Episode 21: The Life & Exploits of Princess Amodini
Satya stood frozen in the middle of the yard.
Far to her left, Uncle Madhava, who’d been busy at his workstation under the tree, stopped packing his tools, and stood up, his axe in hand.
Behind her, she heard Aunt Sulochana’s footsteps, emerging from the open doorway and halting all of a sudden, followed by a low gasp of surprise.
Right in front of them, Veerata stood outside the fence dressed in full armour and uniform attire, surveying the whole place. Several armed guards stood at attention behind him.
The evening before, the trio had agreed on their travel plan. They’d leave Satvikshila and travel further South, towards the coastline. The next day, they’d had woken at dawn, intending to leave the hamlet in secret. They’d packed up whatever little they’d collected in the last three years.
Yet, two hours later, they’d still not finished.
Aunt Sulochana had wrapped up most of the household items while Uncle Madhava had cleaned up the yard. They wouldn’t let Satya help.
She only had to pack her books and clothes into one of her bedsheets. She’d folded up her three pairs of saffron-coloured school attire, wondering when she would ever wear them again. Instead, she put on a plain, light-blue cotton sari with a white bodice.
The last item on her bed had been the young general’s upper garment. She’d packed it on the top, certain that she would never see him again. Then, she’d tied the ends of the bedsheets into a knot at the top, picked up her make-shift luggage and walked out of the door. She’d lingered in the courtyard, drinking in the view of her beloved university town for one last time.
Within a few minutes, the young general and his team had marched up to their hut from the main road.
Seeing him stop outside the fence, Satya almost panicked. At first, she thought Aunt Sulochana’s fears had come true. Veerata had discovered her true identity and arrived to arrest them. The guards standing behind him were proof enough.
Should I run?
She didn’t even have the strength to turn to her uncle for advice.
No! I won’t run.
She clenched her fists at her sides.
I shall walk out of this place with dignity. I won’t tarnish Nandini’s name by running away like a coward.
As her mind reeled between confusion and defiance, Veerata advanced into the yard alone and walked straight towards her. She threw a furtive glance at her aunt and uncle. They also watched him with bated breath. When she looked back at the young general, he’d stopped at a respectful distance, and was now smiling at her. Even at her full height, her head barely reached his shoulder.
“Satya,” he said, “will you not welcome me to your home?”
She blinked.
Is he mocking me? Is he not here to arrest us? Some new diplomatic tactic?
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