It was as if Karenumati's words inspired the lovelorn Yubraj, as he prepared to set out on his horse.

Before he could climb up, after promising his mother to return with her bride, he was stopped by his father, who himself had arranged his own steed.

"What is it pitashree? " He asked, as he readjusted his angvastr after sitting on the horse.

"Putr, I need to speak to you in two perspectives. The first as a king. Your wife has taken away the princess of the kingdom, without our permission. Should she not return, we'll have to force them here, even if not inhumane conditions. Secondly, as your father and the grandfather of your daughter. We need to bring her back son. " He said, firmly holding his son's shoulders.

"Avashy pitashree. Come on, let's ride. " He said, urging his horse forward, as they followed the trail made by the spies.

It may have been about midday, when the sun was right over their heads, as they finally reached the most secluded part of the kingdom.

There, in a little aclove in the corner, a woman's singing could be heard, while she tended to her child.

" Charu? " He whispered, walking in, startling the mother as she dropped her spoon.

"Arya? " She asked surprised.

Prativindhy hardened his face, against his heart as he walked up to her, holding her by her shoulders.

"There are a few things you must know. One, you are my wife and you can live in the palace, no one will question who or why you are there. I know that your friends have  poisoned your mind against me, for I know you were ready to come join me, a day before I left. Secondly. " He muttered, then held her hands close to his forehead.

"You are separating a child from her father. The world always condemns those who separate a child from its mother, but you yourself are separating my child from ne? From her father? I beg of you, don't do this. I cannot force you, you know I care too much about you to do that. But please, why is it justifiable,if a mother takes her child away from the father, but not the other way round? Please listen to me, you will be my wife before any post you hold, you know our family avoids multiple marriages, the exceptions being Kakashree Arjun. Please understand, you and Sanchita will always have my heart first...." He said, slowing his breaths to control his racing heart as the tears of his pain finally made their way down his alabaster face.

Gently, a hand moved up to wipe away the trails if the tears as she raised his head up, framing her hands around his face.

"I could never take you childaway from you. And my friends only told me one thing, which was why I chose not to go with you. They told me that if you ever need to marry for political reasons, I would be shunned away in the favour of the new princess in your life, since the truth of our marriage . You married me out of pity -"

"Don't you dare! Never say that again. Had it been pity, I wouldn't have pined after your arrival, waited each night as I slept in my 'Royal bed' , waking up hopelessly as I opened my eyes each morning to not find you there, as I used to when we lived in your hut. " He exclaimed, eyes blazing.

"Arya? " She mumbled out, struck by the immense love he held for her.

" What? " He asked.

"Your um -your-"

"What is it? " He asked, now concerned.

"Your angvastr is on fire. " She said and he turned around, surprised, slapping the fire off to douse it.

"Well, what do you say? Will you come with us? " He asked her, eyes full of hope.

"Al-alright." She whispered and the moment she did, she was whisked into a warm embrace.

"You don't know how happy you've made me, coming with me, we'll raise Sanchita together and hopefully more. " He said, nuzzling her nose with his.

"Come, we'll leave. " He said softly, as he held one arms around her, while the other held his gurgling daughter.

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" Is it true though? " He asked her softly as they basked in the moonligh.

"Well, yes, I missed my monthly cycle, I did go to the vaidy to get a blood examination. He has confirmed it. " Adyashree said softly, repositioning herself on his chest.

"Well, so soon? I was hoping to live some of our marriedife alone, just the two of us." He said, kissing her forehead.

"Does that mean you don't want this child? " She asked suddenly, getting up on her elbows.

"No, no. I never meant that. No no. I simply meant that this was unexpected, not unwelcome. " He said, attempting to correct his word slip.

" Hmm.. If you had said otherwise, I would have taken you to pitashree, he would have pulled on your ears. " She sighed, lying back down.

" I am twenty summers old, my father wouldn't do that... Would he? " He said, chuckling nervously.

"Why don't we test it out? I'll act. " She said smartly.

"Why not, but if this goes south, I'll blame it all on you. " He said, burrowing his head in her hair.

"Alright, but if he admits it, if he doesn't trust you, then you have to do something for me. " She propped her head up on his chest, looking at her with eyes as sharp as a fox's.

" Really and what might that be? " He asked.

" I'll tell you later. " She smiled, going back to sleep.

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Alright, tell me how it was... And do vote

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