Vedangi was literally pulling her tired body back to her chamber. Sudeshna had arranged for a few teachers to give more knowledge about the Upanishads and Vedas to Vedangi during afternoon hours,  more like garbhsanskar and Uttara would join her too. Vedangi wiped the sweat off her forehead and caressed her baby bump, which was quite visible as she was five months pregnant. Suddenly a pair of arms gripped her waist and scooped her. A smile spread on her lips as she recognised the touch and the fragrance. She wrapped her arms around Shvet's neck and leaned on his shoulder.

It had became a daily ritual now. Vedangi would attend her greviance session followed by  the discourse by teachers and would be back to her chamber for lunch. During the same time, Shvet would take a break from training his army, meetings with ministers, court sessions or anything and would have lunch with his Priya patni. He desired to make the palace, the kingdom a safe heaven for his unborn child, but at the same time wished to pamper his pregnant wife with all his love. His love for his patni and the unborn child was quite visible through his actions too.

"So, nath  how was your day?" Vedangi asked smuggling more in his hold. "Tiring! Yours?" Shvet questioned, "More tiring than you along with these sore feet and being thirsty all the time. Nath I also feel breathless sometimes and I even feel dizzy. Our child would be fine na?" Vedangi asked, lines of worry visible on her face. Shvet nodded fondly at her question, pregnancy hormones were taking over. He made her sit on her favourite place in their chamber, the swing in the balcony and took a seat besides her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Stop smiling nath please! I am worrying about our baby and you are smiling! No.... Why would you care right? I am going to be a mother for the very first time" Vedangi shrugged off his arm and looked elsewhere. "Priyae, you are talking as if , I am going to be a father for the 10th time" Shvet mock glared at her. "Who knows!" Vedangi shrugged,Shvet kept looking at her with mouth wide open and she burst out laughing. Shvet frowned and went near the railing of the balcony, Vedangi followed him still smiling.

She snaked her arms around his arm and layed her head on his shoulder, basking in comfort."Sorry" she mumbled and held his arm more firmly, the frown on Shvet's face was replaced by a smile. "You were saying that you feel breathless and very thirsty, talk to mata about it, I don't want any harm to you or our child, okay?" Vedangi nodded positively.

Shvet kneeled in front of her and kept his palms on her baby bump as if caressing the baby. Goosebumps erupted on his body, the baby had started taking shape. It was his child, a piece of his heart already! It was their child! Your pita loves you baby! He murmured and rose on his feet again. He wrapped his arms around Vedangi, pulling her in an embrace. Vedangi rested her head on his chest, hearing his heartbeats.
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"The immigrants come to our kingdom to find a home, it's our responsibility to provide them basic facilities, isn't it? In future they are also going to be the human resource, which would boost the economy of our country. Then why aren't they provided basic facilities like water and shelter" Shvet was discussing with the team who managed the facilities of immigrants, Sudeshna and Shankh were present there too.

"We have been trying our best to provide them facilities, but we can't manage everything in 5000 gold coins per month, we need more finances Yuvraj" the leader replied with lowered gaze. "What a lie! I had been issuing 20,000 gold coins per month for the immigrants. How can these people say that they receive only 5000 per month!" Sudeshna said gaining everyone's attention.

"Forgive me Maharani, but this is the letter we received. It's clearly stated in the letter that only 5000 coins would be issued" the leader handed the letter to Shankh. He took a quick glance at the content and nodded is head positively. "But how is this possible? I have myself issued 20,000 coins" Sudeshna replied confused. "Mata but this letter is marked by your seal too" Shankh handed the letter to Sudeshna.

"Wait Wait! Whom had you asked to issue to coins? Means who was responsible to give the coins to these people?" Shvet interrupted. "Bhrata kichak, I had told him and I trust him. How did this happen" Sudeshna answered. Shankh and Shvet exchanged glances and rolled eyes.
"Mahoday, I would give the remaining 15,000 coins from my personal allowances, you may collect them from Yuvrani, day after tomorrow" Shvet announced, Sudeshna tried to stop him, but remained silent. The team joined their palms together, thanking the Yuvraj and left the hall.

"Shubhr! This is absolutely wrong. These people are doing some kind of corruption, we need to find it out, why are you giving them your allowances instead!" Sudeshna glared at her son. "Mata, they showed us the letter with your seal, how can they do any kind of corruption?" Shankh interrupted. "I was doing some calculations that day, so I asked bhrata to write the letter, issue the decided amount and get the seal imprinted from me. Why would bhrata doing anything like this, tell me?" Sudeshna argued.

"Mata firstly, he is the Senapati of matsya and not any minister to look after administration works. You would have asked any one of us or ministers to issue the coins, what was the need to tell Senapati to do it" Shvet argued, his voice respectfully low. "Fine, I would talk with bhrata about it, this topic is closed right here, okay?" Sudeshna announced and left the chamber, angrily.

Shvet sat on the couch, sighing. He knew Sudeshna would never confront Kichak. She loved her brother too much for it. "Bhrata, can I bring forth this topic in tomorrow's Rajsabha. Mata, pitashree, ministers everyone would will become aware of his wrongdoings" shankh said keeping his hand on Shvet's shoulder. "No shankh, this would decrease the trust our citizens have on us. We both would confront senapati and return the money he acquired by corrupt means, back to the immigrants" shankh nodded positively.

Shvet walked back to his chamber. He was determined now that this palace would be safe heaven for his child. He would not allow, the Senapati to even have a look of his child.
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Hey, my lovely readers the next part is here!
Hope you all liked reading it, do let me know through your comments. They are much important for me❤️.