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"You wanted to talk to me, Father?"
"Yes, Hemal, sit down."
Prince Hemal sat on the cushions in front of his father and waited as the king stared at him with a frown.
"What is it, Father?" he asked, embarrassed by the silent examination. "Seems like you've never seen me before."
"I have," the king replied sharply. "Twice, actually. I don't have doubts anymore. I hoped to find in you something of your mother or myself, but no, the more you grow up, the more you look like your father."
"What?"
"You're not my son, Hemal." King Kunal shooed him away, averting his eyes.
"What do you mean?" he asked, incredulous.
"It means what I said!" King Kunal snapped. "Get out of my sight now!"
Hemal obeyed, too shocked to object. Besides he knew better than to get on the wrong side of his mighty father, the king. Or not his father?
He went to his stepmother for comfort and told her of King Kunal's outburst. "What's going on, Mother?" he asked her.
"It's a long story, honey," she sighed. "You know I have always loved you like a son."
"Yes, but..."
"I'll try to make it easy on you. Wait for me in your room."
Hemal obeyed, more and more puzzled and worried.
On the way he met Mohan whom he had always considered his little brother – he was the son of King Kunal and his second wife Mitali and was thirteen. Hemal loved him and stopped to talk to him trying to hide his anxiety.
"Can I give you my gift today?" the younger prince asked, excited.
"Tomorrow," he chided. "Tomorrow is my birthday."
"All right." Mohan pouted.
"You can be the first," he promised. "I must go now, I'll see you later, all right?"
Mohan let him go and Hemal sighed.
Tomorrow I'll be eighteen. And I discover I'm not my father's son. What a gift! Who am I? Will I be disinherited in favor of Mohan?
Not that he cared about inheriting the throne. But how could he grow up without hearing anything at all about the fact he could not be King Kunal's son?
His stepmother joined him in his room and sat with him in the private garden.
"What do you know, Mother?" he asked, worried.
"Not much," Mitali admitted. "When I met you, you were the shyest child I had ever met. You needed lots of love and I was glad to give it to you. I accepted to marry Kunal also for your sake. I saw how he ignored you and couldn't tell why. He had brought us to a war with Gajendra and strained relationships with Rajendra only to marry your mother, why was he so mad at you?"
"Because I killed her," he said gloomily. "After all he did to get her, I took her life with my birth."
"Your mother wasn't the first or the last to die in childbirth," Mitali replied. "Kunal really loved her, but I don't think he blamed you for her death. And then one day I found this."
She took a folded parchment from her sari and showed it to him. "I found it hidden among the saris in the teak chest of the late queen."
He took it and opened it. Another sealed parchment slid on his lap while he read the words of the short letter.
Whoever finds this please give the enclosed letter to my son Hemal when he's old enough without Kunal, my husband, knowing. Hemal must know the truth, which won't please his so-called father. Hemal is not Kunal's son and herein he shall find the story of his unfortunate parents. You who have found this letter please give it to him in secret when you see it fit. And if you're a friend, I know you'll find the right time. May the Gods bless you. Bindya.
Hemal stared at Mitali, incredulous.
"I was so touched," she said. "I kept it hidden for years. I guess now is a good time to give it to you. I didn't open the letter for you, but if you need to talk afterward, you know where to find me."
She kissed his forehead and left him alone with his mother's message.
***
Jeevan is dead and my brother disappeared. I'm here surrounded by enemies. Hemal has been sent away, but he was so sweet... talking to him was comforting, that's why I gave you his name.
I'm alone with Kunal's possessive love and my only consolation is that you, Hemal, are not his son. I hope to see you grow up tall and strong like your real father, Jeevan Nagra. But if you're reading this, I'm probably gone. You can hear more about us in Rajendra, where Jeevan's cousin Jayanta relocated. He's a childhood friend of the man who is now supposedly the king, Kumar from Leland, who tried to talk some sense into Kunal before the war with Gajendra broke out.
You could have been very happy with your real parents. Are you happy anyway? I wonder. I wish you to be happy and never go through what we have been through. You who are still alive, avenge us. You lived with Kunal for many years, you must know his weaknesses. Strike without mercy, like he did with us.
Your mother Bindya
Hemal put down the letter even more doubtful than before. His real parents' story was unbelievable, except it was not. He knew enough King Kunal to know he could be cruel or ruthless.
