Chapter 102 - Manorama: A City Bride

the chapter will be up by the morning

"Vritra, you should pray to your clan deity that Oman won't get the air of the incident. " Vasu said to the snake-charmer while scrutinizing his black neck  "What had gotten into you so you dared to attack the boy? "

The reckless of his companion had caught him off guard. He had thought the snake-charmer was just fooling around with the boy and the maid. 

"I seek pardon for spiling lord's plan. It was really recklessness of me." Vritra  replied, his face was still pale, and his eyes bloodshot.

"I want an explanation, not a sorry face, Vritra. There is too much at stake. Crown Prince Tissa is coming tomorrow. And when he will find out that one of my men would've nearly spoiled his years-long plannings. You think a sorry face will be enough to appease his anger. " 

Vasu said with a worry-filled face. 

"It was my naga-mani (snake stone)," replied Vritra, the chief of snake-charmers, a man feared by all serpents. 

"What's wrong with the stone? Haven't you subdued it already? " Vasu asked, giving the killer of Vasuki a puzzled look.  The reason Vritra  was regarded highly among all the snake-charmer of Kalinga was his inhumane feat of killing a tenth-grade snake, Vasuki, the ruler of all serpents.   

"Yes! I did. But today, when the boy approached the snake, the stone acted up on its own.  As if wanted to come out from my throat. If I hadn't had an Echidna pill, I would have died then and there."  said Vritra. Naked fear crept over the snake charmer's face. 

"I'm telling you, lord. The boy is not normal. I think the rumors are true; he is Hara. My blood got froze when he glared at me. A cold terror gripped my soul. I felt.."

"Enough, Vritra. Save me your tribal fantasy." Vasu got up. He really should have listened to his father. He was right about these savages. They couldn't be trusted. They were as perfidious as snakes, bidding thier time to bite the same hand that fed them. 

The boy must have something on him that saved him from the snake. 

Vasu turned to Barbarik who was drinking wine from a decanter straight. 

"Barbarik, I want you to contact all our men, and tell them to be ready for my instructions. And it will be better you go underground.  I fear Oman will drop this incident so easily. Of course, if my sister takes the bait you might be able to dine with us." 

"Don't worry. Oman can't find me if I don't want to. " Barbarik said. 

"Ok! then I'm leaving. I have to dine with Oman." Vasu said and walked out of the chamber,.

"Be careful of the hooded man, lord. "  Vritra said when Vasu was at the threshold. The lord of Kalinga gave his man a glance and with a nod, he left. 

"Vritra, you're really a fool. " Barbarik spoke when the sound of Vasu's feet died away.

"Do you also think I'm lying?" the snake -charmer asked,

"No! But have you never heard old man's advice? Never share your fears with your lord." Barbarik replied.

"But he wanted an explanation. "

"He always wants. "

"Then what should have told me. "

"That you wanted to fuck the lass and the boy was acting like a cock-blocker." Barbarik said as he got up, despite drinking so much alcohol, he was somber as ever. 

"Stop fretting over the incident, like a woman. Vasu is enough for that. As for the lad being Hara, let me tell you, he is not. Our intel has confirmed it from the spirit shrine. Now get up. you've heard Vasu. We need to go underground. So let's leave this inn, and let me bring you somewhere where we can both enjoy ourselves." Barbarik said, smiling evilly. 

*****

Among all the city-bride mansions, Pushp-Mahal was most famous and sought after. Vasanta-Sena was the head dancer of this grand mansion.  Six years ago, Spirit knows from whence, Vasntasena, with her cartful of beauty and her blooming alluring youth, had come and started to dance at the city square. At the time she was only 15 springs old lass with a slender body, glowing creamy white skin, deep dark eyes, and snake-like agility.  Her first dance had enslaved  Lala Mukund, the richest merchant of Minaak, who had gifted her Pushp-Mahal. 

Barbarik who had disguised himself as a traveler dragged the snake-charmer in the great hall already bustling with crowds. After paying five thousand ducats, a giggling maid showed him his seat. Barbarik couldn't help but squeeze her perky butt.  The maid gave him a tempting smile and left. 

On the stage, a couple of beauties were singing, behind them stood the statues of Madana, the patron deity of city brides. Barbarik looked around in the hall. The crowd was an amalgam of all ethnicities- dark-skinned, yellow-skinned, blonde, and so on. Many of them looked at Barbarik and nodded slightly. 

