The mid-afternoon sun peeked through the thick puffs of clouds. The bright sky, chilly breeze and a pleasant quiet atmosphere, the banners and the knights pitching the Paramarashtrian flag flying high and proud. It filled my heart just to see the diverse colors of the provinces. It never ceased to amaze me how much my impression and opinions have changed. In a strange kind of way, I'd fallen in love with this country.

Ashwant Veer joined the party. He had taken leisure for tasks such as gathering food and organizing and sat with us to have a few refreshments. Dhanunjay came running to us. He cried a bit remembering his friendship Lithika but quickly got over it when Pruthvi threatened to punch him senseless. Despite the bonding in the palace's verandah being too jovial and relaxing, a big chunk of my life was missing in the form of Nazira. I had no idea where she was, I had no clue if our little discussion had disappointed her.

Leena seemed desperate though. She kept looking back into the corridor every once in a while as if waiting for someone. At first, I thought if she was looking for her, but I was later proved wrong. A few moments later a maid came over holding something swaddled in blankets. Leena took it from her. Tiny wheatish toes peeked out of the blanket as the one inside it cuddled close to Leena. Her face brightened up, and eyes filling up as she showed him to us.

The tiny life, no more than six pounds, shared Leena or rather Lithika's features. Jet black hair with slight curls at the corners, full red lips and a dimple on his cheek. He barely cried and stayed alert. His glossy eyes stared at us as we glanced down at him one after the other. He stretched his hands and moaned. Celina went ahead and caressed his sensitive skin. He caught her pinky. She burst out with joy and took him wholly in her arms.

"What's his name?" Tyrell asked Pruthvi. "Why don't you tell us?"

Pruthvi and Leena shared a glance and smiled at each other. They both announced it together- "Viraj Krishna."

The verandah erupted with cheers once again and it attracted a few knights working outside the fence of the palace. Their announcement was too sudden and unexpected- Pruthvi and Leena together had taken the decision to adopt the child and giving it their name. My birthday this year was forever going to be etched in my memory and this was definitely one of the best days of our lives.

"It was Nazira's idea," said Pruthvi a few minutes later when the announcement sunk in. Only the guys were standing at the corner, while the girls played with the newborn. "She came up to us one day and said that no one deserved to remain parentless. Like we are. And Leena and I thought she is right. It took a little while to come to a decision."

"Dude," said Tyrell, "Better you than that lunatic Garg. That kid is one lucky dog."

"King Aghasthya is dealing with all the paperwork," Pruthvi said, and ran his hand through his hair, trying to hide his nervousness. "I hope I'm doing the right thing."

I held his shoulders. "Let's believe we're doing the right thing. Easy, isn't it? And you gave me another reason to fight hard for you in the Panchayat."

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Tyrell and Celina guzzled down the majority of the food.

Three tables aligned in columns, dedicated to appetizer, entree and dessert each. The aroma in the dining hall was rich and flavoury. Ashwant and Ira took the charge and served us. Servants had laid silver plates, and helping both of them in serving the royal Paramarashtrian dishes. The cuisine was exquisite regardless of a small number of guests. Everything, one can think of, were lying here waiting to be devoured. There was no room for manners at all- we talked, laughed, ate and reminisced.

"Sit!" Leena yelled at Nazira making her forcibly sit beside me. She just put me in a bit of an awkward position making her do that in front of my other friends. Sore throats suddenly began making clearing and coughing sounds. My aunt sitting at the other side nudged at me.

"Aw! Look how cute they look together!" Tyrell teased in a sing-song tone.

Tyrell, shut up. Or otherwise, I'll freaking throttle you.

A  couple of gift baskets were brought in and handed over to Celina and Tyrell, with 'Welcome back.' cards attached to them. Tyrell received a pair of Paramarastrian turbans whereas to Celina a pair of unbearably cute puppies were handed over. She exclaimed in delight.

"What are you going to name them?" Tyrell asked, with a sarcastic tone. "Doggy and Dogga?"

Everyone burst out laughing seeing how lazily she had named her horse. The laughter continued, when I slowly looked aside at Nazira, rubbing my nape, who was smiling watching Celina caress her new pets. I kept looking at her until she caught my eye.

"Isn't it supposed to be my birthday?" I whispered.

Her smile disappeared just as quickly and she went back to eating.

A moment later when I was done and wiping my mouth, King Agasthya slowly walked inside the dining hall, with his head bent down and hands behind his back. At first, I guessed he was finally going to join us in the grand feast. But rather he stood beside the door and gazed at me, looking earnest but also alarming.

He beckoned at me to come closer. In the process of rising up from my chair, I spotted Nazira biting insides of her cheek, twirling her spoon and staring blankly at her plate.

King Aghasthya placed his hand on my shoulder. "You know I admire you, right? That I see no difference between you and Leena?"

I blinked. My mind seemed to have gone dense, unable to understand his intention. Yet, I nodded solemnly.

"That argument we had before you left, it was only out of fear of losing you. An old man trying to look out for his friend's grandson. You understand that, right?"

He squeezed my shoulder, and that gave me a tiny blip of apprehension. Ungainly awkwardness began to linger between us. "Your Majesty, what is this about?"

"There is someone here to see you. Actually, a lot of people."

He nodded at Ashwant, making me realize that they had planned something in advance and was now being put into action. The king gestured to walk with him. We crossed the dining hall and covered a portion of the hall. Having my heart drumming so hard, I kept looking at the King every now and then but he never once uttered a word but kept smiling from ear to ear.

