Suhasini

"Hasini Akka, Vihaan Annaya is teasing me again." Priya cutely pouted.

"Vihaan, stop teasing Priya and go out and herd the cattle. Darsh, help Harsha with his homework and take care of the others. I'm going out. Priya, help Saraswati get ready. Let's go to the market to buy some fruits from the market, so that you can eat them in school." I said while cooking for dinner.

"Yes Akka." Priya said and started searching for Saraswati. While Vihaan mumbled something about Priya tattletaling on him and how he is going to get revenge on her.

I raised an eyebrow and said, "Do you need more motivation because I can make sure that Churlish can give you more motivation."

"Akka, aren't supposed to be on our side rather than the devil's side." Vihaan complained. I smiled and told him to finish his chores.

"Fine, Akka," he snapped and stormed to the barn. Which left me staring at the place he had been with my mouth slightly ajar.

"P-P Priya, are you ready. If so, come here." I shouted for her. She was there in 1 min with a giddy Saraswati. "Are you both ready?" and when they nodded I said, "Let's go."

***

We were walking around the market when we met a Godavari Atta buying some dessert.

"Hello, Atta." I said while taking blessings from her feet.

"Hasini, don't do that. I told many times that you should not take blessings but you still take blessings. I am like a mother, right. So don't do that again. And you two also don't take blessings from me." She scolded. "Now, what are you doing here?"

Priya replied, "Aunty, we are here to buy some fruits. How are you?"

She and Atta started chatting and catching up on the time they missed each other. While I excused myself saying that I had to buy some groceries. I was walking into a shop when I bumped into someone.

"Oh... I'm sorry officer. I'll take my leave." I whispered and tried walking away when he grabbed my hand.

"What did you say, say it louder !" he asked. He had a Western accent, indicating that he was from the Chandra Kingdom.

"I'm sorry officer." I repeated louder.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Suhasini." I said. His eyes sparked with recognition.

"Hey Chandra, come on, we need to see Nand and make the announcement." A man behind him called.

The man who held my hand left me and started to catch up with the man called him.

I hurriedly went into the shop I was looking for while being a little spooked. After I finished shopping, I wondered. Why did he grab me? How does he recognize my name?

I consoled myself. As I did not like soldiers, especially ones from the Chandra kingdom. I quickly drove those thoughts from my head. When I heard an announcement, "People of Hatigar. Please come to the Main Square. We have a declaration to make."

I quickly started running back where I left Priya and Saraswati. I quickly bumped into someone with onyx-brownish eyes. His eyes seemed very familiar but I had more important matters to get to than trying to figure out why he seemed familiar.

" Are you okay." I asked when I found my sisters.

"Yeah Akka." Saraswati said with the giddiness she had since the morning. Since she did not know what was going on unlike me and Priya.

"Saraswati, hide in my skirt. Quick." I hissed at her. She looked at me weirdly but complied. "Do not look at the people who are talking, Okay. Look into my skirt. Make no noise and be deadly silent. Okay, Saraswati." I commanded her.

She was questioning my actions but someone spoke out loud, interrupting her, "People of Hatigar, you must know what happens to traitors don't you. But still some need reminders. Don't worry though. I will give you one. Look at this man." The speaker pointed at a man. "He tried to kill General Reyansh Rathore and this is what happens to traitors." He said before I saw a flash of sword swinging through the air. The scene that unfolded right in front of me was an image of chaos and fear. The once-bustling street now lay eerily silent. Near the executor, a body lay motionless on the cold pavement, surrounded by a growing pool of crimson blood. The air was thick with the metallic tang of death, sweeping and making my stomach churn. The victim's lifeless eyes stared blankly into the distance, as if pleading for forgiveness that would never come.

"I hope this will serve as a reminder for you, The City of Hatigar. You may leave now." Then everyone immediately left.

Someone tugged on my dupatta. "Akka what happened." Saraswati asked.

"Nothing, chinu. Let's go back home. I got what we needed." I said and took her home.

____________

Akka - Older Sister

Annaya/Anna - Older Brother

Celli - Little Sister

Tammudu - Little Brother

Atta - Aunt

Amma - Mom

Nana - Father

(These are all Telugu)

Hope you have fun reading this. Please comment on what you think.