MUSHIKA RAJYA:

(Outskirts)

The cool air rubbed her nose. The air was pleasant and the scenery was breath taking. The green fields on either side gave a pleasant feel. After so much struggle, the Mushikans received their annual rain. The people were slowly coping up with their life after a war and draught. Draught wasn't something common for them. After so many years they faced famine that year but by god's grace they were able to cop with it.

The smell of wet land brought smile on her face. Of course who wouldn't like the wet soil smell after a heavy rain. A true farmer who loves his land would definitely cherish this smell. With the widely spread mountain ranges, the land looked eye catching for any nature lover. The mountains spread out as far as one could see. The morning sun rays made it look majestic. With the sky orange-red and the slow yet steady sun rays, Avantika smiled at her land's beauty. It was time for the harvest. The farmers were into their field singing songs in praise of their land.

Of the meadow she saw young children playing while women doing their early morning house chores. Young ladies were fetching water from the near by lakes while the old ones were into their early morning gossips.

It was indeed a pleasant sight to be admired.

"Rajakumari we have reached the temple" one of her guards interrupted her vision. She board down her palanquin with her maids accompanying her.

It was their rule that no one will enter the temple with weapons so her guards stayed outside the temple while she left to meet the Royal Gurumata with her maids.

Before she left to meet her she went to seek blessings from the almighty, the dev of devs, Mahadev.

Just as she finished her prayer she heard her call out..."When the heart is restless it comes in search of rest at the feet of almighty"Dhristi Devi said as she took the aarati.

No doubt that this old lady had the vision of insight that a normal human being lacked of.

"Greetings Gurumata"Avantika greeted her with folded hands.

"Early bird has come in search of its answer prey?"She asked as they both walked off to her place.

Avantika smiled at her.

"Since you know the reason behind my visit then you should also being known my answer.... "

"Trying to know one's future is equal to challenging the power of destiny Avantika..."

"But Guru-" Avantika was cut-off mid-way.

"Look here child.... What might happen you shouldn't lose your path.... Always remember who you are and what you are.... Don't forget your goals because of your emotions..." Saying so Dhristi Devi left for her meditation.

Avantika didn't understand her words and neither she could clear out her confusions.

But something inside her told 'let the things go as it is'.

Surely she can't stand against the time machine nor against the game it plays with one's life.

"Please let us meet the Rajakumari"her thoughts were disturbed by a woman's pleading.

"How many times should I say.... You are not allowed to meet the Rajakumari.... Go from here...."Her guards tried to send her off.

"What is it?"Avantika asked as she took notice of the woman

The woman looked pale and weak. Her dress was poorly worn with few places torn. Her hair was platted but still they seemed like they weren't combed for days.

Along with the woman stood a ten year boy and a five year old girl. There was young baby in the arms of the boy. He was holding his sibling, probably, carefully.

The dress and look of the children were no less than that of the woman.

"Rajakumari please help us... Rajakumari" The woman started to sob.

"Relax... first calm down... sit here" Avantika made her sit in the steps of the temple.

The baby started to cry. The young boy struggled to calm him down.

Avantika got the baby in her hands. She tried to calm him down and realized he was crying because he was hungry. She immediately ordered one of her guards to bring some milk from the nearby village.

Not so long, as soon as he was fed, he stopped crying. Avantika grazed at him lovingly. He was pale but he was cute. His tiny fingers grabbed her thumb finger while he smiled at her as she caressed him with full of love and emotion. As she looked at him, she saw a birthmark. She wasn't sure whether it was a birthmark or a tattoo.

It was something like two swords crossed (⚔️ ) and there was a snake curled in the center. It was black in color and it was in his right arm. As she touched it, she was damn sure it was a tattoo. She was sure the baby was only a few months old and wondered how did his fragile body took the heat of it.

Ofcourse it was common in this period for parents printing tattoos that resembled their family line. But they did it when the child was four to five years old but this was something unusual.

"Rajakumari..." her attention was distracted by the young woman near her, who now spoke clearly.

"Tell me why did you want to meet me?" asked her in not so authoritative tone yet in a firm and politeness.

"These two are my sister's children." She said pointing to the boy and girl.

