Stay With Me

CHAPTER 26: VIRATNAGAR

Initially, Yashasvini thought that the man was hurt only on the stomach but when he came closer, she realised that his entire body had huge marks that were bleeding. They were the marks of lashes.

The man fainted as he same closer. Suddenly, the three heard some shouting from behind him. Seemed like someone was chasing him.

"Sahasyaji, can you please take this man inside the medicine shop for me? I need to treat him immediately. He's very badly hurt." Yashasvini asked.

Dhrithiman nodded and took the man in while Ram stood beside watching what was happening. He decided to stay outside and handle the situation.

"Kya aapne yahan pe ek vyakthi ko dekha? Uska khoon beh raha tha." Asked a soldier who ran and came to the food stall.
(Have you seen a man here? He was bleeding.)

"Nahi shriman. Yahan pe kisi gayal vyakthi ko nahi dekha hamne." Ram replied.
(No sir. We haven't seen any hurted man here.)

"But I saw him run over here. He disappeared after he reached here." The soldier replied suspiciously. He noticed the closed medical shop and got closer to it.

Ram immediately stood in front of him, trying to block him from entering.

"Someone is getting treated. We can't let you in." Ram replied.

"So you're treating the man inside?" The soldier replied angrily.

"No sir. You're misunderstanding me. I don't think it's the same man you're saying." Ram replied.

"Well then let me check it myself." The soldier said pushing Ram away slightly and moved towards the door of the medical shop.

Ram once again came in front of the soldier. At this point, they were standing in front of the door exactly.

"Sir, you can't go in." Ram requested.
His voice was loud enough for Yashasvini and Dhrithiman to hear.

Fortunately, Yashasvini was done with the bandaging. Dhrithiman had to stand next to him in case the soldier barges in. The two quickly put a bedsheet on top of the man to cover him.

"Pavitraji, I'll stay here, in case the soldier barges in. You go and help my brother as much as you can." Dhirthiman said.

Yashasvini nodded in agreement and opened the door, open enough for her to move out of the room.

Ram moved away when he saw Yashasvini. The soldier glared at her.

"Ah! My stomach aches." Yashasvini said as she got out of the room holding her stomach.

"Who is this?" The soldier asked Ram.

"Ah, this is my wife shriman. She had a stomach ache today morning so I brought her to the shop to get medicines but it got severe so she was inside to check if there is any other problem." Ram replied with an akward smile as he kept both his palms gently on Yashasvini's shoulders while standing beside her.

Wife?

Yashasvini was looking at Ram's face flabbergasted. She tried not to make it obvious as they had to stay in act, but she was absolutely shocked by Ram's claim. It took her a minute to snap out of it.

"J-ji, ye hamare.. pathi hai." Yashasvini replied managing an akward smile.
(Y-yeah, he's my... husband.)

"Why didn't you tell there was a woman inside earlier? I wouldn't have tried to barge in like that." The soldier asked.
The man seemed very respectful towards women.

"Ham shama chahthe hai." The soldier said with his head down.
(Please accept my apology.)

Yashasvini and Ram smiled at the soldier and the soldier left the place in search of his bleeding man.

As the soldier left, Ram moved his hands slowly away from Yashasvini's shoulders.

"Wife? Seriously?" Asked a flustered Yashasvini looking at Ram.

"Well I didn't have a choice! I wasn't expecting you to come out, so I had to come up with some excuse!" Ram replied.

"Why wife? You could've chosen any relationship with me! I can't even imagine it." Yashasvini shouted.

That got Ram thinking for a moment.

I could've even told she was my sister or friend. Why did I think of wife at that moment?

"B-Because that was the most believable relationship! And, why can't someone be my wife? Women line up for me." Ram shouted back.

"Are those women blind? The woman who will marry you will be one of the most unfortunate woman in this world!" Yashasvini shouted.

"You-- Never mind. You won't understand. Anyways, is the man okay?" Ram asked, changing the topic.

"He's still unconscious. It'll take him time to wake up, but he's really hurt. The bleeding is from whips. Thorn whips." Yashasvini said with a tone of sorrow. She wasn't happy about the way the man was treated.

What kind of kingdom treats their people like this? Even if he is a criminal, he cannot be tortured like this.

"I've heard that the king of Viratnagar treats the criminals this way. Heard that he's a cruel king." Ram replied.

"Viratnagar?" Yashasvini asked. That was the moment she looked around the city. Viratnagar's flag.

Shit! How did I not notice this? I was so dumb that I didn't even notice the soldier's uniform! Since when have I become so absent minded?

She realised that she was in her enemy kingdom. If someone recognized her, it would be the worst situation that she could imagine.

Ramachandra looked at a flabbergasted Yashasvini deep in thought.

"Hey, Pavitraji? Chorni (Thief)? You okay?" Ram asked looking at her face closer.

"How long is the ship going stop here?" Yashasvini asked.

"Till today night. The captain isn't feeling well. He said we'll be starting today night. Why?" Ram asked.

Yashasvini looked away in disappointment. She couldn't take the risk of staying there for so long. She couldn't stay inside the ship either. Nobody would be there and Sanjay might make a move on her.

She had no other choice. She had to seek help. HIS help. She hated the idea of getting help from such a suspicious man with attitude.

"I'm not happy about saying this.." Yashasvini started and she paused.

Ram kept looking at her to complete her sentence, but she was just looking straight ahead in thoughts.

"Say what?" Ram asked.
Yashasvini turned to him.

"I need your help." Yashasvini said.

To be continued...
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