Kavish

"Have you told Nakshathra about Abhimanyu?" Ahalya had asked Parthiban the first thing in the morning. They hadn't spoken much about her brother's visit to Kavish nor did she want to discuss about it. It was wrong for her to hide important matter about his sister but she had to do it to protect the alliance from breaking before it even comes together.

With a few more days left for Abhimanyu to be in Sikva, all she wanted was her husband not to spoil her plan of getting Nakshathra married to Abhimanyu. For that, she had to make sure he says nothing about it to Nakshathra. For all she knew, her sister-in-law had the capabilities to turn the table even in the last minute.

"Have appa decided to tell Nakshathra or not? If yes, I'll do the honour of telling her the news right away." Parthiban moved about getting ready for the morning prayers in a deliberate rush. Each time they had a conversation it always ends up in an argument. This time Parthiban was sure of another one coming before the sunrise.

"No, he hasn't said anything yet. Attai wants to tell Nakshathra regarding Abhimanyu herself." Ahalya noted Parthiban's halt for a moment, his hands clenched into a fist.

"And when will that be?" He snapped, his voice and face displayed nothing but annoyance. Frustrated at the way things were being conducted in the palace especially from his father who also rules the land. "After everything is over?"

Ahalya shifted her weight on either of her feet unable to meet Parthiban's piercing gaze. For all she knew, Parthiban was ever ready to stop the marriage talk for he disliked Abhimanyu, a reason many knew. The reluctant king had ordered his wife and the rest not say a word to Nakshathra, knowing she wouldn't simply agree and follow his words like his other children.

"We are afraid she might rebuke this alliance, like she does for every other issue that she doesn't like."

"What do you expect her to do when she is asked to do things she doesn't want to be pulled into?" He retorted closing the gap between them with his menacing gaze. "Will you, do it? If you father orders you to marry someone you don't have a tiny bit of liking?"

"Parthiban, I just need one help from you. Don't speak a word about Abhimanyu till he gets here. I'll appreciate your help." Ahalya turned away to avoid any arguments, she headed to the door. "If you are not aware, the king had given word to my father and even if Nakshathra doesn't like it, she will have to accept it to honour her father's words." Ahalya left and slammed the door behind her.

Parthiban stared at the closed door for so long, he wanted to punch it hard to let go of his raging anger. "Did she really think Nakshathra would agree just because appa had gave his words to get her married to Abhimanyu?" He huffed, pacing to a window in his chamber. "Nakshathra isn't like me. She will retort and I'll support her even if I have to lose you, Ahalya."

Parthiban's conversation with his wife replayed in his mind as he stayed sleepless for the night. In some time, Abhimanyu and his procession will set foot into Sikva fort and which began to elevate the tension within him. Has Nakshathra and his brothers come up with a plan to stop the talk or will his sister agree but it's unlikely of her to do the latter. Parthiban prayed to all the gods he knew to stop the marriage.

The prince of Kavish gazed up at the dark sky with orange patches here and there. The dawn seems to not want to make its presence to the world yet its schedule demanded its coming. Likewise, Parthiban wished Abhimanyu doesn't make it and returns to Pareen but here he was escorting the prince of Pareen to Sikva.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Sikva, Kavish

Nakul and Nathan followed Nakshathra to the Durga temple before they check on the preparation for the Festive of Rati. In the early morning, the temple was already bustling with devotees for their morning prayer before they begin their day. Some local folks gathered around the Heramba siblings and greeted them with all smiles, spoke about the preparation and also shared a few problems which needed some fix.

Nakul had sent Nathan and Nakshathra to head to the temple while he stayed and listened to the problems the people had in their places. When one group of people left, another gathered around him for a different reason. They had come to him with hope, their spirits lit in anticipation to hear some good news. They asked Nakul with reverence they have for their God. "Yuvaraja, will our missing sons return? We heard a few of them were brought back safely yesterday. When will our father come back? My husband? Our brothers?"

Those who were brought by Dhruva had reached sooner to their houses than Parthiban who was still escorting Abhimanyu and his procession to Sikva. The news of their arrival must have spread like a wildfire and had led the people to seek Nakul to enlighten them on the matter.

He was shaken by the question and the plead his people had put forth. What was he to say when it wasn't him nor the kingdom, retrieve the fortunate men but a man from the kingdom they all despise? What was he to say when he doesn't know where the rest of the missing men were, not even the prince of Durja? However, the crown prince maintained his composure as he addressed them reassuringly, "We have sent men to the places where we were given possible trails to find the rest. We are positive to bring more back. Rest assured and keep faith. We will find and bring them all back."

Although the palace had deployed the best army to find for the missing people outside Kavish, the apprehension of it turning a failed mission lingered among the princes and commanders. The possibilities of finding them in the said places were extremely thin, Nakul could only pray to make it easy for his men in the expedition of searching the missing Kavishians.

The group had left soon after and he was again bombarded with a different set of queries by another crowd. "Is it true? Our princess is going to get married to Prince of Pareen?" They sounded excited hoping for a celebration in addition to the festive season.

As he thought of their celebrative mode, the sound of drums rolled in from afar, distracted them. The people were intrigued at the loud music played, they took leave of the crown prince and headed towards the source of music. Nakul's eyes were trained at the direction of the sound of drums. Tall trees, houses and buildings had seized his view of the procession but the high raised blue coloured flags did not fail to scream who were they. A guard on a horse reached the crown prince with the announcement of the royal guest's arrival.

"Your Highness, the king requests the presence of Yuvaraja and Rajakumar at the palace gates as soon as possible to welcome the Yuvaraja of Pareen," notified the guard.

