Winters slavering fangs had stripped the last leaves from the trees, leaving them naked and brooding in a harsh world.

A small light wavered in one corner demanding all of their attention and the cocoon of silence was ruptured by the sound of hitting. Svaksha and Ashwarth edged forward to find a man, strangely familiar, working with an iron bar and moulding it into sharp weaponry. The muscular arms of his were trickling with beads of perspiration which shimmered like bejewelled sapphire in the lights of the fire lit close. The two wished to inquire who that man was, who worked even when the world was asleep. And as they moved to yield his visage, a wave of realisation crossed through them.

King Aparajith!

Ashwarth's eyes widened with astonishment. Nevertheless he followed Svaksha who moved to speak with the Rudra.

"King Aparajith, is that actually you?"

"Yes Devi! This is your humble servant."

"But, what are you doing in OUR land?"

Ashwarth asked shocked to find the Rudra bowing to them.

"Well, a man has to have a living."

"Oh my, why are you working here? You are an amazing warrior. Come with us, I am sure we can get you a work in the army. Say something Ashwarth."

"Yes, I can speak to father about you."

"Both of you are very kind. But, you don't realise that a follower of the Rudra dynasty has no place within the fortifications of the Mauryas."

"But, you have changed haven't you?"

Svaksha asked tenderly to which the king nodded his head.

"You are coming with us, and that is it."

Ashwarth spoke with a touch of finality and thereby took the ex-Rudra to the monarch. The monarch after seeing the skills of the warrior gladly accepted him into his palace. Aparajith was given the job he asked for, being the personal guard of Svaksha.

!^^^!^^^!^^^!^^^!^^^!

That night when the world was asleep, two strokes post midnight a hooded Aparajith moved out of the palace to a cave through a secret passage. A sole lamp illuminated the tunnel and another figure was seated on a boulder, moving hands across the lamp's flame, making it flicker. Aparajith kneeled down before the figure and kept his right arm over his heart as a gesture of trustworthiness. The seated figure raised its arm and a few men examined him.

"So, it seems like you have gained entrance?"

"Yes, your majesty"

"Good, now you have to decide where your loyalties lie."

"Absolutely with you, your highness"

"No! You have to be loyal to the queen and the Mauryas. Belief only leads to betrayals, isn't it?"

The entire parade of men smirked and shook their heads in acceptance.

"You have to gain their trust to break it into smithereens. Never leave their side. Tomorrow itself, I will make sure that you save the queen from let's see, maybe a wild elephant? Nah, the queen can dodge it by herself. Yes, the most vicious of the predators: a human. And who can be better than the queen than me?"

Aparajith widened his eyes seeing the vile smirk on his leader.

"But your majesty..."

The seated figure clicked its tongue and gave a death glare to Aparajith.

"Tch! No ifs and buts with me! Never forget that detail."

Aparajith bowed lower.

"Raise! So, let us see, tackling the queen is an interesting job for me and I will personally handle it. King Aparajith will become the saviour of our queen who would sneak out of the palace for her usual solitary strolls through the forest."

"Yes your majesty."

"Ah, but here lies a catch. Queen Svaksha is attacked by an assassin and he gets away... that won't sound good to the ears of her lover prince Ashwarth, now would it? And with the other prince, he may get out on a voyage to catch the assassin. I have to admit, those two are worthy opponents. We have to kill the attacker and the corpse has to be handed over."

One of the men came forward and kneeled down.

"I am ready your highness."

"Are you sure about this?"

"More than anything else!"

"Good, very good! So it is clear, the queen will be injured and you, Aparajith will become her rescuer. You standing over there will assist me. The persons I have chosen will spend the night with me, learning the techniques of defeating the queen. Well, if you do as I say the queen will be entirely vulnerable. Oh, we need something cute, let's see, a kitten perhaps?"

"It will be at your service, your highness."

"Nice! Victory to the Rudras!"

"Har har Mahadev"

"Jai Janani"

"Har har Mahadev"

"Om Namah"

Various voices reverberated through the cave in a deafening roar. The seated figure took out its dagger and made an incision in its thumb. The blood from the incision trickled to the ground only to multiply manifolds drowning the ruined emotions left in humanity.