Remarriage

"Trust me, Thakur Sahab, I don't have the tangible proof right now, but everything I've told you is the unvarnished truth." Nihal, a man whose loyalty to Adhiraj had been unwavering and now seamlessly transferred to Samrat, spoke with conviction. Since Adhiraj's death, Nihal had taken it upon himself to guide Samrat through the labyrinthine internal politics of their domain.

Samrat's gaze bore into Nihal. "How can you be so unequivocally certain of this, Nihal?" he pressed, his voice taut with suppressed intensity.

"Thakur Sahab," Vibhuti interjected, his voice grave, "as you are acutely aware of the pervasive illegal activities plaguing this village, Sarpanch ji was equally, if not more, cognizant. He even possessed irrefutable evidence against these operations. He once confided in us that he would soon submit those proofs to the authorities."

Samrat's jaw clenched, his fists tightening imperceptibly at his sides. A dangerous glint ignited in his eyes.

"Where is this file you speak of?" he demanded, the words sharp and precise.

Nihal exchanged a somber glance with Vibhuti before replying, "We have no idea, Thakur Sahab. Sarpanch ji had informed us of his intention to submit that file, but then... he met with that accident before he could."

Samrat's voice dropped to a chilling whisper, fraught with realization"Just before he was about to submit the file." He gritted his teeth, the insidious truth solidifying in his mind. "That means... it was not an accident. It was a meticulously planned murder."

As his stark conclusion hung in the air, both Nihal and Vibhuti nodded solemnly. Samrat's eyes, now burning crimson with fury, fixed on them.

"Why haven't you told me any of this in all these months?" he questioned, his voice a low growl.

They looked down, their silence a stark reminder of his own perceived naivety. How could he have been so blind, so stupid, not to have seen it? Why hadn't he recognized that his brother must have been aware of these illicit activities, that he must have been a formidable obstacle to those who profited from their dark trade? If he could unearth whispers of such operations, his brother, who had governed these lands, must have been acutely aware - and, by extension, a profound threat to them.

"We refrained from informing you, Thakur Sahab, because you were nascent in this intricate game of power politics," Nihal explained, his voice measured. "These six villages are their primary base, particularly our own. Such operations would be utterly impossible without formidable internal forces, without the complicity of powerful figures. There are only four other influential families of significant standing besides yours. Without proper knowledge and a firm hold on power, any action would have been futile, perhaps even disastrous. But now, Thakur Sahab, you have unequivocally proven your worth. You have established your authority." Samrat listened intently, then sank into a nearby chair.

"The bulk of their transportation must be routed through our village, and that is only feasible because of..." He trailed off, the grim understanding of who might be involved solidifying in his mind. He looked at them as Vibhuti spoke.

"Sarpanch ji had all the necessary proofs," Vibhuti reiterated, his voice tinged with sadness. "He once confided this to us, but we remain unaware of where he had them hidden."

Samrat nodded slowly, his mind already racing, processing the implications.

"Perhaps he secured the file within the haveli itself," Nihal mused, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

Samrat looked at them, then rose from his chair, his posture radiating a newfound resolve.

"No one is to know about this," he commanded, his voice steely, imbued with a cold fury. "I do not wish for them to discover our suspicions, not yet. I require absolute certainty. Once my doubts are unequivocally confirmed, I will not leave them unscathed. Ensure that their every activity is meticulously monitored, and they must remain entirely unaware of our scrutiny."