"Really?" Ahil got excited just by the thought that he can go on a tour in every city and Village of Jwalana.
Raksheet nod "Why did you thought I will not allow you to come?"
Ahil released Raksheet's arm and wore a sad expression. He looked down at his hands and replied in a sad tone "You always scold me whenever I ask for your permission to go out. You always tell me to practice in armoury and avoid going out with my friends. So i thought you will not let me go out this time too."
Raksheet heard Ahil's answer carefully and after hearing it, he chuckled and patted Ahil's back. He pulled Ahil close and side hugged him. "You are still a kid. Don't know if I made a right decision to make you commander before time."
Ahil looked at Raksheet in worry. Did he said something wrong? Is his brother regreating making Ahil commander?
Raksheet laughed to see Ahil's worried expression. He caressed Ahil's arm. "I am just joking. Of course I made a right decision of making you commander before time. And it's seen when you train your soldiers. You are worth becoming a commander."
Ahil's expression finally relieved. He again looked away sadly.
"Ahil, i used to deny your request for going out because you had so much to learn. You were a future commander of Jwalana. You need to focus on your training more than anything else. You have to sacrifice more than others. And I have to sacrifice more than you."
Ahil turned his head towards Raksheet.
"I don't have any friend. Because i spent my childhood in training and academy. I always wanted to go out with my friends and play with them like other kids. But because I am a crown prince, the future king, i don't have any right to play and have fun.
But you are a second prince. You don't have so many responsibilities like me. You are my younger brother, i wanted you to live your childhood like a kid, not like a future commander. Working hard all day and reading so many books. I tried my best to give you a peaceful and joyful childhood. But you should know your responsibilities as you grow up.
I let you go out and play with your friends until you turn fourteen. I even helped you make friends because I don't want you to experience the loneliness that i experienced. To give you a break and enjoy your youth, I used to tell you to go out on hunting or to solve the villager's problem with your friends. So that you can spend some time with your friends and enjoy. Didn't you realised it yet?"
Raksheet was disappointed that his brother never understood how many efforts he made to give him a good childhood and easy lifestyle. Fun, friendship, respect, powers, Raksheet want to give Ahil everything he had to work hard for. Just so that Ahil doesn't have to suffer like him, Raksheet always tried to make his life easier. But Ahil should know his responsibility and learn to be an independent person, so that he can take care of himself when his brother is not there.
Ahil suddenly hugged his brother, tears forming in his eyes "Sorry, brother. I didn't meant to hurt your feelings. I didn't realised how much effort you made for me. I am really sorry. I am really sorry brother."
Raksheet hugged Ahil back and patted his back. "It's ok. It's my duty to take care of you. You are my brother, I am willing to do anything for you. Just stay with me, forever."
Ahil nod, still hugging his brother tightly.
Raksheet chuckled. He was feeling so touched to see his brother reminding him that sweet cute little Ahil he always wanted to protect and be with. Ahil always used to run to his brother for help whenever someone bully him or scold him. He was completely dependent on Raksheet and used to spend his whole day with his big brother.
But today, that little Ahil is grown up and became a commander to control the whole Jwalana army. That made Raksheet feel so proud. The little Ahil that used to hide behind his big brother for protection, will now protect his entire Kingdom.
"Now stop acting like a kid. Your soldiers will laugh at you." Raksheet whispered in Ahil's ear.
Ahil's eyes widened when he realised how many peoples are there and all of them are his juniors. He quickly wiped his tears and sat straight, feeling so embarrassed.
Raksheet laughed and patted Ahil's back.
No one dare to mock Ahil because they know the consequences.
"Grandfather, if you want to go on tour tomorrow, you have to take good rest today." Ira said while taking Viraaj towards his chamber.
"Ok." Viraaj replied.
"You have to take your medicine on time. And eat enough food before taking medicine. And-" while lecturing her grandfather how he have to take care of himself and eat his food on time, Ira heard a sound of footsteps coming from near Viraaj's chamber. They were only two chambers away from Viraaj's chamber. Ira looked at the direction of sound but found nothing.
