What would happen if you were appointed as a bodyguard for the person you were supposed to assassinate?
Adhiveer is a beloved king. Adored by everyone in his kingdom and beyond.
Shiva, a professional assassin, gets easily appointed as his royal gu...
Shiva was back in her village. Her Baba had bought fresh fish, which he had caught from the river, and her Amma was weaving a beautiful dress for her. Her brother and sister were waiting for her at the edge of the forest to play. She ran through the forest, through the green cascade of leaves. The sounds and smells that had imprinted on her reemerged on the surface of her mind. Some creatures looked at her from beyond the darkened curtain of the bushes and shrubs. Waiting for her, to pounce on her but she didn't care. These creatures didn't have any power over her. She kept on running and escaping their clutches. She tripped and fell into a dark hole which seemed to not have an end. And endless abyss of pitch black with no sound, which turned into a crescendo of screams. Hands were grabbing her, pulling her in every direction like the talons of a preying bird, scraping her, scratching her, tearing her clothes... Then it pulled her into a murky pool of corpses. She tried to get hold of anyone or anything. She felt tugs at her ankle pulling her down. Gasping for air, trying to swim to the surface but in vain. She gave up, and let herself drown. Stopped moving.
A hand pulled her up and held her close. She heard a heartbeat, perhaps it was her own. A warm sun cradled her and warmed her cheeks. She felt the rays on her face persuading her to wake up and open her eyes. When she did, she saw him, his face, his hands holding her. For the first time, she was afraid, afraid of letting go, afraid of losing him. He held her to his chest. The melody of his heart made her smile. She looked into his eyes, the orbs that gave her solace. In his arms, she felt no fear, no abandonment, no sorrow. He kissed her forehead and she was at peace.
Shiva had woken up at night, her eyes scanned the room. It was not her room but it looked familiar. She gasped as she realised it was his room. She tried to move her head, but the pain was excruciating. Then she saw him. Sleeping soundly in a chair next to the bed. How long was she there, why was he sleeping there? She wanted to wake him up to tell him to sleep close to her. Did she want him close to her?...
Yes, she did.
She wanted to feel the warmth she had felt. She wanted to be held. He was asleep, he looked tired. She didn't want to wake him. After a while, she fell back to slumber.
When she woke up he was smiling at her. The rising sun was behind him, its rays creating an aura, like that of a celestial being around him. She tried to sit up straight. He helped her sit upright. She felt woozy. " You are still weak, you need to rest." He said. " I am feeling much better now. How long was I unconscious?" She asked.
"For too long." He said with a hint of tears in his eyes. He kept looking at her. She didn't look away. He moved closer and sat beside her in the bed holding her hand in his. Propped it open and kissed her palm. Her hand was on his cheek, she could feel the moisture of tears soaked in them. An array of mixed feelings engulfed her. Her heart was racing, she felt her heartbeats in her ears. Is it possible that he could hear it too? He leaned closer... it raced faster. He slightly tilted his head, his eyes searching hers, asking a thousand questions; she still didn't look away; he got his answers.
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A knock at the door diffused the moment. He squeezed shut his eyes and rested his forehead on her shoulder giving out a chuckle. She cocked her head back and smiled. Her hand was still in his. And she didn't want him to let go of it. There was another knock. He let go.
He got up from the bed. Frustrated he called for whoever was outside to come in.
Kumudha entered with food and water, followed by Drishala.
" Blessed morning, my king, I have brought food for you. Please, have it at least today-" she stopped, and then she noticed that Shiva was sitting up. "Oh, you are awake. Thank the Gods." She said looking at the king with a smile.
" Yes, thank them," Drishala said.
She placed the food on a table, " Should I get some food for you too?" She said looking at Shiva.
" Yes, you should, she will have it with me." He said looking at Kumudha.
He was gleaming throughout the day, they ate food together.
Then Reva came to meet her. " All our prayers are answered, today." She caressed her cheeks." You are still weak, I am going to take care of you till you are as fit as you were before."
Shiva felt like a child again being constantly under someone's care. Most of the time she was forced to eat because of the glares she got from Adhiveer or Reva.
She couldn't walk without being held. She had become thin and weak. When it was time for her bath. Adhiveer picked her up and took her to the bathing chambers. Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment as he had taken her there in front of Reva and Kumudha. Who muffled their giggles and followed them along with two other maids. After placing her near the pool, he lingered there for a while. When she gave him a stern look, he smiled and left. She patted her cheeks to calm herself.
In the afternoon she persuaded him to go to court, stating that she felt much better. Sidhraj had come to meet her too, who then, on her insistence, took Adhiveer with him.
Rajveer came to meet her later that afternoon. For the first few minutes, he stood there and glared at her. Then he sat on the chair beside the bed. " I hope you are feeling better now." He said.
"Yes, I am." She couldn't decipher his expressions and waited patiently for him to speak.
" I don't like talking in riddles. I have a great amount of clarity on what I want to talk to you about. " He said firmly.
She was confused and only nodded at him.
"I love my brother dearly and couldn't see the way he was for the past few days. I have never seen him in this much pain. I have a great regard for people who are hard-working and brave. But for people who deceive others, I don't spare them. I am not as generous or kind as my brother. He might pardon a crime or even be lenient towards war prisoners. But I am not. I don't know what you have done for my brother and why he treats you the way he does. But one thing I am very sure about is that if you deceive him or cause him any harm, you will have to suffer my wrath." He leaned towards her." Take this as my warning to you. Stay within the confines of your status and don't try to build your kingdom at the expense of my dear brother. If it coins you seek, I will give you so much, that it would suffice for your generations to come. But if you seek power then be warned. There had been no ruler as great as my brother and if you try to control him. I will see that I end your life with my own two hands."
Saying this he got up and walked out.
She was alone in his chambers. It felt strange to be there without him. What Rajveer had said caused a storm in her mind. The room looked too big, too open. She felt insignificant, not just in size but in status. He is a king she thought. And her. Who was she?
A guard? A warrior? A killer? A liar her conscience called her. She was lying to him and herself. The fate that had brought them together had also given her a noose. And that noose demanded a sacrifice. And for that, she was not ready at all.
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Hello, my beautiful readers. Hope you have liked the story so far.
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I am uploading another of my works, dunno if it's going to be continued or not. I like the premise of that story and so I am going to be a bit daring and tread into unknown waters here. But do read that one also, and if you like it, then maybe let me know.
