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Kaira had decided to get married two months after Karthik's coronation, that was four months later. So the marriage would be six months from now.

Naira had requested that she wanted to begin learning things before the wedding, though Karthik's family told her she had all the time after marriage to learn and she need not pressurise herself but Naira was adamant so they gave in. Today was going to be Naira's first lessons.

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"Naira, relax princess", said Naitik looking at his daughter who was pacing up and down the room biting her nails.

"Kya hua isse munna", asked RajShekhar seeing his grand daughter looking so tensed

"Did you forget it is her first lessons today", replied Devyani who was passing by.

"Naira if you are nervous why don't you cancel the lessons, by the way Karthik's family wouldn't have any problem", said Gayu

"Not at all chori, your would be in laws are understanding but that doesn't mean you should do your manmani", said bua dadi to Naira in her typical tone.

"I am not nervous or tensed. Just curious to know about what is going to happen today and am extremely irritated at that mendak because he is also not giving me any hint.", Naira told everyone

"Rajkumari", an unknown voice called out. And all turned to see a man in a marron driver's uniform whose eyes were staring at the ground

"Aap kaun", asked Akshara approaching the stranger.

"Am come from the palace. Raj mata ne kaha unki Rajkumari ko le anne ke liye, aur yahan ka address diya.", spoke the man.

"Let's go bhaiya", said Naira and waved a bye to the family.

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Car ride

"Bhaiya, is this some shortcut to the palace. Last time Karthik didn't take this road", asked Naira confused.

"Rajkumari hum shiv niwas palace ja rahe hai. Aap shayad pichli baar city palace gayi huyi hogi.", replied the driver

"But why as far as I know sab wohi hai city palace mein so why are we going somewhere else", asked Naira

"Humein nahi pata Rajkumari, hum bas rajmata ki agya ka palan kar rahe hai", replied the driver.

"Aap mujhe Naira hi kahiye Rajkumari nahi", said Naira politely

"Nahi hum nahi khe sakte aap Rajkumar Karthik ki hone wali patni hai aur Rajasthan ki hone wali Rani.", replied the man

Naira sighed she knew it would be no use. She remembered his words.

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Flashback

"Rajkumari Naira, Rajkumar Karthik, the car is waiting for you.", announced one of the servants.

Karthik noticed her being uncomfortable at being called "Rajkumari"

"Kya hua", asked Karthik nudging her

"Nothing", she nodded negatively to which he gave her a "I don't believe you" look

"This all is just new. I mean papa also calls me princess but that is out of love but the way she (reffering to the servant) called me it was a title which am not sure am worth", she replied

"I know how you feel. When I was really young I used to like it when everyone called me Rajkumar Karthik but as I grew a bit older I started realising the weight of the name, it had started to scare me a bit that what if I wasn't what they expected of me. I tried to convince everyone to call be by my name alone, but I was their prince and they couldn't do that. I would have to be the one to get used to the title and the responsibilities that came along.", Karthik spoke

Flashback ends

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"Rajkumari Naira hum phaunch gaye", announced the driver.

"Aye Rajkumari", said another staff member who came to open the car door to let Naira out.

Naira got out and looked at beautiful palace in awe.

Her trance broke as she heard the staff member clearing his throat in an attempt to gain her attention.

"Let's go, you are being waited for", said the man who had opened the car door.

She walked into the palace. No family member was to be seen in the main hall. The servant was still walking so she followed behind.

"In here", the man said stopping near one of the doors. He pushed it open and motioned Naira to go in

"Karthik tum", asked Naira trying hard not to blush as he was standing their shirtless, wearing a pair of loose white trousers and a silk beige gold belt on his waist.

"Let's start", said Karthik coming closer to her while Naira took a step back. This continued until Naira hit the wall behind

"Karthik, koyi dekh le ga", she said blushing

"Kya dekhega, dadi ne mujhe issiliye toh yahan bheja hai", replied Karthik, a Naira's eyes turned wide as saucers. Karthik silently giggled at her reactions but she didn't notice.

"So let's start, sword fighting", he said with a smirk, picking up a sword of the nearby table.

Naira realized he had just been teasing her and got irritated.

"Tum meri taang khich rahe the", she said angrily picking up the swords and pointing it towards him

"Mein ne kuch nahi kiya agar tum andar aata hi aisa blush karne laggi bina baath ke toh meri kya galti. Main toh bas sword fighting sikhane ki baath kar raha tha, that too on Dadi's orders", retorted Karthik

"Zyada tar tar mat karo I know you. Tum bas mujhe pareshan karte ho.", she said poking the knife on him.

