Himprayag
Ahilya threw her head back and laughed.
Gayatri scrunched her nose in displeasure and said, "If you think that this is a laughing matter, then you don't even deserve to compete for that throne. Be serious for once."
Ahilya wrapped a sheet around her own body and grabbed another one before walking up to Gayatri.
Putting the burgundy coloured satin sheet on her shoulders, she said softly, "It was distracting me."
After doing so, Ahilya went to sit next to the window through which the moon peeped in.
"I intend to defeat him by using my strong point. Competing against his forte would not only be foolish but would also lead to my defeat. As for the alliance, I was never in favor of mother's proposal so it doesn't matter what her plan was," said Ahilya.
Gayatri raised a pair of insecure eyes at her.
"You should know that I don't intend to stand in your way if a favorable matrimonial alliance comes your way. I will continue to serve you with my utmost sincerity and loyalty," she said in a subdued voice.
Ahilya chuckled and said, "So you mean to say that I will make love to some guy and you would stand outside and get tortured?"
Gayatri looked at her reproachfully, "I know that you don't mind be… being with a guy, as well. I…"
"Stop being a martyr. It doesn't suit you. Now stop fretting so much and come back to bed. I have a long day tomorrow. The army general and I have an important discussion lined up early morning," she sat on the bed and patted it.
Next Morning
"I don't believe in alliances, General. One has to give something in return. Usually, one side gets a good deal while the other only believes that it was good. Tell me which of these smaller regions would be advantageous enough for our country and for the king to look at me, favourably?" asked Ahilya.
The general looked at her in concern and replied, "Princess Ahilya, Himprayag has always maintained a neutral stance. If we were to upset the balance, the consequences would be felt by us, as well and the impact would be long term. The king would never give permission for the same."
Southern Zilla
It had been weeks now and Yash was downright depressed. Mriga had not replied to any of his letters. The one from Ishani had told him that she had no clue about Mriga's travel plans and she should have been at home, only. But in the same sentence, she had written that he should forget about her since she has moved on.
What did she mean by that line? He had eaten himself, inside out, thinking about it.
Thankfully, there were only two weeks left to school reopening and he would be able to get to see her face-to-face.
Harshvardhan saw his son lost in his thoughts, as he often was. Sighing, he turned away from there and bumped into his wife.
"Are you happy now?" Ujjwala asked him with a scowl.
He raked his brain to think of what could have triggered his wife's temper now. As always, he chose to stay silent rather than make a guess or ask her about it. He didn't have to wait long.
"How dare they? Who do they think they are? Do they not know that even if their daughter becomes the queen, she would have to give up her association with her family for the next twenty-five years? All they would have is an empty pride to hang on to," she snorted.
"What has happened? Why are you talking about that family again?" Harshvardhan asked.
Ujjwala looked at him with blazing eyes.
"It's all your fault. Few weeks ago, they wouldn't have dared to behave like this with me. I just wrote to Vasudev as a courtesy from one zilla chief to another that I was planning to visit Western zilla soon for some work. He has written back saying that he would be happy to welcome me as the Southern zilla head but the family is still miffed about what has happened. Hence, he cannot extend the invitation to stay with them. As if I would have…" she crumpled the paper in her hand with force.
Harshvardhan spoke to her in a soothing tone, "It doesn't matter. Aren't you glad that you have seen their arrogant side already? If they are behaving like this now, imagine how insufferable would they be if their daughter actually becomes the queen."
"But I really wanted…" she started.
"I know, I know but what is wrong with what we have currently? You are healthy and beautiful, have a wonderful son, have been adjudged the best zilla chief recently and your husband loves you crazily. Isn't that enough?" he asked gently.
Ujjwala had a biting retort on her lips but something made her stop and nod her head.
"I am planning to cheer Yash up by taking him for fishing early morning, tomorrow. I know that you don't like it but would you join in, thinking of it as a family outing? I don't think that we have ever had one," he tried his luck.
"What's wrong with him? Didn't he get what he wanted?" she asked in a tentative voice.
During the past weeks, Yash had studiously avoided his mother. Even though he hadn't outrightly rebelled against her, his silence was deafening. She wasn't used to being treated by her son like this and it had hurt her, causing her to pause and take stock of the situation even before her husband pointed it out. She just hadn't wanted to acknowledge it openly up till now.
Harshvardhan put an arm around his wife and said, "He broke his girl's heart for his mother. And that broke his heart in return. I believe that she is not willing to consider his feelings anymore."