Salimpur (300 High Frequency Words)

#SALIMPUR

Origin

Long before anyone can remember, in a particular green forest south of the Vindhyas,
arrived a group of migrants. What were anomalous rains in their village, had become
torrential storms that inundated the place and killed all the crops. The tragedy was
mitigated by the fact that no lives were lost. Determined and displaced, they crossed
intractable lands for weeks under the light of the luminous moon.

When they arrived at this homogeneous group of tall, green, leafy trees, surrounded by
gentle slopes and flowing rivers, they stopped. This would be home, the clan's leader
decided, a land of perennial happiness. They had no possessions but they brought their
humble aesthetics and rebuilt a peaceful, salubrious life amidst nature. They renamed
this haven Salimpur, meaning 'safe place'.

The clan leader was a precursor to many great leaders in this region, who would be
paragons of magnanimity and leadership. Though inchoate then, Salimpur would be
remembered in history for generations to come.

Our story begins a few hundred years from now.

Celebrations

Why must i wear this ostentatious dress? Queen Era, asked. Her husband answered, My
dear, it enhances your elegance and the beauty of this .. pointing at her distended belly.

Era wasn't mollified. I'm sure i will explode in this. I don't feel good about this celebration.
Let's not do this. Why didn't we do this when .... It's not right Samar. It's been seven years
since i saw ...'

King Samar inhaled deeply and spoke softly "There is no time to implode or explode, Era.
Could you imagine the opprobrium if we don't go out? My love don't be morose. Enjoy
the nation's approbation. Watch me make those bombastic and grandiloquent
speeches you like to make fun of. Soon we will make it right".
The fervor in Salimpur was evident. Crowds had flocked to the palace to satiate their
hunger at the royal feast. The queen was pregnant and the royal heir was due in a week !!

The courtier made a perfunctory bow, and addressed the king, 'Everything is ready,
Maharaja.' Would you both like some fresh juice before you address the crowd?

"Set the glasses down here, Mitra. Thank you, and you may leave now"

"Now, my lovely queen! Shall we go celebrate this felicitous occasion?"

Tragedy

Three days. Three days since the beloved couple had died. The queen had gone into labor
soon after the feast, and the king grew inexplicably sick. Their death was quick and left the
nation implacable.
Nothing could alleviate the pain.

The mysterious circumstances were not acceptable to the public. The nation wanted
justice and information. Or else anarchy would ensue.

Inside the palace, the council of ministers aggregated. Who would be relegated to the
onerous task of addressing the nation? The council was irresolute.

Eventually, pragmatic Kriti volunteered. The subjects deserved to hear what the council
did or did not know. On the streets, diatribes and harangues could be heard against the
council everyday. The markets and schools had remained in abeyance.

Was it murder or just a tragic accident? Kriti was unsure. But there was an even bigger
announcement which had not been made public.

The royal doctor was pedantic but a skilled practitioner. Right before their untimely death,
Era and Samar had a child. A prince was born, and he was alive !

Kriti's Speech
The court musician was employed to tame the protest. Surili walked out and started with
an elegy. Slowly, this sad poem became more musical. The dirge that followed captivated
everyone. After a brilliant coda, the audience stood silent and weeping, mourning openly,
feeling their anger wash away.

When this crowd was subdued, Kriti walked to the balcony with the council standing
stolidly behind her in support. She addressed the now calm gathering.

"Countrymen, i shall not prevaricate. There exists no platitudes to placate our grief. Our
royal doctor Dutt, has yet to determine if there was a pathological reason for this
unfortunate incident. The case is indeed ambiguous."

"But one fact remains - death is an immutable state. Our beneficent king and queen
would not have condoned the quiescent state of our schools and empty lives. And even
these darkest of times have a ray of sunshine.

The royal heir is with us. They're last parting gift. A baby boy. I present to you, Prince Kiaan"

There was no sound as all collectively stared at the small bundle in Dutt's arms. Dutt had
moved into the open in time with Kriti, and held Kiaan in view of the public.

There were a few muffled cheers, but mostly, the subjects were wondering, what would
happen now ? To the baby ? To the country ? To them ?

Introducing the Prince

When counsellor Kriti announced the birth of prince Kiaan, there was a pervasive wave of
shock at this news. Followed by the gentle awakening of dormant hope. Not everything
was lost after all.