"The child in your arm is my five month old son. We aren't a native of this Rajya. My brother-in-law is a trader and few months back he came here for some business with my sister and their children. He was making some fortune and my sister asked me to visit her in my final trimester as there were better facilities here. But when I came here, there was a war and famine. Due to which they both faced heavy losses and were indebted to many landlords and loan lenders here. Unable to repay it, they gave up their life...."she sobbed in between her words.

"It's okay...."Avantika tried to comfort her.

"My husband passed away when I was a month pregnant and my sister was my only family member...."she cried a lot more.

"Now that they have left me, I am left alone to manage with these three kids on my own, with heavy debts.... Please help me out Rajakumari...."she begged.

"I have no other option.... I am stuck in this new land with heavy burden.... I don't know how I am going to make it out of this..."she gasped for her breathe as she told her story.

Avantika felt sorry for her. But something in her told the story told to her isn't completely true. She also found the woman's face familiar. She claimed herself to be a foreigner but she looked like a native. Someone who know her. This Rajya and everything. Once again her thoughts were disturbed by the baby's cry.

The young woman who introduced herself as Rajkala took her son in her arms from Avantika and calmed him down.

Irrespective of the truth behind the story told Avantika first fed them. She then went to the village where this woman stayed and secretly asked her guards to verify her circumstances.

Not long ago, her guards retured and confirmed her identity and her backstory. Avantika then arranged a meeting with village heads and made arrangements for her job and also few policies that will reduce her burden and give her time to repay the debt. Avantika first asked Rajkala if she wanted her to clear her debts and take them under the palace's care or she wanted to stay her and clear on her own her debts. Anyone in Rajkala place would have opted for the first one because it was a debt that could take more than a decade to pay off but she choose the second option. Probably she truly was a genuine and honest person, Avantika thought.

It was mid-day and by the time sunsets she will be in the palace. She started her journey back towards the palace and by the time she reached, there was a complete chaos in the palace.

Vedika got her labor pain and Avantika had arrived just in time. The whole palace had anxiousness and excitement. Soon Avantika reached the chamber were Vedika was lying and the royal physicians were treating her. Aditi and her mother were already beside Vedika trying their level best to assure her. The royal physician asked them to wait outside while they treated Vedika. Her mother and Aditi assured Vedika everything will be fine and came out to wait outside along with Avantika.

Avantika searched for Chaitali and just then she saw her brother and father rushing from court room to the chamber in a worried face. At first Avantika felt it was for Vedika but not much time took for her to realize it was for her not for Vedika.

There was a shrill cry from Vedika and then the baby's cry was heard. The heir arrived. The delight and joy in their faces couldn't be told in words. Everyone jumped in happiness as the royal physician brought the little one wrapped in blue fabric cloth, tears of joy was filled in Mehran's eye. His child. The child who is gonna give him the feel of fatherhood was there, arrived atlast.

"Boy Yuvraja" the physician said as she handed him to her brother. Mehran took him in his hand so carefully, the man who could easily kill anyone with one blow, his hand trembled as he took his little one in his hand with utmost carefulness.

Just as the tears streamed from her eyes, she was pulled from there by someone. It was Chaitali, who whispered something into Avantika's ears. As soon as she heard it, her happy teary eyes boiled with blood rage.

"The Yuvanas are gonna wage a war, in a week's time."

"Within three days if Rajakumari Avantika's dead body isn't sent to Yuvana, there will be a blood thirsty war between the Yuvana and Mushika."

These sentences was enough to make Avantika's warrior blood to go mad in anger.

Well little did she know that this war wasn't going to be the usual ones she faced these many years. It was something that was going to rob everything from her. Her family, her Rajya, most of all it was gonna rob her very own identity.

What was this war going to bring them?

A Doom?

*************************

A/N:-

Hi all....

How are you?

Hope all are good.

There is a small change in the chapter update. There has been a new chapter included before Chapter 4(which was first Chapter 3). So look into that filler chapter before you guys proceed with this chapter.

Also I know there will be few grammatical and spelling mistakes. I shall soon re-edit all chapters for the same but you can feel free to point out too.😉

Hey do please leave your valuable comments. I wanna know how far my story is getting into your nerves. It helps me to be encouraged to carry on. So shoot out your opinions guys!!!

And guys I need your opinion? Kind of a poll....

Due you want it to be author's narration or each character's point of view. I am just quite confused so help me out if possible.

Love you loads!!!❤️❤️❤️

And yes don't forget to:-

VOTE,

COMMENT

AND

SHARE.

Yours,

Rithushree.