"Go get prince Nathan. He is in the temple and tell Nakshathra, she doesn't need to be there." He pointed at the Druga temple and left to welcome the most anticipated royal guest whom they were disparately thinking of a way to send him back.

**--**--**--**

The wide cobblestone road to the palace often a less-likely used path by commoners was now swamped by them. The bright sun, the single Peepal tree by the side of the road which offered minimal shade and the close proximity of each other added to the heat. Despite the sweat and stuffiness around them, the people of Sikva stood eager outside the palace gates in hope to get a glimpse of the foreign prince who had entered the palace a while ago.

Two people stood on top of a bell tower at the middle of the town to get a glimpse at the growing crowd. There were constant burble and arguments among the people as they pushed each other further towards the palace gate. A quite an unusual behaviour of the city folks who often choose nothing but to mind their own business.

Behind the huge gate and strong sandstone wall laid the massive palace of Sikva gleaming in gold under the blazing sunlight. A contrast to the natural hued palace, blue fabric banners adorn from the highest level of the palace to the lowest with red fabric banners arranged alternatively to symbolize the second merger of the two kingdoms; Pareen and Kavish.

A long exhale of exasperation for the unbelievable and undigestible sight, Nakshathra glided down against the brick wall and settled on the floor at the top of the bell tower. Her enthusiasm to get involved in the Rati celebration was deflated in an instant, thanks to the prince of Pareen's arrival.

However, the expectation of being in absolute distress and anxious state had vanished and she was frustrated for being the centre of topic for the pathetic of a prince's visit. Nakshathra clenched her fists tight and glared at a distance considering her love for the subjects of Kavish. How she wished to punish them all for the eagerness they were showing for the Prince of Pareen when she, the princess of Kavish hated Abhimanyu.

The prolonged silence broke as Nakshathra growled in annoyance. "Who is in charge to decorate the palace? The red and the blue doesn't go along. It's time to get a new team of decorators," she complained pointing at the palace adorned in red and blue flags.

Nathan stopped what he was doing and took a peek from behind the wall, his brows creased at the sight of the palace. He sure knew he doesn't have such a bad taste for colours because the red and blue doesn't appear to be so much mismatched. The flags hung on the walls of the palace were in sufficient amount to show respect to the visitor and it was certainly not overdone.

"You are overexaggerating it, Nakshathra. The palace looks fine for me," said Nathan and he continued to pulled the rope tied to the huge bell. He didn't want anyone to ring the bell even accidentally for it would do no good to either of them who were seated right under it.

When the palace guard came with the message for Nathan, he was ready to leave Nakshathra at the temple and head to the gate but Nakshathra chose to follow him instead, "I'll just head back to my chamber."

However, the situation outside palace had seized their way into the palace and they ended up at the bell tower to get their timely update on the status of the crowd.

"Hmm... doesn't seem to be subsiding any time sooner. I'll might as well take the honour to share what Nakul anna and I wanted to share with you earlier." Nathan dropped the coiled thick rope and sat on it comfortably.

"Yes, please shoo away the irritation I have right now with these people. Distract me, please." She massaged her head as the cheer from the crowd grew.

Nathan shook his head with a smile, "It is natural for them to see a prince from another kingdom. Not an everyday affair they get to see a prince in an elaborated procession, do they?"

"I know, I know." She rolled her eyes. "Tell me what you wanted to share." Nakshathra attempted to keep all the current issues at the back of her mind and sat erected, legs folded under her and eyes focused to her brother.

"You must have heard about some of the missing men returned last evening, right?"

She nodded.

"They were brought back to Kavish safely by your newfound friend, Dhruva and his friends," he began. Nathan filled her in with how Dhruva found them and how he tried to get the help of a prince, omitting the revelation of Dhruva's identity, keeping him as a traveller sounded better and sensible.

Meanwhile, at the mention of Dhruva's name, Nakshathra shifted her attention completely to her brother. She wasn't just taking in the information; she was building a reputable image of Dhruva in her mind—a perfect man. Who would take such a risk to bring people they hardly know back to their homes, miles away? Especially when the country he was bringing them has a tight security and would be bombarded with thousands of questions. What a risk taker.

The denial she had been giving to Arunya when asked about him and to herself, slowly lifted off. She had read many of her grandmother's stories and in every story, the one in love had gone through the similar state as hers. Distressed, apprehension, denial and fear. Can mine mean otherwise? She asked herself to which she had found an answer. Her attachment to Dhruva was indeed something more than a friend, she deduced.

Her smile shrunk, her brows creased, her eyes gazed at a distant as she remembered he had gone away without a goodbye and the chances of him returning, close to none. But she clicked her tongue. 'So, what if he doesn't come back to Kavish. I am no damsel in distress. I'm a princess bounded to none. I'll venture out of Kavish to find him wherever he is and once I find him... I'll ask him. If yes, I might just get married to him wherever he lives and go on a rescue expedition with him to find the missing. And if he says no, . . . I' might wept a couple of tears, throw tantrums and come back dejected. And focus only on my medicinal practice. It's him or none.'

Nathan observed his sister, the wide grin on her glowing face was evident. Her reaction as he, spoke of Dhruva showed her tendency of affection towards the man. Nathan was happy for her despite knowing the man she likes was none other than the prince of Durja. He personally believed, if they were to change their fate and their people's, some drastic changes with the two countries needed to be taken and allowed for a better living.

All sounds well when putting it up in the clouds but what would she do when she gets to know about his real identity?