Ye teri aur meri
Mohabbat hayat hai
Har lamha isme jeena
Muqaddar ki baat hai

Kehti hai ishq duniya jise
Kehti hai ishq duniya jise
Meri jaan-e-mann
Iss ek lafz mein hi chhupi qaaynaat hai.

(The chapter is not edited. It's still in the first draft. Ignore the mistakes. )

Thank you polarbearontherun for making these beautiful aesthetics. I love them. 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Master junious stood at the outskirts of the palace borders waiting for the familiar chariot to come into his view.

"I see the chariot, master " Meglos whispered his eyes fixed on the lenses of the binoculars.

"For the first time, your binoculars are of some use meglos. " Meglos snorted stamping his feet stubbornly showing his disinterest in the sentence muttered by his master. Meglos was the closest person who accompanied zravasya and master junious from Romania with other people who decided to follow the man they respected.

Just like master Junious, meglos was not a soldier or a person who served zravasya. He was his friend more like a brother. The bond shared by the commander who was living in the village fighting the local intruders, meglos and other companions from Romania with zravasaya was the bond tied from heart to heart.

Master Junious smiled as the chariot came closer to the place he stood with meglos. Meglos grinned walking quickly towards the entrance of the chariot. He opened the door of the chariot his lips quivering in an endless grin.

"Mother " he whispered holding the hand of the old lady helping her to step down from the steps of the chariot. The lady held the end of her veil in her left fist caressing the head of the man she loved as her son. She smiled looking at the man who stood a few steps away smiling at her.

"Still the little guy never leaves the hand of his mother. " Master Junious commented smirking at meglos who smiled back looking at his mother and master.

"Master Junious " She bowed slightly paying her respects to the man who sanctified his hard work and years of hard work to become the man he is today.  

"Palasha" he replied smiling kindly at the woman standing in front of him.

"How is my son? Do the kingly duties suit him" She asked as they walked inside the palace, taking the surroundings gracefully in her eyes. Palasha always did this. She loved to walk inside the palace and take everything which her son has conquered.  It was the pride she held. 

This life she was living was bliss and the result of the 26 years she suffered in slavery.   Meglos picked a stone from the ground and tossed it up and down on his wrist. He was always the cheerful man in the group. The one who was busy in his world happy in his mindset. Meglos never held his past with him he believed in living in present and enjoying the hell out of that.

"He handles it like a divinity. I never thought he will be this skilled in the kingly duties but your lullabies have worked. His mind was always witty and smart he is using it in the right way. The people love him. " He started caressing his hands together. 

"And what about you meglos? " Meglos threw the rock away and turned his face towards the lady walking right ahead of her, his back facing the front of them.

"I eat. I sleep. I work. I train. I fight and I irritate everyone. In all mother, I don't desire heaven this is heaven. " he stretched his hands hugging all the imaginary air circling him.

Palasha laughed lightly adjusting the veil on her head which got disarrayed due to the wind blowing around them.

"What about the treaty master? I heard that zravasya has chosen the queen " She asked desperately.

"He is bewitched. When Loki said that hind princesses are skilled in the art of bewitching he was right. Zravasaya is mesmerized by the asakian princess. "

Meglos laughed looking at the stunned expression made by his master.

"Mother, who are you asking? Master junious who has stayed single all his life this saint. How will he describe the fondness of the married life? " He teased earning a slap on his head by his master.

"Is the treaty profitable? "

"It is, Royal advisor achyut says the treaty with Asaka will profit us and is a strong step towards other kingdoms. Asaka is the biggest kingdom after rakshatra marrying the princess of Asaka will make other kingdoms pact with us too. This is a very smart move. "

"The king of the Asaka arrived today. He is a nice man. He respects zravasya.  I thought he will be mean and annoying but he is like a big man who wants hugs.  But he never says what he wants. " Meglos said chuckling grabbing another stone from the ground and playing with it.

"Did you meet the princess meglos? "

Meglos stopped in his track, his eyes widening and realization hitting him.

"I would like to meet her but  before I want to meet zravasya. Master junious please lead the way. " Meglos jumped with enthusiasm following his mother and master junious. 

"When you come across a flower, thread the wire underneath the bloom. You are binding just the stems together. Once the crown is secure, snip the excess wire off. Gently tuck both ends of the wire into the braided stems. Here your flower crown is ready " Rakasa held the crown in her hands showing it to the princess standing in front of her.

