Scene shifts back to Pravar and Satyadhara.
Bandit 1: Surround him too!
Bandits: Yes! Heheheahha!
Pravar: Shit... Where are the others?? Why haven't they come yet? It's already so late... Did they abandon us? (⊙﹏⊙)
Suddenly, two bandits lunge at Satyadhara. Completely prepared, Satyadhara blocks the attack and begins fighting them.
While Satyadhara is fighting two bandits alone, one of the bandits appears behind Pravar and tries to kill him from behind.
Bandit: Mhmmhahah... I got this... RAHH!!
The bandit suddenly gets hit by an arrow from behind.
Bandit:cough Wha–a… dies
Bandit 1: What the hell? Where did that arrow come from?!
Royal Guards silently begin killing the scattered bandits while hiding in the shadows, making no noise.
Bandit 1: That means...
The Royal Guards emerge from the bushes and surround the bandits.
Bandit 1: They are not alone! We are trapped!!
Everyone takes a fighting stance, and a fierce battle erupts between them. Everywhere turns into pure chaos, with the fire from the lamps growing stronger and spreading through the forest.
Pravar: Finally... they arrived... I really thought I was going to die today, haha... 〒▽〒
Satyadhara moves near one of the Royal Guards.
Satyadhara: Where is Devi Tara? Is she okay?
Guard: I told her to stand far away from the battlefield.
Satyadhara: Is there any guard with her?
Guard: I don't think so... (⊙_⊙;)
Satyadhara: Dang it! (in his mind) I have known Tara since her childhood... I bet she is near the battlefield, as she is always very curious. But if she gets hurt, then all of us will be doomed...
Satyadhara: I need to find her quickly before any bandit reaches her.
Tara is not very far away, watching and analyzing the situation while standing near an archer guard.
Guard: Devi... You should move away from the battlefield. (¬_¬")
Tara: Don't mind me, I'm just analyzing the battlefield. (ˉ▽￣～)
Suddenly, an arrow hits the guard in the neck, instantly shocking Tara.
Guard: Oka–ygh!! GHh!
Tara: What the! He got hit with an arrow! (looks around)
A bandit with a bow and arrows had spotted Tara and the guard and shot the guard.
Bandit:Checks his quiver but finds no more arrows. Smh... Guess I will have to kill a woman with my own hands.
He pulls out a sword.
Satyadhara finally spots Tara but notices a bandit approaching her.
Satyadhara: There you are! notices the bandit Oh no! A bandit is approaching her! I need to get to her!
He rushes toward her but gets blocked by a group of bandits. All he can do now is fight them while watching what might happen to Tara, desperately trying to reach her.
Tara:Standing still without any expression on her face, watching the bandit come closer. Dang… He's coming toward me.
He reaches Tara.
Satyadhara: Nooo!!!
Bandit: Rahh!! ╰（‵□′）╯
Tara:smirksslash sound
Tara pulls out a sword from behind and easily kills the bandit.
Tara: Please. He really thought a "helpless woman" was all I was? His ego made him sloppy... sigh ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Satyadhara finally reaches her.
Satyadhara: Devi!! What are you doing this close to the battlefield!?
Tara: Oh come on. You don't need to worry about me. You already know that I am a skilled warrior, don't you?
Satyadhara: Still! If anything happens to you, then I can't forgive myself...
Tara: Well... Even you ran off by yourself, didn't you?
Satyadhara: It was necessary to save Pravar's life.
Tara: Oh yeah! Is Pravar alright?
Satyadhara: Yes. Thankfully, we came in time and saved him.
A few guards enter the scene with captured bandits.
Guard 1: We have captured these few bandits. The rest have either run off or died here.
Guard 2: We won, and thankfully there were no casualties on our side.
Tara: See? There were no Bhramrakshas. They were just bandits harming innocent people.
Pravar enters the scene with a wound on his arm.
Pravar: You were right... These were just bandits.
Tara notices his wound.
Tara:gasp Are you alright? It looks like a slash on your arm.
Pravar:looking sideways It wouldn't have happened if you had come earlier with the guards... (¬_¬")
Tara: Are you saying something?
Pravar: No—nope!
Tara: Let's get back to the town immediately before any more bandits come over here.
Satyadhara: Yes, Devi!
Tara: And about these captured bandits... evil smile muehheh (*-`ω´- )人 They caused me a lot of personal trouble... I will treat them very well... >:)
Bandits:Scared AAAHHH!! (ᗒᗩᗕ)
They return to the town and finally rest, with all the people now knowing the truth about the Bhramrakshas myth created by the bandits.
Scene shifts to the Kotwal running toward Dhanraj and Rajendra's haveli.
Kotwal: Swami!!
Dhanraj: Whose noise is this!?
Rajendra: Sounds like that Kotwal...
The Kotwal slams the door open.
Kotwal: Swami!! We need to run! That female minister from the state has discovered our plan and has captured our bandits!!!
Dhanraj: What!! Kotwal! You really can't do anything properly!
Kotwal: There's no time, Swami! We need to run! Our plan has been exposed!!
Rajendra: Wha–at!? We need to leave this place quickly!!
Rajendra runs and starts collecting things to flee the town.
