Regal Tale of Ratnagiri

14. Purani Dushmani

CAPTAIN APPREHENDED!

The news viraled in whole Ratnagiri like storm. Market, tea stalls, ponds everywhere every people are discussing the same thing.  Last night Maharaj's guards caught the captain with gun and prisoned. Before tomorrow's sunrise, he will be SHOT.

Even in bright morning captain's camp seems gloomy in his absence. Shivam is sitting quietly, Prashant lamenting and roaming around him.

"Haad hai captain ka! Kya jarurat tha Maharaj ke sath panga lena ka !?"

"Bhaiya ne panga nhi liya Prashant. He went to talk about the poor condition of Ratnagiri people and the high rate of tax Maharaja applied on them"

"Lekin banduk ke sath pakde gaye naa ? Jin logon ke liye bhalai ke liye unka ye haal hua wo log thodi bachayenge ab unhe ?"

Shivam didn't answered. Devastated Prashant got more crazy. He picked his javelin and said, "Shivam bhaiya, chalo. Yun hath jodke baithne se kuch nhi hoga"

"Prashant! Are you mad ? If we attack the royals will immediately kill bhaiya. Keep calm, our every step should be taken by cold mind"

. . .   . . .   . . .

In Royal palace 

"Who is this captain bua ji ? Why he suddenly attacked and you all seem happy with his prisonment ? Koi purani dushmani hai kya ?"  — Deepak asked to Juhi.

The landlord of Varanasi is completely unaware about captain's connection with Royal family. He was stunned when Ruturaj came in hall breaking the security. Due to drunkenness he couldn't make it clear but he heard maharaja and others addressed him as 'robber'. And the robber talked gently at first, requested to reduce high tax rate for poor people. Most probably Juhi interrupted between them and the gentle conversation turned into argument. The robber took out a gun and apprehended by guards.

"Dushmani to hai beta, bohot purani dushmani hai" Juhi answered when Deepak insisted,  "you know, Maharaja ka ek dost tha, Mahendra. Indeed he was wise and well wisher of society, did many social works and won people's heart. When my brother became Maharaja their friendship got cracks, because Ratnagiri people started worshipping Mahendra more than their king. I found it unfair, but we couldn't go against people. So played in another way, put a heavy burden of tax on Mahendra's head, also a blame of cheating with royal family. He couldn't bear the scratch on his dignity. Soon his two sons became orphan due to their father's suicide. We didn't consider the little pups, socha tha jangli kutta ya nadi ka ghariyal kha jayega. Lekin daku ban gya, or mere bhai ke mahal me ghuske dhamki dene laga..."

Juhi was gnashing between her every sentences while Deepak was in deep thoughts of the rivalry story. He asked after few seconds — "usne dhamki kahan diya ? Praja ki achai ke liye hi bol raha tha na ?"

"Ye haq hi kisne diya usko ?" Juhi's eyes threw thunder on Deepak making him dumb for a second. Then she again returned at her satirical smirk. "You were drunk Deepak beta, didn't hear his full appeal. After talking about tax he demanded more... That his dumbo brother Shivam is in love with our Rachin. Either Maharaj will give away his younger son to Shivam or he will shoot Maharaj. Ab tum hi batao, kya karna chahiye uske sath ?"

Now it's Deepak's turn for gnashing and he did. Words of fury came out from his mouth — "peel of his skin, rub salt on it, then dip him into boiling oil"

Juhi laughed covering her lips - "hahahaha oh relax. Aaj Mayank ka janamdin hai to bhaiya apna hath ganda nhi karna chahte. Kal surah ugne se pehle poore Ratnagiri ke saamne usko usike banduk se uske baap ke paas bheja jayega... Agar wo banduk asli hai to" — she added with another session of laughter.

That time a guard asked permission to come in. He spoke when Juhi asked the news, "that gun is real Devi ji, made in New Zealand!"

"New Zealand ?" Juhi shocked,  "Esko kahan se mila ?.... Guard! Check on all the foreigner merchants, quick!"

Guard bowed to the lady before going on his duty. Juhi and Deepak stood in amazement like statues of stones.

. . .   . . .   . . .

Evening 🌆 

All the honoured personas of Ratnagiri and nearby states assembled in palace, to attend elder Rajkumar's birthday. He's stunning in glazy clothes and his inner beauty. Family and friends (except his young brother) around him are wishing him all the glory and happiness.

Abhishek also came in white dress, standing at a corner. He's not seems so happy, Ruturaj's apprehension was effecting him like other people of Ratnagiri. Completing formalities with guests Mayank came to him and took his hands in his own. "Thanks for coming, apke bapuji nhi aaye ? Kaha tha na unko sath laaiyega"

"Aaye hain, but a simple fisherman doesn't have right to come in Rajkumar's apartment 😊"

"Who said ? Guards ? Just a minute"

"Rehne dijiye" - Abhi gently pulled raised Mayank towards himself. "Chaliye, pehle apko janamdin ka bhet dete hain"

Mayank didn't argue but silently promised that he will make that fisherman Maharaja's relative soon. On the way Abhishek was taking him, didn't took off his eyes from the cute boy. The thing making him impatient was Abhishek's slow steps to downstairs. When few more steps left to the ground floor exit, suddenly he pinned the dancer with wall.

"R... rajkumar..."

"Shhh..."

A strong finger stopped Abhishek's lips from moving. We won't curse Mayank. Who can resist the charm from few inches away in the prosperous moonlit evening ? I bet any boy would start leaning to grab the pink lips as Mayank was doing but ...

"STOP!"

Abhishek hardly pushed him away. "I had the misconception that you respect me! How dare you to..."

"I'm sorry Abhishek ji"  Mayank's eyes had started raining realisation of mistake when he joined hand quickly. "Hum dobara kabhi aisa nhi karenge...apke anumati ke bina"

"Hmm. Now follow me"

Lowered headed Mayank started following his heart-owner like a good boy towards his GIFT.

-  -  -  -  -  -

Next part me Abhi  'O saiyaan hatto jaao'  karega😁

Or Rutu... Bachega ya phir marega😮‍💨

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