Aiyara?
Nandini was about to take a sip of her tea when she heard the name. Her action paused as her gaze shot towards the aged man sitting in front of her. The rounded table was the only thing separating them. Even Ageratina and Atropa frowned.
"Aiyara?" Nandini raised her eyebrows.
Umaj nodded "yes"
"And you believe you can find her here? In this palace?" Nandini asked and continued drinking her tea.
Umaj didn't reply immediately. He pondered for a while before continuing his talk "I really don't think I can find her here but I am just in hope to find any traces for her"
"Why does medic Umaj think this place has any trace of her?"
"I have heard the Second Prince who has been paralyzed for so many years has been cured. Being paralyzed for so many years is not something mild and curing him will be the hardest task a medic could challenge himself"
"So you assumed Aiyara took the challenge?" Nandini questioned.
"I don't assume but I believe she did it?" Umaj replied with determination.
Nandini put the tea cup on table "medic Umaj why do you have such strong trust on someone whom you never saw? It's quite strange to hear it from you"
"It's not about trusting the person your highness, it's about trusting the person's skill. When I arrived in the capital, I heard many rumours and among them Aiyara is on the top list. Though it was not said that she really cured the prince but you can call it my instinct that I truly believe it was her"
Nandini slightly frowned. She really doesn't know the person but now she is rather curious to know what he is up to. His motive to enter the palace could be anything and he really got the perfect opportunity for that. But why is he interested in Aiyara's matter? No one raised such questions before. Nor anyone ever suspected it then why suddenly this person is inquiring about her? Why does he have such belief about her curing Vaibhav?
"I have never encountered such a person like you medic Umaj, your belief in strangers is quite appreciating. But I don't know if I can place the belief like you. Since I married into this palace, I have never encountered anyone named Aiyara. All the physicians who were in charge of taking care of Vaibhav are all men. But medic Umaj strongly believes it was her who cured Second Prince?"
Umaj frowned slightly. What the empress has said is also true. This point is something he couldn't understand. He also remembered when meet the young girl back in Varishtha Temple. She looked so young but she still has a kind of aura which only a skilled person possesses. But aftereetimh with her he couldn't think that it was her who cured the second prince. Though the girl's name was Aiyara, was it that Aiyara whom he was looking for?
Now the empress has also said it. Those medics who treated the second prince were all men and though Aiyara possessed great skills, she couldn't just enter the palace as she pleased. He has seen how strict the security of the palace was. If it was not for the royal guards and maid escorting him inside, he couldn't even step near the entrance. Then how and why Aiyara will go to the palace to treat the prince unless she has some motives. But thinking through this point Aiyara does not have any relationship with any members of royalty. He just couldn't get the right point to measure everything.
"Medic Umaj you look so puzzled. Are you alright?" Nandini's voice brought him back to reality. He was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he almost forgot he was still sitting with the empress.
He lightly coughed "your highness please forgive me for my ignorance"
Nandini waved her hand "it's fine, but why is medic Umaj trying to find a girl who is almost invisible like non-exist being?"
Umaj heaved a sigh "I am looking for her for myself. I have been living all my life under salvation and at this point of my life I don't want to live my last stage as a slave anymore" there was a sudden regret flashed in his eyes.
Nandini frowned "slave? Medic Umaj is surely joking. How can a skilled medic like you become a slave?"
Umaj forced a smile "your highness may not believe it but it's the hardest truth of my life. My family has been studying medicine and practicing it for such a long time. The men in our family are all skilled medics and have been serving a royal family like a tradition. But even after those loyalty to the master, the master in name never recognised it and was forced to commit crimes one after another. We didn't have a choice but to accept it. If anyone defies then they would be punished not physically but mentally. The royals would kidnapped the female of the family and made the person see when they torture her. Because of that I refused to get married when it was my time to settle down. Living a life of slave is already enough for to drag another person in the pit of fire. It was hard to live like that. And the only way to free yourself was death. But life is not that cruel because I got the opportunity to leave that place. In my family tradition, there is no one left except me so I have no fear of that. So when the chance was given I left that place and I don't intend to go back again" finishing he sighed again. Today he felt like he had just lifted a huge burden from his shoulder.
Nandini carefully listened to his words and she could see the sincerity in his eyes. The man before him is already aged one. He didn't marry because he didn't want his family to suffer the same fate his elders did. She must say it was a hard choice but the right one. She really wanted to appreciate it but she still didn't find the answer she wanted.