He needed to talk about it, and his stepmother was the only option. He asked her if she thought there could be people at the palace who had met Bindya and Jeevan, and Mitali said that as Bindya had been a washer-woman, probably some of them had met her and her betrothed before Kunal noticed her.
They went together to the servants' quarters and more than one person without access to the royal family exclaimed in surprise at the sight of Hemal. Tongues started moving. Yes, he looked exactly like Jeevan. Served the king right. At least the unfortunate lovers had had time to procreate before being torn apart.
All the servants blessed him while cursing the king, and Hemal went back to the royal quarters relieved but worried. The king was now aware of the truth, what would he do to him? Kill him like he had his father?
Mitali promised to prod her husband for an answer.
***
"You didn't look very happy at Hemal's birthday," Mitali said, retiring for the night with Kunal.
"I won't celebrate it anymore," he replied bluntly.
"Why not?"
"He's not my son."
She feigned surprise. "How do you know?"
"I know."
"So what will you do?"
"Nothing. But he will never inherit the throne."
"Will you disown him?"
"No. It would show the fruit of my first marriage is not mine. I don't want that. No, I won't disown him. But I will not have a legitimate heir either."
"How about Mohan? Why did you marry me if you can't even consider my son your heir?"
"You wanted it. You knew I didn't love you."
"And you never loved Hemal either."
"If you married me for Hemal's sake, why do you complain?"
She snorted. "I didn't marry you for Hemal's sake! And you needed a queen, right? One would think that the sons the queen bears are automatically in the line of succession."
"Fine, Mohan can have the throne when I die." He shrugged. "I'm not going to find another lover anyway."
"Have you ever truly loved someone, Kunal?" she asked after a brief silence.
"Yes." Kunal's answer was sullen. "Hemal's mother."
***
"Mother, I want you to read this, so you can understand what I want to do," Hemal said, handing the parchments from his mother to his stepmother.
"I can't, it's private..."
"Read it," he insisted.
Mitaly took back the parchment and read the second, longer letter while he waited.
She slowly folded it again when she was done. "What's your plan, Hemal?"
"I need time. I need to talk to people." He looked at her, determined. "I'll ask Kunal permission to visit the other courts in search of a bride, but I'll stop in Rajendra for some time. I don't want to live under the roof of my father's murderer anymore."
Mitali sighed. "So you will look for this... Jayanta, your father's cousin?"
"Yes, but I'm not telling Kunal. And I don't know what I will do next, nor how long I'll be away."
"As you wish. But be careful."
***
"So you're leaving." Mohan looked very disappointed.
"I'll be away for a year and will come back with a beautiful bride," Hemal promised. He glanced at King Kunal and noticed his smirk. He wondered what the king was planning on his return. He hugged his little brother, wishing he could take him on his journey.
"Be good." He let him go and hugged Mitali. "Good-bye, Mother. I will write soon."
He stopped also in front of Kunal, but the king's face was so hostile he simply nodded and moved on.
"Come back soon!" Mohan shouted after him.
He waved without turning back. He had no idea if he'd ever come back to Agharek.
He stopped in Leland to hear other members of the Nagra clan and was given the address of Jayanta in Argantael. He finally reached the capital of Rajendra and found the potter's shop – and his father's cousin.
"I come from Agharek," he said as introduction as Jayanta didn't seem to recognize him. "I don't feel welcome in the royal palace anymore."
"I don't think our lord Kunal ever helped anyone to feel welcome," Jayanta scoffed.
"Well, he was my father until I turned eighteen."
"And he's not anymore?"
"No. I discovered I'm not really his son. He told me so and then it was confirmed elsewhere. My name is Hemal."
"I thought you looked familiar!" Jayanta stared at him more closely. "Yes, you are definitely Jeevan's son!" He chuckled. "No wonder Kunal disowned you!"
"He hasn't yet, not officially. But I fear for my life now that he knows the truth."
"Yes, you did well to come here. I'll help you to avenge your parents." Jayanta slowly smiled. "It's time somebody gives a final lesson to Kunal!"
***
The messenger reached the king during a meal and handed over the message with a deep bow. Kunal unsealed the letter and scanned it, frowning more and more.
"What's going on?" Mitali asked as Mohan ignored his parents to grab another portion of his favorite dish.
Kunal handed her the letter as if it were burning. Puzzled, Mitali read it aloud.
