Thank you so much for voting and commenting on the previous chapter.

This is one of the longest chapters I ever wrote. Hope you guys like it.

Many of you wanted to see how did tanirika's neck piece looked so here's a picture of how it was supposed to look.

Tanirika's emerald choker necklace. 

Tanirika entered the feasting chambers followed by her sister and nephew with lekha and rakasa following behind. Her aquamarine colored lehenga shone brightly under the illusion created by the various lamps and the chandelier hanging in the middle of the chambers.

She was looking forward to meet her husband's dear friend who apparently held her husband's interest more than her. Tanirika was a possessive woman and when it came to her husband she was the most possessive woman. 

Tanirika nodded at the announcer and the guards stationed outside the gate as they bowed when she walked. She could hear the conversations with a dull volume echoing from inside but nothing was clear.

"What is it that I dont know, Advisor Achyut?" She questioned the moment she entered the hall. Meglos started coughing horribly making Loki roll her eyes with the smirk evident on his face.

"Are you OK, meglos?" Tanirika whispered facing her friend who nodded trying to force a smile at her.

"You didn't even eat anything then why are you  choking?" She asked as he gulped the glass of water kept beside him.

"Well he dreamed of getting choked to death, Tanirika" Loki smirked patting meglos's back to ease his pain. 

"No Master meglos cannot die so soon he has to teach me how to fight. " Divith jerked away in terror from his mother's hold. Meglos rolled his eyes everyone here was selfish. Her eyes fell on his little rose who had worry lines creasing on her forehead. She was worried for him and that made him happy.

"I didn't know you brought this brat with you from Asaka" Loki snapped glaring at Divith who stuck his tongue out at him.  Loki was about to pull him towards himself when he ducked back hugging Tanirika tightly.

"Loki, do not trouble divith he is sick" 

"Is Rakshatra not suiting you, little prince?" Zravasaya asked divith who peaked from Tanirika's side at the man who questioned him. He stared at Tanirika who nodded silently answering his question.

"But you said he has a round bo-" Tanirika cupped his mouth in her Palms cutting him in midway. She forced a smile at him with her eyes narrowed in realization. Divith scrunched his eyebrows in confusion glaring at his Massisa as she hinted to answer the question of the king. 

"Prince divith bows in respect in the glory of mighty king  of Rakshatra. " Divith whispered slowly bowing his head with respect at Zravasaya.

"You did not answer my question?"

"Uh- "  He looked back Tanirika who cocked an eyebrow at him which made him sigh in defeat.

"I spent too much time jumping in the water which made me sick. " He whispered softly.

"And someone desires to use a sword "

"I will behead you. " Divith snarled at loki who smirked in response.

"It will only take 2 seconds to squeeze your soul out of your body little nuisance "

"Loki"  Tanirika snapped. Loki laughed lightly shaking his head making divith glare at him more.

"I do not like you"

"Mutual feelings little prince. I hate kids" He whispered patting Meglos's who jerked his hand away.

Ayas tried to hold the context the whole scenario which was playing infront of him. He waited patiently for Zravasaya to introduce the woman who entered the chambers. The aura the woman held screamed power and pride. The grace of her texture and body language held thousands of unanswered questions his mind was putting forward.

Mehfil who was talking to Palasha had now long forgotten the conversation she was having. Her eyes were fixed on the brown skin woman who entered the chambers few minutes ago. The atmosphere of the chambers seems to be heavy as she stared at the woman standing in the middle with some other women. Mehfil looked at tanirika and then at the other woman one thing she had realized was that these were the same women she saw in the garden.

"Tani, we were having this very interesting conversation. I am sure you will love it " Meglos chimed in smiling at Zravsaya then at Tanirika who playfully looked at her husband and then at her friend.

"Ayas," Zravsaya called his friend who forced a smile and stared back at him. Tanirika stood firmly facing parallel to the padishah as her husband began to introduce them.

Tanirika stood like the queen she was. Unlike others she wasn't a queen of a single kingdom, she was the Queen on two kingdoms. Two most powerful kingdoms in Hind. Asaka and Rakshatra. While she shared the monarchy of Rakshatra with her husband she singlehandedly ruled Asaka as the sole monarch.

"Tanirika, my queen this is my dearest friend Ayas, The king of persia"

Ayas clashed his eyes with Tanirika who had a small firm smile on her face. She joined her hands in greeting paying her respects to the King of Persia. Ayas wished her back his eyes burying the dreams he had for his sister in the depth of darkness. Tanirika could read his eyes, there was something terrible in his orbs. Sadness or shock or both. She couldn't lay her hand on it but she was sure that this man was hiding something.

