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The Invasion
249
tion, the beautiful stars twinkling in the sky. There were only a few minutes left for midnight. But there was no sign of Virdev. She said to Shambal, in agitation.
"Shambal; Virdev has not yet come". "He must be on his way". "Could any undesirable ... inauspicious thing...."
“Tush ! Tush! Do you also say this ? A hero may have to face many unhappy things; but can such things cause any harm to a hero like Virdev ?"
“What you say is true Shambal; but this is a matter of war. The enemies are always watching us with vigilant eyes. We are very important for them."
"Dear lady. He may be on his way. We need not worry so much about it”.
Then, the two became silent. All of a sudden, there appeared the light of a number of torches in the mountainous area of the north. Both were greatly amazed at this sight because Virdev's soldiers had already travelled westwards, so they wondered how other soldiers could come there. The soldiers of Magadha would never come to that area even by a mistake. When that was so, who could they be ? Both of them fell into a confounding conflict. A serious conflict appeared in the minds of both. Both were thus in great amazement when they suddenly heard a low voice;
"Anjali ! .... Shambal !"
"Here.... This way." The voice became a little clear. It was the voice of Virdev. Shambal and Anjali became thoughtful. Virdev came near them and whispered to them;
“The third phase of the night has begun and now without a moment's delay, we should carry out our plans”.
"After you went away, we received a secret message that in the secret passage of the Fort one thousand soldiers are standing guard but we are only three”.
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