Shatru Sesham: Sequel of Baahubali ✔️

Chapter Sixty-Five (Part 2)

Narasimha and Bhavani were intercepted by the old physician who had accompanied them before they reached the front door of his friend's medical dispensary.

"We are not going back to the dispensary, Bhavani. A group of Suras have been making discreet inquiries at the dispensary about Narasimha."

"Suras are an elite group of spies and soldiers in my father's employment. My father must have sent them when I went missing. I think I should just let them know I am safe and that I intend to spend a few days incognito with the common people in my empire. This will prevent mother and father from worrying about me", Narasimha said.

The old man shook his head, "Those Suras haven't been sent by your father or your uncle Vijayamarthanda. I overheard them speaking that they were under orders to secretly assassinate you as soon as they found you so that you could not reach in time for your official coronation as the Crown Prince of Mahishmati on the eve of Rama Navami."

"But why would his father's men do so?" Bhavani asked extremely shocked.

"There must have been a black sheep or several within his father's council", the old man replied.

Narasimha simply acquiesced with the old man's opinion. Resting his back against the rough bark of a nearby tree, he started weighing his available options, "I have to secretly infiltrate into their ranks and find out the mastermind behind this. Their plans could be much more dangerous than what we are currently anticipating."

"It is going to be a very risky and precarious undertaking. Those men came here searching for us. In all probability, they might have been tipped off by somebody already", Bhavani trying to dissuade her friend from putting his life under fire. "And what about learning the Urumi from Nachiyar. What do we tell her?"

"I understand your concern Bhavani. All of us have our duties and priorities cut out for us. My people come first for me", Narasimha replied.

Bhavani saw that Narasimha was pretty determined to do whatever he was planning. Her only hope rested on remaining with him.

His father, Subahu had destroyed her whole family. However, she could never see Subahu in him. She could not hate Narasimha for it. He would make a very good king something Subahu never was.

His innate goodness, idealism, loyalty and chivalry had warmed her cold heart filled with hatred. She had developed a soft corner for this mild, soft-spoken and brave lad. She couldn't countenance the idea of him walking to his death.

The old man, who had been a silent bystander while the two friends argued back and forth, now broke his silence, "Narasimha, I fear Bhavani isn't wrong either. You have to stay alive till Rama Navami and be back in Mahishmati in time for your coronation. Big stakes seem to be riding on preventing you from attending it."

"I realize that Thatha. I promise to take care of myself", Narasimha agreed.

Bhavani still did not seem convinced. Narasimha questioned the old man, "Are those Suras still at the dispensary?"

"No, my friend sent them to the local tavern telling that he would send word to them as soon as we were back before informing all this to me", the old man replied.

Narasimha replied, "In that case, I believe we must send them a tip off about my current location."

The old man looked confused while Bhavani raged, "Why would you give yourself up to those blackguards?"
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A short while later,
The Suras had methodically surrounded and closed off all the escape routes from a small wooden cottage. The captain who was leading them asked, "Is he inside that cottage?"

"Yes. He is wearing the same clothes that he was when he went missing. There are two others sleeping beside him", said one of the soldiers who peeped in and took a peek at the dimly lit cottage.

"Hurry up. Fasten all the doors and windows and set this cottage on fire. It must seem like an accident", the captain ordered.

The Suras waited till the fire had completely died down before leaving from there. Narasimha, Bhavani and the old man emerged out of their hiding spot at a vantage point behind some thick bushes.

Narasimha gave a hastily composed scroll to Bhavani, "Give this to Nachiyar. She will help both of you. I must follow those men now. They wouldn't have gone too far yet."

Narasimha's message to Nachiyar read:
"Our lives are in danger. I leave my friend and her companion in your safe custody. I regret that I will not be able to learn the Urumi from you. But I hope you will teach even my share of the Urumi to my friend, Bhavani and make her a seasoned warrior just like you. Adieu."

Narasimha held Bhavani's hand in his as though he didn't want to let her go. She smiled one of her ravishing smiles at him. He captured that within the locked eyelashes of his eye as he let her go.

Bhavani threw her arms round him and hugged, "Stay safe and send word to me as soon as you can."

Narasimha wiped her tears, "You're my brave Kshatrani, aren't you? Don't waste these pearls on me. I am not worth them."

"Then promise that you'll come back for me as soon as you set everything right in Mahishmati", Bhavani asked.

"I will", Narasimha promised.
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Author's Note:
Dear friends and readers, I hope you enjoyed the current update. Due to a minor glitch in Wattpad, this draft I was working on was visible to several readers even though I did not publish it. So I reasoned that since it was already visible to some, I should not keep the other readers out of it and decided to publish it as it is. The chapter is much shorter than my chapters usually are. Please let me know how you felt about the story and characters.