Royals

23 - Haywire

The next morning seemed different to Maisha. She was woken up by a little shuffling nearby, as if someone was near her, in her bedroom. She shot up to find solitude and the quaint flame of oil lamp placed on its usual place on the foyer near the entrance of her chambers. Getting out of her bed, she inspected her surroundings to find a set of army clothes arranged in a neat pile stacked on her dresser.

She clearly remembered that it wasn't there when she went to sleep that night. It was almost day break now. She picked up those clothes ; they were her size. On the top of the pile was a ring with a huge emerald in the middle surrounded by smaller diamonds. The ring seemed awfully familiar to her but she couldn't put her finger on it. She had seen it somewhere, but where?

On the inner side of the ring were the words engraved in Hindi, ' Sankalp (determination), Sangharsh (struggle) and Nishtha (trust).' The three pillars of Chaulakyian Dynasty. And it dinged!

It was an insignia. Royal Insignia worn only by the Ruler, the Queen in particular. She had seen this ring in the portrait of Queen Sulekha, Aditya's mother. But what was this ring doing here? On her dresser. Something told her that Aditya had something to do with it. She hurriedly changed to those clothes but decided against wearing the ring. Stuffing the ring in her pocket, she sneaked out of her chambers and hurried towards his. 

His chambers were empty. No sign of him. Her nerves began shooting up at the uncertainty and mystery of everything. What the hell was going on? Why was he keeping her in the dark? She found a note lying carelessly on the shaiya, it was penned in English.

I seek you where all the secrets shall be unraveled, where all the secrets were and  have always been unraveled.

Where does Chitra want to meet me now?  She thought.

She paced up and down the room trying to figure out the puzzle as another thought struck her. Why would she leave the note so carelessly in Aditya's room? Whatever fishy it was, she knew she had to be careful now. Very careful. There must be a reason why he is not telling me. 

"Where all the secrets have always been unraveled," she muttered to herself as the idea hit her.

"The underground Repository!" She exclaimed hurrying towards the carved tiger in the panelling. After few tries and intensive recalling, she managed to repeat the three steps and finally pulled down the lever in the tiger's mouth as the secret passage opened up. Grabbing a wooden torch, she headed down the familiar dark part closing the door behind her.

After a minute or two of careful steps, she opened the second door to the secret library. She found a shadow creeping about in the dark room. Before she could let out an involuntary scream of fear and surprise, the perpetrator silenced her by putting a hand around her mouth and pulling her in and shutting the door behind.

Her muffled cries came to a halt as soon as she breathed in that familiar woody and minty scent. He loosened his grip around her and she turned around sharply illuminating his face with the flame in her hand.

His eyes were bloodshot but his face held an unwaivering resolve, about what, she was yet to know.

"Listen to me very carefully love," he held her hands like it was the last time.

"Have you been crying? Aditya, tell me! What the heck is going on? That note. Did you write it?" Maisha cried almost helpless at his obstinacy, caressing his face as a panic stricken tear left her eye on seeing his disheveled state.

"Yes, it was me. I learnt. Now listen to me. We don't have time, love. Please listen to me. You have to stay here. No matter what! Just stay here. It's not safe outside. Once it's over, I'll explain everything to you," he practically begged as she nodded, another tear escaped.