Princess Fighter: Search for the Throne

XLIX

"How can you be so heartless? First of all, how could I not obey the orders of the seniors? Second, and more importantly, I was heartbroken when all of you seemed so unsurprised by my dismissal, as if it had happened. Like a self-respecting individual, why should I confide in one of you when you are unsure of my abilities, "saying so, he sniffed carefully, letting his complaints be seen.

The boy looked uncomfortable and shared a look of embarrassment among themselves, except for Abhirath.

"You brat! You're better suited to the Drama department than we are. How dare you try and give it back to us?" he said with a pretend growl.

Actually, an unexpected call to return to

Gurukul before starting the apprenticeship had surprised him. But it's not the end. She was the first to reach Gurukul and Saraswati had given her detailed instructions regarding the internship the next few weeks before closing the Admin building and asked her to wait for the others outside her.

He had told her that the team was taking a short break and everyone including him, Prithvi and Ramanujam had travel plans at the moment.

His mouth gaped as he read the instructions regarding his teammate and Mriga's inclusion in it. At her question, Saraswati tells him that Mriga has always been part of the team.

Therefore roasting!

"So, does anyone know why we're being summoned here instead of heading straight for our respective apprenticeships?" Mriga asked them.

Abhirath, who had been unable to control his excitement all along, finally said it out loud.

"According to the new instructions, the five of us have been asked to report to the East zilla, not a pre-defined station," the frequent can be measured in miles.

This is a surprise! While Mriga was very happy that they were all going to train together, he couldn't help but wonder about the reason for the new instructions.

Although the Admin department is not known for sharing the reasons behind the decision, but there have been too many new developments in recent weeks that it cannot be considered a mere coincidence.

For others, this is the only deviation and therefore not reason enough to question the change.

But since Shaurya was sick, followed by an unexpected visit to the Northern Zilla, then his mother took a leave of absence and trained him hard with him and right now, there are a lot of things that are out of the ordinary.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong with this image, but his gut told him that more was going on below the surface than was seen.

"It doesn't hurt to open your eyes wide" he told himself as a hunch ran down his spine.

He did not voice his fears to any of them and allowed himself to be carried away by the boys enthusiasm at the surprise reunion.

"Alright, let's go to the restaurant for a nice meal before the carriages arrive. We have to be ready and wait for 8pm outside the Gurukul gate" Abhirath said.

"Didn't we meet the teachers before we left?" asked Mriga in surprise.

He belatedly realized that they were standing at the door of the Admin department and had not entered until now.

"It seems the whole team is resting, which is appropriate, if I may say so," Nirbhay interjected.

The mystery deepened and Mriga could not help but frown. He was not the type of person who built a conspiracy castle on his head, but something that definitely did not fit in this scenario.

"Oh, before I forget, I have something to share with all of you," he stopped his steps.

They turned to look at him with curious eyes as he dropped a bomb on them.

"I just sent out my application for the Queen's competition. Pray for me luck!" he said mischievously.

Even though he did it because of his mother's insistence but now that he was in it, he would give everything he had, regardless of the outcome. He deliberately avoided the thought of confronting Vindhya because of the same thing.

Somehow, it doesn't seem to matter much now. Even though it happened just a few weeks earlier, the entire episode was as if it belonged to the past, well ignored, if not forgotten!

Abhirath was unsure about his reaction to this news and therefore did not show any reaction while others nagged him, questioning his suitability and level of competence.

When he finds out that he will meet her sooner than expected, he decides to take it as a sign of God's will. He will make an honest and sincere effort to win her heart, to become what she needs to be!

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

Northern Zilla

"Mriga must have reached the Eastern zilla by now, right?"

Raghu wondered over dinner.

Bela nodded without commitment and Shaurya kept his head down and chewed the food in his mouth.

Despite having a few tough and exhausting days, she managed to find enough time to think about her absence. As a result, even though the stomach welcomes the food, the senses cannot really recognize its taste or smell.

