We were standing outside at either side of the entrance of open cremation ground situated at the furthermost point of Doulat Haat.

Everything was grey and foggy, reflecting with our emotions. Sun was hidden behind the darkening clouds. It was chilly as it was supposed to be during the beginning of winter season. The large group had gathered before our arrival, a few silently griefing and the rest gossiping. The buzz was that many had locked themselves inside their huts, rejecting the invitation to give their final condolences. A living Doctor had failed to stop the recent commotions, and now that he was gone...

Pruthvi and I stood with many villagers, at the exact opposite side of Leena and Nazira who joined Ira Zutshi and my aunt. King Aghasthya announced that the Kings of the Paramarashtra were going to be here any minute and we ought to receive them before the ceremony began.

Pruthvi was quiet for so long, except occasionally letting out frustrated and muffled sighs. I wanted to talk to him about his sudden decision, to ask him about what Zarina had actually told him, but somehow I refrained intruding in his personal life. Things have been way too disturbing lately.

"Hello," said a familiar voice and it didn't belong to Leena. "How are you?"

Lithika, now the Princess of Narula Dynasty, came over and stood beside me. She was wrapped in a white saree from her head to toe, dark circles formed around eye making her look absolutely tired.

"I am okay," I replied, wishing everyone to stop asking me the out-of-place question.

Pruthvi peeked over to check and then began eavesdropping.

"I just wanted to share a news," she said, smiling weekly, "But I don't know if it is the right time, but here it goes -I am expecting a baby!"

I kept my eyes from widening and sucked my obvious reaction but Pruthvi couldn't. He blurted out.

"Already?"

I acted on my impulse and kicked him hard on his feet. He groaned, walking aside with a limp, tapping his leg to the ground. Everyone looked at us puzzled and that included Leena and Nazira. I did my best to avoid their confused stare.

"Well," I said to Lithika, trying to find the right words, "Good for you."

She smiled and turned aside to talk with her grandfather. I wondered if she was complaining about us.

"You could have just kept your mouth shut," I whispered angrily at Pruthvi when he came back.

"What was I supposed to say in the time like this?" he replied, "Way to go? Congratulations?"

"She wasn't talking to you," I retorted, "But, seriously...already? Out of all the words you know?

"Hey, it's not my fault that these people are crazy."

I shook my head in disbelief. But, no matter how awkward it was, the news atleast made Pruthvi talk in a normal routine insensitive way.

The whole area came into attention at once, whispers and murmurs becoming distant and slowly the whole area turned dead silent. Pruthvi and I bent over to watch a grand carriage halting, behind a couple of horses tapping their feet and neighing.

"That's my father- in law." whispered Lithika in my ears, when a tall and completely bald man got out of the vehicle, "King Bhupathi Garg, from Narula Dynasty, Madhyakshetra"

The man in a sparkling suit got down from the carriage. His bald head shiny and his wrinkled face round, jaw narrow, eyes- small, beady and dark. He walked elegantly towards the entrance, citizens bend down in respect. Garg family was the reason my grandmother and Nazira went through the torture for a prolonged period of time and people were respecting him. My eyes quickly sought for Nazira who was standing uncomfortably, nervously setting her veil straight watching the person and his family walking closer.

He suddenly stopped, right in front of her. He turned his head slowly, flicking his eyes up and down scrutinizing her entirely like a hungry, drool dripping wolf. Nazira shivered and stepped back when the person leered grudgingly at her.

Pruthvi instantly reacted, giving in to his instincts to step over for his sister. But I quickly held his hand, remembering Ashwant's warning very well.

"Wait," I whispered, through my gritted teeth, "Let a woman deal with him."

Immediately, Leena stood in between him and Nazira. Keeping her face straight, she lifted her hand to point at the entrance. "This way, your Majesty."

Offended, the so-called king returned to his tracks and quickly picked up his speed to walk through the entrance. I watched Leena gently rubbing her shoulder consoling her, as she wiped her forehead and nodded at her friend.

Then there was continuous incoming of the kings and Lithika acquainted us with them whispering each one of their names.

"King Garud Wagh, Omble Dynasty, Madhyakshetra. They are the only ancient dwarf family of Paramarashtra and possess extreme strong warriors. Rumour has it that one knight of their kingdom has the power of Dakshinpur's ten."

"King Mukut Shah, Pant Dynasty, Paschimgarh. My grandfather hates him. He says he is worst, laziest King in the history of Paramarashtra."

"King Somkar Mallick, Tyag Dynasty, Paschimgarh. He is one strong defender. It is because of him Paschimgarh is still a separate province. Otherwise, my father-in-law would have acquired it a long time ago."

"Chief Minister of Purvachand- Yai Henba. Wow, he is one unique king and very honourable. They are so polite. Everybody loves him."

"Chief Minister? They don't have kings?" I asked, looking at the short and stout man with his long hair tied in a ponytail. He was slightly bent at the side, almost limping, his family walking behind him giving him occasional support. And yes, I noticed the uniqueness and I wondered if Lithika was specifically mentioning about it.

"Dang, they look Japanese," muttered Pruthvi, quite loudly, watching intently at their upside turned slant eyes.

"Shh, I knew you would say that," scolded Lithika, "They are hardcore Paramarashtrians. Once they came to know people calling them aliens, they were immediately taken into custody and the chief minister ordered to peel their skin off, cut their limbs..."

