"Hmm, Sonakshi, I love this" Arjuna exclaimed, sipping at the crimson coloured juice, "How did you make it? It is delicious!"

"It made by juicing out some herbs and fruits" she answered, shyly refilling his glass, "I will teach you later with a proper demonstration."

"I can delineate the recipe now" she continued, laughing softly at the good natured frown on his face, "But if I do, you will get confused and forget it in a few minutes. And I, I don't like my efforts to go in vain."

This time Karna burst into a hearty laughter. He looked adoringly at his wife sitting between him and Arjuna under the clear evening skies. The unruly tendrils of her soft hair tied into a careless braid blew in the gentle breeze, while her simple, shining earrings swayed rhythmically like the plants and flowers around them. He firmly restrained his desirous fingers from rolling around her perfect creamy neck glowing in the last golden rays of the setting sun, choosing instead to satisfy himself with watching her peacefully but what she did next surprised him as well as Arjun.

Sonakshi suddenly placed her head on Arjuna's lap, smiling up at him while he though shocked was certainly not displeased.

"Sonakshi, what are you doing?" Arjuna asked softly, putting aside his juice and letting his fingers twist around some of the loose tendrils of her hair.

"What does it look like I am doing?" she questioned back grinning at him, "Nothing unacceptable."

"Oh of course Sonakshi dear" he answered smiling naughtily while lifting his legs a little bringing her closer to his face, "You are looking beautiful>"

"Aarya that is the third time in the day you have said so" She laughed and then stopped abruptly.

Karna held her feet and placed it up on his leg, smiling perennially, stroking her heels and jingling her anklets.

"Aarya" she said hesitantly, "Aarya Karna..."

"Hmm?" he looked up giving her a questioning look. He noticed Arjuna too was slightly surprised.

"Aarya...why are you...?" she asked awkwardly, as their wife, she was supposed to touch their feet and not the other way round.

"Why?" Karna asked playfully, "Am I not allowed to take this liberty?"

"Yes...why not?" she answered still dazed as Karna pulled her toes sideways rhythimically, as though playing a stringed instrument.

"Aarya Karna" Sonakshi spoke up, smiling slyly, "How is your music training going? Aarya Arjun?"

Arjun nearly pushed her head away while Karna just stared wide eyed. Sonakshi grinned at them, she had caught them with the right thing!

"What happened?" she continued "Why are both of you quiet so suddenly?"

"Sonakshi, my dear" Arjuna said, pulling up her hand close to his eyes, viewing with sudden keen interest, "You have trimmed your nails a little differently from usual."

"Really, that trimming is good for playing a sitar or a tanpura, Aarya Arjun" she said, "I thought none of you would notice."

"Sonakshi, I never noticed this floral design on your anklet" Karna spoke up in his attempt to distract their wife, jingling the golden jewel at her feet all the more.

"Only four days are left" she continued undaunted by their attempted digressions, "And forgetfulness is not my trait, Aarya putron."

Her melodic laughter rang out through picturesque gardens of the palace, the greenery now painted with a tint of golden yellow of the setting sun. She laughed and smiled in contentment, she could have never imagined such happiness was ever possible a few months back.

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Hello everyone

So I thought of a light hearted chapter before we delve into their complicated past again.

Please let me know what you think of the chapter and what you liked best. Hope you enjoyed it!

Do drop by your votes and comments generously:)❤❤