The Dharini soldiers all fell to their knees. The kingdom was now a part of Ashokdhar. Aagneya was arrested. The army of Ashokdhar was in pits of happiness and joy. And amidst the blaring sound of the battlefield, stood Aradhya with her hand still unable to move.
Chavi held her mother in a feeble embrace. Rihit, Darsh and Abhik all stood taking in the sight of Aradhya who they had never seen before. In such a magnanimous and victorious form. Aradhya finally hugged Chavi back with a content smile on her face.
Aradhya pulled away and turned around. She strode with infuriated steps. She stood before Vihaan and blew a slap across his jaw. Vihaan didn't clap back nor did he oppose her doing.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Aradhya slapped him again, "Why would you choose me over your kingdom? Is this a joke to you?"
Vihaan meekly met her gaze, "The only joke to me was that I would let you die. How did you expect me to even choose Ashokdhar over you?"
"You did that seventeen years ago. How different would it have been now?"
"The difference would have been that if you died seventeen years ago I would've not cared, but if you died today...I would not be able to live with myself."
Before Aradhya could reply, the remaining outcast warriors held her up, praising her and along the way, the army of Ashokdhar also started thinking very highly of Aradhya. Now her post was even above Vihaan. She was brought through the streets of the kingdom where some expressed their gratefulness to her. There were some who were not impressed by her still.
As Aradhya took in the sight of the palace again...those crystal-studded pillars and gold-lined palace towers...all that she could not experience when she came for Chavi brought a very vague sense of happiness to her.
She was set down in the palace with people applauding and cheering at Aradhya and still, it didn't bring a lot of confidence or joy to Aradhya. It felt obligated now that she had saved the kingdom.
She saw Guru Chitrabhanu...old but very able, he stood on the podium with a very impressed and happy face. He still looked fit. He shot a glance at Vihaan as well.
And as it does every time...people remember wounds until new ones come. They went back to normal. Everything always does. The people went back to their old state of living after the death of Sadhana, Rajmata and Aradhya could swear her life that they will go back to their normal states again. Regardless of how much change it makes.
"Welcome back, Maharani Aradhya." Chitrabhanu stepped down from where he stood.
"Sorry, Acharya...I am not here to return. I am not coming back here again. I will be going back again." Aradhya defended herself. Vihaan hung his head. He hoped with every one of his senses that Aradhya would return.
"Well, before you take that decision, Maharani...please, may I have a word with you. In private." Acharya raised his brow at her with a still calm expression.
.  .  .  .
"No, Acharya. Nothing can convince me to return." Aradhya rubbed her temple with her other hand resting on her hip.
"Why not? What is the problem?" Chitrabhanu asked?
"The problem is that I have been falsely accused of murder. I have been thrown out of this kingdom. Now just because Vihaan has finally cleared my name doesn't mean that I can return."
"That is the thing, Maharani, you can return."
"I don't want to return. I don't want to abandon the outcasts, I don't want to leave the life which I built for myself. I don't want to feel how I felt for Vihaan again."
Chitrabhanu smiled at her mildly. He looked through the window where the people celebrated. There was some lamenting too. Many had lost their families.
"Do you see this, Maharani? The joy and fulfilment. Vihaan fought many wars after you left. Even before you even came into his life. All the while, he was the king who his subjects loved." He turned to Aradhya, "but though they all loved Vihaan, he never could love them."
"What does that has to do with anything? With me coming back?"
"It was after you came that Vihaan grew to be human. It was after your arrival that Vihaan started to care and love. I am sure, Maharani Sadhana has told you quite a bit about how inconsiderate he was with her. Nandini was disappointed, and Rajmata was worried."
"What you are meaning to say is that he became human because of me?"
"Very precisely so."
"Then why was he so inhumane to me? Why did he treat me like I was just another hurdle,"
"I don't know. Maybe he felt like he was betrayed by someone he loved for the first time. Maybe him seeing you beside his mother's corpse made him blind. It happens sometimes, doesn't it? Seeing things as what they seem like rather than what they are."
Aradhya let out a shaky breath. She sat down on a chair in the room. She calmed her rising nerves down. She noticed Acharya waiting for her to say something.
"Why? Why do you need me back?"
"Maharani...Vihaan needs you. Ashokdhar needs you. I assure you, with every fibre in my body that I will not let anything else hurt you. I won't let a single accusing finger point at you. The outcasts will be given recognition."
Was it okay for her to return? It was not an issue for her to return. She could easily just stay back. But what she feared is her feelings for Vihaan. Yes, he assured her that he still loves her, but he said that right before he cast her out too.
Aradhya sighed and stood up, "Fine."
.  .  .  .
Aradhya strode into the courtroom where everyone stood waiting for them to come back. Vihaan was hoping to hear agreement with Aradhya's answer. Nandini and Chavi and even Darsh were interested.
Before Aradhya could tell what she decided, Abhik strode in. With Chaya cuffed and arrested. He brought her to Vihaan.
"All yours, Maharaj. Your offender."
Vihaan glowered at her. He crossed his arms against his chest and squared his shoulders.
"You, Maharani Chaya, will be joining your husband and daughter in the dungeons until we decide on what to do with you all." Vihaan sent her away. Chaya shot Aradhya a cheap look before being pulled away by the guards.
