Return of the Demon Lord Durbheeksh

by Utkarsh Srivastava

  Dushal stared at him. The leader came near to him, 'This is your first mistake, that's why I am forgiving you. Get lost.'

  'You are really a coward. Actually, I must say that you don't deserve to be the leader of this gang.' Dushal taunted him.

  The leader of bandits was furious, 'Ok fine, if you want to fight me, there will be a fight for this beauty. Perhaps, you have gone mad seeing her, that's why you are ready to lose your life for her.'

  All other groups of bandits laughed at Dushal (guard bandit).

  Dushal who was in a getup of a bandit confronted the leader, 'Don't underestimate your opponent. Who will die and who will not, will soon be decided. Come on let's fight.'

  Dushal and the leader of bandits rushed towards each other.

  Just one smash by Dushal, and the leader of bandits was on the floor. Splits of blood spilled out from his mouth. He was stunned to see the muscular strength of a guard.

  Then also he collected his strength and stood up from the floor for the fight. He rushed towards Dushal again.

  This time Dushal grabbed his neck and lifted him up. The crowd of bandits were silently looking at this fight. They all were completely shocked to see the strength of a guard.

  This time Dushal lifted that bandit's leader and made a fierce blow on his back through his knees.

  The leader of bandits was on the ground. He was in tremendous pain, now he was not able capable enough to stand up. His backbone was broken.

  'Now this princess is all mine.' Dushal stepped towards Shivanya.

  No one in the crowd dared to stop him.

  Shivanya shouted at him, 'Don't come nearer to me, you wretch. Otherwise, you will be killed.'

  But Dushal continue walking towards Shivanya. He came near to her and grabbed her hand tightly, and said in her ears.

  'I have come here just to rescue you. Believe me princess, I don't want anything from you.'

  These words affected Shivanya up to some extent. She calmed down for a while.

  Thereafter, Dushal opened her knots.

  'Come let's go.'

  But Shivanya ignored him, and stepped forward. No one dared to block her path, Dushal continued walking behind her.

  Two horses were brought outside the cave. Dushal and princess Shivanya ascended on those horses.

  While Dushal and Shivanya proceeded towards the jungle, that guard bandit who was attacked by Dushal came back to his sense. While all other bandits were present there, he also arrived at the door of the cave. The bandits were shocked to see him.

  'If you are here, then who is that person who has taken away the princess?' One of the bandit asked the guard bandit.

  That bandit holds his head, as he was suffering through severe head pain, 'I don't know, someone attacked me, due to which I lost my consciousness.'

  'It means he was an intruder, who impersonated as the guard bandit to rescue the princess. Chase him.' One of the bandits commanded.

  On this command, those groups of bandits rushed to chase Dushal and Shivanya.

  While Shivanya was in hurry, as soon as she ascended on that horse, she pulled his rein to run away. But Dushal wants keep his eyes on her, for her safety. So he kept chasing her.

  'Stop princess, why you are in so much hurry?' Dushal shouted to stop her.

  But Shivanya continued her journey, she didn't responded to Dushal.

  When the distance between Dushal and the princess started increasing rapidly, Dushal opted for a shortcut. Shivanya continued her journey, but soon she realized that she was strayed. She was not able to find the path that where she should go. Finally, she opted for a path and tried to move her horse towards that path.

  'There are several groups wild wolfs in that area.'

  Shivanya turned back listening this voice. Dushal, in the getup of a bandit was behind her.

  'What are you doing here? I can continue my journey alone.' Shivanya said arrogantly.

  'Why you all royal people are so arrogant? You are not asking for my help, just because I am common man.' Dushal taunted her.

  'Common man, you are a common man? You are a bandit, who hurts common man. How could I trust you?' Shivanya taunted him back.

  'Yes, that is also right. But the fact is, you need my help, otherwise you will keep wandering in this jungle. And believe me, I don't have any evil intentions.' Dushal tried to convince her.

  'Ok, Ok, thanks for the help. But keep some distance between us.' Shivanya agreed to seek help from a bandit.

  'Ok, this path goes to Vidarbh. We should proceed towards it.' Dushal signaled.

  'How can you say that I have to go Vidarbh?' Shivanya was in doubt.

  'Ah…., you were only shouting that I am the princess of Vidarbh. That's why I thought, you might be proceeding towards Vidarbh.' Dushal hesitated.