"Isse mujhe kuch nahi hone wala. Main pagal nahi jo sherni ke hath talvar dun, woh bhi aisi sherni jisse talvar chalan ata nahi. Yeh sab nakli hai", he told Naira.

"Tum bahut burre ho. Ek bhi call nahi kiya. Na mere phone uthiya, na message ka reply kiya", she complained banging his chest lightly with her fists.

"Ek minute, apni train roko Ms Rishikesh. Main ne apka call bhi uthiya aur messages ka reply bhi kiya", he said defending himself

"Lekin sahi jawab thodi na diya. Mein ne na janne kitni baar pucha ke aaj kya hoga, lekin tum ne bas yeh kaha ke surprise hai ab yeh toh mere puche gaye sawal ka sahi jawab nahi tha", she said in an attempt to win the arguement

"Tum ne kaha main ne reply nahi kiya. Lekin main ne kiya. Sahi ya galat woh baad ki baath hai.", Karthik continued he was in mood to loose.

Karthik's phone began to ring and he saw badi maa flash on the screen

"Naira tumhare saath hai", asked Suvarna
"Ji badi ma", replied Karthik
"Phone speaker par dal do, mujhe aur maaji ko baath karni hai", Suvarna told him
"Naira beta, hum tumhe bore nahi karna chate the phele din se hi. Karthik ne hum se kaha ke tum acha lad leti. Lekin beta jab Royal family ke kissi member par attack hota hai, there are very less chances ke woh sadak chap gunnde ho. They would most probably be assassins, trained with expert fighting skills.", said Suvarna

"Humare body guards, soldiers, sab bahut hi zyada kabil or well trained hai. Manna ke woh hai humari raksha ke liye. Lekin hum purri tarhe dependant nahi ho sakte. That is why we need to learn to fight for ourselves. Apki aaj ki lessons sword fighting hogi.", dadi spoke.

"Karthik, Naira ko please dhang se sikhao. Romance karne mein busy mat ho janna.", said

Suvarna surpressing her laugh
"Badi maa", Karthik complained

"Chalo hum phone rakhte hai, you continue jo bhi chal raha tha, pratice ya romance jo bhi", said Suvarna giggling as she kept the phone down.

"Toh kya continue karna hai. Practice ya romance", asked Karthik in a husy voice pinning her to the wall.

"Hum na practice kar rahe the na romance. Jahgda kar rahe the", she reminded

"Main nahi tum bina bath ke jhagda kar rahi thi", Karthik said

"Acha toh sarri galti", Naira was cut off by Karthik,

"Fine am sorry galti meri hi hai. Mujhe lagga tumhe surprise acha laggega, kyun ke mumma ne ek baar batiya tum cape town mein dance ke saath, self defence classes leti thi and used to like both of them. I thought you would be happy hearing about sword fighting. Lekin nahi tumhe bas bekar ka jhagda karna hai", he said in an irritated and disappointed tone.

"I am sorry", Naira apologized and Karthik smiled

"Let's start, but first change", Karthik told Naira since she was wearing a long summer dress, which wouldn't be that comfortable for movement and since these were the beginning lessons he wanted to make it easier for her.

After a while Naira came in from the attached changing room with black tights and a black sleevlees top that stuck to her body and a navy blue silk belt around her waist.

Karthik first showed her some moves at normal pace than repeated the same at a lower pace, so Naira could understand every movement and have her repeat it. This continued for about 2 and a half hours. Naira had expertised half of the basic skills and Karthik was extremely proud.

"Good work sherni, proud of you. Ab toh sherni ko talvar chalana bhi aata hai. This mendak should better be careful", said Karthik pulling her leg a bit but Naira gave no comeback. He noticed that she was lost. Lost in him if he was not mistaken. Karthik clicked his fingers infront of her face.

"Kya hua", he asked cheekily. Naira felt her cheeks go red. She had tried to ignore him during the lessons but once they were over she couldn't help but admire his hot bare upper body which now even looked more sexy as sweat continued to trickled down.

"Main woh, janti karke aati hun", she said and then ran into the changing room blushing leaving a laughing Karthik behind.

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When Naira entered the changing room, she noticed a dressed lying in there which wasn't there earlier. She picked it and saw a note attached.

"Will this princess give her prince a pleasure of a lunch date", the note read and she smiled and got ready

A servant was waiting outside as she exited the room where the had been praticing. He escorted her out of the palace to the front garden. Karthik was waiting for her ready in a blue faded, a white t shirt and a pale yellow coat. The place was beautifully decorated.
"You are looking gorgeous", Karthik complimented and Naira gave a shy smile and sat down as Karthik pulled the chair for her. The had a peaceful and romantic lunch date feeding each other as they watched the calm waters.

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