"I- I didn't know you were married " Ayas forced these words out of his mouth trying to mask his expression.

"Well it was necessity of the circumstances and maybe the stars wanted it to happen"

Zravasaya chimed forwarding his palm towards Tanirika who placed her palm in his. Zravasaya helped Tanirika to take her place which was beside him. She set to his left where his heart resided. Tanirika smiled at her husband as she sat on one of the two large cushions placed in the middle. Once she was comfortable lekha who stood behind her adjusted her black embroidered shawl properly on her shoulders which was complimenting her emerald aquamarine attire. Once lekha was done, Zravasaya took his seat beside tanirika, their knees brushing against each other.

Ayas glanced at his sister who kept staring at Tanirika and Zravasaya. He clasped his sister's hand in his squeezing it lightly he shook his head in denial sending comfort to her with his eyes. Mehfil gulped inaudibly closing her eyes as she tried to digest the scenario infront of her eyes.

Her heart had just burst into million of pieces. The man she kept admiring and dreaming since years belonged to someone else. He already had a woman in his life.

Was there a possibility that he could ever be hers?

But what if the other woman had already claimed him?

Mehfil was brought out of her thoughts when she felt another squeeze on her palm. She looked around finding all pairs of eyes on her.

"Mehfil, Zravasaya was introducing you to the queen " Ayas informed her. She nodded at her brother. Mehfil moved her gaze towards the woman who sat beside the man her heart desired. A sudden ache in her heart pressurized her to bawl her eyes out but she refrained herself. 

"Princess Mehfil, we welcome you to the Kingdom of Rakshatra. " Tanirika wished the princess with a small smile resting on her face. Mehfil wished her back looking straight in her eyes. Tanirika could clearly see the sadness clutched inside those orbs. She frowned looking at the princess who moved her gaze away from her.

Loki cleared his throat gaining Tanirika's attention.

"She seemed to have eyes on her husband"

He whispered softly in her ears. Tanirika's soft gaze snapped towards mehfil who was busy playing with her dress. She could feel the nervousness and sadness erupting from the princess. Her aura screamed heart break.

"If she loves her eyes she will step back"

Tanirika replied making loki smirk harder.

"We went off topic we were discussing a very important topic. " Master junious added trying to ease the tension circulating in the chambers.

"But I do not know the context, Master junious " Tanirika stated glancing at the people sitting around. Divya had taken her seat beside Palasha and divith was sitting beside Meglos with a small table placed infront of him.

"Serve the food" Zravasaya ordered making everyone laugh at his stunt. He was clearly trying to dodge the topic. Tanirika glanced at her husband who smiled softly at her before glaring at Meglos and loki who were trying to catch their breathe.

"Its not like we cannot talk with food infront of us. This is a very interesting conversation and Padishah ayas I am sure you will love it. " Loki replied making Zravasaya snap his gaze at him. Tanirika was amused looking at the banter taking place infront of her.

"My dear Tanirika, Let me clear your confusion. We are talking about Zravasaya's apples and how he got super agitated when you were stealing the apples"
Tanirika chuckled looking at Zravasaya who threw an annoyed look at her direction.

"Why were you stealing apples? " Princess Divya asked tanirika who chuckled harder throwing a glance at lekha who rolled her eyes in understanding a smile resting on her face.

"I wanted to eat them. "

"Out of curiosity" Zravsaya added making tanirika nod in approval.

"Curiosity kills the cat, Tanirika"

"Well isn't that the reason I am sitting her tonight. " Meglos laughed clearly understanding her indication.

"I honestly want to know why did you ganged up and went out in the middle of the night to steal my apples" Zravasaya asked his wife. Ayas noticed the warmness Zravasaya's eyes held when he looked at Tanirika.

"You ghosted all of us for days after inviting us here. We hated you. And the orchards appeared interesting in the boring atmosphere. And you loving those apples just added more oil in the fire. "

"You hate him?" Mehfil piped in. Tanirika shook her head in denial clearly understanding where was the woman taking the conversation.

"I hated him when I didn't know him. I was one of the princesses to fulfill the treaty from My kingdom. And he was according to me just some outsider who claimed the throne. That time I didn't know that he was the rightful heir of the Throne of Rakshatra." She explained.

"And Tanirika was always promised to the throne of Rakshatra. "  Palasha informed making mehfil sigh in understanding when a thought crossed her mind. 

"That means you were promised to one of the prince's as if his majesty's I mean the ex king's heirs. "  Mehfil asked Tanirika.

