Suthanu didn't get to scream a rough hand covered her mouth... She was angry no way she was gonna let anyone touch her, the person pulled her close to him, she turned towards him with a fierce look...

Her face turned into suprise and shock.. Her eyes became moist and she hugged Shatrunjay... She couldn't recognise his hands as they weren't smooth anymore, they were all rough.

She observed him, his hair was slightly grown compared to his normal length, his chest had deep marks... And his clothes seemed worn out...

She hugged him and started crying...

Suthanu-" I-I missed you so much..(sniffs) Where were you? You were so near to me yet?! Yet you didn't come to visit me once?! Not even once!"

Shatrunjay wiped his lover's tears away... He hugged her...

Shatrunjay-" I am so sorry, for not letting you know about the penance! I had started it from Anga, and then I slowly proceeded ahead, there is a religious spot near Indraprastha when I came there I thought it would be a great suprise to meet you... But you were not there... I was able to find Pragti she told me that you are here... And so here I am!"

Suthanu smiled she still couldn't believe her eyes... Without giving it a second thought her lips met Shatrunjay's...

They had a long kiss, it toke all of Shatrunjay's pain away... Suthanu's dull face once again brightened!!

They their moment... Shatrunjay lied down and Suthanu on his hand... He played with her, fingers, while she told him about the fight....

Shatrunjay-" You know..."
Suthanu-" hmm."
Shatrunjay-" Your brother is wrong... He did the right thing by talking it out. Maybe if I were in his place I would have kept this secret in till my death-"

Suthanu placed her finger on his lips and disagreed...

Suthanu-" Damn. After so many months of separation when we are finally beside eachother you talk about death!"
Shatrunjay (Laughs)-" Oh my! I am so sorry dear!"
Suthanu-" I know he isn't wrong, but I am still suprised that Pitashree is that kind of person... He one who favours so much..."

Everything was silent... Only the sound of gushing water could be heard... The sound of crickets... Now this was the pure definition of heaven for Suthanu...

They didn't talk... They absorbed eachother's presence... Just then a question struck to Suthanu...

Suthanu-" Are you going again? Is your penance over?"
Shatrunjay toke a deep breath-" Not yet dear, not yet... It's barely the beginning! It's not easy to impress Yamraj! There are so many hardships I am yet to go!"

Suthanu felt sad... Shatrunjay noticed it and promised her something...

Shatrunjay-" Don't be sad dear! I will return soon! Maybe a few more months then I promise we will get married and no one will seperate us until it's my would to be guru Yamraj himself!"

Suthanu smiled, there were barely a few hours remaining for sunrise... Shatrunjay got up, it was time to leave... Suthanu looked at as if telling him to take her with him...

He disagreed... Before leaving he bent to her, and passionately kissed her.. His hands were around her neck... After the kiss Suthanu looked it was a pretty pearl necklace it had a Ruby in the centre...

Shatrunjay-" Everytime you remember me, just look at this! And yes don't worry, this time I am coming as soon as possible and then you will with me in Anga, so consider these as your last days at your home!"

She Laughed and nodded... With the first rays of sun Shatrunjay left... Suthanu was way too happy...

Prativindhya had gotten up, he ate too much and couldn't get up for practice. He was surprised to see Suthanu, she was all wet...

Prativindhya-" Aare Suthanu you are so wet! Here take my shawl! "
Suthanu-" No no jhest bhrata I am not old like you! Hehe!"

She ran straight to her cottage and kept the pearl necklace safely... She blushed as she remembered his kiss...

Prativindhya was all confused...

Prativindhya (thought-"Kamal hai bhai! Here I gave her a shawl and she called me old! I am barely 27!)

Vatsala-" Arya! Oh seems like you didn't go for practice!"
Prativindhya-" No I couldn't wake up!Oh by the way Vatsala, kaki Tuana told me to send you at her cottage!"

Vatsala-" Why so?"
Prativindhya-" Well there is a ceremony, it is to purify the child! It washes away the sins if the mother or father has done and keeps the child away from the devil! Mata did that atleast..hmm wait how many siblings are we?!"

Prathi started counting on his fingers, Vatsala Laughed...

Vatsala-" You are nine! Haha! Arya seriously!"
Prativindhya-" NINE?! Since When?!"

Vatsala gave up on him, Prathi started counting again while Vatsala got ready... By the time she came out luckily she saw Suthanu...

Suthanu-" Great! You are ready let's go!"
Vatsala nodded, she saw Prathi talk to Saun... Caira joined them in the way ... The two older girls talked while Vatsala heard them...

