"I said, you apply it," Ahankara stated, feeling her heart clench at her own words. She turned her face to the other side and closed her eyes, not wanting to see him leave.
"Alright, Rajkumari," Neharika replied softly, glancing at Yashvir. As she made a move to sit down beside her, Yashvir raised his hand to stop her. He placed his index finger on his lips, ushering her to remain quiet, as he took the small bowl from her hands. He gestured for her to leave the room, and although hesitant, Neharika obliged. Once she had left and the door was closed securely, Yashvir sat down beside Ahankara, causing the bed to dip.
"He's such a jerk," Ahankara whispered, sniffing. "You know what he said, Neha? He was only showing care and affection because he wants me to be at the wedding. Or else he wouldn't even care if I'd just go and die in a ditch."
Yashvir bit his lip, and took some ointment onto his fingers, before tracing it on her
"I told him I love him," Ahankara announced, closing her eyes shut in pain, as she stood up from the throne. Yashvir immediately rushed to her, catching hold of her arms to support her, so she would not get hurt again. She gave him a small smile before turning her attention back to Ananya. Ahankara made her way to her, before standing in front of her."So you told him you loved him. What, you hadn't before?" Ananya rolled her eyes."I hadn't," Ahankara replied. "And that's why it was hard for him to believe me, when I tried to clarify our misunderstanding. Finally when I confessed, he believed me. Because that's what love is. You trust the one you love, and you trust the one who loves you.""As adorable as that sounds, what about me?" Ananya asked, her teary gaze shifting to Yashvir. "What about me, Yashvir? Why did you do this to me?"Yashvir shifted his gaze to the floor in guilt, sighing. "I'm sorry. I
Yashvir held onto Ahankara's hand from behind, his other hand resting on her waist. His warm breath tickled her ear as he leaned in to her, placing his chin on her shoulder."Keep your eyes on your target," Yashvir whispered, before he made her swing the sword around. "And then attack.""Hmm," Ahankara replied, her breath hitching and her heart beat pacing. His close proximity was making it difficult for her to focus, and a small, bashful smile stretched across her lips."Keep your grip firm, or the sword will be knocked out of your hands," he said, tightening his fingers around hers. "And don't just use the blade. You can use every part of the sword to your advantage.""How?" Ahankara asked, turning her head to look up at him. He leaned in and touched his nose against hers, gently nudging, before he pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back, closing her eyes, as she let go of the sword, letting it fal
Ahankara carried the tray of colors to the bed, her lips pressed into a thin line as she tried to suppress her smile. She placed it on the side table, watching to make sure Yashvir was fast asleep. She sat down beside him, careful not to move the bed too much, and took some of the pink color into her hand. Grinning, she slowly brought her hand towards his face, but before she could touch him, Yashvir woke up with a jolt and caught hold of her wrist. Ahankara gasped as he pulled her closer, his eyes narrowed dangerously."What do you think you're doing?" He asked."I... Uh..." She muttered, biting her lip as her gaze flickered from him to her hand, and back to his face. She realize her closed fist was vertically above his cheek, and she grinned before unclenching it, causing the color to fall onto his face."Ahankara!" Yashvir snapped, closing his eyes and scrunching up his nose."Happy Holi," Ahankara smil
Yashvir walked inside the room, his gaze meeting Ahankara's as she offered him a small, tired smile. He walked up to the bed and sat down beside her, after which everyone else left the room, except the doctor."Is she okay?" Yashvir asked, looking up at the doctor as he took Ahankara's hand in his. "Thank you for showing up on such short notice. The Palace doctor is out of town.""It's an honour, Maharaj. And your wife will be perfectly fine very soon. I would, however, suggest you take special care of her from now on. Such an accident could potentially harm your baby. You're lucky she-""What?" Ahankara and Yashvir said in unison, their expressions mirroring each other's."Did you say baby?" Yashvir asked in disbelief, frowning."Um, yeah," the doctor nodded, smiling. "You two weren't aware? She looks eight weeks to me.""I told you!" Ahankara breathed, her eyes turning g
Neharika stood beside Ahankara, throwing flowers at Kabir and Ananya, who walked around the sacred fire, fulfilling their last wedding ritual. Her eyes accidentally met with those of the man standing beside Yashvir, and he smirked, causing her to blush and immediately look away. Realizing that Yashvir was calmly conversing with him, Neharika lightly nudged Ahankara's arm."Yeah?" Ahankara asked softly, turning her head to look at her."Who's he? The man beside Maharaj," Neharika questioned, her voice lowered to a whisper."Who?" Ahankara frowned, looking in his direction. "Oh he. That's Rajkumar Ranvijay Samrat. He's a childhood friend of Yashvir, Ananya and Kabir. He was too busy at the time of our wedding so he couldn't show up. Why are you asking?""He's a Rajkumar?" Neharika asked softly, meeting his gaze again as she felt her heart sink."Yeah... Is everything okay?" Ahankara frowned,
"I'm not playing with her feelings," Ranvijay frowned, crossing his arms over his chest."Bullshit," Yashvir narrowed his eyes at him. "Why else would you be messing around with her? You know she's not a Princess.""So what?" Ranvijay scoffed. "Since when do you care about titles? Even if Ahankara had not been a Princess, I'm sure you would still have married her."Yashvir raised am eyebrow at him. "I would, but are you serious? You wanna marry Neharika?""Look, I haven't decided yet. I need a few days around her, obviously. You tell me, is she nice a girl?" Ranvijay asked."Of course, why else would I be concerned about her? But she cannot handle a Kingdom, that's for sure. She's intelligent, no doubt, but you know Princesses receive certain training since a young age," Yashvir explained."She must have been on Ahankara's side when she received hers," Ranvijay shrugged.