  'Oh…, that's fine, but I have to reach Ekchakranagari. My elder brother King Bhabhuti is waiting for me there.' Shivanya explained.

  'What a coincidence? I was also proceeding towards Ekchakranagari, so we should opt for a right path and start our journey.' Dushal smiled.

  'It's very hard to believe you. I know that, I don't have a choice. But I really want to know, why you are helping me?'

  Dushal smiled again, 'Once a princess saved my life, when I was in danger. Also if I will help you, I might get some prize from your brother. Actually, I am just fed of this work. Now I want to live a life of a common man, not a bandit.' Dushal was going with the flow.

  'That's a great thought. Let's go.' Shivanya was quite convinced.

  Dushal and Shivanya continued their journey. But soon the jungle was filled with the darkness of night.

  'We should stop here princess. It's not safe to continue our journey, we shall continue with the rise of sun.' Dushal suggested.

  'Ok fine, but where we should stay right now?' Shivanya asked.

  'Ah.., well, I am searching for the proper place to stay.'

  Soon Dushal found a place to stay. He enlighten the fire and called the princess, 'Come princess, we can stay here for at least three prahars.'

  Shivanya reached there, 'So now, I have to sleep on the grass?'

  'Yes, you have to. But only for today, we'll surely reach Ekchakranagari by tomorrow evening.' Dushal tried to convince Shivanya.

  'Ok, I'll manage.' Shivanya lied down on the grass.

  Dushal was sitting near fire, 'Ah… if you don't mind, may I ask you a question?' Dushal was having lots of question in his mind.

  'Ok, I am also feeling bored. You may ask, whatever you want to know.' Shivanya replied.

  'Why you are going to Ekchakranagari? Is there is any occasion?'

  Shivanya was quite sad listening this.

  'What happened Princess? You are looking quite disturbed.' Dushal asked her, when he noticed her expression.

  'Nothing, nothing important. My marriage is fixed with the prince of Ekchakranagari, and my future husband Prince Saket wants to meet me before marriage.' Shivanya was quite frustrated.

  'Why you are so annoyed? It seems that you don't want to marry him, or you like someone else.'

  'That's personal. I don't want to talk regarding this.' Shivanya was quite disturbed.

  'It means you like someone else.' Dushal tried to guess.

  'Don't you dare interfere in my personal life, just keep your mouth shut. It is true that I like someone else, but it is none of your business.' Shivanya said rudely.

  'Ok, Ok no problem. If you don't want to tell, I'll not force you.'

  Thereafter, Dushal and Shivanya remained silent for a while. After sometime Shivanya asked Dushal.

  'I also want to ask you a question.'

  'Of course, I am waiting for you question.' Dushal was eagerly waiting for the question.

  'I just want to know the actual reason, why you saved my life? And why you are helping me till now?' Shivanya was still in doubt.

  Dushal was silent for a while, but after thinking something he opened his mouth, 'I told you that I am fed up of this job of b
eing a bandit.'

  'Your hesitation clearly tells that you are lieing. But I don't bother, you also might have some reason behind this.' Princess Shivanya was quite disturbed.

  Dushal stared at Shivanya for a while.

  'What happened? Why you are staring at me like this?' Shivanya was quite annoyed.

  'Ah.., nothing. You look quite disturbed, that's why I just want to say that if you have anything in your mind which you want to share with someone, then you can consider me as your friend. If you will limit these things within your mind, it will be very tough for you to be in a stable state of mind.' Dushal tried to make her comfortable.

  'It's something new, which I have never felt before. I just think, I am born for him.'

  'And who is the one you are talking about?' Dushal in a getup of bandit stared at Shivanya.

  'Dushal, 'the Demon King'. I don't know why, but I have very strong feeling for him.' Shivanya was quite confused while saying this.

  Dushal was completely stunned, he stared at Shivanya for a while. He said after sometime, 'He is a demon, still you like him. Why?'

  'He is better than many kings of Aaryavart. He is a selfless person, and the symbol of idolism.'

  'How could you say that? And who told you these things.' Dushal said arrogantly.

  'Why you are talking so rudely?' Shivanya was quite astonished.

  'Ah… nothing, nothing important. But you should understand that he is a demon and you are a human. How can you both come together?' Dushal was quite astonished.

  'I don't know, how this is possible. But I know only one thing. That it is very difficult for me to survive without him.' Shivanya felt quite sad.