"Wrong, I was promised to the Throne. The one who sits on the throne gets to marry me.  Not the heir. That means this man here just walked onto the throne to be mine. " She sassed smirking at her husband then at Mehfil who appeared to be gone silent.

"And the throne was always his. " She added her eyes shining with pride and love.

"Princess then why did you came for the treaty when you were already promised to the throne. " Ayas asked.

"Because Rakshatra was under my wing. The other kingdoms of hind were at stake, they were terrified of the power and strength I held. To formulate peace and trust among the kingdoms we initiated a treaty. Every kingdom in Hind who desired to make ties with Rakshatra will send their princesses to Rakshatra. The princess who will lead will be the symbol of treaty among the 28 kingdoms. And Asaka is one of the strongest kingdom. I got to know about the treaty after meeting Tanirika and Asaka held a prominent position among other kingdoms marrying Tanirika was beneficial to me as well as the kingdom. "

"I am glad you married her. Imagine if he would have selected the princess of. What was the name. Tani, what were your friend's name?" Meglos asked tanirika.

"Pranaya and Jigansa. "

"Pranaya, the Princess of jagnya" Meglos stated slapping his thigh.

"You were going to select Pranaya" Tanirika asked Zravasaya who nodded pointing at Advisor Achyut.

"Advisor Achyut was very much inclined towards prayag. He was manipulating me with the orchards of prayag"

"Your majesty, The only reason was she appeared to be a very suitable and strong candidate. "

"She was submissive. I got it Pranaya was different compared to all other princesses. She was shy and timid. Totally opposite was me. "

"You are still friends with her?" Loki asked her.

"Pranaya and Jignasa broke their friendship off because I was a threat to them I was the Asakian princess and the king already belonged to me. "

"It doesn't appear that jignasa has broken your friendship" loki whispered catching Tanirika's attention.

"What made you say that?"

"Well, she is his wife?" Meglos wiggled his brows throwing a curious glance at loki who smacked his head hard.

"Loki,"

"She said the only sane person in the kingdom of Rakshatra is you, Tani. Well she didn't lie though"

"God's grace loki and his wife have an understanding " Zravsaya added earning a glare from loki.

"Ayas, dearest loki here is married to one of the princesses who came to sign the treaty. Trust me she gives him a hard time. Something he deserves"

"As if Tanirika never gave you a hard time. We all know how angry you were when she ran away from the kingdom. " tanirika looked at loki with a surprised expression as the new news surprised her.

"He was angry? I thought he was just messing?"

"He was furious, your majesty. Ready to strangle the guards stationed outside your chambers. Not to forget the man who delivered the fake news that we were planning a war against Asaka was killed by him"

"He pissed me off" Zravsaya added as he consumed his food.

"He met all of the princesses expect me. It was a blow over my pride. "

"Because I had already met you?"

"The Goddess did not bless me with future reading eyes, my king. I did not know it was you. "

Zravsaya laughed looking at a very annoyed Tanirika. He smiled at ayas who smiled back. 

"She gave me two rings as a prize. "

"Why did she? You are a king?" Ayas knew that royals were well known to gift or bestow valuable things to the people who worked under them as a symbol of gratitude.

"She thought I was a soldier. "

"You dressed like one and I thought you will look different but you appeared someone like us. The only unique thing was the accent. "

"Why was I not here to witness this, meglos?" Loki asked meglos who shrugged.

"Now that I think about everything. I hated his majesty when I first met him as the king, then I hated loki because of his manners, then I couldn't stand Master junious because he always fed me with half information. The only person who I liked and respected was meglos. He was the only fun person I found here "

Meglos smiled at Tanirika who smiled back.

"It would take me 3 seconds to break this friendship. "

"Same loki" Zravasaya nodded both of them chuckled in understanding.

"Nothing can break mine and Meglos's friendship" Tanirika stated.

"You seem to have a very interesting journey as a queen, your majesty. " Ayas asked Tanirika. She nodded with a smile on her face.

"I heard about your journey as a Padishah and I couldn't feel but have respect for you. Both you and My husband have come a long way. "

"We surely have"  Ayas nodded.

Everyone indulged in eating throwing a little conversation here and there. Mehfil kept herself away from the talks only indulging in few ones which was directly pointed at her. Tanirika was busy in listening one of the interesting stories meglos recited when Zravasaya stole her bowl of kheer. She snapped her eyes at him who smirked challengingly at her.

