"Okay, here we are," said Princess Lithika, "Now tell me, who are you and where did you come from?"

"Pruthvi Krishna," he said swiftly, "I am from United States. I was abducted by three men and they dumped me here."

After Sarpanch departed, Princess Lithika asked Pruthvi to follow her. She took him to the backyard of the court. It was a marshy dry land. It just seemed like a playground attaced to their home back in Maine where his father used to play with him. He shook his head chiding- no more thoughts about his parents. So he looked around carefully. It was almost dark and too chilly. There were three men standing wearing a white robe from their waist down, holding up a thin but shape swords.

"Who gave you the stone?" she asked, "Why are you having the stone with you?"

"For the thousandth time," he said irritated, "It just appeared in my pocket. One of my friends found me and brought me to an academy where there are more people like me getting trained. I hope this information enough for now."

"Who is training you?" She asked ignoring his question.

"Dr. Krishant Veer."

She paused and gaped for few seconds, "So the doctor is with you? My grandfather is searching for him for the past many years."

"But obviously his efforts are not up to the mark," he said sarcastically, "But this is out of my business. I need to get back to my friends. They are searching for me." He walked forwards and folded his hands pleading her, "I beg of you. Please help me way out."

"You can't leave unless we get some answers." she said staring up at him.

Vexed, he said, "What else do you want from me?"

"I want to know if you really are a Samagraha or faking it."

"What do you mean?"

She didn't reply but her eye balls turned aside and signaled. He scowled. His heart skipped a beat when a sharp sword came horizontally towards him, trying to butcher his neck. He ducked before it could slice him.

Two of the men standing there, lunged on him and threw him on the ground pressing his chest into the mud. He gasped trying to let himself free. His throat went soar but he managed to command his stone.

"FISSURE FORMATION!" He cried.

The ground rumbled making the men to glide away from him. He quickly stood. His throat pained making him cough. He acknowledged what was happening and shouted at Lithika who was standing at a distance, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT."

She didn't reply him. Another tall but skinny man swung his sword. Pruthvi dodged and quickly sat on one of his knees. He hit the ground with his fists and commanded.

"EARTHLY BIND!"

He didn't want to hurt anyone. So he used one of the simplest command to stop them. The ground from either side of that man protruded up in to the air and caged him. He gave the same command and other two men got caged too. He looked at them twice making sure that weren't getting in his way anymore. He was frustrated and hatred piled up on him upon Lithika. He glanced at her with full animosity. Only her appearance matched Leena but she was nothing like her-to him she was mean and callous.

"What the hell was that?" he said walking towards her, "I could have died."

"But you haven't," she said coolly looking up at him, "So you are a Samagraha."

"Yes," he said grudgingly, "I guess I am. Now if you allow me, I have to go. And thanks a lot for your help."

He walked past her and then what she said made him halt on his tracks again.
"We never thought your father could be such a coward."

He was forced to halt. He turned around and said, "What do you mean? Look, enough of this whole drama. Tell me everything clearly or otherwise allow me. I can find someone else for help."

She looked at him like he was some kind of an insect and said, "You mean you know nothing. You said Dr. Krishant Veer is the one training you. How come he never told you anything?"

"You are asking me?"

"Didn't he tell you about my grandfather, or atleast about his friend King Harsh Thribhuvan?

"No."

"Do you have any idea what had happened to them?

"No,"

"Do you know how ruthless King Harsh's brother, Shashi Thribhuvan is and what he is doing to us?"

"STOP IT!" he shouted infuriated.

Lithika was shooting daggers at him but Pruthvi had enough of all those. He was not in a position to discover about her grandfather or the kings or anything else. He just wanted to leave this place. He just wanted to see Leena and his friends again. He just wanted to go back to the life he was getting accustomed to after his parents' death.

He said trying to control his anger, "I don't want to know anything about your boo-hoo. I don't care about you and your kings. So please, forgive me and let me go."

"Will you care if I tell you that your father was meant to be a Samagraha?"

"What!" he said calmly.

"Yes," she said, "That is what I am trying to tell you. Your father was predicted to be a Samagraha. He was in a grave danger. He was then sent to some place safe by...by..."

"By whom?"

"All hail the princess," said a voice from behind. Pruthvi turned around to see a middle aged boy, wearing the outfit Pruthvi had seen worn by Indian grooms, walking down towards them.

"Dhanunjay," said Lithika, "What is it?"

"Princess, your grandfather is waiting is you in your room."

Lithika looked tense than before.

"He is back?" she asked, "What is he like? Did he finish the job he went for?"

"Yes, she had been captured," Dananjay said, "But I don't think he is going to be better just yet."

"I know," she said, "Things are getting weirder than ever."

Pruthvi didn't care to look at her but he knew she was talking about him.

