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 Amma was weaving a beautiful dress for her. Her brother and sister were waiting for her at the forest's edge to play. She ran through the forest, through the green cascade of leaves. The sounds and smells 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 have no end. An 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.
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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, and 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, and 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, and she could feel the moisture of tears on it. An array of mixed feelings engulfed her. Her heart was racing, and she felt her heartbeat 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.
