Varmohin, Kamakshya

The quest to Kamakshya at a say seemed easy but it almost took Dhruva's life and leaving Parthiban stranded in an unknown town before the latter found the former.

A group of four had left Durja in a ratha vimana enroute to the closest border in Haridra. Flying their ratha vimana in Kamakshya's air space might not be the right choice hence, leaving them no choice but to continue on horseback from Haridra's north east border.

Varmohin was once a city the Kamakians called it their capital, bustled with people from all parts of Kamakshya, Varmohin accommodated them with variety of jobs and living opportunities. After a mass execution of Tromodh, a name identified as one among the beholder of special divine powers, the capital city had been moved to further east.

Now, it was a deserted place with not a soul living in Varmohin. Dhruva, Parthiban, Viswanathan and Sudarshan perambulated in the dress as the local wore; a woollen shirt with long sleeve under a thick blue overcoat, a knitted shawl around their neck and a thick cotton pants. Parthiban giggled, "this has to be my first time wearing these many layers."

"I bet there must be a better clothing than this," Viswanathan commented as he adjusted the shawl on his neck. "This is pretty uncomfortable. How are we to fight?" Frustrated, Viswanathan pulled the shawl off his neck and rolled it around his wrist.

"We won't be long here," Dhruva said as they stopped by a small stall for a quick breakfast.

They were a little away from their destination, stopped to feed themselves before heading to the soulless town the locals claimed. Fortunately, no one asked them the reason of their visit which only made them assume, people do passthrough the deserted city to get to places.

Through the locals they learned, Kamakshya was an oligarchy government. It was said the power of the nation rests with a group of elites and headed by a certain family called the Amenolis. The fifth generation of Amenolis had played a large part in conspiracy to eradicate the Tromodhs, in Varmohin. They had used an extensive amount of money to buy a few of Varhinsas, Bhariyolam, Gamshoni, Yamilvas and Dyuthi each to manipulate the people, turning their trust and faith on Tromodhs to fear and hate.

Slowly, the treachery of a few Tromodhs who were bought by the Amenolis had given the latter the title of saviour and the Tromodhs had given themselves into the deadly clutches of Amenolis. Now, govern by Amenolis, Kamakshya watches some Tromodhs living in hiding, some fled while many buried and continued to be executed on sight. The Lambodarans shivered as the locals storied them some horrified scenes the Amenolis's guards had inflicted on a Bharian, their latest catch.

"Oh, that's enough, sirrah. I can't hear it anymore," Viswanathan scrunched his face and placed both his hands on his ears.

"Why so cruel?" Parthiban asked as he sipped hot milk tea in a glass.

"Because they are dangerous. They can even harm us if we are not careful," short and hunched tea master said, his face hidden behind his hat.

Dangerous? Dhruva huffed. Had they been really dangerous, Achi Mangalam, Toisara and his friends would have come for their aid in a single call. Clearly whoever those Amenolis were, have brainwashed these naïve people to fear for Tromodhs. However, he had no much time to hear stories of Kamakians for he had much more important task at hand. Dhruva gulped his remaining tea.

"We should leave," Dhruva said.

"Where you heading?" The tea master asked.

As they were advised, Parthiban mentioned a small village right next to Varmohin to avoid gaining curiosity of the people.

The stall owner flashed a toothy smile and nodded. "Good way." He tipped his hat.

The remaining journey to Varmohin had been fairly smooth. As they entered into the empty streets, they were greeted with gushes of wind, carrying dried leaves in swirls. The temperature dropped even further. Dhruva hugged himself to keep warm likewise others.

The sky turned dark rapidly and the warm, deserted city switch to an eerie and strange ambience. The four closed the gaps between each other as they moved ahead following Parthiban's navigation using the map given.

They didn't need to search much for the Rekkan tree stood tall and large somewhere ahead of them. Just as Toisara and Achi Mangalam had briefed them, the Rekkan tree indeed towered like that of a human. Standing on its roots with large bough, the Rekkan tree had two arms like branch. One of the branches bent to its trunk while the other branch had it extended out with its palm like stems facing upward. On the open palm, Rekkan held a larger version of it flower in the shade of blood.

