Book 2 begins
An year after Srikant made ultimate sacrifice
Junagarh.
Queen Jeniffer was taking a morning stroll in her backyard. The plants and trees she planted here had grown. The harsh winter was over and early signs of spring were visible. Colours were appearing. Birds chirping.
A seed was growing in her belly too.
She touched her belly. It was full time. Heir to their throne was coming. She was too keen to have a child. Yet it took time. Doctors speculated that she could be infertile. But this baby was a miracle. Surprisingly pregnancy was an easy one. But her husband was paranoid. A team of doctors and nurses followed her everywhere be it Mumbai or Surat or Jaipur. So to rebel she came here just with her gynecologist and best friend Dr. Gayatri. Poor Gayatri. Her marriage was on rocks. Her husband Dr. Sumeet continued his affair with a nurse.
She thought she tricked the king. But as usual her husband followed. Bless him.
The child kicked.
" You are big now", She said to her child. She ran a protective hand over her belly. " Do you wish to come out now?"
The child kicked again. She smiled.
" Jenny", her husband cried.
King Ranbir walked towards her. His father's health was not well these days. So he ascended the throne and took over the business.
" I don't know why you came to this Godforsaken place. I have a team of doctors for you in all my capitals. You could have even gone to London. Your parents would have been ecstatic", he said in exasperation.
" But our prince must know his roots", she said.
" Prince", he said.
" I hope for a boy", she said shyly.
" We all do", he said hugging her.
A few days later...
" We have to attend this social gathering in Mumbai. We both are required to be there", said the king.
" Lets go by chopper", she said.
" No air travel in full time is bad for the baby", said Dr. Gayatri.
" See what you got yourself into. You are too careless about yourself", Ranbir said to Jeniffer.
" Its okay. I got a qualified nurse with me", said Dr. Gayatri. " We can take a car".
" The Mercedes" , declared the king.
And so they did travel by a car. It was a lovely journey. No jerks. And went on smoothly. But there was one problem. It was Mahashivaratri ( an Indian festival) the next day. There were fairs in villages and cities. So the traffic was slow. They got late.
VERY LATE...
After dinner they took an hour's rest. Then continued again.
"If we continue taking main roads we will not be able to reach at all", said the king to his driver.
" I know a shortcut from inside a village. But a small road is from inside a forest ", said the driver.
" Well then take it", said the king.
The two villages passed away quickly. There were in total three vehicles. King Ranbir, Queen , doctor and nurse in one. Bodyguards and servants in second. Supplies in third. It was midnight by the time they entered forest.
" Aaah", cried the queen suddenly.
" Jeniffer what is wrong", said the king.
" I feel cramps", she cried. " Doctor my baby my baby".
The vehicles stopped as Queen Gayatri and nurse checked her.
" Oh my God", said Nurse Pinto. " The baby is coming. Its labour pain. Jesus guide us.".
Within next fifteen minutes pains intensified.
The king was in complete state of paranoi.
" Save my wife! Save my child! Ohh Shiva!!"
" Thete is a blessed Shiva temple nearby", said one of the servant. " Lets take her highness there".
The carvan rushed to the temple. They were pleased to find it had an ashram of about 30 people.
" I am a midwife", came an elderly lady forward.
" Good come", said Dr. Gayatri.
The Ashram people were nice. They readily helped king and his wife.
Dr. Gayatri arranged a makeshift delivery room as midwife and nurse helped her.
The entire ashram helped them.
The queen had a difficult labour.
" Will my child be fine", she asked in panic.
" Relax your highness", said the midwife. "In rural areas even today children are born at home".
" Call Mumbai", shouted king to the bodyguards. " Get help".
" Your highness", said an elderly priest.
" Have faith in Shiva. He guided you here. You won't go empty handed from his temple".
The queen remained in labour for a few hours. It was early morning. The first rays of sunlight reached the earth. Mahashivaratri arrived.
" Huuaaaan", a piercing baby cry was heard.
"ITS A BOY", declared the nurse to the king.
He gave her a golden ring as she handed him the baby.
As the doors to the temple opened. Sunrays fell over the new born prince from temple's window.
" The darkness has left the world as sun rises", said the head priest.
The baby had clear mark of Trishul on his right chest.
"Shiva's son", said the old priest.
" Shiva has blessed your son your highness", said the head priest. "He is born on Shiva's wedding day. He will one day become a great and just ruler.
The baby's face glowed as he looked at his father.
" YOU ARE BORN TO RULE MY SON. A GREAT RULER. Prince Rajeev Singh Thakur".
The royal couple felt blessed. They thank Shiva for the greatest gift of life. Queen Jeniffer was on the top of the world. She soothed and fed her son. The prince was tired. He slept blissfully in his mother's arm cradle.
Srikant has come back to Earth. He sacrificed his life for mankind. His sacrifice was going to bear fruits. Aditya was going to get justice. He and Gunjan were going to get their forever. Along with all the souls who were waiting for them.
Time has arrived.
Up in the Himalayas an ascetic was in meditation. He was meditating for an year now. Nobody knew he was here.He was praying to his Lord. He opened his eyes slowly.
" Welcome back on Earth Srikant Pundit", he said.
" Time to rewrite a destiny".