In my Devil's Arms

Vikram planned everything with the guidance of his father.

Sending Manav Deshmukh away was their top priority. So he spied on Sonia's schedule. She was due a vacation which he found out she was spending with her father, aunt and cousins in Pune.

" Manav", he said. " You are in demand boss".

" Why", asked Manav.

" We won a bid to construct residential colony for retired army personnels.", said Vinod.

" Its a government construction. So central government sixth pay commission for those who work in the project. And the letter from head in Pune said you will be top priority for architecture ", said Gaurav.

" Congratulations ", said everybody.

Manav was stunned to read the letter.

At about same time Sonia entered.

" Whats wthe congratulations are for", she asked.

" I am off to Pune I guess", he showed her the letter.

" Wonderful I'll be there to meet my father", she said. " Come to our house".

Behind her back the three men shook their heads. Vicky made the gun symbol.

" I have to stay at their place. Strict rules. But if I am spared I'll visit gladly", he said.

" Rest in peace ", whispered Vicky to him.

He shook his head and chuckled.

Amidst his mother's opposition Manav left the next day.

Step one complete

Step 2 was to spend more and more time with her.

Easy. He stalled the demolishing crew. Then asked her to identify valuable art and heritage.

" I can use art in my resort and if any artifact is there I will donate to historical department in your college", he said. " Just not her".

She knew who her was.

She was still mostly at palace. She was studying a few stone and wooden figurines. One of it was of a man and woman wrapped together.

" What are you looking at", came a voice.

It was Vicky.

"This figurine. Its of her I guess", she said.

" He really was a pervert", said Vicky looking at the figurine.

" Its not him in this . Its y.you um. her husband", she said.

" Really", he asked looking keenly at it.

" Yes she looks happy and is laughing in them", she said.

Now Vicky noticed them too. He softly fondled one of them.

" I will take that one", said Riya in which Gunjan stood with hay on her head.

" It depicts how village women lived back then", she said.

" And this one too", she said pointing a black horse.

" Why this one", he asked.

" It was Ranjeet Singh's horse. He had a black Arabic horse of high breed as per literature. I have seen it in potraits too".

" Okay", he said and asked his security to pack them.

" I also studied that Shiva idol in backyard", she said tentatively. SHE WAS SCARED OF ANOTHER EPISODE.

" What about it", she sensed his uneasiness.

" It does not belong in this palace but was brought here from somewhere. "

" How can you say that"?

" It has no trishul and Nandi. It was as if as if", she halted.

" What"?

" It was plucked from a temple and kept here. It is also close to her room", said Riya.

" What is your analysis on who brought it", he asked.

" I don't know Vicky", she said sadly.

SHE IS LYING HE KNEW. SHE WAS LOOKING DOWN.

" Riya".

" Vicky", she said after a lot consideration.

" Yes Riya".

" I have a theory about them king and Gunjan but don't get angry", she said.

" Tell me", he said calmly holding her hand. But she was not fooled. His eyes turned stormy.

Riya tok a deep breath and said,

"He loved her and felt guilt about what he did to her".

" And so his sins are forgiven", he asked sharply.

" I never said that", she said defensively.

" Next you will say she fell in love with him too", he said.

" NEVER", she said firmly. " GUNJAN LOVED SRIKANT TILL HER LAST BREATH". Her voice has risen.

She looked angry saw Vicky. He was not blaming Gunjan. But Riya her face glowed eyes turned into fire, and she looked determined to defend.

TO DEFEND A GIRL WITH STRONG PRINCIPLES BUT BAD LUCK.

" Are you sure", he provoked her deliberately.

" She laid down her life. That sword was not meant for her. It was for Srikant", she told him.

HE KNEW THAT.

" Then why are you so contradictory in calling this a love story between her and that monster". Vicky's eyes were desperate.

" No it was not a love story. He became obsessed", she said. " I have read the poems he wrote on her. In some of them he called her his wife. Remember that caption below his potrait. He waits for forgiveness and love." She looked keenly at him.

" Do you love him", he asked.

" No. Contrary to what that idiot Manav or my friends say I don't love him. I was just drawn to this place probably because of her", she said.

" Because of her", he was perplexed.

" Because she needs our help Vicky. She died here trying to unite with Srikant. Your nightmares, my vision and that dream of my past life those are signs", she said.

" Signs of", he queried.

" Call for help. To unite with Srikant. Forever and ever. Then only her soul will be in peace."

" How can we do that", he asked.

" I don't know", she said shrugging. " I feel so helpless".

" Take a little rest", said Vicky. " Orange juice"?

" Yes please", she smiled.

As they both sipped orange juice Vicky thought about what she said. STRANGE HE COULD NEVER COME TO THAT CONCLUSION. Gunjan was out somewhere deep in Earth. Her soul needs peace. And SRIKANT..he sighed. He didn't know what was in store for him.

He saw she was sleepy. He engulfed her and massaged her head. She slept.

In her sleep Riya got a vision .

Gunjan is weeping on a Shiva idol. She was wearing one of her tight dresses. She was in deep forest.

" I have fasted whole day Shiva but Sahib did not come. Please give me death."

She fainted because of high emotions and lack of food. Her unconscious body lay on Shiva idol.

Then its night time. King's men are searching for her. Then king comes on his black Arabic horse in the mid forest.

He finds her fainted on an idol. He runs to her and shakes her. She is not responding.

" Nooooo Gunjan", shouts the king.

She is breathing. He picks her up to leave but his hand is caught in a Trishul as blood comes out. He curses. Takes the Trishul and throws it away. Then picks her up in his arms. Finally riding on his horse with her he left.

She got up.

SHE WONDERED WHY SHE SAW THAT DREAM.

" Riya", said Vicky.

She looks at him.

" Where are you lost", he asks.

" Nowhere", she says. " Let me pack and we can leave".

" Okay".

" So you loved her handsome. Her husband did not come for her but you did", she said to the king.

IN SPITE OF BEING A KING HE CAME HIMSELF. But his love remained unrequited. Gunjan loved only her husband. That sword his order wielded was for Srikant and it killed HIS LOVE. It was not his wife but he who killed her. Hence he turned mad.

" You suffered so much handsome. I may not love you but I forgive you", said Riya. " Go in peace". His soul wandered for four centuries to earn that forgiveness from her.

" But I still love him handsome", said Riya.

Unbeknownst to her Vikram was eavesdropping. His face appeared as if it was carved from stone. His eyes froze like ice shards.

" HOW MANY SINNERS WILL YOU FORGIVE GUNJAN"? He still was the biggest of them all thought Srikant.

Riya packed her things and left with Vicky. She was right about Gunjan's call for help. But there were many unsatisfied souls who wandered there. They were waiting too. FOR A RESCUE. And her Rebirth has triggered this dormant story again.

Only Shiva knew what future held for all of them.