Regal Tale of Ratnagiri

4. Suna hai maine bewafa tu

Abhishek went to a small dressing room before leaving the royal house, followed by his co-dancers. When taking off his anklets and other ornaments saw someone is running towards him. Oh, the younger Rajkumar! He stopped running exactly at a two inch distance from Abhishek.

"Aap... aap hume dance sikhayenge ?"

The boy was panting with speedy run. His anxious face attracted Abhi. He said softly - "main sikhata nhi hun Rajkumar"

Rachin harshly sat down beside him, held his hand like a little boy. "Please...sikhaiye naa. It's my long time wish to learn Shiv tandav, but... Please aap sikhaiye naa"

"Shiv tandav ?"

"Yea, only Shiv tandav. I won't insist for something else. Bas Shiv tandav sikha dijiye"

Abhi giggled at the boy's puppy eyes. "Hahaha... but Shiv tandav isn't everyone's cup pf tea. It's enough difficult and you need to learn preliminary steps. By the way, why you wanna learn Shiv tandav only ?"

"I'm his devotee yaar! Served him with all emotions and accessories I have. Heard that he gets satisfied with little, but he isn't anyhow fulfilling my wish. So I think if I serve him with dance too, he could...."

"So what's your wish ?"

"Why should I tell you ? You're making fun naa ?" The boy pouted as Abhi couldn't control his chuckle.

"Iykyk... Arey bataiye naa. I won't laugh"

"Actually, I want a partner like him. Calm, gentle, loyal....." Rachin spoke shyly. Abhi replied, "unke jaisa partner rajmahal ke chaar diwaron me kahan milta hai Rajkumar ? Shamshan, van, Nadi kinaron me dhundiye"

.

.

.

.

"Mayank! Buddy! Forgive me"

"What happened Shahbaaz ? Why are you apologising ?" Mayank surprised to see his friend apologising so seriously. After the cultural program he directly returned room, thinking about someone. At that time Shahbaaz suddenly rushed in and pretending like an offender.

"It's my fault Mayank. That young dancer Abhishek is so much daring, I shouldn't bring him here! I'm apologising for his behaviour towards your aunt!"

"Shahbaaz..." Mayank rested his back on soft bed, spread hands in a cozy feeling. Asked his friend looking at ceiling, "can not harvesting festival come everyday ? So we can arrange the cultural program everyday..."

Shahbaaz's grief transformed into smirk as he understood the indication, he leaned on his laying friend. "Oye hoye! Are you in yourself Rajkumar Mayank ? You never wanted to repeat a bai (female dancer) before and now speaking of everyday ?"

- - - - - - - - -

Few days later

Time - noon

After a long journey the marchant's ship finally reached India. Crossing the seaway he picked the route through Godavari river. Just a few minutes, then he'll rope his ship on Indian land. But the problem is all stored food and water has been finished in this long journey. The pure water of Godavari can slake his thirst but he needs some food also. The place he's currently in mostly covered with gigantic trees on both side of river, may be the main city a bit far from this area as he studied the map.

Oh thank God! He could see some tents in the bank of river. People living there surely can help him. He chose a good part of soil at the edge to place his ship before keeping his first step in India.

Under the shade of a huge tree a young man was sharpening a cutlass. He couldn't see his face as he was back facing him. From a good distance he asked humbly; "Hello! I'm a marchant from Newzealand. My stored food and water has been finished. Can you please help me ?"

"Sure!" The young man turned around. "I can help you with the information that no marchant can go ahead before paying scot to captain."

The long black coat, the shining cutlass in hand, the smirk between light beard and the deep voice - made the marchant amazed for a few seconds. But he controlled himself from losing in thise deep eyes, because...

"So you're that Captain, leader of robbers! I wished hard to meet you"

"Strange! Foreigner marchants pee in their pants with my name and you wished to meet me! Hope you brought enough scot for me ?" Captain kissed the shiney knife not breaking the eye contact.

"No mr. Captain, I didn't. I'm not supposed to give you scot. Yeah, can present you with a gift......"

"Prashant!"

Before the marchant could complete his sentence, Prashant with other robbers came in action with captain's order. The barely sharpened cutlass was touching marchant's white skin while the robber boys was going forward to the ship.

"Gift ? Your courage to deny captain isn't less than a surprise gift mr. marchant. Now your fresh blood for washing my cutlass will be more satisfy...ahh!"

Suddenly the marchant punched captain's hand leading the cutlass fell on ground and back-held his hands tightly. The sudden action made the caption dumb, anyhow he couldn't free himself from the tight grip. The white skinned man whispered in his ears - "taking such scot from innocent people isn't good, captain. Don't try to move! Ask your boys to stay away from my ship!"

Prashant and other boys had already stopped seeing their captain captivated in a foreigner's hand. Captain tried to take back his knife through leg but the marchant dragged him aside, keeping something on his headside. "Era of swords and cutlass has been gone captain, the object tickling your head is called revolver! Can perform a murder from far, just with one press. I wished to gift you this modern weapon but you....... Whatever, I have so many weapons like this, if your gang dares to interrupt my business I can burn your camp into ashes!"

"Weapon ? Yo....you are a.... terrorist!"

"I'm a simple marchant. But forced to keep weapons for stray disturbance like you, captain!" His warm breaths were hitting captain's exposed skin as his face was just a half inch away from his shoulder exposed by his dislocated coat.

Captain closed eyes with disgust when the foreigner leaned more on him. "Captain, you must have a birth name by the way. What is it ? Tell me." Angry captain tried to push him through elbow with all of his strength but the man held him more tightly, sticking him with his own body. Now his tone sounded a bit serious - "Name!"

"Ru...Ruturaj!" Captain groaned anyhow as the hard grip was giving him pain. Maybe it loosened a little after a second. "Ruturaj! Such an exquisite name! Why working opposite, Rutu-raj ?"

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Shall the merchant give captain some punishment ?😈

But I'll give you punishment (with late updates) if you won't vote much😉