Vatsala didn't realise how fast an year had passed with Prativindhya.. Many changes had happened by this time... Sushen wouldn't only write letters but he would also sneak out to give Pragti suprise visits.

Shatrunjay was more busy with war training and since he was now 21, he would tag along with Chitrasen and Vrishasen to go out to other kingdoms. Suthanu knew he won't be able to write much but she always remembered him in her heart.

The biggest shook was that Vrishasen had married for the second time. It had broken dear Snigdha's heart to a thousand pieces. Though unlike last time he was completely in love with princess... Snigdha felt as if her connection with him had decreased.

Aahuk had turned one just a few days ago.... Vatsala was packing her clothes to go to Anga now. How much so she was excited it ached her heart to leave Prathi for a year... While she was lost in thinking two strong arms wrapped around her thin waist.

She immediately recognised them. Prativindhya pulled her close to him, he kissed her on her lips. Vatsala returned it back....

Before she left , Pragti slide a love letter for Sushen. Draupadi and Pandavas said that they would miss her, Sutsom and Shrutakrit teased Prathi saying that he would cry after she leaves. It made everyone Laugh. Just then Chitrasen and Vrishasen arrived to pick her up...

Chitrasen noticed that Vatsala looked had changed in terms of looks. She looked more elegant, comfortable with the amount of jewellery she had and the look in her eyes was fierce.

Vatsala bid everyone a last farewell as they went on another voyage. While they traveled Vatsala saw that Vrish and Chitra were inseparable they talked throughout the journey, it sort of entertained her... She never saw Chitrasen smile before.. She could only recall his tense face and wondered if he would ever smile.

Time passed away quickly. They had arrived... At Anga... The city was called as a replica of sun on earth. Most the cottages were of yellow or gold. Not to mention the palace would shine during dawn. It made Vatsala dazed.

She was welcomed by Vrushali. Snigdha stood beside her. On Vrushali's left hand side another beautiful maiden stood, she was none other than Madhura the second wife of Vrishasen. Vatsala had heard alot of her beauty no wonder Vrish fell for her.....

Vrushali-" Purti it's so good to see you! It's been such a long time!"
Vatsala-" Ji Mata! I missed you alot! Mata Draupadi told me alot about you!"

Vatsala hugged Snigdha it had been long. Snigdha had changed alot after Aahuk's Birth... She had probably lost a bit of weight than she had before which was really unusual. Though the dark circles had vanished.

Just then Sushen came out he held a naughty hyperactive boy in his hands. Ofcourse it was Aahuk, staying still was his enemy. He ran as fast as he could and hugged Vrishasen. Snigdha tried to introduce him to Vatsala and to everyone's suprise the Lil boy shyed away. She talked a while with Madhura. She was kind and really polite towards her...

Chitrasen showed her their chamber. It was comparatively small but nicely decorated.. There was a bed and couch. It astonished Vatsala.

Chitrasen-" I will be sleeping on the couch... You may sleep on the bed."

Before Vatsala could say anything he turned the candles down and went to sleep. Vatsala couldn't sleep a wink. She kept thinking about Chitrasen's behaviour.

Few days later...

Chitrasen was avoiding Vatsala. It made her worried. He denied talks and even physical contact. She wanted to talk to him, clear his misunderstandings.... But he avoided.

Vatsala (thought-"This is it I am talking to my Arya today! I need to understand what's going on in his mind....")

Chitra was tired with his daily routines. He was changing his sweaty clothes just then he saw Vatsala, she was probably undressing. He quickly tried to make his way out when a soft hand stopped him. He turned around, Vatsala was staring right into his soul.

Vatsala-" Why are you leaving? Aren't we married?"
Chitrasen-" I-I thought it would be more comfortable for you."
Vatsala-" Arya please don't lie! I don't understand why are you so distanced from me!"

Chitrasen kept mum. Vatsala sighed, she bid Vrushali good night and came back in her room. The locked the door for privacy, and opened the window ,the cold air , made the candles go off. Chitra simply sat there awkwardly. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

Vatsala-" Arya.... Please tell me what's the matter..."
Chitra-" It's nothing."
Vatsala-" Safed jhoot. I ofcourse saw you are avoiding me since our very first night... Why are you doing this?"
Chitrasen (loudly)-" I FEEL I AM GETTING BETWEEN YOU AND PRATIVINDHYA!"
Vatsala-" What?-"
Chitrasen-" Yes , the first time you both saw eachother during your swayamwar... I saw love between you both... Then I came in, if it wasn't for me, you would have been in Indraprastha all happy... You are being forced between two kingdoms.."