"I am sorry to inform you that your son lost his life during a hunt. The weather did not allow transport of the body, thus he was buried in the main temple of Argantael." Mitali looked at Kunal, shocked. "What does this mean?"
"I don't know, maybe Kumar never forgave me for not listening to him," Kunal shrugged.
"Come on, he knew who Hemal was, he wouldn't have put him in danger on purpose!" she protested. "He even suggested Hemal could pick one of his daughters!"
"Possibly the dancer's, not his wife's," Kunal scoffed. "That would have suited Hemal indeed. Not a drop of royal blood in sight!"
Mitali was speechless with horror.
In the sudden silence Mohan spoke. "Does this mean Hemal is dead?"
Mitali sighed and pulled him to her bosom. "Yes, honey."
"So he won't come back?" Mohan sniffed.
"I'm afraid not."
Mohan freed himself from his mother's embrace and ran away.
"Mohan! Get back here now!" Kunal called after him.
"Leave him alone," Mitali said sharply. "Hemal loved him more than you ever did."
She left the table to console her son, wondering what had actually happened to Hemal.
***
Six years slowly went by. Then one day Kunal received a visit and thought it was a living ghost.
"Hello, Kunal." Even the voice was the same. A young, beautiful, breathing Jeevan had come back from the grave as if those twenty-four years never passed.
Kunal gasped for breath.
"Surprised to see me?" The vision smiled Jeevan's smile. "You were so sure you had killed me, huh? Well, I decided to come back from the dead."
"You can't be..." Kunal found it hard to breathe.
"Yes, I'm Jeevan Nagra. And I've come back. Where is Bindya?"
"She... she died." Kunal lowered his eyes. "She died in childbirth. She had a boy she called Hemal."
"And where is Hemal? Did you kill him when you discovered he's not your son?"
"How do you know he wasn't mine?" Kunal snapped.
"I came first, remember?" Jeevan smiled pleasantly.
"Son of a bitch."
"You've gotten old, Kunal, I don't think you're as swift with your scimitar as you used to. You don't even wear it anymore. Now tell me, where is Hemal?"
"He died," Kunal answered gloomily.
"Did you kill him? You got rid of him as well?"
"No, he died in a hunting accident in Rajendra. He's buried at Argantael."
"You lie, there's no such tomb at Argantael."
"I got a message from King Kumar. He told me of his death and burial."
"Hemal never reached the royal palace of Argantael," Jeevan replied. "And King Kumar doesn't know of his existence. What did you do to him, Kunal?"
"Gods!" Kunal started losing his temper. "He's dead in Rajendra! Why can't you believe me?"
"Because you're a liar. I will stay here until I find out the truth about my son. And don't try to kill me, or I'll come back again and this time take you with me to the underworld."
Jeevan turned around to leave the cabinet of the king and saw Mitali by the door. She must have heard Kunal's loud voice and was now staring in wonder at the visitor who bowed respectfully at her.
"You must be the new queen," Jeevan said. "My name is Jeevan and I will be your guest until I have settled a certain matter with King Kunal here..." He glanced at Kunal with a scoff. "I'd like to have my son's room. Can you show me the way, my lady?"
***
Mitali lead the visitor to Hemal's room in silence. Before opening the door to let him in, she turned to smile at him. "Welcome back, Hemal."
"I don't understand, my lady, I'm not Hemal," he protested.
"Yes you are," she chided. "I brought you up, I know you very well. I know you had plans for your stay in Rajendra, although I wasn't expecting you to fake your death. Have you spent all six years over there?"
"Yes, with Jayanta," he finally admitted. "He was the one who showed me the way. He even managed to find Ajay, Bindya's brother, who had spent years in prison but was eventually released and then moved out of Akkora. And Rajendra is the closest place to settle. So they told me about my father and taught me to behave like him. Jeevan's resurrection is the only way to truly hurt Kunal. Can you blame me, Mother?"
"No." Mitali sighed. "You must do what your heart tells you to do. Maybe I married Kunal for love, but after twenty years of cold shoulders my passion died out. I shall guard your secret closely. But tell me, that message from King Kumar announcing your death..."
"I told you, Jayanta grew up with him. He went to a scribe, then Kumar put his seal underneath. I don't think he bothered to know what he was signing anyway. And I knew Kunal wouldn't check. I'm sorry I wasn't able to warn you."
"I knew you were up to something. It was much worse for Mohan."