"The prince shall grow up under the council's eyes, with your blessings. Minister Mitra,
Doctor Dutt and I vow to personally take responsibility for his learning and upbringing.
This nation shall raise its ruler to show
equanimity, resolve and emulate his forbears. I pray for your trust in us.

In deference to the law, the council shall rule in lieu of the king until the prince reaches
fifteen years of age. We will have a viable government in all circumstances."
"I hope these words assuage your fears, dear citizens, and give you reason to stop these
invectives and tirades. Let us not exacerbate the situation, instead let's be grateful for
what we have. All we shall do from now on, you and I, is to honor King Samar and Queen
Era's lives by carrying on their legacy.

Please join us two days hence, at the formal eulogy to say our goodbyes and shower this
kid with blessings. Namaste."

Baby Kiaan gurgled in doctor Dutt's arms as Salimpur sent love his way. When everyone
dispersed, hearts had melted, and the mood was almost as ebullient as it once was.

Royal Household

Kiaan was the light of the household. In the palace, the five-year old prince zoomed
around energetically. A plethora of toys littered the rooms as the maids ran around trying
to catch the young boy and clean up.

Kiaan was a connoisseur of all things edible, and displayed an antipathy only towards
green vegetables. He knew not how to be abstemious and devoured fruits, snacks and
sweets with alacrity.

He adored the head cook, Hemant, who would feed him by hand every day. Often Hemant
would sneakily appropriate a slice of carrot halwa with desiccated coconut shavings on
top for the boy to savor late at night. It was Kiaan's favorite dessert.

Counsellor Kriti and minister Mitra played with Kiaan after their council meetings almost
daily, while doctor Dutt would check on his health weekly.

Kriti often admonished the prince, like her own son for the mess he created. She had
vowed to not let the boy live a life of dissolution. Kiaan, in response would run and hide
behind the burnished pillars. Kriti would then use a conciliatory tone, and turn it into a
game of hide and seek to lure him back and give a hug to patch things up. Mitra, on the
other hand, was usually obsequious and would offer to full-fill any of the boy's ridiculous
wishes.

While Kiaan wasn't much aware of his parents, Kriti made sure that he knew where he
came from. To him, Kriti, Mitra, Hemant and Dutt were family.

School

When Kiaan reached 10 years of age, his guardians felt he should study in the public
school which some of their won children attended. Private tutoring had worked fine until
now, but it would only isolate Kiaan. They believed in the efficacy of the education system
in disseminating knowledge.

Kiaan would now go to school with other children ! It made him nervous and excited ! The
complaisant Mitra escorted the boy daily to school, and always had a toffee to spare. The
classes taught by verbose teachers were very soporific, and some teachers could by
irascible too. But Kiaan enjoyed learning with others for a change, and many subjects like
life sciences and history were really fascinating.

Kiaan was tractable and compliant student at the school. Kriti would reproach him other
wise, "Absorb whatever you are taught. Remember to not be refractory. Word of any
transgression will reach me" the counsellor advised and warned. Kiaan deeply cared
what
Kriti would say, so he obeyed.

While capricious and playful at home, Kiaan was extremely reticent in school. The
students initially stayed a little distant from their new classmate who was also the future
king due to mix of fear and awe. And Kiaan was shy and new to interacting with Kids his
age.

The guileless prince tried his best to make new friends, and soon he would succeed.

The Prince Makes Friend

It was a week, since Kiaan started attending public school, and counsellor Kriti was late in
picking him up after class. Kiaan sat in the open grounds adjacent to the school watching
his classmates play ball in the afternoon.
A few students in the ground were running and playing catch with a ball, when Shashank
threw the ball way too hard and it inadvertently flew into a small lonely hut's yard. A
ragged man emerged and shouted, "You mendacious reprobates I told you not to play
here before, Constantly impeding my poor cow's sleep, you idiots. She could die from
these flying balls in the open. I will put a fence around the whole grounds to keep you out"

The caustic and vituperative tone of his speech jolted Kiaan. Enraged at the castigation
by the boorish man, he ran towards the man and contrite bunch.

The man was wary and stared at him. Kiaan said, "Sir, i have a proposition. We are very
sorry, and as punishment, we will make a wooden shelter for your lovely cow after school
and make sure she is safe. Please let us play here after that"

The man surprised! "What is this chicanery? Why would you do that !!" Kiaan replied, "Sir,
we should never have let such a majestic animal as yours be in danger. It is only fair we get
punished this way"

The man seemed appeased, and the kids started grinning. "Hmm, yes, this punishment is
warranted. Come tomorrow. Now scram"! The kids jumped with happiness and
surrounded Kiaan. Someone even patted his back in approval. When Kriti arrived, she
would hear in detail, the story of Kiaan's audacious speech and how the prince became
one of the gang.