"After you're done, walk for five minutes outside to clear your mind and come back. We will continue the discussion," Bela instructed him.

"Why don't you take a break tonight?" Raghu suggested gently to his wife.

He had said those words to her but it was meant and directed at Veer. Although Raghu had not really warmed up with the man to date, but he was still unable to accept the severe torment his wife had endured, in the past.

It was as if he held an old grudge against her and had decided to punish her at once.

The man looked even worse than when he first came to them in a state of pain!

Before Bela could reply, Shaurya stood up and said respectfully, "I'll go and light a few more axes in the courtyard for better lighting."

Raghu pursed his lips in anger. He had tried to help the boy but apparently, he wanted to act cool even when he was dying. Be it!

Bela waited until Raghu finished eating and then spoke up.

"We may face unexpected moments in the future. I know that I have always enjoyed your firm support, but I will need more in the near future. Please take care of me and be patient a little more than you usually are. I.." he leaned forward and pressed his palm into his palm, stopping him from saying anything more.

It was very unusual for Bela to acknowledge the signs of weakness within her and moreover, to ask for support. He did it twice in a matter of a few days almost freaking Raghu out.

He knew that he would not be willing to share his burden and so did not put him in a difficult place by asking him about it.

He took his plate with his own plate and got up, without saying anything.

He also needs to work harder to take care of him.

Bela leaned her back against the wall and closed her eyes. As the target's day neared, his nerves started to fidget and he was ashamed of himself.

For years, a part of him hated the department for expelling him after one failed mission.

But now he wondered if they themselves had seen his flaws back then?

He couldn't help but question Prithvi's confidence in her. Was his belief in his abilities blinded by his broken memories for twenty years? Is he really worthy of the mission?

But there's no choice, right, they're all too far away to turn their backs on it.

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

Next morning

As a result, all citizens are expected to contribute creatively to the initiative next year. Although Bela was reluctant to waste time on sightseeing and attending the meeting, it was a must for all citizens. He left Shaurya with a series of instructions and a job, enough to last until that night.

As Shaurya grapples with the answers to the difficult questions that are part of his written training, the front door is knocked violently. He carefully opened the door and saw the same old man standing there.

"Eh, is the police chief home? I'm here from North Zilla police station, "he introduced himself.

His voice was friendly but his eyes were filled with curiosity and questions.

"Bela maasi* is in the zilla board. I'm Veer. I'm nephew. Please come in," Shaurya invited him with a smile.

The police officer looked relaxed and replied with a smile, "No, please don't bother. I'm just here to hand over the papers that have been collected to the head during his absence. How's things going?"

Shaurya shrugged his shoulders and said with a timid smile, "Ah, you know my cousin, Mrignayani, right? Well, he already thought that he wanted to participate in the Queen's competition and drive us all crazy with her. He called me all the way from the capital, just to help him train. The rest you can imagine. Phew!"

The man grinned and replied, "No wonder the chief had to suddenly apply for leave from the station. We all wondered about it. Please pray for his luck from all of us. Here's letters. Good afternoon!"

Shaurya's shoulder that had been bent a few seconds ago became upright and his smile disappeared as soon as the man disappeared from his sight. He climbed the stairs to enter the house and dropped the letters on the kitchen table.

Going to walk back, his gaze fell on the first one on top of the pile. It was addressed to Mrignayani and if his eyes did not deceive him, the stamp was Southern zilla.

Without the slightest hesitation, he took out the letter and took out his knife from the kurta pocket. He heated the knife in one of the lanterns and slowly slipped it through the wax seal on the scroll.

It took him a few seconds to read a glimpse of the contents of the long letter. That weak boy dared to declare his love once again after acting like b*j*ngan?

The letter contained a kind of weak explanation for his cruel behavior that did not impress Shaurya in the slightest.

Did the man consider him stupid?

Shaurya swore to himself, "If nothing else, I should make it back from this mission, just to save him from these fools who surround him."

He argued inside about letting the scroll remain or burning it.

