• An Aspect •

Knowing that great and all-pervading self by which one sees (the objects) both in the sleep and the waking states, the intelligent man grieves no more.

 Katha Upanishad

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Backdrop:

While Abhīstāda had successfully conducted the surgery of Rajkumar she let the night of her's be utilized by the tune of flute. Unknown to Keśava and her both of thier tunes unite, his veena and her flute. Abhistada meets Keśava's elder sister Rajadhidevi and comes to know about Abhīstāda's Vitiligo.

Characters:

Abhīstāda: Crowned Princess of Rāthnānathi
Keśava: Crowned Prince of Smaranāgarh
Vaidyarāj: The practitioner of Ayurveda; saved the life of Mahārājā
Pradhanmantri: Is the head of ministers of Smaraṇāgarh.
Prajnavati: She saved the lives of Rajkumara and Mahārājā

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Few phrases and the upheaval. These few words were the transition in his life; have been ambushed. This time it wasn't a responsibility of a province but an empire. He has always got his advice from his father and now he was there in blood. He couldn't see his mother, everyone had the liberty to express their pain. Yet, he can't, neither he felt it was time nor did he have the merit to moan at this moment when he could amend it.

Still, if he let these tears liberate it would not be the downfall of him but a downfall of his people. This time he had a bigger obligation to rectify the alterations that have been made. This occurrence didn't only disseminate the image that they were vulnerable to inner rebellion forces but now anyone from the outside could take the usefulness out of it and attack them.

He murmured the words to her mother. "Forgive me." Forgive me for not being able to make you my priority; before my family, I have a kingdom to look for.

He reached the room and saw his brother's discomfort and pain gripped his heart. He was there deserted, lifeless. No, not lifeless, he still had life in him. His finger caressed him and came in contact with his blood; his tears plummeted and mixed with his brother's blood. He bent down and whimpered in her ear. "You don't deserve it, neither those innocent people. Maybe we have to pay for it because we were late to hear their pain but I promise to never be late."

He had the responsibility first to solve the matter in the province that had arisen due to Uparīka. On the night they both were ambushed he was saved by Prajnavati and the few soldiers who were with them. 

She was the same woman who had once given him water to quench his thirst and now she has saved her again, help to which gratitude can never be conveyed. Before any decision could be brought they had to eliminate the present Uparīka and elected one, for which the sabha was called. The King was injured and he was his representative, so he pleaded to meet Prajnavati to infer the matter and put forward his perspective.

Prajnavati was intimidated to meet him but once he ensured her child's safety she told her story, a different side about which he was never informed. The trauma that was compelled upon them, a family he was unaware of.

She informed him how her husband used to work for Uparīka and when he came to know about corruption he would on his behalf he was furious and preferred to aid all people by notifying the king; he wished to perform his responsibility. He was disgruntled about it till his last breath that he couldn't help virtuous people.

He had decided to leave and acquaint you all but was outlawed by Uparīka. It was known to everyone that the Kingdom was corrupt from above only, no one was entitled to meet Mahārājā. He held high power among all. Meanwhile, he was outlawed with his wife and child to go against him. It was late at night when he was attacked and their last hope was killed. It was the reason she wasn't able to trust Prince Sridhara when he came to her. The retribution for her would have been served if that day she wasn't saved by him.

It was his duty that he had to save her but after whatever happened to her she wasn't compelled to help. They had failed and if he was truthful to himself; miserably. Now they were suffering but it was nowhere she had to go through, they were still alive but she lost everything.

Out of all her words, one thing caught his attention. "I heard you are well versed in political affairs and you used to guide him?"

She was reluctant to admit it but she couldn't come to lie so she admitted. "Yes, but I have never applied those lessons to reality by myself."

He nodded but he had an outcome, a way to repent their mistake. A little help he could offer. "Today you will be given a chance to prove yourself. The only thing that I would like to hear would be the truth, give us just this last chance."

He wanted to move out of here but his heart held him there not letting him move till he apologised. He had to take up the accountability and repent. He fell to his knees, discerning him and she became shocked and moved backwards. 

But he had made a decision and fell onto her feet and spoke. "I with a heavy heart take responsibility for whatever happened to you. This is an apology to a mother, a wife and foremost a human from whom everything was taken because the people at the top couldn't protect her. You have the right to punish me, I am heir to not only this crown but to the mistake committed in the past."

She interrupted her in between. "I only want Uparīka to be punished, it was our duty and I request you to do yours now."

He appreciated her words and with a new ambition entered where sabha was present. He kept the demand to first choose the Uparīka.

"I request the members to put forward their choices if they have any." Until yesterday everything was accurate but in a few hours, everything was distorted. No-one has thought about it. It was when he spoke again. "I recommend Prajnavati and request the Sabha to test her. If she is not successful we would look for other options."

