22. â¨ðª The Cost of Choices.
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Palace of Rana.
The chariot rattled along the dusty road, carrying Indu and Katha, the brave warriors who had fought valiantly to save their prince Arjun and his friend Aditya Singh from the clutches of the tyrant Ivaan had fallen. The soldiers who were escorting them whispered among themselves, their faces grim and sorrowful.
"How could this happen?" one of them asked. "We had a perfect plan. We were supposed to ambush Ivaan's camp at night, rescue the prince and Aditya, and escape before they knew what hit them."
"Something went wrong," another said. "Ivaan must have been tipped off. He was ready for us. He had more men, more weapons, and more traps. He slaughtered us like sheep."
"We should have double checked " a third said. "Someone sold us out. He was a snake in the grass."
"Who could that be?" the first asked. "Does anyone know what happened?"
"No," the second said. "But I saw the face of the recused people; they were not our Prince and King Aditya; they both were the disguise of the trap we deliberately fell into, we weren't able to save the real Prince's."
Indu felt a surge of anger as she heard the soldiers whispering among themselves. They were talking about her brother, Arjun, who was still in the clutches of Ivaan, the ruthless king of the enemy kingdom. Ivaan had come to their palace under the pretext of a peace treaty, but it was a trap from both sides, she knew. He had kidnapped Arjun and demanded a ransom for his release. Indu's family had tried to rescue him, but they had failed and were caught. Now they were in the courtroom, facing trial for treason.
Indu could not bear the thought of losing her brother. He was her protector, her mentor, and her friend. She had to save him, no matter what. She ordered to stop the chariot, and soon the chariot screeched to a halt, startling Katha, who watched with wide eyes as Indu leaped out.
The sword in Indu's hand felt heavy, its blade catching the pale moonlight. She cornered a nearby guard, her voice as sharp as the edge of her weapon. "Speak,"
"Tell me everything you know about Arjun. What were you talking about just now? Speak up. What has Ivaan planned to do with him?" she demanded.
The soldier trembled in fear. He knew that Indu was the youngest princess of the royal family, and she was known for her courage and fierceness. He also knew that she would not hesitate to hurt him if he lied.
"He...he is in danger, your highness. He is alive, but barely the soldiers in the kingdom saw the prince still in chains in their custody. Ivaan has tortured him, trying to break his and the negotiations is going on in the Kingdom right now, We failed our Plan , Prince and the stake is our Prince's life."
Indu felt a cold chill in her heart. She had to act fast. She looked behind her and saw a carriage waiting outside the palace. It was the same carriage that had brought her and her sister, Katha, out of the palace. They had managed to get out of the gates.
Indu had hoped to find a way to free her family, but now she realizes that it was too late. She had to get back to the chambers and save her elder sister. At least she was not naïve enough to think she would be able to save all her family, but she also realised why Anya had sent Katha and Anya away, but Anya was the princess of Rana too, who was still there. She was aware of the brutality of the negotiations that occurred between the king's and how the princesses, were treated. Indu knew the cruel dance of negotiations, the way princesses were pawns in a game of power. She had to save Anya while not risking Katha's life.
She dropped the sword in anger and despair, moving the soldiers aside, and ran towards the carriage. She saw Katha sitting inside, looking worried. Indu climbed in and hugged her.
"Katha, listen to me. I have to go back. We have to save Anya. She is in danger. Ivaan still has our brothers. We can't let that happen. I'll get back once I save Anya, and I will be back with Anya. you - you have to be brave. Do you understand?" Indu explains in sign language they used with Katha.
Katha nodded, but she also shook her head. She did not want Indu to go back. She was scared, she knew leaving alone like this could cause more trouble, She had seen the cruelty of Ivaan and his men.
She grabbed Indu's hand and gestured with her other hand. She pointed to the carriage, then to the road, then to the horizon. She was telling Indu to leave, to flee, to go far away, She explained their promise they had given to Anya.
Indu understood, but she also shook her head. She could not leave. She could not abandon her family, especially Anya She had to stay, and get Anya out.
She squeezed Katha's hand and looked into her eyes. She tried to convey her feelings with her words.
Katha, using sign language, said again, If you go, I'm coming with you. i--you-i can't leave you, I'm your elder sister. We will go together and save Anya.
Indu was stressed by now; she had made her choice to go back, but she knew the chances of getting caught by the enemy were greater, and she didn't want Katha to carry the burden of her choice while Anya had made them both leave; she knew she could not risk the lives of them both and fail Anya.