"Listen to me Pruthvi," she said, "my grandfather will ask you the same questions again. Please be patient. But he can provide all the help you are looking for."

He sighed. He was glad she finally talked about what he needed. Watching her pleading face, he nodded slightly and followed Lithika to the way back to the court. Dananjay was walking beside him. Pruthvi was feeling a little uncomfortable of him walking so close. Twice, Dananjay quickly looked away when Pruthvi caught his eye.

"Do we have a problem?" Pruthvi asked feeling disgusted.

"You were talking to the Princess in the backyard...alone."

"So?"

"Nothing," he said shrugging, "Just mentioning that she was alone with an unknown boy."

Pruthvi frowned. He didn't quite understand what he meant but he was least interested in creating any more ruckus that it was already was.

"Leave it, Dananjay," said Lithika as if she knew what he meant, opening the other door that lead to her bedroom and then said to Pruthvi, "He is our minister's son. Don't mind him."

Then Pruthivi stepped inside her room. It was dazzling and everything was gold plated- the door, the windows, the bed covers, and the pillars. Pruthvi moved around mesmerizing. He sought a painting beside the bed. There was Lithika sitting on the floor with her arm on a aged woman's laps who in turn was sitting on a red and golden throne. Beside her, standing was an aged man dressed like a modern day king. Pruthvi watched the king closely. He was none other than the one painted in one of potrays hung in the lobby of the academy. Only difference was the way he dressed and he definitely looked much older here.

There was a throat clearing sound and hurriedly, Pruthvi turned around. Wearing a pricey tux, standing across him was the same old man from the painting. Lithika went and sat on her luxurious bed. Pruthvi always knew that the two kings would have been living somewhere and he swallowed watching him very much alive right in front of his eyes. He was elegant and was gracefully walking towards him. For once, his sharp eyes opened wide watching him. As he walked closer and closer Pruthvi felt an aura radiating around him.

"Thank you Dananjay for bringing them here," he said to him, his voice gruffly, "Please leave us alone and don't forget to close the door on your way out."

Dananjay bowed and walked out closing the door behind him.

"Pruthvi meet my grandfather-King Aghasthya. Grandpa, he is..." Lithika was saying but her grandfather raised his hand to silence her.

He watched Pruthvi closely for a while. Finally he spoke, "Why did you come here?"

"I had no intentions of coming here," Pruthvi said trying to be very patient, "I was abducted and I don't know why?"

"We took a lot of risk to keep your father safe. If he finds you..."

"Hold on," Pruthvi interjected, "I am telling you, I have no desire to visit this forgotten kingdom or whatever you call it. I was abducted. And I have no intention to stay here. My friends are looking for me..."

"There are others?" he sounded dejected and looked at Lithika.

She shivered for a moment and said, "I don't know anything about it."

"Yes they are," Pruthvi said, "I talked to them. They are searching for me."

"You and your friends cannot stay here. You must leave."

"That was what I was telling her from ages."

"No grandpa," said Lithika, "He can't leave. You know very well that he and his friends can save us from him."

"Lithika we talked about it before. I will be responsible if anything happens to them."

"Nothing will happen to them. They are Samagraha after all."

"I cannot answer Harsh."

"He is dead, grandpa. Can we ever move on?"

King seemed shocked when she said that to which he replied, "He died saving them. Do you want to waste his sacrifice?

"If he hadn't thought of sending them somewhere else in the first place, our kingdom must have been bright and lively as I always wanted it to be."

"Lithika..."

"Excuse me," said Pruthvi cutting them in between, "Does anyone bother that I am still here?"

King dropped his eyes to the ground. Pruthvi now felt sorry for his rude behavior.

"Look er...Mr. King." said Pruthvi, not knowing what to call him, "I don't know what had happened back then and clearly I am not at all interested. My friends are taking a lot of risk to find me. I need to go."

"How selfish you are," said Lithika crossly, "Our kingdom, our people, all are dying unable to tolerate his atrocities and you are thinking to run away. Your father was a coward and so are you."

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL MY FATHER A COWARD," he shouted at her unknowingly. He didn't like the way she always brought his father up. "You don't know him."

"Stop it both of you," interrupted Aghasthya standing between them, "Look, Pruthvi, there are things you do not know. Your father had done some deeds that he shouldn't have."

"How do you know my father any ways? He never came to India in his entire life."

"You have known him for what...ten, fifteen years? I have known him for his entire life. Had he told you anything about his life time in Dakshinpur, your opinion about him might have been different."

Before Pruthvi retorted he tried to access what he was saying. He was right after all. He never knew much about his father. His never knew who his grandparents from his father's side were. His mother had warned him to not to ask him about them.

"Like what?" he asked finally wanting to know more.

