Dawn approached with the solemnity of a funeral, casting its first rays upon the cold stones of the courtyard where justice and mercy stood at odds. By decree of ancient lore, Aadrika was to be imprisoned till dawn’s zenith, and then led to the gallows where death awaited her with open arms where she would be greeted like an old friend. She was beaten and defeated and she was ready to accept her fate. The people clamored for retribution, their cries a crescendo that threatened to drown out the melody of reason in the symphony of sovereign decree. There was serenity on her face as she had resigned to her fate.
And so, as the final moments of darkness ebbed away, Aadrika stood at the precipice of destiny. Her eyes, lifeless pools of sorrow and defiance, desperate to meet the gaze of a king whose love could not shield her from the relentless march of fate. Her lips quivered and body trembled. In the hallowed halls of justice, where echoes of centuries past whispered tales of kings and queens who had dared to defy the gods themselves, Aadrika’s voice rose from her parched throat in a silent prayer that soared above the clamor of mortal judgment.
With such grace, Aadrika accepted her fate in that brief moment when the sun was setting and the darkness gave way to light, embodying the courage of innocence wrongfully condemned. With the executioner's hand shaking from the weight of fate's final command, the noose, a symbol of ultimate fate, waited for its solemn task.
"Tathya.." she whispered his name and closed her eyes as if to remember his image as the last thing before she would die. She took a deep breath anticipating the death she thought she deserved. A black sack was put on her face and the noose around her neck, just when the executioner was about to pull the noose, a bright thunder and lightening tore the skies and Devaguru appeared in front of the people gathered for the execution. There was only a bright floating light and one could not see his form much. A voice spoke from that light.
"You will be taking the life of an innocent."
Everyone gasped on the appearance of the Devaguru and the words spoken by him.
Tathya's eyes open as he senses the arrival of the guru. He rushes towards the execution.
The executioner lifts the cloth and removes the noose as Aadrika falls to her feet in tears.
"In the shadowed annals of Palnad, whispers weave of dread spun by Malini, the dark socceress ensnared in legend's shroud. Cloaked in the abyss of night, she wields a sorcery born of stygian depths, casting veils of despair over lands once bathed in luminescence. Her visage, a haunting shadow of malevolence, bears the pallor of the cursed, a testament to the poison coursing within her very essence. From her tendrils of obsidian, she conjures tempests of anguish, cleaving joy from the hearts of the innocent, leaving naught but desolation in her wake. Beware the allure of her enigmatic allure, for beneath the shroud of mystique lies a tempest that renders souls asunder, forever binding Oshiyan in the clutches of her dark, infernal whims."
"Oh! Great Guru, lead us into light." Pleaded king Tathya.
"Behold, as Malini, veiled in the sable folds of destiny's cruel design, prepares to unleash her vengeance upon Oshiyan with relentless fervor. Her gaze, laced with ancient bitterness, fixates upon King Tathya, beware of a seed sown from the missteps of a bygone monarch. It is this legacy of folly that she seeks to exploit, a fractured lineage ripe for her nefarious ploys. In the heart of impending conflict, sacrifices loom as harbingers of an unfathomable truth yet to be unveiled. Through the crucible of adversity, lessons shall unfold like petals unfurling at dawn's embrace, revealing the essence of resilience amidst the throes of chaos. For Malini, amidst her dark symphony of deceit and retribution, orchestrates a crescendo that echoes through the corridors of fate, wherein lies the crucible of Oshiyan's reckoning." Devaguru warns.
Tathya grapples with the elusive shadows of his father's and forefathers' errors, yet the veil over their missteps remains unlifted, evading his grasp like wisps of smoke. Undeterred, a resolute determination fuels his quest for understanding, compelling him to seek answers. With solemn reverence, he inclines his head in gratitude to the Devaguru, whose sage counsel has illuminated his path. As swiftly as his presence graced the moment, the Devaguru fades from sight, leaving Tathya to contemplate the weight of ancestral legacy and the pursuit of redemption.
He reaches for Aadrika, drawing her close into his arms with a tender embrace. In his strong hold, she shivers slightly, exhaling a breath laden with relief. Their gazes lock, and in that moment, unspoken sentiments buried deep within them rise to the surface like gentle ripples on a tranquil pond.
He gently wipes away her tears, his eyes shining with heartfelt promises. He vows to care for her tenderly, to hold her delicately in his arms, to prioritize her needs above his own, and to protect her with unwavering devotion.