"I don't understand, Kunwar Sa. Why would you choose me?" Neharika whispered, a tear escaping her eye. "You could choose any beautiful Princess, anyone at all... Why me?""Why is it so hard for you to admire yourself?" Ranvijay frowned. He walked up to her, and gently took her arms, turning her around so she would face him. "I like you. I like everything about you. Your simplicity, your wit, your grace. You, Neharika. I don't care about any fancy Princess out there, about anyone who isn't you. Because you're the one I want in my life.""Your family would never acce-""It's a good thing I don't have any family then, right?" Ranvijay cut her off. "I only have an Uncle, and his family. And they don't have anything to say to me, they don't care. They mind their own business, I mind mine.""But what if-""Shh," Ranvijay placed his index finger on her lips, making her silent again. "Trust me."
A Week Later Yashvir entered the room, his jaw clenched as tears pricked his vision. His lower lip quivered and he pursed his lips, looking away from Ahankara's sleeping self and taking in a deep breath. He slowly made his way to her, and sat down beside her, unsure of what to do. The only thing he knew was, his wife was in a coma, and there was nothing he could do to help her. All his wealth as a King, his power, his physical strength, nothing would prove helpful. He was completely helpless as he stared at her closed eyes, her unmoving body.A sob escaped his lips and tears fell from his eyes, as he leaned down and placed his head on her shoulder. Hearing the sound of her breathing, and feeling her heart beat calmed him down slightly, reminding him that he had not lost her completely. She could still wake up, still come back to him."Ahankara," he said softly, sniffing, as he took her ha
Few Months Later"You okay?" Yashvir asked softly, pulling Ahankara to his chest."Yeah," she whispered, her gaze downcast."Look at me," he demanded, brushing her hair away from her face. Ahankara hesitated, but obliged, her glassy eyes meeting with his concerned ones. "Hey, my Love," Yashvir frowned, pulling her into a hug. She held onto his shirt, and sniffed, as tears left her eyes. "Ahankara... Stop crying my Beautiful Rose. I don't like your tears, you know that.""Hmm," she mumbled, but continued to shake with silent cries."Ahankara, you know this had to happen one day, right?" He asked. "She had to go some day.""I know, but it still hurts. I miss her so much already," Ahankara muttered, burying her face into his chest.He caressed her back, and the back of her head, hoping to calm her down. "If I had known this would happen, I wo
"I knew it was of no use! I knew it! Why would you listen to me, after all? I've never truly believed in you before this," he said, scowling. He wiped away his tears, and turned around, storming to the door of his bedroom. He opened it and was about to walk out, when a small, soft voice fell upon his ears, making him freeze."Y-Yashvir?"His eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat, as he slowly turned around. His gaze fell directly upon Ahankara, whose eyes were open now, and staring back at him. A tear of happiness left his eye, and he instantly rushed to her, taking her hands into his."Are you okay? God I missed you so much," he whispered, leaning in and kissing her forehead."Wh-what happened?" Ahankara whispered, frowning. "I don't... I..." She trailed off."Wait, let me get the doctor," Yashvir said in alarm, running to the door. He ordered a guard outside to fetch the docto
A Week Later Yashvir entered the room, his jaw clenched as tears pricked his vision. His lower lip quivered and he pursed his lips, looking away from Ahankara's sleeping self and taking in a deep breath. He slowly made his way to her, and sat down beside her, unsure of what to do. The only thing he knew was, his wife was in a coma, and there was nothing he could do to help her. All his wealth as a King, his power, his physical strength, nothing would prove helpful. He was completely helpless as he stared at her closed eyes, her unmoving body.A sob escaped his lips and tears fell from his eyes, as he leaned down and placed his head on her shoulder. Hearing the sound of her breathing, and feeling her heart beat calmed him down slightly, reminding him that he had not lost her completely. She could still wake up, still come back to him."Ahankara," he said softly, sniffing, as he took her ha
"I don't understand, Kunwar Sa. Why would you choose me?" Neharika whispered, a tear escaping her eye. "You could choose any beautiful Princess, anyone at all... Why me?""Why is it so hard for you to admire yourself?" Ranvijay frowned. He walked up to her, and gently took her arms, turning her around so she would face him. "I like you. I like everything about you. Your simplicity, your wit, your grace. You, Neharika. I don't care about any fancy Princess out there, about anyone who isn't you. Because you're the one I want in my life.""Your family would never acce-""It's a good thing I don't have any family then, right?" Ranvijay cut her off. "I only have an Uncle, and his family. And they don't have anything to say to me, they don't care. They mind their own business, I mind mine.""But what if-""Shh," Ranvijay placed his index finger on her lips, making her silent again. "Trust me."
