Dhani's house.
That evening when Prabhupada returned home Vani welcomed him to tell her stories of the day to him.
"Welcome back Pa! Do you know what happened today?"
She started blabling her stories as soon as Prabhupada sat to drink some water after a long day of work.
"Today in the temple I saw a big, this big…blab…blab….. And in the evening….blab…blab… But, I have my suspicion that he was looking for sister. In the temple, he kept glaring at her like he would eat her."
Everyone in the house was aware of her loquacious nature. Thus, no one used to pay much attention to her words. Of whatever Prabhupada heard he responded to that.
"Are you talking about Master Bali? Haha…..he matches the description."
"You know him?" Surprised, Vani asked.
Dhani attentively heard their conversation as the name Bali rang in her ears.
"Are you talking about Master Bali?" Prabhupada asked Vani with surprise.
"Why are you calling him Master, Pa?" Vani looked at Dhani and then questioned again.
"Vani, you two met him?" He asked and burst into laughter.
"How do you know him, father?" Dhani asked from the corner of the hall.
"Have you heard about the village name Naimisharan?"
"Yes…Yes! I have heard of it. It is one of the most prosperous villages of this land," Vani said.
"Yes! You are right my daughter. It is the largest village of Avabhoomi. Master Bali is the younger brother of the Village Chief of Naimisharan. He is accompanying his elder brother, His Highness Aatreya, here."
"Pa, why are you calling them His Highness and Master? They are just Village Chiefs."
"Haha… Naimisharan is no ordinary village. It's big enough to be called a kingdom on its own. Its population is two times more than our whole Kingdom. Do you understand how big it is?"
"Then why is it still considered a village?" Dhani asked.
"Because they rule under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Mitramani. It's the most powerful Kingdom in Avabhoomi. King of Mitramani is His Highness Aatreya's Uncle."
"So, His Highness Aatreya is a direct descendant of the Mitraman dynasty?" Vani enquired.
"His Highness Aareya's father was none other than the Late King of Mitramani. He was an ascetic man and lived a peaceful ascetic life with his five sons. Now, these five brothers have decided to live the same way as their father. That's why they have accepted to live in the village among the people."
"That's quite thoughtful of them. I wish every King would be this benevolent to his subjects," Dhani said with a smile.
"They have come here to oversee trade between the two villages. And you know, our Village Chief is thinking of marrying his daughter to His Highness Aatreya."
"Really? Then, we will get to eat delicious food at the marriage ceremony. It's been days since I have not eaten the dishes at a marriage ceremony," Vani said.
"Not so quick. His Highness is not showing any interest in this matter."
"Father and his princesses, enough conversation for today. Let's have dinner now" Mala said who was setting the dinner table.
●●●
The next morning at the temple of Veerapalli, Aatreya was ready to leave Veerapalli as planned. Chief Surender, Veerapalli's Chief and Prabhupada were present there to bid him and Bali farewell.
"We will be departing. I wholeheartedly thank you for your hospitality and care Chief Surender," Aatreya said as a gesture of thanks for the new form of bond between the two villages.
"Oh! No. There is no need for that, Your Highness."
"Chief! Please call me Chief or simply address me by my name. I am only a Village Chief and much younger than you."
"You are quite humble for a man of power and position. Haha. Veerapalli is blessed to have your guidance."
"Humility and power go hand in hand, Chief Surender."
"Yes, Chief. You are right."
Surender, Veerapalli chief calculatively made eye contact with Prabhupada to remind him something and push him to speak.
"Your Highness! Have you thought of the proposal that our Chief suggested; about having a matrimonial alliance with Veerapalli?"
Leafs on the treetops moved like waves for a while. After a pause Aatreya spoke only with the intention to escape the trap that Veerapalli chief was trying to capture him into.
"I will give it a thought. If you have any suitable maidan worthy of becoming a daughter-in-law of the Mitraman dynasty, please suggest her name. I will get her married to one of my four brothers."
"Chief, what about you?" Veerapalli chief asked.
Aatreya lowered his head slightly, smiled and said "A woman that my heart can long for…such a woman… where can you find such a woman?"
"Chief, if you don't meet any woman then how will you know if she is worthy of your heart or not? My daughter is returning tomorrow if you…," Veerapalli Chief was saying when Aatreya cut him in the middle.
"Chief, let's leave this discussion for the next time. I have some more important issues to attend to at Naimisharan. We will leave after taking the blessings of the Goddess."
When Aatreya walked towards the temple chamber, Dhani came out of it after performing her daily rituals. She looked at him. The same sensations started to run through her heart as before. When Aatreya also looked at her, she stopped walking. He stopped and following him everyone behind him stopped.
"Oh! You are here. Where is Vani?" Prabhupada asked Dhani when he looked at her.
"She did not come with me today, Father," she replied and lowered her head to avoid glancing at Aatreya.
"Prabhupada Is she your daughter Dhani?" Veerapalli chief asked.
"Yes, Chief. Your Highness, this is my daughter Dhani. .. Dhani, dear, greet them," with proud filled eyes Prabhupada introduced her to them.
"She has spent twelve years of her life in doing penance and worshipping the Lord and she has received many blessings. It's so hard to be a father of such a graceful daughter," Prabhupada said with pride. "I am searching for a man worthy of her grace, beauty and devotion. If you happen to know someone to be worthy of her please let me know," he added.
"Your daughter is beautiful, Prabhupada. I am sure you will find a good husband for her,"