A Tale Of Love (On Hold)

THE PROPOSALS

SENAPATI SUMRAJ

I felt that urgent need to slam my head against the nearest pillar or more better a blade. Death in single stroke. Plain, simple, swift and most probably painless. One second my head is attached to my body and next second it is rolling down the corridor. Atleast it is better than swinging between two kings who are arrogant beyond reasons. How much cowardly it might sound but that's the best option I felt I had currently. Maha Mantri ji are glaring holes in the proposals kept infront of us after trying to find loopholes in it from yesterday. "Do we have any news when Maharaj will return ?" I think that was the food provision minister who asked that.

I really felt pity for that boy. Not only him entire Minister council was pitiable. Not on job for more than three months and they had fallen in such life threatening situation. Maharaj had left for only single month and we are already in shambles. Devgiri had unexpectedly cut off the half of the food provisions and the military provisions are equal to nil. Just enough to keep the patrols going on and menimal security. Bhadrangini had stirred up troubles in the forest areas. Well not with us but many villages had tried to declare sovereignity and to make the matters worst Garudesh had attack those immediately adding them to his own.

In essence he is not attacking us but still the intentions are not hidden. They are laid in clear vision. Maharaj said correct thing. Ruling a kingdom is much more harder than winning one. How much effort it took to take over Dalpatgarh and now how much headache we are getting to keep it running. No wonder Yurani is postponding the take over of Devgiri.

"Maha Mantri ji. We are afraid with the provisions we have we can run the kingdom only for two more months. After that only God can say.." The newly appointed finance minister said. None of the appointed ministers are over twenty five. No one have experience more than two to three years but still with the reliability and efficiency they work are applaudable. Any one would have got muddled with the tension but they are still standing tall.

"We can't do anything. Atleast not without Maharaj's approval." I grumbled under my breath. The two proposals infront of us felt like a huge slap on our faces. One from Garudesh and another from Devgiri. They two agreed to help us but on stakes and conditions. If we tried to negotiate any single one of them Maharaj will have our heads.

Garudesh will provide sufficient treasures for next five years in return of one fourth of the Suryagadh territories which lay with the border of Garudesh. Not only this lands are one of the most fertile one but also gives direct excess to Suryagadh and Devgiri plateau. With proper support and army one can directly open a offensive attack on both the kingdoms. Isn't it just giving the enemy a place in your front courtyard. One can directly see this as a annexation not helping hand. Especially the clause where they wanted Lekhya to be serve as a collateral. No one even dared to argue on that unless they want to die. Reteka made that very clear. When she directly cut one of the officials ear in the very court the proposal was announced and the official said the second term can be fulfilled easily.

The deranged look in her eyes detered anyone from objecting. Maha Mantri ji saw once and acted as if nothing happened. We had seen Yurani execute people like animals after the failed attempt of rebellion. She use to have the same deranged look except it looked much more powerful but the danger and anger was not even a single bit less. I thought the messanger nearly fainted due to the glare he received. As if another word and he will be dispatched in next move of dagger. I was gratified she knows better than execute an messanger it will damage the image of Suryagadh.

The another proposal from Devgiri was much more outrageous that Garudesh. thinking the nation is ruled by Maharaj's own father. For once in my lifetime I felt pity for Maharaj. I remind just for a second. Maharaj Arun had sent the glorious proposal of surrendering Suryagadh into the Devgiri. Resolving it into five different provinces and for Maharaj to return to Devgiri fort and marry Princess Raksha of Kamboj as a alliance. He expect him to marry into her family not the way around.

It may be thinkable if she is only one in line of throne or Crown Princess of undeniable standing among all her competitors or even the one with most outstanding background or family support. But no. She is fifth youngest among all the children of Maharaj of Kamboj. She had two older brother and two elder sisters from first queen of Kamboj. Even after years of her death she is considered as most revered queen. While her mother was the queen's younger sister and people from both kingdoms Kamboj and Kaling equate her name with that of vixen and harlot. Her siblings standing and achievements are much more greater than hers.

The crown prince had lead one of the most impressive battle against the rebels from Feng-Xuan dynasty at the age of twenty. The enemies wanted to use Kamboj as a opening into Bharatvarsh and had experienced a very crushing defeat. He is currently the second most impressive warrior in Bharatvarsh. The first place being tied between the former Yuvraj of Alwar. Jaivardhan Pratap for leading a battle against Mongols from central plains at the age of eighteen and Yurani Alekhya for gaining the title of Virangana a hind and stopping one of the largest and fastest rebellion in history of Bharatvarsh in single night without a single casuality. Only at age of fourteen. Along with the second in command at the battle of Sher Ghati she can not be seen any less than her betrothed.

The second prince is a renowned tactician and businessman. His wealth is considered to be par with a small kingdom's treasury. The first princess is said to be a lady of great bearing and is married to the general of army and is apprentice to current prime minister of Kamboj. According to intelligence department she is already choosen as next Maha Mantri. The second princess is said to be a knowledgeable in all literatures and arts and dubbed as most beautiful in Bharatvarsh but that was before Yurani and the current princesses of Suryagadh came into view. I highly doubt she would be anymore special.

Our Yurani is best among everyone. In both apperance and ability. The third prince and fourth princess the adoptive children of Maharaj are also said to be very much well versed in different fields. While third princess was clearly at huge disadvantage at the race of throne if she want it. If reports were to be believed she was given the title of princess not long ago before the proposal was sent. She was said to be neglected by her family to no ends.

Even the adoptive children of Maharaj have more standing in court than her. In short she is most scorned, abandoned, bullied, weak and hated person in entire Kingdom. She will be the worst choice to marry. Rumors about her reputations alone will deter anyone from even going to talk with her. Even the person with weakest of weak intelligence can clearly see that this is a very pathetic yet clever scheme to deter Maharaj Ayudhik. If this is not tyranny then one don't know what is. Maharaj Arun are clearly undermining Maharaj to great extend for what reason only he knows.

Unless she had hidden her abilities in clear sight like Yurani had done before to lure the enemies out I doubt this will hardly be a match. Let alone be popular or well made. This is a clear way to dispose Maharaj Ayudhik in cleanest and neatest way possible. At marriage Maharaj will spread the great news of some great love story and get ride of all suspicions on him. No doubt he blackmailed me by using my family to get some leverage on Maharaj Ayudhik.

Even now I feel sick in my guts when I remember the false half lamb plans I sprouted infront of the spies sent to get the information from me. Atleast that help me to buy up some time. If Yurani returned and came to know about all this ordeals. There will be blood flowing and heads rolling on the pavement. I shundered as I imagined my head rolling along. Only if I can send her a emergency signal. I bet she is somewhere we can't each most probably at other end of earth or else Maharaj Arun won't have dared to take such a risky move.

Not only he, there are chances that even the Royal family of Kamboj will have to pay heavy reparations if they escaped with their lives. Like me everyone is lost in their own calculations. Trying to figure out a way to come out of this crisis while escaping unscathed. This all will tear atleast a layer of skin while escaping.