Ciara-" Oh I forgot to ask! But how long are you in?!"
Vatsala-" 3 Months and a week I assume!"

Ciara squeaked-"So cool! And soon you guys will have a little one running around! I love babies!!!"
Suthanu-" I am so tried of telling you that you can come to visit us!"

Vatsala nodded... Soon the reached the cottage, Ciara showed them the way behind of it... It was a green place filled with giant trees... Tuana was waiting for them...

Tuana-" Good morning girls!"
Together-" Good morning!"

Tuana-" So now shall we get started!"

Vatsala nodded, she wore the clothes given to her by Ciara. Tuana instructed her to jump in the water.. It wasn't deep, she had to swim for sometime... Ciara and Suthanu would join her...

Vatsala did as she was instructed, in a minute or so bright light surrounded her... She heard Tuana's voice telling her to stay still..

Ciara chanted something in a forgien language... It went over Vatsala's head... There were fishes everywhere, Vatsala loved animals... She followed the small fishes, they made different shapes, sometimes a snake,boy or even a spear...

Vatsala chuckled... She made sure the water didn't go in her mouth... One of the fish creased her belly, as a reaction the baby kicked!

Just then Suthanu and Ciara joined in. The fishes rushed towards Ciara, and peeked in her ear as if telling something... Ciara nodded to them...

They all swam for a while... Vatsala came out trying to catch her breath... Ciara came out..

Ciara-" Vatsala do you want to know the gender of the baby?"
Vatsala-" Wha?"
Ciara-" Yeah the second main purpose of this ceremony is to know the gender of the child! The fishy told me that it's a-"

Vatsala-" No, I don't want to know! It's better to let it be a suprise! But I don't understand how did the fish know about it?!"
Ciara-" Well it talked to the baby!"

Vatsala didn't understand, Ciara jumped back in.. Tuana gave her a towel to dry herself...

Tuana-" So you want it to be a suprise?"
Vatsala-" Yes.."

Tuana gave Vatsala a beautiful tribal dress as a gift... She tried it on and looked very pretty!

Vatsala sat down, she saw Suthanu and Ciara chatting while Tuana worked alone...

Vatsala-" May I help you!"
Tuana-" What! No no! You are our guests!"
Vatsala-" Kaki! You consider us family and now you are calling us guests?!"

Tuana laughed.. Vatsala helped her in washing the dishes... She wiped them with a cloth... Just then a little boy  came running... Tuana kissed him and told him to play with Ciara...

Vatsala-" Kaki who is he?"
Tuana-" He is my grandson.."
Vatsala-" Ohh.. So Kumar Saun is married? I didn't meet his wife.."

Tuana stopped washing the dishes...

Tuana-" She is no more.."
Vatsala-" Ohh.. I-I am sorry about tha-"
Tuana-" No it's okay, she passed away three years ago.. we couldn't attend your wedding because of that..Saun was grief stricken... We couldn't leave him alone.."

Vatsala cursed herself for bringing in a sensitive topic.. Just then the baby kicked.. She placed her hand on her belly, Tuana smiled...

Tuana-" That little one is healthy. It was infact hard to turn him around compared to other three month babies... It would have been hard for you to give birth... I am glad that Draupadi sent you here!"

Vatsala-" kaki whag about, Caira's marriage?"

Tuana-"She is a widow..."
Vatsala-" What?!-"

Tuana-" Yes, we got her married when she was 18 but unfortunately three months after their marriage her husband passed away... He was the son of the a merchant, from a kingdom called Hastinapur if I remember well... We made a mistake by not believing in the sutras... Especially me it was my fault... If we had come to know that her husband would die three months after their marriage we would have found a solution to avoid it... "

Vatsala-" Kaki, whatever happened, was sad... No women deserves that... But I am sure this is not the end for Ciara's matrial life... I am sure someone would accept her!"

Tuana-" Do you really think so?"

Vatsala Smiled, they both cooked dinner together... During night there was a round fire, the tribals danced...

The three of them enjoyed alot...

A few days later..

It had been 4 days since they arrived, it was time to leave now...
Ciara gave Suthanu some necklaces and bangles...
Prathi was talking to Tensen and Saun. Vatsala got ready, Tauna told her that she could come to her anytime she wished...

The three of them left, waving everyone goodbye!

[ More about the tribal people- These people are originally from Rome, after a deadly war, they wandered and came to India where they started living in Indraprastha- btw this is totally imagination! I hoped you liked the chapter! Stay tuned 🙃]