The journey was protracted and tedious, but with each passing mile, her perseverance congeals. The hope blossoming in her chest boosts whenever a footstone depicting the reducing distance between her and the destination passes. After making a few necessary stops on the way to avoid overheating the engine, her small entourage finally penetrates the lush green valleys of a breathtaking town situated at the foot of hills. All of them were exhausted due to three days continuous voyage.

Nilgiri Mountains is the house for over 2500 species of flowering plants and mammals like- the Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, Sambar Deer, Blackbuck, Golden Jackal, etc. Its peaks are above 2000 meters, the highest being Doddabetta. The hills are separated from Karnataka Plateau in the north by Moyar River, and three national parks border it. Numerous unbroken waterfalls attract tourists from every corner of the world, one of them being Kolakambai Falls of about 400 ft. Various tribes residing in the area contribute to national economy through tea and vegetable plantations. The strikingly blue color of hills is because of the clustered bloom of mass flowering species- 'Stobilanthes kunthiana', commonly known as 'Neela kurinji' in Tamil.

The flower is special as it blooms only once every 12 years and swarms the landscape with its beautiful hue.

Vasundhara's eyes took in the new surroundings from the open window. The heaviness on her lids slowly dissipated with the coolness of nature. Two cars ran on the uneven roads of the silent valley. The bodies of her companions and her jolts with every bump. She fiddles with her golden chain in tension.

"Hurry up. The sun will go down soon."

The driver nodded before stepping harder on the accelerator. The vehicle lurched forward with newfound enthusiasm. Thick tropical rainforests and thundering waterfalls welcomed them when they stopped near the steps of an old temple.

Collecting the holy articles she brought from home, the Queen mother steps out of her car and covers her head with the free end of her silk saree. Touching the first step with the tip of her fingers, she brings them to her forehead.

"Hail the mother of universe- Durga. Fill the bones of your pupils with strength so they cross this hard path easily."

She mumbled under her breath. The thought of crossing 1245 stairs to reach the ancient temple sent shivers down her spine. The old woman hopes to not see doors of heaven after the first 100. Two men followed her lead while the other four waited at the bottom of the hill.

By the time the three crossed 700 stairs, the sun was already down. Vasundhara was panting heavily and continuously wiping the sweat on her flushed face using a cotton kerchief. The strain in her muscles was unbearable. Her knees shaking because of exertion. Her heart was beating too fast that she felt it knocking against her spine. She wheezed and struggled to breathe regularly. One of the guards, took the big golden platter filled with holy items from her hands while another supported her swaying frame.

"Your highness, we must wait here for a few minutes. Would you like to have some water?"

Vasundhara shook her head negative.

Inhaling deep, she continues the climbing. Her determination was bigger than physical barriers. The lives of her loved ones are in danger. Her dear son was waiting at home, hoping she makes it back unharmed. She was doing it all for him.

With every step, she chanted the name of a goddess who rides on the back of a lion, a goddess who slays evil and protects the earthly being from corruption. Within the next hour, the dedicated devotee found herself standing at the top. Suddenly, a gentle breeze flew past her and the ache in her bones eased. She felt energetic. It was the aura of this place where 100 monks meditate. It was a resonance of OM ringing in the air and the small shrine dripping from the feet of Gods.

Vasundhara washes her arms and face in the shrine, her bodyguards continuing after her.

Once freshened, she enters the ancient grounds of a hidden temple which was once infamous among devotees for its miracles but with time, the place was overlooked and now only a handful of trustees make sure that its foundation remains intact for coming generations.

The Aadishakti Temple is one of the world's largest monolithic pieces of art. In the 17th century, master craftspeople collected from all over the nation and carved this gigantic structure from a single piece of solid rock in a cave on the mountaintop. It took them over two decades to finish as they started from the top of the mountain and worked downward to carve the structure. A Hindu King had it built after the Goddess visited him in a dream and showed a lonely statue of Mahagauri resting beneath a humongous banyan tree on the mountain top.

