Sikva, the capital city of Kavish

The evening breeze carried the smell of agarbathi and sambrani infused with the smell of ghee-rich sacred food from the temple. The Durga temple located close to the river Smiti, said to be one of the biggest and most favoured sanctuary to many in the city—claimed to be powerful and wish fulfilling deity.

Dhruva sat under the raised platform built around a huge neem tree not far from the temple and observed the residence of Sikva visiting the beautifully built granite temple. Intricate and marvellous design were sculpted all over the tall gopuram, the entrance gateway and pillars of the temple. His eyes followed a priest climbing up the gateway to lit a lamp at the top of the gopuram. Chants of Om Sakti reverberated as the people stepped out to view.

His mind flew back to Mahina, a Shiva temple follows the same practice, Dhruva thought how similar the two countries to share the practice yet an awful event between two individuals had turned things ugly and difficult for the rest of its people—its land. This has to change for good, a voice in him often rang, subtly reminding him to spread peace not hatred. A mistake cannot be undone through another.

Giggles of the children nearby burst his thought bubble pulling his attention to them as they ran around chasing one another. His lips curved into a smile, precious kids, may we present you a better kingdom before you children grow up to be a wise men and women.

Glancing up the dark sky, his mind shifted back to Durja. To the problem silently looming between Kavish and Durja creating tension to the very land he now stood. Has his uncle Megavannan found anything that could lead to the mastermind behind the illegal trading? He hoped his uncle have found something or they will need to keep searching blindly for a long time before they eventually find them.

Almost a week have gone by since they reached Kavish. First fours days he gave it to the farmer and the last three days... he simply wandered around trying to befriend a physician who might be able to take him to someone in the royal family.

O ma, guide me through to find a way to reach them. Guide me through so I could send the fugitives back to their families. Ma, I prayed to you to give me courage as I face them as who I am.

Local folks often says if the temple bell rings when one makes a wish without anticipating for it, the wish was bound to be fulfilled. His gaze shifted to the temple where the bell rang seven times commencing the evening prayer. Mother, your blessing is all I need. By the temple steps, Dhruva spotted the now familiar lady ascending the temple stairs courteously nodding to those greeting her as she made her way up.

Had his sharp vision caught her sullen, dull face hidden behind the little smile? He shook his head, the illumination from the huge fire pot by the staircase might have deceived him.

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Nakshathra felt at ease after her visit to the temple the previous evening. The tiny piece of news she learnt from the fabric merchant brought apprehension, distraught and anger in her. She sat by the window watching the sunrise, trying to understand the reason behind the bubbling negative emotion in her. She had seen girls in her age be happy to know when their marriages are fixed but why wasn't she happy? The questioned remained unanswered.

Arunya joined Nakshathra outside the palace right after she picked up Arivu's medication from the arogyalaya. "Nakshathra, I have something to tell you," Arunya said as they walked their way to Arivu's house.

She hummed in respond.

"The palace maids from the maharani's wing said that the maharaja and maharani have chosen a suitor for you." Arunya cautiously let go of the information in fear of Nakshathra raging upon hearing the news.

Contrariwise to her expectation, Nakshathra remained unperturbed.

"Nakshathra, I was saying—"

Nakshathra stopped her with a raise of her hand. "I don't want to know any further regarding what you heard from the queen's wing. I am aware and I don't want the news to spoil my day, Arunya. Please make sure it doesn't reach me in any other way, if possible. I'll see to it when he comes." The princess said nonchalantly.

Arunya nodded and followed her lady in silent heading to Arivu's house. Perhaps the topic of marriage does put Nakshathra in a bad phase, she thought. Arunya anticipated an early morning run given that Arivu hated them visiting him. She tried to think of a way to keep him from running.

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The morning begun with a calm greeting from the gushing of water of the river Smiti, from the fresh smell of the nature the breeze carried and from the mesmerising view of the temple. He headed to the river to perform his Surya Arghya (water offering to the God of Sun) which he missed for days.

Dhruva started his day with a resolution in mind, convince the physician and let her take me to the princess or the crown prince. I have wasted enough time and can no longer let my men wait for me by the border with the fugitives. The more he delays, the longer he will need to stay in Kavish which wasn't a good idea for a crown prince of Durja. Durja might need him at any given time and so together with his guards, he dashed out of the ashram in pursuit of the physician.

On their way, they met Nakshathra and Arunya at the crossroad near Arivu's house. It was both expected and unexpected encounter. Dhruva guessed her routine by interpreting what she had said to Arivu the day before and calculated her route for the day and there they met.

"If you can't cook by yourselves or get from the eatery which is far from the ashram, I can speak to one of the ladies who can prepare meals as long as you are staying here. You just need to pay her." Nakshathra's smooth voice retrieve him back from his musing to their conversation.

