“Did Chandrika misbehave during the day that incensed you, Vedant?  May be you shouted at her, which upset the horse.  And when Vijaya hit her during the ride, she got wild and ran amuck.”  Biksham conceived looking at Vedant. 

“No sire!  Nothing of this sort happened!  Believe me!  Chandrika was normal throughout the day till she went for the ride!”  Vedant maintained. 

“Alright!  You may now leave, Vedant!  Your presence may be required some time later!”  King Raghunathan told Vedant. 

The horse-keeper bowed before his ruler and took his leave.  The King looked at the Queen, “Padmavati!  You did not speak a word!  What happened?” 

“When he flatly denied of Chandrika behaving abnormally till the time she went for the ride, what could I ask him?  This matter requires some time, Maharaj!  Let’s think over it!” 

Just then, Vijaya woke up and called out to his parents.  The King and the Queen hurried towards their child followed by Biksham.  Padmavati took Vijaya in her arms.  “How are you feeling, my child?” 

“I am fine, mother!  Do you know?  Chandrika went in great speed today!  But I did not enjoy seeing her go in such speed!  I was frightened!  Father threw me out of her and he himself was pulled over by some uncle!” 

The father smiled at these words of his son. 

“The speed in which Chandrika was going today was very dangerous!   By putting you in a bunch of hay, your father saved your life, dear!  Do you realise that?  You must thank your father for what he did!”  the Queen explained to her son. 

“I did not know that!”  Vijaya admitted innocently. 

Raghunathan took Vijaya in his arms and said fervidly, “Forget about today’s incident, my child!  It happens sometimes!” 

The little boy only giggled and then started playing with his toys. 

Biksham spent some time with Vijaya and then retired to his chambers.   As the King and Queen were still wondering about the actual cause which led to Chandrika’s mad run, there came the news that she had just returned to her stable! 

Raghunathan instantaneously went to see her.  He found the horse very calm and quiet as if all that which happened just a while ago had never occurred! Vedant was standing beside her. Just then Biksham joined the King.

“How did she return, Vedant?  Did Biksham’s men accompany her?”  the King asked curiously. 

“No, Maharaj!  I guess that after her fury subsided, she somehow managed to find her way back here!  O King, I feel like punishing her for what she did today!”  Vedant scorned glaring at the horse.

“No, Vedant!  Do not punish her in any way!  I have been thinking all this while as to what would have gone wrong with her!  I strongly feel that it is due to Vijaya’s rude behaviour towards her! 

So what if she is only an animal?  Even she deserves to be treated with respect.  I must teach my son to treat her with due honour.  I sympathise with her, Vedant!  We can atleast convey our emotions when we are upset over something! 

She can’t even do that!”  So saying, Raghunathan lovingly moved his hand on Chandrika’s back.  “Let her take some rest!  Do not punish her in any way, Vedant!  Okay?”  the King exhorted to which the horse-keeper consented.  Raghunathan left the stable followed by Biksham. 

“Maharaj, so you really feel that Chandrika behaved like that due to Vijaya’s rude behaviour towards her?”  Biksham queried on the way back to the palace. 

“Yes, Biksham!  I still find it strange that a tame animal like Chandrika could get so wild at what Vijaya did to her!  But you tell me, Biksham, what other conclusion can I derive at? 

Vedant says that she was absolutely normal till evening and there is no reason as to why I should not believe him.  He has been looking after Chandrika for more than five years and I have never had any complaints against him. 

He is very sincere in his work.  So, I firmly believe that whatever happened to Chandrika occurred during that ride!”  Biksham nodded his head thoughtfully and then both of them parted ways. 

While the minister went to his chambers, the King joined his family.  Soon, Biksham’s men returned and were surprised to learn that the horse had returned on her own to the stable! 

Later during the night, many of the King’s subjects came to see him and enquired about his and Vijaya’s well being which moved Raghunathan.  He thanked his people effusively for their concern and maintained that it was due to their love and affection that God saved him and his son from near disaster on that day.

While having supper, the King acquainted Queen Padmavati with what he felt about the whole incident involving Chandrika. 

“What you say could be right, Maharaj!  But I get this feeling that there is more to this incident than what you are making it to be!” the Queen spoke softly. 

“What are you trying to say, O Queen?” the King asked. 

“Maharaj, I feel that foul play is involved in this incident!  I do not know in what way but I just get this dreadful feeling!” 

The King was shocked to hear this.  “O Queen, in other words you are saying that Vedant is guilty!  Barring the time when she sleeps in the night, he is there with her throughout.   There is also security outside the stable.  So, no outsider can just enter in!  Besides, why would Vedant do anything to Chandrika to harm us?  What would he gain?”

                   (To Continue)