The temple is in V-shape and is about 200 meters deep and 2 stories tall. Large stone carvings on the outer wall depict various Hindu deities. Two internal flagstaff pillars show stories of Mahadeva and Devi Sati. There are also enormous carvings honoring Lord Vishnu and Hanuman. Towards the top, you see statues of lions that point your way down and at the bottom of the structure, it appears as if an army of huge stone elephants are holding up the entire temple on their backs.

The temple was covered in white plaster, to give it an illusion of snow.

Bowing down, Vasundhara touches her forehead at the entrance of the temple and enters inside.

Tears immediately flooded her eyes when the 5 ft tall golden statue of the Goddess greeted her back from the garbhagriha. Hundreds of lit diyas were placed on the floor in a particular fashion. 5 priests were singing the shlokas of Saptshati aloud whereas one was cleaning the premises using a wet rag.

When his eyes fell on the visitors, his brows shot up immediately recognizing the queen. He gestured at them to take a seat while he went to wash his hands. The evening prayers would start soon.

Vasundhara mutely followed his orders and settled beside the singing priests. They were too lost in the story of a warrior goddess to pay any heed to the audience. When the priest returned, Vasundhara handed him her Golden platter which carried ornaments and offerings for the Goddess. He simply took it, picked a bunch of fruits from the platter, and laid them near the idol's feet. Returning the rest, he smiled.

"There is no need to deliver these earthly offerings, lady. The goddess only seeks your faith, not gold." A crestfallen Vasundhara took the platter back, still wanting to make the idol wear the jewelry and clothes she brought. But the priest refused.

"Pandit Ji, I am here to see the saint."

She puts forth her request as she watched the young priest preparing a big diya for evening prayers.

"You are too late. The saint has left the temple for now to meditate. These days, he does not see many visitors. But before leaving at the noon he instructed us that if a woman comes from Rana Fort, ask her to stay the night on the holy premises. He would meet you in the morning, at sunrise."

Peace returned to a hopeless Vasundhara and she nodded.

"I will stay. Thank you."

"How did this happen?"

In the evening, King Yagya decided to pay a visit to a bedridden Ambika. The thought of her getting injured in such a manner raised doubts. The handmaiden has said she has slipped while returning to her quarter last night, but the clever King knew different. A broken shoulder and ribs, and bruised ankles, all tell a different tale.

The old woman gulped contemplating her options. The King looked dead serious. His dark eyes bore into her. Silently warning to try telling the lie. Perspiration coated her features and her blood pressure skyrocketed.

"My King... last night... last night when I was going back to my room... um... I cannot tell... who it was. They attacked me from behind and then tossed me towards the Chandra Mahal." She confessed breathlessly.

"Is there anything you are forgetting?"

He stressed while looking for signs of deception. Ambika breathed hard. Her limbs felt cold. Suddenly, her eyes turned stony when she saw a dark shadow emerging from behind the prince. The head of the shadow tilted as its long hair flew around. Ambika tried to relax by taking deep breaths and wearing a neutral mask. Her bones quacking. The secrets drilled a hole in her mind. She wanted to disappear.

"Nothing. I did not see the attacker but I can tell he or she was strong. They took me off-guard."

Yagya nodded slowly, trusting the confession, and stands up to leave.

"Take care of yourself, Ambika Ji. And if you remember anything, send a word for me."

He squeezed her wrinkly hand before walking away.

The old woman sighs a breath of relief and stared at the ebony mass of smoke occupying a corner obscured in shade. Bloodshot eyes stared back, emotionless, and unblinking. Moisture collected in the aged and foggy eyes of Ambika. There was so much she knew. There is so much she has done. There was so much she wished to change. But it cannot be undone now. It was too late. Time was not an entity to be enslaved. Only if that was possible, things would have been different and there would be one less ghost to worry about.

She wished it to end soon for so much time has already been lost and justice failed to serve. She wants to see it all transpire before she takes her last breath and opens her eyes in the arms of her lover.

