Princess Fighter: Search for the Throne

XX

"Uh, do you want to go see some drinks?" Vidyut asked Gauri, giving a thumbs up to her brother.

He gives her the opportunity to interact with the man outside of Gurukul. This was his way of showing his agreement towards the man.

What he failed to realize was the stunned pleasure on Gauri's face from being chosen to hang out with him.

Vindhya smiled brightly towards her brother and her heart felt like there was a burden being lifted from her.

After being left alone, Yash stood awkwardly beside Vindhya. He tried to think of a way to get out of the party as quickly as possible without sounding disrespectful.

Vindhya looked at him from under her eyelashes and saw his mouth wrinkled.

"Is there a problem?" he asked with concern, immediately.

He was surprised by her ingenuity and replied, "Umm, actually, I'm just a little tired and hoping to get out of the party, now."

"So fast? But you just arrived. Don't tell me the food stinks so much that you put it off. If that's the case, please let me know as well. If I remember correctly, Gurukul's dining room is serving cottage cheese curry tonight. I'd better go out there and eat too" he said mischievously.

Yash looked at her for a moment and then started laughing.

His eyes sparkled seeing the smile on his face.

Rukmani nudged her husband who had just finished talking to the local judge.

"I think they're a good match, don't they?" he pointed towards Yash and Vindhya.

Vasudev looked at his wife pretending to be superior and replied, "Of course. Why else would I want to form this alliance? Have I ever been wrong? The Yashvardhan family has the money and classes to provide a country-appropriate background. Next queen. By the time he was ready to ascend the throne, he would also be sixteen years old. We can announce their engagement at that time."

His wife nodded but frowned the next second, "You have a fair point but can't we announce it sooner? I don't want to face a greedy family that will start swarming once the competition is announced and potential candidates are revealed."

"You're right. We don't want to offend anyone by saying no to them. Let's be proactive and not let the situation arise. We'll announce it when the kids come back from vacation this semester. Can you?" he asked her, who agreed.

...****************...

A few miles away

As he had been taught, Mriga mixed a little mud with water and applied it to his face, darkening his skin, making him look pale and rough.

Next, he held a stick of charcoal in his hand and darkened the side of his cheek and under the chin with it, creating a bit of a beard there.

Then he made a dark circle under his eyes. Tying her hair tightly on the turban, she applied a mud compress to the exposed body part.

Shaurya had taught her to be meticulous while putting on makeup. The disguise need not be complicated but authentic and consistent.

"What a great way to spend my birthday!" he thought to himself, while observing his final appearance in the water-filled bowl stored next to the entrance.

"Oh Mriga, this is not the time to feel sorry for yourself. You chose this," he scolded himself the next minute.

"What makes you feel sorry for?" a voice surprised him.

"Argh, you scare me during the day. How do you not speak? Waita minute. Isn't the entrance creaking? Then how.." he stood there, confused and angry.

Shaurya observed her from top to bottom before replying, "I put greasy castle on her hinges in the afternoon. I think succeed. Open your mouth."

Mriga looked at him in wonder. He wanted to ask if she fed him the greasy castle or threw it away. Come to think of it, he didn't want to know.

As directed, he obediently opened his lips.

"I won't put food in your mouth. Smoke your teeth. I need to reduce her whiteness. B*j*an unkempt dog like you can't have false teeth like pearls" he said in his usual sharp tone.

He grimaced at the bitter taste of the charcoal in his mouth as he used his index finger to blacken his two canine teeth, making his mouth look 'original'.

He may have taken a bath, as he did not smell the stench standing so close to him. In fact, for some time, she realized that she was very concerned about cleanliness.

Despite wandering around in dirty and muddy clothes the entire time, she did not have an unpleasant smell except when she was purposely wearing it.

"Hmm, look better now. I hope your stomach won't get out of control for the next few hours because you can't afford to eat anything. We can't let you show your rotting teeth and sparkling white, next," he said, tongue on his cheek.

She resisted the urge to stick out her tongue and replied politely, "Thank you for the fruit you left by my bedside. I'm full enough now."

He nodded and came out.

"Remember to follow my lead. You have to stay in character all this time, even if you meet one of your class mates. I'll introduce you as Brighu and it's up to you how you can convince them to be him. For the most part, staying in the shadows is the best option. In order for the situation not to get to that point," he suggested.

Mriga nodded her head while following behind him.

