A NEW BEGINNING -2

At the end he roared, "ARE YOU ALL WITH ME?"

The men were touched when they listened to their new King talking. He was right. They were treated as garbage and thrown here to die. But they will show those people that they were wrong. They will prove that they are better. They didn't know how but they believed that maybe the person in front of them will make it happen. They shouted in unison,

"Yes"

Adi : "I can't hear you. Don't you have voice?"

Men : "YES"

Adi : "Louder. Have you not taken your breakfast?"

Men : "YESSS!!!"

Adi nodded in satisfaction and then continued, "Today we will inspect the territory. We will see the condition of our people and understand their pains and difficulties and then we will do our best to help them. What do you say General Pratap?" and he glanced at Pratap.

Pratap nodded and said, "It will be a great idea as we should know everything about our territory directly and not just believe in what others say. It will help us to understand what to protect and how we can protect them. Also we can know our responsibilities and duties accordingly and allocate men."

Adi : "Good. We will begin in half an hour."

With that he turned and got back in the castle. There he asked his mother, "Mother can you please gather all the maids and servants here?"

His mother nodded and asked her personal maid, Sati to gather everyone around. In a few minutes all of them gathered as there were not many people in the first place. Adi looked around nodded and then asked, "Sati from today onwards you will look after all the maids and make sure there is no issue. After all you have been with mother the longest. Also Dara, you will supervise all boys and men here. Start with clearing the creepers and bushes. Also, check all the windows, doors and furniture. Then notify me in the evening the places which need repairs. Is it clear?"

Dara & Sati nodded, "Yes Your Highness."

"Okay, tend to your works and I hope that this will be a new beginning for everyone here" saying that Adi went outside and his men followed to inspect the "Barren land" of Rai, their Kingdom.

Standing outside the Castle, Adi looked around. He could see a few manors and estates. They first went to the closest one where Adi could see the main residence with servants quarters, stables, and large courtyards. It was a large enough place for a big family to live in, along with maids and servants. There were more than thirty of these estates in that place. But among them only a few were taken care of. Most of the estates were lacking maintenance. It was overgrown with weeds and bushes. He made a mental note of these estates and then continued to the region were the common people stayed.

As he was arriving, many locals were astonished seeing them coming over. They could see that the newly arrived people were some important from their attires, especially the person walking in front of the group. He looked too young but seemed to be the leader of men behind him. They didn't know whether his coming here would be good for them or bring them more misfortunes.

As Adi was walking, he could see the different emotions in the locals eyes. Many of them were astonished, some anxious and excited but one thing which was common was that they all were afraid. In this era, peasants could not even look directly at nobles or else they would be beaten up. There women, sisters and daughters could be taken away by nobles as and when they wished and the chance for them returning alive was one in a million. There were no rights of peasants before any noble. This was really a lawless era. But now that he is here, it will all change.

Adi and his men stopped after reaching the place where commoners lived. He looked around and saw the huts were they lived. These huts were made of straws and mud. He was doubtful that these huts would help them shelter from heavy rains or the cold in winter. He signaled at a young man to come forward. The man was startled and afraid but he knew he had to go. His legs were shivering as he walked and reached Adi and kneeled with his head lowered. "Sorry my Lord. I didn't mean to disrespect you. Please pardon me my Lord."

Adi : " Stop it. When did i ever say that you have done some crime? Don't apologize for not doing any crime. And why are you so afraid? I won't eat you. I am not an animal you know."

The local couldn't help but look up in a shock before lowering his head again.

Adi : "Stop kneeling and stand up. Tell me, what is your name and what do you do?"

"My Lord my name is Joe and I am one of the farmers here" Joe replied.

"So Joe, tell me who is the Head of all of you or who are the people who takes decision here?" Adi asked.

Joe : "My Lord, the leader of farmers, uncle Kali, and the leader of blacksmith, uncle Kaif, along with the only healer of our village, uncle Shane take all the decision on behalf of us as they are the most knowledgeable people amongst us."

Adi nodded and replied, "Okay good, now call all of them here as i want to talk to them about some issues?"

"Yes My Lord, i will do it right away" Joe replied and looked hesitatingly like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Adi saw through him that he probably wanted to ask his identity or tell them who was calling them. He looked at the hesitating Joe and decided to relieve him. "Tell them that their King is waiting for them here", said Adi. Joe was so shocked like he had been struck by lightning and he quickly went to his knees and struck his head on ground, "I am sorry Your Majesty. I didn't of your esteemed being and committed the crime of not identifying you. I apologize my Lord." He didn't even raise his head and stuck it on the ground.

Not only him, everybody looking at them were shocked that he was the King and they all went on their knees saying "Greetings Your Majesty." They couldn't believe that he was a King. More so that a King will talk so normally with a peasant. They were afraid of him and felt pity for Joe as they couldn't help but imagine what gruesome ending he will have. On the other hand, Joe was shaking like a leaf amidst a storm as he still couldn't come to terms that he was talking with the King. He waited for the punishment he would receive but it never came.

Adi looked around and couldn't help but shake his head at their reaction. He waived his hand to signal them to stop. Adi : "Okay okay. Its enough. You all don't have to kneel. I have already stated that. And you, Joe, don't keep kneeling. Hurry up and call the elders here."

"As you command Your Majesty. They will be here right away", Joe quickly nodded and scurried away thanking Heavens for taking pity on him or else his end would have been too painful.

After around 5 minutes, the first person arrived. He wanted to kneel but was stopped by Adi. He said, "No need. You can just greet me directly."

The elderly nodded and replied, "Greetings Your Majesty. I am Shane, the healer here. We are too fortunate to be graced by your presence here." He couldn't help but keep smiling even though he was still a little afraid. He never thought that one day he could meet a King and even talk with him. Just when he finished, two more people hurried towards them and they kneeled quickly before Adi could even stop them. "Greetings Your Majesty"

"How many times will I have to say to don't kneel. Joe, did you not tell them what I told you." Adi was having a headache taking all the kneeling from men few times his age and he shot a look at Joe. Joe shivered and replied, " Your Majesty i told them but they..."

Before he could complete his sentence the burly man who came now cut him in between, "But you are our King, Your Majesty. It is only right when we kneel before you." He replied like it was a matter of fact to kneel before the King and the person beside him nodded as if in agreement with his statement. By now, all the people who lived in Rai were here and they too were nodding their heads. They were not wrong as it was normal for people to kneel before the King in all places. But Adi was not in agreement with this custom. As a person from modern era, kneeling was too obsolete and inhuman.

He said with a loud voice which was audible to all of the commoners present, "Kneeling before a King may be what you did in past, but from today, no one will ever kneel before anyone, not even if its me, The King. I believe a human should only kneel before two people, one kneeling before the Heavens and Ancestors, and second before your Parents. In no other circumstances should a person kneel before others. Do you all understand?"