* * *

The dark blue sky looked peaceful tonight which was partially shining with few scattered stars as the moon had decided to take a break from his daily routine and Sridhar was fast asleep on his bed letting out soft snores making Chitra smile at his cuteness. She slowly stepped down from the bed covering him with soft covers and made her way out of his chambers, all the corridors were brightly lit up with several oil lamps but there was no sight of her husband.

What is holding him back for so long? Just like her, Arjuna was heavily worn out from their long trip, worrying about him she slowly walked towards the royal hall. The closer she got the clearer she could hear some loud argument between her husband and her mother-in-law.

"Arjuna!" Rajamata's angry voice roared across the empty royal hall as she stepped forward standing close to her son.

“You can never adopt him as your son and I am sure you understand why!”

“I know ma, but this time I am willing to put our rules aside.”

“Is this for Chitra? Just because she loves that kid?”

And outside the chambers stood Chitra leaning on the wall silently listening to their conversation, why is Arjuna doing this? He had clearly told her about how he can not disrespect their kingdom's rules and adopt Sridhar then why is he having an argument about this with his mother?

“Yes,” Arjuna replied nonchalantly looking at the dark corridors outside the hall.

“What? Have you lost-”

“Ma, after losing our child Chitra saw our child in Sridhar and today I realised how dearly she likes him and I won’t deny her heart’s wish. Never once after our marriage had she ever asked for any present and I know she won’t, so I have decided to give her what her heart needs.”

Chitra pressed a hand over her lips suppressing a cry, how can Arjuna love her so much that he was trying to break the kingdom’s rules for her? Unknowingly or knowingly he was even going against her mother, her heart was over bursting with love for him, for his efforts to make her happy.

However, she knows that what he is about to do is wrong, as a king should never break the regulations which they have been following for years and centuries.

With tear filled eyes, Chitra stepped away from her hiding position and was almost about to take a step inside and that is when she heard Rajamatha speak, “Even if it means to separate Sridhar form his mother?”

It was Arjuna’s turn to frown at his mother now, “No way, she is dead-”

“No Arjuna, Sridhar’s mother is very much alive.” Rajamatha said as she turned to face him, “Sridhar’s mother gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. That brute of a king Aditya was angered that his wife gave birth to a girl, he killed his own daughter and dumped his weak wife outside their palace.”

“What! How can he do that to his own wife and daughter-”

“Where is Sridhar’s mother now?” Chitra asked running inside, stopping before Rajamatha.

Arjuna was frightened to know that Chitra has been hearing their conversation, she is always so sensitive over that child’s topic and now looking at her face he was not feeling any better.

“Chitra, what are you doing here! Go back-”

“Please Arjuna, if Sridhar’s mother is alive then I need to know!” Shouting on top of her lungs Chitra looked at Rajmata expectantly to hear her answer.

Rajamatha Padmaja took Chitra’s face in her soft palms as she spoke, “Calm down, Chitra. Sridhar’s mother is living in a small village at Devampura as of now and her health is deteriorating as she believes that her son is also dead.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she imagined the amount of pain that mother would be facing, she knows the pain of losing a child but how can she ever know the pain of not having any dear one around to at least console you?

Rajamatha made Chitra sit on a nearby chair as she spoke, “While you were away I was trying to gather information about Aditya and his sister and like that, I got hold of this harsh truth. I was planning on informing you after your return but unfortunately, today has been more than hectic.”

Arjuna was devastated to see that confused look on his wife's face, what can they do now? He slowly sat beside her and rubbed her longingly as he spoke, “It’s okay Chitra, we can set things right. I will order Rajan to invite Sridhar’s mother to our palace to meet her son, she can stay here and he will grow up with the rank of a prince. Okay?”

His words made her heartache with raw pain of love, sobbing loudly she placed her head on his shoulder and Arjuna immediately wrapped his hand around her and pulled her close.

“No Arjuna, we should let him go now,” Her large eyes filled with tears as she looked up at him, “He should grow up near his mother and nothing other than that will never be fair.”

“Arjuna, Chitra’s decision is the only right thing to do. And also,” Rajamatha frowned as little as she spoke in a mocking tone, “What are you, seventy years old, senior citizens? Go work hard at nights so that I can have a dozen grandchildren to play with when I get old!”

Arjuna snorted with annoyance while Chitra laughed loudly between her cries. Chitra no more felt sad or broken thinking about letting Sridhar go for she knows if she could love him this much then how dearly and life-giving will his biological mother love him?

* * *

Chitra and Arjuna soon left the royal hall hand in hand and Rajamatha took a large breath in relief, she had successfully solved his son's problems and it was the turn of her daughter. Rajan was trailing behind her and she walked slowly cursing her late husband about how he gave her a troublesome daughter.

Who said she doesn't have any complaints about Nandhini’s and Vikram’s relation but what can she do? She has seen how crazily her daughter loves Vikram and how stupidly he loves her back, with these heavy thoughts she reached the royal physician chambers and was invited with some squeaking and giggling sounds.

“Nandhu! Return my dagger to me and sleep, I have had enough of your games now.”

“No way, you have to pay me first!”

“Pay you? I have no gold coins with me as of now-”

"Not with gold with coins Senapati Ji, pay with your amazing kisses-"

"You shameless princess!" Rajamatha's angry voice startled them as she marched inside shooting daggers through her eyes and cursing at Nandhini while Rajan standing behind smiled to himself.

"What are you doing here Vikram?" Rajamatha Padmaja asked with annoyance dripping down her voice and Nandhini sat up straight in her bed ready to defend for her husband to be.

"What do you think, ma? He is taking care of me!"

Rajamatha Padmaja wanted to bang her head to a wall and die, just how bold is her daughter?