Alike its feature had them dumbfounded, the closer they headed to the tree, the more astounded they were. In the lines of its bough, it glowed red while the veins in its every leaf glimmered in white. Dhruva knew nothing of the tree's history but he sure knew it lived longer than his four generation of ancestors.

But that's a story for another day.

"Wow!" Sudarshan breathed. His eyes reflected the shine from the tree.

While the rest had their eyes on the largest Rekkan, Dhruva's gaze fell behind the tree. Darkness spread further into the forest, as he observed closer there were fallen trees, similar looking Rekkan in regular size. All those trees were black, Dhruva minced closer only to realise the Kamakians had burnt those trees however, the parent of the fallen trees stood majestically unaffected.

"This was what Toisara meant by Kamakians messing with their tree," Parthiban whispered as he fell in line with Dhruva.

The Yuvaraja of Kavish nodded as his gaze shifted back to the standing Rekkan. It was midafternoon when they reached the Rekkan forest but it appeared to be later in the evening. The darkening sky threaten not for heavy rain but for something unwarranted.

The atmosphere did not sit well with him, Dhruva turned to address his companions. "We don't have much time and light. So, I am going to climb up to get the leaves and fruit."

All of them swept their gaze up.

"I'll go, Dhruva. It doesn't seem easy," Viswanathan volunteered.

"No. I should do this."

Dhruva rubbed his numbed palms together, warming them up as he inched closer to the thick roots of the tree. He placed a foot on it and staggered he few feet back. It could have been for the glow in the lenticles of the bough but he knew he saw and felt the root he stepped on moved.

"What is it, Dhruva?" Parthiban asked.

"I'm good." He proceeded to climb the tree despite sensing its trunk moving beneath his feet.

Behind him, he heard panic murmurs of his companions. A sure sign of something wasn't right but before he could make another move, the root on which he stood unearthed itself and swung Dhruva further to the south west.

Parthiban and the two guards froze at the scene as rain of soil showered on them. The Rekkan tree growled, its red glow brightened with the turn of its head. Parthiban stared at it; a pair of eyes looked straight into his. With a flick of its root's end, it sent Parthiban rolling down on the street they had walked on earlier.

"Leave." Parthiban heard its raspy voice ordered from afar.

Too weak and bruised, the prince of Kavish crawled on all four to get on his feet. Blood trickled down his forehead, blurring his vision. He sat by a ruined house, confused with the tree's reaction.

"How are we going to get the fruit and leaves?" Parthiban shuddered at the thought of approaching the Rekkan for another attempt. "How are we going to bring Nakshathra back?"

As he heard rapid footfall, he remembered Dhruva was flung away beyond their imagination. Parthiban rose on his still wobbly and aching feet.

"Rajakumar!" The two guards rushed to him, their faces pale from the cold and the unfolding scene of the Rekkan. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes. I am good. Let's find Dhruva. Do you remember which way it threw him off?"

As one of them pointed to the direction, the three of them embarked on another task of finding the crown prince. While they searched high and low, the prolonging search enraged Parthiban. Why wasn't they warned about the moving tree? Why did they not say a word on how to retrieve its fruits and leaves?

It was only after a day and a half search, they found Dhruva wounded somewhere in the west part of Varmohin. He laid outside a small conservatory where an old lady had tended to his wounds.

"Thank God, we found you." Parthiban engulfed Dhruva in a hug and planted a kiss on his head. "What will I tell Nakshathra if I lost you in this expedition?" He let Dhruva go and shook his head.

"I am perfectly fine," Dhruva said to the two guards silently weeping behind Parthiban.

Soon after the three of them had rested their tired body, Dhruva sat with them for a conversation. "I had been thinking about the Rekkan," he begun. "I think the tree doesn't want us to get near it."

"Then how do we get what we want?" Sudarshan asked.

Dhruva fell into a long thought. "I'll talk to it," he said.