My hands were clammy, nerves tensed with a bit of unsureness and nervousness. There was a shadow of a person standing at the doorway looking at the grandeur of the palace with keen interest.

For a moment I failed to recognize the person and when I came closer, my heart skipped a beat. "Yuvan?!"

He got startled on hearing my voice and then his face lit up with happiness. "Your Majesty!" he cried trotting at me. "It's so good to see you again."

We closed the distance between us and hugged. "Y...you came out!" I wheezed, my eyes filling seeing him here. "But how did you know I am here?"

"There was this parrot," he said, quite enthused. "It kept flying over our catacomb until some of us noticed that a letter was tied around its throat. That tiny little parrot delivered us the message we have been waiting to hear for so long."

He removed a tiny piece of folded parchment from his trousers and gave it to me. I flipped it open and read- "Kings aren't born. They are made. A ruler can only rule if his Dynasty allows him to. He died every day to pour life in you. All he desires in return is a little bit of love and support. August the ninth is not far away. Be the wise citizens of the country and judge him right."

I swallowed a giant lump that suddenly materialized in my throat. The words took me a few months back when I had a similar conversation with her.

"I can only rule them if they allow me to, right? I can't do anything if they prefer to stay hidden just because their ex-king wanted them to."

"And if they allow? Will you accept the throne and Dynasty as your own?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'll come to a conclusion after I prove myself worthy enough for their respect. "

"Did you say it was a parrot?" I asked, with bated breath, my eyes moistening.

"Yes," he said nodded resolutely. "It was not just the parrot. King Aghasthya sent out a word and we approached him two days ago in person. He explained to us the situation. We just couldn't say no and he..." He looked aside at King Aghasthya as if seeking his permission.

"Come," King said, patting twice on my shoulder, "Let's go outside."

A spasm of panic swept up in me as I walked with both of them towards the entrance door. The golden beams of the sun spread on the floor like a carpet on the floor showing me the way out. The indistinct noise buzzed in my ears. The knights and maids standing at the door bowed their heads down as King Aghasthya and I walked out together.

The wind breezed into my face when I stepped into the front balcony of the palace. I overlooked through the railings. Though I was anticipating it, my mind went numb for a moment. There was a massive crowd gathered on the grounds of the Sharad palace, each one of them having a single expression in common. From young to old; toddlers to adults; men and women from every age group had flocked up, looking at me expressing a desperate yearning and anticipation.  

My heart smashed in my chest.  Nervously, I looked at King Agasthya through my tearful eyes. My mind was jammed. I let my expression ask the question my mouth couldn't. What does it mean?

He handed me a document.

"Sedition Act of Paramarashtra, already sanctioned and stamped by the High King," King Aghasthya said reading, "That is what you wanted, right?"

I skimmed through it without actually reading it. "But I didn't apply..." I stammered and faltered.

"Yeah, I did," he said, "Hayden, High King has given his nod. Rawat has given its nod. You were right, they want a king who knows how to keep the dynasty safe, not the one who keeps searching for ways. They want you and only you as their king. Rule them with your own rules. Love them more than Harsh ever did. Rawat is all yours."

The cheers, that slowly began to surface, were in solidarity and my spirits rose, and the sky was the limit.

King Agasthya went on as I stood rooted to the floor. "Son, you deserve the throne not because you come from the clan. Not because Harsh had foreseen you worthy of it. But for your own determination, your honest intention of keeping this country safe." He pointed a finger at the crowd. "They are here as a reward for your outstanding gallantry. What else do you want? What else is making you wait?"

"I..." My voice croaked. I swallowed, took a long breath and spoke to myself. I don't intend to wait. I died many times and I'm ready to die many more times for them. Because it is me, and mine now.

That was the moment I understood that real happiness doesn't lie in making one's own dream come true but striving hard in making others. A pact with myself, then and there, took its inception- I'd forget my past, my other goals, and ambitions right from this day. My life was dedicated to the dynasty that deserved a beautiful life.

Blinking my tears back, ignoring the sweat trickling down my temple, I stepped up on the railing, showing myself to them thoroughly from the knees and above. The millions of eyes directed at me multiplied my determination to a million times more. I was a Paramarashtrian now, and this was the beginning of a new journey.

I clasped my hands, Paramarashtrian style, and raised my conjoined fist pointing straight up to the sky.

The enthusiastic cheers erupted from the people turning boisterous. A hoard of fireworks was ignited creating thunderous sounds, and several hands carrying Rawat's red flag flew high up in the air.

How I wish Doctor was here to see this miracle happening. How I wish my parents were alive to bless me and see me prosper...

The voice of my friends cheering for me grabbed my attention. As I stepped back down, King Aghasthya, smilingly and feeling relieved, drew himself backward giving way to my friends. They hugged me one after the other, ruffled my hair, teased me a bit saying what I had been when I first joined the academy and what I was now. My aunt burst into tears and gave me a bone-crushing hug. 

The victory wasn't completely mine by all means, and I knew that very well in my heart. How can I forget the one person whose support, for all those six months, had raised me to the level I'd reached today. I searched for her, amidst all the people who made my life complete. I searched and squinted and there she was, standing all by herself at the threshold. Her prideful smile gradually disappeared as soon as our eyes met. Bending her head down, she took a step inside and walked away leaving me alone to enjoy greatly with my friends.

Happy Birthday to me.