Hemal hesitated. "How is Mohan?"
"He's changed." She sighed. "You'll see. I better go now. Good luck, Hemal."
***
Nightmares filled Kunal's sleep. He saw himself young and in love with Bindya again. He was twenty-six and held her in his arms, smelling her and trying to make her smile. But she kept crying and refused to talk to him. Then Jeevan came and took her from him. And they smiled at each other and Kunal could only watch as they made love.
Then he was fifty again, but Jeevan was still twenty-four, strong and healthy and threatening. Past and present mixed in the dream, making him cry out in sorrow.
His scream awoke him and Mitali who slept by his side. He tried to steady his ragged breathing and calm his thundering heart.
"What's going on?" Mitali asked.
"A nightmare." He panted. "Sleep."
Mitali pulled herself up and tried to calm him with a massage.
He slowly relaxed and took a deep breath. "I must get rid of him," he muttered.
"Who?" she asked as he shrugged away her hands.
"Jeevan. He has no right to come back from the dead and haunt me after all these years."
"You killed him," she said.
"It was long ago! Why come back now?" His voice faltered and she hugged him. "I loved his betrothed," he whispered.
"So did he. And she loved him."
"Enough!" he snapped. "You don't know anything, you weren't there!"
"Can you at least admit you did them wrong?"
"No." His pride was still the strongest. "I'll find a way to get rid of Jeevan. Go back to sleep."
***
"Mind if I join you?" Jeevan entered the private living room of the royal family who was ready to start the midday meal.
"Yes," Kunal snapped. "I don't want you at my table."
"There's plenty of room," Jeevan shrugged, sitting down with a smile.
Kunal glared at him and averted his eyes. Jeevan smiled at Mitali who nodded trying not to smile back.
The part of him that was still Hemal glanced anxiously at his younger half-brother who sat to his left. Mohan had lost all childhood traits and had become a handsome nineteen-year-old. He looked tough and a little wild, and there was probably not much left of the sweet child he had once been. That unknown young man ate in silence without looking at anyone.
Kunal frowned and decided to ignore the uninvited guest, but Hemal could feel his hateful stare on him from time to time. Nobody spoke during the meal.
"Who are you?" Mohan asked, staring at the intruder with mild curiosity as the servants took away the empty plates.
"I'm Jeevan, Hemal's father. Have you been told he's not really your half-brother?"
"Yes." Mohan slowly nodded, still staring at him. "I thought you were dead."
"I came back from the dead because I felt my son was in danger. Can you tell me where Hemal is?"
Mohan scoffed. "He's dead. You're too late."
"How did he die?" Hemal-Jeevan tried to keep his emotions in control. Mohan looked as heartless as Kunal now. Maybe he shouldn't have left him without news for so long.
"A hunting accident in Rajendra six years ago. You're way too late to protect him Jeevan, you better leave now."
"Not until I learn the truth. Hemal never reached the Rajendra royal palace. Write to King Kumar and he wouldn't know who you're talking about. There is no tomb for a Prince Hemal at Argantael Temple. But there is a disgruntled king, here, who discovered his heir wasn't really born from his loins."
"Hemal is dead, and I don't care how." Mohan shrugged. "You better take your revenge somewhere else."
He rose and left without looking at anyone in particular. Kunal followed him with his eyes, a vague satisfied smile on his lips. Hemal-Jeevan glanced at Mitali who sighed and averted her eyes.
Mohan wasn't the sweet and innocent boy he used to be anymore. He was cold and ruthless like his father. Why did he change? Hemal had not time for that now. He must be Jeevan, avenge his parents, and then maybe go back to his own life. Or what was left of it.
It was easy enough for him to behave like Jeevan. Jayanta and Ajay had instructed him well and he could see how this upset Kunal who had no doubts about his identity. Mohan despised him, defending the father he must love in spite of everything and Hemal had to struggle with himself so as not to reveal who he really was. Mohan hated him, but Hemal knew that Mohan hated Jeevan, the living ghost haunting his father.
Mitali's encouraging words weren't always enough to keep him going while Hemal struggled with his double identity. The dangerous game was destroying him as well and sometimes he felt he could never fulfill his mother's request. He might look like Jeevan but he didn't have his strength. He might act like Jeevan, but more and more often he feared he would fail them both.
He had to do something about it. So when he found Mohan alone in the library, he decided he needed to talk. "Mohan."
