Mohini POV 

Swati tells me that she has to do some important work so she won't be able to company me for some time. 

But if I wanted she could send this message to anyone. 

She had written it on the paper since my hands are still healing so I can't write anything. 

So I decided to hang out in my room. I was going through my book of recipes when Yuvraaj entered looking all flustered and nervous. 

When he told me that he had ordered to make my favourite sweet dish, I knew this is his way of apologising. 

But I can't forgive him, because that incident opened my eyes that we can never be more than two enemies forced in a marital alliance. 

We can never be a husband-wife and I am fed up of being a fool who falls for just tiny hope and men. 

Accepting this will be giving pathetic hope to my inner self. 

He is feeling guilty now but when something happen again he will blame me without thinking. 

I sign at Swati, 

'Take this and distribute in servant's quarter after offering it to God. I don't want this because now my preferences and likeness has all changed.' 

Her smile and face fells. Yuvraj waits for her to translate eagerly. 

She translates, hearing that the light in his eyes dimmed and his face looked in pain for a moment, then he made his face all blank. 

He nods his head, stands up and says, 

'Wahi kariye jo Bai-sa ne kaha hai.' 

'Do what Bai-Sa said.' 

He walks out from there. Swati goes to say something but I hold my hand up not wanting to listen it. 

What I did was right, to save my poor heart which has already gone through so much with Rao. 

Then why did it pain me seeing him in pain? Why is there tightness in my chest rather than satisfaction at hurting him? 

I shake away these thoughts, they are, as always, up to no good.  

She nods her head then calls another attendee who takes away the sweet. 

She comes closer asking, 

'Before I had gone you said you wanted to find something in which you wanted my help?' 

Yes, I wanted her help because I can trust her only, and she has stayed in Suryagarh longer than me. 

I remember Bapusaa's birthday when that person insisted for me to hand him the rest of gifts so I moved forward to help him. 

When he spoke, the familiarity brought tears to my eyes, it was Jayant Bhau, 

'Aapke haath mein kya hua Bai-sa?' 

'What happened to your hand, Bai-sa?' 

I shook my head then he moved his cloth on his mouth to hide from people seeing that he is speaking in pretense of coughing. 

'Dheere dheere samaan rakhiye, Mohini, aur humari baat suniye bina chehre ke hau bhau badle.' 

'Put the things slowly, Mohini, and listen to me without changing your expressions.' 

I nodded my head. He continues, 

'Aapke shaadi ke dusre din hi Ramaji, Chandvanipur se bhaag gaye hai aur kisi ko nahi pata hai ki voh kaha hai.' 

'On the second day of your marriage, Ramaji ran away from Chandvanipur, and no one knows where he is.' 

I am shocked and pleased to hear this, it means Dada is fighting and alive. Now I have to figure out how to help him. 

He says, 

'I need your help with something. I don't know where Ramaji is. Hand me the gifts, Yuvraj is looking to come over here.' 

I hand him the gifts while he hands me a scroll. 

I walked back to Yuvraj, hiding the scroll in my clothes, with a million thoughts racing. 

Since I was menstruating so I didn't take part in the festivities. I opened the scroll to read it, 

Namaskar Swikarva Mohini, 

Hum yaha pe Ramaji ko dhoondhne aaye the 5 din pehle, par yaha pe jab rahe tab kuch aisi baatein samne aayi jo hume kaafi pareshan kar rahi hai, jaisi ki 3 saal pehle aur 11 saal pehle ki mautein. 

Aur iske baare mein Raja ne kuch nahi kiya. Yaha dal mein nahi, balki puri daal hi kali hai. Yaha kuch aisa ho raha hai jo sabse chhupa hua hai aur hume lagta hai ki isme Raja aur Rajkumar ka bahut bada haath hai. 

Hum chahte hai ki aap iski sachai ka pata lagaye. Agar Suryagarh aisa kuch kar raha jo bahut galat hai toh uske paas itni badi shakti hona acchi baat nahi hai, tab hume inki sachhai inke saathi Rajya ko dikhana hoga. 

Yaha ke logon par jaise Raja aur Rajkumar ka darr basa hua hai, ki ye log apna munh hi nahi khol rahe hai. Aapki sachai inki bhi madad kar sakti hai. 

Hume kahi na kahi aisa lag raha hai ki Malwa bhi, yaha pe jo ho raha hai usse juda hua hai. Shayad sachai pata lagate hue aap ye guthi bhi suljha de aur pata laga le ki aapke pita ne aapki shaadi yaha kyun karayi. 

