Suhasini

Standing before the Crown Prince of the Surya Kingdom, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease prowling over me. With his steely gaze and unreadable expression, the man in front of me remained silent, causing a knot of nervousness to form in my stomach. The air between us grew heavy with unspoken words, the tension palpable as I fidgeted with my hands. Every passing moment of silence felt like an eternity, the weight of his gaze bearing down on me like a heavy cloak.

I desperately searched for something to say, anything to break the oppressive stillness that hung between us like a thick fog. But as the silence stretched on, my nerves only grew more frayed, the deafening quiet ringing in my ears like a warning bell as I was too scared to speak with a prince.

"So, are you going to tell anyone about this?" he finally spoke, and there was nothing but cold, calculating death waiting there.

"What, no," I said defensively.

How on earth did he expect to tell the people who killed Mom that their rival was still alive? Not to mention that he is my prince. The one I wanted to rule my kingdom.

"Why, not? You could earn money for your family if you report me. Hell, I'm sure that your family will never be hungry again." He tilts his head to the side, examining my face like I'm an oddity.

I wavered. I felt like he was going to become angry and I did not want to risk the fury of my king. "I do not want that king on the throne," I said.

Like why would I, women get raped every day because of his son and his army. Children die because they don't have any food to eat and most of them are orphans. Men are tortured every day just for wanting to take a leave to spend time with their children. So why would I want a king who might as well kill the people of my country and treat his people like they are demigods? I rather want a king who would treat us fairly." I thought.

"Bold of you to say that in the middle of the forest where everyone can hear you." He said with superiority though his gaze narrows on mine.

"Thank you. Your Highness," I said while trembling. My nerves tremble at what the next thirty seconds might bring. He can kill me right here.

"But," he started coming closer to me and I took a step back. We did that until I was against a tree. "Why should I believe you, Ms. Mehra? For I know, you could betray me tomorrow," he questioned.

"B-b-because I want-" I stuttered under his intense gaze and was interrupted by him.

"I live here in Gortari and I easily get a transfer to wherever you live. You may think I don't know where you live but I have access to where everyone lives. I go there and kill you and your family. If I ever see people trying to arrest me, Suhasini Mehra. I will kill your family. Understood." He said.

"Please don't kill my family. I promise I won't tell anyone. I will do whatever you want me to do." I cried.

I could feel the weight of his gaze bearing down on me like a leaden cloak. His eyes, cold and calculating, seemed to pierce through my very soul as he began to talk. "Well, I have an offer for you if you're willing to take it." He said. With each word that dripped from his lips like poison, he began to lay out his proposition. "I have an.. league and the league does not have an official leader. I can't be the head because I am quite popular in the West and people may recognize me. So what I want is for you to act like a leader in front of my league and follow the instructions that I give you. I would ask my friends but... they are also quite famous... So are you willing to do this, Ms. Mehra?"

I felt the tendrils of fear begin to wrap themselves around my heart, as I considered his proposal. He knew my name and my family name and he was using it as leverage to coerce me into joining his guild. The air in the room grew thick with tension as I grappled with the choice before me—cave to his demands and gamble, losing myself in the process, or defy him and face the consequences of his rage. Our fates were intertwined now, bound together by the dark shadow of his blackmail, and I knew that whatever decision I made would alter the course of my family forever.

"So what is your answer, Ms. Mehra." He asked.

I dithered as I thought about it. Either way, he knows my name now and Father is admired as he is a merchant so he can easily figure out where I live. Also, I did want revenge for what happened to my mother so I decided to accept.

"I- yes, I will join but on one circumstance, Your Highness," I spoke quite boldly.

"I will grant that wish if it is in my hands, so intrigue me." He said.

"I want to learn how to fight and if we win this war I want Rajveer Sigma dead." I demanded from him and at his glare I added a quiet, "Your Highness," to the sentence.

"Looks like we have a deal now. Let me start explaining the way my league works." He guided me to another path through the forest.

***

"So this is where we train," He said, pointing to where some people train rigorously.

"This is where you will be expected every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I also recommend taking afternoon naps on these days so that you are not too tired for the night. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday you do need to come here. Our little... club will be open all week except for Saturday. On Saturday, you, I and our trainer will discuss how we operate forward and what we will do next. You need to arrive at 11:30 sharp on the days you expected to be here and we start at midnight." He informed me while taking me towards a tent.

"Sruthi, this is a new joiner, get her measurements and make her clothes," Ekaansh said and got out of the tent.

"Hello, I'm Suhasini." I said shyly.

"Hey, I'm Sruthi. I make training clothes for everyone so that they can wear them during practice. You will probably get yours by next week." She said warmly before proceeding to get my measurements.

"So did the Archer, say anything," Sruthi said quite shyly.

"Archer, what Archer," I asked bewildered.

"The man, I thought his name was ohh wait I don't know," I falsified immediately. Forgetting that she probably doesn't know that he is the crown prince.

"Well his name is the Archer and will probably get a code name from now on." She assured

"Do I get to chose?," I asked excitedly .

"Yeah, my code name is the Weaver so call me that, Okay. You aren't supposed to know that I am Sruthi. That is my real name. But the Archer seems to trust very much." She observed.

Yeah, because his life is in my hands and my family's lives are in his hands.

"I guess." I mumbled out loud. "So are leaders here?," I asked.

"Well the Archer, The Swift and The Teacher. Why do you ask?" She questioned dubiously.

"Are you guys done yet," Ekaansh called.

"Ahh yes." Sruthi said surprised.

" Let's go.. Miss Su- just come on." He said irritated and left.

I quickly followed him but heard Sruthi mumble a "Good luck," to me before I caught up to him.

Then, Ekaansh asked where my home was. I unwillingly told him where it was and he walked me back home.

"Well, I will pick you up tomorrow. I know this is the first time so I will help until you get familiar with the place where we will meet. I know it is Wednesday but only for an hour you need to understand how our league works." Ekaansh said after we reached there.

"Okay," I said before I started walking into my home. 

____________

Akka - Older Sister

Annaya/Anna - Older Brother

Celli - Little Sister

Tammudu - Little Brother

Atta - Aunt

Amma - Mom

Nana - Father

(These are all Telugu)

: ̗̀➛Do you think that Ekaansh like to control people?

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