"Where is the runner who brought this letter, Damini?", Payal asked..
"He is in the bhojanshala, Didi."
"Fetch him right away."
The fifteen year old handmaiden scurried off in a swish of her ghagra. Payal sighed as she watched her leave. Damini had grown considerably since she had rescued her from imminent death in the hands of the soldiers who had brought her to the palace in chains for some petty crime. Her heart had gone out to the little girl with the tear-streaked face. "Didi", she had whispered into her ears. Her heart had melted and she never bothered to change it into "my lady" even after she was employed as her handmaiden. She named her 'Damini', lightning because she always arrived at lightning speed when called.
Payal clutched the letter to her heart. The royal seal glistened in the bright sunlight that entered her apartment through the stain glass window.
"I beg you on bent knees, run away with me tonight. We will go far away, across the border and never look back," said the King. His voice was hoarse with pain, he held her hand in a bone-crushing grip.
"Why?", laughed Payal. "What is wrong with right here?"
"No, no my love. If we don't leave tonight, tomorrow morning I must leave you and God only knows if I will ever return to your arms", he cried, tightening his grip on her hand and making her wince.
Her eyes bored into his, looking for an explanation. "War", he whispered with trembling lips.
A single word brought her entire world crashing down. She attempted to reply but her voice chocked in. Every inch of her wanted to scream.
"Stop me, I beseech you. You know that a single word from your lips can make me move mountains," a single tear rolled down his smooth cheeks while his eyes seemed to scream in agony.
"You are the King, you belong to the people. From the moment you sat on the throne, my love, you forfeited the right to think about yourself", she whispered, trying to steady her voice inspite of the tears that welled in her eyes.
"Don't, I beg you. Don't do this. Will you see these hands, which hold you, bloodied in battle?", wept the King.
The words struck like a million arrows to her heart. She held his hands open on her lap and said, "If it is your destiny, it will come to pass. The people of this kingdom love you beyond measure. You are good and just. They will be heartbroken if you abandon them. Follow your destiny, my love for we all must, no matter how painful."
"Payal, you heartless angel, I cannot see tears in your eyes. I will burn down the entire kingdom, the entire world if you are in pain."
"See these tears then and go to war. Burn and wreck your enemy beyond measure. Avenge my pain and protect your people, she cried choking on her last words.
In the morning she ran, teary eyed down the road. Finally she fell to the ground weeping, engulfed by the dust stirred up by the King's horse. Even in her overwhelming grief, she could hear the unmistakable sound of laughter coming from the queens' apartments.
The memories seemed to rekindle the familiar ache that had given way to a strange numb nothingness over the past few days. She looked down at the thick roll of parchment and slowly began to open it.
In my head, Suvajit was a cruel man and an unintelligent king. But Payal's words have opened my eyes. Even if she speaks with the bias that is born out of love, surely there is some merit to this man. He is brave, if nothing else. He is learning to face his fears with inspiration.
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