Rebels

Rajnagar was a small kingdom. Situated in a hilly region. Tall mountains kissing the blue skies circled around the kingdom as sentries.

Luscious green fields and small groves of trees were scattered here and there. Any one will think it as a picture of beauty and peace.

But it was not the picture of peace any more, since last few years the dacoity in the erstwhile peaceful country has shot up. Small groups of bandits roamed around the kingdom in darkness, attacking, looting and disappearing like phantoms.

King Rudradaman’s family has ruled this kingdom for generations. He was old, septugenarian. He has ruled the kingdom expertly for years but now his body was betraying him. God has deprived him from the pleasure of an offspring. His family was to end with him.

His palace was made of marble, different shades has been selected to give the palace an dreamy, exquisite look. Its tall minars kissed the crystal clear sky. It looked like a dream situated right in the middle of the green country during day time and dreamland in the nighttime, with every corner of the palace lit up.

Rudradamna has amassed huge wealth, his throne was made of ivory and gold, his robe was stiched with priceless jewels. His crown burnt on his head like a sun.



It was morning. The Courtiers have gathered in the Court as was their daily schedule. The king was sitting on his throne.

He was wearing a dark frown, “General!!! How can this happen every night? What is the army doing?”

His army general, a plump fellow was shaking nervously, fearing decapitation, “Your honour, they disappear like ghosts before army can reach them.”

“I think the citizens are in cahoot with them.” one of the ministers said.

“Even the spies can not trace them.” another chimed in.

“That only shows your unworthiness!!!!” the king roared. “I will have to look for some other way to controll it!”

“I am rearing an army of idiots in my Court!” he got up and left the Court.





It was a full moon night. The silver moon was shining brightly in the sky. Its silver ray coming down to earth below, creating an atmosphere of pure magic. It was easy to imagine that some one walking alone in that mystical night can meet a fairy or angel softly singing lullaby to flowers.

There was a small garden near the palace, a tight grove of various flowers. Immersed in various shades of darkness in the moonlit night. There were places in that garden which were deprived of sunshine even during day time. A brook was flowing beside it, softly singing, moon light was creating sparkles on its crystal water.

Suddenly a man appeared, as if out of nowhere in the garden. He took a sharp look around him, when he became confident that no one has seen him he started to walk toward the nearest village.

The tiny hamlet appeared asleep, but it was not. He saw a thin ray of light coming out of the window of a hut. He softly tiptoed towards it.

He could see that someone has tried his level best to not let a single ray of light slip out of that window but it did.



To his surprise he saw a gathering of people inside the hut. They all were common villagers, aptly listening to a group of young people.

He softly hid himself in the dark completely and started to listen. To his utter surprise he realized that the young boys and girls were teaching those villagers.

Suddenly he saw a group of people rushing toward the door of the hut soundlessly.

One of them reached out and knocked the door in a strange manner, a coded knock was exchanged a few times and the door opened. The whole group entered without a sound.

The watcher softly crept back to the slit in the window. He saw that the new group was piling up their loot on the floor.

“so the ministers were right.” He thought inside, “the villagers are in cahoot.”



The loot was distributed among the villagers. One of the newcomers said, “This will ensure your food for next few months. Now we will go to the next village.”

“If and only if our King cared for us. We did not have to do it… “ he said sadly, “His men rob these things from you during the daytime, wearing his badges in their arms,so they could live luxuriously and we rob these things from them in the night so you could have a piece of bread on your plate.”

“Our king is not a very bad person, but he is blind. Unfortunately he is being guided by greedy monsters.” The man continued. “For years the kingdom has only taken from us, without giving us back any thing..”

“They closed the schools fearing if we get educated we will become aware of our rights. That will mean end of their tyranny.”

“They just squeeze out their dues, forgetting the truth that kingdom too have some duties toward its citizens.”

“Okay, lets part before we draw attention. Its past midnight. Till we meet again!!!!” he concluded his small speech.

A swift goodbye was exchanged and the group left as silently as it came and disappeared in the darkness. The watcher followed them in stealth.




A fortnight later the whole kingdom woke up to witness a strange scene.

