His Favourite Maid

Explanation

Nandini froze as the stern voice cut through the air, laced with disbelief. "Nandini, I never imagined you'd be the kind of girl to stoop so low. Where is Vidya? How could she possibly allow this to happen?" The weight of the accusation hung heavily in the air, casting a shadow over her every breath.

Her heart raced, words scrambling in her mind, desperate to explain. "Brother, it's not what you think! Please, just listen to me—" she began, her voice trembling with urgency, only to be silenced by the prince's sharp intake of breath.

"Brother?" Prince Indrajit's voice was low, almost a whisper. 

"Yes, I am her brother," Vedansh, Nandini's brother spat, eyes blazing with fury as he stepped forward. "Now, explain to me what the hell you're doing here with my sister—and why, in the gods' name, is she calling you her husband?"

"Give me a chance to explain," Prince Indrajit said, his voice firm but holding a note of urgency. His eyes locked with Vedansh's, a silent plea behind his calm exterior. "I can't say it here. Let's go somewhere else."

Vedansh hesitated, anger simmering just below the surface, but after a tense moment, he gave a sharp nod. Without another word, Indrajit led them back to the house where they had been residing.

As they stepped inside, the soft murmur of voices greeted them. Shruti and Uday were already there, seated in the living room, clearly startled by the unexpected arrival. Nandini, silent and anxious, slipped into the kitchen to bring water for her brother, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to compose herself.

Vedansh's eyes swept the room before landing on Uday, who shifted uncomfortably under his glare. "Uday?" Vedansh's voice cut through the stillness, sharp and bitter. "You too? You knew my sister married someone else, and you didn't bother to tell me?"

(guys remember, both Vedansh, Uday, Nandini are from the same village, and Nandini's dad used to work under Uday's dad)

Uday stood up quickly, hands raised in a gesture of helplessness. "Vedansh, I—"

"You what?" Vedansh interrupted, his voice rising. "You knew she was with some unknown man, and you just... kept it from me? How could you? I thought we were closer than that."

"Vedansh, it's not what you think," Uday began, his voice steady but brimming with urgency as he stepped forward, trying to quell the storm brewing in Vedansh's eyes. "We're on a secret mission—undercover—to expose those who are leaking the kingdom's secrets to our enemies. Nandini, she's not really married to Yuvraj... she's just pretending to be the wife."

Vedansh blinked, confusion mixing with disbelief. "Yuvraj?" he repeated, his voice barely a whisper, as though the very word didn't belong in this conversation.

Uday nodded, casting a glance at Prince Indrajit, who stood tall and silent, his regal bearing now taking on new meaning. "Yes," Uday said quietly, gesturing towards the prince. "He's the Yuvraj. Prince Indrajit."

For a moment, silence gripped the room, the weight of the revelation settling like a thick fog. Vedansh's eyes widened, his heart pounding in his chest as the truth struck him with the force of a blow. His gaze darted between Nandini and Indrajit, his mind scrambling to make sense of what he had just heard.

"Yuvraj?" The word escaped his lips again, this time filled with disbelief, as if saying it aloud would help him grasp the impossible truth.

But then, the realization hit. Hard. His knees buckled beneath him, and he dropped to the ground, bowing deeply before the prince. "Forgive me, Your Highness," Vedansh's voice was thick with regret, each word trembling with the weight of his earlier outburst. "I was blind—I didn't know. I've been so disrespectful. Please, forgive me for my rudeness."

"There's no need for this, Vedansh," he said gently, his voice carrying both authority and compassion. "You acted out of love for your sister. That's not something I can fault you for."

Vedansh hesitated for a moment before slowly rising, his head still bowed, unable to fully meet the prince's eyes. "I didn't mean... I never imagined... the situation was so grave."

"Give this fool a chance to make things right," Vedansh said, his voice strong but laced with self-awareness. There was a humility in his words now, a quiet plea for redemption. "Is there any way I can help in the mission, Yuvraj?"

Nandini's eyes brightened with sudden realization, and she turned towards the prince. "Yuvraj, my brother is excellent in drawing," she said, her voice filled with hope. "Perhaps he could help us create a sketch of the man we lost track of—it might help us find him."

Prince Indrajit raised an eyebrow, intrigued. His gaze shifted to Vedansh, appraising him anew. "Is that so?" he asked, his tone thoughtful. "Can you really draw well enough to give us what we need?"

Vedansh stood a little straighter, his chest swelling with quiet pride. "Yes, Yuvraj," he replied, nodding with conviction. "I can do it."

"Alright," Prince Indrajit said, his voice steady and commanding, yet carrying a sense of urgency. "Nandini, give him the description of the man we lost. Vedansh, I trust you'll bring that to life." He turned his gaze toward Uday. "And Uday, tell me what the two of you found out today."

Everyone nodded in unison, the weight of the mission palpable in the room.

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"Prince, we've discovered that a total of 25 people arrived from Indraprastha," Uday said, his tone serious, "but what we don't know yet is how many of them are guptchars and how many are just regular people or merchants. We're going to need more manpower to properly check all of them."

Prince Indrajit's brow furrowed slightly. "Did you investigate any of them today?" he asked, his voice steady.

Uday nodded. "Yes, I managed to check five people today. They all seemed like normal townsfolk, but that could be a façade. I'm planning to follow them tonight, see if they show any signs of deception under the cover of darkness."

Before the prince could respond, Shruti, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward. "May I speak, Yuvraj?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm.

Indrajit gave her a nod, curious about what she had to say. "Go ahead, Shruti."

Shruti's eyes darted between the others as she gathered her thoughts. "I don't think it's practical for us to keep a close watch on all of them," she began. "If they truly are guptchars, and if their aim is to get hold of our kingdom's secrets, they won't just be blending in with the market crowds. They'll be moving closer to the palace at night or working through ministers who are secretly opposed to the king."

The prince's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "You make a good point. If they are indeed spies, they won't waste time hiding among common merchants. They'll be looking to strike close to power." 

"Is there any minister who dislikes our king?" Shruti asked, her voice filled with curiosity and concern, her eyes watching the prince intently.

Yuvraj Indrajit paused, his brow furrowing as he fell into deep thought. His mind sifted through countless faces of those in the court, recalling every word, every glance, and every subtle shift in loyalty. The political landscape was complex, but there were always whispers—some louder than others.

Then, one name surfaced. 

MINISTER KESHAV.