Amar Singh was spending his evening with Gayatri. She wasn't her cheerful self. He assumed that she was angry at him for not giving her much time. That wasn't true. Her mind was engrossed in feelings of insecurity. She was insecure of intellectual prowess of Satyavati and wished she was more smarter than her. "What happened, my dear queen ? Are you mad at me for not spending enough time with you ?", he asked while he lifted her chin.
She turned her gaze away from the king. She sighed and replied, "No, your highness ! I was only thinking." . There was unsettling silence . The king thought about what bothered the queen. He thought of ways he could change her mood. She was indeed sad about something. Suddenly she asked," What is that I don't have but Maharani Satyavati has as you ask her for opinion on political matters?"
The king stared at her spellbound. He knew she needed more attention from him but didn't expect she would be extremely insecure about his first queen. "What are you saying ? Don't compare yourself with Satyavati. She is mature and wise while you are innocent and cheerful. Both of you are good in your own way." , he asked. "I prioritize you before her. I think of ways to cheer you up. Still you allege that I don't prioritize you before her. Instead of you, she should feel bad because I love you more than her.", he continued. He rose up and left her chamber. She cried inconsolably the whole night.
Vijay Singh was at the private meeting with Rashid Sheikh and Abdul. They were discussing strategies for attacking Rawalgarh. "Rawalgarh is heavily protected. There is no chance to go there and attack directly. Amar Singh's troop are always prepared for any attack. How shall we attack him, sire?", Abdul spoke anxiously. "We will attack him only after finding loopholes and war secrets of Amar Singh. We must send one of our confidants there to spy over Amar Singh and his army.", Vijay Singh said. "Don't worry, my friend. The attack has already began. I have sent my spies to unravel Rawalgarh's hidden secrets.", Rashid smirked.
Next day, Amar Singh held the meeting at the royal court with his ministers. The lady was bought inside. "Who are you ? You don't look like one of us. What brings you here?", he asked firmly. The lady who was gazing down looked up at the king. Her sea green eyes was enchanting. He had never seen such pretty pair of eyes.
"I am Roopali. I come from a small village near Sakleshpur. My village was ransacked by the sultanate and his troops. All the inhabitants have been killed including my family. I escaped from their hands before they could attack me.", she narrated her story. She fell to the grounds with folded hands and begged, "Please save me. They have taken my home and family. I have nowhere to go, your highness. I can't go back " The king felt guilty. He had thought she was a traitor but she turned out to be poor woman who had lost everything.
(To be continued)
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