*-*-*-*

Two days later, they made their second attempt. As Dhruva ordered, all the three waited further away from the Rekkan root's reach while only Dhruva approached it.

With earnest and sincerity, Dhruva joined his palms together, and prayed to it. "The Rekkan that saw a thousand years, I, Dhruva Vinayakam seek your permission to allow me to bring back the fruit and leaves you ...ahhh" What followed next was a screeching scream.

Dhruva rolled like a coconut down the deserted street, he laid for long until he was found by the rest. His body throbbed but he couldn't give up just yet. Dhruva sat up, determined to go for one more try.

The next day, Parthiban opted to give a try. Hoping his brotherly love for his sister would move the Rekkan and allow them to take what they want. However much to his disappointment, Parthiban's mere presence in its proximity had tossed him out of its forest.

Sudarshan made a remarkable discovery. "Looking at the pattern of your falls, I think Rekkan is slowly melting. It might give us way to pick the fruit and leaf," he said as he drew trajectory lines of the tree and the distance they had fallen on the sand.

The pattern indeed convinced them that the Rekkan might do as they think but the distance was still huge. Dhruva had no much intention to play trial and error for they had no much time. It had already been a month and a half since they left Durja and Dhruva had planned to reach back home by the fourth month.

Just as they took shelter in an empty house, did Dhruva realise its reason for shunning them away. Flashes of charred Rekkan trees images had appeared to him several times in the last few days but he had just noticed it why.

"The Rekkan tree is being protective towards itself. I think it fears we might harm it like how the Kamakians have done to its offspring," he said, scratching his now overgrown beard.

"Did what?" Viswanathan asked. A small explosive of a light came after a pop. He lit the dry woods they had collected to keep them warm.

"Didn't any of you notice the burnt tree behind the big Rekkan?"

All of them shook their heads.

"So, how do we go about it now?" asked Parthiban.

Dhruva stared at the flickering fire as he racked his brain for a way. "Instead of one, all four of us should approach the tree, unarmed."

As they had planned, all four stood before the Rekkan tree. Dhruva took the lead to speak on behalf. "I know you are scared but we come here no to harm you."

"I refuse to believe any of you humans," the Rekkan spoke, its voice raspy.

Dhruva exchanged glances with each one of them. He wasn't sure what to say next and fumbled to find words.

"Your silence is betraying the words you spoke, I see."

"Not at all," he responded immediately. "We are here only for the fruit your bear and the leaves." Dhruva waited for an incoming swung of its root but it didn't come.

The Rekkan bent its bough, bringing its face closer to them. Its red glowing eyes glanced at each one of them as if reading through their minds. "Go on."

"Someone with ill intention had fed my wife Rimyama soaked water."

The Rekkan gasped. "Who is that fool?"

"A woman who wanted to take revenge. Now, my wife is in unconscious state for almost two months. Please help," Dhruva's voice quivered.

"Hmmm.... Do you love your wife?" The Rekkan asked.

"With all my life."

"What about you? Who is his wife to you?" Rekkan's eyes shifted to Parthiban.

"My dear sister. I'll lay my life if that what it takes to bring back the fruit and leaf to save her," Parthiban announced without a hint of hesitation.

"Well, what about you both? Will you die for his wife?" Its raucous voice gradually took a shift, velvety.

"By all means, yes," Viswanathan said, his chin up.

"Undoubtedly," finished Sudarshan.

Rekkan scanned each of them one more time, leaves on its branches rustled with the cold breeze. "Fine, I'll give you more than you have come for but..." Rekkan paused, its red pair of eyes glanced ahead, behind them. "In return, I'll need something from all of you but... not your lives. I can do nothing with it."

"What is it?" Dhruva asked, raising its voice as it towered further up.

The red glow in its bough flickered, at a glance it appeared like lava. "A promise," it hissed. "A promise to fight against those fools who thinks high of themselves to rule over my innocent Tromodhs, killing and torturing them. I cannot let Tromodhs to against them. Its unfair according to our nature thus, I would like you to promise to fight for Tromodhs." Rekkan paused, allowing them to understand her request. "It's a heavy payment much more than your lives. Do you agree?"

