ENGLISH TRANSLATION IN ITALICS
Avantika moved forward to go behind Bahubali, Rajmata and Katappa but just as she did two guards came in front of her holding spears to stop her from entering.
'Hume andar jaana hai' (I need to go inside) She said calmly even as she had a bad feeling about this.
'Rajgharane (palace) ke logon ke alawa kisi ko bhi andar jana mana hai' ( Only people from the palace are allowed to go in) One of them replied
'Kintu hum shiva ke...humara matlab Maharaj ke..' (but I am Shiva's... I meant the king's..) but then she stopped mid sentence not knowing what to say. What were they? They were not husband and wife. Neither were they engaged. Lovers? Isn't that term always looked down upon? Will it be okay to tell others about the relationship they shared? Probably not!
'Hum Maharaja ke khas dost hain' (I am the King's friend) she completed swallowing her feelings.
'Dost? Or tum?' (friend and you?) The guard laughed 'Maharaj bhaut dayalu hain tumse ek baar baat krli hogi toh tumne unhe apna dost samajhlia? Dekho niklo yaha se maharaj abhi abhi wapas aaye hain praja se wo kab milna chaahte hai bta denge. Chalo nikalo yaha se'
(Our King is very kind. He believes in treating everyone the same. But that doesn't mean everybody is his friend. Get out of here. An announcement will be made whenever he wants to meet his subjects.)
Avantika finally snapped at his tone of voice and was about to draw out her sword but then she stopped at the last minute. It wasn't untrue after all. She was a common tribes woman. He was a king now. Will he still accept her? Will he still want to marry her? She didn't doubt his love but one thing they all learned from the story of Amarendra Bahubali and Devasena is that going against the wishes of your mother and the people of the kingdom can prove to be fatal and she does not want to put him in that spot. She does not want him to choose between her and his kingdom and what if he did? Will the people accept her as their queen? Will Rajmata accept her as her daughter in law. Probably not!
She looked at there disappearing figures and wondered if Shiva even realised that she was not beside him anymore. Will he ever realise?
With these and so many other thoughts in mind she walked back to the place where shiva and she made love. Yes, shiva not Mahendra Bahubali because for her he will always be Shiva the man who came out of nowhere and freed her of her life of pretence. It's not that she was not happy before or that she did not have friends but she always felt like she couldn't be what she wanted to be. That she had to wear some kind of mask for the people of her tribe to accept her but shiva made her realise that she could be a warrior and a woman. That she could be what she wanted to be without fearing about loosing her tribe or her identity.
Not that it mattered now. She'll probably loose Shiva anyway. Either he will not accept her or everyone else won't. For the first time she was not proud of being a warrior anymore. She wished she was a princess so that nothing came in her way of uniting with her price but as soon as those thoughts came in her minds she admonished herself for her line of thoughts.
She always told to be proud of who she is. After all not everyone can sacrifice there lives for someone else's safety and separation from nothing or no one is going to change that fact. Not even Bahubali.
A new determination laced her features. She may never become a queen but she is a warrior and warriors don't cry. They don't pity themselves. They live for others and that is what she is going to do from now on. She'll live for others just like she has her whole life. She may not rule Mahishmati as a queen but she will protect it as a warrior. That would be her tribute to the motherland that suffered for 25 years, to the mother who waited patiently for her son to come back this whole time and lastly to the lover who taught her the meaning of life.
Shiva's POV
Shiva stayed up the whole night taking care of his mother. The wounds that covered her body were like fire to his heart. He made sure that she was fully checked and healed. Of course 25 years worth of pain would not subside in a single night but his mother assured him that his face had done the deal. He did not think of anyone else, he could not. After all his whole life he had been living a charade. He had been in his gala land living a simple life when his mother was being tortured at the hands of Bhallaldeva.
He was outraged at first but now seeing his mother sleeping peacefully in her bed he calmed down. That small smile playing on her lips made him happy. Not only because she was happy but because she was happy because of him. Thanks to Avantika really after all she is the one who guided him to his real destination even if not on purpose.
Where is she though he wondered. Is she somewhere in the palace? But he didn't tell anyone about them so how would she even enter? Maybe she told them about their relationship and got entry. He concluded happily.
He went outside in search for and instead found his katappa dada. Oh how much did this man suffered for his family. He had to kill the man he saw grow up. He had to then see that said man's wife getting tortured everyday. He was forced to think that that man's son died. So much and he was still loyal to the throne. To mahishmati.
'Dada, aapne Avantika ko dekha hai?' (Uncle, have you seen Avantika?) He asked urgently
'Avantika?' Katappa asked confused
'Haa wo ladki jo maa ke sath khadhi thi jab aap mujhe kahani sunare the. Or wo humare sath ladi bhi thi Bhallaldev ke khilaf.'
(Yes, when you were narrating the story of my father, she was standing right there by my mother. She also fought against bhallaldev with us.)