Trekking

Adventure seeking was Kiaan's favorite thing to do as a 11-year old. Last summer, when
school was closed for a month, Kiaan and his friends were delighted to discover the
beauty of Neem valley. The valley had a few hills and river running though it, and formed
the natural western border for Salimpur.

The price and his friends had spent may indolent afternoons on the foothills in the
summer holidays. They strutted about in the open patches of lands, chased rabbits and
played. There were certain spots up high where they could observe the pristine Neem
river coursing below, and the rainbow of wildflowers on the levee.

Overcome by torpor after running around, they would lay down for a nap. On other days,
the gregarious group would feel lethargic and organize relaxed picnics on the foothills.
Every now and then, after school, Kiaan would abscond into the wilderness, and head
towards the hills of Neem valley, for an hour or two. No officious Mitra to answer to, and
no homework to complete. Counsellor Kriti was okay with giving Kiaan some freedom, as
long as he turned up at home before sundown.

Kiaan would assiduously trek to spend time by himself. He would play in the mud,
fascinated by the plasticity of wet clay. He collected oddly-shaped porous stones in his
pockets. Sometimes he would walk and hum to himself whimsically. His usually restless
young soul found peace of mind in those solitary foothills.

There were some tortuous paths, which lead even higher up the hills. Kiaan had never
ventured there, and wondered what lay ahead. One day, when there was time, he decided
he would explore them too.

The Young Boy and the Old Man

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon in autumn. The prince's friends were still sick with the pox
while Kiaan too, had just recovered, thanks to the royal doctor's tender care. The 11-year
old felt restless and just wanted to rush outside. Recalling the arduous paths leading to
the hilltops in Neem valley, the kid decided today was the day to explore.

Confounded by the new trail, Kiaan was soon lost and tired. He headed towards a
clearing, where he plucked and ate some ripe berries. A voice boomed 'Dear boy, did you
steal those berries from my plant?'. The boy turned around and spotted an old bearded
man in austere robes smiling at him. He replied, 'Namaste, I am sorry i did not know these
plants belonged to you. Forgive me. I can pay you for them'

Pleased by his probity, the man said 'It's alright. You show the signs of nobility, you were a
bracelet with the royal seal. Are you the prince ?' Kiaan nodded.

'Ah well, i see. Long time since i met royalty in these parts. In 4 years, you shall be king,
while still a mere boy. There is enough time to grow, yet not enough time indeed. Maybe
you'd like to hear the words i told your father once. A ruler is made by his actions, not by
birth. Remember no act or person is inconsequential and even the most mundane lives
belie interesting stories. So be curious, be a skeptic and find your own truths. You are but
a fledgling in politics, but i sense you will do well, son. May your eat stay strong and your
mind remain open. Alas, the sun is setting, you must leave these hills. Take this route, dear
prince, and reach safely. Farewell'

Kiaan bowed to the old man and walked back deep in though. The sage's advice had a
profound impact on Kiaan. For years to come, he would remember these words which
changed his worldview forever. Kiaan returned to the hills many times for desultory walks,
but he never saw the old recluse again.

A Field Trip

The annual field trip to the central market of Salimpur was happening today! The twelve-
year old enthusiastic students zipped around the shops, glad to be out of classrooms, and
putting their teachers to exercise. Kiaan was overwhelmed by the wide spectrum of
people and activities around.

Everywhere you saw there were eclectic items on display - food, clothes, items of different
kinds in disparate heaps. The struts in an unfinished store were being put in noisily by a
carpenter while the assistant held the ladder to buttress his boss standing on the top. The
market was full of new sights and sounds.

A group of garrulous young women had caught the prince's attention. When he heard
pretty fatuous discussion on banal things like jewelry, he tuned out and zoomed towards
his friends at the toy shop.

Some of the gullible children suspected they had just been gouged by the miserly owner
of the toy store. The little dupes were red-faced, but forgot all about it when the aroma of
sweets hit their noses.

Surely, the best place in the market was the candy store. The fat owner stood guard over a
whole shop selling halwa, jamun and cakes and candied fruits. The day ended with tired
teachers, and happy kids leaving with their bag full of trinkets and sweets.