They all again turned to Aradhya to hear what she was about to say. Aradhya felt it all too much. The public eye, pleasing people, pressure, everything that she let go of 17 years ago was now before her.
She drew in a deep breath, "I...I am staying."
Vihaan let out a breath he had been holding and a huge grin of relief spread on his lips. He took a step towards her but was stopped by her upheld hand.
"But...I won't be staying here as your wife. And I have rules."
Vihaan stood back but still, his lips were curled up. Just the news of her staying here was enough for him. It was all the more joyful to him.
Aradhya noticed his smile but brushed it away before she ended up smiling too, Nandini and Rihit were also relieved.
Darsh who stood beside Chavi looked at her and she looked unsure. She looked sad even.
"I hate to say I told you so. They still love each other." He smiled.
"Of course," Chavi spoke, "My mother will become what she was 17 years ago. She will become dependent rather than being a leader."
"Oh, please." Darsh rubbed his neck, "Love is not that horrible of a thing. Maybe it will make Ma stronger."
"I hope." Chavi looked back at Darsh and smiled back.
"What are the rules?" Vihaan curiously asked. Aradhya huffed and folded her arms.
"I get a separate room. I will continue to lead the outcasts. Chavi will be staying with me. And for you," she pointed at Vihaan, "you won't do any dumb things to get close to me. You won't stop me from doing what I do. If any of the mentioned rules are violated...I will have to fight every one of you to get out of here."
Aradhya's words came out more threatening than they should've. Everyone was taken aback.
"There will be no need for that, I think." Guru Chitrabhanu answered.
"But, Ma. Why do I have to stay here?" Chavi whined
"You are my daughter. Where else will you stay?" Aradhya rose a question.
Chavi shut up and looked at Darsh who muffled his laughs. "I'll have to live with this vapid prince." Chavi thought in frustration and walked out.
.  .  .  .
Aradhya walked into the room that was given to her. The room was way too familiar to her. The same room she shared with Vihaan. The bookshelf was untouched, the dresser the bedding everything was just as she left it.
"I haven't been here in so long."
Aradhya saw Vihaan standing at the door. He was looking around too as if he was capturing every memory he had of this place.
"This was your room? Where else were you?" Aradhya set down her sword.
"I...After you left I stayed in a different room. I didn't want your memories to come to me. I had to hate you and if I chose to stay here then I would never be able to do that."
"Had to? Wow, You hate someone because people want you to hate them?"
"I didn't do it because people wanted me to," Vihaan stepped forward, "I was afraid of committing to our relationship even after all I witnessed."
Aradhya ran her fingers across a shelf of books as dust kissed her fingers. She gently pulled the curtains open, letting the light in.
"It would be a lot of help if you could get someone to clean the room up. Chavi has allergies. She ends up sneezing."
Aradhya turned around and almost fell back as she saw Vihaan not even a foot away from her.
"What...what are you doing?" Aradhya didn't meet his gaze. It had been a while since she had felt his closeness. The breath fanning her face.
"Get back, you are breaking the rules..." Aradhya tried to push him away with the meekest strength while still wondering if she really wanted him to go away or not.
Vihaan scooped Aradhya up in his arms burying his face in the crook of her neck. His grip was firm, he tried to hold onto her never wanting to let go.
Aradhya looked taken aback, she didn't expect him to get emotional. His breath on her neck sent chills down her spine, her blood ran warm under her skin.
"Vi-Vihaan let me-" she felt his grip get warmer and more reassuring.
"I missed you, Aradhya..."
.  .  .  .
Nandini and Rihit were on the balcony as always. They stood apart from each other.
"I am returning tomorrow," Nandini spoke.
"Are they coming to get you or do you need to be escorted?" Rihit glanced at her.
"No, they will come, Rajat and his brother."
"Of course, they will. You are the Queen of the Suryagandharv kingdom."
"I guess...I will...go meet Aradhya before leaving. We have a lot of catching up to do."
Rihit nodded and saw Nandini walk away with her bangles chiming. He blew the chance he had. All he had to do was just accept his love for her. But because of his denial...he lost her.
.  .  .  .
"Yes. Ashokdhar and Suryagandharv kingdoms have forged alliances. I am married to the oldest prince who is now the king." Nandini leaned against Aradhya's shoulder.
"It was Rihit again? Too afraid to commit?" Aradhya put her arm around Nandini.
"How did you know?"
"Well, Vihaan does the same, you know."
Nandini pulled away and looked at Aradhya for a while, "I am so glad that you are back. I am so happy. But what are you going to do with the outcasts?"
"Well, factually I am still their leader but I have handed the power over to Gaurang. He is currently helping them with settling down."
"Are you and Vihaan back together again?"
"No! I am not here as his wife. I am only here as a well-wisher of Ashokdhar because it somehow has a very gullible king."
"That is true too." Nandini and Aradhya giggled for a while. Only two women who stayed strong through every horrid situation thrown at them.
ð¡ï¸
This chapter ended abruptly but the next part will be coming up soon.
Tell me what you think of the chapter. And for those who are wondering what will happen to Chaya and her family...keep wondering.
And drop a vote, it boosts my confidence.
Until next time
With love
â¤ï¸