Jogini : A fight for honour

Chp 14:- The Worst Truth

"Nincompoops!" Hissed Rani Maalavi Devi. "I told that dumb idiot to kill Avantika but oh no, no,no .... Who the hell listens to me here!"

"Calm down Devi we can figure out something..." Mumbled Rajguru Venkata.

"What!?" She gasped, "That stupid, no good brother of mine is .... Where is he?" She asked turning to Rajguru Venkata.

"D... Drunk with .. ummm.... maharaj..."

"Bloody idiots!" She hissed once more, "Now I'll have to do something about this before Amrendra falls for that whore."

"She is still a ...virgin."

"SHUT UP IDIOT!" She screamed "I don't care. Her amma was a whore and so is she."

Kumar Rudhra who was well hidden among the huge red velvet drapes was stunned at hearing his amma.
He had never seen so much of anger or hatred in her. For him, she had been the epitome of love, trust, justice and sacrifice. She had never shown partiality between Kumar Rudhra and Amrendra.

"Devi, we must kill her." Said Rajguru Venkata.

"Not so easily." She replied quietly pacing her room to and fro. "I bet Amrendra will fall for her. Even if she dies it's of no use."

"What are you planning then?"

"I'll tell you later." She replied "First, we need proof that she is Avantika and not Maithali."

After pausing for a breath she continued, "Second, we need to create hatered in Amrendra's heart for her. Third, I want Rudhra to be king and I want to be Rajmata."

Kumar Rudhra's eye's filled with tears. He had never expected all this and it was worse than he thought.

"Does Avantika know anything about Pullamma?" She asked when she had stopped pacing the room.

"I don't know." Replied the Rajguru.

Rani Maalavi Devi resumed pacing the room and said, "Before she gets to Amrendra and tells him everything we need to send her to Lord Shiv."

"Devi, we can only kill her by disgracing her in front of everyone. Her shame is our success." Said Rajguru Venkata with a wicked grin.

"Yes but make sure no one, not even Rudhra comes to know any such thing."

"I'll make sure Devi." He reassured with a nod.

"Oh yes ! One more thing." She added, "Make sure Amrendra knows that if he gets married to anybody other than a princess his dear nanna will die."

"Yes." He nodded and left.

Only Maithali has the answers to all my queries I must ask her.... Rudhra thought rushing into the Antapuram (ladies chamber).

He found Maithali getting ready for her performance, she was applying khol in her eyes while servant girl's helped her with the jewelry.

"Leave." He ordered the servant girl's.

They bowed and left in silence. Maithali turned to him with a worried expression and bowed a little asking, "Is there something wrong Kumar Rudhra?"

"Everything is wrong." He replied fiercely, "I need answers from you."

Maithali looked up at him from the corner of her eye and asked, "And... What answers does the prince of Maheshmati need from a mere dancer?"