Raunak: The Essence of Life(Completed)

Chapter 30

Early in the morning before the sun rises we started our journey to the borders of both the Kingdoms. The move seems childish but Maasi said if we decided to go to palace and requested to king or his family to let us meet then we should give up on the hope of ever seeing his face. The only way I can meet him is if no one could be able to identify me.

At evening me and Maasi told Kishan everything and told him about our plan to go and meet him to stop the battle between two kingdoms.

He insisted to let him come with us but Maasi did not agreed saying that someone has to stay at home to look after the cattles and crops. Finally after thousand reasonings he agreed to stay at home but said that he will wait for maximum two weeks if we did not return he will come for us.

With that we started our journey. We decided to go with bullocks so that no one could track us. At night we stayed with their carva.

"Raunak why are you sitting alone here come let's dance with them" She said dragging me towards the fire around which they were dancing. 

I stood there awkwardly while everyone around me was laughing and dancing. Even Maasi was dancing.

"Maasi you knew dancing?" 

"Yes, I also know a move or two and looking at you right now I can say that better than you" She said teasing me.

"Really?" I asked her in disbelief she laughed at me continuing her dancing.

I also started to dance and sing along with other but it felt like I am doing some exercise rather than dancing. Their movements were very smooth and elegant. But it does not matter I enjoyed it.

"You did good Raunak you should dance more, sing more and laugh more" Maasi complements me.

"You are making fun of me. You were far better that me. I was dancing like a mad horse which could not even be considered at dance" I said to her laughing.

"Yes, I know I am best. I just said that so you can complement me" She said laughing at which I shake my head at her childishness.

We slept at midnight talking with these women. They said that they are going to some other place because there was drought where they lived before.

Next morning we reached near the palace. There was eerie silence here from the last time when I come here. There were few guards and soldiers guarding the palace, no one was allowed to go inside. These tribe are going to stay in the forest near palace. Rest of the path we have to cover on our own. Maasi asked them for direction saying that we are from Malwa and due to war going on between two Kingdoms decided to return back to our home.

They told us the directions but insisted that we stay with them tonight. We agreed as night had already fallen.

I feel nervous suddenly, scared even thinking about his reaction after seeing me. I do not how I am going to stop this war  but I can try. Maybe he will stop the war and punish me instead. After all it was me who has wronged him. Just thinking about him hating me send a flicker of pain straight through my chest.

I told Maasi that I am going for a walk and come out of the forest. The palace was illuminated with diyas but even with glowing light, the shine of the palace was dull today. There was some strange cloud of sadness drowning it.  

I took some steps in its direction feeling discontented. Maybe I was the reason of the burred happiness of this palace. It seems strange even now after all this years. It never felt like home, always a palace. I can not believe I spend my whole childhood here in between these walls. 

Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned back and gasped with surprise. She put her hand on my mouth to muffle my sound.

"You? What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"I have come to apologise to you" Manavi said.

"Really? Do you think that your apology can mend everything I have lost in my life?" I asked her feeling outraged.

"I know I have wronged you, I had my insecurities. You were beautiful, had a loving mother, you were happy, happier than me. My mother always wanted me to be perfect she never accepted me as I am. She always compared me with you. Soon the feeling to steal every reason of your happiness become my reason for happiness. I am sorry, I really am. I should have done that to you. You did not deserve any of this" She said sincerily or maybe I just imagined it.

"Your apology means nothing to you now. Look you achieved what you wanted my mother is dead, I could not even see her for last time. It was you who has to be married to Rana sa but you swapped your position with me and when I found my family, my happiness with them, you steal even that from me. So tell me Manavi did you achieved what you wanted? Did he agreed to marry you? Did he hate me now? Are you happy now?" I asked her almost shouting at the end.

"I am deeply sorry Raunak. It was so childish of me to even think of that. He does not hate you rather he loves you deeply. The thought of marrying me did not even crossed in his mind, not for a minute. I feel remorseful of my actions now I have caused a war between the Kingdoms. If I have just kept my mouth shut. My brother was going to be married but because of me he has to go for a war" She said feeling guilty but I did not have any soothing words for her to make her feel better. I was feeling bad myself. 

"I am glad to hear that you have realised you misdoings and feeling guilty about it but it does not matter if you are not rectifying it. You have done so much to me that it is hard for me to believe in you" I told her honestly.

"I know no one believes me now and this was like a blow to me. How much far I have gone that no one trusts me? But now I am going to mend every mistake of mine. I am going to help you to reach Raja sa of Malwa" She said shocking me. 

A/N: Hi guys!!
Finally I am uploading according to my schedule. It's very fasinating to write a story you know. The way we always think about ideas to write and notice small things here and there and add it in you story to make it more beautiful and memorable. I have added so many things inspired by people around me and when they read it, they ask me if I have wrote it imagining them. I say yes. So this story if special for them too.
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