It had been nearly six months of practicing with Sulohita and I was moving at the pace of a sloth. To add to that, our wedding anniversary was rapidly approaching. One year of wedded bliss.

" Now, my dear hold your hand out and imagine the presence of fire. " She said, while I closed my eyes for the fiftieth time today, I mean it literally.

" Sulo, I am tired. My brain feels like it will split open and jump out of my skull. Can we stop for today? " I pleaded, thumping to the ground to hold my head in my hand.

" Alright. It's alright. We can do more tomorrow-"

"Saavdhan! Pragjyotishpur Yuvraj Ajatshatru, padhar rahe hain! "

" AJ is here? "

" Your brother? "

"Well yeah. "

So me and Sulohita ran towards the hall where I saw an extremely stricken AJ sitting next to Yudhishthir who looked conflicted.

" Bhrata? What's wrong? " I asked and for the first time in ages, he didn't answer, instead choosing to pull me into a hug.

" AJ? What happened? I-I can't help you till you tell me. " I asked, running my hand through his hair.

"They-tgey took her. " He choked out, moving back to wipe his eyes.

" Ajatshatru? Who took whom where?" Arjun asked. They were friends too, having stayed with him for three to four months.

" D-devi. They took my Devi away! " He said, anger flashing his dark eyes.

" What do you mean! Who took her away? "

"I don't know. I don't know where she is or where she was going. All I do know is that she was coming to Pragjyotishpur for some rituals before our wedding and she never managed to reach! "

They were getting married?

" AJ. Please calm down. We'll find her. Come, I need to talk to you. " I coaxed him as Yudhishthir and Sulohita followed me back to our room.

" Sit down here. Sulo, please bring a glass of water. " I said, sitting him down on the vanity chair.

I sat down in front of him, holding his hand.

" Look AJ, crying won't help. Now tell me clearly what happened. "

He wiped his tears and gulped down the water, while Yudhishthir stood behind him with a hand on his shoulder.

" Six months ago, she and I decided that we would get married, after she and her father brought her proposal. I wanted to surprise you so I didn't tell. Until now. She was supposed to come to the kingdom for some rituals as per maa and pitashree's words but her convoy never made it. She and her palki with her soldiers vanished, leaving only this. " He said, pulling a ring off of his finger.

" I don't know who took her and where, but I think it's those two monsters, Mandik and Moshtik. I have set out spies but I can't find her. It's been three weeks that I have been looking for her. " He cried, holding his head in his hands.

" Did you two discuss something that could have triggered someone to take her away? " Yudhishthir asked.

" N-no. But the last time she came, she told me that she was one of the seven flames of agni... Is it because of that? Mano-manojava. That's her original name. "

Yudhishthir, Sulo and I looked at each other.

" About that. AJ. You need to know something. " I said, as worry crossed his eyes.

" Wh-what? "

" I am one of them too. I am a flame too. I just have no recollection of my memories. " I said out, in one breath.

He looked at me with glassy eyes. He was not sure, should he celebrate his friend and sister's joy or mourn the absence of his love.

"Did -did she know? "  He asked.

" Y-yes. I am Karali. " I told him, as he stood up suddenly.

"Alright. Devi Sulohita, you are her sister. Please come and look for her with me. " Then he fell to his knees.

"Please Devi. I need to find her. " He cried, as she, struck by his words could only help him up.

"Yuvraj. Look at me. You were going to marry her, weren't you. That means you're my brother too. I will help you. We'll go look for her. "

"What about me? " I asked, watching as they decided on their own to do this.

"You stay here. " AJ said.

" What? Why? She's my sister too! "

" But I need you to stay here. For once, Saag listen to me and stop arguing to put yourself on the line because you have that 'I need to save everyone' complex. I will do this! " He shouted.

Is that true? Do I really feel like that?

" Is that what you mean? That I shouldn't fight for those I love? "

" No. You misunderstood me -"

"I understand you just fine. Go look for her then tell me what you meant. I will speak to you then only Ajatshatru . " I said, walking out.

" Sagarika! That's not what I - wait! " Was what I heard, before turning corners and bumping into someone I did not want to see right now.

" Putri, walk carefully. Who knows when you might fall. "

"Mamashree, when you learn how to look up, do tell me. " I snarled, leaving a shocked Shakuni behind.

I ran to the aclove, the only serene spot I could find in this Raajmahal. Probably because of the memories of love I have here.

"For once, Mini I wish you were here. You are the relief from all the adult problems I have in life. " I whispered, sitting down.