Barbarik sat back and whispered something to the snake-charmers. 

All of a sudden, the crowd hushed up, making Kalingan war god look towards the stage, decorated like a newly wedded bride. 

On the stage, a celestial beauty, whose oval face could even enchant the moon, had appeared. Her night-black hair pulled back in a flower bun. A blue pearl was set in her rosy cleavage. Her plump breasts wanted to come out of her tight silky red blouse. A beautiful lehenga was clung around her thin waist. 

In her arched nose, a golden ring was teasing the crowd. Seeing the glossy coral lips, Barbarik's mouth watered. 

It took the crowd a while to break the spell cast by the otherworldly beauty. 

And they shouted altogether, 

"Vasntasena! Vasntasena!!.."

The head dancer bowed to the crowd, smiled. 

It was then a slap fell on the mridang (Indian musical instrument) and with a light tap golden anklets rang--Chhan!! The mridang took a short run, and a slap fell again. the anklet rang again, Chhan!! Chhan!! Chhan!!

And then, those red lotus feet, adorned with golden anklets, started to play on the marble floor of the stage. Tinkles of the anklets began to produce tides in the hearts of the crowd. Vasntasena's slender arms began to sway like snakes. Her ripe chest was rising and falling with the tap on the mridanga. 

The divine dance enchanted every soul present there. As the mridanga picked up the pace, Vasntasena's rosy feet began to compete. and soon they left the pats in the dust. At last, slowly, like a branch laden with flowers, her slender body began to bend, and with a last slap on the mridanga, she collapsed on the floor.

Every drop of blood in the people's veins was dancing. The audience was left spellbound. For a long time, they kept staring at the alluring body lying on the stage before them. 

When the crowd's attention returned to the hall. It erupted into applause and cheers. 

The show was over. So people, unwillingly, got up and began to leave. 

Barbarik nudged the snake -charmer and got up. He beckoned to the nearby maid. The maiden came blushing like a blooming rose. 

"Tell your Devi (mistress), her beloved from Kalinga has come to see her." Barbarik took out a golden insignia and slipped into the maid's hand. 

The lass left smiling and returned with a grim face. 

"Please, follow me. " She said, 

Barbarik and Vritra fell in behind the swing waist of the gorgeous maid.  They entered one of many doors in the grand hall. 

They took the stairwell and halted at the third floor. 

Here a large bed, decorating like a nuptial bed was waiting for them.  There was a large oval-shaped mirror set in the wall beside an arched window overlooking the street. 

The walls were covered with murals depicting men and women loving each other. 

Barbarik sat down on the large sofa with his friend. 

"Please wait for a while, Devi will see you soon." The maid said as she served red wine to the two guests. 

"Why shouldn't you entertain us in the meanwhile?" Barbarik said, licking his lips. 

"I'm sorry, sir. I don't understand." The maid said coyly, 

Barbarik chuckled and he pulled the girl in his arms. 

The lass let out a surprised gasp, but that was all.

"Let me check what you hiding under this blouse, so securely," Barbarik said as her rough hand tore off the fabric, revealing creamy, cotton soft mounds. 

The snake charmer seemed lost in his thoughts, not paying his boorish companion any glance. 

Barbarik grinned and began to play with the two redbuds, making the maid moan. 

"You haven't changed, Kalingan. " An ethereal voice stifled the maid's alluring moans.  She frantically pulled his messed clothes and got up from Barbarik's lap. 

A gorgeous lady in his twenties was standing at the door. Barbarik glanced towards.

"And neither you, Surabhi," Barbarik said her predatory eyes roaming over the head dancer's body. 

"Don't call me by this name.  It makes me homesick." Vasntasena said ruefully as she came and set on the bed. 

"Please leave us alone, Chandrika. And if someone asks for me, tell him I'm feeling sick tonight." She said to the maid. 

"As your command, Devi." Chandrika bowed gently and left. 

She hurriedly climbed down the stairs, and without even bothering her torn blouse she walked out of the door and looked around in the empty hall, and the young man was mopping the floor. She walked over to him and whispered into his years, 

"Tell Chief, Vasntasena is from Kalinga and works for them. "