Twists Twirls Perils & Pearls

71. Game called LOVE

Abhedya stepped back after warning his sweetheart turned heartbreaker. He had a smirk on his face.

"Life has never been easy. If brutal and nasty are its new games, I am up for it, Kunwar sa."Swarnima answered confidently and had a similar smirk on her face.

Abhedya banged his hand on the wall but a hand stopped him from hurting his hand. Abhedya glared at Swarnima with anger but all he got was a straight face in response. He barged out of the room and reached the room where his family was waiting for him.

Nandini ran and hugged him. Her eyes were already swollen. Abhedya hugged his mother but it was just a reciprocation. It lacked love and warmth. Nandini saw Abhedya's eyes and she knew her son was lost.
"Abhey, I... we... can explain." She tried to speak but her voice choked.

"I am all ears. Please start." Abhedya took a seat and asked them to proceed with explanations.

"Abhey, beta we hid the information from you because of the potent threat to the life of the heir of the state. Before we knew about Swarnima's survival, you were already famous in your school and other places because of your brilliance in academics, sports and other activities. It would not have been possible to suddenly keep you under wraps. We were not scared but just cautious this time for our families.
The Queen had strictly ordered us if we wanted Swarnima to live a normal life which she was not living until I found about her existence we had to hide the information from you and the council, till you attain the legal age to claim the throne.
Abhey, I just...I just... wanted to... how do I say? Swadesh died for us, I didn't and could not see his beloved daughter burdened with books and course at a level way higher than her age. She was homeschooled because of safety reasons, only taught the subjects which were essential to becoming an engineer. Eight hours of rigorous studies and eight hours of practice of various warfare was the routine she followed.
I am sorry son, but the only option left with me was to strike a deal with my mother. Nim will be allowed two months in a year to do what she likes if we agree to the adjustment of swapping identities and keeping the information of you being the heir hidden.
That is the truth, now if you think, we were wrong you may punish us." Rudra revealed the truth to Abhedya.

"I hate to call her my mother. Whatever the reasons may be, she never acknowledged us as her kids and after what she did with Nim, I am ashamed of her." Pri lashed out her anger.

"Priyamani Baisa, not a word against the queen. She gave me and my brother life. We could have died but she saved us. Our life is her benefaction. She had the right to choose how we live and what we do. She thought of the state's benefit and welfare. The protection of the heir to the throne was important, my father died protecting him, and if given a chance I wouldn't think twice before doing it. She gave me the best education and taught me skills of governance herself, Eklavya the one-man army trained me what more could I ask for? Clothes, parties, and relationships are all secondary, it's the state and it's king first." Swarnima was curt and loud.

"Wow Nim. She has indeed trained you. Just don't become her in the process, beta." Pri said patting Swarnima's head with love.

"Enough said and done. Abhey, give time to things, you will understand everything. We are proud of you and have faith in you." Randeep shook his hand with Abhedya.

One by one, everyone went to their rooms. Nandini went to Abhedya's room. She hugged Abhedya from behind and cried her heart out. "Don't hate me, Abhey. You are my life beta. I will die before taking your hatred. Please Abhey, I know you are hurt, we as parents have deceived you, but son, whatever your father said is true. We only agreed to things for Nim. Our Nim. Swadesh and Rima took the death planned for us, it could be your father being murdered brutally, it could be me in place of Rima being molested, Nivi could have been in rehab. Abhey, this is the least we could do, for them. We are indebted to our life." Nandini was crying hard now.