"And you..."
Ira looked up at her father, expecting a little bit support from her father after she helped him strengthen the alliance with Jwalana by getting married to Raksheet. But for her disappointment, her father's disgust towards her never decreased. He still hate her and will never support her, not even in her dreams.
"You are married now, don't you have any sense how to behave like a lady and not to provoke others? You are a king's wife, you should maintain your reputation. Don't act like a kid and fight with your sister. At least don't ruin my name!"
Ira know that her father will never listen to her. And if she tries to explain the situation, he will only blame her and will scold her mother for giving the wristlets to her.
She sighed softly and replied "I am sorry father."
Dhishva again ignored her words and said "Your husband is waiting for you. He want to introduce you to emperor and empress. I hope your husband have taught you how to be respectful and polite with nobels. So be respectful and keep your voice down as well as your eyes while talking to emperor."
'You think my husband is the one who should teach me manner? May be you realised that you forgot to teach me being my father.' Ira thought, cursing her fate for having such a family who always use her as a tool to gain power or release their anger by humiliating her. She has forgotten about her past till now but her father and sister reminded her it again.
"Follow me." Dhishva said and was about to leave from there with Ira when suddenly Veera spoke.
"Father, I want to talk to you. Now."
Dhishva clicked his tongue in annoyance "What now? Can't you talk about it later?"
"No! I want to talk about it right now."Veera looked at Ira and continued "She stole something from me."
Ira looked at Veera in shock. Veera is still saying that Ira stole something from her. when she got it from her mother. Her mother gifted her those wristlets. She didn't wanted her father to know about it. If he got to know about the wristlets he will sure punish her mother. Upon that her grandmother will always torture her mother for rest of her life for giving their family treasure away to someone like Ira. And Ira don't want her mother to suffer because of her.
Gathering her whole courage, Ira decided to protest against Veera's accusations. "I told you sister. I didn't stole it. Stop misguiding others."
Veera widened her eyes in shock seeing that Ira dared to talk back to her infront of their father.
"See- see Father, she dared to talk back to me. She forgot her manners after leaving Aaro. We need to teach her a good lesson. She stole my wristlets and dared to accuse me for misguiding you."
Ira looked away when Veera mentioned wristlets. Her father will sure scold her for taking those wristlets without his permission.
Dhishva took a deep breath, feeling done with this family drama. He was regretting coming to Jwalana. Everything is going well in Aaro without Ira. There is no shor of fighting and arguing. No one skip their food because of others anymore. But when he stepped in Jwalana, he is feeling like he is again stuck in this mess. And it's all because of Ira.
"Father, why are you not saying anything? She stole my wristlets. Tell her to retur-"
"So what?!" Dhishva cut offs Veera's words because he can't bear it anymore. He hate such girlish debates that his elder daughter always make. He is not interested in those wristlets, doesn't matter how precious they are for womens. For him, it's just a peace of gold that he can easily afford. Infact, he can afford its ten times more.
Veera was dumbfounded by her father's question. How can he take this matter so easily.
Ira was having the same expression as Veera. She didn't expected her father will be so calm after hearing it.
"F-Father, she stole MY wristlets. I want them back. Tell her to return it to me."
Dhishva sighed deeply and replied "Look Veera, it's not a big matter so don't create a fuss here. Your mother already told me about it. She wanted to give those wristlets to Ira from a long time. And it doesn't really matter. Let her have those wristlets."
Both Ira and Veera's eyes widened when they heard that their mother already told their father about wristlets.
"But father I want it! They are our family wristlets. You know how precious they are." Veera insisted. Now it's a matter of her prestige. She can't let Ira win.
Dhishva held Veera's both shoulders and said as calmly as he can "I told you, let her have those old wristlets. I will buy you new one and more beautiful wristlets than hers. I will ask the jeweller to bring all the beautiful wristlets he have and you can buy as much as you want, okay?"
Veera was amused when she heard her father is willing to buy her new wristlets as much as she want in the exchange of those old crappy ones that hold some idiotic family values or status. She don't care about those family wristlets. She just wanted it because she don't want Ira to have it. And Dhishva know it very well. He know his elder daughter is not stupid like her mother who gives more value to unnecessary things like those wristlets. She will definitely choose her benefit over obstinacy.
"New wristlets? as much i want?" Veera asked. To confirm that she didn't heard it wrong and her father will not take back his words.
Dhishva nod and repeated "New wristlets. As much you want."
A bright smile appeared on Veera's face and she jumped in happiness. "Thank you so much father!" She then turned her gaze towards Ira and said in annoyed tone "Hey you, I don't want those crappy wristlets anymore. You can keep it."
Ira finally sighed in relief and touched her wristlets. For Veera, those wristlets are useless and crappy, but for Ira, it's the most valuable gift she have ever received because her mother dared to give it to her without asking for anyone's permission. She dared to do what she want for the first time. Ira will always adore and love them.
"I allowed your mother to give it to you because you obeyed me and got married with Raksheet." Dhishva said to Ira. "It's just a reward, remember it."
Ira just nod, knowing that her family will never give her anything without taking something from her in return. How can she expect them to give her a gift?
"Now let's go. The emperor is still waiting for us." Dhishva ordered and turned around, walking towards the emperor with Ira following him behind.
Ira walked towards Raksheet and stood there. She joined her hands infront of emperor and empress. "Greetings your majesty the emperor. Greetings your majesty the empress."
The emperor and empress just nod in reply with a smile.
Ira put her hands down and stood still. She kept her eyes low as her father told her. She didn't even looked up at her husband.
Seeing his wife lowering her gaze and not looking up at him, Raksheet whispered to Ira. "Is everything ok? Did he said anything?"
Ira shook her head slowly and replied "Everything is fine."
A wide smile appeared on Viraaj's face after seeing his granddaughter. But the smile slowly dropped when Ira didn't looked at him.
"It's nice meeting you princess." The emperor said.
Ira smiled slightly "Nice meeting you too, your majesty."
The empress then stepped forward and approached Ira for a hug.
"Nice to meet you princess." Ira was looking so sweet in empress's eyes that she can't control herself from hugging her.
Ira smiled and accepted empress's approach. She hugged her and replied "Nice to meet you too your majesty."
After giving a tight hug to Ira, the empress broke the hug and said "You are looking so beautiful."
"Thank you." Ira replied with a smile, still looking down.
Ira was avoiding eye contact with them and both the Emperor and the Empress were finding it strange. They looked at eachother in confusion and finally the emperor spoke.
"Princess Ira, is everything ok? Why are you not looking at us? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Just like emperor and empress, Raksheet, Dhishva and their fathers were confused too. All of them looked at Ira, waiting for her answer.
Thinking that may be his wife is nervous or scared because of Dhishva who earlier left to summon her and he must have threatened her about something, Raksheet again whispered to Ira. "Princess, are you scared because of your father? Tell me, i will help you. I will protect you from him."
Ira again shook her head slowly and replied "No, I am not scared. Don't worry."
She then spoke to emperor "No your majesty. I am not uncomfortable. Actually, this is how my father raised me. He always taught me manners and how to be respectful towards my elders, especially towards nobels. And looking down when talking to your elders who are emperor and empress, isn't it is a good manner. If I look in your eyes, it would be disrespectful towards you." Ira then turned towards her father and asked innocently "Right father? I am doing what you taught me, right?"
Dhishva was stunned for a moment when Ira suddenly dragged him in their conversation. He did told her to keep her gaze low while talking to emperor but he didn't expected her to be so bold to tell everything to emperor.