"What do you want?" Mohan didn't bother looking up from the manuscript he was holding.
"I want to tell you the truth."
"I don't want to hear your truth."
"My truth is that I'm Hemal."
"Hemal is dead."
"Hemal is alive and talking to you right now. You're the one who is dead, Mohan. Your heart is dead. You remember that day we went to Akulina to see the ocean? You found the best shells and we built a castle in the sand."
Hemal closed his mouth. Mohan had turned around and was gaping at him. Hemal waited for him to recover from surprise.
"There were no servants around," Mohan said slowly. "And I told you..."
"Why don't we leave, Hemal? Let's take a ship and run away." Hemal smiled at the memory. "Mitali couldn't hear you as she sat on the beach further away and the sound of the waves covered your voice."
Mohan dropped the manuscript and went to hug him.
"Why did you leave, Hemal?" His voice sounded choked by tears. "Where have you been? And why did you fake your death? I cried every night for over a month when I was told..."
"I'm sorry." Hemal squeezed him in his arms, relieved to discover his brother's heart wasn't dead after all. "I had to."
Mohan pulled away from him and stared at him, worried. "Why this masquerade, Hemal? Why coming back with your father's name?"
"To avenge them. You have no idea what Kunal has done to my real parents. And I know he'd have gotten rid of me as well sooner or later."
"Mother told me there was evidence you were not his son. He sounded quite happy with your demise. But I want the whole story now!"
Hemal smiled. They sat together on a divan and he gave Mohan his mother's letter.
"Your mother found it and gave it to me on my birthday. She already knows everything, although I didn't tell her my plans either – because I had none when I left, but she recognized me when I came back."
Mohan nodded and read Bindya's letter, then asked more about the past six years.
"Now you know it all," Hemal concluded after a lengthy talk. "And I think I'm going to tell Kunal as well because I'm sick of pretending. I can't really hate the man who was my father for eighteen years, albeit a cold and imperious one. A father who never loved me, but still a father. So tonight I'll tell the truth."
"What will Jayanta and Ajay say?"
"They're in Rajendra, aren't they?" He shrugged. "And I want to be myself, I want my life back."
"I've changed, you know?" Mohan smiled. "I've become tough, mean and cold-hearted."
"You wear a mask too. I believe we should both take them off and be ourselves again."
"Thank you, Hemal."
"Tell me more about you, now. Are you betrothed yet?"
"No." Mohan smiled mischievously. "Want to meet my friends?"
"Uh... sure..."
"Come!" Mohan chuckled before springing up on his feet.
***
"Where are we?" Hemal stopped in front of the door of the two-story house in the city. Mohan had led him out of the royal palace and into the streets of the capital without giving any explanations.
"Welcome to Madam Jaya's," Mohan said solemnly.
"Is she a friend of yours?"
Mohan chuckled. "It's also called a brothel," he answered with a mischievous smile. "Will you come in or not?"
"But..." Still puzzled, Hemal could only follow him inside. The courtyard had a portico where a dozen women sat, scantly clothed.
"Meet my friends," Mohan said slumping between two half-naked beauties who welcomed him with bright smiles. "If I were you, I'd choose Deepika, she's the best." He pointed with his chin at a brown-haired woman who sat on a cushion, fanning herself.
Hemal was speechless and very embarrassed.
"Who is your friend?" Deepika asked putting down the fan as she looked at Hemal from head to toe.
"Ladies, please welcome long lost Prince Hemal," Mohan said teasingly. "Be nice to him, as I consider him my blood brother."
"And has your brother ever known a woman?" Deepika asked rising and slowly walking to the still standing Hemal.
"I don't know. Have you, Hemal?"
Hemal lowered his eyes, too embarrassed to look at anyone. He had been busy with revenge plans, he hadn't had time to think about women. Even if he had left the palace with the excuse of finding a bride, he hadn't actually been looking.
"I'd say no," Deepika said, stopping in front of him. "Come, my prince, I'll take care of it."
She took his hand and he followed her, unsure of what he should do. To fulfill Jayanta's plan he had forgotten himself, and his body was reminding him he was young and alive and needed women in his life.
"How old are you?" she asked after they locked themselves in a first floor room.
"Twenty-four."
"And where have you been, on a desert island?" she teased.
"No, I was busy, I needed to get ready..."
"Are you not interested in women?"