"What happened ?" Viraaj asked to Ira when he saw his granddaughter suddenly became silent and trying to find out something.
Ira turned her gaze towards Viraaj. "Did you heard the sound. May be someone was there." She pointed towards corridor infront of Viraaj's chamber.
Viraaj looked at the direction where Ira was pointing but he didn't found anything strange to doubt on. He didn't heard anything as well.
"What sound? I didn't heard anything but you blabbering." Viraaj replied.
Ira looked at her grandfather with a done look. He never listen to her and love to make fun of her, just like her husband. Why Most of the men in her life are like this. Her grandfather, brother, husband, brother-in-law, they all love to mock her.
"Are you done making fun of me?" Ira asked.
Viraaj nod as yes and then shook his head as no. "I would love to make more fun of you but I am not in the condition to do that. Hope I will recover soon to mock you more."
Ira sighed harshly "For that, you have to get healthy first. And to get healthy, you have to take your medicine. Let's go." She held Viraaj's hand and started to walk towards his chamber.
"As you say."
They entered in Viraaj's chamber. Ira looked everywhere carefully, to make sure that nothing is wrong. She wasn't hearing a random sound but someone's footsteps.
After observing everything in the chamber and making sure that nothing is touched or moved out of place, Ira gave Viraaj his medicine. After taking the medicine, Ira told Viraaj to sleep for some time. But Viraaj wasn't sleepy at all. He was excited thinking about tomorrow. Not because he can go out in a fresh air but because he can go out with Ira. Ira didn't went out of the palace at least for once until her marriage.
The only day she stepped out of her palace was her wedding day and never came back. She saw outer world for the first time. Viraaj always wanted to bring Ira to the market, villages, city and take her out for picnic, just like other kids. But because of her identity and her father, Viraaj couldn't do that. He wanted Ira to go out, see outer world and make friends. Play, run, laugh, cry, fall down and stand up by herself, Hold his hand and walk on the streets of busy market, beg for toys. But Viraaj only saw his granddaughter being humiliated and feeling lonely in her childhood.
Finally he can experience that happiness. But Ira's childhood is gone. He can never live her childhood again. He just want to go out with her and see her reaction after seeing the places outside the palace. That one reaction is enough for Viraaj to live her childhood again.
"Ira, stay with me for a while. I am not sleepy at all. How can I fall asleep just after waking up three hours ago?" Viraaj complained. He held Ira's hand, preventing her from going out of his chamber.
Ira sat down next to Viraaj "But you should take some rest."
"I am taking rest." Viraaj replied "You just sit with me and talk. How everyone treat you? What you did in last one month? How Ahil trained you? How did you defeated your husband?" He asked the last question in excitement and curiosity. He never expected Ira to beat such a strong king like Raksheet. He was the strongest prince. And he will probably be the most powerful king. Then how she managed to fight against him and win?
Ira chuckled on Viraaj's questions. Especially the last one. She already expected this reaction of Viraaj after knowing that she won against her husband in swordfight.
"I told you, it was my lucky day. Otherwise I would not have been able to defeat him."
"You can." Viraaj said with a meaningful smile "You can do it. It's just our fate that we have to hide your identity. Only if...only if i would have been able to tell your identity to everyone, you would have ruled my kingdom." He held Ira's hand "If Veer wasn't born, i would probably made you and your husband rule my kingdom after Dhishva. I want to see you and your husband sitting on my throne, ruling Aaro. So that I can hand over my all responsibilities to you and play with my great grandkids."
Ira's eyes widened and her cheeks flushed red when Viraaj mentioned his great grandkids. She quickly looked away to hide her red face.
"No need to feel shy. I am your grandfather."
Ira looked at her grandfather with annoyed face and said "Great grandkids? For them you will have to wait a long time. And about ruling Aaro and sitting on your throne, it's impossible. By saying that if Veer wasn't born so that you can make me rule Aaro, you are asking me to fight against my brother and kill him. You know if we want to win the throne, we have to kill the king and crown prince first. If father got to know what we are discussing, he will kill me with his most poisonous sword so that I can't survive by any chance or at any cost."