The energy and chaos of the marketplace made Kiaan keen to return. The apathy of being
one in the crowd was a new experience. Seeking this thrill, Kiaan started to leave the
palace at night, in plain clothes, to see new parts of the kingdom and seeking out his own
adventures.
An Evening With Mitra

The rain continued to pour, and the storm was not going to abate. Kiaan was stuck inside
the palace study tonight with minister Mitra, who was done checking the monthly financial
logs. Though not particularly loquacious usually, this evening, Mitra was happy to
entertain the young 12 year old prince's questions.

Kiaan soon brought up a question which bothered him "Mitra, what lies on the other side
of Neem river ? I've only seen the parts on one side. Can we build a bridge going there ?"

Mitra shifted in his chair and asked for the map on the shelf behind Kiaan. They both stood
over the map, and Mitra traced his fingers on the paper, delineating a green patch and
said "All of this, to the west of our border is Amritvan. Don't let the name fool you. It is the
most dangerous neighbor."

Kiaan was surprised, "Whoa! Is it ? We never learnt about Amritvan in school!"

Mitra sighed "The contentious topic of the terrible war between Salimpur and Amritvan
was judged too sensitive for young children. Probably that's why"

Kiaan got shocked! "What ? We were in a war?! When ? How ? Why ?"

Mitra continued "Patience Kiaan. The craven inhabitants of those jungles settled a few
decades ago. Effrontery is endemic to those people. We tried to be good neighbors and
provided them with food, during young King Samar, your father's reign. Their refusal to
follow stipulated codes and defaulting on taxes was just the starting of our discordant
relationship. They flouted the rules of decency, Kiaan. They kidnapped and killed our
citizens and fomented riots, trying to weaken our ancient kingdom. Don't remind me of
those terrible times, young prince. We are safer now. I'll tell you more about the old war
tomorrow night. The rain is letting up and i must take leave."

SALIMPUR vs. AMRITVAN

The day could not pass quickly enough for Kiaan. Mitra arrived late in the evening, made
his rounds for Kiaan to meet him in the study.
"Well, aren't you eager! Where were we my boy? Yes, the old war. The war happened
recently, around 30 years ago. After peace talks seemed futile, we declared war on
Amritvan. The war lasted for 2 months and since then, our paths have not been crossed.
No trade. No contact. Occasional spying that i oversee for national security."

Kiaan remarked, "Oh! That was short. I thought war was more dramatic. Like in the stories"

Mitra chuckled "Kriti would deride you for being facetious but you are merely artless. You
seem disappointed that we did not have a bloodier war. I misled perhaps. It was your
father's first battle. He was 16 at the time, and i was his personal advisor. Amritvan was
beaten to a pulp. Salimpur won. That's your story. Now off to sleep you go."

Kiaan was not done yet. "What happened to Amritvan then? People still live there?"

"Amritvan's intransigence was rightly punished. They denigrated our beloved kingdom,
kidnapped our citizens and their truculence was crushed in battle. They had no resource,
yet they wanted to fight. Note this, prince, the war is always won by the side with more
supplies. Amritvan was and is a village of angry fools who live in penury. Their food is
insipid, and their air is pungent with the smell of rot everywhere. They are savage
criminals who live like cavemen and have no rules. They thankfully have no friends after we
occluded our trade routes. Who wants to be friends with zealots?"

Mitra paused, and saw Kiaan's innocent face. "Indeed, they are an aberrant set of crazy
people who live besides us. I don't mind your trekking hobby, Kiaan, but promise me this,
for your own safety. Stay away from there because there is a ban. Nobody from Salimpur
has ever left Amritvan alive. How's that for a bed time story?"

Party Planning

Nowadays, peace was hard to find. At least for the diffident boy whose lavish fourteenth
birthday bas was being planned. The funny thing was Kiaan's birthday was more than six
months away, yet the council was frantic. In quiet hours, he thought of his dead parents,
and questioned if the celebrations would be toned down had they had had been around.
Organizing this party seemed to supersede any issues of concern. Kiaan tried pleading to
the usually reasonable counsellor Kriti, but she was imperturbable.
Kriti said, "I should apprise you, little one, that decorum must be maintained. The level of
celebrations are only commensurate with the occasion, Kiaan. You are a prince, darling.
We will have royals and diplomats arriving from faraway lands. We can't shield you from
the world forever. You are about to be king in a year, and you must start socializing. It
might daunt you right now, but don't worry, it is for the best."

