In my Devil's Arms

A young girl was sitting among a pile of ruins. Broken idols, some photographs clicked from a ruined palace, some wooden figurines. She was immersed completely in them making some notes. And an old writing..she got the script from an inscription under a Shiva idol

Give her back. Give her back to me...

The idol did not belong there it was clear. It was brought from some other place. A temple probably. She was a devotee of Shiva. She knows. It lacked a proper placing, a Nandi and a Trishul.

Then she took out her diary..

Below a photograph of a girl was written

I am waiting...

Somebody was waiting for that girl. What happened to her. The girl in photograph looked young about 25 or 26. It was clear she died young. It was pretty a old photograph she knew.

The name on it was

Chandni or Chand bai

She and her professor were not sure. Probably they were unable to.decipher an ancient script.

The pattern of art, the script etc placed it around pre British and post medival period. She could not carbon date it of course..Well the palace was not public property. It belonged to some king. Proprietary rules. But she took( not stole); she was a historian not a thief, for study purpose a few pieces. Nobody would notice them anyways. NOBODY CARED. The beautiful historical place was falling down.

The girl looked like a dancer, she was dressed accordingly BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO HER SHE LOOKED SAD. Her sadness made herself sad.

" Why?"

She had no answers.

She absent mindedly caressed a wooden figurine.

There is another picture in a palace she was emotionally attached to.

Maharaj Ranjeet Singh

Again for absolutely no reason.

He was tall with coal black eyes which has depth of mysteriees. Black hairs, a strong body but a solem expression on his face...

HE WAS THE RUMOURED CURSED KING.

" Don't stare at his photograph for too long Madamji. He hypnotises this monster. He eats young girl for breakfast", once a local said to her.

" The poor man is dead dada(elder brother) she replied.

" Monsters do not die madamji. They live for centuries. He is around here somewhere.

SHIVA CURSED HIM YOU KNOW"

So the story was a bit broken without proof and complicated. It goes as follows:

Ranjeet Singh had common origins. A poor farmer he joined army. He revolted against the king and killed him. He once destroyed virtue of a girl who was Shiva devotee. So Shiva cused him with eternal pain. Even after he died his soul wanders.

She scoffed. Just local folklore. Every place has one. No reason to be afraid of it.

The King to her did not look like a monster just someone sad and remourseful. She found some of his writings carved on walls.

It said

I will wait always wait for you. For years decades and centuries then a day will come when you will love me again.

It was so touching. He was waiting for the girl in that potrait. It was said she was his consort. He loved her more than his wives. After her death he turned mad.One of his jealous wife killed her. He breath his last in that palace.

This was an account she found written by one of the writers of that age. Probably a court writer. She was immersed completely in her work when someone called...

" Riya Riya, beta where are you"?

" In study aunty", she replied.

" What are you", the lady saw het among ruins again.

" You are again amidst these dead people. Seriously it gives me creeps."

" I am a historian aunty. This is my job", she replied.

Riya Sachdeva

Age 22 years

History post graduate

Dark brown hairs

Ht 5'3

Soft red lips

Heart shaped face

Best feature Forest green eyes.

" I will complain about this to your uncle, come with me", said the lady.

" Vikas look the girl is again sitting in a cementary", she shouted. " She has no hobbies, she just closes herself with those ghosts".

" Aunty"

" What happened Suhasini", asked uncle

Vikas and Suhasini Deshmukh

60 and 56 years respectively.

Riya's adoptive parents.

" I say she should go out more with people of her age. Go to discos, movies , have parties. Make friends and enjoy her life", said aunty.

Vikasji chuckled,

" Manav beta look gour mother is asking your fiance to make boyfriends and have gala time with them."

Manav laughed out loud.

" I didn't say that", said aunty.

" Aai ( mother)calm down. He is making fun of you", replied Manav.

Manav Deshmukh

5'10

Architect by profession

Riya's fiance

Brown hairs, brown eyes.

Friendly nice person

" And baba( father) until that dead king comes back to life Riya won't leave me and go away".

They both chuckled.

" Manav you are making fun of me", she said playyfully hitting them.

He puuled her hair.

" Aah aunty see", she complained.

" You fight like kids. You both are grown ups now. In few months you will be married. Seriously this is how you behave", said aunty.

That quieted them

MARRIAGE

They both opposed it earlier. I mean Manav was a good man but they never thought that about each other. Manav was her best friend. More like an elder brother. Manav felt the same. But his mother forced them both. Threatened them with her life. Defeated in the end they accepted. But it left an awkwardness between them.

Riya knew she did not love Manav.

She always dreamed about him. Her prince charming. One day she will meet him and fall in love. They will roam hand in hands. Cross rivers, go to mountains. Travel the world.

" See Aai she is lost again. Bet she is affected by some ghost", Manav said in a creepy voice.

" Of that king", asked uncle.

" Aaaan", Riya stomped her fest like a child.

" Stop making fun of her you both", said aunty.

" Sorry sorry", said Manav.

" Okay tell us more about that king", said uncle. " Now what was his name"?

" Maharaj Ranjeet singh", she said.

" Yaa son of", asked Manav

" His ancestors are unknown", said Riya.

" Aan he did appear from thin air", said Manav.

" No you stupid. He just had humble origins. He rose to power after he killed the older king", she replied.

" Seems cruel"? Said aunty.

Riya sighed. Well it was true after all.

" He was", she said. " He left his old life to bevome a king. He killed the entire dynasty of previous king. He took a poor married girl forcefully as his consort. And may have killed one of his wife too."

" Wow your boyfriend did some serious sh*t", said Mana .

Riya shrugged.

" What happened next", asked uncle.

" He turned mad when one of his wife killed his favourite consort and died later on", said Riya.

" Such a sad story", said Manav.

" But then he killed too", argued aunty.

" Yup even kids", replied Riya.

" What about him bwing a vampire", asked Manav.

" Local folklore with no historical proof", said Riya brushing it off.

" All this dead talk will kill appetite ", said aunty. " Come on eat".

Riya ate but wondered about Ranjeet Singh. In his photograph he really looke handsome.

" Why did you do it my king", she thouvht" Why"?

She had no answer but his pain made her sad too.