The Dreaded Conspiracy - 22

“…I consulted my accomplice, Bali, who had a good knowledge about medicinal herbs in this matter. He thought for a while and then told me about the herb which you are now aware!  

Bali brought that herb from one of the jungles of our kingdom and made a green paste out of it.  I employed him to bribe Vedant and also told him as to what he should tell the horse-keeper.  You are well aware as to what transpired after that, Maharaj!  I was very upset when this plan failed.

While taking you back to the palace in my chariot, I asked you to talk to Vedant, the horse keeper, regarding this matter for I knew that would not yield in any such result which would put me in trouble. 

I also asked Vedant if he had maltreated the horse in front of you and the Queen only to show you that I was keen to get to the bottom of this issue.  I felt relieved when you held your son responsible for that incident but was apprehensive at the suspicions of the Queen in this regard which were fortunately turned down by you. 

Then, that event occurred where I learnt from Ramlu that you had asked him to not polish the golden platform with force.  Although initially I was keen to learn about what would happen if the platform was polished with force, I did not attach much importance to it and put it behind the back of my mind. 

It was when I was inspecting the cleaning work in your chamber in your absence during your fifteen day vacation that my curiosity arose to find out as to what would happen if force is applied to the golden platform.  I rubbed the platform hard but nothing happened except that it shook a bit. 

This made me realise that the platform is not stable and that it is movable.  I tried to push it but did not succeed.  Then in another attempt I pushed it with all my might that not only moved the platform but also opened the secret passage!  I knew that no one would come to your chamber when you were not around and therefore this was my best opportunity to explore this passage I had just discovered. 

After coming out of the passage, it did not take a long time for me to realise that I had reached the Kameshti jungle.  I closed the lid of the passage and then learnt that the passage could not be opened from the jungle.  I had a good look at the area around and then returned back to the palace on foot. 

An idea struck me!  I knew that you slept with your family in that very chamber where the secret passage existed.  Therefore, if I somehow manage to take Vijaya through that passage and kill him in the Kameshti jungle, you may never know as to what happened to your son! 

Even if you learn the truth, the needle of suspicion would never fall on me for, according to you, I was not aware of the secret passage!   I was also sure that Ramlu had not mentioned to you about his meeting with me.  Had he done that, Maharaj, you would have never given the keys of your chamber to me! 

After all, giving such a free access to someone who had learnt that there was something associated with the golden platform could be dangerous!  I felt that since Ramlu had left the job there was also no question of his coming back and telling you about the conversation we had!

I began to develop a suitable plan to convert this thought into a reality!  That evening I called Sukhram to meet me in the Kameshti jungle and then you are aware as to what happened! 

Whatever Sukhram told you in his confession twelve years ago were all true except that it was me, and not Vikrant, who was his master.

When news reached me that Vijaya was missing from his chamber, I was elated!  I was sure that Sukhram had succeeded in his mission!  On that day when Vijaya went missing, I and Vikrant were out for some kingdom work.  In the evening of the next day after we returned, you and the Queen had called me over, informed me about the secret passage and then asked me to help you analyse as to how Vijaya could have disappeared from your chamber. 

This put me in a fix!  On the one hand, I could not speak much in this regard for obvious reasons and on the other hand, if I did not say anything, you would be disappointed with me that I did not want. 

Therefore, I just told you that Vijaya’s disappearance could be the outcome of a well executed plan and the person who took him may have come from the jungle end.  Thereby, I quickly tried to divert your attention in finding Vijaya and ponder over who his enemy was at a later stage.  I specifically reminded you that I had handed the keys of your chamber to Vikrant for two days when I was sick, so that you start suspecting him and I could succeed in misleading you.  I will admit that I had a grudge against Vikrant whom I considered as my competitor. 

The pace at which Vikrant was coming up in his career worried me.   At this rate, I felt, there was a possibility that someday he might replace me! 

Maharaj, when you told me about the instruction you had given to Ramlu of not polishing the golden platform with force, I did not inform you that I knew about his fact. 

It was because I did not want to give you an impression that I was aware of some mystery being attached to the golden platform, which may later turn against me. 

Just to show you that I wanted to do all that I could to search Vijaya, I offered to not only search for Vijaya in Kameshti but also the Tataka jungle.  I was shocked to see Vijaya alive and that too in Tataka! I realised that Sukhram had betrayed me and felt like killing him for this!  I did not get the time to meet Sukhram on the day when Vijaya was located in the Tataka jungle. 

As it turned out, it was already late in the evening by the time I and my men returned with the Prince that day.  Thereafter, I had to attend to the kingdom affairs till late in the night and therefore decided to take Sukhram to task the next day. 

However, things took a drastic turn when on the morrow, you caught Vedant and he confessed to his wrongdoing! 

With the ease that you trapped Vedant, it raised fears in me that someday even I could be caught!  Later, you sent us to get hold of the man, Baali, whom Gopal, the palace artist had drawn.  I sensed that if Bali was caught alive I could be in danger…!

(To Continue)