Venu's eyes were fixated on the floor, while his heart raced against his chest expecting an outburst from the king. But when Samarjit spoke, his demeanor was calm and his voice was composed. "Why, Venu? Why did you do that?"

"Maharaja, I had no intention of harming Devika garu. I just wanted to extract information. That's what I have been trained for." Venu replied, struggling to recollect what he had done that resulted in the escalation of the subject. As far as he remembered, he had been polite. "I swear I didn't threaten her. I just talked to her. She continued the conversation willingly."

"It is this conversation that engendered genuine feelings of affection in the poor girl's heart."

"What!" Venu gaped at his king. "Maharaja, I--"

"Let me finish!" Samarjit said sternly. "I want you to be honest with me. Did you ever, during the entire period of her stay in the palace, behave in a way that could have led to her liking you? Was it your intention to get close to her and use her to gain information about the queen?"

"No." Venu tried to protest. "You have known me since we were children. I would never do something like that. I'd never toy with someone's emotions for my personal gain. You have to believe me. I never did anything to hurt her." He his voice carried a plea for Samarjit to understand.

"I know you wouldn't hurt someone intentionally. But the damage has been done. Devika garu understood your interest in her as genuine liking. And why shouldn't she? A good man like you taking special interest in her would make any girl of her age, reach this conclusion."

"But I didn't--"

"Don't you understand, Venu?" Samarjit raised his voice. "It's not about you. It's about her. You may not have meant for this to happen. But you can't dictate how she should feel. The truth is, your actions caused pain to her."

Venu felt his head spinning. He sat down. Now, when he thought about it again, it slowly occurred to him. The way her face broke into a smile and her eyes sparkled everytime they met. 'What have I done!'

"Maharani was here. She was furious. She thinks we planned this together and you acted upon my command. She is not wrong in thinking so. I planted a spy on her earlier. I asked you to get information about her, without even stopping to ask you what you were planning. I was so desperate, that I didn't care to check whether we were doing anything unethical." Samarjit sighed.

"I will apologize to her. I will explain that you were not involved in this. I will beg for forgiveness from both of them" said Venu, in a tone that carried deepest self-loathing. "The Queen saved me from being banished from the empire. And I repaid her by hurting her friend."

"I don't think it is advisable in this situation. I will try talking to her tomorrow. Hope her anger will be in control once she wakes up." Samarjit sat down next to Venu, wondering if he was turning ruthless due to his father's absence. 'Is this what it takes to be a king? How did my father manage to to rule without hurting anyone? Will I ever be as good as him?'

---***---

"Maya, is this true? Did you hit Samyukta's neighbour this morning?" Kaushiki asked her daughter.

Mayanshi hid her tiny little mud-stained palms, before her mother noticed them. "But amma, he scratched Samyukta's cheeks. She was crying. And then he laughed at her. He is a bad boy."

"But my Maya is a good girl. Isn't she?" Kaushiki made her sit on her lap. "Then why did she hit him?"

"Because Lord Krishna told me to." Mayanshi answered as if it was obvious.

"Lies. Did Lord Krishna tell you to be violent?" Kaushiki wiped her daughter's palms with the end of her saree.

"No. But he said we should always fight injustice."

"That's a big word." Kaushiki sounded impressed. "Do you know the meaning of injustice, sweetheart?"

"Yes. When bad people hurt good people and make them cry." She said, making her mother giggle. "We should stop them. Or they will make everyone cry."

"So, my Maya will fight these bad people?"

"Yes. When I grow up I will arrest all bad people and put them in jail." Mayanshi announced.

A cool breeze made the lamps flicker, bringing Mayanshi back to the present. She hugged the clay idol of Krishna her late mother had gifted her long ago. "Wherever I go, I'm greeted by evil. They are everywhere. How do I fight this, my Lord? Do I even deserve to be the Queen, when I can't even protect my family?"

Her train of thoughts was disturbed by a knock on the door. "What is it?" She said without bothering to get up. "I said I didn't want to be disturbed. I'm not feeling well." She expected the person to go away. To her surprise, the knock was louder this time. "Maharani, your adviser requested a letter to be delivered to you right away. He said it is very important."

Mayanshi opened the door slowly, took the letter.

"Maharani, you look ill. Should I call the physician?"

"No, thank you. You should go back to your quarters." She dismissed her. "Go straight to bed. Don't talk to anyone." She didn't want them to get hurt like Devika. She made a mental note to instruct all her maids to carry daggers for their protection.

Once the maid walked out of the chamber, she opened the letter, which simply read-

He is here. Waiting for you.

She sprang to her feet immediately. She had no time to waste. She headed towards Ganesha's house.

---***---

Shivam, an old man with grey hair, wearing robes that had seen better days, stood trembling in the presence of the young queen and her adviser, as if expecting them to charge at him any moment.

When Mayanshi bowed to touch his feet, he flinched, which didn't go unnoticed by her. "My apologies for scaring you, kind sir. I just seek your blessings. You are free to refuse if you dislike me."

"No, Maharani. I didn't mean to do that. Forgive my behavior."