Tanirika looked at the crown in her hand and attached the ends of the wire just how rakasa told her. She squealed looking at her hard work. A smile appeared on her beautiful face as she showed her crown to rakasa and lekha.

"Rakasa why is mine not working? "

"Lekha your stem is weak. You must select a strong stem. A strong stem leads to the union of two ends. " Rakasa held her crown in her hand and gave her the one which she made.

Lekha smiled holding the crown given by rakasa as the trio indulged themselves in talks regarding the flowers they were going to choose for the other crown.

"I am going to make more flower accessories for you princess, it's your Haldi ceremony in a few hours. " Rakasa said smiling towards tanirika who was busy sulking. Rakasa bowed and exited the garden of ausbaug.

Lekha stared at the retrieving figure of rakasa. Once she was out of her she peered at tanirika and shook her head in hostile motion. 

"Tanirika you are getting married tomorrow and you have your Haldi ceremony in a few hours. " She said combing tanirika's hairs with her fingers.

"I know. I am delighted. " She whispered sarcastically.

"No woman is ready to get married tanirika. I understand but don't behave like this. I can't see you like this. If you want to talk about anything then I am here. "

"I don't want to talk about anything. I have to do this and I am going to do this I am just going to miss home. I don't think when I will visit asaka again. " she plucked the jasmine from its stem, plucking it's petals one by one.

"We knew this was going to happen right. We were ready for it, weren't we? "

"It was easy to say at that time but as the time of the wedding comes closer I find myself a mess. I don't know if I could do this. I don't know if I can be a good wife. A good queen. "  She stared helplessly with sadness in her eyes at lekha.

"You are a princess. Don't forget you are a rajyavanshi. The fearless princess of Asaka. You were born to be a queen and you will be a queen. A true queen. I believe that.  This time will pass and soon you will find yourself in a better place future always holds happiness for us. " She said caressing the back of the princess.

"Let's go I have to get ready for the ceremony. "

Tanirika never had a mother figure in her life. To deal with these situations was never her portray. She was scared about everything which was happening around her and everything which was going to happen. The thing she craved for was someone's hand on her forehead and assurance that everything will be fine. Her father arrived two days which was a relief for her. But he came alone, her little brother didn't accompany him nor her sister. Maybe they were busy, but she knew no one wanted to take part in the wedding of the barbaric king who took their lands from them.

But what about her. She was supposed to spend her whole life with that man. The knowledge she knew about the king was a mess.  Some said he was cruel but he was soft to her. Maybe it was because he didn't want to tangle with the treaty. After all the treaty would strengthen his hold on hind.

Palasha walked inside the private meeting room with master junious and meglos following her. The courtier standing at the gate announced her arrival. She entered the hall proudly, her head held high while she left out pallu wrapped in the left hand.

The King sat in the centre of the hall with the king of asaka on his left with his two men behind him and royal advisor achyut on the right with the army counsellor.

The men stood in respects as palasha entered the hall. She strolled towards her song engulfing him in an affectionate hug. Zravasaya wrapped his hands around his mother smiling contently in her soothing hold.

"This whole place was empty without you, mother " He whispered taking her left hand in his hold and kissing her knuckles.

She smiled checking his whole face registering every detail of his spectacular face in her dark eyes. She was proud of him he was the reason the woman was living this life. He was the reason her heart would beat and she would pray to God.

"Mother, meet The king of Asaka King Tanaya. His closest counsellor And his maternal son The prince of Abhileshghar Samvarta. " The three men nodded at the woman standing in front of them. She bowed with her joint hands paying respect to the king and his companions.

It was no secret that she ranked lower in the system of caste. But her place was higher than any royal subjects as she was a mother to the king of rakshatra.

"Why don't you sit with us mother? Join the discussion we are finalising the final article of the treaty between Rakshatra and Asaka. "
Master junious, meglos and palasha took their places on the empty seats lying in the hall while the others resumed their discussion. 

"To complete the chaturanga, we require infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephants. The infantry is well developed in both kingdoms. But for treaty's sake. Four Romanian well-built soldiers will join the army of Asaka. And in return, four soldiers of Asaka will join the army of rakshatra. This will help both the kingdoms to strengthen their army ties. "
Royal advisor achyut concluded. The kings nodded as no question was raised.

At the end of the long discussion, which lasted for 5 hours both the kingdoms concluded the treaty of multiple kingdoms by sealing the deal between asaka and rakshatra. 24 kingdoms were represented by the kingdom of Asaka, who signed the treaty with the biggest kingdom of hind Rakshatra, promising welfare and gold to the kingdom and the hand of the royal princess of Asaka.

