The Unfinished Poetry √

Part Four

" Maharani Avanthika? But... " , Devasena quietened for sometime. Then asked further. " Does that book contain illustrations? " 

" mmm...minimal. I remember, the photos were mostly captured from the ruins of the palace of Maahishmathi. But very unclear, the book itself being written almost a hundred or more years back. "

" Ruins of the palace? ", Devasena kept staring, her throat felt dry. 

" Yes... As far as I remember, the original huge fortress of the clan was demolished almost with the demise of the dynasty itself." , Avanthika was lost in thoughts again.

" ..however I rag my brain I don't remember the name of the last king. But he was Amarendra and Devasena's son. And Avanthika and he too had a son ... but..." , Avanthika tried hard to recapitulate.

" Mahendra..." 

All of a sudden Devasena blurted a name out of the blue. 

" Ahhh...exactly! Oh my god how did you know? "

How did she know? Devasena managed the situation, "because Mahendra rhymes with Amarendra. " 

Avanthika laughed and went back to her thoughts, while Devasena grew colder inside. 

How did she know?

" I give up. I am highly ashamed that I don't remember major events of a book I read only a year or two back. This thesis is to be blamed. It has hijacked my brain." 

Avanthika got up and went to the washroom. 

Avanthika had this thing. She wouldn't particularly interfere in affairs unless shared with. 

And Devasena now needed time. 

She very well remembered, the hall had lineage pictures of only Queens, and that ended with Raajmata Devasena itself. 

If Mahendra and Avanthika had a son, why didn't he rule? 

Most importantly, the palace which was at the banks of Narmada was demolished, the dynasty ended, then who created another huge palace here in Bhopal, that hung photos of the clan?

Now the biggest question, how did she have visions? How did she know names she'd never heard? How did she look like a Devasena some ccenturies back...?  

The man... Devasena very urgently needed to reach him. Again. 

'I know you will find yourself.'

Devasena decided to drop classes today. She couldn't afford to again run for life in the middle of the night. Morning was the best time to explore. 

" Sreebhoomi, 13, Laalmaati road. " 

She got up an auto. 

The driver looked friendly. " bhaiyaa... Sreebhoomi is a palace right? " 

 

" haan didi! Belongs to the Bhawaanis. After they shifted abroad, that too some fifty years back, it was almost passing to the hands of dealers and contractors when suddenly out of the blue, a Bhawaani turned up a few months ago. It's news madam! " ,the driver grinned at her ignorance.The simple man didn't care to wonder though, why the lady wanted to reach a place she particularly knew nothing about.