The next morning began rather hilariously.

We woke up entangled yet again, but this time, none of us wanted to get up.

"Yudhishthir. Maharaj will crown the Yuvraj today.. Let me go! " I said, laughing as the hand on my hair pulled me closer by the waist .

"No. I want to sleep right here. "

"So sleep, I want to go. "

"You want to leave me here? Alone. On our bed, where we could share more stories with each other. And other things. " He said, looking down at me with those adorable sleepy eyes.

" What 'other things ' mister? I thought last night was an exception-aaah. " I laughed, being tickled mercilessly was not fun... But it was.

"Sto-aaah-stop! "

" Never. "

" Move your royal highness! -"

"Raajkumaar, Raajkumari, you've been called to the sabha post haste by Maharaj Dhritarashtr. " The guard said.

So we finally got up, even though reluctantly.

In the sabha, everyone sat with anticipation, wondering which prince won the title of Yuvraj.

" Based on the gurudakshina and the advice of courtiers, I, Maharaj Dhritarashtr of Kuruvansh, son of Maharaj Vivhitrviry announce Pandu Putr Yudhishthir as the Yuvraj of Hastinapur, to hold power as the sole ruler of Hastinapur after my reign. "

The sabha errupted into applause, proud of the king for choosing wisely.

All around I could hear the sounds of
"Yuvraj Yudhishthir ki jai. "

I could never be more proud of him and when I looked at him with pride in my eyes, he smiled, a bit wider, a bit more open, not with his mouth but with his eyes too.

"Now, Yuvraj, what will be your first order of business? " I whispered to him.

"Well, I could announce you as the Yuvrani, but that is rather understood by now. " He said, smiling.

" Yuvrani.... It has Rani in it you know."

" Of course it does. You are my rani. Aren't you? " He said.....

Now look. How does one not blush at that?

As he sat in the middle of the sabha for his abhishek, I could see my brothers moving close. Along with Angraj Karn.

" Bhrata Bheem. Don't you think he looks too happy to sit there? "

" He does Nakul and imagine, he's not even looking ahead! He's looking at someone else... Maybe that's why he's smiling so much. "

Mata stood by us, smiling at their antics. She came up to me and said,
" Putri, my son is incredibly grateful to have you as his wife, as his partner in life. He is honoured to have you as the one who will support him in his right and advise him against his wrongs. " She said, pulling me into a hug.

" Nahi mata. He is grateful and incredibly lucky to have you as his mother, who has taught him so well. "

"If you have both completed being emotional, may we cheer for Jyeshth?" Nakul asked, evading a slap from his mother.

He finally stepped down from the podium, to take his staff and sit atop his seat, or throne would be better.

My own brother, Ajatshatru, sneaked up to me.

"You said we have to talk? "

"We do. Once he's done with the works of the day, we need to speak. "

So, with a smile to my Yuvraj, I left the sabha, when I was followed by Angraj Karn.

"Arjun! Arjun! " I called.

" Yuvrani, why do you call for my anuj? "

"Because, Angraj, I do not know the next character test I will have to give for being alone with you. "

" But Yuvrani, I won't do this. I am not Kumar Duryodhan's slave. He made a request as a friend-"

" And I am not even saying anything. All I'm saying, is that I need to have Arjun or any one of them with me. "

"Ji bhabhishree? Pranipat Jyeshth. "

" You'll stay with me as long as Angraj Karn has anything to say to me. "

" Ji bhabhishree. " He agreed, although he looked sceptical of my order.

" Now may we sit Kumari? "

" Speak Angraj. What is it you want to say to me ? "

"Kumari. I apologize for my behaviour and everything you suffered because of it. I never knew that this would be Kumar Duryodhan's ploy, to hurt his own bhabhishree. I am truly apologetic. "

" Apology accepted Angraj. Now, may I leave? "

" Kumari -I -"

" Yuvrani! Yuvrani! " Came a voice. Oh, it was the lady from yesterday, Radha ma.

" Pranipat ma, how shall I help you? " I asked, taking her blessings.

" Putri, I ask you as a mother. Please forgive my son. He doesn't understand how deep he's fallen. He doesn't understand, that this is not the way to be friends. Please forgive him. " She said, with hands joint.

I immediately pulled her hands away to hold them in mine. " Nahi mata, you aren't at fault, so please don't join your hands in front of me. As for forgiving your son, now my Jyeshth, as he is my husband's Jyeshth, I will definitely forgive him mata, but I can and will never forget it. I'm not saying he doesn't need to have a friendship with the Yuvraj. He can, but a friend is there to support you when you are right and correct you when you are wrong. If they don't listen to you, then you are in no means responsibke for their fate. "

"You are right Kumari, but I have a huge debt to Kumar Duryodhan -"

I laughed. Debt? Friendship and debt? Have you ever heard these two words being said together?

" Jyeshth, you call Duryodhan as your friend and then say that you have a debt to pay to him. What kind of a friendship is this? As a matter of fact, even I stood up for you that day before anyone did. I was the one who spoke for you. So, does that mean, that since I didn't give you a throne my words do not matter? "

"No Kumari, that's not -"

"But your words insinuated that itself. You are a confused man Angraj. Come speak to me when your mind is clear."
I said, walking off.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

I walked into our room to see my husband lounging on the bed.

" What are you doing here so early? Don't you have to attend the sabha? "

" Pitamah told me to go. He said, ever since we got married we've been busy with something or the other and haven't gotten enough time to spend with each other. " He said, standing up to invite me in his open arms.

"They are right. We have time until the court ends. Then, we'll be talking to AJ. I heard he's even brought Kumari Devika with him. "

" Then we'll do that later. For now, I want to not think of any Yuvrajpad, any AJ or anyone. All I want is to spend some time with you. " He said, pulling me closer, if there was any space that is.

"You know how polar you are? Earlier, me keeping a hand on you made you go rigid, now, you're becoming more romantic then me. " I said, laughing at him.

"Then you weren't my wife. Now you're exactly that. My wife, my partner, my love. " He answered, pressing a kiss against my forehead.

"So where are we going? "

"Well, I was thinking to take you to a part of the garden I love. It is a hidden area -"

"Oh I know exactly how this goes. "

" Do you? What is it my dear wife? " He laughed.

" Well, I mean -don't ask me to say
it! " I hid my face in my hands.

" My dear wife, if there is one thing I need to know, it is that, you need not hide your face or be embarrassed in front of me. " He whispered, pulling my hands away.

As he moved in for a kiss, I heard,
" Bhabhishreee! Bhabhishree! We need you to come quickly! We have something to do! With Jyesth Yudhishthir in the sabha, you'll get bored. Come with us. "

"It's always the brothers and sisters. " My husband muttered, putting his forehead against mine.

" Haan -aai! " I answered, moving away, before pressing a short kiss to his lips.

He looked at me with wide eyes and I laughed.

"Yuvraj, sometimes, you need to be quick, or someone will always interrupt you. " I whispered into his ear as he turned beet red.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

As me and Yudhishthir sat with AJ, waiting for Kumari Devika, I saw my husband and AJ doing things I never imagined them doing.

Bonding over my likes, dislikes and discussing something which I was told is 'a brother's responsibility and not something I'm supposed to speak about'.

When Kumari Devika walked in, I had to look at her, wiping anything which could obstruct my vision.

She had the same idea whe she shouted, " WHAT! "

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

So, they'll finally meet.. . Now AJ did tell Saag that they have the same face, but it's still jarring to see right?

Tell me how it was in the comments and do vote if you liked it

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