"So how come Aiyara is related to medic Umaj?" She asked.
"Aiyara" Umaj voiced out "she is the reason I was able to escape that hell. If it was not for her curing the prince I wouldn't have given the chance to leave that place. Intentionally or unintentionally she helped me and dragged me out of the place I hated the most. And for this I will always be grateful to her. And why I wanted to meet her is I am really curious how she cured the second prince" At the end Umaj's tone became an excited one.
On the other side the corner of Nandini's lips twitched. She never thought helping Vaibhav out of his misery would land her in another form of trouble.
"How does medic Umaj know what kind of poison the second prince has?" She asked again.
Umaj looked at her. He felt troubled inside. How can he say that it was him who made the poison? She is the empress, the sister in law of the second prince and she knew it was him who caused this then wouldn't she get enraged and do something he really regret the next second? But after talking to her, Umaj also understands Nandini's temperament. The woman before him was not someone he can fool. So now it was hard for him to choose the path spread before him because at the end both of it lead him to hell.
Nandini observed his changing expression. She raised her eyebrows at him "is it that hard for you to admit your fault medic Umaj?"
Umaj, who was pondering over his decision, suddenly jumped in his seat with surprise. His eyes went wide as he looked at her.
"Your..you…" he couldn't say any words.
"You have already told your side of the story, do you think it is hard to guess?" Nandini asked casually.
"I…." Umaj lowered his head in shame "your highness I know and I admit it. At that time even if I was reluctant I couldn't help but agree. In my family tradition we learnt medicine to serve people and help but not to kill but the situation didn't let me choose the right path"
Nandini looked at him seriously "though it was not your choice but your poison still hurt the second prince. Not only physically but also mentally. Besides it was not only him who suffered all these years but it was also the Empress Dowager and Emperor himself. They suffered a great deal. The mocking, the laugh of others and also the resentment of not being able to live normally, all these happened because of your poison. Medic Umaj, do you take the responsibility of this?"
Umaj could not help but nodd. He is aware of the effects of his poison but he still gave it, ruining the years of the Second Prince's life. No matter how much he regretted it, all the wrong had already happened and it can not be resolved again. Since he left East Peria he was already determined to do anything and now he couldn't step back.
"Yes your majesty I do take all the responsibility"
Nandini nodded seriously "thought you have your reason but at the same time you also damage a person's life. You need to get your punishment. Ageratina infirm the guards a d take him to the investigation room"
Umaj had already expected it so he gradually agreed.
"Medic Umaj, I know you regretted your action. I hope once this investigation has finished you won't get the tough punishment like others. Your sting reason do had some morality but still you need to rectify your own mistakes''
Umaj looked up. Whatever he did was not less than sin but the empress has referred to it as mistake not sin. Suddenly he felt great admiration.
"Thank you your highness" that was all he could say before he left with the guards.
Nandini watched his back disappearing into the hallway. Maybe one day he can really meet Aiyara as a reward for his loyalty.
That night Manik was late when he arrived at the Rose Palace. Nandini was already in her nightgown while sitting under the lamp and reading a book. Hearing the noise she looked up and found him walking in.
"You have not slept yet?" He asked her while removing the outer coat.
"I was not sleepy" she replied as she closed the book and pushed it on the table.
Manik took the seat beside her "how did you find the medic?"
"I didn't. It was him who confessed himself" she replied then paused for a moment "what do you think about him?"
"He has committed the mistake so definitely he will be given punishment"
Nandini looked at him "it was not his choice but forced to. But still his action has caused the royal palace to suffer for many years. What a strange situation, each side of the balance weighing scale, sin and loyalty are in the same weight" she sighed.
"This is the judgement, no one can escape but the real culprit is not him. He is just a piece of pawn" Manik replied.
"Who is it?" Nandini frowned.
"The king of East Peria" Manik clenched his fist. He couldn't wait to read that person into pieces.
Nandini saw his action and held his hand "don't worry, a sinner's sin is about to be full" then she frowned remembering something "you are so late. Are you hungry?"
Manik looked at her intensely "yes I am hungry"
"What do you want to eat?" Nandini smiled.
"You …"
"What-" before she could utter she was already lifted from the couch.
"You are more delicious wife"
And then she felt herself pressed on bed while he hovered over her. Nandini sighed inwardly. She is helpless in this matter.
Totally helpless.