FIRM GOAL

The evening did not turn out to be as per Vikram’s expectations.  The King liked to hunt deer but as fate would have it, there were hardly any of them in the forest where they had ventured.  What was more, a couple of them even escaped from being a victim of Vikram’s sharp arrows! 

As the rulers and their coterie of soldiers went deeper into the forest, they saw something which aroused their curiosity.  There stood in front of them a small house in the middle of the forest!  The rulers glanced at each other questioningly. 

Vikram looked at the dwelling keenly and then observed, “I can see that the door is not locked!”

Devarraya ordered his men to knock at the door and find out who was living there.  The guards hurried towards the house and knocked at the door several times but got no response. 

Vikram conversed with his minister, Biswajeet, who came near the house and spoke aloud, “Whoever is inside, please open the door!  We are not going to harm you!  These are the command of my King Vikram!” 

No one responded.  Finally, with his patience wearing out Vikram directed the soldiers to break open the door which the latter did with all their might.  After some efforts, they managed to push the door open and all of them rushed inside. 

The house was dimly lit with a mashaal hanging from a cliff in the wall. 

When the search did not yield any positive results, Vikram thumped his fist in disgust.  “Someone must be here!  The door was locked from inside.  How do we explain that?”

The guards even searched for a secret exit door and could not locate any.  Both Vikram and Devarraya exchanged puzzled looks.  Just then, someone was approaching the place.  It was none other than Vaidehi who had gone out to get some fruits from the forest!  She was startled to see the door of their hideout lying on the ground broken!  Just then, she heard a shout from inside, “Come!  Let us leave!  It is getting dark!” 

Sensing something amiss, she quickly hid among the bushes and witnessed the proceedings with a thumping heart!  Who had come to their hideout, she wondered!

A shrill went down her spine when Vaidehi saw Vikram come out of their hiding place alongwith the others!  Soon the “unwanted guests” were gone and then Vaidehi scurried inside and desperately looked for the Queen and the little Prince.  But alas!  They were nowhere to be found! 

Meanwhile, Vikram and his men reached the palace.  The minister, Biswajeet, insisted there could be some secret passage in that house which they had failed to locate. “Could be true!”  Vikram agreed, “But who could be staying there?  I can’t wait to find out!” 

Meanwhile, Vaidehi heard a noise beneath the floor!  As he she looked down, she could see a particular tile of the floor being shifted and soon Satyabhama and Amritraj emerged from the passage below!  Vaidehi heaved a sigh of relief and helped them to come out.  Thereafter, the Queen spoke up,” I saw those men coming here from the window.  Not wasting another moment, I took my son and hid inside the passage.  It is only our sheer luck that they could not trace us!”

“Good thinking, O Queen!  However, why did Vikram come here?  Has he got any inkling that we are hiding here?” Vaidehi wondered perturbed.

“It could also be the other way around!” reasoned Satyabhama.  “They might have come to this forest for hunting and may have come this far in search of animals and discovered our hideout by chance!”

“You could be right, Maharani!  However, one aspect which is very clear is that Vikram has discovered this place and thus it is unsafe to continue staying here!”  Vaidehi perceived.

“But where can we go?” the Queen asked with concern.

“I do not have any answer to that question!  It is better to wander in the forest rather than being discovered by the vile Vikram!” Vaidehi observed.

Satyabhama knew that her maid was right!  When would fate yet again shower its merciful grace on them, she wondered?