Lithika gazed at him for a moment, sitting firmly on the chair and then loosened up. "What is the Pride of Haima-Endira? I'm curious."

He looked highly uncomfortable and aloof. "That's impossible. Even with the company of the girl possessing such an ability, Doctor wasn't able to find it. And Hayden Mackay is just a boy," the King said to himself, although quite loudly.

"What, what is not possible?" she said, her voice husky enough to coax him into revealing.

"But he killed Shaytan Rup. He is powerful. So maybe..." he mused, looking distant.

"Your Majesty, tell me!"

"Why are you so interested?" he asked, at once coming out of his trance. Lithika's face hardened. "If you are done being a compulsive gossip, then please leave the room. I've got someone else to keep company this evening."

"Alright. I'll leave you now. See you at dinner."

Lithika stood and was about to leave, her anklets tinkling again. But then she abruptly stopped, and turned around, gaping at the king with a fierce hard look on her face. "What happened to the women of this royal family?"

Bhupathi who seemed to be in deep thoughts looked up. "Excuse me?"

"What happened to Archit's mother? Heard Archit is your sixth child. Where are the other five? Were they...girls?"

"Lithika, leave. Now."

"Not unless you give me some answers."

Bhupathi banged a tight fist on his table. "How dare you question me!"

"I'm curious. Very curious. All you talk is about having a grandson. What if I give birth to a girl? Will she disappear too?"

"You are blabbering too much today. Your sister did lead you to believe in something, didn't she?"

"Some of her reasonings are honestly bothering me. I just want to know the truth. Archit wouldn't tell me. He says he doesn't know and asked me to ask you instead."

"So you dare..."

"Yes, I do. This is the matter of my child. What if it's a girl? Will she be given a similar status as the men have been receiving since generations?"

"Disgrace. Remind me to talk with Archit..."

"Who is living in the cellar?"

"What?"

"The servants, they know. They talk in hushed voices but clear enough to reach my ears. They hear womanly cries and screams every now and then. They are even scared to go anywhere near the cellar and asked me not to go there as well. Why?"

"You stop right there...."

"Just tell me, your Majesty. I'll stand by my words. Nothing shall go out of these four walls. Tell me!"

A tense silence fell between them, both staring daggers at each other.

"Repercussions for giving a woman the liberty," he said, keeping his jaw stiff. "Maybe I should throw you in the cellar with my wife and daughters. Men in my family shall be delighted to suck your blood. Archit told me you taste good."

Lithika looked angrier. "So it's true."

"Yes, it's true!" he admitted. His eyes bulged as he slowly slid aside from the table and walked placing heavy steps towards her. "Almourah's teachings- Women are misfortune. They cause nothing but sorrow."

"You killed Queen Premila," Lithika said, stepping back as Bhupathi was now face to face with her.

"Yes, I did kill her. My cousin was done seeking the pleasure out of that old bag. The unceasing weeping of that girl was torture. I'd had it. I slashed the widow's throat and left the girl to rot in that stinking hut. Only if that man hadn't shown up, I would have taken no mercy on her. So that is it. That's the full story. And now you know what I can do to you if you don't shut up and leave me alone."

Lithika chuckled, relaxed her shoulders down and placed a hand on her waist. Her personality changed and so did the modulation of her voice. "Your Majesty, did it ever occur to you that your own arrogance shall rain doom down on your freakin' bald head?"

Bhupathi scrunched up his face. "What will you do? Complain against me in the Panchayat? Throw me in jail? For that you have to step outside my palace..."

He lifted his hand up aiming for her neck.

"Waterjet Formation!"

The running water of the fountain altered its course. Water droplets shaped like a serrated knife swished towards the Kings and struck his extremities.

He screeched bending down, trying to get away from the sudden attack. "What? How? You are not..."

"Thank God, I ain't your daughter-in-law!" Leena disguised as Lithika said. She removed plush throw blanket stuffed beneath her robes and chucked it hard at him. "Take that, sucker! Guys, come on in."

I pushed the door open and walked in clapping, cherishing this jubilant moment. Pruthvi followed me, checking his SLR and rewound the tape he had been recording for an hour. "Woo!" He exclaimed, "Thanks to Naag for charging my camera."

