Lotus among the Roses

✉️The Letter ✉️

 The whole of Maha-Sandhi-Vigrahika Manor was wrapped in darkness.

 Vyom sat in his chambers, the flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the room, illuminating the glimmering sword along with the golden armor that was hung across him,  adorning the walls. 

His mind drifted back to his encounters with Kumud, the unforgettable young woman who had unwittingly captured his attention. With a furrowed brow, Vyom found himself pondering about her, her identity.

That day in the temple when he caught a glimpse of her, he had already put together her identity. To say that he was not delighted would be a lie, but something about her seemed to be ..... seemed to be mysterious.

There was an air of intrigue about her, a sense of hidden depths that beckoned him to unravel her secrets. He recalled the fleeting moments they had shared as their eyes locked, the spark of recognition that had ignited within him that day, when their path crossed, and how she, maybe ..... did not recognise him ...... at all?

As he delved deeper into his memories, Vyom's thoughts meandered through the wandered more, as a slight smile crept up on his lips. As he lazily laid on the intricate sheesham wood couch, his entire self appeared somewhat laid back, diminishing that cutting sharpness that seem to always emanate from his self.  

 He remembered the first time he had laid eyes on her, a chance encounter in the forest that had left an indelible impression on his mind. There was something about her presence, an aura of quiet determination that belied her seemingly innocent facade.

The more Vyom dwelled on Kumud's identity, the more the confused he became. 

His people had clearly  investigated Kumud, from her birth to her coming back to the Vajrakot Manor back, but, nothing seemed to explain that inexplicable coldness she gave off.

Clearly a young lady, though trained to be a bodyguard, and ofcourse with great abilities, but those eyes, they seemed to burn, yet hold within them pain, like she went through the vicissitudes of life. How? This, Vyom could not understand at all.....

Lost in his thoughts, Vyom was startled when Aryan's voice cut through the silence, pulling him back to the present. "What troubles you, Vyom?" Aryan inquired, his gaze probing Vyom's troubled expression.

Vyom hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. But then, with a resigned sigh, he decided to confide in Aryan. " Nothing bhaiya, just some matters regarding my non existant nephew and nieces. I am pretty concerned about them you know.... " Vyom lied, his voice nor his face changing as he spit out rubbish with a straight face.

Aryan just smiled. He clearly knew that his brother was lying, but, so what?

Aryan, slowly tightened his Anga vastram around his body and stepped into Vyom's room.  He quietly picked up the long wick and slowly lit a few more lamps.

 " In the recent years, the Saamraajya has seen the emergence of new, hot blooded young generals and officials, just, some of them seem to overestimate themselves..... " Vyom said, as a gleam of sharp ruthlessness passed through his eyes.

 Aryan turned his head towards his brother, who had by now moved aside and made some space for him to sit beside him. 

He smiled slowly and regarded Vyom with a thoughtful expression, though his brows furrowed in contemplation. 

" Your thoughts, I understand them too. Prime Minister Vardhaman's son, Aniruddh, Kotadhipati Shoorsen's son in law, Suketu and,  Commander Devendra, they seem to be under someone else's influence. Just don't know who that influential person is, " Aryan remarked, his curiosity piqued by Vyom's cryptic words.