'Acha wo...par wo yaha kyo aayegi?' (Okay, but why would she come here) He asked confused again
'W..wo hum usse pyaar karte hai' (umm, actually we are in love) Bahubali said feeling a little weird but still confident in his love.
'Ohhh toh tumne dhund bhi li apne lie ek kanya. Par wo yahan kaise aa sakti hai. Praja meh se kisi ko bhi mahal ke andar bina izzazat ke aana mana hai' He said
(Ohh, so you've also found a girl for yourself. But how can she be here. No one from our subjects is allowed to enter the palace without my permission.)
'Hume laga wo kon hai ye batakar andar aa gayi hogi' He said perplexed
(I thought she would inform the guards of her identity as my lover and come inside)
'Agar wo aati toh hume zarur pata chal jata Bahu. Ho sakta hai wo wapis chali gayi ho'
(If she had entered the palace, I would have known Bahubali. Maybe she went back?)
Bahubali just nodded in a hurry to get to her as soon as possible. What must she be thinking? That he just left her as soon as he got to know that he is the king. That he did not even ask her to come with him.
'Dada mujhe kaam hai maa punche toh kehdena ki mai kuch der meh wapas aa jaunga' (Uncle, I have some work. If mother asks after me please tell her I'll return in a while.) He said and went from there without waiting for a reply.
Katappa just looked at him go and thought 'gaya toh apne pita par he hai' with a smile.
(Just like his father)
Bahubali tried to find her everywhere. Her tribe and her resting place and near the ocean where he first imprinted a design on her hand. Of course he did it all in a disguise but he could not find her anywhere. The only place he could think of now was the place where they made love for the first time and he realised that is where he should have went first. After all if she at all misses him she would go to the place where she had spent the most beautiful moments with him.
He reached there at last and there she was sitting near a tree still in her clothes from the war. She looked lost in thoughts her fingers tracing her mask that he had found near the waterfall. That time seemed like ages away. So much has happened since then.
He started moving towards her and was surprised to know that she did not realise at all that he was there. What is it that was troubling her so much.
'Avantika?'
Avantika's POV
I sat down under a tree totally dejected. It was almost as if I had lost my purpose in life. For so long my only purpose was to help Rajmata escape from that hell hole. Then Shiva came and loving him and taking care of him became another purpose of my life. Now I have lost both of them. I picked up the mask that basically became the symbol of our love. How can a man love someone so much just based on a plastic mask I would never understand.
'Avantika?' I heard his voice that brought me out of my reverie. My heart thudded loudly in my chest. Has he come to tell me that he doesn't belong to me anymore. Or maybe he has come to take me back to the palace. I don't know which one of them I actually want.
'Shi...' I froze realising that I had no right to call him by that name 'Maharaj' (King) I said my insides hurting from addressing him so formally. I went to my knees bowing my head in respect with my right hand on my heart.
'Avantika utho ye kya kar rahi ho tum' (Avantika, get up! What are you doing?) he said pulling me up by my hand confusion swirling in his eyes.
'Aap humare Maharaj hai. Aapko izzat dena humara kartavya hai' (You are my king. It is my duty to give you the respect you deserve.) I tried to say confidently.
'Agar hume izzat deni he hai toh ek Maharani ki tarah do, humari hone wali patni ki tarah do, praja ki tarah nahi' (If respect is what you are concerned about then, respect me like my wife, not like my subject.) He said agitation lacing his voice.
'Par hum bhi toh praja he haina' (but I am your subject) by now tears were swirling in my eyes. I could see the pain and disbelief in his eyes over my words.
'Nahi! Tum wo ladki ho jiska chehra dekhe bina he hume usse pyaar hogaya tha. Jisse humne jab pehli baar dekha toh ehsaas hua ki krodh bhi kisi par itna haseen lag sakta hai. Jiske aansun hume bechain kar dete hai or jiske ek baar kehne par humne hazaron senikon ki bali chadha di'
(No! You are not just a subject but the woman who ruled my heart even before I saw her face. Who made me realise that even anger can look so enthral. Who's tears make me restless and on whose orders I killed thousands of soldiers)
'Avantika hume nahi pata tum ye sab kyo karri ho par tum humari ho tabhi hogayi thi jab tumne humse hamesha pyar karna ka vada kia or hum jo humara hai usse apne se kabhi dur nahi hone dete' (Avantika, I don't know why you are acting this way, but you are mine. You became mine the moment you promised to love me forever, and I don't let the people I love go away from me.) He said determined
'Shiv..Maharaj hum..' (shiv... king I...) I tried to speak but he cut me off
'Shiva! Tumhare liye hum sirf Shiva hain. Jab hum miley the toh hum khud bhi ni jante the ki hum kon hai. Tumse pyar karne wala shiva tha Mahishmati ka Samrat nahi.'
(Shiva! I am only Shiva for you. When I met you, even I didn't know my true identity. The person who loved you was Shiva, not the monarch of Mahishmati.)
I swallowed the tears that were again forcing there way out.