The meticulous planing and the prospect of being showcased was too much for Kiaan.

When presented with decisions about preferred color schemes and convoluted seating
arrangements, he vacillated. Sensing his discomfort, Kriti assigned Kiaan duties related to
catering coordination.

Being in the kitchen and talking about food with the head cook Hemant was the best
possible diversion. It was important that no adulterated ingredients were brought, and
the spice mixes were made distilled and tested. While discussing the food safety
procedures, the prince goaded and convinced Hemant to add extra desserts on the
menu.

Kiaan realized over the next few months, the large scale of this gala. He learnt more about
the dignified guests and their exotic homelands. It was presumptuous to think the party
was for him, when hundreds of subjects toiled to play gracious hosts to many foreign
nations. It was a matter of national pride for the citizens of Salimpur, and Kiaan vowed to
be more responsible and make it a memorable time for everyone.

The Birthday

Kiaan's fourteenth birthday party was a welter of flashy outfits and fawning royals, who
bordered on idolatry when meeting the prince. Propriety demanded that he had to smile
and greet the prodigal guests as they propitiated Salimpur with spectacular items like
jewels and horses. Mitra was quick to disparage Chitur for its frugality and even their
king, who was known to stint, but Kiaan like their gifts the best.

The king of Chitur, Chander had handed Kiaan a small sack tide filled with rarefied air that
was tied by a long string. It was a magical present that could be held by hand as the sack
floated up like a bird. Invented by Chitur's leading scientists, it was named a 'ballon'.
After 2 hours of continuous smiling, the malingerer in Kiaan was looking for a digression,
when he spotted a middle-aged man standing in a corner uncomfortably. Raja Prithvi
bowed reverently when Kiaan came over. "Prince, I apologize for not meeting all these
years. You look much like your parents"

The man continued "Samar, Era and I Prithvi, were once close friends, and it is unfortunate
they couldn't be here. Your parents were good people healthy too".

Prithvi's face turned serious as he whispered, "Kid, my life is in danger just by being here.
Maybe yours too. Nobody knows, but when i protested your parent's death didn't seem
natural, i received threats and dodged murder attempts. I gave up my kingdom and left to
find peace in the hills. I came tonight to see you, a reminder of my friend. I pray power
does't corrupt you child. God Bless"

The ever solicitous Kriti hugged Kiaan after Prithvi left hurriedly "He was a good king,
Kiaan. A bit paranoid but sincere, he was very disturbed after your parents died. He
became too depressed to rule, or that's what they say. It was my first year in the council
then, i think. Governance isn't for everyone, evidently. Now now cheer up birthday boy, the
party is almost over"

Traitor in the Midst

Within a few weeks of the birthday party, life had changed. With only a year to go, Kiaan
spent weeks learning from the erudite ministers and attending council meetings. There
seemed to be a tacit pact between the members to make sure the neophyte was pushed
hard to become a responsible and worthy of the ruling class.

However, the prince's political education was interrupted by an unexpected event. A

citizen had reported that he spotted a wanted criminal loitering around the palace, and
this threw Salimpur into a state of exigency. While the report could be fallacious, there
was more harm if the council dismissed the information. The most direct threat was
obviously to the prince's life. This burgeoning danger needed immediate action to
forestall any perils.

Extra guards were placed on the city limits. The citizens were reassured that the borders of
Salimpur were impermeable. Obviating the need for constant policing, the council
vetoed to keep Kiaan on the house arrest. According to Mitra, letting the prince go out to
play was analogous to throwing him into a starving lion's cage. In all this turmoil, Kiaan felt
unfairly treated. His freedoms were drastically curtailed without concrete evidence. He
couldn't gainsay the possibility of danger and the situation was indeed problematic but
deep down, Kiaan knew fear alone should not drive one's action.

In solitary confinement, Kiaan remembered the words of the ascetic man, who asked him
to search for his own truths and act upon them.

The Lockdown

For over a week, the royal palace was on lockdown. The council felt that there was danger
to the prince's life based on the presence of an indeterminate shadow nearby. Kiaan's
cogent argument for the personal freedom were met with impassive looks by the council
who ruled in favor of prohibitive measures.

With no option to go outside and meet friends, Kiaan had been particularly low and
overcome by lassitude for the past few days. Tonight, however, he felt too restless to lie
inert or read diffuse books to sleep. The young man's resolution to break free reached
on all-time high. While he always had a penchant for exploration, Kiaan rarely broke rules,
and when he did, counsellor Kriti usually knew.