They complied with his request, her questioning started, to explore her knowledge.

"What's the strength of any official working under the king and the council?"

She fumbled at her starting words but then spoke again with assurance. "The strength to speak the truth. If they hide the reality not only they are to be held accountable but the King is also responsible for appointing such officials. So he should be guided by a truthful official and keep on inspecting them regularly."

When she ended another question came her way. " What's the difference between Lauhadhyaksha, Lakshanadhyaksha and Lavanadhyaksha?"

"Lauhadhyaksha is an officer under who Metallurgy take place, Lakshanadhyaksha looks after the minting of coin and ensure their value, Lavanadhyaksha is the salt officer."

"What are the reasons for the downfall?"

This was a question that had numerous explanations, she tried her best to put it in a single answer. "One who thinks all the time and is not able to make decisions, anger can destroy even the greatest mind, lust; for power, for money, for enjoyment, the delusion that can't differentiate between certainty or erroneous are the few characteristics."

Like this myriad questions were asked to her of which she answered. The last one was asked by Pradhanmantri. "What is your duty toward the king, to praise or oppose them?"

"Neither, I have to put forward what I see, to tell if it is correct or not. I have the responsibility of putting things right and it's sabha duty to conclude together. No one here holds absolute power."

She ended her answer by paying her regards to everyone. It was decided to appoint her as the Uparīka. When it was decided they discussed daybreak on how to manage the further changes.

It was then he asked the Uparīka to go with the army and take hold of the province. Her priority should be to catch the previous one and he should be punished as decided by Sabha.

In the morning when the sun was yet to rise fully he decided to end the meeting and gave everyone their responsibility, he pleaded to leave him alone. It was when he was attacked by someone when he was on his way to his chamber.

He tried to kill him by attacking him from behind but when he wasn't able to he took advantage of time and attacked the target that was easy to. His sword pierced his skin from the foot and he fell causing the attacker to assume he was dominating him. It was later that Keśava got hold of his sword and attacked him.

It was easy for him to defeat considering his swift skill. Within a few moments he surrendered to him and when his soldiers arrived they held him to interrogate further.

He called everyone in the open space and he was told about the attack by the previous Uparīka in his province and being held by his army. The news was the relieving one but before he could say anything one more news made the way. 

It was about the dissatisfaction among other Uparīkas and they wanting to meet him. He agreed but before that he decided to offer his prayer. When was done with it he went near his soldier, still calm after whatever had happened and spoke the words of courage to him. 

As he smiled, his friend understood the pain he was cloaking with this smile. He now went to meet Vaidyarāja. It was when he met Abhīstāda.

Her eyes met with her for a second and he paused to think why someone like her would travel for so long to help those who were unknown to her. He had his doubts but they were cleared when she treated his wound. He saw sincerity and innocence. She could be doubted but not her action. He bent down in regret still letting his lips play their magic and smiling at her amongst the chaos and spoke the words of his heart.

"Their abundant importance to me couldn't be expressed, if today I would have chosen to break down, our empire would have broken but I was assigned to save my people. They need me, and now they need you. It's a humble request of my to save them."

He let those words slip out of his lips, his first vulnerable side visible to her, but before he could say more he saw the breaking empire before him, so he stood on his feet to take his responsibility.

His whole day went addressing numerous meetings, discussing various problems and making sure that the defence is strong. He spread the message all-around that people shouldn't consider them weak if the king is injured. His injuries are going to recover in a few days but don't overlook beside him he had thousands of loyal soldiers like me who will die to protect our land and our people and never let them take over it.

He couldn't show but her ears were looking for one news that the surgery was successful. Finally, he heard the news and announced the rewards for all of them. He wanted to meet his father and brother and express his gratitude to Vaidyarāj and assistance but another matter held him back.

In the evening when he was discussing some final points with Sabha where he saw her. Dressed in the saree and looking at him; due to him being surrounded by people she couldn't see that he was looking at her. And then she missed the step and fell but due to fear of embarrassment, she hid behind in a corner like a child but could be seen by the window. Not able to control himself, his lips stretched to a curve and formed into a breathtaking smile. He decided to end the assembly here as all the decisions were done.

He searched for her to express his regards but couldn't find her but her nūpur. When he was leaving he found her lost and went near her to help. He just spoke a few words to her when he was informed his father had called him and then he left.

Remorse has taken place in his heart for not being able to meet her and give her the respect that she deserved. Like the various spectrum of colour in the sky, his laugh was coloured in different shades not able to express each one of them properly, his heart was being fastened as he mastered the art of hiding.

Uparīka : Provincial Governor

Māharaja : King

Māharani : Queen

Sabha : Council

Pradhanmantri : Prime Minister

Nūpur : Anklet

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