Mallika felt her blood chill.
Just what on earth did this man mean? Was he the one who had sent the assassins? Then, was her father in collusion with them? But as far as she could trace things, she had never offended this man in any way. Why should he bother to harm her? She bit down on her lips.The headache continued to grow, developing into a distinct throb.
"Umm, Your Majesty, what do you mean?" Queen Svetmala interrupted Vidala. Her face had an indescribable expression etched all over.
"Nothing at all," Vidala broke into a broad grin. "I see the princess isn't feeling well. She should retire for a rest."
Mallika indeed wasn't feeling well, to say the least. Ever since she had come into King Vidala's proximity, an uncanny feeling had been developing in her-- one that warned her to beware this man. She frowned, "Seems Your Majesty really cares for me. If so, I would like to retire and beg you to excuse me from your welcome festivities."
"I hear you are turning twenty tomorrow."
Mallika turned to face Prince Utpala. Though she hadn't expected him to make her feel any better, she hadn't guessed either that his presence would make her worse. She lifted her hand and rubbed her temples. The pain was getting unbearable. If she continued standing, she might even faint.
"That is right, Your Highness," she bowed curtly. "But I am afraid my health is failing me at the moment. Kindly excuse me."
She turned and with a gaze of caution towards her mother, hurried to leave the place. What had happened to her? She was completely fine a few moments before, how could she fall so sick now?
Below the platform, she spotted her uncle busy issuing orders to the security personnel. After all, such big events like visits from the royal families of other nations required huge preparations and arrangements. Ensuring proper security was among the prime concerns of the staff involved.
She walked up to her uncle, feeling dizzy under the sun. "Uncle, I am not well."
Brihangad hadn't noticed the exchanges that had taken place on the platform. Thus, it was with some surprise that he rushed to support his niece now, who was walking somewhat unsteadily.
"Uncle, I am sorry to bother you, but can you please get me some water?"
Brihangad frowned, "Sure, but... did you go speak with King Vidala or Prince Utpala?"
"Both," Mallika pressed hard between her brows.
"That's bad," Brihangad seemed to mutter to himself. His voice was hushed enough to not catch other people's attention, but Mallika caught his words. "She's been affected by the demonic energies. Not good. Not good at all." He continued as he rushed away to get her water.
'Huh?' Mallika wondered. 'Affected by the demonic energies? What was that supposed to mean?'
She didn't have to think for long.
"Never thought the mighty First Princess of Sailam can be so defenseless in front of some people's mere presence."
A voice full of sarcasm sounded right behind her. Mallika turned back to spot a man clad in the costume of a royal guard of Vaimadri. He had the characteristics of a soldier, with an ugly looking scar over his upper lip.
"What do you mean?" She asked. An odd sense of familiarity rose within her. She seemed to have seen him somewhere before.
The man chuckled, "Shouldn't your question be --'Who are you?' Your stubbornness really knows no bound, does it? You don't even bother to know who one is before you challenge them."
"I haven't challenged you to anything," Mallika sneered, displeased at the way the people from Vaimadri had been treating her. Were these people all such horrible snobs? Her throbbing head only furthered her irritation. "And if you are a famous somebody worthy of being reckoned at first sight, you shouldn't bother talking to a nobody like me. Please have some self-respect."
The man's face hardened. "How surprisingly eloquent you are! Your words can make the sun rise in the west! I must say, years of..."
"General Durg!" Brihangad's voice brought him to an abrupt stop. Now only he could guess what he had been about to spew. Mallika couldn't be more thankful to her uncle. What a timely intervention! If he hadn't interfered, she was afraid she might have ended beating up a guard of that weird King of Vaimadri.
"Please leave her alone. She isn't feeling well."
"Ahh! General Brihangad, we meet again!" Durg walked up to the man who quickly passed a pot full of water to Mallika. "It isn't unnatural, I must say," the man named Durg continued. "Not everybody is strong enough to tolerate our King's aura."
"I see," Brihangad sneered back at him. "If your king's aura is so special that it can make a healthy person sick, I am afraid you should take him to a witchcraft doctor. He might be under the influence of some negative energy, you know."
Durg seemed to be in the verge of exploding. Mallika admired how his usual fair complexion suddenly turned all red, and silently praised her uncle's tongue. It wasn't usual to see him engage in verbal combats like this, so she was pretty surprised to see him stand up for her this way.
"You!!" Durg gritted his teeth. "Brihangad, you will suffer for this." He turned away and strutted off.
Brihangad turned to his niece, "Are you feeling better?"
The water in the pot was cool, and after drinking, Mallika had splashed some on her face and hands. Though the headache had only worsened, she felt somewhat calmer than before, specially now that a certain irritating person was out of sight.
"Better," she replied. "But uncle, what is all this big talk about Vidala's aura?"
Brihangad shook his head. "How did you find him?"
"I have a bad feeling about him and his brother," Mallika spoke her heart.
"As expected of you," Brihangad chuckled. "Normal people cannot discern their personalities in such little time. Only somebody who is very sensitive to other people's energies can sense that those brothers have something off."
Mallika frowned, "Sensing other people's energies?"