Dhanraj:Frustrated and scared You stupid Kotwal! You need to be punished for this!
He pulls out his sword to slash the Kotwal.
Kotwal: Swami, no! Please!!
Dhanraj: RAHH!!
Suddenly, Satyadhara and the Royal Guards raid the haveli and reach Dhanraj, stopping him before he can strike.
Satyadhara: Stop right there! Guards! Surround them all!
Dhanraj:drops his sword midway It can't be...!
Guards grab his arms and restrain him.
Dhanraj: I have been caught... (┬┬﹏┬┬)
Rajendra: Brother!! I have been caught too!
All of them are captured and handcuffed with iron chains.
Scene shifts to Pravar lying on a bed with the Vaidya sitting beside him.
Pravar: Vaidya... Do you think I am going to die!? (┬┬﹏┬┬)
Vaidya: Hahaha! It is just a slight slash. You will recover quickly.
Pravar: It hurts a lot... I don't think I am going to survive... (┬┬﹏┬┬)
Suddenly, Tara peeks from the door.
Tara: Hello, Pravar!! Are you alright? (^▽^)
Pravar:immediately wipes off his tears and sits up with a confident face Me? These iron swords are not enough to kill a man like me, Tara. (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧
Vaidya: What...? (¬_¬")
Tara: That's good to hear that you're alright! Only because of you were we able to save this town from being abandoned! (^▽^)
Pravar: I'm happy to help this town, my lady!
Tara: Okay! It's already so late. I am going to rest as well! Shubh Ratri!
Pravar: Shubh Ratri, my lady!
Tara leaves.
Pravar: It hurts so badly... (┬┬﹏┬┬) Vaidya, do something! I am going to die!! (┬┬﹏┬┬)
Vaidya: (-_-)
Scene shifts to Tara entering her room, completely tired and exhausted.
Tara:tired Oh gosh... This was so exhausting...
Malini: Devi Tara! You should take some rest immediately! If you get sick due to exhaustion, it would not be good!
Malini
Malini is Tara's head servant among her two other attendants. She has been with Tara since childhood, and both of them are almost the same age, though Malini is slightly younger. Malini is appointed as a companion and friend to Tara rather than just a normal dasi (servant).
Tara: Yeah, yeah... I know... falls asleep while standing (_ _).˚ ᶻ 𝘇 𐰁
Malini: Devi Tara, please change your clothes and go to bed. We have to leave tomorrow morning.
Tara remains unresponsive.
Malini: Devi Tara!!!!
Tara:screams YESSS!
Finally, morning arrives, and Tara, her servants, and the guards prepare to leave the town. The townspeople, along with Pravar, gather to bid them farewell.
Everyone is waiting for Tara, and soon she arrives.
Person 1: There! There's Devi Tara!!
Person 2: It's her!!
Everyone rushes toward Tara.
Person 3: Thank you so much, Devi! You have helped us greatly! Forgive us for taunting you last time!
Tara:still half asleep Ye–ah… It's alright… (* ´ ﹃｀*)
Malini:Ahem!
Tara: YES—Yes… Thank you.
Everyone presents Tara with garlands of flowers, and soon she is covered in them.
A garland, or wreath of flowers, is used extensively in Indian culture for worship (puja), weddings, and welcoming guests. These floral garlands are commonly made from jasmine, marigold, rose, or chrysanthemums.
Satyadhara arrives with the chariot.
Satyadhara: We have to leave now.
Tara: Yeah… (* ´ ﹃｀*) Wa–wait… Where is Pravar?
Pravar's Father: I tried to find him, but I can't find him anywhere. I guess this young man is just too shy to face a beautiful lady like you. Hahaha!
Tara: Oh… well then…
Satyadhara: Devi, we need to go.
Tara: Yes…
Tara rides the chariot and prepares to depart.
The people cheer for Tara, throwing flowers and chanting her name.
At the exit of the town, they see Pravar standing alone on the road. He stops Tara's convoy to speak with her one last time.
Pravar: Hey! It's me, Pravar!
Tara: Pravar..? Where is he? Stop the chariot now!
The chariot stops right next to Pravar.
Pravar:visibly shy So… mhm…
Tara:happy to see Pravar Why didn't you come to say goodbye to me in the town? And how is your wound now?
Pravar: Mm… I got late coming there… and my wound is much better now.
Tara: I see…
A brief silence follows.
Pravar: Do you remember? I promised to give you some jewelry as a gift when you first arrived.
Tara: Ohh..! It's okayyyy, I don't need such an expensive gift. drooling (っ´ཀ`)っ
Pravar: I am still going to gift you this jewelry so that you always remember me.
Tara: Oh—thank you so much. I hope we meet again in the future.
Pravar: We surely will. Oh! And here's your dagger that you gave me.
Tara: Oh!! My dagger! Thank you so much—I almost forgot about it. It's very important to me.
Pravar: I know… So then… it's time to say goodbye.
Tara: Yeah. Thank you so much again for all these gifts. :D
Pravar: You're welcome.
Tara leaves with her convoy.
The chariot slowly moves forward as flowers continue to fall along the path. The townspeople wave until she disappears beyond the gates, while Pravar remains standing on the road, watching silently until the convoy vanishes from sight.