𝕊𝔼𝕍𝔼ℕ 𝕀ℕ 𝔸 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕃𝔻 {𝙼𝙰𝙷𝙰𝙱𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝚃 𝚃𝙸𝙼𝙴 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝚅𝙴𝙻}

42. A kidnapping and a misunderstanding.

It had been nearly six months of practicing with Sulohita and I was moving at the pace of a sloth. To add to that, our wedding anniversary was rapidly approaching. One year of wedded bliss.

" Now, my dear hold your hand out and imagine the presence of fire. " She said, while I closed my eyes for the fiftieth time today, I mean it literally.

" Sulo, I am tired. My brain feels like it will split open and jump out of my skull. Can we stop for today? " I pleaded, thumping to the ground to hold my head in my hand.

" Alright. It's alright. We can do more tomorrow-"

"Saavdhan! Pragjyotishpur Yuvraj Ajatshatru, padhar rahe hain! "

" AJ is here? "

" Your brother? "

"Well yeah. "

So me and Sulohita ran towards the hall where I saw an extremely stricken AJ sitting next to Yudhishthir who looked conflicted.

" Bhrata? What's wrong? " I asked and for the first time in ages, he didn't answer, instead choosing to pull me into a hug.

" AJ? What happened? I-I can't help you till you tell me. " I asked, running my hand through his hair.

"They-tgey took her. " He choked out, moving back to wipe his eyes.

" Ajatshatru? Who took whom where?" Arjun asked. They were friends too, having stayed with him for three to four months.

" D-devi. They took my Devi away! " He said, anger flashing his dark eyes.

" What do you mean! Who took her away? "

"I don't know. I don't know where she is or where she was going. All I do know is that she was coming to Pragjyotishpur for some rituals before our wedding and she never managed to reach! "

They were getting married?

" AJ. Please calm down. We'll find her. Come, I need to talk to you. " I coaxed him as Yudhishthir and Sulohita followed me back to our room.

" Sit down here. Sulo, please bring a glass of water. " I said, sitting him down on the vanity chair.

I sat down in front of him, holding his hand.

" Look AJ, crying won't help. Now tell me clearly what happened. "

He wiped his tears and gulped down the water, while Yudhishthir stood behind him with a hand on his shoulder.

" Six months ago, she and I decided that we would get married, after she and her father brought her proposal. I wanted to surprise you so I didn't tell. Until now. She was supposed to come to the kingdom for some rituals as per maa and pitashree's words but her convoy never made it. She and her palki with her soldiers vanished, leaving only this. " He said, pulling a ring off of his finger.

" I don't know who took her and where, but I think it's those two monsters, Mandik and Moshtik. I have set out spies but I can't find her. It's been three weeks that I have been looking for her. " He cried, holding his head in his hands.

" Did you two discuss something that could have triggered someone to take her away? " Yudhishthir asked.

" N-no. But the last time she came, she told me that she was one of the seven flames of agni... Is it because of that? Mano-manojava. That's her original name. "

Yudhishthir, Sulo and I looked at each other.

" About that. AJ. You need to know something. " I said, as worry crossed his eyes.