Brihangad nodded, "Say, haven't you felt intrigued by somebody's energy before?"
"I ..." Mallika paused. The image of that hooded stranger flashed before her eyes. Surprisingly, she felt her heart flutter at his mere thought. "I have indeed been intrigued before, but that didn't make me feel sick."
"Yeah, because that person must have meant no harm to you."
Mallika only cast an understanding gaze at her uncle. She probably couldn't describe her encounter that night to him, given that she had kept it a secret. Besides, she felt a flush creep up her body as she continued to remember those fleeting moments where she had interacted with the hooded man. She wanted to loudly tell her uncle that he was right. That man, who had intrigued her, had meant no harm.
"Our instincts never lie, you know," Brihangad tapped her wet palm, unaware of the rising heat in Mallika's body. "You should always keep in mind how you feel about a particular person. Our feelings are often very helpful in understanding a person... Wait! Why are you splashing so much water on your face?!"
Mallika didn't have an answer. But the more she listened to her uncle, the more her mind fleeted off to the image of that man. If only she could meet him once again! If only she could have seen beyond that veil of his....
Splash!!
"Ughh!" She grunted, wiping the trailing water droplets on the her sleeve. Why was her body heating up like this? "Uncle, the sun is too hot today, I will go back to my room for a sleep."
Brihangad smiled, though she couldn't understand why. "It's okay," he replied in a voice much calmer than usual. "Go, get a good sleep. I want to see you in good spirits tomorrow. My little girl has grown up. You are turning twenty. That's great! That's really great!"
Mallika smiled back. That look on her uncle's face was confusing, yet she could sense genuine happiness in his voice.
The thoughts about the hooded man kept her busy all the time as she took a quick bath, brushed her hair dry, changed into a set of women's clothes, and snuck into her bed. It was past lunch time, but she didn't bother to go. Her uncle must have already told people about her being unwell, so nobody had come to bother her. After all, she liked staying alone. She had been alone all her life.
It was common knowledge in the palace that the First Princess despised being dolled up. She didn't like being served by maids either. In all these years, the sisters Jaya and Vijaya had been the only two girls who had managed to get close to her. Vijaya was the one who liked to treat her mistress like a pretty doll that needed being decked up, while her elder sister Jaya shared the princess' interests in warfare. Mallika never minded either of them and let them behave however they wished with her. But recently, she had been deprived of their company. Jaya had been married off by her family, and though she had made many earnest promises to return back to her as soon as possible, Mallika hadn't been able to meet her since. As for Vijaya, she had followed her to the last battle, where she had somehow ended up consuming a tiny portion of the poisoned alcohol. Despite being cured, her body had been rendered weak and she was currently recuperating back in her home. So there was nobody who could help her out at the moment. The room too, was somewhat forlorn. Sometimes, she wished she had more people by her side. But then, people were too complicated. Trying to understand them was so tiring.
Gradually, Mallika rolled off into a slumber.
The curtains of her wide window had been long drawn apart as she liked to keep them that way. Open windows were her need. This made things much easier for someone else.
Arjun smiled, as he gently lifted himself over the sill of the large wooden window and soundlessly dropped into the room. His eyes scanned the large door, and he checked if the girl had locked them properly. The smile broadened as he grew certain that no unwanted soul could interrupt him now.
He walked over to the sleeping girl's side, his face beaming with a divine radiance.
He gently picked up Mallika's hand and started to feel her pulse.
"A few hours more, and I won't have to hide my identity from you anymore." He beamed.
Mallika's eyelids twitched, as she felt a comforting warmth spread through her body. A faint smile spread on her lips as well.
Arjun touched her forehead, running his fingers through her long, silken hair, that she had let loose. A soft aroma of spring flowers emanated from her being. Arjun gazed at her, drinking in her image. When he felt her shift in her sleep, he lowered himself to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead.
He noticed how her old features had begun surfacing in her present appearance. She looked neither like her mother nor like her father. But her appearance now was just like that of the mountain princess whom he had seen those many years ago, when in a fit of rage, he had risen from his meditation. The same soot lined dark eyes, that reflected what they beheld, the same bronze complexion that glistened when light fell on her, the same pearl lips.
He smiled. "Don't worry, this headache... it is because Vidala has long been cultivating demonic energy within him. My goddess, your gentle positivity was perturbed when you went close to him. Remember, you should stay away from him, okay?"
Mallika purred gently, moving her head closer to him. Arjun smiled. Placing his thumb between her brows, he released a current of his divine energy through her body.
Mallika relaxed immediately. Every nerve and sinew of her body, that had been throbbing in pain, felt cured. As Arjun was about to move his hand away, she lifted her palm and caught hold of his wrist, "Don't go! I am so alone!" she whimpered in her sleep.
Arjun stroked her hand slowly, "I am so sorry, I let you suffer all these years. But don't worry, from tomorrow, I won't hesitate to reveal myself to you. No one will dare to bully you anymore, and you won't ever be lonely again, I promise."
He gently lifted Mallika's head in his arms and placed it on her pillow. Comfort spread through the girl's being and she rolled off again to where he was sitting.
Arjun smiled, lifting her gently again and placing her back on the pillow.
"Sleep tight!"