"I am, but like I said I didn't have time for them."
"Keep your secrets, my prince." She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. "It doesn't matter, as long as you want to be here now."
He gulped down his emotions and nodded, too embarrassed to speak. She smiled and kissed him, sending shivers of pleasure down his spine.
Her hands and lips made his head spin, but a part of him couldn't relax.
"No," he whispered pulling away from her.
"What is it, you don't like it?" she asked with a frown.
"I like it, but I don't want it to happen like this. I don't even know you."
"My name is Deepika and I'm a whore. You don't need to know anything else to have sex with me."
"Well, I don't want sex. I want love." He ran away from the brothel, leaving her too stunned to object.
***
Hemal glanced at Mohan who nodded his approval. They sat with Kunal and Mitali after dinner and the king's eyes were staring at Hemal with the usual mix of anger, fear and incredulity.
"I'm Hemal."
Kunal gasped and Mitali looked up, surprised.
"You're so upset that you're blind," Hemal continued. "I'm twenty-four, the same age my father was when you killed him. I looked like him at eighteen, imagine now with the help of someone who knew him well..."
"Who?" Kunal's voice was strangled by a mounting fury.
"Ajay, Bindya's brother, and Jeevan's cousin whom you let go at the border with Rajendra when you captured the runaways. I spent six years with them at Argantael while you thought I was dead. I came back to avenge my parents, but I'm tired of this game. I forgive you, Kunal, and I hope we can live in peace now."
Mitali smiled, relieved, and Mohan nodded again.
"You... you forgive me?" Kunal exploded. "But I do not forgive you, you bastard! Your ghostly trick almost killed me! No, I will not forgive you, Hemal, I will never forgive you this... game and the fact that you're not my son!"
"But I..."
"Shut up!" Kunal hit him with a fist so charged with hatred and rage that Hemal was thrown against the wall. "I'm the king! You don't scare me anymore, neither you nor your wretched father! And if you think I'll let you back in the family, you're sorely mistaken!"
"Father..." Mohan tried to calm him.
"Shut up, Mohan! I bet he let you in his game as well!"
"No, I thought he was dead six years ago!"
"Then shut up and stay out of it! Hemal, from now on you're the last of my slaves!"
"Father!" Mohan protested.
"Shut up!" Kunal got up, grabbed Hemal by his hair and dragged him out of the room.
***
Hemal found himself prisoner in his own room, with a dog collar that chained him to the wall and didn't allow him to go out to the inner garden. Furniture was removed, so he had to sleep on the floor, and Kunal whipped his clothes off of his body.
"Enough!" he pleaded, curling up to protect himself from another flogging.
"Not until you die, dog!" Kunal replied hitting him again.
Hemal was naked and covered in blood as new energy flooded Kunal's arm. The whip was becoming as effective as his scimitar had been, except it gave a slower, more painful death. The little bastard would pay dearly for what he had done.
Mohan entered and stared at both of them. "Father, enough, leave him alone," he said with a determined tone.
Kunal turned to glare at him, but he didn't flinch.
"Stop defending him!" Kunal snapped. "You're my son and you shouldn't care about him!"
"He's my brother."
"No he's not! He's a bastard son of a commoner..."
"He's a human being. And was my half-brother until he turned eighteen. I won't forget who loved me and took care of me. Even if it's been six years and he's disgraced, Hemal is still my brother and I don't want you to treat him like this."
"You don't want? You're not the king, Mohan! And you're too weak to ever become one! Go back to your room and keep your mouth shut!"
Mohan clenched his teeth, furious.
"You always hated me, Father. I had to find somebody else to love."
"A man can live without love."
"And a child? You were the most loved child of the kingdom, with three younger brothers who adored you! I thought Hemal was my elder and loved him accordingly."
Kunal scoffed. "He's not your elder. And you're a spoiled only child."
"And you killed your own brother," Hemal whispered.
Both Kunal and Mohan heard him.
"Shut up, bastard!" Kunal's whip hit again the bruised body.
"Enough, Father!" Mohan managed to grab the whip and threw it in the garden. While Kunal stormed to retrieve it, he kneeled by Hemal and saw he had lost consciousness.
***
"Hello." Deepika was surprised to see Mohan outside of her door.
"Can I come in?" he asked, depressed.
"I'm trying to get some rest."
"I'm not here for sex, Deepika."
