TRIAL-END OF AN ERA

Chapter-22

The sky was catered with dense clouds. It looked like something awaited Hiranga that even the heavens testified. The sun was hiding behind the clouds for a long time and the season suddenly became serious, losing its innocent smile in the spring.

Dhruv and Jatin set to white flower mansion in the morning.  When they reached they sensed something amiss. It was him; her horse was not in the scene and the number of guards when she is inside is not matching. They hurried inside and inquired to the head butler who came outside to greet them. The answer was unexpected by heart but expected from their brain.

'Commander has not returned'

They loaded in their horse and were about to set towards Lexicon ,Aram reached the gates and was startled.

"Where is the commander? Isn't she coming to the palace. I am here to pick her."

"She.. is still in Lexicon."

"What??" Aram was frightened rather than surprised and they noticed his change in behavior.

"Why that expression? Maybe she slept there enjoying the breeze. Anyway, it's not the first time."

Aram was becoming furious but he gulped his words and set to Lexicon in a haste. They followed.

When they reached Lexicon, they were relieved as they saw her horse tied near to the tavern where they gathered last night because her horse was like her shadow that will even follow her in the netherworld.

"Commander...commander.... Amanya.."

They called her but no one was there to respond. Aram suddenly turned pale and his eyes bulged out, breathing hardly;

"Bad.." He placed his hand near heart, clenched his robe and set off with his horse.

Dhruv and Jatin were confused as they thought maybe she had something urgent and Aram was overreacting. They followed him.

The weather was bad and there was a thunderstorm but it couldn't slow down Aram. He went straight to the imperial palace where Jiva was standing in the gate to receive Amanya. When he saw three of them he stared at Aram dropping his umbrella in the rain asked him with shivering lips;

"So she left..."

"Even after all our effort we still failed" Aram was weeping and his tears could be seen even amidst the raindrops.

Dhruv and Jatin were standing behind them perplexed as they felt they missed a long chapter of their life.

"Since it's her fate she has to face it." His majesty said standing behind them.

"No, I won't give her to any fate." Jiva went straight to his chambers and Aram followed him. It was the first time they witnessed Jiva arguing with his father. Dhruv and Jatin saluted his majesty and went to Jiva.

"Dhruva, something is off."

"It's not something but everything."

" Starting from Aram's suspicious behavior to Jiva's strange possessiveness."

"And from their non syncing conversation to majesty's teary eyes, everything is off."

They reached his chamber where they heard him chatting with Aram that shocked the generals.

"I won't let her die."

Lying on the river bank, completely drenched; She slowly opened her eyes...