Shadow and Light

35

Author

15 years ago

"Shanthi amma!" the newly appointed king yelled, "I love this, what is this?" Ranvijay beamed with light and love, his eyes shone bright with youth and enthusiasm, "I hope Raja Saheb liked what I cooked" the old maid, smiled, "It is a new Sabji, it's made with brinjal" she smiled brighter, "Really? Well, I love it, I want it made every week" he said, "Raja ji, every week?" Renuka smiled and gave him a look, he licked his lips, "Ok every month" he told her.

***

13 years ago

"Raja Saheb, this is too much for me" Shanthi amma said, "You deserve it amma" Ranvijay smiled, "I appoint you as the new head of servants" he told everyone present in the hall, the people erupted in a standing ovation, who would not like to see the most beloved woman become their chief?

"You are the most deserving person I could have found" Ranvijay told her when they were walking back to his study, "You think too highly of me Raja Saheb" Shanthi amma flushed, "How is your daughter?" he asked, "She is fine" she responded, that's how she responded every time someone would ask for her daughter.

***

"Why would he do this to me?" Meera bellowed, "Calm down Meera. I think Ranvijay took a good decision, Shanthi amma is the best" Renuka quipped, "But, I worked my arse off for him" she said, on the verge of tears, "Shanthi amma was the best choice, he will appoint you once, amma retires. I am sure of that" Renuka said, "But—" Meera tried to say, "No buts Meera, I am not going to say this again" Renuka looked at her frustrated.

"Humph" Meera flared angrily and stormed out of the room.

"Shanthi amma needs to retire" Meera whispered to the man in front of her, "I cannot just make her retire from her work" the man looked at her, confused, "I meant from her life" she said, telling the man exactly what she was thinking, "You are going to commit murder?" he asked, arching an eyebrow, "Who said that? She will kill herself" she smiled, devilishly.

"How?" he asked, "Wait and watch"

***

"Do not eat that your highness" Meera screamed as she ran in the dining room, "You must have a very good reason as to why you interrupted me" Ranvijay asked, "Its poisoned your highness, your food is poisoned" she said catching her breathe, "What?" Ranvijay said while dropping the bite he had in his hand.

"I found this near the utensil where your food was cooked, its rat poison, the whole bottle is empty. Also, I found poison traces on the utensil your highness" Meera explained, Ranvijay stood up and took the bottle in his own hands, "You know who did this?" he said, "Who prepared my meal today?" he asked the soldiers present in the dining room, "Shanthi amma did, as always your highness" the soldier said bowing down, "She wouldn't have done that, who else was present there?" Ranvijay said, "Nobody else, she was preparing her special recipe, which you had liked a lot" the soldier explained.

"There must have been someone else" Ranvijay thought while putting his hands on his waist, "Your highness" General Agrasen Druhyu arrived in the room, "I heard what has happened, and..." he stopped, "And?" "We found this in Shanthi Amma's room" he held up two letters.

One was from his enemy country, the seal on the bottom, it said,

I hope you remember our deal.

Kill the king.

Nothing more, it was addressed to Shanthi Lekhi, the king gulped reading it, he snatched the other letter and saw what was written,