A couple of people Ashwant and I had strived to gather, spilled inside the chamber. Lithika, the real one, with her swollen tearful eyes glared heatedly at the one she believed to be a father like. King Aghasthya made an entrance, followed by the Sarpanch of Narula Dynasty and the ministers who agreed to sworn testimony in the Panchayat against their offensive King. And finally, the Knight who Bhupathi had asked to fetch a woman, took his badge out and proudly introduced himself as the Sergeant of the High King.

"Wait, What!" said the King, hurriedly wiping water droplets off his face, "How did you come inside? Where are the knights? Where is Archit?"

"What can a battalion of knights do with a Sergeant in the room, Your Majesty," I said, feeling thankful for my fate that had spun an intangible web for him. "Oh, by the way, they were the ones who opened the secret back door and showed us the way to your chamber. You gotta bunch of sincere employees down there."

"And I knocked your son down," Pruthvi said, adjusting his glasses, "One stiff punch beneath his jaw and poor kid laid flat on the ground."

Leena quickly got out of the way when the Sergeant grabbed Bhupathi's hands, pulled them behind his back and manacled them.

"No! No! I am the king!" Bhupathi said in his defense, "You cannot..."

"All the evidence are against you, Sire," the Sergeant said valiantly, giving a hint of worldliness, "Final verdict shall be passed by the High King at the trail to be conducted next week. Until then, you'll be lodged in the correctional facility."

"Rubbish! This is a disgrace. Aghasthya, help me, for the sake of your granddaughter."

"This is for the sake of my granddaughter," said King Aghasthya angrily and then added, "And for every other woman of this country. Save yourself from further embarrassment and please leave."

Sergeant dragged him forward, but he was resilient. He looked at me with his frightened eyes and fumbled nearer saying, "Son, I'll take my complaint back. You can have all the property. Just let me go. Don't ruin my family's honor. I apologize for what I did to your grandmother."

"That will not bring back my grandmother nor the childhood of the girl you ruined. Believe me, I'm actually being very lenient on you by following these laws and stuff.

Sergeant quickly lugged Bhupathi away, as if the King had no status whatsoever against his position in the Panchayat. Nazira had repeated everything about her past, spent hours pouring over every detail and sincerely answering his questions, and that must have built hatred towards the king. Bhupathi kept wailing for help, but eventually was dragged away.

The annoyance of hearing his loud voice was lifted off with his depart. King Aghasthya moved over to talk to the personnel standing in the chamber, leaving just us alone- the delinquents who put together a plan to pull the strings. I was pleased by the feel of the friendliness and approachability when Lithika stepped forward and took her sister's hand. "I'm so sorry," she said softly, her eyes spilling tears. "I have been too...will you forgive me?"

King Aghasthya seemed pleased watching the sisters reuniting. "I can accept your apology on one condition," Leena said, "Can I keep this dress? Please, I look so pretty in it. And I do have a perfect blush that goes with it. Also..."

She went on and on until Lithika felt uncomfortable with her jibber-jabber.

The trail was yet to commence and the atmosphere already called for the celebrations. I'd won half the battle when Ashwant was successful in persuading a Sergeant to help us set a trap for Bhupathi. Now that the Sergeant himself was a witness, I had no qualms in my heart about winning the case next week.

When Lithika got back to her grandfather crying and repenting, I stepped forward and placed my hand on Leena's forearm. She deserved praise and full credit for the commendable act. I was at a loss for words and sputtered incoherently. "Leena, I cannot thank you enough..."

"I know," she interrupted, "It's time for Uilani, isn't it?"

I nodded, gently tapping on her forearm. Pruthvi was staring with a proud full-beam smile, yet too uncomfortable to speak with me standing there. I walked away leaving them alone. Rubbing my nape, and having done enjoying the victory for the day, I regained control over my emotions. In the back of my mind, I knew that the chapter involving Bhupathi Garg wasn't over yet.

He knew what Doctor had been doing in Uttarameer. He was about to mention Celina and her ability. Celina's ability- how could I've forgotten about it. The Formation Samagraha and their abilities that linked us up with the Firsts...

It has always been about the abilities. One after the other one, they have been disclosed someway or the other. Doctor had come to know about them from Naag, and Shashi from Zarina. Our jobs were related to these abilities that brought chaos into our lives. There's a pattern going on here. And now thanks to Tyrell, I have a new set direction in sight.

What in the world is The Pride of Haima-Endira?

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