Chapter 8 - Chapter 8

Chitranjan's voice reverberated through the corridors as he summoned his trusted assistant, Ranauk, to gather all the maids and butlers of the house in the grand hall. The air crackled with anticipation as the servants exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what awaited them.

In the expansive hall, Chitranjan stood tall, his eyes piercing through the crowd like daggers. He was a formidable figure, radiating authority and an unwavering determination. The servants shuffled in, their demeanor a mix of apprehension and curiosity, aware of the gravity of the situation.

As the room fell into an uneasy silence, Chitranjan's voice cut through the tension like a thunderclap. His words were measured, his tone laced with a mixture of authority and menace. He questioned each servant, his questions sharp and relentless, as if extracting the truth through sheer force.

"Have I been paying you any less? Can your mouth hold no more,what your eyes see and your ears hear?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of guilt or fear. "Who among you dares to betray me, to conspire against this to be King?"

The servants fidgeted, their eyes darting around, unwilling to meet Chitranjan's gaze. Fear mingled with loyalty, and the atmosphere grew increasingly stifling. Some whispered amongst themselves, sharing nervous glances, while others remained silent, their expressions guarded.

Chitranjan's voice grew more intense, each word dripping with a potent mix of anger and disappointment. He painted a vivid picture of the consequences that awaited those who dared to deceive him. The walls seemed to close in as he pressed on, determined to unravel the nauseating betrayal and weed out the mole.

The tension reached its zenith. Chitranjan's gaze fixed upon each servant, his piercing eyes penetrating their souls. He sought to unearth the truth, to expose the betrayer lurking in their midst.

Yet, amidst the fear and uncertainty, a glimmer of defiance flickered in the eyes of one of the maids. Her voice, though trembling, held a hint of determination as she dared to speak.

"Hukam, we serve you faithfully," she began, her words laced with a delicate balance of respect and courage. "None among us would betray you. We are loyal to our core."

Chitranjan's eyes narrowed, his expression unyielding. But there was a flicker of acknowledgment in his gaze, a begrudging respect for the servant's unwavering loyalty. He understood that blind accusations alone could not reveal the truth.

With a final glance around the room, Chitranjan dismissed the gathering. The servants dispersed, their minds heavy with the weight of suspicion and uncertainty. The search for the mole would continue, but for now, the air hung heavy with the unspoken promise of consequences and the determination to safeguard the secrets of the fort.

"Get the cars ready by tomorrow, We have been invited to Hell palace" He instructed Ranuak and zoomed out the hall towards Vrinda's Chamber. He was filled with nervousness peaking out from the dump of emotions, as the dynamics of their realtionship had changed. He was no longer in charge when it came to her anymore.

Chitranjan's steps quickened his mind filled with a mix of anticipation and urgency. He had intended to have a proper conversation with her, to assert his authority and make her understand the consequences of defying him. But as he reached the room, his heart sank and his rage ignited like a wildfire.

The room was empty, devoid of Vrinda's presence. His eyes darted around, searching for any sign of her, but all he found was a bedsheet tied to the window, swaying gently in the breeze. A cold fury gripped him, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Where is she?" he roared, his voice reverberating through the hallways. The guards stationed outside the room quivered under his wrath, realizing the gravity of the situation. Without a moment's hesitation, Chitranjan unleashed his anger, his blows raining down upon the guards who stood in his way. Each strike was fueled by frustration, betrayal, and an overwhelming sense of loss.

As his fists collided with their bodies, pain mingled with the fury that coursed through his veins. The guards, caught off guard by his ferocity, offered little resistance. They crumpled to the ground, their bodies bruised and battered, a testament to Chitranjan's unbridled rage.

Amidst the chaos and violence, a lone tear escaped Chitranjan's eye. It trickled down his cheek, a symbol of his anguish and the deep sense of loss that engulfed him. His voice, once commanding and powerful, now wavered with vulnerability.

"Vrinda," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of anger, desperation, and a hint of longing. "What have you done?"

In the aftermath of the violent outburst, Chitranjan stood alone in the empty room, his chest heaving with every breath. The guards lay scattered on the floor, their presence a stark reminder of his shattered control. The walls seemed to close in around him, suffocating him with a sense of defeat. It would be dangerous now, for him and her, if the queen had her clutches on her before he did. With the mole out, that had to be the case.

Without a second thought, Chitranjan leaped out of the window, defying gravity as he descended into the jungle, dense and untamed, welcoming him with an eerie silence. The thick foliage concealed his every move, but he pressed forward, fueled by a mix of desperation and determination.

The sun's golden rays filtered through the dense canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Chitranjan's senses sharpened as he scanned the surroundings, searching for any trace, any hint of Vrinda's presence. Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of the wind, carried a sense of anticipation and trepidation.

As he navigated the wilderness, Chitranjan's mind swirled with a myriad of emotions. Anger fueled his determination, but beneath the layers of resentment, a flicker of worry and affection for Vrinda still lingered. He couldn't shake off the connection that had formed between them, no matter how hard he tried.

"You can't run from me, Vrinda," he whispered, his voice laced with a mixture of vulnerability and determination. "I will find you, no matter how far you go."

Every step Vrinda took deepened the chasm of her inner turmoil. The forest seemed to echo her racing heart, matching its frantic beat with the rustling of leaves beneath her feet. The once familiar path now felt foreign, as if she was leaving behind a part of herself.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted through the tangled undergrowth. Tears blurred her vision, but she refused to let them slow her down. The memories of that fateful encounter replayed in her mind, each moment etched clearly.

The forest whispered secrets as Vrinda raced through its labyrinthine pathways. The ancient trees stood tall and imposing, their branches reaching out like gnarled arms, as if trying to ensnare her. Yet, she pushed on, driven by an unyielding determination to carve her own destiny. She ran until her legs gave way, collapsing onto the mossy forest floor. Tears mingled with the earth, a silent testament to the pain that coursed through her veins. It was a moment of surrender and reckoning, a reminder that choices have consequences.

" He would Kill me if he caught me.He is the future King. Why? Why should it be so dark? Mathaji (Lord) protect me! "

She truly would find her place in a world that seemed to conspire against her. With newfound resolve, Vrinda rose from the forest floor, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

Hours turned into eternity as Chitranjan pushed himself beyond physical exhaustion. Sweat drenched his brow, and his muscles screamed in protest, but he refused to yield. He would not let Vrinda slip through his fingers again, not after everything he had sacrificed.

And then, as if by fate's design, a faint whisper reached his ears. He halted, straining to discern the source of the sound. It was a distant melody, carried on the gentle breeze, as if nature itself was guiding him.

Chitranjan followed the melody, his pace quickening. The forest seemed to part, revealing a hidden path that led to a secluded clearing. There, bathed in the ethereal glow of filtered sunlight, he saw her.

Vrinda stood amidst a circle of wildflowers, her eyes glistening with a mixture of fear and defiance. Her disheveled hair framed her face, and her hands trembled with a raw energy that seemed both beautiful and dangerous.

Chitranjan approached her cautiously, his steps tentative, aware of the delicate balance that existed between them. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, all the pain, anger, and longing swirled in the space between them.

"You can't run from me, Vrinda," he whispered, his voice laced with a mixture of vulnerability and determination. "I will find you, no matter how far you go."