"Yuvrani! Maine suna aap Saurashtra waapas ja rhi hain.", Jimin said, approaching Aashna as she sat on the swing, humming a soft melody.

"Ji Kumar.", she said, turning towards him. Her eyes met his, and he held her tender gaze. No words were exchanged for a few moments, the two of them were just looking at each other, probably trying to contemplate each other's emotions, or just basking in the comfort the silence provided. For a moment, it was just the two of them, the surroundings blurred into nothingness. Oh, how they wished for the time to stop then and there, but the Kaal Chakra continued, rolling into minutes from seconds. Stubborn much!

Jimin dropped his gaze first, as he asked-"Kya mai bhi aapke sath chal sakta hu?"

She smiled. "Awashya!"

"Soch lijiye Rajkumari, pareshan toh nhi ho jaayengi?"

She raised her brows, pretending to contemplate the question. "hmm... Kadachit aap uchit hi keh rhe hain, Kumar. Aapko yahin ruk jaana chahiye."

Jimin nodded slowly, and then, raised his gaze to meet hers again. "Kintu kumari, yadi mai nhi gya toh aapko meri yaad aayegi, aur aap man laga kar koi karya bhi nhi kar paayengi, jisse aapki praja santusht nhi hogi. Aur ye ek yuvrani ko shobha nhi deta, hai na. Isliye, aapka mitra hone ke naate ye mera kartavya hai ki mai aapke sath chalu." 

Aashna was trying so hard not to laugh on the theories he was providing, to maintain the serious demeanour of their talk. "Itni chinta hai aapko meri, Kumar!"

Jimin nodded like a little child, and she chuckled. "Uchit hai. Phir toh aap mujhe thoda bhot pareshan kr hi skte hain."

A small smile made its way to Jimin's lips, as he asked- "satya?"

Aashna hummed in response, her face mirroring his smile.

***

Rishika stood in the balcony of her room, looking outside, enjoying the pleasant weather. The sky was devoid of clouds, and was visible in its full glory. The sun was rising, and its beautiful reddish hue made the sky even prettier. The breeze was caressing her cheeks gently, like a lover who met his beloved after an eternity, and couldn't help but touch her to make sure she indeed was real.

"Rishika didi"

She turned towards the door to find an excited Manavi coming inside with a basket of flowers in her hand. She was dressed in a yellow saree, and her body was bereft of any ornament, except the yellow bangles complimenting her saree and the anklets, which were ringing with every step she took. "Kya baat hai Manavi?"

Manavi kept the basket of flowers on the bed, and turned towards Rishika. "Didi, aaj mujhe pushp shringar krne ki ichichha hai." Manavi looked at the elder with puppy eyes, and Rishika chuckled.

"Toh hamari priy dhanurdhar ko pushp shringar karna hai?" Rishika teased, and Manavi nodded eagerly.

"chalo phir!" They both sat down. Rishika started doing Manavi's shringar, while the later helped her occasionally and provided her company with her never ending talks. Rishika loved how Manavi could find excitement in anything and everything, and hoped that life won't change her lively nature. Living for centuries has surely told her that life is no bed of roses, no matter how rich or poor the person is. Life is filled with trials and tribulations, and holds the capacity of breaking the strongest of people. That was primarily the reason why rajkumari Rishika decided to become a tapasvini, but unfortunately, she didn't get to become one.

She still remembers that ill-fated day, or maybe not so ill-fated, considering she got to meet the lord of the universe himself, who, she probably wouldn't have been able to meet even after years of tapasya. He certainly is not an easy god, or is he? Someone smiled at some other part of the palace hearing her thoughts. "Am I?" he wondered out loud.

"Kahaan kho gyi, didi?", she blinked out of her reverie, hearing Manavi's words. The younger was looking at her with her big doe eyes, which were now enhanced with the help of a kajal. Rishika shook her head as if to say 'nothing'. "Tum baithho." Manavi sat back down, and Rishika went back to the task at hand.

"Aapko pata hai... Padma didi, Aashna didi aur Rajkumar Krishiv aaj se teen din pashchat Dwarka se prasthan karne wale hain", Rishika hummed. She was aware that the prince and princesses will soon be leaving for their own kingdoms. No wonder, there was a hint of sadness in Manavi's tone. She was young, and gets attached easily. Rishika knew this. Personally, for her, although Padmakshi and Aashna were great friends, she was not someone who gets attached to anyone easily. Moreover, her long life has made her immune to happiness and sadness. So, she wasn't really affected that much. She knew that the girls will leave one day or the other, and she accepted it.

********

Yes, you are a tough god, Govind. Cause if you aren't, why don't you come to us? Why do you make us wait for so long.

Anyway guys, Rakshabandhan is coming and then we have Janmashtami. What're you planning on gifting our very own birthday boy?