Chapter 3 - Maira

After 20 years

Dark Forest, Rose Kingdom.

At Midnight of the full moon, a strange sound is hauled through the air full of emotions. The sound is like a peaceful lake, bedtime song by mother and full of positive energy.

All the creatures are in deep sleep like a mother puts them to sleep, singing them a lullaby. A girl with a slender body is sitting under a tree, holding her head up, singing a pleasant song with her eyes closed. She sat placing her hands on the two lion cubs, fondling them and her foot on a tortoise shell like rock. A cold breeze is blowing on her face making her hair float in the air. Her face is glowing under the light of the moon. Slowly a peacock moves behind her and spreads its feathers making the place she sat look like a natural throne made only for her, which gives out a strikingly picturesque appearance.

The girl slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Not to her surprise, all the animals in the forest are sleeping peacefully around her like small babies. Looking at the creatures, she smiled and slowly walked away from that place without making any noise. She doesn't want to disturb the peaceful sleep of her innocent babies. Just like that she disappeared into the forest.

She reached her place within a few minutes even though it is miles away from the place where she just came from. She lives in the deep forest where normal humans fear to enter. The place is filled with all kinds of wild animals and poisonous creatures but for her, it is her home for the past few years.

"Maira. Where did you go in the middle of the night, child?" Raji asked with concern in her eyes for her beloved Maira.

"Raji ma, why are you awake? Are you not feeling well?" Maira inquired..

"No dear, I am fine. You did not come home early, so I am waiting for you", Raji said with gentleness in her eyes.

"Ok Raji ma, but don't wait for me like this. Just go and sleep. Good Night Ma", Maira said and turned around to go to her room.

"Maira.." Raghu called her.

"Raghu Dada. Are you waiting for me?" Maira asked calmly.

"Yes", Raghu said.

"Ohh. Do you want to discuss something with me?" Maira inquired seeing his serious face.

"Come child.. Sit with me", Raghu said and walked towards a wooden chair.

Maira calmly sat opposite to Raghu and waited for him to speak.

After sometime Raghu started talking, "Maira the tribal chief requested us to visit him along with you."

"Okay", Maira said but her eyes were filled with questions..

Full Moon, 20 years ago

When Raghu and Raji rescued Maira when she fell into the river, they both performed first aid on the kid to rescue her and they wanted to bring that girl to the fort but suddenly a pigeon came, carrying a message in its beak.

After seeing that message Raghu and Raji changed their minds and rescued the child from enemies. Avoiding the enemies, Raghu and Raji tried to hand over the girl to her grandfather King Chanukya but in the middle of their way they were attacked by enemies. So they had to change their way and start living in different places to protect Maira from the enemies.

When Maira turned eight years old, Raji explained to Maira about her own identity. After listening to the entire story, Maira didn't cry but she calmly looked into Raji's eyes and nodded in response. Raji never forgot the look in Maira's eyes. They were burning with something which she didn't understand.

After a few days Maira suggested to Raghu an idea to not be hunted down by enemies.

"Raghu Dada, to avoid the hunting from those enemies, we need to move from this place and hide in their own territory to save ourselves", She said calmly.

Raghu who was shocked by her words didn't respond for some time and after recovering from the shock, he said, "But it is too dangerous. They will easily find us."

"No.. all these years they have been searching for us in all places but they didn't search their own kingdom because they thought that we were hiding far away from their clutches. If they thought that we are hiding in their own kingdom it would question their authority, so believe me, that's the best option", Maira stated.

"But still, it is too dangerous. Let us move to your grandfather's place", Raji suggested.

"No Raji ma, it is not a wise decision. They are probably waiting for our arrival at that place and my instincts said that they are not aware of my twin sister. If that is the case then we will put my sister in danger", Maira denied raji decision.

"Dada we are moving to Rose Kingdom tonight and after that try to get some information from your network about the existence of my sister", Maira said to Raghu.

Raghu nodded his head in response.

For the couple she looked like their KING.

After successfully entering the Rose kingdom, they didn't move into the villages, instead they moved into the forest and there they met a tribal group. On their way, Maira rescued one of the tribal guys who was injured and after that he took them to their people. They offered Maira, Raghu and Raji to live with them. Thus Maira started living in the enemy kingdom like a fearless soldier.

The name of the head/chief of that tribal group is "Taika". He is fond of Maira and he personally taught her many techniques in archery, sword fighting and mainly the language of the animals without knowing her actual identity. She studied many forest techniques with the help of Taika and she is also respectful to the chief.

One day Taika, amazed by her learning speed, asked Raghu for her identity but Raghu didn't disclose her identity to him. Taika used so many methods to know about Maira but to his avail he didn't get a word from his mouth. One day Taika promised over his life that he would never disclose her identity to anyone even if he is at his death bed. After discussing with Maira, Raghu informed Maira's true identity to the chief.

The chief was surprised with the information but later he smiled that his speculation about Maira has been correct that she is not an ordinary girl.

From that day, Taika looked at the girl in a different light and taught her all the skills he had. He never taught anyone all the skills because once they learn all the skills, they will misuse them but for Maira he can trust with his life that this girl will never misuse the powers she has. He never saw her treating the people indifferently and even though she seems silent, she cares for everyone.

Generally these tribal people didn't rely on their kings because they always disliked being ruled. So they never appeared in front of those royal people. They are low-key and that was the reason Maira agreed to live with them.

Present day

"Anything else dada?" Maira asked.

Raghu tried to say something but finally he said, "Nothing, you can go and take a rest, Princess."

"Ok dada, Good Night", Maira greeted and left for her room.

Raghu and Raji looked at each other and sighed as the next day would be a very long day for them.

Next day, as discussed, Maira, Raghu and Raji made their way to the tribal group to visit the Chief Taika.

When they reached the place, at the entrance, one of Taika's students went inside and informed Taika about their visit to him. After getting his approval, he welcomed the three into the room where Taika was present. The three folded their hands and slightly bowed before Taika.

"Master you requested for our presence. May I know the reason for this?" Raghu asked slowly.

Taika slowly opened his eyes and said "Yes."

After sometime Taika said slowly, "My dear Maira, you remember your past right? Today I want to discuss something with you."

Maira slowly nodded her head.

"I think this is the time for you to meet your sister", Taika declared suddenly.