The entire army was combing each and every house of the kingdom and picking up men, and women from homes. They left for the palace with them.

They were sent to a special section of prison, highly guarded.

The kingdom became absolutely peaceful again.


Few months passed by, winter has turned into summer. It was a full moon night again. The air was filled with fragrance of ripe fruits. The whole world was silent but night creatures. Some times a bird mistaking the moon’s light as early dawn was chirping out in its dreams.

The same watcher appeared again in the same garden. He started to walk toward the same village.

This time he saw that the board has been removed from the window of the hut in which he saw the mysterious happenings a few months back.

He crawled toward the open window cautiously to have a look. He saw a family of four huddled together near a small hearth. All around the room was sign of dire penury. It was very clear that the hearth has been cold since long.

“Baba I am hungry.” One of the children whined. She was ten or eleven years old wearing a rag, her eyes have sunk deep.

“wait for a while. You ate in the morning, did not you?” the man said gruffly. “Let your mother come back.”

“That was only one bread.” The girl whined piteously.



The watcher heard some movement and flattened himself with the wall. Someone knocked at the hut door. The man opened it from inside. “You are back.” He said. “The children are driving me crazy.”

A woman as thin as a skeleton entered the hut. “Don’t whine.”, she said roughly to the children, “Let me cook the meal for you.”

The watcher stared at the MEAL, it was leaves plucked from some unknown tree or vine. The woman started to boil them and he stealthily left the place.



He walked toward the middle of the village, here the houses were well built, he reached a house, the guard was happily sleeping in his seat, he tiptoed across him. This was the house of a Minister. The minister was having his dinner with his family.

He stood there and watched their lavish lifestyle, their gala dinner and wastage and crept away from there.
Fifteen days later the king called his courtiers to a special court.

The courtiers were sitting in their seats, waiting for the king to talk.

“Is there any famine going on in my country?” the king asked solemnly.

“No My Lord!!!!” his cashier answered, “The vault is filled with money and the granary is filled with grain.”

“Are you sure?” the king repeated his question.

“Yes my Lord.” Was the answer.

“Prime Minister, is the country being properly governed?” his next question was for his Prime Minister.

“Yes my Lord.” The Prime Minister answered.



“Bring those prisoners to the Court.” The king ordered the sentries.

One by one the prisoners were brought in the Court. There were about hundred of them. They stood solemnly waiting for the king’s verdict. Which they have already assumed.

The king looked at those boys and girls, yes they were merely boys and girls. Their ages ranging from teenage to early thirties. Beautiful, fresh flowers a little bruised by six months in captivity.

His eyes zeroed on their leader. A tall, dark guy, with prominent tribal features and strong jaws. His jaws told that he was a man of determination. His age was somewhere near thirty five.

“Whats your name young man?” the king asked him.

“Rajen Tudu.” The guy answered.

The king noted he answered him with due respect but slipped the “my lord” part.

He came down from his throne and headed towards him. “Do you know the punishment of showing disrespect to the king?” he asked. “and the punishment of rebelling against the kingdom, causing damage to the kingdom?”

“I know.” He answered politely. His face showed no fear.




The king stood right in front of him. He was few inches taller than Rajen, well built. His hair has all turned white but that increased his elegant charm.

“So you think that you are a Messiah, right?” he asked tauntingly, “Out there to help poor villagers from the evil clutches of king.”

“You think that you can end problems by looting from the royal employees and distributing the loot among poor villagers?” the king laughed. “Is it that easy?” he continued tauntingly.

“Lets see how much you can do when you are in power, or to be precise how much you will do when you are in power.” He laughed mockingly.

The guards removed the chains from each and every one of them at his instruction.

The courtiers gawked when a group of royal servants carried another throne and placed it just beside his throne.

The king removed his stole and wrapped it around Rajen’s shoulder.

“You were right that night, I have become blind, but that’s because I am too old to handle the kingdom. If I had a child he or she would have been older than you. So I would have been relieved of this duty years ago…” he said solemnly.
“From today onward my whole kingdom will treat you as my son. If you walk your talk, I will happily close my eyes after handing over the headache of kingdom to you.” The king smiled mischievously.