The Dreaded Conspiracy -10

At the time when Raghunathan searched Vedant’s house, he was away at the stable.  It was his wife who opened the door and greeted the King. She was amused that he had come over to her place. 

“We suspect that Vedant has earned income from a dubious source!  Would you honestly tell us as to where you keep all the money in the house or should I ask my men to search for it?”  Raghunathan asked in a very serious tone. 

Vedant’s wife was abashed to hear this.  “I will be honest with you, Maharaj!”  So saying, she opened a trunk and took a medium-sized wooden box from it.  “All our money is kept in this!” she revealed. 

She handed over the box to the King who opened it and found some silver coins inside.  “You only have this much money?  I suspect you have more!” the King alleged. 

“Yes!” Vedant’s wife admitted, suddenly remembering something.  She went to the kitchen, opened the drawer of a pedestal on which a portrait of Lord Krishna as a child, was kept.  She removed a red cloth that was knotted and gave it to the King. 

“This is what you had given to my husband for his honest services!” 

What was it that he had given Vedant?  The King wondered baffled by what he had just heard.  He asked his guards to open the knot. 

On opening the red cloth, to their amazement they found lots of gold coins in it!  “You mean to say that I had given this to Vedant?”  Raghunathan asked the horse-keeper’s wife aghast. 

“That is what my husband told me, Maharaj!” the wife maintained innocently.  Raghunathan looked up and closed his eyes.  He, then looked at Vedant’s wife, who was appearing terrified.  “I am sorry, but this is not true!  I never gave so much money to him!  He lied to you!  Is that all he told you about this wealth?” 

“Yes, Maharaj! He also urged me to not tell anyone about it.  We had, in fact, decided to not spend this money and keep it in safe custody for future use.” 

Raghunathan asked the lady to accompany him to the palace.  After reaching his chambers, he showed the Queen the money and what Vedant had told his wife about it. 

Padmavati was stunned to hear this.   Just then, Biksham entered in.   “I will explain everything to you, Biksham, but you will have to wait!”  So saying, Raghunathan send his guards to bring Vedant to his chambers. 

In the short time before Vedant made his appearance, Raghunathan filled in Biksham with the recent developments, in brief.  Biksham, too, appeared astounded.  Soon, Vedant entered in and was surprised to see his wife standing beside the King. 

Looking at her husband, her eyes were glistened with tears.  Raghunathan showed the gold coins to the horse-keeper and asked him with anger in his eyes, “Vedant, do you remember me giving this wealth to you?” 

Vedant was shocked to see these gold coins and the look of fear in his eyes showed his guilt!  He looked at the ground petrified and did not answer the King’s query. 

Raghunathan came close to Vedant and looked at him with deep pain and anguish in his eyes.  “I trusted you, Vedant!  The Queen had suspected something awry when Chandrika went berserk that evening. 

Due to the trust I had on you, I refuted her fears and held my little son responsible for the horse behaviour!  Tell me the truth, Vedant!  I want to know everything!  If you try to hide anything, I have my ways to make you speak facts!”  he thundered.  

Vedant fell at the feet of the King.  “Please pardon me, Maharaj!  I will tell you everything!  Please pardon me!”  Raghunathan asked Vedant to stand up on his feet and then the horse-keeper recollected an event, which explained as to how he got the possession of these gold coins.

**One night, after Chandrika had dozed off for the day, Vedant was making his way back home when he came across a man who was smiling at him.  “What’s the hurry to get home, Vedant?  Why don’t we talk for some time?  You might benefit from it!” 

“Who are you?  How do you know me?”  Vedant asked looking at the person suspiciously. 

“Both of your questions are irrelevant, my dear friend!  Therefore, I won’t answer them!  Anyway, I have something to give you!”  The stranger took out something wrapped up in a green cloth from a bag and gave it to Vedant. 

“Inside this green cloth, there is a small alluminium box, my friend!  Inside that is a green-coloured paste!  Vedant, you know that the King goes for a ride on Chandrika every evening with his son. 

Tomorrow, just before they are to leave, I want you to mix this paste in hay and give it to Chandrika!  And believe me!  She’ll love it!”  the man disclosed his plans. 

“But why do you want me to do this?  What is this green paste?”  Vedant prodded. 

“Oh Vedant!  You ask too many questions!  After the horse takes the hay which is mixed with this paste, there would be a burning sensation in her stomach in a short while and she would go out of control! 

What happens after that, only time will tell!” the man revealed calmly. 

“What!  Are you out of your senses?  This would put the lives of both the King and the Prince in jeopardy!  I will never do anything like this!  Please leave me alone!” 

As Vedant was about to go away, the man removed another packet from his bag, which was wrapped up in a red cloth.  “Before you leave, have a look at this!  Anyway, you have decided that you are not going to cater to my humble request! 

So, what’s the harm if you look into this?  Unwrap the cover and see what’s inside!”  The man took the first packet from Vedant and gave him the second one. 

There was an alluminium box inside and when Vedant opened it, his jaws fell open in bewilderment even as the man asked him, “Does this change your mind, Vedant?”

(To Continue)