Page 99 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

“Ranaji?” I asked to ensure I heard it right, and they nodded in unison.

“Ji Bhabhisa! Bhaisa agreed to let you go out, accompanied by Ranvijay Bhaisa and me, along with a group of soldiers, for your safety,” Agastya explained. I smiled nervously, looking at the two brothers.

“Please get ready quickly, Bhabhisa. We’ll have to be back before sunset,” Ranvijay said, and I nodded.

“Please wait for me. I’ll be back,” I said, immediately rushing into the dressing room. With Suman's help, I changed into my usual clothes as soon as possible and quickly stepped outside to find Agastya and Ranvijay waiting for me.“I’m ready. Let’s go,” I said.

We all left for the palace entrance, where a unit of armed soldiers, horses, and a palanquin were waiting for us. Suman and Reva joined me, too.

Agastya and Ranvijay mounted their respective horses, and I sat in the palanquin while the convoy moved.

On our way, my thoughts kept drifting to Rudra. I wondered what made him change his decision. What was he thinking?

And there, I was missing him already. With him in my head, I didn't realise we had reached the main village. It was when Suman informed me that I stepped out of the palanquin and stood close by Agastya and Ranvijay.

“Be careful, Bhabhisa. People might get angry seeing us,”Agastya warned me, and the brothers positioned themselves on either side of me.

“Relax, Devarsa. I'll be fine,” I said and instructed the soldiers,“Just stay here and wait for us,”

“But, Bhabhisa, they’re here for your protection,” Ranvijay intervened, and I looked at him.

“Devarsa, people might get angry seeing us accompanied by armed soldiers. It is only right that all the soldiers stay back here. And about my safety, I have you both,” they nodded dubiously, and we began our parade into the village.

While promenading through the bustling lanes of the village, I watched the people indulge in their everyday chores: selling vegetables, making pottery, blacksmithing, and weaving. The air was filled with the irresistible aroma of food cooked by the vendors in their stalls. The noise of children playing, the chaos of babies’cries, and buyers’bargaining kept the atmosphere alive.

However, as soon as the people spotted us, the crowd shifted uneasily, and a heavy silence fell over them. The ladies, once busy sweeping the sidewalks and carrying baskets, immediately walked inside their houses and locked their doors. At the same time, the men engaged themselves in work, paying no attention to us.

The unusual tension lurking in the atmosphere made me gulp nervously. I was clueless and in a predicament. I didn't know where to begin or how to initiate a conversation with the villagers. While raking my eyes around, I caught sight of an elderly lady sitting outside a house.

That was it.Taking a deep breath, I approached her slowly.

“Pranaam,” she glanced up at me when I greeted her. She scrutinised me once before returning her gaze to the ground, clutching a bundle to her chest.

“Daadisa,” I called her softly and settled beside her on the ground. I looked at her wrinkled hands. She seemed frail, perhaps in her seventies. Her clothes were in terrible condition, torn and unkempt.

To put her at ease, I gently placed my hand on her trembling ones, sensing her discomfort when she slightly edged away from me.

“We bring no harm to you,” I said. She frowned at me, probably wondering why a royal was sitting beside her on the ground. With a sombre expression on her face, she acknowledged my presence.

“Baisa43,” her voice quivered with tiredness as she wobbled out the words. I swallowed down the overwhelming feeling, hearing her sorrowful tone.

“Where do you live?” I asked to talk to her. She blinked at me several times, as if she were about to break down.

“Live? My son…” Her voice was hoarse as she faltered with her words. She looked distantly at nothing in particular, as if she were trying to recall something.

“Your son? Where is he? Why’re you sitting here?” I asked, and suddenly, tears streamed down her face.

“Where is my son?” she asked, looking at me. Her raspy tone broke as though she were grieving, and I concluded she had a problem.

“Did you eat anything?” I asked as she shook with emotion. She abruptly shook her head.

“Food... The crops got destroyed in the storm,” she replied, and I turned to Ranvijay and Agastya, who were standing behind me.

“Storm?” I asked.

Ranvijay squatted beside me and said,“Bhabhisa, six months ago, a huge storm hit the village.” I looked back at the lady and offered to accompany us.

“You should come with us. We’ll support you,” she shook her head in denial.

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