Aaryaveer's POV

"Don't move aahhhh" I said as I grabbed the naked hands of Aaryawati and pinned her on the bed.

"This is cheating. Ohhhhh" she arched her back as I licked her neck while her semi naked soft body touched mine, under the messy silk sheets.

"Everything is fair in love and war. Besides, I am here to prove you wrong." I said as I bit her earlobe and sucked it gently.

"Ohhhhh" she tried to move unsuccessfully. Tonight I was in no mood to let her go. We had met after so many days.

If you are wondering what happened next, then you guessed it right. We won the war. From both the fronts.

While my army captured the fort of Sanket Kingdom, we managed to capture the kingdom and bring it under our control. It was decided that Utsav would be summoned (if he was alive) and made the de facto ruler of Sanket Kingdom under the indirect control of Aaryasatta kingdom.

Since the war was brief, I never got opportunity to communicate with Aaryawati. I didn't know if we won or lost. So we all rushed to my kingdom, only to find heaps of corpse lying in the front of fort while the whole public had accumulated in the front of the fort. Amidst the deafening cheering, I found Veerti (in the veil) removing the flag of Sanket Kingdom and hosting the flag of Aaryasatta kingdom. As the attention of the crowd got diverted towards us, we received a heroic welcome. But I was concerned only for Aaryawati aka Veerti and my family. She looked down at me, and gave me an intense stare.

I entered the fort, only to find the female warriors being thanked by Veerti for their services. They were departing.

She looked at me and Guruji and rushed towards us Guruji. She touched his feet and he blessed her. He was overjoyed and expressed how felt proud of her. She then turned towards me.

"Your Majesty" she bowed. "I would like to share a pleasant news. We won!" She said with utmost humbleness.

"Congratulations Veertiji. We are proud to fight under your leadership." I tried to be formal, even though I wanted to hug her tight and never let her go.

Nakul and Bhramadutta snickered while Guruji looked at them, puzzled.

"Guruji, the horsemen are calling for you. They need your advise as to what to do with the injured animals!" Utsav arrived and thankfully distracted Guruji, who rushed to fulfil the chore.

"Well done, Bhabhisa. We are proud of you!" Snickered Nakul and Brahamadutta.

She looked at me angrily .

"Don't worry sister in law. Your secret is safe with us!" Laughed Brahamadutta .

We all talked about what happened the previous night and I was relieved to know that my family was safe and sound. I was impressed with the cunning mind of my wife.

"She is great at strategy making!" Complimented Utsav. I wondered if she was equally strategic on bed. I wanted her on my bed as soon as possible .

Veerti seemed to understand what went inside my head but decided to tease me further by not reacting. By being lazy.

"Hurry. We are now opening the tunnel. Sister in law, you might want to disappear into thin air." Warned Utsav.

Veerti rushed to her chambers and I followed her. Before she could close the door on my face, I stopped her, went inside and locked it.

"I need to change." She stated.

"Go ahead and change. I don't mind." I said as I laid on my bed to enjoy the sight of her beauty.

Before she could speak anything, we overheard the maid announcing "Your Majesty, The King father and Queen mother want to meet you."

Aaryawati giggled as she hurriedly wore her saree. I gave her a mock stern expression. It was not over.

We greeted our parents. My father seemed to be shocked as what Aaryawati was doing in the fort. Aaryawati replied that she had heard about their victory and decided to return to the kingdom.

"What about your pregnancy?" My father was shocked.

"Actually," Aaryawati looked at the floor sheepishly, "it was a false pregnancy alarm."

Before my father could further ask any question, my mother provided with her casual comment/ explanation.

"It happens many times with women. Due to anxiety, ladies miss periods and physicians assume that they are pregnant. When Aaryaveer went to the war, Aaryawati was devastated. We all know how wives worry about their husbands." She said.

I could see her giving look to Aaryawati and within a split of second, I knew that my mother was also involved into the truth.

"It's all right  daughter . I am glad that the whole family is perfectly safe and sound." Said Father as he hugged me and my wife.

Suddenly I found Harisenji Guruji coming forward to meet my parents and wife. After exchange of polite greetings, he praised A brave girl named Veerti. How she managed to help them win the war with an upper hand.

"I suggest we appoint her as one of the court ministers."  He said.

My father was eager to meet the mysterious woman but none of the servants could find her.
While they were talking, I saw Aaryawati quietly slipping away into the farthest corner of the chamber. I looked at my mother who signalled to stay quiet.

When she returned, she produced a parchament to Guruji.

"I found this on the throne. I thought it belonged to you." She said as she handed Guruji the parchament.

Guruji read it aloud

"Dear Guruji,

It was my privilege to be able to fight the war under your guidance. It is once in a lifetime opportunity especially for any woman, to fight in your company. However, I need to keep my identity a secret because you see, we live in a patriarchal society. I have no intentions to land my family into trouble due to reveal of my identity.

As I am treading towards my new life, I promise to you that Whenever our kingdom would drown into the crises, I will rise and lend my contribution. After all, Aaryasatta is my motherland. Even though it was a war, I shall cherish your guidance.

Any kingdom would rise and prosper if the women belonging to that kingdom are strong and happy. Therefore I request you to make every women war savvy and independent. That's my only request.

Your student,
Veerti.

Guruji had tears in his eyes. He requested us to open a Gurukul for the young women and we all happily complied. I saw Aaryawati struggling to hide her tears with her smiles. My mother held her hand and pressed it tightly.

As everyone retired to their chambers, I grabbed Aaryawati's hand and took her to a dark isolated corner.

"Tonight, you will bare all your secrets." I whispered into her ears and I pinned her against the wall.

"What if I don't tell them?" She teased me.

"I will find out." I said as I bit her earlobe and took her into her chambers.

I was sure that tonight I would make new discoveries.