In the end, he decided that the wiser thing was to make sure that it fell into the hands of his teacher. He relied on his ability to be able to realize how unsuitable this Yashvardhan was to his daughter.

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

South Zilla

It had been a week since he sent the letter to Mriga.

Now, he should have heard from her. Impatiently, Yash sits down to write another and just to be sure, writes one for Ishani as well.

He went to his father's study to put the letters to paste but his hands froze in the air at the door. His parents were arguing and it was too hard to beat the thickness of the rosewood door.

He stood outside and tried to understand those muffled words. He knew instinctively that this furore must have been caused by his father's letter.

Smartly, Harshvardhan went on business, the day when all the chaos was going on in their home. Yash grinned remembering it when his mother noticed it.

But the next moment, he felt ashamed of his cowardice and this was what he wrote to Mriga in the last letter. He has admitted his guilt and is forthright in all things.

After opening her heart, she hoped she would respond well but she had yet to hear from him. Never mind, he won't give up!

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

East Zilla

"God! It's very humid here. My skin felt slimy and sticky," said Vandit, who is from South Zilla and used to the scorching sun during the pleasant summers and winters.

Abhirath had been born and raised in the capital and this weather was also a little different for him, but he snorted at the blatant display of weakness on Vandit's side.

Both Nirbhay and Chiranjeev were residents of the Western zilla and were coastal areas similar to this one, there was not much to complain about in their books and they told Vandit.

In Mriga's opinion, it must be damp but not too big to waste breath. He was curious about the new place and absorbed everything. The boy's tug-of-war conversation was just background noise for him at the moment.

They were dropped outside a gloomy-looking building and the carriage was pulled away without even a wave of hands as soon as they lowered themselves and their bags.

"Ugh, unfriendly man," Vandit grumbled again, stretching his stiff muscles.

It seemed that he was determined to dislike the place and its inhabitants. His initial assignment was supposed to be in North Zilla and he was looking forward to winter there.

"Hello, you must all be from Gurukul. I'm Lata. Welcome to the Eastern zilla," a girl, not much older than them came forward and greeted them with a smile.

As usual, Abhirath took the lead in response and they followed him as he walked inside the dilapidated building.

Everyone, including Abhirath has the same thought – this is much worse than Admin building. Will they spend a month working here?

"I'll take you to where you used to live. You must be tired after that trip. Please settle down and refresh yourself before meeting others," Lata gestured for them to follow her as she went deeper.

The five of them were shocked to hear his words. They even have to stay in this dump for the coming month?

Surprisingly, the building was much wider on the inside.

It was almost like a bazar*, with various paths running in different directions from where they stood. But there was not much to see in front in those alleys because the lighting was poor.

Sensing that his group seemed ready to run, Abhirath hurriedly said, "Sure. Please lead the way."

As the girl began to walk forward, Abhirath turned his head to look at all of them. His intimidating expression was enough to stop the rising rebellion from the start.

As soon as he was sure that none of them would say anything unfathomable, he continued walking behind Lata, paying attention to what she had told him about the place.

Had this happened a few months ago, he would have used the opportunity to come up with the kindness of the new seniors and let them do whatever they please.

But without him noticing, he had taken over the responsibility for the welfare of these four idiots. He smiled at himself as this consciousness hit him at this moment.

But soon he woke up. He reminded himself that he had to keep a firm stance in front of all of them, especially that cute-looking girl.

He looked at her with the expression of a doe's eyes, making his determination weaken at all times. If any of them knew that he had a soft side, they would eat him!

Thankfully, things improved when they reached the end of the line. Suddenly, they stood in front of a small building that was quite bright and clean. The building inside the building?

They entered through the door and were surprised to see a large, clean and pure hall with rows of beds along both sides of the wall, its length. It resembles their dorm room, in Gurukul.

......................

*Maasi - mother's sister

*Bazaar - Market place

Tsundere* (Japan) - A person who is initially cold and even hostile to others before gradually showing his warm side over time