1 Lover Prince

It is evening time; the sun is still little above the horizon, two people, Virendra Singh and Tej Singh, under a hill in a deserted plain, are sitting on a rock and talking among themselves.

Virendra Singh's age seems somewhat twenty-one or twenty-two years. He is the only son of King Surendra Singh of Naugarh. Tej Singh, the beloved boy of King Surendra Singh's minister Jeet Singh and the best friend of Prince Virendra Singh, very cunning and nimble, with a dagger tied on the waist, the purse hanging on the side, and a kamand⧪(rope/cord) in hand, keeps talking with him while keeping watch all around. In front of both of them, a horse is tied securely with a tree.

Prince Virendra Singh is saying - "Brother Tej Singh, look, what an evil thing love is, which has brought me to this state. Many times you brought the letter of Princess Chandrakanta from Vijaygarh to me and delivered my letter to him, which makes it clear that as much as the love I have for Chandrakanta, the same Chandrakanta have for me, although there is only five kos❣ between our kingdoms, still, nothing is becoming possible for us. See, even in this letter too, Chandrakanta has written that in whatever way, meet me soon."

Tej Singh replied - "I can take you there by any means, but first, nowadays Chandrakanta's father King Jai Singh has kept a strict guard all around the palace, and secondly, Krur Singh, the son of his minister, is in love with her. Furthermore, he has warned both of his Aiyyars✤, namely, Nazim Ali and Ahmed Khan, to watch over the palace cautiously because the state of your love has become well known to Krur Singh and his Aiyyars. Even though Chandrakanta doesn't even like Krur Singh a little bit, and the king also can not give his daughter to a minister's son, yet he is hopeful, and your love seems unlucky. Through his father, he has revealed to King Jai Singh's ears about your affection, and because of this, security has tightened up. I would not like to take you now till I go there and arrest those scoundrels."

"At this time, I will go to Vijaygarh again and meet Chandrakanta and Chapla because Chapla is an Aiyyara and a lovely friend of Chandrakanta and thinks of Chandrakanta more than her life. Besides this Chapla, no one would help me. When I return after seeing the trickery/artifice and action of my enemies, only then I can decide about your going. Lest we should get arrested there without proper planning."

Virendra - "Whatever you think is right, I have only my strength to believe in, but you have both your power and Aiyyari skills."

Tej Singh - "I have also come to know that recently, both Aiyyars of Krur Singh, Nazim and Ahmed have come to revisit our King. Do not know for what trick they came. Sadly, at that time, I was not here."

Virendra - "The worry is that you want to trap the two Aiyyars of Krur Singh and they are in the chance to nab you, God saves you. Well, now you go and in whatever way, arrange my meeting with Chandrakanta."

Tej Singh got up immediately and left for Vijayagarh on feet leaving Virendra Singh there. Virendra Singh also hopped on the horse after releasing it from the tree and went towards his fort.

⧪ The items must for an Aiyyar/a: Kamand (a long very strong cord used to climb over building secretly, or for tying opposite Aiyyar/a or captured person/s) Batua or purse (used to keep necessary medicines, makeup items, money and dry fruits) Lakhlakha must also be in the 'Batua' (lakhlakha is a kind of smelling salt used to revive any unconscious person) Khanjar or dagger (for safety and for attack) Langot or short smart pants are usually worn by male Aiyyars when in easy moo.

❣ The kos is an ancient Indian sub-continental Arthashastra standard unit of distance, since at least 4 BCE. A kos is about 3.00 km or 1.91 miles.

✤ According to author, an Aiyyar (male) or Aiyyara (female) is a secret agent cum spy cum fighter. He or she is expert in many arts like: Disguise, Fighting skills, Spying, Science, Fine arts, Medical, Chemistry.