He also thought that it was better for him not to have to face his trainee friends than to open them in front of them, praying that his disguise would last, because he knew it would not happen.

...****************...

Three hours later

Mriga was bored out of his mind. As of now, nothing resembling the excitement or intrigue that took place in that crowded fair. Because there are so many people in the field that it is almost impossible to find or track down the people they are supposed to meet.

All he could see was, Shaurya's wide back in front of him. Everything else almost ran away.

Hunger started to hit his stomach wall, but he did not dare to make a sound. Several times when Shaurya turned around to check on her, she looked annoyed.

He could imagine his frustration. Looks like they're heading for a failed mission tonight.

As it always happens, he was wrong in his judgment! Shaurya is comfortable. The entire module for today has been drawn by him.

Trainers from the previous batch who are now in 'monitored' active duty have been called in for assessment. They must escape the supervision of five instructors, including Shaurya at the fair.

Current Admin department trainees are supposed to follow their assigned mentors and try to search for these 'spies. Of course, Mriga and the others had been told that they were spies from other countries.

Shaurya had identified not one but two of the previous trainees and managed to keep them under his watch for the past hour.

He, of course, did not know about it and tried his best to stay alert and continue to look for suspicious activities and people.

But the poor fellow seemed to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of people around them. He could feel a grin forming on his face thinking he was becoming frustrated due to the lack of any activity.

Now, he had a fair idea of how he thought, what excited him, what upset him.

Every time he turned his head to look at her, he pouted, looking terrifying in his current appearance. He thought it was a nice expression to wear on someone of his size. It prevents people from coming closer.

His mind was troubled by the pull on his kurta. Bending to the side, she brought her ears closer to Mriga's lips curving upwards to grab her, simultaneously.

"I think I might have found someone worth suspecting" he whispered.

"Without looking at that person or making any sudden wild movements, explain him to me" he said as he wrapped his arm around his shoulder leisurely.

To a spectator, it seemed like he was having a normal conversation with his younger brother or sister.

At first he didn't pay much attention to it, but after the first two times, it didn't seem like a coincidence. The man was of average stature and his appearance was inconspicuous.

He did nothing to draw attention to himself except that whenever Shaurya's gaze swept towards him, he lowered his head or turned around.

Mriga was hesitant when she saw it happen the first time because she didn't want to fool herself by imagining excessive things but it just happened a few seconds ago again. It seems like the man was stalking Shaurya, not the other way around.

He took a calming breath and explained his position and description to him. Perhaps, as his arms wrapped around his shoulders, he could feel his body stiffening.

"Why don't you point us in the direction where you saw him last time. Do it casually, no jerking movements," he ordered in a low voice.

Mriga did as he was told and scanned the area for the man.

Seeing him a few stalls away, he turned towards Shaurya, "Can you see a man who is almost as tall and your age and standing at the balloon stall. He wore a creamy kurta and wore a turban, just like us."

Recalling his instructions, he did not turn his head or raise his head to check Shaurya's reaction for a while.

Before his curiosity got his wits under control, Shaurya gripped his arm and spoke urgently, "There is a young man with a blue kurta. He's at the shoe stall behind me. She has curly hair and a fake mustache. You can tell it's fake because it starts drooping from one angle. There was a small knife scar on his chin as well. Meet him and tell him that the hunter killed the tiger. Ask him to drop you off at the inn and then come back and report to his mentor. You know the way to the inn, so show me the way. Don't stray. Stay there until I don't come to pick you up. You won't get out of the inn or talk to anyone else from now on until then. For now, just follow what the blue kurta man said. He's your senior. Understood?"

Shaurya had already left before Mriga could even turn around to ask further. At that point, his training took over.

The first rule that had been taught to him was that he should follow his orders without question.

So even though his eyes wanted to scan the area and look for it, he turned in the opposite direction without any jerky movements and walked over to the man he was supposed to report to.

"Should I give up my identity or do I keep pretending to be a man?" he thought confused at the time.

Due to the heat, her hair that had been tied up in a tight bun and stuffed under a thick turban, made her very itchy.

He held his fingers very hard so that he would not succumb to the urge to scratch it badly.

"Uh, excuse me," he patted the man's shoulder to attract his attention.

He turned around and he could see drooping whiskers and scars. Walking up to this point, his head had made a mess with various permutations and combinations.