"You shut up! I am talking to Vikram-"

"Ma, seriously? You should not be angry at him! You are the one who keeps postponing our marriage-"

Rajamatha's nostrils flared in anger as she cast at a look as her daughter making Nandhini shut her mouth.

"Look at the nerve of this girl! Rajan, go inform your king that I have summoned him here."

Meanwhile, Arjuna and Chitra were slowly strolling around the royal gardens enjoying the night's cool breeze. Chitra smiled delightedly leaning her head on her husband's shoulder as her hand remains in his.

"Tomorrow early in the morning, Aditya, Apsara and your former maid Meenakshi will be beheaded for their crimes," Arjuna informed her as he looked straight in her eyes.

He always knew that her maid is the one who raised her since childhood.

"Okay."

"I am sorry Chitra but I can not help your maid-"

"Please don't let my feelings affect your decision Arjuna. Of course, she was like a mother to me but few crimes are unacceptable and those criminals are to be punished at any cost, irrespective of their connections with the royal family."

Arjuna smiled sadly as he understands that this is the Queen of Abhiras speaking, she is once more proving how rightful of a queen she is.

After a few minutes, Arjuna asked her another question which has been eating away his brain for so long.

"Chitra, speak the truth. Are you happy sending Sridhar away from our palace?"

She stopped in her place and looked up at him as her eyes shone with happiness, "Of course I will miss him but nonetheless Sridhar reaching his mother makes me immeasurably happy."

This was the reason he was willing to do anything for her, she is always selfless trying to seek happiness in the smallest aspects possible. Her love is always pure and infinite.

Arjuna pulled her close by her waist and Chitra merrily moved closer placing her hands around his neck before saying, "I love you Arjuna, too much that you have become my world."

A grin broke out on his lips as he squashed his lips against hers roughly and hungrily as this was all he ever wanted for so long, he wanted his wife to love him back and listening to those words on one such night have given rise to a burning desire in him.

The second his lips met her soft lips, she was lost and as if their bodies were on fire yearning each other touch and Chitra felt her heart racing as his fingers were feathering down her waist waking up those swarm of butterflies in her stomach. Her heart ached from the love she was receiving from her husband.

Arjuna can feel his head swimming in pleasure as he tasted her soft honey lips, while his right hand was running across her smooth waist, his other hand was hastily trying to get rid of the piece of cloth covering her bosoms.

And once again at a perfectly wrong moment, Rajan walked towards the royal gardens and almost fainted looking at the scene in front of him as he pressed a hand on his mouth preventing a loud shriek. Taking two large steps behind he prepared to run silently but alas, he had no luck as unexpectedly an oil pole behind him fell down making his king and queen look at his way.

"Umm-I am sorry-"

While Chitra hid behind her husband, Arjuna's whole body shook with anger as his loud voice roared through the empty space, "How dare you! You should be behead-"

Arjuna's sentence came to a pause as Rajan ran away from there screaming a sorry and Chitra giggled behind him mumbling, " Poor Rajan."

* * *

Rajan reached the royal physician chambers safely, he was breathing heavily taking in huge gulps of air. Why the hell does he always witness his king and queen's private moments? His Majesty already seems annoyed with him for some unknown reasons and now he will guillotine him for sure.

"What happened, Rajan? Where is Arjuna?"

Rajan hesitated as he looked at Rajamatha, Nandhini and Vikram's total attention was on him making it even tough for him to explain the situation, "Um, His Majesty is busy right now."

"What busy?"

It was disturbingly uncomfortable for Rajan to even think of the scene he saw, "Like, really busy?" He tried his best to hint Rajamatha but to no avail.

"Whatever, I will go myself-"

"Rajamatha Ji! His majesty is really busy! Like the private kind of busy with his queen!"

And his last two words finally clicked those hints in Rajamtha's brain as she nodded her head furiously as if she understood.

"Rajan," Rajamatha looked at him as she spoke, "Go and inform our servants head about banning any maid or soldier from entering the side of royal gardens-"

"Yes, yes. Rajan, make sure that no one enters this chamber also! Vikram and I have lots of buzzes to discuss-" Nandhini smiled suggestively at Vikram as she spoke.

"Shut up! You shameless girl!" Screaming Rajamata caught Vikram's hand and pulled him out of the physician chambers.

"Sleep, you stupid princess! Remember, I will be placing heavy security around your chambers so don't even think of pulling any stunt!"

Saying Rajamatha locked her chamber doors and dragged Vikram behind her.

* * *

Sleep was far away lost in the dark sky that Chitra can see from her bed, she vaguely remembers spending a night like this alone crying and sleeping on a windowsill back at the palace of Rampur, but this time not from loneliness or sorrow but with heart quenching love and happiness. After a long night of passion and lovemaking, Arjuna was sleeping peacefully beside her.

Love, such a mysterious word it is. It can either make your life or destroy you to ashes. For many long days and empty nights she wondered, how would love taste like? How would love feel like?

She moved close to him running her hand through that tiny scar on his right eyebrow and he moved close towards her mumbling something incoherent in sleep placing his head on her bosoms as he slept and Chitra couldn't help but laugh silently.

However now she got her answers, love looks like her husband when he smiles. Love tastes like his toe curling kisses which wakes up those fluttering butterflies in her.

She tilted her head partly placing a long kiss on his forehead in happiness but to her surprise, Arjuna mumbled opening his eyes partially. "My lips are feeling bad now, can't they also get a kiss?"

Chitra's eyes shone with unsaid glee, she giggled musically shaking her head in a no and laughing loudly Arjuna moved on top of her trapping her under him and kissed her with all his love, "Hmm," He mumbled in between their kiss, "Looks like we might have a long night, what say my queen?"

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