Koshilkoot, Padmadri

Nakshathra and Janardan headed to Padmadri on horsebacks to avoid catching the eye of the people in the early hour. It was a two-hour ride to the north with one of the most beautiful sceneries in Kavish on its way. Hills fill the canvas of one's vision on both sides, a thin line of blue cutting through the valley from the west joins the stream flowing south. They trotted on the plateau, taking in the eye-comforting greenery, the serenity of the surrounding with herds of sheep grazing the grass. Nakshathra felt the most of an ease after a long time.

With the Padmadri district not a popular place of visit, Nakshathra was almost unknown in Koshilkoot. People of Koshilkoot were known to stay in the comforts of their homes and rarely step out of Padmadri district unless it meant business. Them tending to their business provided Nakshathra an even more liberation to be free, they could peacefully get in and out without drawing attention.

On their way, they came across a small market. Red and green awnings were raised to protect the raw produce and supplies from the sun while hawkers stood outside their shops, each attempted to grab at least one customer for the day at their not so busy market.

The strong smell of freshly prepared sugar drizzled pineapple and banana fritters lingered in the air from the moment they stepped into the market. Nakshathra's tummy growled in need of food as she walked past the stalls.

The further they strolled in the market the more food stalls tempted her to have a bite except for the one she came for, it wasn't there. Soon she gave in and marched to a stall run by an old lady named Nalini, her stall set under the large banyan tree. With her toothless smile that deepens her facial lines, the old folk nodded her head to them as she mixed the barter for the fritters in a bowl. Nakshathra was craving for hot banana fritters Nalini was preparing.

"Darling, we have just opened our stall. Might take a while, the oil is heating now. Do you mind waiting?" asked the old lady clad in an old faded saree.

"I'll wait." She hated to jump to another stall when the one she asked was minutes away from getting their first sale. So, Janardan and she waited patiently while she swept her gaze across the market to find a familiar face. Her guard paced back and forth before volunteering himself to help the old lady.

The hot oil sizzled and gently the sweet banana smell filled the air. "Today seems to be a day I meet people with golden hearts," the lady muttered as she dipped sliced pineapples into the barter.

"Golden hearts?" Janardan asked in attempt to keep himself entertained. He picked up a pineapple and started cutting it for Nalini just like how she instructed, skilfully.

"People here normally don't have any patience nor helping nature. They are always in a hurry and self-centred. But today, what a blessing to my stall. I've seen two." The lady wiggled two of her fingers dipped in the fritters' barter to Janardan. She scrunched her face as if reassessing her statement, "No, three," she corrected.

"One man offered to help me while I set my stall up, this beautiful young lady is fine to wait and you took up the knife without me asking." Nalini faced the sky with her eyes closed for a quick prayer and continued with her work.

Out of curiosity, Nakshathra craned her head to get a glimpse of the man seated behind Nalini. She bit back a smile as the man turned to reveal himself. He was seated on the short wooden stool in front of the fire with a long skimmer in his hand.

"Dhruva! Now a fritters guy, huh?" Nakshathra crossed the small barrier in between two stalls and sat across him on one of the many large protruding roots. She scooted a little further, the heat from the fire was only reminding her of the fire incident.

"Met her on my way here. Struggling to carry the load to her stall so, I gave her a hand." He had also further shared Nalini's family condition which she had told him about. "She is raising two grandchildren. No husband, no children."

"And you made up your mind to stay with her for the day?" Nakshathra completed him as she took the fritters Nalini handed her on a dried lotus leaf plate.

Nakshathra admired the noble thought of the two men for helping without being asked. It fascinated her to learn people go out of their way to assist the helpless, if only there were more, the country would be better. She squinted her eyes looking up at the banyan foliage, the sun had risen and so did the heat from the burning kindling. Eyes darted from her guard to Dhruva, both were busy with their new job—cutting and frying and her being idle made her look jobless. Nakshathra finished her fritters and dusted her hands; she rose to her feet.

"When you two are doing something, I should help too. I'm going out to pull some customers," she announced.

"Could you?" Dhruva asked, an eyebrow raised.

"You think I can't? Watch me... and also the fritters. Make sure you don't burn it."

Nakshathra stepped forward, took a few varieties of fritters, cut them into small pieces and started handing it out as a sample. With only a few people in the market, it got her easier to get them taste it and convince them to buy some. Despite her lack of skills, she did a commendable job.

