Rajamatha was back in her chamber's, slowly removing the heavy golden ornaments and placing them in a heavily carved wooden box.

Her brain and heart were clustered at the moment with deep thoughts of Chitra. She had tried, she tried to get Chitra to spill out whatever was eating her brain, she tried to console Chitra for the pain she was facing but all her attempts were futile.

She understands how emotional the pain of a mother be, she is a mother of two children no one knows the pain better than her. Troublesome pregnancies run in this family, when she was pregnant with Nandhini she almost lost her life because of the complications, but fortunately she got two beautiful and healthy kids.

Something more than pain was gripping Chitra from receiving her husband's help and that something resembles resentment and bitterness, but why? Arjuna was also facing the same loss and same pain, then why couldn't she take him in?

Having someone to share your pain can always heal the deepest of deepest wounds, the process can be a little slow at a time but nothing a touch of love can't not heal.

Rajamatha Padmaja, prayed to the gods before she slept on the bed thinking that she will get hold of the reason for her son's drift in marriage.

* * *

"Are you leaving?" Sridhar's soft voice was almost like a whisper as he stood near the entrance clutching the long curtains.

The long oil lamp poles near the entrance have a clear view of his red and teary eyes which instantly made Chitra's heart twist in emotions, his chubby cheeks were pink from the night's cool wind.

She waved her hand motioning him to come to her and when he did she pressed her warm palms to his cheeks trying to warm him up.

"Why aren't you sleeping? It's almost midnight?" Chitra pulled out a thick rug from her almirah and covered him in it.

Sridhar's eyes remained glued to the floor trying to hide his tears as he bought up his little hand and whipped his flushed pink nose.

"I will be back in a wink! You can-" Her words came to a halt as Sridhar opened his eyes wide and blinked forcefully strong.

Chitra threw her head backwards laughing awed by his adorableness, she kneeled to his level and pinched his cheeks, "We will return soon, till then you can stay with aunt Apsara-"

"Nah!" Sridhar shook his head, "She won't play or tell me any stories! Last time when I asked to play with me she pinched me so hard!" He lifted his cotton night kurtha showing her his wound.

Chitra's eyes peeled open and she could see a faint blue mark on his side stomach, her fingers ran on his wound, "Does it still hurt?" She asked in a worried tone.

Why would Apsara do this to her own nephew? He was her only family left after Aditya being sent to the prison, it is such a shameful act to hurt an innocent kid and that too a parent less kid like Sridhar? Anger filled in her brain, Chitra was being friendly to her but that doesn't give her any right to do this to a kid!

"No." He shook his head letting go of his kurtha.

"Fine, Till then stay with Princess Nandhini okay? And also I will get some gifts for you when I come back, what do you want?" The playful tone in her voice cheered the little boy as he tapped his chin thinking about what he would like to have.

"Ha! I want a sword!" His eyes twinkled bright like a beautiful as he replied and his response surprised Chitra why will a barely five year old want a sword?

"A Sword? We have many at our training grounds-"

Sridhar facepalmed himself making a loud sound, "I am not stupid Chitra, the sword was so heavy that I feel down! And Mandhara kept laughing at me!" His bubbly cheeks turned red as he completed his sentence.

Chitra smiled to herself as he continued to talk, so dramatically, waving his hands in the air trying to show her how he tried lifting the sword and how he fell down. It is a miracle, how such a sweet angel was born to a demon like Aditya?

* * *

Chitra stood baffled as her eyes fluttered in frustration. It was decided that they would ride on horses to reach their destination, Arjuna could have hired a chariot or a bullock cart, but no out of an universe of options he had to declare that horses were the only transportation they would be using. As he knew, he was well aware that Chitra is bad at horse riding, which would inevitably lead her to ride along with him.

The small stable behind the palace would lead to the centre of the kingdom and from there Rajan would lead the route to Devampura.

The more the number of soldiers, the more attention they would attract. Rajan was good with traveling and forests and Vikram was enough to protect the king and queen.

Sridhar insisted that he will go back to sleep after seeing Chitra leave but the moment Sirdhar's eyes fell on a small young colt at the end of the stable he ran and started petting him, the mother horse was right beside and was giving him a narrowed look as if she was silently warning Sridhar to stop petting her child, but sridhar being sridhar, started feeding the colt some grass.

Rajan stood in a corner checking the health condition of the horses they were about to ride and soon Nandhini and Vikram walked to the stable, hand in hand, Nandhini was practically sticking to Vikram making him roll his eyes every few seconds and Chitra stifled a laugh.

"Sridhar!" Chitra called for him and he ignored her as he dramatically talked to the young colt asking if he would like to eat more grass.

But when Sridhar saw Vikram standing beside him, he quietly walked to Chitra and hid behind her, catching her legs tight. Vikram scowled while Nandhini laughed, catching her stomach, well, we can't blame the kid now as Vikram actually looked less child-friendly. His thick beard and few scars didn't help but add up to his heavily built body.

"Our kids are angry at you." Nandhini said in a low voice as she looked at the horses.

Vikram looked bewildered as he suspiciously turned his head down looking at Nandhini, "We have kids?" He questioned.

"Yes, because you keep travelling they are not born yet." She smiled as she looked at him.

"I must have lost my brain that I have decided to take you as my wife." Vikram shook his head at her intelligence, she never leaves a chance to remind him that they are yet to be married.

"You just got lucky, I am the prettiest girl you will ever find." Nandhini flipped her hair proudly.

The stable was filled with quiet laughs as Arjuna walked inside, he saw Chitra trying to stop Sridhar from over feeding a colt, she was literally dragging him by his shoulders and kept taking few steps forward.

He suppressed a laugh and cleared his throat announcing his presence. Chitra was also dressed in men's clothes and her hair were tied up in a tight bun with no ornaments and she still managed to look beautiful like always. Arjuna always knew, Chitra's beauty was the one to add shine to the golden ornaments not the other way around.

He can't stay away from her but neither can he seek her forgiveness for something which he had to do, it was his duty as her husband to prioritise her life before anything.

Nandhini made her way to him and secretly asked to keep an eye on Vikram, so that he could come back in one piece for their wedding. She almost ate his ear saying that all the unfortunate bad luck in this world was revolving around her and Vikram, postponing their wedding.

When it was time to leave, Sridhar quickly placed a long kiss on Chitra's cheek, gave a huge hug to Arjuna and bid his byes to the young colt saying that he will return with more grass tomorrow making Chitra facepalm.

Chitra awkwardly stood near a horse as Vikram and Rajan sat on their horses ready to leave. Arjuna walked to her and made her put her hands around his neck as his hands circled around her waist, lifting her up in the air.

And Chitra sucked in a long breathe as his cold grip tickled her waist, waking up those hidden romantic emotions. He quickly sat behind her taking the belt of the horse in his hands.

The horse slowly started running as Chitra spoke, "We could have taken a cart." A light accusation was lacing her voice.

Arjuna's broad shoulders were touching hers as his rich laugh filled the air, he moved a little closer crushing Chitra with his broad frame as a familiar sense of warmth and musky scent engulfed her in.

He tilted his head placing his chin on her shoulder as he whispered in a husky voice, his soft lips touching her ear as he spoke, "I won't be able to have you this close to me then, could I?"

And a thin shiver passed through her spine, not because of the cold night, but because of this close proximity,

Arjuna's lips remained there for a few more seconds and Chitra could swear it on her life that he placed a small kiss on her ear just before he bent back.

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