270 Motherly love

Eastern Zilla

Soon, Ramanujam could hear a shuffle of feet in the lobby indicating that a few people had come there but then all was quiet. Unfortunately, to avoid detection, the listening devices had been only placed in the strategic places and the noisy dorm area was not one of them.

Ramanujam realised that Sharada and everyone else were residing there and he had no means to find out anything more tonight. The only advantage was that he now knew that there were more than ten people in this building for sure.

He didn't know if there were more on the higher floors but by the sounds of the footsteps earlier, he could make out the number to be around 10-12 pairs of steps. He was betting on the fact that at some point Sharada would use the chamber which originally used to be Amprapali's office. He needed some concrete information, and he needed it fast. His boss must be blowing a fuse by now!

Capital, Chandragarh

"Maa, won't you consider nominating Mrignayani? She has cleared the second stage and is an ideal candidate in all aspects. I am not making an appeal as someone who likes her but purely on her merit," Yash had come to see his mother in her office in the Capital.

He was worried that she would be swayed by someone else's appeal during the day and hence couldn't wait till the evening to make his case in private.

His mother took in his urgent countenance and revealed a small smile.

"It really does seem that you are the one taking part in the competition instead of her. Otherwise, why would I see you pleading on her behalf so many times while she hasn't even bothered to make an appearance herself?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Yash paled at her words. He had asked Mriga to come along today to meet his mother for the same.

But she had stared at him for a few seconds before murmuring softly, "I am not comfortable."

He knew that due to their history, Mriga would have an adverse impression of his mother and maybe would be holding the notion of his mother being biased against her. But he couldn't bring himself to argue on this matter and hung his head. He didn't want to rake up the past under any circumstances. In the end, he had told her to visit the Northern zilla head while he would go to his mother.

At least, she hadn't stopped him from doing so on her behalf.

"Maa, she is… it's because…" he fumbled with his answer.

"Nevermind. I will see what has to be done. Why don't you go back and concentrate on your studies?" she said brusquely.

Once Yash had left, Ujjwala summoned her assistant and said, "Find out which way is the Northern zilla chief leaning."

Himprayag

The sunrays streaming from the window caused Shaurya to frown and open his eyes. He squinted his eyes and tried to bring his hand up to shade his face against the sunlight. But he realised that his hands were trapped securely in heavy iron chains and his limbs had frozen due to sitting on the cold ground. Last night's events came rushing back to his mind and so did the sharp pain at the back of his skull.

It seemed that he let his guard down under the foolish assumption that he hadn't managed to make enemies in Himprayag.

But as much as he tried, he still couldn't figure out the person who would do this. His last realization was being carried by a couple of guys and some incoherent noises around him before he lost consciousness.

While he was contemplating all this, the door banged open of the cell where he was being held.

"Get up. Stand properly," the person came in and instructed in a severe voice.

Shaurya stood up slowly as he surveyed the guy. He was wearing the official uniform of Himprayag guards.

Had he been captured by…?

"Greetings to Queen Nayantara," the guard's voice rang clearly, making Shaurya's eyes open wide.

What was happening? How had he offended the queen?

Nonetheless, he emptied his face from all its expressions and stood impassive as the youthful looking queen strolled in. Looking at her, she could easily pass as the princess's sister instead of her mother.

He bowed respectfully and kept his gaze lower lest he managed to provoke this woman any further. Though how had he irritated her till now, was perplexing, considering this was the first time that he was meeting her.

"I had expected a bit more from the guy who has caused my queer daughter to straighten up," the queen's crude words were dripping with acid.

Shaurya's shoulders stiffened but he didn't meet the woman's gaze. Even though she tried to insult him but her words had been unkind to her daughter as well. If he remembered correctly, like Chandragarh, Himprayag wasn't stuck up about people's personal preferences in matters like these.

But then who knew what went in a woman's head. To top it, this mother-daughter duo seemed like a pack of loonies and he didn't want to do anything except breath in their presence. He wouldn't have a clue as to what would trigger either of them in the next instant.

"What is your purpose in seducing my daughter? Did Mithilesh set you up to this task? What has he promised you?" her threatening voice was getting closer.

"That's it. My theory is proven. Both mother and daughter are bat-shit crazy. Who is trying to seduce whom? I am a blo*dy spy, not a gigolo," Shaurya mumbled angrily in his head.

He was still struggling with how to respond without offending her before the door was banged open and Gayatri came in. She stopped short in her track as she took in the scene in front of her.