Exiting the medical wing, the king decides to visit the Chitrakoot Palace, hoping both his father and Gauri retired to bed. A meeting with Japanese technicians kept him from leaving early. As the Director, he could've rescheduled it but didn't. He refused to fuel the rumors about being a changed man. Yagyavardhan Singh Rana was still the same and wouldn't supply false ideas or raise hopes for a poor girl. She must always remember that this was a marriage of convenience, not out of attraction or love. They were two strangers who were forced into this situation to fulfill his mother's desires.

But, Yagya cannot deny how her presence has affected the beast. The bastard felt drawn toward her and has been more active than usual. The cursed fellow supplied tempting images numerous times, clearing his intentions of claiming her. Every time he is close to losing control, he stops, as if invisible hands are pulling him back. Yagya couldn't help but pray to the rational side of his brain to not lose this battle for the sake of Gauri. Of all the crimes in the world, the weight of such an offense would be unbearable. His shoulders were too weak to lift it. There is no doubt he will shatter physically and emotionally if the wild decided to break the boundaries and give into instincts.

As Yagya was passing through the main hall, heard low murmurs coming from the dining area. The voice was familiar. For a second he felt panic licking the back of his neck.

Light on his feet, he marches towards the source, ready to launch an investigation if found her creating another ruckus.

On the other hand, the princess of the fort was busy reading a Hindi to English translation dictionary on the dining table while waiting for her husband, who had claimed to return before dinner. She was aware he wouldn't spend the night in Rajwada Palace after recent events. He has been quite attentive ever since Rekha's incident.

"What are you doing?"

She jerked from her position and almost screamed bloody murder, shaken from sudden intrusion. He was glaring from the corridor, donning that infamous poker face. The sound of a fat dictionary falling to the ground broke the stunned silence.

"I... I ... Dinner? When I realized you wouldn't be able to make it, I thought of staying back for some time. Here, please eat something." Gauri mumbled robotically while removing the lid from a bowl nervously. Yagya didn't move, instead kept staring at her. She lowers her gaze feeling self-conscious and her cheeks turn pink.

Releasing a heavy sigh, he cuts the distance between them and takes a seat beside her. He hasn't eaten anything since breakfast. Surprised by his reluctance, she quickly fills his plate with spicy chicken.

Brought in a small household with strict Hindu beilefs, Gauri never touched or tasted such a meal. She was a vegetarian. But here, in the palace, things were different. Both veg and non-veg dishes are made, according to the wishes of higher authority- The Queen Mother and the King.

To mingle with her new family and understand their lifestyle, she had to break that vow.

She will not consume it in any condition, but there is no harm in serving it if he likes it that much.

And she did not regret it one bit when he broke onto food like a starved animal. Eating messily, licking his fingers and tearing into soft pieces with canines. She mutely served him five more times before he let out a loud burp.

Taking the empty plate, she darted towards the kitchen and washed them clean in the sink.

All the while, her mind kept jumping over various ways to carry on a conversation with him. Yagya doesn't seem like a person who talks much but has indulged her in deep exchanges when she felt low.

He was a caring and protective man. She knew he hasn't forgotten Kirti. This only increased the respect she has for him. A man of that character was so hard to find these days.

As she returned to the dining area, Yagya was nowhere to be found. The earlier excitement extinguished. All she wanted was to talk. Ever since Vasundhara left for her secret venture, Gauri felt lonely. The longing for a friend heightened.

Blinking back moisture and soothing her aching heart, Gauri decides to call it a night. At least her decision of waiting didn't go fruitless. He ate when he could've easily walked away.

The long corridor on the first floor was flooded with silver rays.

From the window, she saw a moon so full and vast that you don't need a telescope to see the bits of gold around its craters. It felt like the large sphere was about to descend and kiss the earth. Gauri smiled at the thought of jumping high enough and touching its cool surface, it looked that close. Shaking her head goofily, she retires to bed.

But not before shivering at the loud howl resonating from the thick forest behind the Rajwada Palace. The divine light of the Moon has once again exposed a wolf in human skin.