One of them is – what if this guy is not what Shaurya thinks he is? What should he do then?

So, it's a relief to see him have the physical features described.

"Umm, I'm sorry to tell you that the hunter killed the tiger," he said, adding a bit of his own apology because he thought it was like a sad message to deliver.

The man's shoulders drooped in disappointment, proving his guess right.

"Are you one of the interns?" the man asked after a while.

Mriga nodded his head. He felt bad for the man.

"Hi, I'm Devvrat. I'm also an intern," he said.

"Oh! You mean you're still studying in Gurukul? You're my senior?" ask her with wide eyes.

He shook his head, "No, I stopped last year. My internship is different from yours. After you graduate, you join the official team and are given real assignments and targets but you should have done so under senior supervision. Today was my test to play solo. I've heard that the new mentor of the Zilla Center spy team is truly amazing. I've prepared very hard not to be detected but it seems I failed."

Shaurya only started guiding two years ago and Devvrat had never met him before. Mriga patted him on the shoulder in sympathy.

He pointed at his drooping moustache and said, "I can understand what you are feeling right now. My only advice to you is that you should try and be the 'one with your disguise'. It must exist and you must have it."

He repeated Shaurya's lessons to him, feeling happy and important.

"thank you. I'll remember it. By the way, what's the next step after I'm found? And I completely forgot to ask your name," Devvrat said in an impressed voice.

"I ... My name is Brighu. As for the next step, you should drop me off to a predetermined location and then report to Ramanujam Pak. I don't know anything but this" she told him.

Devvrat looked disappointed again.

"Does that mean the test is over? No second chances? Ah... I've prepared it very hard," he kicked the ground under his feet in annoyance.

Mriga felt bad for him and said, "Umm. I believe eating is the cure for everything. I'm sure you're tired and hungry, too."

Devvrat looked at the boy in front of her and said, "Don't be discouraged by my example. You seem to have a bright outlook and a wise mind, despite your young age. I'm sure you'll do well."

Mriga beamed at him with her blackened teeth shining with glory. They began to walk towards a separate section where various food stalls had been prepared.

For a moment, he thought that he caught a glimpse of Shaurya's back but it disappeared in an instant before he could confirm it was back.

"Have you found someone you know?" Devvrat qasked, following his gaze.

He shook his head in denial. Reaching the place, they surveyed the various options before Devvrat said, "The food doesn't look very interesting. How about going to a nearby place known for its comedy dramas and amazing food? I need to be entertained. Are you okay with that?"

Mriga thought about it for a moment but did not find anything wrong. After all, he had been asked to follow whatever he said.

And Devvrat looks a little sad. He did not want her to continue feeling depressed. So he agreed to the plan.

"But I don't have any money" he said shyly.

"Don't worry. Your senior is here. Accept this as my way of expressing my gratitude for your words of wisdom today," she wrapped her arms around Mriga's skinny shoulders and carried her out of the exhibition.

"Geez, haven't they been feeding you at the foodhall lately? You're so skinny" he commented casually.

Shaurya finally loosened his grip on the man when he saw Mriga leave the place with Devvrat. He had immediately arrested the man but did not want to take him away before making sure that his neighborhood had left the fair, safely.

The man Mrignayani identified was actually a spy from Sapt Sindhu. He has crossed paths with Shaurya on many occasions and his presence here is a big red flag.

He wanted to drag her out to tete-a-tete in a deserted place but kept hesitating. She knew that Mrignayani was a wise and obedient girl, but she was her responsibility.

So, he gripped the man's neck tightly and walked around the place, watching his disciple. He didn't want her to come face to face with this man and take a sharp turn when he almost caught her a few minutes ago.

"Let's go. You want to talk to me. I'm listening, right now," he spoke in a savage tone to the spy Sapt Sindhu.

"So, how far is this place?" Mriga asked Devvrat to walk on the densely populated street.

People went in and out of the exhibition, making the entire area congested.

"Not too far. We have to get there in the next ten to fifteen minutes. You're not tired, are you?" she asked.

Mriga looked at him with a shy grin and replied, "Not tired, but a little hungry."

He laughed and said, "There's nothing to be ashamed of. A growing child needs food constantly and a skinny one like you needs it more than anyone else. Don'worry. We'll be there soon. You can eat there until your stomach breaks."

Mriga immediately cheered as she thought of the good food and began to walk enthusiastically towards their destination.