Impressed (2): Chapter 4

"Sister, who is he and why did you bow to him?" Akshara asked while walking beside her sister, looking at her, asking for an answer.

"Akshara did you really not recognized him or just asking me for confirmation?" Lavanya stood for a moment and glanced at her sister while holding the small basket containing the Prasadam.

"Sister..." Akshara whined. "I really didn't recognize him. Who is he? Do you know him?"

"He is King Surendra Dev." Lavanya's eyes widened in astonishment as her sister couldn't recognize their king. "How cannot you recognize him?" Lavanya shook her head in dismay and resumed walking. "That's why I said you still need a lot of practice to accompany Sanvika Devi."

"Sorry sister. I am feeling so hungry that my mind stopped working." Akshara pouted. "It's almost 9 am and I still didn't eat anything." She said in a low voice while playing with the edges of her dupatta.

"What an excuse!" Lavanya chuckled at her sister's words but she couldn't deny the fact that Akshara, the girl who couldn't control her hunger for even a few minutes, stayed without eating anything for offering prayers. "We are going to market for buying a few ingredients and fruits too." Lavanya smiled.

Akshara's eyes beamed with happiness when she heard that her sister was going to buy fruits for her. Being a girl of 17 years, she used to get excited and happy whenever her sister used to take special care of her.

As they set their feet in the market, Lavanya's eyes were laid on a specific fruit shop. Akshara's eyes seemed to spot the same shop as it contained a variety of fruits. She immediately looked at her sister, trying to take her to the shop but abruptly stopped when she saw a frown on her sister's face. Following Lavanya's gaze, Akshara gawked at the direction to see an elderly woman wearing some dirty clothes, was standing at the shop with a small child clinging to her leg. Her hands were held in a folded position while a painful expression was evident in her face which seemed like she was begging him for something. But the vendor wasn't paying attention to her while the passersby weren't supporting her.

Lavanya's eyes narrowed when she understood the situation. Handing the small basket to Akshara, she rushed to the shop.

"How much are these?" Lavanya asked gently, showing her index finger at the oranges.

"8 copper coins each." The vendor replied rudely while checking on some fruits.

"8 copper coins?!" Lavanya arched her brow while taking an orange in her hand. "What's so special in them? Aren't the oranges sold here at the rate of 4 copper coins each?"

"These are sweetest oranges of our entire kingdom." The vendor said proudly. "You won't find this type of oranges in this area."

"Strange!" Lavanya shrugged her shoulders while she lowered her head a bit and sniffed the peel of the orange. "Why does it feel that it's going to be sour one?" She glanced at the vendor who was gritting his teeth at Lavanya. "Or...should I just taste and prove it that it's going to be a sour one?" She said confidently while her gaze was fixed at the vendor.

"What do you want?" The vendor stood up from his seat. "If you want to buy fruits then buy otherwise leave." He said while putting pressure on each and every word which stirred Lavanya's temper.

"You are basically robbing people." She glared at him before raising her hand and pointing at the elderly woman standing beside her. "She wants to buy some fruits for her grandson but because of your high price she couldn't afford it. Cannot you see how poor she is to afford to buy these fruits? Cannot you just sell her for a low price? Moreover, it's against the rules of the Maheswari kingdom to sell things at high prices."

"Who are you to oppose me, huh?" The vendor roared, attracting the people around him. "Do you even know me? Do you even know what I can do? And who are you to tell me what should I do and what should I not? If she is poor then she shouldn't buy my fruits. Who is forcing her?!" He chuckled darkly, making the people standing around them shiver.

"I don't know who you are and I don't need to know," Lavanya replied boldly. "All I know is you are a shrewd vendor who is robbing people without having any fear of getting caught by the king." Lavanya took four oranges and handed it to the little boy. "Here little one, it's all yours." She smiled gently as she crouched to reach the level of the child who was hugging the woman's leg. The boy hesitantly looked at his grandmother before taking to those oranges. "Good boy." She ruffled his hair softly and stood up to face the vendor. Taking 16 copper coins from her sister, she put them before the vendor. "Here's the price of your oranges."

"Pay the full price of the oranges or you will have to pay for this." The vendor looked darkly at her as if he was threatening her.

"What if I don't?" Lavanya tilted her head while her fierce gaze was fixed at him. "I am thinking of telling the king about your deeds."

"Really?" The vendor with a huge bulky figure laughed like a lunatic. "What if I erase your existence before you reach the king?" As soon as he finished his words than he took out a sharp knife and put it near Lavanya's neck, keeping a few inches distance between her and the head of the knife. "I do have connections with dacoits and I can do whatever I want. No one can oppose me." His laugh echoed in the entire area.

The crowd gathered around them grasped while the women started to gossip about the scene. The elderly woman who was trembling while witnessing the scene, fell on her knees, begging him to let her go but the latter had no intention as he didn't see any fear in Lavanya's eyes. Instead of fear, her fierce eyes were darted at him as if she would skin him alive. Akshara wanted to interfere but Lavanya shook her head, signaling her to stay at away from her business.

"Apologize!" The vendor roared while pressed the edge of the knife against her neck and the people around them whispered to Lavanya to apologize to him.

Lavanya's lips turned upwards forming a confident smile. She held the vendor's hand which was holding the knife firmly, before twisting it and making the knife press against his neck.

"Do you really want me to apologize?" Lavanya growled. "How about handing you to the king and then say sorry to you?" Lavanya tightened her grip around his hand, leaving the imprints of her finger's on his hand while her lips pressed together, showing her disgust at him.

Little did she know, a person was watching her since the beginning of the entire incident, starting from the begging of the elderly woman to Lavanya's bold act. Before she could say anything, a strong voice reverberated in the entire area, making everyone look at the direction of the source of the voice.

"Enough!" The voice thundered.

"King Surendra Dev!? Princess Saanvi!?"

All the people present there rambled before bowing to the king. Lavanya let go of the vendor and bowed to the King.

"Good job!" The king smiled walking towards Lavanya before averting his gaze to the vendor. "How dare you break the rules of Maheswari? You did a lot of mistakes just though a single incident." The king glared at the vendor and within minutes, the guards of the king surrounded the vendor. "First of all, you dared to sell the fruits at a high price which is totally against the rules of Maheswari, secondly you dared to threaten a woman, thirdly you neglected an elderly woman, fourthly you showed your arrogance by telling your involvement with the dacoits." The King's voice became colder. "Take him and lock him up in the dungeon." The king ordered before mounting on the horse that just arrived there for him and left for the palace along with princess Saanvi.

The people heaved a sigh of relief as the king captured the most shrewd person of their locality. They thanked and praised Lavanya for her bravery while she gently bowed to their showing respect.

She is really brave and far more intelligent than I expected. A smile appeared on King Surendra Dev's face upon reminiscing the incident in the market. I already have a good impression on that girl but she seems to take her place in my heart. She deserves to be the Queen of Maheswari and a perfect life partner for Virendra. She inherited her father's bravery and it's good for our kingdom.

Surendra Dev clapped his hands and a guard appeared.

"Ask the commander-general Bhargav to meet me. I have something important to discuss with him." The King said and the guard bowed to the king before disappearing from the room.

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Well, I wanted to ask something

Should I add some scenes regarding Prince Virendra and his present situation in the Avantipuram?

Thank you for reading. ❤

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