Is that what he thinks? I know he is sad and angry and he's confused. But why does he think my care is some complex I have when all I have is love for my family..

I know he's angry, but does that mean he has the right to say things like this?

" Sagarika. " I heard my husband say from behind me.

"Have you come to tell me how I shouldn't have lost my temper on him, heard him out and that it's my fault for not listening to what he said?  Believe me I know. So if that's what you're here to do, please console my brother and send him away with a goodbye. Tell him I love him. " I answered, wiping the trail or tears away.

I heard rustling and then, I heard someone pull my face to his chest, holding me there.

"Shh. I know what he said angered you. I'm not saying you were at fault either. But try and understand. He wants you here to track Devi Devika from the political standpoint. He will look in other places, the nooks while we search the obvious ones, not because his job is harder. But sometimes, things are right in front of us and we can't see them. " He whispered.

" He could have said that and I would have agreed. All he said was that he needs me here. I wouldn't even need anything more than that . I trust him, I love my brother. I know if he's telling me something he has to have a reason, but why would he tell me that I have this itch to save everyone! "

" We can't control another person's actions or words priye, but we can control ours. Now, you'll stand up, go out and wish your brother goodbye. Maybe not because you feel like it, but because you are a Yuvrani and it is your duty to send your brother on his quest with good graces. Besides, don't you want to bid Devi Sulohita goodbye? " He asked, turning my face to him. He wiled my tears with his angvastr and stood up, helping me.

"What would I do without you Yudhishthir? I asked, smiling at him.

" For one, you'd have to search for good loving men in a venture where they are rare. " He snarked, earning a slap to his arms.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

They stood at the gates, both of them. I put up the best smile I could and walked up to AJ.

"Saag. I -"

" Safe travels brother. I hope you find and bring my bhabhi back soon, after all, who else will dance in the groom's procession like I will. " I smiled at him and I suspect it might not have been entirely false.

" Sulohita. I bid you goodbye. May you return safe and healthy from your travels. " Which is when I heard Sahdev coming on his horse.

" Where are you going Sahdev? " Jyeshth Karn asked.

" I'm going with them Jyeshth. Ajatshatru is my friend too. I wish to help him.  We'll be back soon bhabhsishree. "

They rode off, hoping to find her.

We went back inside the room. Hoping to find anything.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

Nearly a month later....

" So. What are you thinking of next week? "

"Uh. I wouldn't know. Is there something special? "

" Yes, we were here for six months before, it's nearing the end on another six. "

"Ahh, it has been a year since you came into my life. Yes, one of the best years I have had. And more to come. " He said, smiling as he pecked my cheek.

Does he not really remember?

" Alright. We'll be going somewhere? A vacation away? "

" No. I did hear from Sahdev. He'll be back soon. "

"Did they find her? "

" Yes, but he wouldn't say anything else, saying that he had been forbidden by both Sulohita and Devika to converse with anything over a written document. "

" That's suspicious. Any reason why? "

" No clue. Also, mata has said, we need to leave for Varnavart the week after the next."

" Why so? "

" Well, she said that there are villagers who are holding a memorial pooja for pitashree. " He said, his mood darkening.

" Do you miss him? " I asked, sitting down by his side on his work stool.

" Everyday. The way he taught me all that is about life, my dharm, ny love, my conduct. It's all his and mata Kunti and mata Madri's teachings. They loved us. " He said, putting his head on my lap.

I immediately put my hand in his dark locks, running my fingers through them.

" So, do you think they are planning something big? "

"Maybe. Why were you asking about next week? " He asked, looking up at me with doe eyes.

I bent down near his face. Expecting a kiss, he closed his eyes but I moved to his ears. " It'll be a year to our marriage my dear husband. " I whispered, laughing as I pulled back to see his face, red but still in shock.

He got up immediately and gently pulled my hand to his, " A year already? Time flows faster when you are in love, doesn't it? "

" Theory of relativity. " I answered and he looked at me with confusion.

" What? "

"Nothing, it's physics... " I told him and he sighed.

"What a wife I have.  Alright, I'll ask Maharaj if we can go to a forest hut of sorts. Maybe the place from the painting I showed you? "

" I'd love that. " I answered, putting my head on his shoulder.

" Saavdhan! Raajkumar Sahdev evam Raajkanya Sulohita, Raajkumari Devika evam Yuvraj Ajatshatru padhar rahe hain! "

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

Well, they are back. Why don't they want to converse through print  or written media?

Who took Devi away?

Is Gandharaj involved or is this all just a big April fools I'm planning. ....

Tell me how you felt in the comments and do vote.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