It was a well known news, that no marriage in the Vajji household took place without something or the other happening out of the order.

In Nalini and her maharaj's marriage, the horse which would carry the maharaj back home ran away, as it hurt itself on a thorn.

In Karunika and Adam's marriage, the Varmaala took place with more comedy and heart stopping moments than anyone would imagine.

Aahana went to her new home with a torn lehenga when she married Uttar.

Nirmay was a staunch deserter towards marriage, not because he wanted to do things he liked, as he told everyone. But because he was scared to give his heart away. We all know, the one most scared to give their hearts away lose it in the most romantically touching and yet the deepest ways.

Moksh had decided to have complete care around the topic of his marriage.

Which is why.

"No mata. I will not marry any Punyadayini or Palashakshi from Patwar or anywhere. I'll marry when I want to. "

"I'm not saying marry them. I'm saying you have to welcome them. They have come to Vajji for a leisure trip. You have to show them around Vajji. " Karunika said, following her son's relentless and incessant pacing in her room.

"Mata! Bhrata Nirmay is back from Matsya. Let him do it. Please! "

" You know very well that Nirmay will show them the akhada with his eyes closed rather than actually showing them the kingdom. Please putr. For once listen to me. "

"Mata. I love you. But no. "

"Moksh! " Karunika yelled, annoyed at her son.

She knows... Any girl who marries him has her instant respect.

" What happened? " Adam asked, sitting down next to her, pulling her head on his shoulder.

" Raajkumari Palashakshi of Videh is coming over for a leisure trip to Vajji. I wanted Moksh to show her around, but he has refused. He says I'll get him married to her. "

" So why can't Nirmay do it? " Adam asked and Karunika just looked up at him with eyes that said, 'really'?

"Alright. I'll try to convince him. " He said as he hugged her close.

" Now that we are alone here, it feels different doesn't it? "

"Yes, Aahana has left us a part of her as Madirakshi while Moksh is always up to his own shenanigans. It's just us."  He said, sighing.

" Hmm. "

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That night, as Moksh stood by the window of the palace grounds, he heard the sound of anklets.

"Kumari Palashakshi, it is night, why are you here now? "  He asked, sighing.

" What Kumari! Is that all you imagine? Marrying? What about helping your father every once in a while? " Alata said, storming up to him.

"This is even worse than the kumari. " He muttered.

"What! "

"Nothing. Why are you here? " He asked, rubbing his chin with his fingers.

" I'm here because you know you stole my thaali of food I was supposed to take today! "

"So! Ask for another! "

"I can't! "

"Why not? "

"I just can't. " She said, walking away when Moksh yanked her back to him with a pull on her wrist. She collided with him, hands on his shoulders, when, " Alatakshi! " Moksh yelled, as they fell back, on the floor.

As they laughed, the remaining anger forgotten, he pulled her down to sit with him.

"So? Why can't you take more? "

" That food is not for me Moksh. It's for aai and baba. They want me to get married soon, so they are trying to save money. One day I saw them not eating their food but just transfering it to me, or not buying vegetables other than for me, so only some. Meagre amounts of food was consumed by them. So, I decided to take my breakfast and dinner for them each day ever since. "

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. But then, what are you eating? " He asked, geabbimg her shoulders as she hid her face away.

" Just some lunch. "

"You don't get lunch from the kitchens as part of your work plan. You've not been eating well at all have you? "

'It's not that. I just have a few bites each day if my friends give them.. "

"You're the most stupid woman I know. Come." He said, grabbing her hand and dragging her towards his parents bedroom.

" Mata? Pitashree! " He yelled, walking in to see them lying on the bed .

" What's wrong? Why have you brought Putri Alata along? "

" She's not been eating! "

" What! " Karunika asked, horrified as she stood up to inspect the girl, truly she looked weak.

" So from tomorrow onwards, she'll be having all her meals with us. "

" Nahi yuvraj I -"

"Shh. You'll be eating with us. Moksh is right, you're so weak putri. " Karunika said, holding the child close.

As she did, she realised that Alata wasn't moving away. When she pulled her off, she saw, the girl had fainted.

" Moksh! Arya! She's fainted. "

" Don't worry mata. I'll take her home. It's lack of food, I'll take her home safely. "

He picked her up in his hands, taking him back to her house. One the way , he was spotted by many, and they began the usual work or by standers. Gossip.

He rushed her into her house, crossing the line of her house with her  in his hands.

When her mother saw her, she was so worried. Her father however had a different issue.

" Yuvraj! What did you do! You should have let someone else bring her, her friends. What did you do! " He said, anxiety rushing through him.

" What is wrong baba? Why do you sound so worried? "

" Yuvraj, we're from a different tribe of people and made our home in Vajji many moons ago. But our ritual is always the same. For a marriage to be considered complete, the groom must bring the bride inside her house ,  holding her in his hands. It's your equivalent of filling a woman's hair with sindoor and taking the seven rounds around the agnikund. " He said and the news struck Moksh like a lightbolt.

" So... What you are saying, is I married her? " He asked,disbelieving.

" H-h-an Yuvraj. "

Moksh would have fainted if Alata had not scremed, " WHAT! "

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Ahem..... So..... Yeah....

Tell me how it was in the comments. Much love

Radhekrishn ♥