"Everything is finalised.  And we hope that our bond keeps getting stronger King zravasaya" The king of Asaka asserted with a curt nod.

"There is still a procedure left mamasa (Uncle) " Prince samvarta added.

"What is it, prince? "

"As the treaty is being consolidated with the bond of marriage between the princess and the king. The princess of Asaka holds the right to ask any three things for herself from the king. "

"What does that mean? She can ask anything. This is a trap. " Master junious rasped in exoneration. 

"The wishes have rules. But she holds the right. For better relations between the kingdoms, the one who is sacrificing and getting married is the princess. So she holds the right to ask anything from the king. It's a personal matter between the king and her. You and we all have no point between that. " He added standing absolutely in her sister's favour. 

"Is this written in the books of arbiter, prince samvarta? " The king asked?

"It is the right son. The princess holds the right of asking you three things it's her hold on you. That is the law. " Palasha added remembering all the knowledge she knew about the hind. After all, she belonged to this land.

"Fine. I  Zravasaya, King of rakshatra give my word that I will fulfil three wishes of my wife, princess of Asaka and would be queen of Rakshatra "   The stamp was sealed on the paper as the promise was bonded.

"My king, you need to get ready for the wedding rituals. " Royal advisor achyut expressed.

Zravasya nodded standing on his feet he left the room.  

The whole hall was filled with ladies, gossiping and smiling as they were assembled for the Haldi ceremony of the royal wedding. The hall was covered in a thick layer of flowers and they are a bundle of joy, beautifully crafted to add positivity and freshness to your big day.

Tanirika was sitting in the middle of the hall with her knees closer to her chest and feet in the large bowl made of copper. She was wearing a white beautiful lehenga while her accessories were made of flowers. A flower crown sat on her forehead hiding the maang tika in its self. She was wearing a traditional Kalire which were crafted using dried coconuts, lotus seeds, and fresh different flowers. The floral set consists of Choker Neck Piece, Kaliree Style Haath Phool, Nose Nath, Maang Tikka, Anklets, Hair Pins & Hair Bead Chains. 

A bowl of auspicious oil, some grass straps were kept near the bride to start the ceremony.  The hall was filled with laughter and whispers and tanirika sat alone with lekha on her side and rakasa on her left.

Palasha entered the hall with the bowl of Haldi used from the groom's side. According to the ritual, the groom's leftover Haldi is applied to the bride which is an intimate gesture. Lekha took the bowl from palasha and brought it towards the priest lady who was supposed to start the ritual.

"My princess, this is the mother of King, Queen mother palasha.  " The lady who stood beside palasha said. Tanirika stood from her place and touched the feet of the older woman who smiled looking at her. Palasha held her in midway, whispering blessing in her ears. She smiled gazing at the beautiful princess who was looking breathtaking in her simple attire.

"Now I know why he is bewitched. Who won't like this gorgeous face? The moon would-be is jealous of you. " She mumbled lovingly. Tanirika smiled at the woman who showered affection towards her.

"Shall we start lady palasha? " The lady who was sitting beside the priestess asked. Palasha nodded ushering tanirika to take her seat.

The ladies took part in the Haldi ceremony wishing wellbeing and happiness to the bride. One by one they all performed the ritual by applying the paste of turmeric on her face, hands and legs.

After the ceremony, tanirika was instructed to sit in the larger container filled when milk was the turmeric on her was washed by the priestess and higher status woman. The removal of Haldi signified the removal of all the evil spirits and thoughts circling the bride.

My Wattpad was glitching. It was not allowing me to upload images and chapter I was so frustrated. I wrote half of the chapter yesterday but as I was not able to update yesterday I made this chapter a little longer.

I hope you liked this chapter.

I would like to point out something. I update in a go. I never read what I write. So if I made some mistakes I never check them. So y'all can comment there if you find some mistakes I will edit that.

Though I will edit this whole book when I complete this book. I use an app call Grammarly which helps me in vocabulary and grammar but it has a side effect it makes indian words tangle so sometimes Rakshatra becomes Nakshatra.

Anyways, thank you for giving this book a chance. I know its not perfect.  But still yeah.

Can y'all make more inline comments I like them?

The next chapter is the wedding. 

Well any suggestions for the cast? Who do you want to see as zravasaya and tanirika? Drop here. 

What will be the three wishes?

Well, tanirika is smart she can ask him anything. Any guesses?

Love aditi❣.