TRIAL-END OF AN ERA

Chapter-93

Time stopped, the petals in the box dried yet each word in the scroll remained fresh in their minds. A cobra lived with them for so long, yet they couldn't locate him. The camouflage skills of cobras bomb shelled their pillar of confidence. Though the serial killing saga ended, Yuvan was restless. The thing that worried him was not the fact that the spy lived with the 'crowned prince' of Amai but the warning in his letter. Half of his imperial bodyguards were asked to station at Dashur. The words 'good bye' ringed in his ears.

The things at Dashur was returning to normal. The only place that resisted the flow was the court official's mansion. It became aloof and dull. A person's sudden transition in behavior reversed the entire mansion's vibes. Apeksha changed to a different person after the incident. She was in low spirits and reluctant to speak. Yuvan also didn't intervene as he knew she needed time to accept.

But things didn't seem to follow his way. Day by day she slipped to more loneliness.

"Commander, Alok has reached Hiranga and is stationed at Daloha now." Ashok reported.

"Devi, Can I ask you, are you fine?"

"Any doubts??"

"Yes, I doubt."

"Commander, according to your plan, we have completed our mission and now it's time to end this and bid farewell. His Majesty has ordered your safe journey on all the three forces of Amai."

"I know." She looked at him and walked away with a paining smile pinned on her face. It seemed like all her aura of a daredevil commanding general faded away and the remaining was just the barren and dryness of a war field.

She walked in the corridors of the mansion. She knew how she hesitated to leave them yet the circling responsibilities over her, she was left with no choice. Each step she took, the destination was him, she could feel her heavy heart. It was like a brimming river, she tried to resist its flow yet it decided its own path.

"Apu.." She paused. Her feet no longer moved. she was reluctant in recognizing that familiar voice yet her body turned to it.

"Apu, what happened to you? Why are you avoiding me? Are you afraid."

She nodded her head, "I believe you. You won't..."

She walked closer, "Let's go for a walk." Her voice had a sudden tint of deep pleasure. The day was cloudy and became darker before sunset. There were not many people in the crowd. They walked south through the streets. She walked past some of the open shops and was merrier than he expected. It was simply a delight. Their stroll led them to the outskirts of Dashur. Her happy face, he forgot everything about Alok.

A sudden yet expected downpour received them at the barren grasslands in the outskirts. They took shelter under a big banyan tree. She stood next to him, their hands placed at the tree. She slowly moved her finger one by one and touched his fingers. He stood still cold and hot. She grabbed his hand, the warmth of it could clear the cold of an entire rain that descended.