"I'm grateful for your help, devi."

"And do not hesitate to ask if you need anything else," she added with an angelic smile on her pink lips reaching her dispirited eyes.

Something bothered the physician but he let it slide not to be too intrusive over her personal matter. He also noticed Nakshathra not only carries her duty as a mere job but she sees the art of healing as a responsibility. She could have either called the boy and his mother to the arogyalaya or send a junior physician for the medication yet she took the trouble to administrate the medicine herself.

He admired her professionalism, stern and polite to her patients, true and dedicated to her job. And then there was Ramani, one who runs away from her work when they need her the most.

"This is going to be one hell of a task," murmured Arunya next to him. "Might I ask a favour from all of you." She turned to Dhruva and his friends. "Can you stay by the doorway. so, Arivu doesn't run out of the house?"

"Why would he run?" Dhandapani asked, scrunching his face.

"Oh, he doesn't like us administrating him the medicine. He is sure to make a dash when he sees us," she said.

True to her words, they witness the physicians' series of cajoling and refusing, running and chasing Arivu. The ten-year-old boy, lean and short was quick on his feet to avoid being caught by Nakshathra or Arunya while his mother let of shrieks of order for him to stay put with tears running down her plump cheeks. Although it wasn't a big house, the small space gave them a big challenge.

Nakshathra had dropped on the floor evidently loss of energy from the chasing but something disturbing her internally. He wanted to help her, he wanted to wipe off her internal disturbance and to bring back her liveliness he had seen before.

There was literally nothing possible from his end, neither did he know her well nor does he know the reason of her dullness. But surely there was one thing he can do right away. Dhruva stepped in, took the small box from Nakshathra.

"I'll take care of it. Why don't all of you go take some fresh air and rest for a bit," he said with a smile and a nod enough to give assurance to his words.

Nakshathra, the boy's mother and the rest made a beeline out of the house leaving Arivu under Dhruva's responsibility. The boy stood at the corner staring dangerously at him as Arivu heaved short breaths. Instructing the boy to have the medicine will do no good, it has to be done calmly, he understood.

He sat down cross-legged far from Arivu, convincing the boy that he does not want to force anything upon him. "Why don't you sit down too?" he started and introduced himself soon after Arivu settled opposite him by the corner of the wall.

"Amma told I need energy and I need to be strong. But I have energy. I am strong. You saw how I out beat Nakshathra akka and Arunya akka. I don't want the medicine," answered Arivu, his lower lip pulled out.

The young prince nodded; he was yet to know the reason why the boy actually needs the medication. "Do you know, I too don't like it but I take my daily dose of these herbal ball every day." He leaned forward attempting to get Arivu more comfortable with him.

Arivu's eyes widen in amazement, staring intently at Dhruva. "You too were chased to have these?" he crawled closer.

Nodding to the little boy, he added, "Yes, but... when I was young not now. I am grown man so I need to behave like one, don't I? But it was only because I ate these that I am strong today." Dhruva flexed his muscular arms to Arivu. Bewildered with the display of the strong, bulging biceps, Arivu stood on his knees and pressed the muscles.

"Wow! So strong! If I too eat every day, will I be like you?" Arivu asked, innocently. A desire to be like the man before him raised in the sparkling eyes and through the flashy smile.

A victorious moment, he let out a laugh. He made the boy eat his medicine, a success to his small quest. A positive sign; he always considers signs around him predicts his upcoming venture. By convincing the boy, he believes to win the trust of the royals he would meet very soon. But whom and when?

"I didn't know Nakshathra akka wanted me to be strong, like you. I told her I hate her and I made her sad. I am a bad friend," Arivu mumbled, his lips had turned a downward crescent. "But I love her. She always comes to meet me, meet us. I made her sad. She must be angry, she didn't try to convince me like she always do," he continued between short breaths.

"No, I'm sure she isn't. Maybe she is just tired," Dhruva tried to console but the boy shook his head not taking his words.

"No, she had always come after me until I take the medicine. Today I made her sad. She gave up chasing me, she is angry," he sniffled a sob.

They must have shared a close relationship for the boy to feel bad for the way he had treated her the past few days. The whimpering boy hugged his knees close to his chest. "Nakshathra akka now hates me," he kept repeating.

"I don't think so, Arivu." Dhruva stretched his hand for the little boy to take and pulled him to sit closer. "I got to know her recently and I think she cares and love you as much as you do. I'm sure she understands you did not really mean what you said."

Arivu nodded.

"You need to believe. Now tell me what you like about your Nakshathra akka so I can tell her and make you both friends again."

Dhruva didn't have to do it; sit and console the boy. He could have simply gone out and call them back but he did otherwise. A personal desire to know about the distinguished Nakshathra around the locality piqued his interest, thus extracting some from the boy would be helpful he thought.

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