"That is mine"

"Its in my stomach now" He stated gulping the whole bowl in one go. Tanirika shook her head pinching his thigh Making it less obvious to the people siting around them. But the whole act was not hidden by the pair of eyes who desired her husband.  Mehfil felt fury burning inside her as she gazed at the couple.

That was supposed to be her place.

"Mehfil wanted to stroll in the gardens of Rakshatra, Tani specially the one in aausbaug" Palasha informed tanirika distracting her from her husband.

"She is always welcomed to aausbaug to stroll. As the guest she deserves the best hospitality and the woman of this household its my responsibility to make sure that she has the best time"

Mehfil did not oversee the clear mock of words Tanirika threw at her. It was her house. She was the woman of the household.

Zravasaya felt his veins pumping with flash of irritation. As his veins started highlighting from his hands to the neck. His throat suddenly felt dried off he could feel the effect of the liquid. The liquid he had not consumed since last 15 days but his body was habituated of it. The deadly weapon pumped in his body started reacting with the one which was already present in his body.

It was poison. His eyes snapped towards the different containers of food lying infront of him. He could easily recognize the poison with his naked eyes. After all he had one of the deadliest one running in his veins.

Zravasaya could feel the anger surfing inside his body as he stared at the bowl of kheer infront of his eyes, the little left over of white substance was turned green due to his Saliva mixed with it. Two poisons reacting. The bowl was not his it was the one he picked from Tanirika's plate.

Someone had conspired to kill tanirika. His wife. And that was the last nail to the coffin.

Loki felt a sudden change around him and he knew it was Zravasaya. His eyes fell on the veins popping around his friend's body and it took him seconds to guess what was happening. Zravasaya's honey brown eyes had started to turn into a darker shade of blue as the poison started hitting his nervous system. He pressed his nails deeper into his palms calming the effect of the poison.

"Its getting late. We all should head over our chambers." Loki added after some time. Everyone had finished eating and was only talking. Zravasaya was deadly silent as tanirika gazed at him. She could feel his aura it was not normal. Before she could ask him what was wrong loki was beside her asking her to company him. She nodded looking at her husband who had turned his back to her.

Everyone had started to move out of the room one by one. Ayas wanted to stay back and have a conversation with Zravasaya but dropped the idea as he found his sister walking hastily out of the room. He needed to be with her before she did something.

Loki signaled Master Junious towards Zravasaya as he moved out with Tanirika.

Mehfil threw the vase and the table cloth kept in one of the corners of her room as tears rolled down her eyes. She had kept those drops of water in her hold until she left the chambers.

Once she entered her temporary chambers her broken self revolted. She screamed in anger throwing whatever came in her hand around.

Ayas who had followed his sister stopped in the middle staring at his sister who had turned into a maniac. It pained him to look at his sister who was bawling her eyes out.
After all the most important person to him was hurt.

"He was mine. He was supposed to be mine" Mehfil screamed in anger throwing the bowl of fruits at the mirror resting in her chambers. The mirror broke into several pieces the same way her heart was broken tonight.

"He is not yours, Mehfil" Ayas replied holding his sister back. He clasped her hand behind her stopping her in her tracks. Mehf snapped her angry gaze towards her brother. Ayas felt an ache in his heart looking at the Hurt flashing in his sister's eyes.

"He- he could be mine. I know he can be mine. Only if. Only if you ask him to be mine. " She suggested turning around facing her brother. Ayas held her shoulders shaking his head in denial.

"You promised you will get me whatever I wanted. I want him get him. She cannot take him. He is mine. I have dreamed my life with him. I love him " She cried in her brother's hold.

"I promised that I will get you whatever you wanted. But he is a human being and has a wife. "

"King's have multiple wives. I could be his second. " She suggested making ayas shocked.

"You are blinded by heart break right now Mehfil. I understand you are hurt but this is not right. He belongs to another woman. And what I have seen in his eyes is warmth and adoration when he gazes at his woman. You would not become a third person in someone's relationship. I will not allow that"  He ordered making her sob more vigourously.

"Take your time. Heal yourself. We will stay here for only few days. After that we will travel back to Persia and you will forget him" he asserted moving out of his sister's chambers. Mehfil fell down on the floor as tears flowed down her cheeks. She loved Zravasaya and she wanted him. If this meant she had to cross her brother she will.

Ayas closed his eyes in pain as Mehfil's broke face mirrored infront of his eyes. He had promised to kill every other person who would be the reason of the tears in his sister's eyes. But his ethics screamed that right now the situation was wrong. Zravasaya was not at fault. Mehfil was not at fault. The only one to be blamed was the situation.