A plan was hatched to escape undetected when everyone slept, and the itinerary was
written down. Sneak up, sit on the terrace under the stars, look at the sleeping city
beneath, then go out of the palace for a long walk, feed stray animals, and possibly even
catch the spy.

Kiaan knew he would be on tenuous grounds if he left the palace so late at night, when it
was so specifically banned. Surely everyone's anger would subside when they saw him
safe and sound the next morning? They would have to recant their claims of danger being
everywhere when their fears were repudiated. It was time for action, Kiaan packed with
him a small bag of snacks, fruits and a book as he stepped out, and saturated his lungs
with the fresh night air.

Queen of the Seas

Kiaan woke up with the morning sun's rays directly hitting his eyes. He sat up, looked
around the shed. Weirdly, the shed seemed to moved. Surprised, Kiaan looked out the
window to realize that he was on a moving boat, the one he had spotted the previous
night! The rower must have spotted him lying insensible and taken him in.

A sudden bolt of pain in his arms and legs told the young boy he was still injured. His
hands and feet were neatly bandaged with a malleable thatch of straw and wet leaves. He
was immediately grateful to his rescuer, yet unknown.

A cane door opened and for a second Kiaan feared he was kidnapped. In stepped a
young looking woman, in old fashioned robes, who gained his implicit trust with her
speech. "You had a really bad fall kid." I couldn't leave you there. You shouldn't have been
out in the wilderness so late. So was I, I suppose", She laughed.

"You can leave when you want. Just don't discredit it when i say there are crocodiles in the
water, and jungles for miles around. We'll be home by afternoon where someone can
attend to you. Feel free to rest now"

Kiaan replied "Thank you for rescuing me. Who are you ?" The lady quietly replied as she
left "They named me Amaya"

The laconic Amaya thankfully didn't try to elicit any information on why he was out late at
the night, because Kiaan was already feeling guilty. The teenager regretted dissembling
himself and heading out when the council had warned him. Maybe he could inject some
levity by telling the council he was kidnapped by crocodiles, which he fought to return to
Salimpur. The paddles struck the lucid water gently, and Kiaan was lulled to sleep by the
gentle waves. He'd be out of this wilderness soon as Amaya said. It would be fine

Amay's Home

It was afternoon when the boat stopped at a wooden pier amidst wild trees. The older girl
slowly led a tired Kiaan through a narrow path until they reached a large clearing, where a
group of old people converged to greet her. The boy's presence surprised them. Amaya
announced - "Everyone the boy is our guest tonight. Please ensure he is well fed and
rested. Dutt please attend to his injuries." An old man with facial scars came forward and
Amaya told Kiaan, "You will be better by the evening, I'll check on you then?"
Kiaan knew the council would be waiting, and wanted to leave early. "Which part of
Salimpur are we in? I must notify my guardians." Amaya laughed and said, "Welcome
home, to Amritvan, land of the outcasts. Heal first, and you can leave as you wish." Kiaan
couldn't believe that Amritvan was actually like. The forest village, with modest huts, old,
residents who graciously extended hospitality to strangers like him. Their food, clothing
and accents were derivative of Salimpur, but simpler

There was no indigence, and no paucity of natural resources. The discrepancy between
what he was taught and reality rattled the prince. In the evening, the prince mentioned
how his suppositions about Salimpur's savage enemy were proven wrong. She flared
angrily "We don't live in cities, we are old, we don't have a king and we live at peace with
nature. That makes us savages?" Kiaan's ingenuous eyes melted away anger as the lady
understood that he knew no better.

"Amritvan and Salimpur are fundamentally different. And your kingdom is the cause for
our insularity. If you truly wish to know the dichotomy between Salimpur's words and
actions, met me at dawn tomorrow near the clearing. I have much to do tonight. Stay well.
"As Amaya walked away that night, an embellished gold bracelet shone on her wist,
prompting even ore questions in Kiaan's head"

History Redefined

Kiaan rose early, with the knowledge that today would be life-changing. He was eager to
interact with the locals and put his political education to practice. The prince joined Amaya
on a large stone bench when she started, "Let me first confess whey i never asked your
name, Kiaan. That royal bracelet identified you when i bandaged your arms. But our
behaviour, my behaviour towards you has been no different because of that fact." Her face
was unreadable when she said those last words.