"Then come in. What can I do for you?"
"You remember my brother Hemal?"
"Yes, he's sweet, but he ran away from me. I've never met a man looking for love instead of sex!"
"Let me tell you his story..."
***
Deepika stared at the bruised Hemal, upset. The bed had been brought back into the room, but he lay there pale and unconscious, his neck still enclosed in the dog collar and his body marked by the whip.
"Gods!" she whispered, shocked.
Mohan guided her to the bed. Someone had cleaned the major wounds, but Hemal didn't look any better.
"Will you help him, Deepika?"
"How?" She sat on the bed and took Hemal's hand. "How could the king do this to him?"
"I don't know," Mohan grumbled. "Kunal hates the whole world. He hates me and him and my mother... Maybe he doesn't have a heart."
"There must be something that moves him."
"Mother says he loved only his first wife."
"Hemal's mother?"
He nodded. "Still, he killed her."
Deepika sighed, caressing Hemal's face.
"Did he wake up yet?" Kunal's imperious voice startled them as the king came in.
"No, he didn't," Mohan snapped. "And even when he does, you better leave him alone!"
"Listen, boy, I already told you to stay out of this!"
"No, you leave Hemal alone now! You'll kill him if you go on like this!"
Kunal scoffed. "The bastard shall end as he deserves."
"Enough!" Mohan lost his patience. Like his father used to when he was prince heir, Mohan had his own scimitar now. Without thinking, he unsheathed it. The curved blade swung like it had done so often twenty-four years before.
"May the Gods damn you..." Kunal rattled and collapsed to the ground. Not even when death was claiming him could he forgive.
Mohan dropped his scimitar, shivering in horror at the sight of what he had done. Mitali rushed in, sensing something had gone badly wrong. She stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of her husband's still body, then her eyes went to her upset son. She rushed to hug him as he repeated mechanically, "I killed him, I killed him."
"Calm down, honey, it's the best thing for all of us," the queen said. "He'd have killed us all, eventually." Mohan started sobbing on her shoulder. "Don't cry, Mohan, your father never loved you..."
"But I loved him!" he cried out, desperate.
Deepika averted her eyes from his sorrow and looked at Hemal again, but the young man didn't stir.
***
When Hemal opened his eyes, he found Deepika by his side.
"Hello," she smiled.
"Hello." His reply was a whisper and he averted his eyes.
"It's over, Hemal. You're free."
"What about Kunal?"
"He's dead."
"How?"
"Mohan. Used his scimitar without thinking. You're free, Hemal, nobody will hurt you ever again."
Hemal turned his head the other way. He was still bruised, but his neck was free. He was still weak, but would recover eventually. "I want to leave."
"To go where?" she asked, worried.
"In the jungle," he said.
She stared at him, puzzled. "Are you mad? What would you do alone in the jungle?"
"I need to be alone."
"Kunal is dead and we love you. You don't need to leave."
"I don't want to live among the people," he said. "Not after what they've done to me."
"It was one man and he's no more," she chided. "Hemal, let me help you..." She tried to pull him close to her, but he resisted.
"What is it, a new game?" he asked, sarcastic. "Have you been paid to do this?"
"No." she pulled back, wounded. "I might be a whore, but I do have a heart. And you stole it the moment you said you were looking for love and not sex."
"I'm sorry," he looked away again. "I don't feel anything for you."
"Stay for Mohan, then!" she begged. "You can't leave him again! You can be co-regent..."
"I don't want to be king, Deepika. I have no royal blood in my veins. I thank you for the help you're offering, but I cannot accept it. You're beautiful and if I weren't so sick I'd happily try to get to know you better. But at the moment I can't, I'm sorry."
***
"Are you sure you need to go?" Mohan asked.
"Yes," Hemal answered. "I'm sorry. Now that I recovered, I'd rather be on my way."
"Please come back," Mitali said, hugging him.
"When I forget... if I can forget..."
"Do you hate us?" Mohan asked.
"No." Hemal tried to smile. "Be good."
"That's what you told me last time," Mohan said lowering his eyes. "When I was told you were dead."
"Well, this time if you hear I'm dead don't believe it," Hemal tried to joke. "Bye."
He turned his back on them and started his journey to the receding jungle that had become much smaller than the one that had given shelter to his parents when they had sired him with love.
"Come back soon!" Deepika shouted after him.
He waved without turning back.