Vajji was getting ready to welcome their greatest guest.

" Karunika! Priye! Are we ready with the -"

"Haan haan Arya. I have asked both Alata and Shubhda to prepare the arti thali. You don't need to worry. " She reassured her husband, who smiled at her and then went to his children.

"Moksh, Nirmay did you -"

" Ji fufashree, we are prepared with the rooms for them. Don't you worry. Calm down. "

"I know it's just. I am truly very excited. "

"We understand Arya, but let excitement be excitement. Don't make it into madness. " Karunika laughed.

"Jyeshtha, do you like, keep these sentences stored in the back of your mind? You told us the same thing on bhrata Yudhishthir's yuvrajabhishek too. " Sahdev said, putting his head on his shoulder.

"Well, that day was one of the most eventful days of my life. "

" Then next day was better. Tell them."

"We know jijashree. It was the day she met you. Poor jyestha couldn't stop smiling all the way to varnavart. "

" You weren't supposed to speak of that! " Karunika yelled, blushing.

" Anyways, we'll discuss that later. As of now, I am very excited to welcome an old acquaintance of mine. " Adam said, the joy reflecting in his eyes.

"Who's that? "

" He's Devraj Indr. " Adam said proudly, while the others just looked at him with a questioning gaze.

" Pitashree, we never knew that you made a good comedian other than a good king. " Moksh said, while Nirmay let out a shaky laugh.

" I don't think he's joking, Moksh. " Nirmay whispered.

" Oh yes! You relieved them of their curse as a baby didn't you? Is that why they are coming? " Sahdev prompted.

" Yes, he is gracing us with our presence here in Vajji for the same. Housing the Devraj is no easy task, which is why I need all your help. "

" Don't worry bhratashree, I'll handle everything. " Meenakshi said, when Adam coughed into his hand," That's what I am afraid of. " Karunika just looked at her husband, amused. Does he want to die by his sister's hand.

" I won't leave you. All these years and you've still not changed have you Jyeshth! " She said, running, as she could behind him, while he hid behind his wife.

" Many years ago too, I helped my nanadshree, even today I'll help her only Arya. You made your bed now lay in it. " Karunika said, laughing as she moved away from between them, but Adam caught hold of her odhini which fell off her head.

Karunika glared at her husband in surprise, while Moksh, Nirmay and Sahdev averted their eyes, staring at the ceiling.

" You - I won't spare you. Sleep on the sofa in the room tonight. " She stormed off, while the others present their laughed till Adam slapped his son's forehead.

"Aah -pitashree, mata already has the routine to pull on my ears when she wants, now you too? "

" Should I call her back  ? "

"N-no. We're going. Alata? Come, I need to talk to you. " He said, grabbing his wife's hand who laughed at her husband's misery.

  ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"Priye, while I understand it was not decent, you've never been this affected by your odhini falling. Is something wrong? "

" Why would you care? " She bristled, standing in the balcony, tears cascading down her pearlescent face.

Adam, realizing that there was more to it than what was being let on went up to her, embracing her from behind.

Out of habit, Karunika relaxed into his warm and inviting embrace before realising that she was miffed with him and freed herself, before being pulled back by a tug on her wrist.

" We both know how this goes Priye, I pester you to tell me, in the end you do. We solve the problem and be happy again. What's wrong? Why is my beautiful wife still troubled? " He whispered, pulling her close to him.

The way he still looked at her, after so many years was astounding. She stood the same Karunika who fell in his arms all those years ago, the wonderful beauty, running around for her elder brother's coronatipn as the yuvraj. That was the day Adam had thanked his stars that he had her. He knew his fate was tied to her that day.

" It's nothing. I just. It's stupid. " She murmured, embarrassed.

" If it spreads agony in the heart of my love, then it's nothing foolish my dear heart. What hurts you so? "

" I realised in all these years that I've grown older, that I have changed. I don't retain the physical body I did, ages ago. "

" So? Even I've grown old, I have more lines on the back of my hand than I ever did. Why does that make you feel so despondent? And what does that have to do with your odhini? "

" I-it's just. I still wonder -if if. "

" If what my dear? " He whispered, staring deep into her eyes. His blue ones had become wiser with age, the blue was now a deeper shade, as if to indicate all the experiences of life that he earned.

" If I'm still -still. Beautiful to you. " She whispered out, hiding her face. She knew it was stupid. She knew that their love crossed all these boundaries, of suspicion, physical attractiveness, fear, anger or arrogance. But her mind still clashed with her heart, provoking such harmful thoughts to her.

" I'll answer your question later. First answer mine.  Am I still as beautiful to you as I was the first time I met you? "

She looked up in alarm, as if what he said broke her heart into pieces. How could he think that way.

" How could you even ask me that? "

She reached up to his forehead, " This mind is what has protected us all these years, fighting for us, our love  our children, the world. I can't find this mind ugly. It would be calling your intelligence bad. " She said, pressing a light kiss to his forehead.

" These eyes have seen more than the world can show, yet their blue colour inticed me to you, making your place in my heart, I could never find them poor in age. They are the ones who have seen my wrongs and still accepted me despite of them. " She whispered.

"These shoulders have borne the weight of our problems, they have borne the love of our children as you sat them on, riding them around the forests. They've born the pain of carrying wood for fire as we prepared to fight all those years. They're the ones who bear the weight of everyone's happiness. Stronger than ever. "

" Your heart holds one of the purest of emotions in the world. Love. How can the chest that protect it ever be ugly?" 

" If you believe l that my dear wife, then why does your own body make you feel so? " He whispered, as Karunika looked up at him in tears.

He brought her in front of the mirror, facing it.

" These are the hands that have held our children as they woke at night, the hands that have fought for them, the hands that brought justice to the world. I can't think them ugly. "

He moved his hand down to her stomach. " This womb is the one that nurtured and nourished our children, the one that became their home for nine months. Why would I ever find you not beautiful my darling wife? You're the one who's taught me the meaning of beautiful. " He said, kissing her temple.

They held themselves that evening, the next day bringing more happenings in their lives.

  ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

The next day, Devraj Indr was welcomed with great respect into the palaces of Vajji.

" Pranipat Devraj Indr. " Adam and Karunika greeted, as she welcomed him with the arti thaal.

" Pranipat Maharaj Adam. " He greeted happily.

They walked in while she seated him in one of the raajasans.

As she brought out the plate to clean his feet, in hopes of earning his blessings, she heard him say, " Stop, I can't let you do this. "

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So... Why is Devraj Indr disregarding Karunika.... Is there a good reason behind it? Tell me how it was in the comments and do vote if you liked.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