Kiaan responded "You saved my life when you did not know me. I am grateful for your
actions." Amaya was relieved. "I'm glad you feel so. Given your background, the truth
might be hard for you to digest, yet i will be honest. Amritvan is an autonomous village.
We, who live here, were once citizens of Salimpur, around 30 years ago."
"Even you?" Kiaan was curious.
She smiled. "I am twenty one years old, so i definitely arrived later."
Kiaan wanted more details. "This migration happened during the war?"
"History, in this case, is told by the dogmatic victors for the masses. Some iconoclastic
residents protested against tax increases, and policies of the king a long item ago. They
pointed out the inherent flaws of a council which was not elected. Meetings with King
Samar ended in arguments. These minor quibbles turned into a declaration of war on this
group. The venerated king passed a law that proscribed this whole section of people
whose ideas diverged from his. These innocents were labelled as criminals, and brought
here to starve on this side of the river, with no possessions, and their citizenship of
Salimpur was officially revoked. Their families came along, and the discrete state of
Amritvan was thus born from these aging rejects"

Kiaan was speechless.

"Do you laud your father Samir's actions? I don't know. Innocent people blindly trusted the
king and the council. Even if you're sorry, nothing can change what happened." ended the
glum woman.

Minutes of silence were broken by one last question. "Tell me, how did you arrive here ,
Amaya?"

Kinship

Amaya had sent Kiaan away after she disabused his views on the Amritvan - Salimpur war
in the morning. She was reluctant to answer questions about herself even at lunch, and
changed the topic frequently.

She finally relented and said, "I am a simple misanthrope, who has grown up in Amritvan.
My parents were from Salimpur and they abandoned me in the forest as a newborn. These
kind hearted souls are the only family i know. They raised me until their old age, and i
averred that i would always take care of them. They look at me as their leader though i've
kept away from any official position and always included everyone. It's because, those in
power have a propensity to equivocate. I make sporadic visits to Salimpur to keep a
lookout for nay new developments, which is how i found you, Kiaan"

Amaya was phlegmatic about her fate and Kiaan felt a kinship with her orphaned
upbringing. She was a strong-willed, caring and inspiring leader.

Amaya looked mysteriously at Kiaan and continued "Humanity needs piety towards
people and not astrological signs. Earlier, i felt nothing could exculpate my parents. I
would insinuate they were monsters, and it took me time to forgive them and find my own
path. These folks in Amritvan were disadvantaged, starving and struggling to live in the
dark jungles when they opened their hearths to another reject. I am forever grateful for
their love and respect"

Kiaan touched Amaya's hand in understanding and noticed her bracelet, seemingly
stamped with the royal seal. An urgent situation required the lady's presence and so she
left. His queries could wait. After two days of revealing experiences at Amritvan, the prince
had healed completely. Amaya would take him to Salimpur by noon the next day. Kiaan
went to bed that night with heavy questions on his mind - What did it mean to be a true
leader, and what made parents ever discard their kids.

Secrets from Long Ago

The boy who returned after a two day disappearance was no longer the same. Salimpur
had been in a volatile state, with theories spreading about the heir's kidnapping. Kiaan
had a new mission now. To find something that would substantiate his sister's contention
about a long running conspiracy in Salimpur. In the locked portion of the study, where he
was never allowed, the prince finally found answers. This study was used for storing
esoteric books on recondite subjects. With two weeks of spy work, he gathered a
compendium papers that documented the many wrongdoings of Salimpur's traitors.

A draft of a letter from King Samar intimated Raja Prithvi, about the baby princess untimely
death on her way to Prithvi's kingdom. Someone had lied to his parents that Amaya had
died. Samar had passed a law that sanctioned the use of violence and jailing by the royal
guards as a deterrent for crime. This law was extended by someone to banish people to
Amritvan as a prison sentence. Kiaan even found drafts of letters sent to Raja Prithvi that
contained threats to him family if he protested the king and queen's death in Salimpur any
longer.

In some old speech transcripts, someone had quoted how there were savages in Amritvan
that were a direct threat to Salimpur, and that a war was necessary. The masses had been
manipulated to believe in an imaginary enemy. Mitra's recounting of the old war now
seemed like a fairy-tale filled with hyperbole.

Kiaan trembled and cried aloud when he realized who the someone behind these
perfidious actions over decades was. Amaya and the residents of Amritvan and Salimpur
were not the only victims. So were his parents. Samar and Era had placed their faith in the
wrong friends.

