A Tale Of Love (On Hold)

EMERGENCY MEASURES

MAHARAJ AYUDHIK

I stared straight at the group of ministers gathered at my orders. Except few all others are trembling in fear as if understanding that they are not dealing with a newly crowned king but a age old wolf who can and will tear them apart without a moment's notice and they will never know how they died.

Sumraj looked stiff as a board. "The present grains in our graneries can only last for next two months under favorable situations." The minister of food provisions said breaking the tense silence. All looked at me with expectations. Favorable situations means no attacks or natural calamities. I nodded at him.

"I had already sent the orders. New stock or grains, cotton and weapons will be arriving soon my waterways. Sumraj see they are guarded well." He nodded while others looked in shock with my answer. If I want planning for the annexation of Devgiri and Northern Bharatvarsh I won't have stocked so much supplies but since our plans are pushed back by months letting them rot will be wastage.

"While we are at that topic. Maha Mantri what happened with the task you were given." I further questioned. While Dalpatgarh had a shortage of gold and silver in its coffers the corrupted nobles and officials have much more to count. While the jewellery annexed from the Kalatrawas are also of top quality.

"We are unable to get the proper price for them Maharaj. Devgiri not only had stopped sending supplies but also had deterred many small kingdoms for trading with us and those who can trade don't have enough currency to." I nodded at this dilemma. If this goes on. Suryagadh will truly become a place with more currency than grains.

"We shall see about that. For now seal all the ways between Devgiri Suryagadh and Garudesh Suryagadh. Keep an eye on any suspicious activities and inform me. Maha Mantri ji, Sumraj stay back. The meeting is adjourned."

The ministers filled out as the both stayed back with their forehead filled with trepidations. "Did we got any answer on how they entered in the fort ?" I asked as Sumraj bowed down. Because it was his negligence that such a big incident transpired.

"We don't have any concrete proof but our best assumption is that Garudev knows or have someone who knows the secret ways to get in and out of fort. The entrance must like somewhere close to the border to city and the exit must be near granary or else the attack won't be this successful. Our regiments are trying to find out and block the tunnels."

He completed with a hint of fear as I nodded at least he is doing on job. What Alekhya said was true. All it take was fear and terror to reign in people. "I want the results... Positive result within two days." He nodded before fleeing away.

I turned my eyes towards Maha Mantri Vinay. To say he had served three generations of kings is not a understatement but how Akekhya managed to agree him to become my Prime Minister is still over my head. "Any solutions for our troubles yet Maha Mantri." I questioned in a tired tone. True enough not getting a wink of sleep from last seventy hours is tiresome.

But this is more likely the emotional and mental fatigue than physical. "The best opinion for us will be if you marry Princess Chitra or Lekhya. They both have a lot of support of common folks and officials." I nodded and motioned him to go off before pressing my forehead.

Chitra is not in correct state of mind and about Lekhya it is better to forget about it. Reteka's words are still logged in my head. It is definitely a real headache. How much I will like if either Hidden Ace or Alekhya was here. They both will know how to handle this mess. I am tough warrior not a politician atleast Sulekha will know how to handle this mess

SULEKHA

The golden rays of sun basked my skin as I gazed up at the rising sun through the palace wall. Entire walls are reflected with golden colour. I can easily tell entire place is planned by someone else not Vijay. He don't care that much about decoration. For him this all is just a decoration.

But girl. For a single woman like me who spent entire life in forest this is heaven. Who doesn't like good things. A silly smile covered my face as I bounced from my bed towards the bathhouse. Singing a silly song. Such a nice place. Such a heaven. Such a comfort. Vijay is such a lucky bastard. I can say his sister and I will get along good.

Not that I will forgot my work in all this comfort. Keep an eye on Chitra and Nandini. At night even without moon and stars, entire Chand Mahal was like a beacon burning in darkness. That silly Vijay he had long lost his heart to Chitra yet he is wastefully trying to console himself that it's just pity he has for her.

What an idiot ? Sometimes I feel that our entire Vijay Sena except Abhi and Raj is filled with idiots. They have nothing on mind except killing and killing. Or else this idiots won't be single till now. I huffled as I went on my way to Chand Mahal.

I scrunched my nose at the smell of blood. My nose like Vijay's is too sensitive to smells making it nearly impossible to smell anything else. Vijay adjust to it much better than me but for a snake like me it's nearly impossible to smell anything else. Only rain can wash away this smell.

I stepped inside and looked around at lack of footmen, maids or guards. A princess's palace without this things is incomplete. Look like this place is in disparate need of a head maid or head lady in waiting. A place I don't think any of this single minded people tried to fill in. Infact the entire place looked understaffed. Severely understaffed.

Unable to bear the bloody smell I took the detore to somewhere else. Royal secretariat and buildings composed of officers and ministers are all on outer side of the fort while the living palaces are in inside seperated by a thin wall, Surya Mahal, a forest grove and temple along with a lake. A typical royal fort.

My musings came to halt as I smelled the familiar smell of hot spicy food. Look like the kitchen is nearby. I saw a young looking girl is handling the affairs while Raj is roaming around her like a pesky fly. Heck. So this is the reason this idiot was acting like a lovelorn fool before.

"Aunty. Aunty. Who is the girl in saffron dress." I asked the aunty busy in hauling different dry fruits. "Oh. Are you new girl. She is our third princess. Shaurya Rajput." She said before leaving. I looked at the pitiful girl who is red due to anger. Unable to bear her situation I went to interfere.

"Ah. Sorry Akka. Ouch." Raj stumbled towards me as I easily twisted his ear. "Didn't. Gene... Vij.. Maharaj Ayudhik asked you to do work. Why are you stalling here." I scolded him nearly calling Vijay by his other names. Sometimes old habits die hard. "Done." He said in a agrrivated voice as if trying to coze me. "Then come with me I will give you work." I said pitifully dragging him away with me.

I gave a wink to Shurya and dragged the moron who don't know how to woo a girl behind me. From far I heard her ask. "Dai ji. Who is that lady just now ? She dragged that nuisance just now like nothing." I heard the natural curiosity. Thank God along with sharp smell I also got sharp hearing or else my life will become hell.

"Who knows. Some new people came yesterday." The person replied. I glared at the person beside me who shamelessly got treated as a plane nuisance. If this continued I can forget about any small children calling me aunty in future. As soon as we reached a relatively isolated place I smacked him on his head.

"Why are you pestering her ?" I asked in accusing tone. "If the work Vijay had given you is completed then go to our headquarters and keep an eye on Bhadrangini. Don't dill dally here." He looked down and left the place quitely. For God sake this inner fort is in despirate need of some woman's touch.