Vatsala-" Oh Arya.... This is it? I should
have realised this... I am not being forced Arya , I love these two kingdoms alot. Both my families are amazing mata Draupadi and Mata Vrushali give me the mother's love which I never recieved.. and Pitashree Karna he is the best completely opposite of my father... All my jhest bhrata are too loving.... I am happy that I got the privilege to be part of these two families.. and yes Arya you are no different too me.. As much as I love Arya Prathi I love you too..."

Chitrasen looked in her eyes. She wasn't lying... He took her hand and kissed it..

Chitrasen-" I love you too..." (Thought-" I was being dumb for no reason... I have such a sweet wife and yet my behaviour.. Dumb Chitrasen! Very dumb!")

Vatsala-"Now are you all doubts and misunderstandings away?"

She pouted at him, which made him laugh... Just then they heard a knock on the door... It was Vrishasen, he told them to keep it low... Chita closed the door. They both slept beside eachother. Vatsala tried to keep her giggle low. Chitrasen adored her.

Vatsala-" I can't believe that you were able to stay away from me for so many days!"
Chitrasen-" It was hard!"
Vatsala-" Now there Arya, Mata was telling me that you sing very well! So as a punishment sing for me.."
Chitrasen-"

Vatsala loved his voice. The way he looked at her and sang a perfect song during the situation.. it made her happy.. Chitrasen wasn't going to miss the chance to make love.. ofcourse he had ruined his first night and today was a perfect opportunity..

As the months passed...

Vatsala adapted fast. There were minimum royal regulations...  Everyone were treated equally.. The ladies in the family would eat with the gents. While in her home or in Indraprastha ladies would eat after gents. It was weird for her at start but she got the hang of it...

Shatrunjay had decided to go on a penance he gave Vatsala several letters to give them to Suthanu... Each very month... She noticed that Sushen and Lakshman were like karna and Duryodhana their friendship was inseparable. 

Vrishasen was a better older brother, compared to Dhruv... Dvipat and Banasen came to visit once in a while. They were 15 now. Banasen's personality was like Rudra's. That was one of the reason why they bonded fast... Suprisingly there were only boys in the family... Snigdha and Madhura teased her they told her that she would give birth to the first girl child in the family...

Aahuk's birthday was coming closer... That made her sad.. It meant going back to Indraprastha for another year.

When Prativindhya came to pick her. Aahuk cried his eyes out. He wasn't willing to leave her.... Prativindhya decided to stay back for a day..

Chitrasen and Prativindhya had a nice talk.. Prathi promised Aahuk that he would leave his aunt back in sometime. He was indeed very adorable when he was angry.

Chitrasen hugged her before she left. That was the part she hated the most, her husbands were from two different kingdoms, it ached her heart to bid farewell to one... She wished they were somehow related so that she could stay close to eachother...

Vatsala was lost throughout the journey...

Prativindhya-" Hey, you seem upset."
Vatsala-" I do.... I wish I could stay with both of you at the same time."
Prativindhya-" I understand..They way Aahuk cried. He is too cute!"
Vatsala (laughs)-" Yes he is! His first steps and first words.. They are so precious!"
Prativindhya-" I wonder when we will have one!"
Vatsala-" What was that dear?"
Prativindhya-" Nothing!"

They both laughed..Soon they reached the steps of Indraprastha. The mayavi palace wasn't astonishing anymore, Vatsala could reach the rooms even with her eyes closed.

Just as much as peaceful their lives were. Indraprastha was getting attacked... Yudhishthir knew that after him Prathi was there but... They needed another heir...

Draupadi did talk about it.. but she felt pushing the kids into a  having baby was wrong.. though Indraprastha needed a heir for a secure future...

Vatsala had denied to Prativindhya she had told him that she wasn't ready to have a baby so soon.. How could she? She was barely 20 at the time... And there was fear of  childbirth in her mind..

Prathi wasn't going to force her.. The topic of having a child eventually died down...

[ Here is it! I hope you liked this chapter! Why is Vatsala not ready to have a child? Why is there fear in her head? Stay tuned!"