Dhruva gave it a thought; he can't promise for all of them but he could vouch on himself. "I promise to do whatever in my capacity to help your people. But I can only divert my focus here after my wife recovers."

"Wonderful. What about the rest?" Rekkan asked as its bent arm reached into its foliage.

"Wherever he goes, we'll follow. Thus, you have our promise." Sudarshan bowed his head in reverence.

"As a sign of gratitude, I promise to join hands with my brother in helping the people of Varmohin," Parthiban declared.

"Hmm..." Rekkan hummed as it continued to rummage in its foliage. "Very well," it plucked something off itself. "Know that words are pricier than anything in this world. For your sincerity and your love, I give you the fruits and leaves." Rekkan lowered its arm and dropped the two things they had come for before them.

"Now there is no turning back," its voice rattled. "I'll be waiting. Remember you have promised."

*-*-*-*-*-*

It took them a month ride from Varmohin and out of Kamakshya's border. Although the tense was lesser on their return journey, Dhruva was anxious nonetheless. Those fruits and leaves were his last resort and he prayed to every God and saints he knew for it to work.

It broke his heart into pieces when he learnt their child did not survive. The news restrained him for days from conversing with anyone in the palace. However, he rose back to himself soon after Achi gave her first crack of smile since his return.

"Nakshathra is responding well to the Rekkan's healing," she beamed.

"She is awake?" He wanted nothing but to hear a yes. However, Achi held his hand before he could sprint away.

"Patience, son. It will take a while but not long."

Patience, he had been holding on to it for so long he had lost count. Immersing himself in his other duties never helped him from his constant worries and as the time ticks, Dhruva finds himself lack of patience. He had thought Nakshathra would recover in an instant with the help of the Rekkan fruits and leaves but little did he knew, the process of healing somehow similar with both traditional and magic. Time, was what it takes.

As per Achi's request, all Nakshathra's ladies-in-waiting were asked to stay in a room with her to constantly keep her companied and as a helping hand for Achi. The request had forced Dhruva to move out with a pout. He remained in Utpala while overseeing his duties as the crown prince along side as Nakshathra's husband.

In a day, Dhruva was given a few hours in private to spend with Nakshathra. During his time, he made sure he kept her well informed of all the palace happenings. He would also read her favourite stories, collects news on her field of expertise and spills his hearts content.

"We had spent enough time to think of our people that we had made not much of a memory for us to cherish. Wake up soon, we've lots to catch up." Dhruva sighed and fell on the other side of the bed, arms and legs spread as he stared at the ceiling. "Wake up, sleepyhead. How long are you going to keep sleeping?" He threw a soft pillow on her and soon retrieve it. "I'm sorry," he giggled with glistening eyes and turned on his side. "I have cried a lot. I can't wait to laugh at every silly thing with you and I know it won't be long before you would sit with me at the balcony and watch the moon and stars."

As he feathery stroke her cheek, Dhruva drifted to sleep.

*-*-*-*-*

Three months had gone by in a whisk, everyone in the palace have had somehow got accustomed to the happenings in Utpala. Those who had little to zero knowledge on Tromodhs, the Rekkan descendants of mage practitioners, begin to take effort to learn about the community. Dhruva was pleased with the change in the palace especially within the Durja Royal Household. Members of advisors had undergone a huge shift, filling the position of the ministers with more competent individuals replacing the old, lazy, self-centred ministers. Under Dhruva's recommendation and Prithvi's choice, the latter had been given the post of Minister of Country Development and Infrastructure.

His little brother has had already been to work on accumulating a team of youngsters like him to join hands in uplifting their people's livelihood. As a crown prince, Dhruva was proud to have reliable hands to govern Durja. While they had a major shift in the court, Dhruva did not neglect his duties as a brother to his sisters who had kept away from him since birth. He took his time out to speak to each one of them in private and helped them sort their issues.

