Chapter 18

Kali entered the restroom. All the guests were sitting in the same room. Kali also sat down after saluting Mahavira. After observing Vidhan carefully for a few moments, he said politely, "I hope your Kundar trip was pleasant."

Rupak formally introduced Vidhan, Sattu, and Kali to each other and briefly narrated the story from the encounter with Mundra's soldiers to reaching Kundar. Kali got up and went away after telling that he would arrange for their meeting.

After his departure, Vidhan and Sattu came out of the room and started roaming around. Their resting house was just behind the intelligence building. Plants and creepers had surrounded the entire intelligence building; from a distance, it was difficult to tell whether there were plants or buildings. The number and density of trees was also higher there; perhaps they also helped in hiding the building, Vidhan guessed. Vidhan and Sattu wanted to see the intelligence department from inside, but the gatekeeper did not allow them. So both of them started roaming around the outside of the intelligence building. Raaga also started showing his investigative talent by searching at different places.

There was only one door in the entire secret house; there were only three windows; at some places, skylights were visible through which only air and insects could enter. Vidhan tried to see the wall of the building by removing the creepers, but in so many years the creepers had grown so many layers that the wall could not be seen even after trying. After roaming around and getting some fresh air, both of them returned to the room.In the other room, Mahavira, Anuj, and Roopak were talking. Vidhan came and lay down, but Sattu tiptoed to the door and tried to listen to their conversation. Even after listening for a long time, he could not understand anything.

He returned to Vidhan and took out the spinning Top tied in his dhoti and started showing various tricks. Vidhan kept smiling seeing his tricks.After some time, food was served in their room. The gold ornaments worn by the maids who brought food indicated Kundar's prosperity. Vidhan's mother had only earrings in the name of gold ornaments, and those too had reached his mother through generations. Whereas here, the maids were wearing so many ornaments that it seemed as if they were not ornaments but their clothes.Kundar was indeed a rich kingdom.

There was a lot of fruit, salad, and non-vegetarian food in the meal. Only Mahavira and Anuj ate Meat. There were some sweets that Sattu did not liked.

It was only a short time after the meal that Kali arrived. Then everyone sat on their horses and left to meet the Maharaja.The Maharaja was in his private room; he was worried about the future of Kundar. The people were so happy with the rule of his dynasty that there was no rebellion for the last three generations, and today his own dynasty has created a crisis for Kundar. He closed his eyes and remembered his queen, Jaya. The king of that prosperous, comfortable kingdom could only be comforted by the memories of his queen.The king, lost in his memories, was distracted by the news of the arrival of visitors.

The king composed himself and asked to send them inside. Kali entered with Mahavira, Rupak, Anuj, Vidhan, and Sattu. Everyone except Vidhan bowed down and greeted him. Vidhan saw that the king was looking at him. The king, who was a tall and lean man laden with golden ornaments, had his half-grown hair shining; his face was long, and he had a thick moustache, which became a little pointed at the end. The king seemed very civilized and kind at first sight.

Rupak was a little confused when Vidhan did not greet him; he tried to signal him with the corner of his eyes, but Vidhan was looking at the king. Maharaj looked at Vidhan carefully from top to bottom. Age twenty-five to twenty-six years, dark complexion, strong muscular body, white dhoti below the waist, bare feet with layers of hard skin, marks of wounds all over the body, most of which were not completely dry yet. Kan also looked like this in his youth, but where are the special artifacts on his hands and feet?

Maharaj had clearly read the expressions on Vidhan's face. He asked in a calm voice, "Mr. Vidhan, this is the first meeting between us, then why are you so angry?

"Your son got my father and guru killed." Vidhan replied harshly.

"We are sorry for your loss."

"You being sad will not bring them both back to life."No one present there had expected this kind of behavior from Vidhan.

Rupak was afraid that the king might get angry, but the king was calm and did not say anything. Why should he say anything? He had accepted in his mind that he had proved to be the most unsuccessful ruler of his dynasty.He has failed his ancestors.