" Arre! Raajkumari! Please stop! " Shouted the two handmaidens, as there kumari was running away from them, as fast as she could.

" You won't catch me! You won't catch me-aah! " She said as she slipped on a flower, falling down.

" Look Raajkumari you fell down." They said laughing. With her head bent down, she said, in an angry voice, " You are all under treason to the Kingdom of Vajji . You laughed at its princess."

The faces of her handmaidens dropped. " Kumari? Please forgive us. We didn't mean to
we -"

" Bahana, if you want to teach people or entertain them with your acting, do it at the theatre in the kingdom. Why do you annoy the poor maidens. " Said the Raajkumar, as he walked into the room.

The beautiful princess looked up. She had beautiful eyes, blue as the sky, with dark , jet black ringlets, milky soft skin and a golden complexion. She looked up at him with a frown on his face.

Her twin , her dear brother just looked at her smug. He was a tall man, taller than her own father if her mother had anything to say about it. He looked handsome and some say, that his beauty rivaled that of the moon. All speculations according to Aahana. To her he didn't look any better than he did when he came out of their mother's womb. Bloody and crying all the time.

The handmaidens however, they were now realising that their princess had played them again.

" Kumari! " They said, as she ran yet again.

" Do you find joy in teasing her Priy Moksh? " Asked Nirmay.

" Nahi bhrata. I don't find joy... "

" Then? "

" I find peace. " He said, laughing as Nirmay did too.

Someone creeped up behind them then.

" Bhoo! " The voice yelled as they took out their swords, ready to fight when they looked down to see, " Arre! Putr Parikshit! You're here! " They said, looking at the tiny three year old.

" Kakshee" He staggered out, newly learning to speak.

" Haan. We're your kakashree. See how nice he is, he loves us all. " Nirmay said, lifting the child up as she was followed by his mother, who ran into the room, " Parikshit! Putr! Where did you run off to -" She said as she walked in to see her kakashrees holding him amd playing with him.

" Pranipat Raajkumari. How are you? " They asked, still looking into the child's eyes while making funny faces at him.

" Pranipat Yuvraj. I'm tired really, but I am good, how about you. Bhrata Uttar has also come with us. "

That alerted Moksh. Ever since he saved his sister's life, Moksh had been slightly softer towards Uttar, but still wary, as each brother should be of his sister's prospective husband.

" Yuvraj Uttar is here? " Nirmay asked, reading his brother's mind.

" Ji Yuvraj. " She answered as she took the child from them, hoping to feed the hyperactive child.

The two brothers walked down, into the main hall to see both the royals sitting by each other on their respective aasan, whispering as their parents conversed with each other.

" Maharaj Virat, your son has made us his indebted to him for his entire life, by saving our daughter's life two years ago. As such, their souls are bound, without the relations of marriage as well. If both of them agree, we would like to ask for your son's hand in marriage for our daughter. " Adam said  as Karunika agreed.

" Avashy Maharaj Adam. Moreover, there is no debt to be paid for, you are our family as well, spending your time in the agyatvas has made our kingdom more prosperous Maharani. It would be good reputation for us as well if Matsya ties marital treaties with Vajji. We could even inaugrate new trade routes. We need rice and cloves, you require wheat. "

" Ji Maharaj, but our children's marriage should not be a business proppsotion. I hope, that if they do not agree, which is highly unlikely, it won't affect our trade for rice and wheat? "  Meenakshi asked.

" Yes Maharani. I assure you, we won't need to do that. Their wishes are our priority.  "

" So it's decided. We shall talk to our respective children and convene this tomorrow or day after. Pranipat. " Virat said, standing up with the hands joint.

They all stood up, which is when the two birds sitting on the aasan realised that it was time to leave.

" Till later, Princess. " He said, following his father.

" Arya. I don't think we'll need to ask anyone anything. " Meenakshi whispered, giggling at the two. Sahdev looked at his wife with a smile and laughed, agreeing with her statement.

" What is it? Why do you laugh? " Adam asked, looking at the two of them.

" Nothing Jijashree. It's all good . " Sahdev said, stifling a smile.

     ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

" Putri. Putr, we must talk to you." Karunika said, inviting the two into their room.

" I didn't break the flower pot that matamahi Kunti gave mata. Bhrata Moksh did! " Aahana shreiked as she escaped Moksh's hand.

" Well... I -I pitashree's scrolls about the jailed prisoners was soiled by Aahana. She dropped the ink on it. " He yelled back, now escaping his sister's glare.

Karunika, quite used to it just held her head in her hands.

It was true. Her brothers may not have managed to kill her, but her children definitely would. After fifteen minutes of their blame games, she shouted, " Arya! "

Poor Adam who was in the changing area ran out wearing only a blue dhoti, freshly bathed, even with some ubtan left on his arms and face. He rushed out to see his wife, thinking her to be in danger when he found her with her head in her hands and the children standing in front of her with their faces hanging low.

" These two don't seem to want to grow up at all ñi brought them here for an important discussion and now. I can't-" She said as she broke off, crying hysterically. Now, Adam knew she was not being serious, just trying to get them to keep quiet and listen to her, but her children didn't. They ran up to her, looking at each other in anger first, as if blaming the other for their mother's tears.

" Mata. Mata forgive us." " Haan Mata. See we won't fight anymore. See. "

" You will! You always fight! " She said yet again, barely containing her laughter.

Adam however could not, he burst out in laughter.

" Pitashree, mata is crying. Why do you laugh. " Moksh asked angrily.

"Yes. She's crying. All the best children! " He said, walking back into the bath room to wash off the remaining ubtan.

" Arre but -"

" Shh. Both of you. I need to talk to you about something important. " Karunika finally said, as her children sat by her feet, a head on each leg.

" Mata, if this is about Aahana's marriage, then I want no part in it. Tell me the day she's getting married and I'll arrange everything right now. But I cannot listen and watch one more moment of them being idiots in love. Eugh. " Moksh said, earning a tight ear pulling from his mother.

" Aaaah. Acha acha. Kshama. Kshama. " He said, rubbing his ear with a frown.

" Aahana. I will ask you this directly. Do you wish to marry Yuvraj Uttar? " She said, looking at her daughter.

" Mata. I think...... "

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Hehehe..... I'm a crazy author. We begin the first chapter with a cliff hanger.

Anyways, share how you felt. Is it as good, better, worse, what can be better and more.

Vote and comment as much as you can.

Much love

Radhekrishn ❤