  'It's not love princess, you are just attracted towards him for a while. But I must say, he should be thankful to you, as you saved his life.'

  Shivanya was stunned listening this, 'How do you know that saved the life of Demon King Dushal?'

  Dushal freezes, and thought, 'How could I be so stupid? I forgot that, I am in a getup of a bandit.'

  Dushal was in great dilemma, he was not able to think what he should say in front of her.

  Before Dushal could answer, suddenly a spear with tremendous speed arrived and injured the shoulder of Dushal. Shivanya was also shocked by this sudden attack.

  Several groups of bandit arrived there.

  'You intruder, you were not among our group. You cheated us, and now you will pay for this.' The guard bandit who look like bandit Dushal confronted him.

  'Two bandits of same look, same physical appearance.' Shivanya was astonished to see that.

  While one among the group of bandits confronted Dushal again, 'Who are you? Show us, who are you actually. Transform in your original form.'

  'That's none of your business, whoever I am. I am just warning you all, if you all want to save your lives, then get lost from here. It's not my policy to kill without any strong reason. So don't force me to do so.' Dushal shouted at those bandits.

  Shivanya interfered in between, 'Firstly tell me, who are you? And who is the original one, and what to do you want from me?'

  While one bandit interfered in between, 'He is an intruder, no one know who he is? I think he saved you, just to fulfill his desires.'

  Dushal was annoyed, he stepped towards a huge rock, used his all strength and lifted that rock up. He again confronted the bandits.

  'Disappear from this place within few seconds, otherwise none of you will remain alive to put such type of allegations on me.'

  Many bandits in that group stepped backward looking at the immense strength of Dushal. Rest of the bandits also followed them. Soon that place was vacant. Only Dushal in a form of a bandit and Shivanya were present there.

  Dushal puts down the rock. Shivanya was still staring at him, Dushal noticed it but he didn't dared to say anything.

  'Who are you? I want to know.' Shivanya was quite impatient.

  'We should proceed towards Ekchakranagari, princess. We don't have any more time to waste, Sun is about to rise, we have to reach our destination by evening.' Dushal tried to ignore her words.

  'One who never kills without any reason, a selfless person. I am all alone with you since three prahars, but you never tried to take advantage of this. You are helping me since three prahars, without any reason, Demon King Dushal. This must be you.' Shivanya guessed.

  Dushal was stunned for a while, he was astonished to notice her presence of mind.

  'You are quite impressive, I appreciate your presence of mind.' Dushal turned in his actual form. He then turned towards Shivanya.

  Shivanya was feeling quite shy, her eyes were glittering like stars. Dushal was quite frustrated seeing this.

  'Just look at me, I am demon. You are a human lady, how could you love me?' Dushal tried to convince her.

  'So what? You are not an evil, you are good by heart, because you saved my life.'

  'I saved your life, just because you save my life when I was injured, that's it. And regarding your feelings, you should control yourself, because your people will never accept me.' Dushal turned back.

  'Ok, Ok, I understand your problem. If you are afraid of my people, I will not force myself on you.' Shivanya was quite annoyed while saying this.

  'I am not in fear. But you will only face tough situation. Firstly your elder brother King Bhabhuti will not agree for this, and secondly your people will not accept me. Could you marry me against all these barriers?' Dushal asked Shivanya.

  Shivanya thought something for a while, 'I'll answer your question soon, but right now we should proceed towards Ekchakranagari. I assure you, you will surely get your answers there.'

  It was hard to predict, what was there in Shivanya's mind. But Dushal didn't took it seriously, he stood up from the ground, 'Ok let's go. We should reach our destination by evening.'

  'Wait, I need some water. Can you bring it for me, please?' Shivanya requested.

  'Yes, of course. I'll bring it for you, also we should carry some fruits with us for further journey.' Dushal went in search of water.

  While Shivanya was having something naughty in mind. There were two horses bounded with the tree. She opened the knots of one horse and released him, 'Don't you dare to return back.'

  Now there was only one horse bounded with the tree. Thereafter, Shivanya returned back to her previous position. Soon Dushal arrived there with some fruits and water.

  'You should drink this water soon, we have to proceed for the journey as soon as possible.'

  'Yes, of course.' Shivanya took the bag of water.

  Thereafter, Dushal went towards the tree, he was astonished to find only one horse there. He asked Shivanya.

  'Here is only one and that's mine. Where is your horse, princess?'