After applying the ointment, Madhura excused herself and went straight to her bathroom.. She washed her shakey hands and looked at herself in the mirror.. What's going on with her?

Was the prince's presence taking a toll on her.. Was she starting to like him? She washed her face.. No.. Simply no, she still had her younger sister to care for,she had to help her be with her as she grows up since they had no mother.

By the time she came out, Vrishasen had already taken leave.. She pouted to herself and asked her younger sister where he was.. In return she received a mischievous giggle from her sister..

Madhura rolled her eyes and took her bow and arrow for practice.. She wasn't suprised to see Vrishasen practicing in the arena.. He took the longest distance and aimed for the middle..

He realized that Madhura was watching him... He looked at her, and smirked.. He concentrated on the target and made a mind map, he closed his eyes and aimed perfectly... Karna was watching from afar and was proud, Vrishasen received praises from Gopal..

Madhura-" That was impressive Kumar."
Vrishasen-" I am glad, that you liked it kumari.."

Vrishasen couldn't keep an eye contact for too long.. His heartbeats won't cooperate with him.. This feeling of love for her.. He was married though.. Was having feelings for another princess wrong? What if she was already with another prince?

Vrishasen-" Do you like any prince?"

Madhura was surprised,she disagreed and noticed the relief gasp by Vrishasen.. Though now she liked a prince..And it was Vrishasen.. Her cheeks heated up just thinking about that... She broke the silence by inviting him to practice with her..

Madhura-" If am not wrong, you have younger siblings,right?"
Vrishasen-" Yes.. 5 younger brothers."
Madhura-" Must be nice.. I have an elder sister... She recently got married, we don't have that big of an age difference so Pitashree is finding a suitor for me. Do you like a princess?"

Vrishasen-" I am married.."

Madhura felt her blood go cold.. He was married? It made her upset.. She loved him,but he was already some else's.. Vrishasen was quick to notice that.. Before he would reveal his feelings for her,he must tell her about Snigdha..

Madhura-" I-I see..Who is the lucky one?"

Her voice was filled with sadness..

Vrishasen-" Her name is Snigdha,she is the princess of Snighad,we have a year old son together.."

He narrated her everything.. How he married her, Aahuk's birth and even Chitrasen's marriage.. Madhura heard him with great patience.. Though she didn't understand if he had feelings for Snigdha? But they had a son together,so he might be having feelings?

Throughout lunchtime,she was lost in her thoughts,she saw Vrishasen staring at her, both of them exchanged glances.

Just than Gopal revealed that he is planning to get his daughter married to the older prince of Pandya kingdom.. Vrishasen felt angry, he jerked off from the table and went straight to his guest room.. Karna,Gopal and Madhura were suprised..

It was evening, Vrishasen was lying on his sofa.. The sun rays fell on his face, he looked tense.. Vrishasen could only think about what Gopal said during lunch.. Marry Madhura to Pandya kingdom's elder prince? No he couldn't let that happen.. He loved her.. More than anyone.. He had to tell her that..

Vrishasen grabbed his weapons and went to search for her.. It was almost dusk.. Pari, who was Madhura's younger sister,guided him to her favorite place.. Vrishasen thanked her... He saw Madhura sitting near,a river.. It was a special place, even though it wasn't night yet, there was already starrs reflection in the water.. It was very beautiful..

Vrishasen sat beside her, the atmosphere was pretty but Madhura looked sad and disappointed.. After sometime he noticed that Madhura was shaking, he was suprised to see her crying.. He panicked and unknowingly wiped her tears and gave her a hug..

Vrishasen-" Madhura..What happened?"
Madhura-" I-I don't want to marry the Pandya prince..Please leave from here Kumar.. I know this sounds very rude but please go back as soon as possible."

Vrishasen felt a pang in his heart.. He was hurt.. Why was she saying that?

Vrishasen-" What if I DON'T leave?"
Madhura-" WHY ARE YOU MAKING IT HARD FOR ME? I- I have started to like you.. But this should be stopped.."

Vrishasen gently grabbed her hand,he bit his lower lip.. And nervously looked down...

Vrishasen-" W-Why do you want this to stop? I-I have also started to like you.. And I cannot bear the fact that your father has arranged your marriage with someone else.. Madhura! I know you may feel this is being rushed out, BUT WILL YOU MARRY ME?"

Madhura was taken back.. She did want to spend rest of her life with him.. but the problem was..

Madhura-" But.. but you are married.."
Vrishasen-" Snigdha will understand us.. I know.. I will talk to Pitashree.. But.. More than that...Do you want to marry me?"

Vrishasen looked at her.. He was slightly nervous for her answer.. He was holding her hands and playing with her fingers.. Madhura gently nodded and shyly looked down.. Vrishasen couldn't express his joy...

Looking at his bright and happy face, Madhura couldn't help but chuckle.. After sometime, Vrishasen decided to talk to Gopal and his father.. It was night, Gopal and karna were having fun talks when Vrish and Madhura entered.. Karna noticed that they were holding hands...

