The Dreadec Conspiracy - 8

“Maharaj, ” deduced Biksham, “One aspect is clear that if Vijaya has, indeed, been taken from this passage by someone, that person did it from the jungle end. 

However, here there is a contradiction.  I remember you telling me that once the lid of the opening is closed after coming out of the passage, you cannot enter in from there! 

Could it be that the person who has taken away Vijaya was inside this passage much before he put this plan in action?” 

“Are you trying to say that he entered in the passage earlier and executed his plain yesterday night?”  the King asked curiously to which Biksham agreed.  “But how could it be?  The guards do not allow anyone to enter this chamber except us.” 

Biksham thought for a while, “This is strange, Maharaj! 

Even when you were not here for fifteen days, your chamber was under lock and key except at the time when it had to be cleaned.  I personally inspected the work and locked the chamber barring on two occasions when Vikrant did it for me.”

 “It is really perplexing!  Who is my enemy?  Why does he want to snatch away my son from me?  What harm has that child done? 

One aspect is clear that this is the handiwork of an insider.  Who could it be?”  Raghunathan asked in desperation.

“I just cannot comment on that, O King!  We have to think about it but first let’s find Vijaya!”  Biksham pointed out. 

Agreeing, Raghunathan stated, “I feel like searching in this secret passage again!  May be we can find some clue that I had missed in the morning!  Who knows? 

While Vijaya was being taken from there, may be one of his finger rings fell to the ground!  Let’s have another look out there!” 

Biksham agreed. 

Both of them took a mashaal each and went inside the passage.  Before leaving, the King asked the Queen to wait patiently for them. 

Raghunathan and Biksham took very slow steps, inspecting the ground very carefully to see if they could find any of Vijaya’s jewellry or any clue that could prove, beyond any speculation that he was taken through this passage.  Much to their dismay, they could not find anything. 

After they reached the end of the passage, Biksham looked at the King who was in melancholy.  The minister kept his hands on the King’s shoulder and mused, “Do not despair, O King!  It is now dark and therefore we cannot undertake any search in the Kameshti jungle. 

Tomorrow we will not only look for the Prince again in this jungle but even in the other jungle that is nearby.” 

“You mean the Tataka jungle?  It is a dangerous one, Biksham!  How will my son survive if he is there?”  Biksham saw tears in the eyes of the King.  “No, Maharaj!  We would be searching there just to satisfy ourselves that he is not there! 

Even Tataka is very much a part of our kingdom and therefore we have to look out for Vijaya in that jungle.  But, of course, all this can be avoided if your men return with good news today!  Let’s return back now, O King!” Raghunathan reluctantly agreed and they hurried back.

Padmavati had disheartening news for them.  The King’s men had already returned.  Although they had not yet searched throughout the kingdom for the Prince, so far they had failed to locate him. 

“It’s okay!  Tomorrow we will again search in Kameshti and then the Tataka jungle.  Let’s also send our men to search in those places where they have not managed to do today. 

Have faith in the Lord!  Everything would be fine!  Vijaya will be found hale and hearty!”  Biksham tried to console the distressed couple.  Thereby, he took his leave.

After Biksham had left, the Queen had a conversation with Raghunathan.  “Maharaj, I know that Ramlu is sincere!  But could it be that he is, in any way, involved in this?  After all, no one touches the golden platform of this idol except him during polishing!”  “No, O Queen!  This does not make much sense!  I had given specific instructions to Ramlu that he should not rub or polish the surface of this platform with full force. 

Therefore, he must be worried that if he betrays my orders and something happens to the platform he would be held responsible for that, which may cost him his job.”

 “By the way, how did you employ Ramlu here?  Was it your idea altogether?” Padmavati wanted to know.

“Yes, O Queen!  It was my idea!  Once I saw him polish the golden pillars of a temple.  The effort which he was putting in his job impressed me and I employed him here!”  the King explained.

“On a couple of occasions I remember Biksham saying that Vikrant had closed this chamber!  Do you find him to be reliable?” the Queen asked.

“According to me all those who work for me are reliable!  I consider Vikrant as one of my most efficient ministers, O Padmavati!  I just hate to look at my men with suspicious eyes because of this incident.  I do not feel that my ministers can do anything like this to me!”  

The King paused, looked at the Queen grimly and asserted, “However, the fact remains that this is the work of an insider!  I will find him!  But first, as Biksham says, let’s find Vijaya!” 

  The aggrieved couple spent the night thinking about their son and shed tears in his memory.

On the morrow, Biksham came to see the King and the Queen.  “I am sure both of you did not sleep yesterday!”  he observed.  Thereby, he asked the King to rest while he, alongwith some guards would go to the twin jungles and search for Vijaya. 

After some argument, Biksham won the battle.  The King’s aides were also sent to continue their search for Vijaya in the kingdom.  Biksham went through the normal route to the Kameshti jungle on horseback followed by a troop of guards. 

By late afternoon, the King’s supporters returned.  They had failed in their mission.  Now the hope lay on Biksham and his troops.  Could he succeed in finding Vijaya’s whereabouts?  In their hearts, both the King and the Queen did not have any hopes but then they heard a voice, which made them jump from their seats in bewilderment!

                                                (To Continue)