As she had promised, Nakshathra secured a good number of sales for Nalini. About three hours after the voluntary service, Nakshathra and Dhruva headed to the Koshilkoot hill by foot leaving Janardan with the old hawker. Nakshathra had taken the old road, a slope that was used to travel over the hill to a town that once existed on the other side of the hill.

It was a small rocky hill with dried shrubs all over it, deserted for its barren use, now it hardly carried visitors. People of Koshilkoot were always looking for opportunities to explore and earn, the hill wasn't one of it. But Nakshathra found it utterly mesmerizing and breath-taking.

The quietness, calmness, serenity and the picturesque view from the top of the hill, one could get a view of Padmadri district and on the other side, unconquered Gupagam forest. A forest no one would dare to venture for the highly violent jungle dwellers who weren't just aggressive but massive in size. Stories had been cooked up in various fashion which had also been a reason why many don't climb up the hill but no stories could stop Nakshathra.

If she ever got a chance, she always hoped to stay up the hill and be a part of the nature. And bringing Dhruva to her favourite spot meant her deep affection for him. It took her a lot of mind work to understand the deep meaning of her own feelings. Although she had not spent much time with Dhruva, she had unknowingly exchanged a part of her to him. Going through her Achi's stories had been one of the biggest reasons she could decipher Dhruva's hesitation.

The difference between them, a commoner and a princess. Probably his own financial status or some deep embedded secret? It could be any one of it and she knew she may not be able to change his mind either. No one had managed to change her mind, could she do it to him?

She grew up as a rebellious girl under her grandmother's wing who taught her to not bend for one's expectation. Bend your head and you will soon forget yourself. They will mould you to their liking and it will take ages to get yourself back.

So, why should Dhruva need to reciprocate just for the reason she likes him. She did not do it when Ahalya asked her hand for Abhimanyu nor she did when her father's honour was at stake. Nakshathra had dwelled in the very thought the entire night and came in terms with herself to accept whatever Dhruva has in his mind although both cases weren't the same, she would accept it.

"Nakshathra!" his coarse voice snapped her line of thoughts. Dhruva had stopped a few feet behind her. "About last night's question, you had asked—"

She nodded, swallowing a lump down her throat. Despite her calculation and analysation, Nakshathra was anxious to know if she had any chances to hear a positive word from him. He was everything that she had never knew she wanted; a respectful, kind and goodwill man. Her chest tightens with the length he took to utter each of his words.

"It didn't take long for me to understand the meaning behind it. And it has not been easy for me too..." A momentary pause filled. "... but I don't think an alliance between us will work." He closed the gap between them, a couple of feet away from each other. "I might break your peace forever," his whisper in a monotone voice.

She pursed her lips, eyes glazed, Nakshathra nodded again weakly. "So, you think you have the capability to destroy my peace, my happiness?"

Dhruva wore a screen of grimness on his face to hide his anguish but she could see it through, through his lack of eye contact with her. Dhruva eyes fell on everything but on hers, she understood he was hiding something but she was no mind reader to catch the reasons.

"Yes," he said, tapping anxiously on the dagger he had in his waistband.

Nakshathra had her eyes on him all along, taking in the fact, he was drifting away even before she could come close to him, she tried to memorise his features she wouldn't get to see anytime soon.

A realisation hit her; she met his soften grim face. "I don't think I can change your mind." She swallowed the lump in her throat clearing her quavering voice. She smiled sadly and pointed to the two of them. "I never wished for love before but now I do. A wish to share a life with the one I like and want to know more but when you deny to share it with me. I'm... I'm not going to push you." Nakshathra blinked away the freshly pooling tears.

He nodded his head as if in agreement. To what exactly, she couldn't guess but she knew he too was struggling within.

"I have everything to give you, Nakshathra, maybe not the happiness you are looking for. I will not deny what I have for you, I can't say it out loud either. It will break both you and me. The future could be depressing." Again, he closed the gap, leaving a couple of feet distant between them. He pulled out the dagger he had tucked in his waistband.

Nakshathra watched him as he held the dagger on both his palms like the most precious thing. A tight smile tugged at the corner of his lips; a lone tear fell on the hilt of the dagger. Dhruva wiped the tear off with his thumb and extended his hand to her, handing her the blade. Clueless to his action, Nakshathra waited for an explanation.