"I thought you said he was polite," interrupted Pruthvi.

Lithika made a face and answered my questions instead, "No, Puvachand doesn't have kings. They follow western civilization and they are known for their high-tech industries. They are fast developed and so it is also called the Province of Tomorrow. "

Lastly, a golden sparkling carriage, driven by a hefty and muscular puller, with four horses attached, gave a halt. A knight came over and respectfully opened the door. An old man climbed down. He was carrying a stick, about five feet tall, white turban over his head adding a few inches to his height, his long white beard was way down to his chest. His walk was slower than the earlier arrived kings, his age clearly showing up. Lithika then introduced him.

"The King of the Kings, the High King of Paramarashtra-Imtiyaz Jafar. He is also the head of the Panchayat. He is the sole decision maker. Grandfather said that Doctor was deliberating about you, the third generation Samagraha regarding when and why to send you on a job."

I nodded at her watching him crossing me and Pruthvi. Right before he entered the grounds, he suddenly halted his stride and took a step back, surprising to have a look at me. The whole area came to dead silence. My skin trickled getting bored with thousands of eyes directed at me.

"Harsh's grandson?" he asked, he voice croaky as if having a sore throat. His mouth sparkled as he questioned, and I noticed a few teeth on his upper jaw were coated with gold.

It was Pruthvi's turn to hold my hand, to calm my visible nerves. The high king of Paramarashtra had taken a few steps back specifically to talk to me....it was appaling. The question was obvious but it sounded as though he was accusing me of a crime I didn't commit.

"Yes," I said, and quickly added. "Your Majesty."

"A Samagraha too?"

His cut short questions slightly leaving a jarring effect that I had to take a few seconds to answer. "Yes, your Majesty."

My stone in my pocket began to burn. I dropped my eyes off him, feeling the pressure. Glaring at me for a few more minutes, he then walked ahead, and I let out a huge relaxed sigh.

-----------------------------------------------------

"Flame formation!" I commanded my stone.

The log Ashwant was holding in hand flamed up. There were few gasps from the people watching the fire escaping from my fingers. My heart sank so low on realizing that it was my fire being used to cremate Doctor, eyes filling up on watching him lying still over the pile of woods, covered with a white blanket.

The ground we were standing in looked exactly like that of Naag's Arena with many Vrindahina trees grown beside each and every wooden board with names of the dead engraved on them. The flowers getting detached and falling on the wooden boards, decorating it with empathy.

Ashwant, carrying a blank expression with soaked eyes, went ahead and lit the wood logs. Except me, Pruthvi and Leena, everyone present in the ground to bid the last farewell, lifted their hand up and conjoined them sticking it in front of their hearts watching the fire grow and burn the logs thoroughly. Pruthvi and I looked all around when I suddenly remembered Naag giving me the same gesture when I won against Shaytan Rup.

"This is how we express our gratitude towards a respected person we love in Paramarashtra," Lithika who was still standing beside me, with her hands folded said, "We raise our hands towards the sky during the victory and sit down on our knees as a gesture to bid goodbye."

She slowly descended and I watched the rest of people, including Nazira and the kings, sitting on their knees with their heads bent down. Leena looked dazed as well. Watching everyone performing it with dignity, three of us sat down on our knees, joining palms.

I sat there in my silent grief, staring at nothing through the fogginess in my eyes. A full year had only passed since the last funeral and I wished if this was the end of the course. My eyes were wettening and my throat felt pinching with the heaviness hearing the sound of the flames burning. Tyrell was one person I was missing the most today at the moment, but how I wished the presence of one such beloved person completed the ceremony. I wished she was here with us in the last few minutes we were spending with Doctor.

On the second thought, I frowned, has anyone even informed her at all?

"YOUR HIGHNESS!"

A sudden loud scream came in sending a jolt through the tense air of the ground. Our heads turned to look aside at the entrance only to find Dhanunjay rushing inside, and straight towards King Aghasthya.

"What is it?" King Aghastya asked, watching the minister's son being so frantic, breathing on top of lungs and eyes widened.

"They are back!" he said freaking out, "the Clan of Almourah! They are back and they attacked the cowboy's bar!"

Gasps and loud cries reverberated all around. Everyone stood instinctively and so did I. My eyes instantly shifted to look at Nazira who was the only person seated down, silently wiping her tears.

"Where is she?" King Agasthya asked, piqued, "There must be a Samagraha to save them. Where is she?"

"What Samagraha? There is no Samagraha," he replied, forgetting that it was a King he was talking to, "I enquired. The Samagraha who was supposed to live with them has gone travelling with Doctor and never returned. She is missing!"

"Oh my god!" Pruthvi whispered, his body shaking as much as mine.

Missing? How can she be missing? Was this be the reason she had never been responding to us at all? Had Doctor been travelling with her and lost her to someone? This was impossible. Impracticable. The news of Clan of Almourah's return triggered an involuntary panicked stampede to the exit. I stood frozen amidst the turmoil, my mind lingered on my guide, my teacher- stronger than all the Samagraha combined, indestructible than herself and her own Constellia combined. She didn't need any protection, she didn't need any back up because she is Celina Hanslay.

--------------------The End -------------------