38| Blood and Key
I knock on the wall to let Samhita know I'm about to enter.
I knock on the wall to let Samhita know I'm about to enter.
(This scene takes place before Vikramaditya's time travel to the 25th century. It's a recollection from the past)
I drop my bag onto the cushion and sink into it, resting my head against the plush surface. The day at university was a chaotic mess.
I slam the books and piles of papers onto the table, letting out a groan of frustration. Nothing is making sense.
The air in the room is thick with a mix of scents from the piles of stuff everywhere. Ornate golden plates are crammed into every corner.
Books have always been a refuge for me, a source of endless fascination regardless of the genre—be it science, technology, the business world, or the latest fashion trends.
Humanity has come a long way. As far as our eyes can see, we witness wonders beyond the wildest dreams of primitive humans.
"Samhita, what's all this?" Dad slams the envelope on the table, looking furious.
I'm feeling totally drained, hopeless, dejected, vulnerable and just downright crappy right now like a poisoned river.
"Rayan, did you get the doctor?" Liza rushes over to him.
The rhythmic clatter of horse hooves blends with the distant rumble of the waterfall.
I'm pacing around like a mad person. My mind is all over the place now. But the thing that's freaking me out the most right now is Samhita.
"Quickly, inspect the decorations in the hall one final time.
As I pace the grounds with restless steps, Samhita is all I can think about. It's getting dark, and I haven't heard a thing about where she is.
I sit at the river's edge, letting tiny pebbles slip through my fingers one by one.
"Your Majesty, as per your order, a battalion is prepared to journey to the borders of the Krita Kingdom," Ugrasena informs me with a bow.
"Maharani," an attendant calls, pulling my attention away from the mirror. "Your cousins are requesting to see you," she conveys respectfully.
Samhita is sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands. She runs her fingers over the henna design, feeling its tightness on her skin.
"I instruct you to recruit 15 cooks for the food preparation of the new garrison soldiers," I announce, jotting down the details in the ledger.
Samhita Maity, a historian, found excitement in discovering long-lost secrets of histories- a perfectionist in her work. However, there was one mysterious figure eluding her expertise-the exploration of the most celebrated king of ancient India, whose name resounded across the world. His unwritten and unfinished books ignited her curiosity, and day and night, her thoughts were consumed by him. Who was he beyond the exterior of a king? How did his empire attain such advanced and flourishing heights that even contemporary science couldn't reach? Why were only fragments written about him? Where did he vanish so suddenly? These questions lingered, morphing into an obsession. Driven by an insatiable desire to unravel his mystery, Samhita set on a daring journey through time, stepping into his kingdom. As the threads of time intertwined, Samhita became Rajadhiraj Vikramaditya's own obsession. She had entered the realm of an eagle, and now, there seemed to be no escape. Would she find her way back to her own time? Would he permit her departure or would she be held captive by the sparks of dominance and power that crackled between them? Could their individual dominances coexist, or would they crumble in the face of each other's compelling forces?