Yogathepan patted on his back with teary eyes as he watched his daughters happily leave Durja with their husbands one after the other. "Had Brinda been alive, she would have done the exact thing. I see her in you, Dhruva." Yogathepan engulfed his son for the first time in years. "You are doing good both as a son and a husband." More pats on the back.

"I did what was right," he replied in a hushed quiver. The hug from his father moved him emotionally. He needed it now more than ever, for someone to say you have done well. A small credit to satiate his exhausted soul while he waited for the rain to drench him, for Nakshathra to wake up.

It had been three days since Achi Mangalam had restricted anyone in visit Nakshathra. As he pondered on the reason, Janardan came running to him. Catching his breath, Janardan gasped inaudibly.

"What is it?" Dhruva was getting anxious with every passing second.

"She is awake..." Janardan said with a smile etching on his face.

He needed to hear nothing more as he sprinted as fast as he could to Utpala. To his wife. To Nakshathra. The run to the palace took him as long as he waited for her to wake up and when he finally stepped into Utpala and climbed up two steps at a time, he knew his dream had turned real.

Palace staffs gathered outside her chamber, waiting to get a glimpse of her. As his heavy footfalls announced his presences, they parted ways for him to tore the door open.

His heart seized to beat. His feet froze to the ground. Time had drawn to a halt. The world around him disappeared leaving only him and the woman he had prayed to wake up standing before him. Dhruva watched without a blink as she closed the distance between them. Tears filled eyes bore into his with equal yearning.

Her once calloused, now softened fingers brushed his face. The single touch was just enough for him to let go of everything he had been holding. Dhruva wrapped into a tight embrace, tight enough to not allow her to leave him ever again. Having her wept between his arms set him alive.

His Nakshathra had come home after a long battle at last.

*-*-*-*-*

Dhruva and Nakshathra were left undisturbed in their chamber while the entire Utpala celebrated Nakshathra's rebirth with a feast. It was a small celebration. The king had sent a message to host a bigger party once the crown prince and his wife was ready to meet the mass.

Faint hooting and cheering echoed up the third floor. Dhruva and Nakshthra however, basked in the moonlight as they sat in the balcony in each other's arms in solitude. They had spoke nothing much since they met but a lot had been conveyed through their silence.

Nakshathra places a hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. Does she miss him? She asked herself to which she had no answer. All along she felt time had stopped around and thus it was no long before she met him again but it was different for Dhruva, she knew when his eyes set on hers. Thos glistening eyes, quivering lips and trembling hands, she knew he had waited for the moment far too long. Nakshathra planted a kiss on his chest.

"I have kept you worried for long, didn't I?"

Dhruva held his silence, brushing his fingertips on her arm. "Too long, I was starting to lose patience," he said. "I started throwing pillows on you."

She was sure he controlled his chuckle when he said it but she laughed along. "What else did you do other than launching pillows at me and crying at the same time?" she asked, knowing well he had only done it out of frustration.

He heaved a long sigh. "Let's not talk about that phase. It only reminds me how lonely I felt although I was surrounded with people all the time." He tightened his hold on her, bringing her closer to him.

"No more old talk," she murmured.

They stayed out in the cold under the moonlight, contented to have each other and grateful for all the help that came their way.

*-*-*-*-*

Two days after her wake from a long sleep, Nakshathra stepped out for the first time with Dhruva by her side. Greetings and well wishes rushed her way with heartfelt words and honest smiles. As hours went by, the crowd dispersed and soon there were only two of them strolling around the Ladies' Quarters.

As they perambulated, Nakshathra spotted a new plant she had not seen before in Utpala. It was planted right next to her small arogyalaya. Stepping closer, Nakshathra noticed it was the Forget-me-nots plant.

"This is new," she said and turned to Dhruva.

"I planted it. In remembrance of our lost child," he said with measured smile.

She nodded and entwined their hand together. "You did well."

Although Dhruva's gaze had a question of whether she knew of their child, she answered him not. Of course, she knew. Nakshathra had learnt of her pregnancy when she had constantly checked on her pulse, there was another pulse, a faint one. As a physician, Nakshathra knew what to expect thus, she chose to wait but somehow, she felt into unconscious state and had lost it.

