It was becoming very difficult to handle Vaishali. She hadn't stopped crying even when the first rays of sun made the night seem like a bad dream.

"Where's Bhaiyya?" She was asking repeatedly and Veerbhan was only gazing at the mountains through the window. He was not Nikunj's father by birth, but he belonged to the land where Yashoda Maiyya is known as Kanha's mother more than Devki Maa. And since his wife's mysterious death, his world revolved only around Nikunj and Vaishali. He was not mourning for the prince, the only savior of Upganasthan; he was mourning for his son, whom he had loved more than the son whom his wife had given birth.

"Surya, do something," Vaishali asked, crying, "Bring back Nikunj Bhaiyya. Tell him Vaishali wouldn't eat anything until he returns."

Being a Gandharva, Surya could make wounds heal faster but bringing the dead back...it was out of question. In Gandharva Lok, the mourning period only lasted for two or three hours, and then everyone continued practicing combat, singing and enjoying. But for humans, losing their loved one always hit differently. Even though he was a Gandharva, still Nikunj's death unsettled him. He didn't deserve to die like that. He never killed any supernatural being who didn't attack first or didn't harm anyone. As much Surya found his noble nature foolish, he had developed a strange respect for Nikunj.

Surya sat on his knees, and said, "Nikunj went for some important work. Till then, he's asked me to take care of you. But first eat this." Surya fed her a morsel of chapati with saag.

"You'll being Nikunj Bhaiyya back, promise?" Vaishali said, her mouth full.

"I promise I'll bring your brother back," Surya said looking Vaishali in the eyes.

"Don't promise anything you can't do," Saranya's voice was loud, "And Vaishali, never believe anything a stranger says." Saranya's face was devoid of kohl, bindi and life. Surya felt as if he was seeing someone else.

"But Surya is not a stranger," Vaishali protested.

"Shut up, Vaishali," Saranya shouted, "Otherwise I'll have to..." Saranya raised her hand and Vaishali was trembling with fear. But before she could hit Vaishali, she was pushed back.

"Have you lost your mind, Saru?" Surya was looking at Saranya as if she were a ghost, "She's just a kid."

Saranya gathered the bow, arrow and sword she kept in a corner when she entered Nikunj's house.

"Come, Surya," Saranya said, "We have to go."

"Where?"

"You'll find out soon," Saranya said with a strange twinkle in her eyes.

Saranya and Surya reached near the pond hidden in the deep forest.

"What are we doing here, Saranya? You know, this place is prohibited for humans. Come, let's go!" Surya said.

Saranya signalled Surya to keep quiet.

After some moments, seven Gandharvas, two of which seemed like couples with a Gandharva toddler, came near the pond. The couple left the toddler to play. Saranya aimed her arrow at the toddler and closed her one eye.

Surya held the tip of the arrow, "What are you doing, Saranya?"

"Can't you see, Surya?" Saranya said with a smirk, "I'm doing what I'm paid for- Killing a Gandharva."

"He's a baby," Surya said fiercely.

"But he's a Gandharva," Saranya said, "The same Gandharvas who killed Nikunj mercilessly."

"Nikunj would never let anything happen to the kid."

"But Nikunj is no more," Saranya said, changing the direction of the arrow, "Anyway, if you're so faint hearted, let's spare the baby. I'll kill her mother instead."

"But these are innocent. They've not harmed anyone," Surya protested.

"Nikunj was also innocent. Look, what happened to him," Saranya pulled the bowstring. But in a second, she was on the ground, with Surya standing upon her extending his hand to help her get up.

"Look, look, the great Gandharva king Sahasya first pushed me on the ground and now is helping me to get up."

Surya transformed into his Gandharva form, "You knew! Since when?"

"When your touch healed Vaishali's fever," Saranya said, "I had an inkling that you were a Gandharva since long. But I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want you to get killed and you were good to me and Vaishali. But when one of your kind told me that you were their king and it was you who ordered Nikunj's heinous murder..."

"What? I ordered Nikunj's murder?" Sahasya was shocked, "If I wanted, I could kill you and Nikunj in an instant long ago. Not so fast, Saranya..." Sahasya blocked the knife Saranya had hidden in her blouse sleeves and twisted her hand...

"Now you cannot move for thirty minutes," Sahasya told, taking out another knife hidden in the folds of Saranya's dhoti near her shin, and throwing her arrows, sword and knives in the pond, "And for last time I'm telling you, I am not involved in Nikunj's murder in any way and I never wanted him dead, but if you kill any innocent Gandharva, I'll kill one person of your village for every innocent Gandharva killed."

Just as Sahasya left the pond and was about to cross the boundary of Gandharva realm, he heard a horse galloping behind him. A man was sitting on the horse wearing a brown cloak which covered his head to toe.

"Queen Vijaymati wants to meet you, King Sahasya!"

"What are you doing here, Veerbhanji?" Sahasya could only utter these words.

What do you think about this chapter? Are you liking where the story is going?