Chinta na kare hum aur Ganesh apni khoj jaari rakhenge. 

Ye sab humne aapko isliye bataya kyunki aapko pata hona chahiye ki aapke rajya mein kya ho raha hai, hume nahi lagta ye sab aapke koi batata bhi ya, pata bhi chalne deta. 

Aapke Bhau,

Jayant Kamble.

Greetings Mohini, 

We started searching for Ramaji here 5 days ago, while I was staying here that I came across such a thing which is troubling me a lot, like the murder of 3 years ago and 11 years ago. 

And the king did not do anything about it. Here something is not black in dal but whole dal is black. Something is happening here which is hidden from everyone and we feel that King and Prince has a very big hand in it. 

We want you to find out its truth. If Suryagarh is doing such a thing which is very wrong then it is not a good thing for them to have so much power, but we will have to show his truth to their fellow kingdoms. 

It is as if the fear of kings and princes has settled on the people here, that they are not opening their mouths. Your honesty can help them too. 

It seems to me that Malwa too is attached to whatever is happening here. Perhaps by finding out the truth you may solve this mystery and found out why your father got you married here. 

Don't worry, Ganesh and I will continue our search. 

I told you all this because you should know what is happening in your state, I think that nobody would have told you all this or even let you know on your own. 

Yours Brother, 

Jayant Kamble. 

After that, I waited for the festivities to end to put my plan in action. 

But first, I asked, 

'Did that attendant get her job which I arranged for?' 

She replies, 

'Yes, Bai-sa.' 

I ask her then, 

'How did she get those injuries?' 

She shrug, saying she doesn't know. 

Something has bothered me, she said she got scared and run from there as fast as she can but I was locked inside. 

I keep this thought aside for another time. 

I ask her, 

'How long have you been here in Suryagarh?' 

She looks surprised, then answers warily with furrowed brows, 

'About 5 years.' 

'Do you know this palace well?' 

She nods her head at my question. 

I ask her my next question, 

'How many libraries are here?' 

She relaxes in relief and answers me, 

'There are two main libraries, while many public libraries in many regions of Suryagarh. One library is maintained by Naina Bai-sa while the other is where Yuvraj has his office.' 

I ask nervously the next question, thinking how she will react, 

'Which library has history, legislations, and records regarding Suryagarh?' 

She tenses at my question but replies, 

'Where Yuvraj's office is.' 

I sigh frustratedly, I shake my head, then ask her, 

'Does the another library not have even a small section?'

She shakes her head, confusingly and says, 

'In that library, the genres are politics, culture, traditions, things about the world, etc.'

Seeing me so stressed, she suggests, 

'There is a small section of the encyclopedia which was added later after Yuvraj settled here, maybe he likes knowing about the facts all around the world, anyway, that section is on the far side of the office.' 

Without my even saying, she understood that I don't want Yuvraj to interfere with my searching. 

I think about it, there is a risk that if he finds me there I won't be able to defend me but I have to take the risk. 

I want to find out what they are doing that is making people die, and our people are so scared. I also want to find out what my father wants from Yuvraj. 

It intrigues me that many people talk highly about Suryagarh so what is happening here, I want to find out. 

I know Jayant and Ganesha Bhau will find Dada. If this is how I will help them then I will do, expose Suryagarh and ending his monarchy over Hind. 

I nod my head and she takes me to that section through another entrance facing away from the office so that Yuvraj doesn't know I am here. 

I ask Swati to bring a book that describes the legislation of Suryagarh. 

I gather as much as I can. I have to say the political and legislative structure of here is really impressive. 

So basically, the important one for me is that, since Suryagarh is quite big they have stationed ministers in different regions. 

These ministers have to present the problems, needs, and account of the budget spent given to them every month. 

Annual meetings are held for budget distribution, if extra needed then particular reason regarding it is given, which is checked out instantly by close finance ministers of Suryagarh. 

In case of emergency, the crown has to be informed right away. 

Then why they were not informed or they were informed but didn't take action because of greater picture behind this. 

Emergency also lists sudden deaths in regions. 

I ask Swati to find the emergency case records from 3 and 11 years ago and bring them here. 

While I go through them, Swati finds the record books.

I tell Swati to go through 3 years ago records while I go through 11 years ago records for those deaths. 

But I don't find any mention of a sudden and large group of deaths, nor does Swati. 

This is odd, so many deaths, but ministers didn't inform the crown. 

I ask her to bring a record book of ministers for 3 years ago. 