'Shiva hum ek sath nahi hosakte. Aap ab ek rajya ke Samrat hai or hum sirf ek...'
(Shiva, we cannot be together. You are our king and I am but a...)
'Tum wo ladki ho jisne bina ek aurat ko jaane unhe chudhana (escape) apni zindagi ka maksat bana lia'
(You are the woman who made freeing an unknown woman the goal of her life)
'Wo ladki jo Sringar karne se darti hai par talwar chalane se nahi'
(A woman who is afraid of looking beautiful but not of using a sword)
'Avantika humne tumse pyar kia islie nahi kyoki hum ek aam aadmi the balki islie kyoki tum bhaut khaas ho'
(I did not fall in love with you because I thought I am an ordinary man. I fell in love with you because you are extraordinary)
I did not even realise that tears have started flowing out of my eyes until he wiped them off. I held onto his hands against my cheeks almost desperately.
'Or baaki sabka kya? Koi hume Maharani ke roop meh sweekar karega?' (And what about everyone else? Will they accept me as their queen.) I asked him the one thing that was bothering me this whole time.
'Karna he padega. Ye unke Raja ka aadesh jo hoga' (They'll have to. It would be their king's order.) He said chuckling as if it was the most obvious thing.
'Or Rajmata?' (And queen mother?) I asked in an even lower voice.
'Shayad tumne Bahubali ki kahani dhang se nahi suni Avantika. Jab sabne unka sath chodh dia tha Devasena ne tab apna haath aagey badhaya tha. Devasena janti hai Bahubali ko. Wo janti hai ki Bahubali apne dharm ke khilaf kisi ke lie nahi jata aur apna vachan rakhna uska sabse bada dharam hai. Humne vachan dia tha tumhe aur ye vachan hum marte dum tak nibhayenge.' (Maybe, you did not listen to the tale of Bahubali properly, Avantika. When everyone left his hand, Devsena was there for him. She knows Bahubali. She knows that Bahubali never goes against his duty, and keeping his promises is his biggest duty.) He said and taking my hand started to walk back when I resisted.
Bahubali gave me a questioning look.
'Hume ek aur vachan chaheeye aapse. Agar Rajmata ya aapki praja ne hume apnane se mana kardia toh aap hume jaane denge' (Then I need another promise from you. If queen mother or your subjects refuse to accept me, you'll leave me.) she said rather quickly as if afraid of his reaction and as she expected he let go of her hand immediately.
'Hum aisa koi vachan nahi denge tumhe.' (I will promise no such thing to you)
Grabbing her by her arms firmly he continued 'Agar hum Raja hain toh tum humari Rani ho or hum apni Rani ke bina kahin bhi raj nahi karenge'
(If I am the king, then you are my queen. Either they'll accept the both of us or none of us.)
'Mahishmati ko itne varshon baad unka Raja wapis mila hai. Aap unhe or 25 varsh (years) aise he tadapta dekhna chahte hai?'
(Mahishmati has gotten their king back after 25 years. Will you leave them to live in misery for another 25 years?)
'Aap chahte hai ki firse ek maa apne bete ke intezaar meh kisi rakshas ke jurm sahe?' I asked angry now
(You want one more mother to suffer in the hands of a sadist, while waiting for her son?)
'Iss baar baat alag hai. Iss baar koi bhallaldeva nahi hai ek maa ke man meh zeher gholne ke lie. Aur humari praja toh tab bhi humare sath thi or ab bhi humare sath hai.'
(This time its different. This time Bhallaldev is not here to poison the mind of a mother. And my subjects were there for me, then and now.)
'Hum vaada karte hai ki sab kuch theek hoga or nahi bhi hua toh hum theek kardenge. Tum bas chalo humare sath.' (I promise that everything will be fine. Just come with me.) He said successfully vanquishing almost all of my fears.
'Ek shan hum kapde badal kar aate hain' (okay! I'll just go and change) I said looking at my war clothes but he stopped me again
'Zarurat nahi. Jisko tumhe pasand karna hoga aise he karlega' (No need. Whoever wants to like you, they can like you as it is.) He was probably a little hurt because of all the things I said.
'Hum jaante hai. Magar hum chahte hai wo apni Rani ko dekhen sirf ek shatriya kanya ko nai' (I know, but I want them to see their queen in me, not just an ordinary warrior) I said trying to apologise for everything I'd said so far and to my utter delight that brought a real smile on my shiva's face. He nodded and let go.
I quickly wore a blue blouse and skirt and as a last thought also added a dupatta to cover my breasts. Just then I felt Shiva coming behind me.
His hands came up around my waist from behind making my heartbeats speed up. Suddenly he dropped a a light kiss near my neck making me shudder. I turned around my gaze fixed on his chest. Leave it to him to turn me into a shy mess.
'Shiva tum ye...' (Shiva, what are you..)
'Shhhh' He whispered putting his thumb and forefinger under my chin forcing me to look. As I did he came closer to me covering the distance between us and as our lips met I felt complete just like always.