"I'm not playing with her feelings," Ranvijay frowned, crossing his arms over his chest."Bullshit," Yashvir narrowed his eyes at him. "Why else would you be messing around with her? You know she's not a Princess.""So what?" Ranvijay scoffed. "Since when do you care about titles? Even if Ahankara had not been a Princess, I'm sure you would still have married her."Yashvir raised am eyebrow at him. "I would, but are you serious? You wanna marry Neharika?""Look, I haven't decided yet. I need a few days around her, obviously. You tell me, is she nice a girl?" Ranvijay asked."Of course, why else would I be concerned about her? But she cannot handle a Kingdom, that's for sure. She's intelligent, no doubt, but you know Princesses receive certain training since a young age," Yashvir explained."She must have been on Ahankara's side when she received hers," Ranvijay shrugged.
Neharika stood beside Ahankara, throwing flowers at Kabir and Ananya, who walked around the sacred fire, fulfilling their last wedding ritual. Her eyes accidentally met with those of the man standing beside Yashvir, and he smirked, causing her to blush and immediately look away. Realizing that Yashvir was calmly conversing with him, Neharika lightly nudged Ahankara's arm."Yeah?" Ahankara asked softly, turning her head to look at her."Who's he? The man beside Maharaj," Neharika questioned, her voice lowered to a whisper."Who?" Ahankara frowned, looking in his direction. "Oh he. That's Rajkumar Ranvijay Samrat. He's a childhood friend of Yashvir, Ananya and Kabir. He was too busy at the time of our wedding so he couldn't show up. Why are you asking?""He's a Rajkumar?" Neharika asked softly, meeting his gaze again as she felt her heart sink."Yeah... Is everything okay?" Ahankara frowned,
Yashvir walked inside the room, his gaze meeting Ahankara's as she offered him a small, tired smile. He walked up to the bed and sat down beside her, after which everyone else left the room, except the doctor."Is she okay?" Yashvir asked, looking up at the doctor as he took Ahankara's hand in his. "Thank you for showing up on such short notice. The Palace doctor is out of town.""It's an honour, Maharaj. And your wife will be perfectly fine very soon. I would, however, suggest you take special care of her from now on. Such an accident could potentially harm your baby. You're lucky she-""What?" Ahankara and Yashvir said in unison, their expressions mirroring each other's."Did you say baby?" Yashvir asked in disbelief, frowning."Um, yeah," the doctor nodded, smiling. "You two weren't aware? She looks eight weeks to me.""I told you!" Ahankara breathed, her eyes turning g
Ahankara carried the tray of colors to the bed, her lips pressed into a thin line as she tried to suppress her smile. She placed it on the side table, watching to make sure Yashvir was fast asleep. She sat down beside him, careful not to move the bed too much, and took some of the pink color into her hand. Grinning, she slowly brought her hand towards his face, but before she could touch him, Yashvir woke up with a jolt and caught hold of her wrist. Ahankara gasped as he pulled her closer, his eyes narrowed dangerously."What do you think you're doing?" He asked."I... Uh..." She muttered, biting her lip as her gaze flickered from him to her hand, and back to his face. She realize her closed fist was vertically above his cheek, and she grinned before unclenching it, causing the color to fall onto his face."Ahankara!" Yashvir snapped, closing his eyes and scrunching up his nose."Happy Holi," Ahankara smil
Yashvir held onto Ahankara's hand from behind, his other hand resting on her waist. His warm breath tickled her ear as he leaned in to her, placing his chin on her shoulder."Keep your eyes on your target," Yashvir whispered, before he made her swing the sword around. "And then attack.""Hmm," Ahankara replied, her breath hitching and her heart beat pacing. His close proximity was making it difficult for her to focus, and a small, bashful smile stretched across her lips."Keep your grip firm, or the sword will be knocked out of your hands," he said, tightening his fingers around hers. "And don't just use the blade. You can use every part of the sword to your advantage.""How?" Ahankara asked, turning her head to look up at him. He leaned in and touched his nose against hers, gently nudging, before he pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back, closing her eyes, as she let go of the sword, letting it fal