"Katha, listen to me. ,I love you. .. But I can't let you come. I can't be selfish. Anya is stupid; she won't leave, I have to do what is right. I have to save Anya. I will be back I promise you, know Annya, she would die for us. Please, Katha, please. Don't make me choose, I will be back and join you as soon as possible with Anya."
Indu spoke with passion, with conviction, and with desperation. She hoped to persuade Katha.
But she did not.
Katha looked at Indu with sadness, with fear, and with pity. She shook her head again, slowly, gently, and firmly. She did not agree. She did not want to leave Indu.
Indu's gestured again and pointed to the carriage, then to the road, then to the horizon. She repeated her gesture, more emphatically, more urgently, and more desperately. She was telling Katha to leave, to flee, to go far away.
Indu felt a surge of pain as she saw Katha's gesture. She felt a tear roll down her cheek. She felt a lump in her throat. She felt a hole in her heart. She felt a choice in her mind; she felt like betraying Katha as she ordered to force the carriage away.
She had to choose.
She had to choose between her sisters, she was disrespecting Katha's choice.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She reached for the sword and got out of the carriage, getting some of the soliders to go with Katha and the other half with her.
She interlocked her fingers with Katha I promise to save Anya and be safe myself.
Katha finally nodded somewhat, still in disagreement, but she knew time was ticking and action had to be taken now. This was not the time to debate.
Indu looked back at Katha and then ran towards the palace with a few soldiers.
Indu, as she ran into the palace, had to slay some of the enemy guards who were guarding even the palace gate, Her heartbeat fastened as she realised more and more soldiers of Virata had inflirtated her kindgom, even the palace.
This was grave. Her heart raced as she reached the king's chambers, expecting to find Anya there. where she assumed Anya would be. But to her surprise, she was made aware that the king himself had called in Anya to the courtroom. What was he planning?
Indu's heart clenched, fear for Arjun's life gripping her like a vise. Her plan to save Anya and escape was unpromising now, leaving her no choice but to confront the enemy head-on.
As she reached the courtroom, her pulse raced. Whispers swirled around, ominous and clandestine. An unknown voice cut through the tension, dripping with disdain:, "You have no idea what you're talking about, you fool. You have no idea what we've been through, what we've sacrificed, we ......... won't stop............ anything. You have no idea what war..........." She heard partially and saw Arjun on his knees and Arjun, who fell to the floor, gasping for air.
"Ar-ar-Arjun... you are still... he-re, alive!!!"Indu exclaimed in utter distress and a small sigh of relief at the sight before her, Arjun was alive, that brought a little relief in her heart, she had stunned everyone in the courtroom especially Anya she realised, whose eyes widened.she knew what Anya was thinking She had sent her away in the chariot; how how was she here.
In the dimly lit room, her resolve matched the stubbornness of Anya, a force that clung to her like the scent of rain on parched earth. The air crackled with tension, and she couldn't tear away the intensity of the gaze fallen on her, it was Ivaan his smirk held secrets, a promise of something forbidden as if he waiting for her? The question gnawed at her, a relentless ache.
His eyes traced the her form, lingering on the blood-smeared blade she clutched. Anger etched lines on his face, but it was more than rage She realized he must have inferred the blood were of his mighty soldiers.- She stepped closer, drawn to the danger like a moth to flame. The room pulsed with anticipation, and she wondered what went down here that made the situation so deadly this courtroom still looked the same but was dead silent.
She walked towards Anya, who had tears in her eyes. Indu's heart stuttered, caught between disbelief and aching sorrow. Anya's fragile breathing hung in the air like a delicate spiderweb, trembling with the weight of unspoken regrets. The room seemed to hold its breath, as if time itself had paused to witness the cost of choices. Anya was barely standing up. Indu ran faster, dropping the sword and holding her sister hugging her tightly.
Indu's unwavering gaze met Anya's tear-streaked face. "Scold me all you want," she declared, her voice resolute, "but I won't abandon you."
Anya's whisper, delicate as a falling petal, barely reached Indu's ears. "Oh, Indu............ you shouldn't have returned."
.................
And we sufferð¥¹ð¸ Thiswasacruicalstep
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I hope you like the story.
On side note
I was super busy with deadlines after deadlines, but heyy, i just realised the deadlines never end like ever so i took a break to write some. Thanks for the Q it was funâ¤ï¸ðªâ¨
Ssly ilysm this is for u an award-meme
(Update did some editing and gonna post a new chapter today. Happy Women's Day ðºðºðºðº with my love.
Super Super excited for the next chapter This might be my favourite chapter i am writing currently ðªâ¨
Long chapter ahead. Don't know why it took me so much time to write the next chapter but it finally seems perfect to me now.ð¸â¤ï¸)