It was night time, the day had swiftly passed for Rameshwari by playing with Mrunmaye and Shaurya-Shakti. Together with Ulka, they had played a lot of games, but only after they were approved by Lakshman.

In fact, they wanted to play hide and seek but Lakshman denied them, knowing that if the kids play it, Rameshwari and Mrunmaye will hide together.

Being the protective uncle he was, he kept a keen eye on them throughout the day and until sunset, the entire they played.

Right now, Rameshwari was lying on the bed, with Ulka massaging her feet. The param-sakhi knew, after a long day the soft feet of the princess must be aching even though she didn't show it.

Ulka looked at the face of her friend, who seemed to be lost in some thoughts with a smile on her face.

"Rajkumari, kya soch rahi hai ?" Ulka asked.

"Rajkumar Mrunmaye ke baare mei." Rameshwari said.

"Uff. Rajkumar ke baare mei kyu sochna ? Woh atyant krudh hai !" Ulka said.

"Kaha krudh hai ? Muskura ke toh baat karte hai." Rameshwari said frowning.

"Keval aapke samaksh muskurate hai. Anya kisi se thik se baat bhi nahi karte." Ulka said.

"Tab toh aur bhi accha hai...." Rameshwari smiled.

"Kya accha hai Rajkumari ? Unhone aaj mujhe 'bad-boli' bola." Ulka said.

"Upahaas kar rahi hu Ulka." Rameshwari said sitting straight up and pinching the chubby cheeks of Ulka.

"Rajkumari !" The plump girl whined as Rameshwari laughed even more.

Ulka folded her hands, turning her head to the other side.

"Accha accha, kshama karna. Tum mere gaal kheech lo." Rameshwari said.

"Aisa dussahas mai nahi kar sakti." Ulka said.

"Thik hai. Toh mai karti hu." Rameshwari said pulling the chubby cheeks of Ulka even.

"RAJKUMARI !" She whined.

------

It was the next morning, in the court of Ayodhya Maharaj Ratnakar Sagar, put forward the proposal of establishing the trade relations.

The ministers of Shri Ram had unanimously agreed to the clauses, deeming it beneficial for both the kingdoms.

And hence Shri Ram accepted the proposal after discussing the clauses one by one with his ever-smiling eloquent ministers.

On the other side in the royal courtyard of the palace, Rameshwari and Ulka
along with the sons of Bharat and Lakshman were gathered to play with Mrunmaye and Shaurya-Shakti.

Or more like they were trying to decide what to play but weren't able to since the cousins of Rameshwari were busy admiring Mrunmaye. To them the prince of Shripuram seemed like an ideal boyhood specimen.

"Rajkumar ka kad kitna lamba hai..." Taksh said.

"Bhujaaye bhi lambi hai, Tatshree jaisi." Pushkal said.

"Tum sab keval meri prashansa karoge kya hum kuch khelenge bhi ?" Mrunmaye asked.

"Swar bhi madhur hai." Angad said hearing his voice.

"Mere bade bhaiya hai hi sarvottam." Shaurya-Shakti said.

"Satya-vachan." Rameshwari muttered under her breath, and got nudged by Ulka.

"Shaurya tum bhi ab shuru na ho jana." Mrunmaye said with narrowed frowned eyes.

"Bhrukuti bhi taan lete hai." Chandraketu said seeing Mrunmaye's frowned eyebrows.

"Bas bhi karo." The prince of Shripuram whined.

"Kuch khelte hai." Rameshwari said.

"Ha. Shigreh socho." Ulka said.

"Nilayankrida ?" Shaurya-Shakti asked. (Hide and seek)

"Ha Nilayankrida ! Kal humne nahi kheli thi yeh." Rameshwari said.

"Mai jaake ginti hu. Shart yeh hai ki koi aangan se bahar nahi chhupega." Ulka said.

"Uchit hai." The rest agreed.

Ulka then went towards a tree and started counting as the rest of kids started running here and there to find a place to hide.

Taksh and Pushkal were quick to hide under the flowery grooves while Angad and Chandraketu went and hid behind the pillars of the pavilion located on the side of the garden, whereas Shaurya-Shakti went and hid behind the bushes.

Since all the good spots were taken so quickly Rameshwari looked around, trying to find a place as Ulka's counting were also about to come to an end.

Suddenly her hand was grabbed by Mrunmaye as he pulled her down behind the very tree on whose other side Ulka was counting.

"Woh yaha nahi dhundh payegi." Mrunmaye whispered with a grin while Rameshwari kept a hand over her mouth to supress her giggle.

And what Mrunmaye said indeed turned out to be true. Ulka went around and it didn't took her long to locate all the boys as their hiding spots, although good but were quite obvious.

But Ulka couldn't imagine that Rameshwari and Mrunmaye would be hiding behind the very same tree where she had been counting.

She went on and on looking around for them but failed to seek them out while Rameshwari and Mrunmaye kept suppressing their giggles, sitting underneath the tree.

Soon Lakshman came and was quick to figure out that the kids were playing hide and seek. He saw all the kids who had been seeked till now, and frowned realising Rameshwari is not there and neither is Mrunmaye.

'Yeh dono saath mei toh nahi chhupe ?' He thought worriedly.

"Rajkumar Mrunmaye !" Lakshman called.

At that Mrunmaye came out from behind the tree with Rameshwari, as Ulka looked at them with mouth slightly open, surprised that they were hiding just underneath nose, whereas Lakshman looked at the both raised brows.

"Oho Chachashree. Aapne krida bigaad di." Rameshwari said.

"Krida band karo ab. Kyuki Rajkumar Mrunmaye ko apne rajya wapas Jana hai. Unke Mata Pita unhe aur Kumar Shaurya-Shakti ko bula rahe hai." Lakshman said.

At that Rameshwari looked at Mrunmaye with a brooding expression, sad that he has to leave now. Mrunmaye looked at her face and chuckled before pinching her cheeks.

Lakshman looked at them both with wide eyes whereas Ulka gasped.

"Aisa dussahas !?" Ulka exclaimed.

At that Mrunmaye looked at her, his expression making it clear he was so done with her.

"Tum na badi bad-boli ho." He said.

"Mujhe bad-boli kaise bola !?" She exclaimed.

"Mitrata mei chalta hai Ulka." Mrunmaye said.

"Mitrata ?" Ulka frowned.

"Ha. Rajkumari ke mitra mere mitra." Mrunmaye said.

He then took his leave with Shaurya-Shakti and left following Lakshman. But he turned around once to look at Rameshwari.

"Shigreh milenge Rajkumari !" Mrunmaye said waving his hand.

"Awashya !" Rameshwari smiled waving back.

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A/N

Chhotu sa pyara sa Mruneshwari milan....

Now it's time for another TIMESKIP✨