Aghasthya sighed and said, "I am pretty much sure he had changed his name?"

"He is...isn't he Ketan Krishna?"

"I thought so," he said nodding, "His real name is Nawab Khan, he is one of the grandson's of...the woman I even hate to bring her name. She is very wicked and your father was her favorite and he did according to her. She works for Shashi Thribhuvan."

"What has he got to do with me?" Pruthvi frowned, "This Shashi person?"

"King Aghasthya!" came a voice outside the door, "Are you in there?"

Lithika went and opened the door quickly.

There was an old man standing outside, his looks reminded a lot like Dananjay.

"What is it, minister?" King Aghasthya said.

"All the other ministers are waiting for you. They are asking for their remunerations."

King closed his eyes in pain, stood akimbo and said, "From where do I get to pay them. I am left with nothing."

"What do you want me to tell them?"

"Don't," he said sighing, "You go, I will be there in a minute."

After the minister's departure King turned towards Lithika and said in a very low voice, "You wait here. I will deal with them."

"You should take Pruthvi with you," she said, "He might want to know what we are actually going through."

Pruthvi was not sure if he liked the offer. His mind was still racing about his father and his deeds. Reluctantly, he nodded and followed the king. Lithika watched them go. Pruthvi followed the king through a small passagway that lead them to enter into the huge hall, throught which Sarpanch had brought Pruthvi in. Standing across the throne were about twenty other sophisticated people. King went up and sat on the middle throne and Pruthvi's eyes fell on the woman sitting beside him, the one he saw in the painting in Lithika's room. She was staring blankly in the air making him wonder.

King Aghasthya, cleared the sweat on his forehead and said, "Good evening one and all. I know why you all are gathered here today. But still I want to hear you qualms. Please begin."

One of the gathered men came forward and said, "Your majesty, we heard about you capturing Zarina Khan. We wanted to know whether atleast now, Shashi might stop..."

"Not yet," said King Aghasthya, "But I am sure Zarina shall not help him anymore."

"But she can provide you the information you needed," said the next minister.

"She will never provide me with any information. She has been cruel and always will be."

"But your highness, you know how Zarina helped her grandchildren -Azeem and Nawab khan. She kept her great granddaughter safe."

Pruthvi frowned. "Nawab Khan!" he thought, "Are they talking about my father?"

"Zarina was selfish. She wanted to protect her great granddaughter. She knew people might not accept her great granddaughter because she wanted to bring her up just like she is."

"Hold on!" interrupted Pruthvi walking forward. Everyone gazed at him in disbelief to interrupt their king.

"You can't talk..." said a minister when King raised his hand to shut him up.

"I apologize," said Pruthvi deliberately, "But I would like to know more about this Zarina and her great granddaughter."

"Why she interests you?" asked Aghasthya.

"Because the man who kidnapped me was talking something about my sister. And I think she is the one, if truly this Nawab Khan, that you think of, is my father."

Pruthvi was sure he heard few gasps when he declared himself being the great grandson of Zarina Khan. Some were peeking from others' shoulders to have a proper look at him which he cleverly ignored.

"Who is Zarina's great grand daughter?" Pruthvi asked.

"She is Azeem's daughter, your father Nawab's niece. After Azeem's death Zarina handed his daughter to your father as an adopted child. But he was too hesitant to look after her."

Pruthvi swallowed and kept quiet to listen more.

"Rumors went through that he had left her on temple's doorsteps. As he cared only about his wife and you as a young boy, he took you and hid from the other villagers so that no one could locate him. Later he was only found by Harsh when your father was suspected as a Samagraha."

"What do you mean me as a young boy?"

"Nawab married at a tender age. He fathered you when he was only nineteen. And you were not even two years old when Zarina asked him to look after Azeem's daughter."

"I want to meet Zarina," Pruthvi said unintentionally.

Aghasthya was surprised by his whim and said, "Pruthvi, it is too dangerous. You can't meet her."

"Why?" shouted Pruthvi, his eyes watered, "You want me to believe that my father is cowardice. You want me to believe I have a sister. I want to know where my sister is. Why don't you take me to her as a proof?"

"Because no one knows where her great granddaughter is, to tell you that she is your sister. And believe me, Zarina will never help you. She didn't even care about her own children. How could expect she would care for you, the one she never met in her whole life?"

Pruthvi wanted to protest but before he could there was a huge cry coming from the entrance.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!"

It was Dananjay running swiftly inside the court. He was tensed and full of fright.

"What is it Dananjay?" asked the king, standing up, "What happened?"

The other minister moved aside giving the frightened boy some way. And what the peice of information he revealed in-front of the lot, made Pruthvi's hair stand at the back.

"Doctor!" Dananjay said breathing very hard, "Doctor! He is back!"

-x-