Dravid Throne Room----
In the dim light of the moon, a person walked towards the throne of the queen and sat in it. He then patted his one finger on it. One touch, and the throne caught fire. The man then smirked and walked out of the room.
A palace maid saw the fire and called for the soldiers to extinguish it. The royal family members too heard it. They ran out of panic and reach near the throne.
"How do the throne caught fire ?", asked Silamban.
" I don't know about that, your majesty. But yes, I saw someone going out of the throne room", said the maid.
"Seems like the five obstacles have already got their way up to me. I have to be cautious", Devsena said to herself.
In the marketplace----
The men and women were doing their jobs. When some saw Jaldev, whisperings started.
" Who is this man ? He didn't seems to be from here".
"He is so fair skinned. This means he is definitely not from here".
"Seems like I can't cover my identify just by wearing the dresses of the Dravid. I have to take the help of a Dravid. There are chances of me getting caught if I kept on moving like this", said Jaldev to himself.
He saw two soldiers looking angrily towards him. He was frightened to death. The Dravid soldiers came towards him but walked past him to catch a person who was holding a watermelon.
Dravid Practice Hall----
Devsena was practicing with Mekhla's mother. Both were equally powerful and skillful but Mekhla's mother missed by a chance. Devsena raised her sword with stopped it in the air only.
" In a fight, no matter who is in front of you, that person is your opponent. Mercy shouldn't be shown upon an opponent. In a fight, there is no room for sensibilities. Emotions during a fight makes your attack light and you defeat for sure", said Mekhla's mother.
"But how can being defeated by your mother can be counted as a defeat ?", asked Devsena.
"Recognize me Devsena. I am your enemy at this moment. Remember Devsena, the sword edge do not recognize relations".
At this moment some soldiers came with the man they caught in the market place.
" Hail the great queen "!
" Who is this man ? ", asked Mekhla's mother.
" We caught her in the marketplace, your majesty. He was running away from us. We got the map of the palace from him. We doubt that he is the one who yesterday sneaked into the palate and fired the throne".
Mekhla's mother got furious and cut his chest.
"Take him away and behead him. There is no place for mercy in royalty. The punishment for any mistake is death".
"But killing someone.... like this.... without prove...."
"If you want to sit in the throne, you have to throw your emotions away Devsena. For a queen, her throne is only his everything. You will be called the queen, when you will become like me".
Dravid Marketplace----
Slave Shop----
A person with a bulk belly came in front of the store. The owner said, "Manar Sir, you seems to have loose much weight. Seems like you have gone too far in search of slaves. I am selling so many slaves, why don't you buy one from me"?
" No no no, all these slaves are useless. I know that it's not easy to endure my wife's wrath but I am the only one who gets the scolding no. She says what kind of husband am I. Can't even find a good slave".
"You have got your support Jaldev. One who even afraid of his wife, you don't have to be afraid of him", murmured Jaldev.
That man moved to a cart to buy dress for his wife. He has tied the slave he brought with the wheel of the cart. Jaldev quietly cut the rope from that man's feet and made him free. He then tied a donkey to that rope.
" Thank God that I got such a beautiful dress in a cheap price. Why have you became so heavy, slave ?", asked Manar.
He turned and was almost dead to see a donkey. He started imagining.
His wife was standing in the middle of the marketplace and he was sitting upon the donkey. " Sale! Sale! Sale! Take this beautiful and hardworking donkey with my husband free".
"Master! Please give me a work master. Please. I can do the work of ten men all at once. It's okay even if you give me very little wage", this voice snapped him out to reality. Jaldev seem to be very much pitiful to his eyes.
" Turn around! Hmmm.... You are okay", said Manar.
"What"!
" Means you look very powerful".
"I can do the work of ten persons all at once".
" Can you also do the household chores "?
" Yeah! I can do it".
"But remember, you will get.... rice to eat and... a place to sleep at night. Nothing else".
" Accepted Master. I just need a roof to cover my head and two hour bread to kill my hunger".
At this moment, two soldiers came and looking towards Jaldev said,"Who are you ? Give your identity. You didn't seems to be from here".
"Who said that he is from here. He is my slave. I have brought him from a far away land. His name is Shivgam. He was living in the forest where the trees are so high that the sun rays didn't get a way to touch the land. That is why, see, he is so fair skin unlike us. Now give us permission or else you will get a call from the Royal Palace. I am Manar, the chief gardener of the Royal Palace", said Manar.
"Complaisance Master! Complaisance. You gave this servant a new name, Shivgam", said Jaldev.
" Didn't you had any name before"?
"No master. I never had such a master like you. You are great master. Master, are you really the Royal Gardener"?
" Absolutely "!
" So have you ever met the princess "?
" Both of them".
"Master, I too want to meet the princess one day. Will you introduce me"?
Just as Manar was going to reply, the sound of the drum beat grabbed his attention. A man came to the centre of the marketplace and said," Attention! Attention! Attention! Today is the last day of the competition of choosing our princess Devsena's husband. One who will be able to defeat her will be married to her but the one who will not be able to defeat her will be beheaded".
"Did you listen that ? Now you can also see the princess but from a distance. If you will go near too much you can also be beheaded", said Manar. He left saying this.
" Don't worry! I will not only see her but will also kill her with this excuse ".
Royal Palace----
Among the audience, Jaldev was standing with Manar.
" Master, how do these princesses looks like"?
"There is no words to describe the princess".
" Is she very long in height "?
" Her height.... Not much".
"I have listened that she have defeated many big warriors".
" There is no one who can be compared to our princess".
"About the height, does she looks like a dwarf"?
" Dwarf "?
" Or does she looks like me"?
Manar slapped Jaldev on the cheek and said, "Don't you dare compare her to you. The people here will cut that tongue of yours if you do so".
The drums started to beat again. Manar pinched Jaldev and said," Look our princess is coming ". He pointed towards a direction.
The people, on the sight of Devsena shouted, " Hail the princess Devsena! Hail the princess Devsena! ".
Devsena came, bowed to Mekhla's mother who was sitting in the throne and took her seat besides Mekhla.
Shock was written all over Jaldev's face. "That day her idol took my heart away. How can the one who I have desperately wanted to meet, whose statue only took my heart away can be the person whom I am here to kill ?", murmured Jaldev.
At this moment Purohit Indramitra's words echoed in his mind. " All the hopes of Dravids, their present and future are all on their to be queen Devsena. That is why you have to kill her at any cost".