She makes a tired face and says, 

'But there are so many that it will take us the entire day.' 

I shake my head and say, 

'I want only the record books of the representative councillors of regions in Suryagarh.' 

We divide it between us, we found three years ago many people left their position, a very great number. 

The most odd thing is many people resigned from their position on the same day and they are the representatives of border regions. 

I asked Swati to find those people who resigned on the same day, but we only found them in one book. 

I ask Swati to keep the rest of the books in their place. 

When I see the 11-year-old ago record in that bundle. I go to hand it over to her when it falls down to the floor. 

I bend down to pick it and see a random page open. I do double take reading the name and the stamps on it, one of Suryagarh and other is of the minister. 

I am taken back 9 years ago, hiding under the deewan listening to my father, 

'His name is Vidyut Shekhar, resident of Suryagarh.' 

The citizenship scroll falls down, and I get a look at both the stamps. 

I remember the stamps and that man's face too, when he sliced my mother's throat while looking at me with an evil smirk, and I screamed my throat out. 

I start to shak,e remembering how he looked at me, how he killed my mother in front of me. 

I am so immersed in the memories that it takes time for me to hear a familiar deep voice. It is urgent and in near panic. 

Slowly, I come back listening to the voice, 

'Mohini, wapas aa jaiye, humare paas. Aap yaha Suryagarh mein hai, humare paas bilkul surakshit.' 

'Mohini, come back to me. You are here in Suryagarh, absolutely safe with me.' 

I focus on Yuvraj, slowly seeing that he is shaking me and cradling me in his lap. 

He is caressesing my face slowly, talking to me in soothing tones but panic and fear is clearly visible in his face. 

When he sees focus back in my gaze, he sags with relief, panic, and fear vanishing from his eyes. He hugs me tightly and mutters, 

'Thank God, I thought for a moment that I lost you. Your eyes were glazed and you were shaking, sweating so violently...' 

His voice vanished at last in relief, he just says, 

'Thank God.' 

When I realise my position, I push away from him slightly, we both release each other, and stand up. 

I fix my attire and avoid looking straight in his eyes but I did see him locking his emotions, becoming totally blank. 

He clears his throat and asks, 

'What happened that made you react like that?' 

Panic rises in Swati's eyes, but I smoothly sign, which Swati translates hesitatingly, 

'Panic attacks happen to me sometimes when there is too much quiet in my head.' 

He nods like he understands and then walks out. 

I release the breath that I was holding in relief. I glare at Swati for almost exposing me. 

She shrugs innocently, she opens her mouth, no doubt to ask about the panic attack. 

But I hold my hand up and shake my head to stop her. I don't want to discuss it now. She nods her head and quiets down. 

I sit down on the couch, noticing a encyclopedia there instead of books thats why he didn't question me because Swati already swapped them. 

Now, I am interested to find the truth behind my mother's death along with finding what is going on here. 

In Malwa, I didn't have the resources nor the knowledge to reach the truth but I have that now. 

In this situation, a little bit of honesty is needed to solve some of the puzzles. 

I turn to Swati and say, 

'Bring me the record book from 3 years ago and find out where Yuvraj is.' 

She nods and after sometime she comes with the record then take me to Yuvraj, who is in our room. 

I tell her to wait outside and enter. I find him writing something on the paper. 

He rolled the paper and kept it aside when I keep the book, opened to the page where I find the resignation of councillors on the same day. 

When he turns back to the table, he is taken aback by the book. He looks up to me and asks, 

'What happened?' 

I indicate towards the book, he looks down, flips it, and says, 

'It is the record book of representatives of the states of my empire of 3 years ago.' 

He says like I don't know that. 

I become annoyed at his tone. I want to say to him that I am mute, not illiterate. 

I narrow my eyes at him but point my finger at the names and their records. He frowns at me like I am stupid. 

He says, 

'They resigned 3 years ago, they served my father, they became old so they retired.' 

When I still look at him with a frown thinking how is he to become the king of this empire being so oblivious. 

He mistook my frown for not understanding and explains, 

'They are very good friends of my father and helped my father in smooth administration. 

'Even though my father is still the king, the transition of power to me already happened 3 years ago. So I guess they didn't want to serve someone young. 

It didn't bother me too because it allowed me to recruit young, creative minds and someone I trust after I become king.' 

It did clear something but there is still doubt, but I want to know something else so I shake my head. 

He sighs in frustration and asks, 

'What, Mohini?' 

I point at the dates, he glares at me so I forcefully tilt his face down, he grumbles but looks at where my finger is pointing. 