Vrishasen-" Maharaj Gopal.. I, Kumar Vrishasen of Anga wishes to marry your second daughter, Madhura.."

Karna was caught off guard, he didn't expect Vrishasen to take such a big decision without asking him? Gopal thought it was a joke, but the stern look on Vrishasen's face, made it clear that he was dead serious..

Gopal-" I did not expect this.. But like I said earlier, Madhura would be marrying another prince.."
Madhura-" Pitashree.. I-I don't want to marry the other prince.. Please Pitashree.. "

Madhura tried not to crack up, karna realized that and told Gopal to talk to Madhura alone while he does the same with Vrishasen.. Once the father daughter duo went out, he turned around... Vrishasen was moving his leg nervously.. Karna sighed..

Karna-" Putra.."
Vrishasen-" Pitashree.. I-I don't know but I just developed feelings for h-her."

Vrishasen cursed for shuttering so much, he didn't have the nerve to talk with his father.. Karna told him to take deep breaths,to Make the atmosphere comfortable, he gave Vrishasen a chair.

Karna-" This isn't that easy Putra.. When you have two wives there are chances for more fights.. Jealousy is the most common element in that."
Vrishasen-" I understand what you are saying.. But I won't let Snigdha or Madhura think that I love the other more.. I will love them equally.."

Karna-" Putra, at this point if you get married.. Snigdha would be heartbroken.. Marriage is a big thing.. She might feel that there's competition to make place in your heart..."

Vrishasen-" I won't let her feel that way.. In fact our life will rather go very smoothly.. We three will be at peace-"

Vrishasen explained karna, he was trying his best to convince him on the other hand Gopal was worried.. He wanted his daughter to be happy.. He was ready to cancel her marriage with the Pandya prince,if  she wasn't interested... But getting her married to Vrishasen who already had a wife and child? It had put him in deep thought...

Karna heard him out.. He could never win against Vrishasen unless they were in the arena.. He exhaled deeply..

Karna-" Listen Putra if you really love Madhura so much.. I won't stop you from marrying her.. But let me give you an advice.."

Vrishasen was happy that his father was letting him marry again.. He straightened to hear the advice...

Karna-" Putra, Snigdha and Madhura were grown in two completely different environments.. I agree Madhura is a warrior princess, and you get well with her but you cannot expect the same from Snigdha.. She is gentle like a flower and even when you slightly raise your voice it hurts her fragile heart.. So don't you DARE to  hurt her.."

The last sentence seemed like a threat.. Vrishasen was on cloud 9 he nodded and was impatiently waiting for Madhura and Gopal.. Karna could make out that the boy didn't heard him well.. He loved Snigdha like his daughter, and didn't want to see her get hurt..

That was the only thing which was bugging him.. After an hour or so, Gopal came followed by Madhura.. He had a smiley face and was ready for the marriage.. There was no greater happiness for him than his daughter's...

Madhura slightly hid behind Gopal, Vrishasen wanted to marry before going back.. He feared that Snigdha might retort... He expressed his wish to get married as soon as possible.. Madhura didn't want a big marriage, she just wanted to spend time with Vrishasen...

Karna felt everything was being hurried, when Vrishasen was getting married, he felt that he had done his job to knock some senses in Vrishasen.. Now it was in his hands.. It was his life and now his actions would decide how it will be..

Flashback ends..

Raakhi was listening attentively.. Vatsala didn't knew so much had happened before Madhura's marriage since it was her 1st year with Prativindhya.. So she wasn't here when Madhura arrived.. 

Raakhi had great imagination and she could imagine how romantic the scene was when Vrishasen asked her to marry him..

Vatsala-" Hayee! How romantic! It's good that jhest got hit by that arrow or else Madhura wouldn't be with us!"
Raakhi-" I bet it was Cupid's arrow!"

Both of them started laughing, Madhura was blushing hard.. They continued to tease her.. Madhura got up and pulled Raakhi close to her as she tried to escape.. She pulled Raakhi's cheek and hugged her..

Vatsala was laughing,she noticed Snigdha was quiet, Vatsala shaked her and gestured if she was alright.. Snigdha nodded and joined in the fun..

After some more talks, Raakhi started feeling sleepy Snigdha made her bed, Madhura untied her long hair and picked up Pradyumna.. She knew Vatsala was tired and had to stay up to fed the little one or change his pants..

Snigdha removed Vatsala hair bow, she gave her a sleepy smile, Raakhi went to sleep while rest of them went to their chambers.. Madhura kept Pradyumna beside Vatsala.. She opened the windows and blew the candle..

Madhura and Snigdha had opposite chambers.. Madhura smiled before closing the door.. Snigdha simply stared at the door.. Her eyes were teary.. She was tired by putting on a fake smile.. She shut the door behind her.. Aahuk was peacefully sleeping.. She slid beside him and a tear escaped her eye..

Flashback...

[Why is Snigdha so sad? What painful memory keeps bothering her? Stay tuned!!~]