"Call me Maya, please. You were my father's guard. You knew me as a child." She bent down once again for his blessings. This time, he didn't tremble. He blessed her with a smile on his face and tear-filled eyes.

"I hope your journey was fine." She enquired.

He lowered his head. "I am not sure if I am welcome here."

"Why? This is your home. You belong here."

"The last time I was here I was attacked."

"The last time you were here, it was a different queen. Now I assure you that you are under my protection. No one can harm you." She promised him.

He looked uncertain. She offered him some water and waited patiently till he drank it all. "I request you to tell me why you fled Virata. Who attacked you? What frightened you so much that you had to change your identity and stay hidden for fifteen years?"

"I... I.. My king was murdered..." He trailed off.

"Yes. He was killed brutally. And we have been told a story which sounds very convincing. But now that we have a closer source, we would like to hear your version of the story. Only if you are willing to share, of course." She spoke kindly. "Is it true?"

Shivam looked distressed. He stayed silent until his breath was steady. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse. "What I witnessed was something else." He managed to say.

Mayanshi let out an audible gasp. All these years she had been dying to know the truth. And when the moment arrived, she wasn't certain whether she was ready to hear it. "What is it? What did you see?" She tried to sound as composed as she could.

"It's true that Lord Bhairava and the King had an argument that night. But contrary to what everyone believed, the king didn't die right then. I saw him alive after his brother left the tent."

"Are you... are you sure?" Mayanshi asked, desperation evident in her voice.

"Yes. His knee was bleeding. But he looked normal. He asked me and my fellow guard, to fetch the physician and be discreet about it. It took us several minutes to search for him. And while we were busy with the task, I noticed Devi Vaishali and Lord Susharma enter his tent." His voice shook. "I didn't think anything of it. I should have known.. I could have stopped it.. If only I was.." At this point, he broke down.

Ganesha put his hand on Mayanshi's shoulder, trying to comprehend what she was thinking. She looked pale. Her eyes met his, silently asking him to tell her she heard it wrong. Eventhough she had her suspicions regarding her father's death, she never thought they would be confirmed like this. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead, as her breathing became labored. 

"What happened next?" Ganesha questioned Shivam.

"When the physician arrived, the king was lying on the floor. Lifeless. He was fine few moments ago. I couldn't believe my eyes. He had seven stab wounds on his body, which weren't there when I last saw him." Shivam continued. "Before I could speak, me and few other guards were arrested for abandoning our posts. No one would listen to us. And when we were released after a week, it wasn't in the traditional way. They took us to a barren land in the middle of nowhere and attacked us to make it look like we tried to escape and they had no choice but to kill us. I was the only one who escaped-- Maharani!" Shivam rushed to reach Mayanshi as she fainted.

Ganesha placed her head in his lap and rubbed her palms which were ice cold. A few moments later, she opened her eyes, as tears leaked from them.

She sobbed uncontrollably. Ganesha held her hands, making an admirable effort to control his own emotions. His king was murdered by that vicious woman and her pawns.

"Please... please stop crying, child. You are ill." He tried to comfort her.

"My father..." She said amid hiccups, "those monsters... killed.." She buried her head into her hands. "He trusted them... those savages." She wept until there were no tears left in her.

Ganesha forced a glass of water down her throat. "We will order an official trial once the war is over. Now we also have a witness. I will keep Shivam garu safe."

But Mayanshi wasn't listening. All she knew was that her father was murdered. Not only did the murderer walk free, but also sat father's throne.

Every bit of her want to make them pay. Her heart was filled with only one desire. Revenge.

---***---

"Maharani, the king has requested permission to enter." A maid announced.

"I want to be left alone." She said without looking. Samarjit, who heard her booming voice, walked away quietly.

She sat on the cold hard ground, wishing for it to swallow her alive. It felt like a part of her was lost and could never be recovered. Her world was torn apart.

She held the clay idol of the Lord and stared at it with emotionless eyes. She realized no matter how hard she tried, she could never get justice in this evil world.

But she wouldn't give up. She never gave up. That's what made her Mayanshi. She stood up and wiped her face.

"Tell my bodyguard that I wish to see him." She ordered a maid servant.

Govardhana appeared in a few moments. "Maharani, you wished to see me?"

"Yes. I want to meet my uncle."

"But Maya, we agreed not to meet for a few days after what happened yesterday." He reminded her.

"This is important. If you don't want to accompany me, I will go alone."

He immediately gathered that something was wrong. He nodded at her and followed her.

Throughout the journey, he was extra vigilant. He kept glancing back once in a while.

Mayanshi didn't stop anywhere until they reached their new destination.

"Maya. Didn't expect to see you again so early. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Her uncle greeted her. "I hope you are feeling well--"

Mayanshi held her hand up, and silenced him from speaking any further. "No time for pleasantries, uncle. Let's get down to business."

"Sure." He looked anxious. "What is it that you want me to do?"

She drew in a deep breath and looked directly into his eyes. "We take the city."

---***---

Mayanshi's current mood: