The Murzaan Army celebrated its victory that night, where Azael Aftaab, the Chief of Army, the high ranking warriors like Zalala Shieza & Saiffar Murzaan, along with all the soldiers drank together at the campsite and sang songs around their glorious valor. While the celebrations happened, Aftaab decided to pay a visit to Prince Vedan, who was now a captive with the Murzaan Army and tied in shackles. There were other Chandraprava soldiers as captives, the ones who had survived the war. They knew well that they were at the mercy of the Murzaan Emperor and his men. Quila Kahan walked with Aftaab as he inspected them all personally and discussed, "we need to decide what to do with them." Quila Kahan suggested, "my lord, the Prince will never obey us, forget being loyal to us. It is better that we decide his fate and finish him tonight, before he creates any trouble." Prince Vedan was standing infront of them while they spoke of killing him. He feared them and his death. He was only 16 years old and was yet to mature as a warrior to face the tragedies of a war. Yet, he didn't beg and kept mum. Aftaab enquired, "and what about these soldiers?" In history, when the victorious army captured or conquered soldiers or common men, they would often be introduced to the winning Army, in various ranks and services, but Quila Kahan knew well how loyal the Chandrapravas were and was confident that they would never serve the Murzaan Emperor. He suggested again, "my King, as I said, the Chandrapravas will never obey us. It is better if we put them all to their final resting place." Azael Aftaab listened carefully and asked, "what about all the common men and women, and even the royal family that is at Indira. What will we do with them?" Quila Kahan gave the same answer for them, "my King, you are well aware of what I think about the Chandraprava Dynasty. I leave the rest to you, my Lord." Aftaab agreed with Quila Kahan and ordered, "I agree with you. Let us do the needful tomorrow. For tonight, they live to see us celebrate!" Aftaab returned to enjoy the victory with his men, where one of his own men slithered suspiciously around him as he sang and drank. Pretending to be drunk, the soldier collided with the Emperor, only to mix poison in Azael Aftaab's drink! He apologised profusely and got away with it. But why was this soldier trying to kill his own Emperor? No one took notice of the danger that loomed amongst them. That soldier waited for Aftaab to drink from his glass and thought, "one sip of that glass, and he would be dead." But to Aftaab's luck, Quila Kahan approached him to ask about the message that was to be sent to the Palace of Indira. Aftaab said, "send Saiffar with a hundred men to the Palace and ask Saiffar to personally deliver Raja Maniket's head to his fiance, Princess Veera and bring her to me. And seal the Palace and the royal family. We will talk about the rest tomorrow." Quila Kahan bowed in obedience and suggested, "my Lord, it would be better for you and your safety to return to Shesh-a-baad tomorrow. It is not wise to be here for too long, after the war." Azael Aftaab smirked and said, "tomorrow, we will talk. And Kahan Baba, thank you. We would have not won the war without your expertise." Quila Kahan let out a slight smile and saluted his Emperor. It seemed like the animosity between the two was finally over, now that Aftaab had addressed Quila Kahan as 'Kahan Baba' again. A peculiar man Aftaab was, constantly playing hot and cold with his own people. Aftaab had left his drink in all this conversation, and that soldier who tried to poison Aftaab wasn't happy to see this, but he looked even more determined to kill Aftaab. His rage against Aftaab was evidently growing and he was losing patience.
Saiffar and a hundred men travelled to Indira on horseback, and at the break of dawn, they entered the city of Indira. The news travelled like forest fire as the palace guards blew a bugle to alert the royal family and the soldiers at the palace for urgency. Raja Moti, who was lying on his bed, in his private chambers sleepless, jumped up and mumbled to himself, "we have lost the war." He rushed out of his chambers in his robe and screamed out, "gather everyone! All the women and children assemble at the safe chambers." He shouted out to the guards, "seal the palace now." With a handful of soldiers at the palace, they started to seal the palace but in vain. Saiffar and his men were too many for a dozen Chandraprava men and they broke into the palace with ease, slaughtering what was left of Raja Moti's men. Raja Moti saw the sight from a distance and panicked. He too ran and picked up a sword to defend his women. Rani Roopai saw Raja Moti do so and realised the worst had come true, that they had lost the war and now the palace was being conquered as well. She ran towards the women's chambers, where everyone had already gathered, and before she could say anything, she witnessed most of the women of the palace, clinging on to that bottle of poison and some of them consumed it without a thought. She worried and screamed, "where is Veera? Rekhaha? Where are my girls?" Veera too was seeing the sight of how her home was being invaded, how the women were taking their own lives, how her father of age had picked up a sword after decades. She too held on to the tiny glass bottle of poison as a wave of fear ran through her body and she realised the end was here for the Chandraprava. And just as she saw Saiffar and his men head towards Raja Moti, Princess Veera threw away that bottle of poison and picked up a sword! She headed to protect her father, her king with everything she had. Rani Roopai saw the sight and screamed to stop Veera, but it was too late. Princess Veera was now facing Saiffar, one of the most able warriors of the Murzaan Empire. Saiffar laughed at the sight, and mocked, "I've never seen a woman guard her king." But Princess Veera stood determined and she attacked him first. The two sparred and she gave him quite the fight. Saiffar was impressed but he wasn't trying too hard, infact he was enjoying sparring with a beautiful woman. With Chandraprava soldiers slaughtered all around them, Raja Moti begged Saiffar to stop the madness and to spare Princess Veera and the women at the Palace. When Saiffar heard Princess Veera's name, he stopped abruptly and said, "So you are the fiance of Raja Maniket. My lord, Azael Aftaab, the Emperor of Murzaan has personally sent a present for you, Princess." He was cocky as he spoke to Veera and he offered her a red bag. Princess Veera was taken aback and didn't drop her guard but took the bag. As she opened the bag, she saw the head of her fiance, Raja Maniket! Princess Veera was shocked at this cruelty and fainted on the spot! All were shocked, but Rani Roopai, without caring for her life, rushed to Veera and held her. Everyone sees the chopped, bloodied head of Raja Maniket. Rani Roopai broke into a cry, "animals!!! You all are animals!" Saiffar laughed as if it was a compliment and he threw Rani Roopai away from Veera and got hold of Princess Veera who was still unconscious. Raja Moti tried to intervene but couldn't release himself from the grip of the Murzaan soldiers who held him as a prisoner. Saiffar advised Raja Moti, "it would be better for everyone to not retaliate. Your palace, your city, your everything is ours now. Especially your daughter, Princess Veera. Raja Moti Chandraprava, you have lost the war and now your Kingdom belongs to our Emperor, Azael Aftaab Murzaan!" Saiffar carried Princess Veera on his shoulders and took her away and left his men behind to seal the Palace of Indira. Raja Moti was a defeated king and a father. He had indeed lost everything.
Veera was finally conscious and she was shocked to find herself tied to a bed in a tent. She was disoriented, and screamed in panic for help, when she heard his voice, "no one will come to help you here Princess Veera…" Shivers ran down her spine as she turned to finally see the face of the man she hated the most in his real avatar! Azael Aftaab Murzaan, the Emperor of the Murzaan Dynasty, sat in the corner of that tent and he smirked at Princess Veera. Veera screamed and demanded answers, "what the hell is this? Why am I here? I command you to answer!" Aftaab started to talk towards her as he laughed at Veera and mocked, "you command me? No no no. You are no longer a Princess. Your fiance lost the war. Oh, did you like the present I had personally sent for you?" Princess Veera in revolt spat on Aftaab's face, failing to do anything else as she was tied. But he was indeed an animal. He licked her spit off his face and smirked and expressed, "that was delicious Veera. Don't worry, I will take good care of you in my harem." Princess Veera hated him, hated everything about him. She huffed in hatred, "you can do whatever you want. But you will never have me." Aftaab mocked again, "oh no, are you going to kill yourself? That would be such a waste of beauty. You see, a deer is meant to be hunted for its beauty. That is its purpose. You shouldn't go against nature." Princess Veera didn't know how to talk to this animal, forget reasoning with him. Aftaab went on, "I don't care if you kill yourself. All I need is one night. I'm sure once I have had you, my infatuation will be over." aftaab started to move towards Veera who shouted and screamed but there was no one to intrude, no one to help. He came close to her, held her by her hair, pulling it tight as she screamed in pain. He enjoyed hurting her and lusted for her even more. He licked her face as if it was his favourite candy. Veera tried to move away, but in vain. Aftaab's animal instinct kicked in as he started to tear off Veera's outfit frantically and Veera broke down screaming and crying, when suddenly there was an attack on Aftaab. Someone tried to stab him from behind! But at the last minute, as alert as a panther, Aftaab had moved and the dagger had only scrapped his arm. Aftaab pounced at the man who tried to attack him with his bare hands, and Veera witnessed how great a warrior he really was. He was alert, swift and always ready to kill. Aftaab choked the man to death with his bare hands before he could do anything. He was shocked to see that it was his own, one of Murzaan soldiers, now dead on the floor of his personal tent. Princess Veera, at this moment realised that it wasn't time to be emotional, if she wanted to live, she wanted her family to live, her people to live, for the Chandraprava to have a chance, it was now and it was up to her. Princess Veera laughed and mocked Aftaab, "I might die tonight, but looks like you will not live for too long either." Aftaab glared at Veera and grabbed her by her neck, choking her in anger, he huffed, "how dare you!" Veera, yet went on to mock him, "your own soldier trying to kill you- you are no king to them. You are a joke!" Aftaab throttled her neck and Veera was almost lifeless, yet she goes on, "you are a king because they fear you. But those who don't fear you, you will never rule them. Like, how I don't fear you. So kill me because I will never bow down to you. You can have my dead body but you will never command my respect!" Aftaab was shaken by Veera's words and he glared at her in hate because deep down he knew well that she was right. A king being attacked by his own men wasn't a good sign for him and the ugly truth was now tangible. Aftaab suddenly loosened his grip on Veera's neck and she took notice of it. He threw her on the bed and huffed, looking away in anger, "I had heard you are smart and that you are an expert in matters of court and imperial politics." Princess Veera stiffened under Azael Aftaab stare. He wasn't looking at her with lust, but with calculation and scrutiny. Aftaab ordered, "Tell me Veera, what should I do? How do I become a King that everyone respects?" Veera could not believe herself and how she had managed to strike a conversation and reason with a ruthless Emperor like Azael Aftaab. Veera spoke with seriousness in her voice and looked straight at Aftaab, "set an example. Marry me!" Aftaab froze with her words, he stood there in disbelief! What was Princess Veera thinking?
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