PRATIKOP (Wrath)

Chapter 3

"How could you? How can you humiliate your own family like this?!" Maharani Mridulata shouted at Rajkumar Kashyap.

He stood with his head lowered. Maharaj Vriddhakshatra was standing with his back turned to him. Rajmata Vilasvati seemed equally angry. His brothers were present too.

"Mata, I didn't know. I only realized later that the marriage proposal for Rajkumari has come from Amvasthapuram." Rajkumar Kashyap replied with guilt.

"How can you not realize?! That's absurd! You've made us a laughing stock!" Rajmata said harshly.

"This cannot be forgiven Kashyap. You have tainted the name of Amvasthapuram and me. You'll have to accept the punishment now." Maharaj Vriddhakshatra said. The gravity behind those words sent chill through the occupants of the room.

"I, the king of Amvasthapuram, exile you from this kingdom!

Since this moment onwards, you will no longer be associated with the royal family of Amvasthapuram. Neither you nor anyone from this family will keep any relation or contact with each other."
Maharaj Vriddhakshatra declared impassively.

"Maharaj!"

"Pitashree, he indeed has made a mistake. But---"

"I have already decided. And my decision can never be changed. Whoever has a problem with it, can leave with him too."

***

Rajkumari Viswa waited outside the palace of Amvasthapuram. She had not been welcomed inside. Her insides churned with a foreboding feeling. What was happening? This wasn't supposed to happen, was it? She had secretly loved Rajkumar Kashyap since a long time. When the marriage proposal for her came from Amvasthapuram, she first assumed it to be for Rajkumar Kashyap only. So, she had said yes without knowing the groom was not him, but his elder brother. When she realized what she had done, she hid the truth from Rajkumar Kashyap and asked him to kidnap her.

She knew she should not have done so. But the fear of losing him and marrying someone else made her forget right from wrong. Now, as she waited for him outside the palace anxiously, she realized she should not have lied to him. As her anxiousness was increasing with time, she noticed Rajkumar Kashyap coming outside with a forlorn expression on his face.

"Arya?" She called him questioningly to know what happened.

"Pitashree ne mera tyag kar diya hai Viswa.
(My father has abandoned me, Viswa.)"

He told her about the decision Maharaj Vriddhakshatra had taken. After hearing everything Rajkumari Viswa felt disheartened. Because of her only, he got exiled from his kingdom.

"Mujhe shama kar dijiyega Arya. Mere karan hi aapko itna kathin dand mila.
(Forgive me, Arya. Because of me, you're punished so harshly.)"
Rajkumari Viswa said in a voice heavy with guilt.

"Isme tumhara dosh nehi hai Viswa. Mujhe kebal aapne karm ka hi fal mil raha hai. Tum swayam ko aapradhi maat samjho. Balki dukh to mujhe iss baat ki hai ki main tumhe Amvasthapuram mein woh samman nehi dilwa paya jiska aaswasan meine tumhe diya tha.

(It is not your fault, Viswa. I am only punished for my own deeds. Don't think yourself as the guilty one. In fact, I am regretting that I couldn't give you the respect in Amvasthapuram that I promised to you.)"
Rajkumar Kashyap replied with sorrow.

"Nehi Arya. Aap aisa maat kahiye. Mere liye aapka saath hi sarbopari hai.
(No, Arya. Don't say that. You being with me is all I want.)"
She replied with a beautiful smile.

The two of them changed their attire. Removing the expensive royal clothes and jewels, they wore the simple faded orange colored clothes. The exiled prince took nothing with him. Where he had been deprived of his father's blessings, there was no meaning of taking any material things with him. Rajkumari Viswa even in this simple clothes with no adornment looked no less regal. Manohara smiled at her husband softly before they took the road to leave Amvasthapuram. As they were leaving, Rajkumar Kashyap noticed a commotion. After a few moments he understood, his brother Rajkumar Somesh had just returned from Haraka. From the whispers going around he understood that his brother had returned with his bride, Rajkumari Yamini.