After a grand feast and an emotional reunion with her family, Nakshathra sat down to write a letter to her saviours. To those who had been with her and helped her while she couldn't do it for herself. No number of spoken words could match a heartfelt letter, hence she started with Ramani.

To the girl who had to side the wrong to save her father, Nakshathra could never condemn her choice. For Ramani, she did the right thing to keep her father alive. As she wrote her a letter, Nakshathra had a wide smile. The girl had found her father and had let go of her job in the palace. Ramani had seek permission to her and left to their village to explore farming with her father. Nakshathra sent her off with needed money and a plot of land in Kavish.

Next, to the sister she was never born with, Arunya. Her best friend through thick and thin. Without her constant care, Nakshathra would have been a disaster, right from their childhood. Always grateful for the company, Nakshathra had decided to give her of as Arasu's bride in the coming few months and set up a venture of her likings. Arunya no longer needed to be her lady-in-waiting. But like always, Arunya listens to everyone but her. She solemnly declared to continue to be by her side as far as life brings her, she had said.

Her following letters were to her four guards for always standing by her and protecting her throughout their service. They were the friends at the times she needed.

Then to Dhruva's Yujyagana. She wrote individual letters to all twenty-four of them and a special thanking note to Viswanathan and Sudarshan for their journey to Kamakshya accompanying her brother and Dhruva.

As she folded the letters for the Yujyagana with assigned names on each envelope, a mild breeze cooled the chamber. "Ahh..." she sighed and cracked her knuckles. Nakshathra took the next piece of letter, addressing to Achi Mangalam.

The door to her chamber creaked open, Dhruva walked in shortly after and waved at her. "Just came to fetch my sword," he said and headed to the stand holding it.

Shifting her attention back to her letter, a red flower flew in through the window and dropped on her desk. With a dip of her eyebrows, she picked up the red glowing flower and twisted it between her finger.

"I'll see you later."

She heard Dhruva said but also his footfall approaching her. As she lifted her gaze up to him, he looked stunned by the presence of the flower.

"What is it?" she asked.

Dhruva dropped on the floor in front of her desk and stared at it. Like a long afterthought, he spoke. "I told you we went to Kamakshya under Achi's request, right?"

She nodded.

He gulped and narrated to her of the promise the Rekkan tree had extracted from them and this Rekkan flower in their chamber was a reminder of his promise.

Nakshathra followed his narration with undivided attention and understood that no exchange can be done without getting anything in return. It was the nature's law. People like Achi had to flee from their own land while some were killed because of those narrowminded, power-hungry people.

If there was something she could do in return for Achi's effort in bringing her back to life was giving her a place back in her home country. Nakshathra might not have been the one who gave her words to the Rekkan but Dhruva's words were hers.

Nakshathra glanced back to Dhruva, a mirthful smile playing on her lips.

"A journey to the north sounds like the perfect adventure after a long hiatus. Shall we prepare to Aid the Tromodhs?" Nakshthra said, her eyebrows dance as Dhruva agreed.

With that, the couple gathered a few extra hands and prepared to venture towards the north.

*-*-*-*

Inside a dark hut, glowed an orange like fruit in white. A hand scooped the fruit and looked closer into it. An image of the Rekkan tree set inside the translucent fruit, its face up close.

"I hear through the flower. The children are coming, Mangalam," the Rekkan spoke, melodiously.

"I told you; my dear children are born to be saviours of the people. Stand tall and watch as they retrieve your descendants back into your arms."

Achi Mangalam held one of the fruit Dhruva brought with him high up. "I'll see you soon, Bhumagan." She bowed to the Rekkan tree image in the fruit before it burst into an explosion of light. 

"With this," Achi said as white sparkle seep into her skin.

"The Game of Alliance Ends."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

I would like to say thank you to all of you for giving me your time to read Dhruva Nakshathra. It's been a great time sharing this story with you. 

Hope you enjoyed it.

Thank you again.