Life is full of surprises and in those surprises, we have our opportunities. Now, its up to us, not to get astonished and choose our path correctly.

7.2 |The Southern Province  |

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Shakti peeked in Gauri's cell in the underground dungeon, 'Gauri, are you in there?'

'Yes, I was just collecting the bag of herbs and medicines', Gauri came out in her black robe and pants, a belt around her waist, which hung her most needed luggage from it. She had a black cloth tied over her head and face, only letting her eyes out. She looked like a tiny man, for she had never learnt to walk, talk or behave like agreeable ladies.

'I really don't wish to be left here alone', Shakti sighed hugging her.

'Then I'm leaving Ranveer and Dandi behind. I'm sure I can manage without them', Gauri broke the hug.

'But',

'No buts. Believe me, when you get these type of thoughts, you are getting old and old people do need help, pretty much with everything. Don't worry for the king, he'll be alright', she walked away.

'That's what I dread the most. I can never afford the loss if you're gone', Shakti looked at the path she went off guiltily.

Outside, it was a great commotion. The carriages that were to be sent with king were surrounded by curious mob, making the slaves' work harder. There were a lot of things that were to be packed and sent with the king. Gifts, food, water, riches, and much more. There was a carriage going to be prepared for the king too, but Omkara preferred to go all the way on the horseback.

Finally the black gate signalling the threshold of Northern Province was opened, and the train of carriages ran out, with numerous horses before and after them, and Omkara was riding his horse just before the first carriage. When they were getting down a steep road to get to the plains, it seemed as if a small caravan was setting out from Northern Province, or that's what Gauri thought while she watched them from a distance. She took the more dangerous way to get to the plains through dense woods of hills where packs of wolves wander freely, so that she couldn't be caught while keeping an eye on them.

After a journey of twenty one suns, They finally reached the huge white gate of Southern Province. The journey was a wreck would be an understatement. Gauri almost got caught by the knights, every night, she had to run away from at least one pack of wolves, be it the original ones or the ones under human skins. When they were about to cross the border of Western Province, there was a bandit attack. Ten of Omkara's men died during the commotion, Gauri had to disguise herself as the knights and fight the bandits alongside her king. This incident gave her an opportunity to see how capable her prince had become as a king and a fighter. If king Tej hadn't divided the provinces for each of his sons, he could have been a great minister in command for King Shivaay, regarding his intelligence and fighting skills. But what made him the proper king of Northern Province, was his ultimate ruthlessness, not an ounce of sympathy was shown to the audacious rogues.

When the gates of Southern Province was being opened for the king of Northern Province to enter, Gauri was pondering over her decision to swim across dike. Though it didn't need much wit to dive in dike, but this dike was the armour of Southern Province, circling round the main city. The dike was deep as a river, a hundred yards in breadth and what made it almost impossible in crossing it were the man-eater crocodiles bred in it.

But, Gauri didn't have any identification to let herself inside the gate legally. So, she let her favourite white horse, Rami, on which she crossed this long way, blend in the cattle brought along with the King's luggage and she readied herself to jump in the dike.

It was impossible for the crocodiles to detect her if didn't let out any smell from her, which was impossible if she jumped in water. I have to make it quick, so quick that I cross it before the crocodiles reach me. If they reach me, I cannot but will have to kill them and then it would be impossible to hide myself if the guards of Southern Province sniffs a whiff of an intruder, she made her mind quickly and letting in a deep inhale, she jumped in the water.

At first, there was nothing wrong. She thought that the crocodiles must have not noticed the change of waves due to her jump, but slowly, she felt herself being circled by crocodiles. When she was at the middle of the dike, she still didn't notice a single crocodile withing her peripheral vision. But as she was about to each the other side, The crocodiles ran for her legs in a meteoric speed. Gauri was losing her breath. She couldn't let herself indulge in playing them confused. She put all her strength in her spluttering hands and feet and just when she was about to shoot herself out of water surface, she felt a searing pain at her abdomen. Luckily, she made it out of the water and landed face first on the ground. She knew, that due to overexertion on her abdominal muscles, she caught a cramp. Looking back towards the water, she saw four crocodiles stalking her like a predator, their greenish yellow eyes shining in hunger. She remembered one of her lessons, how to run on all fours.

They were taught how to run on all fours when she was seven springs old. Until the next spring, they had to walk, eat, run, even fight on all fours.

Sighing, she got up on her knees and palms, and started running towards the hut of the guard posted at the gate. Once she could creep over the hay hut, she would be inside the main city.

Once she landed inside the main city, she had to lay for sometime on the ground catching her breath to calm her nerves and aching lower abdomen, hiding in a bush near the wall. Shakily, she took out a vial, which contained extract of poison, which, if taken in a low dose, was able to send the person in a painless sleep.

When she woke up, it was about to dark. She started staggering towards the colony of palace guards, where the families of palace guards lived. She didn't remember much of the palace city. She came here only once in her life, to see the carnival of Prince Omkara's tenth birth anniversary.

She wandered around the roads leading to palace in daze. The palace city was beautiful. Only the families serving the royal family were allowed in this city, unlike Northern Province. But it was also true that Southern Province was not as climatically adverse as Northern Province was. Northern province palace city thus accommodated its subjects too to provide them security.

May be that's why the palace city of Southern Province was more beautiful and well maintained. The roads were smooth, seasonal flowers lined by them, at some regular distance, stood tall banyan or peepul trees to provide the pedestrians shadow. Numerous butterflies of variegated wings flew round her, a bright day of happy sun rays lit up the bright flowers, birds of known or unknown names chirped joyously, as if to welcome her.

She climbed one of the trees and changed into a palace maid's dress. It was a white cotton ladies robe, with green waistband and a veil of same colour. When she was planning on how to enter the palace, she saw a group of maids collecting water in earthen pitchers to supply them during night. She also walked straight in there and started filling the empty earthen pitchers from a well, after driving the maid busy in the task away. Though the maids suspected a bit to see her face completely covered and her unusual eye colour, she said that she was freshly appointed and she recently had a burnt scar. The maids fell for her lies and when all the pitchers were filled, she took the last two earthen pitchers, one upon her head and another upon the bone of her waist. While chit-chatting with the maids, she found out where the king of Northern Province was residing. It was actually easier than exploring the palace to find him. The maids were the most naïve yet, the most useful source to find confidential news of the palace.

She managed to convince the maids to serve in king Omkara's suit and it was a easy task for no one wanted to wander around the lion's den.

But when she was walking towards the brightly lit passages of palace, glowing in numerous lamps hung in the chandeliers, and wonderful murals adorning the walls, she felt a hand clawing her left shoulder from aside and the next moment she was pulled in a narrow dark passage.

Damn it! Who is the new peril now??

Today I was very busy in morning. I, my father and brother packed Ganpatiji's Prashad, almost 200 packets, for all the businessmen in our locality, our club members, blah blah blah and it was tiring as hell.

Ganpati Bappa Mouriya!!🙏🙏🙏

And pray for our dear Diana Di, LittleDiana4, for she's been admitted to Hospital. We all will miss you Di, please get well soon. ❤💐🌻🌷❤

Happy reading!
With love,
Sarani.