𝔸𝕁... 𝕊𝕠𝕣𝕣𝕪, 𝔸𝕓 𝕥𝕠 𝔹𝕙𝕒𝕚𝕪𝕒 𝕓𝕒𝕟 𝕘𝕒𝕪𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕟𝕒...

The way towards Pragjyotishpur was harder. I do not enjoy the cold and that is where I had to live..... Why Narayanan. Why?

As we were moving, I was sat atop the horse while the princess was in her palki. We had to move at her speed.

I have immense respect for Sivi kumari.... But why did I have to move at her speed! Sitting on a horse means racing through the winds till you even leave the winds behind. Not moving at the speed of the traffic on the red light jam on the Kashmiri Road redlight.

Sighing, I looked forward to the sunset.

So much had changed in our lives ever since Kanha ji had waved his hand. I was here, Yudhishthir there. Sagarika got a boyfriend.... Expected really, but anyways.

I was about to fall asleep on the horse, when, " Yuvraj! Yuvraj! There is a letter from Hastinapur from your sister for you. "

I have a sister?

"Give it to me. " I said, taking it from him.

Ahh... So it is Saag. Why is she in Hastinapur though. So I made the silent effort to ask my own guards.

" Sainik, why is my sister in Hastinapur right now? "

"Yuvraj, did you forget? She is married to their prince now. She got married to the courageous and wise Raajkumar Yudhishthir. You only set the details of her swayamvar. The chess competition. You were very happy to see your great friend win it. " The guard said joyfully.

They got married! Without me! How! Why! So soon! Abhi to pyaar hua tha? (Just recently they fell in love?)

Most of all. A chess competition. Seriously. Saag needs to make up better lies. A chess competition of all things.

On top of all that. How did he marry her without being beaten to pulp before by me? Or Mini. Which reminds me. Where is Mini?

' If you think so much mitr, you will exhaust all your brain in one go. Calm down. Reach Pragjyotishpur. I'll meet you there'. Said the voice in my head.

'If you knew all this, why didn't you tell me. Now the guard thinks I don't love my sister enough to remember where she is and why'.

'Mitr. No one thinks that. You're reputed for having a short term memory anyways'.

'Wait what? Really? Kanha'!

I swear. When we forget he is a god,you realise how annoying he sounds. I pray for Dau's soul.

As night began, we finally reached Pragjyotishpur. As expected, it was cold, but a nice one, the ones you could sleep in on the roofs of your house.

I was met on the doorstep by Maharaj Singhdant and Maharani Lavanya.

No. My parents. They were my parents. Yes. Parents.

"Pranam Pitaji. Pranam mata." I greeted, bending to touch their feet.

" Kalyan ho putr. " They said, pulling me into a hug. It felt nice. I miss baba and ma, but they also feel like home.

I then went to help Kumari Devika out of her palki.

She stepped out, greeting my parents as well.

"Oh! You're here to explore? We thought our dear son has won your swayamvar. " Mata Lavanya said, laughing.

" Nahi mata. Not yet. " I said, blushing.

"Yet kumar? " Devika said, smirking.

"I-that's not what I -Kumari! What! "

"Putr. Please show Kumari to a guest room. We'll meet for food later. " Pitaji said, walking away.

"Ahem. May we proceed? " I said, red faced still.

" We may. " She said, walking away with a smirk.

What was it with her ans smirking. Does she not know any other emotions?

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

When I dropped her off into her room, her happiness was unparalleled. She was overjoyed to see a writing board and a painting cloth in the room.

"This is so beautiful. I must admit. The view is not that bad either. The beautiful mountains and hills, the flowing river. You didn't tell me your home was this beautiful. "

"Yeah well, neither did I ... " I muttered. I heard a very distinct laugh in my head.

"What? "

" Nothing. I'm glad you like it. We will meet for dinner later and then I can take you for a tour around the kingdom tomorrow morning. "

"Will it be just us? " She asked.

"If you'd like I'll have a batallion of soldiers with us -"

"No no. It's fine. We'll meet then. " She said, smirking. Again with the smirk.

"Alright, see you then Kumari. " I said, walking away.

"Kumar! " She called, following me down the hallway.

"Yes? Is there something not to your liking? "

"I have a proposition. "

"Yes, go ahead. "

"In place of me teaching you shastr vidya, you must teach me how to write poems and stories. Do you accept? " She said blatantly.

Well, for once she was straight about it.

Should I do it? Yes. Do I want to do it? No. I don't want to be tired each night. Must I do it. Definitely.

" I accept it. We shall meet soon. " I answered and she smiled. Smiled. You see people! Smiled.

"Pranipat Raajkumari. " I said, walking away, for good this time.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

Dinner that night was eventful.

Everything they served was new to me. Even my 'favourite' dishes.

My only saviour as I sat at the dinner table that night, was the annoying voice from my head, making his way through the doors.

"Pranipat Vasudev. Had you told us you were coming, we would have made better preparations . " Pitaji said.

" Nahi Maharaj. Visiting a friend doesn't do so. My friend Ajatshashatru has very greatly made me a friend. I have just come home. " He said, bowing to them.

Him and his games.....

"Pranipat Krishn. " I said, the most sarcastic smile you could imagine plastered on my face.

"Mitr! How good it is to see you! " He said, hugging me.

" Just so you know. You're not off the heat yet. " I whispered to him.

"I wouldn't imagine it. Won't you let me meet your new friend? "

" Yes. Well, that is Sivi Kumari Devika. He is Vasudev Krishn. " I said, introducing the two.

" Vasudev. I have heard a lot about your bravery, the recent being the defeat of Kans. Wouldn't you say, while although I agree with you, that killing your own relation is a sin? " She asked. She and her questions. Inhein bhi nahi choda. (She didn't even spare him.)

" Kumari, when adharm replaces dharm, there is no relationship that matters, no ties that bind. To establish dharm, even adharm done is acceptable, because it is done to establish the good. In future too, there might be a time when a family must fight against itself for dharm. Even then, dharm will be more powerfuk than any familial bonds.Hence, I didn't kill my mamashree. I killed a criminal. "

"I'm glad I learnt this. I am honoured to have met you. " What was she doing? Mata Gargi questioning shree Ram is what I remember when I see the two of them.

" And I'm honoured to meet my to be bhabhishree. " He muttered. What!

"Did you say something? "

" No kumari. Let's have food. " He said, sitting back down.

" What was that!" I whispered.

" What was what? " He asked back.

" You know what! "

" No. I'm not sure. "

" I swear. If you weren't Narayan....."

" I'm not. For you I'm your friend. " He said.

" Fine then." He said and received a punch to his arms.... I had to apply an ice block wrapped in cloth that night.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

So.... Do you think it's true? If narayan was not well, narayan, would we be able to be more annoyed with him at his leelas?

Tell me how you feel in the comments.
I'm so glad my exams are over today ☺☺

Much love

Radhekrishn ❤