He is frustratedly saying, 

'You are showing me the resignation dates of theirs.........which....are the same.' 

It looks like he doesn't know about this, so he can't help me. I close the book and take it. 

When I turn to go, he takes my wrist and asks, 

'Why the sudden interest in my representatives?' 

I shot him a sarcastic smile, then make noise with my bangles, which brings Swati inside. 

I sign for her to translate, 

'You just can't help yourself, you will always be suspicious and blame me even if I try to find a simple pen and paper.'

Her eyes widen with fear with each word she understands, but tells him, which brings a guilty look to his face. I further say, 

'And you are right, these all things are yours, not mine.' 

I feel guilty for dragging Swati in this but she is my only way of communication and my friend like Naina. 

His eyes widen but he recovers quickly and says, 

'I am not doubting you, I just want to know what brought this on for you to check these things thats all.' 

I sign at him, 

'I don't believe you now.' 

Then walk out but stop outside when I hear Swati speaking, 

'Chhota munh badi baat sarkar, par Bai-sa Suryagarh ki hone wali Rani hai, unhe hak hai apne rajya ke baare mein jaane ka, iske liye woh dushman nahi ban jati hai.' 

'Small mouth big talk Sarkar, but Bai-Sa is the future queen of Suryagarh, she has the right to know about her kingdom, she doesn't become an enemy for wanting to know these things.' 

I wait for his reply so that it can ease this tightness which came in my chest after I talked with him in that way. 

But his next words make the tightness more painful, 

'I know, but I don't want her to be hurt if she finds something wrong here and gets caught in the crossfire. 

Unhe kuch hua toh hum bardasht nahi kar paenge. Aur ye sunishchit aap karengi.' 

If anything happens to her, I will not be able to tolerate it. And you will ensure this.' 

I walk away from there before I hear more and cave to his apology. He confuses me every day. 

I go and relax my mind in the sitting area in between the pond. 

I close my eyes, and an idea hits me. 

I hear the anklets' sounds, I open my eyes to find Swati standing there. 

I sign at Swati, 

'Bring me the record book for 9 years ago of representatives, can you do that for me?' 

She nods her head and after some time she brings me the record books with the help of an attendee. 

I look at 11 record books, I hesitate but I ask Swati, 

'Can I trust you? I had a very close friend, but she betrayed me deeply, so it's hard for me to trust anyone, but you made me feel comfortable for me to take you as my friend, not a helper.' 

Tears fill her eyes, and she says, 

'Jis din hume Yuvraj ne aapke liye rakha, jis din hum aapse mile ussi din se humari nishtha sirf aapse hai aur kisi se nahi.' 

'From the day Prince hired me for you, from the day I met you, my loyalty is only to you and to no one else.' 

She hesitates to say the next thing but speaks up eventually at my encouragement, 

'I will always be there for you, support you, but if you intend to hurt someone innocent, whoever that might be, then my loyalty is not with you.' 

I sign to her, 

'Never.' 

Her words are enough for me. 

First, I tell her to take paper and pen, then show her each name from 3 years ago record book whom I want to find. 

After we are done with that, I tell her to find these names in the record books. 

It took us the whole afternoon, it is now evening, the attendees have lit the whole area. 

Eventually we find all names in two books. I ask her to find how many of them had temporary left the position for a certain period time. 

We find that almost every one of our names leaving two names had left their position temporarily. 

The period of time they left for coincides with my mother's death. 

It leaves bitter taste at the thought that Bapusaa did this, have killed my mother. 

I can't go outside, so I turn to Swati and ask her in signs, 

'Can you do me a favour? Can you find out how many of these people are still alive and where they are?' 

She furrows her brow at the thought and mutters, 

'It will be difficult to leave you and find out, but I have a way to do what you want.' 

I nod my head. She takes the paper and leaves while I immerse in the thoughts of Dada, Bapusaa, Baba, and most importantly Yuvraj. 

For two days, I have received no news from Swati. 

I am getting ready in my chamber when Swati enters, panting heavily and saying, 

'I-I f-found it.' 

I furrow my brows at her words. With the signal of my hand, I tell the attendees to leave me alone. 

Swati takes a deep breath and further enters. She says, 

'Everyone died in the list for some or other reason, but one is still alive and lives near the famous market of Suryagarh.' 

Excitement thrums through me at the knowledge of solving my mother's death and solving odd things happening here. 

I ask her in signs, 

'Who is it?' 

She replies, 

'Amar Shekhar.' 

********************

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