"I have always kept this close to me, a sentimental value. My mother's. The only thing I have of hers." His grip tightened on the dagger as his other hand reached for hers. "I want you to have it."

"But why?" she asked, pulling her gaze away from the dagger he had placed on her hand.

"So that the absent of the dagger will remind me to come get it back along with the care taker. The separation is agonizing but the void will always tell me what I have missed." He locked his eyes for a fraction long seconds before tearing it away. "Be careful with fires and don't go too near to the river at night. Take care." Dhruva did not wait for her to say anything, he pivoted and darted away from her.

Nakshathra watched his retreating back with the dagger in her hand still unable to sink in the reason behind his action, his parting words lingered over her head. All she saw was him going far and away. The tears she held cascaded down her cheeks.

"Wait!" Nakshathra sprinted down the hill and stopped just before him. "This is what I could give you now," she said and wrapped her arms around his neck.

An embrace was what she could give him in return, a farewell gift. She clung to him, giving all the love she had developed in the short span of time. The warmth of his body was like a remedy for her pain. Slowly she loosened her hold to let go instead she felt his strong arms snaked up her back and embraced her, tighter. Welding their hearts together. In the embrace, she knew he would come back and it would be just a matter of time. He may not be able to give the happiness now but he would later, she believed. Till then, the moment would be embedded in her for as long.

"No matter how long it takes, if you change your mind. Know that Nakshathra is here." Her voice hitched, she slowly tore herself from him and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Go now and remember I'll be waiting. Even if my hair turns grey." She stifled a laugh a rather sad one and wiped her tears off her cheeks. "Go," she said and turned her back to him.

It was a great pain although there wasn't anything solid between them, the pruning of a feeling ached. Emptiness washed her like the wind passing through the barren hill as she stood under the scorching sun. When the heat was too unbearable to withstand, she dragged herself further up the hill to retrieve her solidity. Leaving Koshilkoot broken heart was never in her plan although she had anticipated it. The dagger in her hand was light in weight, blue in colour and intricate in design on the hilt. A sense of responsibility filled her, the dagger was his only connection to his mother and it was with her.

"You are mine now and I'll keep you safe until he comes back," she said between her cries and tucked it at her waist.

The greenery in front of her was vast, a foreign land. Beyond the forest starts the territory of another country, Kamakshya. A country bounteous of power and miraculous enchantments, Achi Mangalam's birth country has been suffering with countless attacks and assaults. A country she wanted to visit; her mind tried to convince her to take the chance.

Fifty feet down the slope hill, through the Gupagam forest and into the Kamakshya territory. All the pain will be left on the other side of the hill. Nakshathra took a deep breath and shut her inner chattering. As her glassy eyes casually swept over the forest and her eyes fell on a group of people by the foot of the hill following a man. She observed them closely, all the ache she had gone through an hour ago had disappeared and replaced with inquisitive on the happening.

Behind her, footsteps approached, heavy and draggy against the grit path. A man, she figured from the sound of their panting. At once she hoped it to be Dhruva but the next second, she knew it wasn't him. "Rajakumari?" The voice belonged to Janardan.

She shushed him immediately and gestured him to take a look at the bottom of the hill. They watched the three men in mask tailing the man. Nakshathra assumed they must be skilled for following without the man realising. A while later they ambushed the victim and strike him with a thick piece of wood in multiples. The loud shriek of the struggling man reached them at the top of the hill. As the man grew weak unable to resist them, one of them threw a black cloth over his head and tied his hands with a rope.

Despite the urge to rush for aid, they observed calmly, reading the situation. It was as if Nakshathra had known exactly what they were doing, she asked, "What do you think is happening, Janardan?" to confirm her own observation.

"Abduction."

"Abduction, it is. And who abducts him? I could only think of one. Don't you think we should do something?"

"We should but we—"

"You and I can fight well, Janardan."

"No! I can't put your life in danger," Janardan stopped her.

"These men most likely have been abducting our people the same way many others have gone missing. If we get them, the rest will transpire itself."

"What? Rajakumari, we don't have any backups. No one even knows we are here." He whispered yell but she only smirked.

"We will get back home safely, don't worry. Let's go." She tapped his arm before descending down the hill.

"You can't be serious." The guard threw his hands in the air but followed her nonetheless. "Oh God, please be with us."

*-*-*-*-*-*