Ayas strolled out of the guest areas aimlessly. He didn't know where he was walking only consciousness he had was the air breathing near his skin. It was mehfil who had dreamed of marrying Zravasaya maybe somewhere deep down he had dreamed of it too.

After all Zravasaya was the most trusted person, the person who could take care of his sister. Ayas stopped near the pond filled with fishes and lotus as he gazed at his reflection. His crown was long gone. The smile he held was long forgotten the only expression he held was pain. The pain he felt for his sister. It killed him to order her to forget her love. He had never been in love but he knew how hard it was for her.

"Eyes always hold the pain of one's heart. They are like the mirrors of someone's soul. "

A feminine voice broke his chain of thoughts he moved his gaze away from his reflection to the another reflection which appeared to be reflected beside him. His eyes fell on the mirrored version of his own as he locked his eyes with the woman his heart wanted to search for.

"Your eyes they convey the pain your heart wants to convey. But your shoulders are stubborn they keep holding the responsibilities. "

"Your eyes hold curiosity and sympathy. "

"I cannot be worried for someone who I don't know. "

"And Here I thought you would be grateful to me after all I am the reason you are breathing. " He whispered turning around. His eyes locked with hers. They both staring at the illusion of their own eyes.

"If you helped me for your own gain then your act was not praiseworthy. You were greedy "

"What would i get from saving your life? I don't win anything "

"Maybe you did. But I don't know what it is? Why are you in pain? Strangers are good listeners. They are like empty containers with whom you could share all your worries. The beneficial thing is they won't whisper it to others. "
She whispered in thin air.

"I could share my pain with you. What will you gain?"

"I could try to repay you for saving my life. "

Ayas chuckled turning around and looking at the pond.

"My sister loves someone. "

"That's nice. Love is a beautiful feeling "

"Have you ever been in love?" He asked her. She shook her head in denial.

"You?"

"Until now, no"

He replied holding the eye lock their shared for few seconds. She looked away scared of the proximity his eyes held.

"Then why are you sad?"

"The man she loves already has a woman and is married. It breaks my heart to look at my heart broken sister. She does not deserve this. After suffering all life for our father's love she deserves love but look here we are. She is crying again. "

"Maybe this broken heart will save her from thousands of restless and broken nights she desires to endure. This broken night will make sure that she will never witness the heartbreak again. "

Ayas looked at the woman standing infront of him. Her wise words adding comfort to his heart. The moon light fell on her moon shaped face adding more glory to her beautiful Enchanting posture.

"Your sister will be heartbroken today, yes. But the man she loves already belongs to someone else. His heart beats for someone else. He would never reciprocate the feelings your sister have which clearly indicates that your sister will cry every night to get one look of love from him. And if she gets him then it could only be physically, mentally and emotionally he will always belong to the woman he desires. That is the worst pain a human could endure. Heartbreak would last for days or months but the constant pain of staring at the man's eyes who you love but he holds the same love for someone else will kill her every second."

"At last she would suffer her whole life and I would suffer whole life knowing I spoilt my sister's life and my friend's life "

"He is your friend. Then you should know him better. Protect your sister as well as your friend. "

"You seem to be very wise "

"I try to be. Your sister will be fine she just needs some care. And I am sure you would give her that"

"You trust me too much knowing we have just met each other today "

"But still I have the loan of my life on you. " Ayas smiled registering her words.

"And how do you desire you pay it back"

" I do not know. Maybe one day I could pay you back but I don't know how?"

"When the time comes I will ask you what I want "

"If it is in limits and in my hold I would surely give it to you. Anyways what is your name?"

"Ayas" He whispered softly.

"I am Kaya, " She replied with a smile resting on her beautiful face. Ayas mirrored her smile making her smile briefly at him. Oh how badly he wanted to caress her lips which held the smile which was making his heart beat faster than anything.

YOLA!!!! YO guys here is another chapter.

Next chapters are gonna be messy lmao. The ruthless zravasaya is gonna be unleashed and a very furious Tanirika will be unleashed too.

In all this one could only dream of little peace. Anyways we have neared towards the main climax of the book and this book will be soon wrapped up.

Sorry for taking time to update as I had few interviews scheduled to appear for after My exams.

My exams were LIT. Thank you everyone who wished me luck. You prayers were answered. 

I hope you guys missed me because I did.
I hope yall took care of yourself and are healthy. Please take care of yourself. The sun is too hot these days. Stay hydrated.

What do you think about Mehfil?

Ayas?

Kaya?

Hint: next chapter will be just Zravi 🔥 and then a little spice lmao.

Are you guys excited?

Love Aditi ❤