A signed receipt for a bottle of poison bought a week before Kiaan was born proved his
worst fears. His parents were murdered! It took all of the teenager's courage to return to
his quarters and not take precipitate actions like hurting the traitor personally. With these
revelations, came an awareness about how dangerous, the lure of power could be.
Unexposed killers were roaming free in the kingdom.

An Ethical Dilemma

Ignorance would have been truly bliss. The trial of minister Mitra was held quietly by the
council where confessed to all the charges. The reason were simple - to gain power by
eliminating the princess, and then the king and queen themselves. Mitra would be
imprisoned for life. It dawned on Kiaan that the father - figure in his life was responsible for
his orphan state, and the suffering of hundreds. After seeing the terrible consequences of
being in power, the prince felt enervated at the thought of ruling Salimpur.

His mind was full of conundrums without easy solutions. Kiaan would turn fifteen in a few
weeks and be crowned king. How could he not be a crowned king. How could he not be a
pawn in partisan politics which led to fake wars and real pain? He felt a strong
ambivalence towards being a royal himself. Should he take the throne at all ? The young
man did not feel ready for a king's responsibility but after Mitra's exposure as a criminal his
faith in the council had eroded.

Who knew if there were more disingenuous people had been lying to him all his life
under the guise of being a friend? He oscillated between choosing to rule and leaving
Salimpur to the council's care. There was almost nobody who could provide a
disinterested perspective in these matters. Everyone he ever met had their personal
motives. Even Kriti couldn't comfort Kiaan that all would be well, for her trust in her mentor
and council had been betrayed. The citizens of his country deserved honest answers, and
these hard questions about their future kept the teenager up.

At the moment, Kiaan woke up wishing he had the discerning guidance of his sister, she
was more experienced in leadership than him. His thoughts the moved in a tangential
direction, would subpoenas hold good if issued against someone outside border? A
Knock on his door interrupted his dreaming. Kiaan opened the door and the brother
gasped when he say Amaya.

Sister to the Rescue

"News travels, brother. I heard rumors that Salimpur jailed its own minister?" Kiaan told her
about the developments.

"I told you politicians are scum! Okay, let me qualify that, some politicians are scum"

Kiaan had become more mature, "Our parents were politicians. Our parents were not
perfect. They were misguided to have sent you away. You may disown them, but it does
not change facts. Being the prince, i have the chance to facilitate real change in the lives
of many, and i am not sure i am capable yet. I know you have loyalty to your people in
Amritvan, but i need you to help me to the just thing. Don't deny your roots, because you
are the rightful heir of Salimpur, Amaya. And my elder sister."

Amaya agreed, I want to help. My sole condition is that the lives of those in Amritvan must
be ameliorated. Let's figure out the best plan.

The conversation continued, and months of preparation followed to see these visionary
ideas come to life. On the date slated for Kiaan's coronation. Amaya was officially crowned
ruling princess and the sibling's radical solution became public. Power corrupts royals, and
so they divested themselves of a lot of authority. All bans on free movement across the
Neem river were rescinded. The kingdoms of Amritvan and Salimpur were amalgamated
and their borders were made permeable once again. Public opinions would be
incorporated through elected councils that worked transparently. The existing council had
to run for election as well and Kriti was elected the head minister. While it took time for the
citizens to regain faith in the system, soon, they actively participated in self-governance.

In time, the brother sister duo brought democracy, engendered equality and unified the
nation. The latent strength of the kingdoms became apparent when trading and quality of
life soared. No government could be impervious to negative influence, but this was the
best way to protect it.

Epilogue
The maverick prince Kiaan charted a new course that caused the metamorphosis of a
nation. Peace and harmony proliferated after Salimpur adopted democracy into their
preamble of governance. Kiaan, Amaya, and their subjects led prosperous, and happy
lives.

In the long run, however, it is empirically proven that nobody lives forever. Time is nature's
catalyst that brings constant change. Even the most obdurate personalities can't bend
time to their will. Everyone's ephemeral life is filled with memorable events, even if it isn't
a royal story of adventure.

This story of Salimpur has been pieced together from what remains - autobiographical
records, place ruins, and trade receipts. These disjointed fragments offer us insights into
what life was like in the past.

We pass by many anachronisms in modern times, the old deserted monument taken over
by century - old trees in bustling cities, a mechanical watch from another era in a shopping
mall. So dear reader, when you pass anything out of place, out of time, stop for a second
and appreciate it. History often has interesting tales to tell.

#_gre.vocabulary#