" We hope you will consider our younger daughter, Rajkumaari Devika to travel to your kingdom with you as well. She wishes to travel to your kingdom to learn more about your people. Is that alright with you? "

Well. That was not what I was expecting. So what was all the questioning for?

" Uh. Yes. Yes of course. I have no problem. I'll be leaving the day after. I hope she enjoys her visit."

What am I supposed to say! Even I haven't visited my own kingdom till now. And I'm supposed to be their Yuvraj.

Krishn!

Travels to Pragjyotishpur! I had looked at the maps. This was around modern day Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

So.... Anyone wants tea? I'm going to Darjeeling.

While I did agree to what they wanted, it still bugged me why she wants  to do any of this. Talk about equality and stuff with me. Go to Pragjyotishpur. I am so confused.

See. This is why I keep Saag along. It's the only way I understand the most confusing species in the world. Women.

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𝕊𝕒𝕒𝕘'𝕤 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖.

That evening, when Ashwatthama came home, the first thing he did was eat all my maggi. I was so hungry, murderous that he had my food, that Yudhishthir had to hold the hand with which I held the knife so it wouldn't land somewhere it shouldn't.

As we sat down in the room, Ashwatthama told me the real problem. Someone already knew.....

" So you're saying. There's a duo of dumbheaded idiots running around looking for a masterweapon from our history, which they want to use to do what? "

" They want to use it to spread mass destruction. "

" Why? That makes no sense. "

" They want to do so, because they were ,  in their original lives, two rakshasas, Mandik and Moshtik, decided to rain carnage over swarg -"

"Of course they did. As if that ever goes well. "

" Yes. Well they did and they were stopped, efficiently. But that's what the Devtas wanted the humans to think. To hide their failure, they had to make up a story. "

" Right. But why did they fail? "

" Well, they learned from their mistakes. And so, they prayed to Mahadev -"

" Predictable. So what boon did he give them? " I asked, now genuinely curious.

" How do you know he did? " Yudhishthir piped in.

The only thing I could do, was give him a raised eyebrow.

"Anyways. He did give them a boon. They can only be killed by two faces which has travelled through two yugs. Any two. So to kill those people is kind of their plan -"

" So Yudhishthir and AJ are supposed to kill them? What's that got to do with me? "

" No what -"

" Yes. He's the one who's supposed to kill him. " Ashwatthama said, interrupting Yudhishthir.

" Alright. Still don't get what's that got to do with me. "

" He's here to train you."

" Me? For what? " I asked. Their conversation about me being a princess was coming back to me.

" And so.... Me. But still. Why me. I understand that I might have to travel back in time with him if we are doing this. But why do I need to be trained to be a princess of all things? "

"Becauseyouwillhsvetogobackintimeasmywife. "

" What? "

" He's a baby. Look little kid. The  boon specified for two faces who has travled both times. Both yugs. So someone needs to go with him to make sure that the face he's looking for is there at all. "

" So.... Still don't understand what he meant. "

" Sagarika. The rules in Dwaparyug are different. You can't travel with me like this, all the while we are supposed to be working on finding AJ. Who knows where he is. And we can't spend time alone without any relationship. So. You -you-you have to go back as my - my wife." Yudhishthir finally said, as I just stared at him.

" Your wife? So that's why you said all that to me. Did you truly mean all that? " I asked, my fear clouding my knowledge. I knew he would never lie. Not to me. To anyone actually. He was Yudhishthir. But the thought of someone like him only loving someone like me because he had to marry me for s mission clouded my mind.

" What! No. I did. I truly did. You know I don't lie Sagarika. " He said, grabbing my hands, holding them close to his mouth. He pressed a kiss onto them. Trying to get me to believe him.

" Look. I don't have time for your sad realisation right now. Even if he did or did not mean it... We need you two to get married. "  Ashwatthama said, uncaring of what I heard.

" Ashwatthama. Leave. Come back after an hour. " Was all Yudhishthir said. I think they had that unspoken agreement. No one but he moved a muscle as he stood up to leave.

When he did, Yudhishthir pulled me I to  a bone crushing hug.

" Look Sagarika. I meant every word I have ever said to you. I want to hold you when you are scared, put flowers in your hair when you don't think they would fit, watch 'movies' with you. Cry with you, smile with you, celebrate with you, mourn with you. I want to spend my life with you. Only of you want that too. But it's also true that no one will let us travel together without a direct relationship between us. I would have taken you in as my sister but -"

" Eugh. Don't do that if you want to spend forever with me. " I said, looking up at his confused face.

" So you agree? " He asked, hopeful.

" I don't think I have a choice. But. One condition. "

" Whatever you want. "

" Mini stays with Shree Krishn. We aren't leaving her here, nor will she tag along with us. Understand? " I said as he nodded in agreement.

He held me close as I thought about how life would be totally different. I was barely an adult. I wasn't ready for marriage. Or anything that comes with it. So I did what I knew the best. Trust in the one I had come to love and trust in Narayan. He would fix everything.

He would right?

" Also. A very big thing. If we do get married. I am not having a child. Not so soon. " I said, the thought scarring my brain. I didn't want to be a mother yet. I couldn't. I couldn't even look after Mini that well. What will I do with my own child ?

" Absolutely. Understood. I don't mind either. " He whispered, chin on my head as he held me close.

" Ahem. Shall I tell AJ the good news then? " Asked the voice of someone who was simultaneously on my 'to kill' and 'to apologize'  list.

" Kanha! What -ahem.What are you doing here ?" I asked, jumping apart as he did too.

" Well, didn't you just ask Jyeshth that Mini would stay with me? That's what I'm here for. I'm taking her with me. "

" She will still be alive... Right? " I asked, sceptical. They say he's the master of words. I don't trust that about him.

" Yes Sagarika. I won't take her life away. Yet. " He said.

" Thank you. When do we start? "

" You have till tomorrow to discuss how to manage your life and how to overcome your challenges. I shall see you later. " He said, vanishing in a cloud of blue.

" Why's he so dramatic? " I asked, looking up at the man who told me that he loved me.

" I feel it has something to do with him being a child at heart. " He answered.

" Well, we should all be children at heart then. Everyone would have a dramatic exit. " I said, laughing.

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So, what do we think. Tell me in the comments..

Do vote. ❤

Much love

Radhekrishn❤