The Proposal: Chapter 5

"Your Majesty, did you call me?" Bhargav's voice echoed in the garden where King Surendra Dev was waiting for him.

"Yes." The king smiled. "Since only two of us are here, you don't need to call me King. Just call me by my name." He sat on the royal seat made of white marble stone and moved his hand, signaling the commander-general to have a seat.

"But still you are my King, your majesty." Bhargav raised his brows while taking his seat.

"Bhargav, why do you always tease me?" The king chuckled and a smile appeared on the other's face. "I have something important to discuss with you." The King glanced at his friend whose face already turned into a serious expression. "I want my son Virendra to marry your daughter."

"What?!" Bhargav almost got chocked, listening to the king's request. "Surendra Dev, are you serious?"

The king let out a deep breath and looked at his friend. "Yes Bhargav, I am sure. I saw your daughter Lavanya today at the temple and market. She is so simple, gentle, and pious but at the same time she is a kindhearted girl too. Maheswari needs a Queen like her." He smiled. "Bhargav, I want your word. Do you agree on this matter?"

"Surendra Dev, it's not that I don't want my daughter to marry Prince Virendra. But..." He sighed and looked at his friend. "She doesn't know literature or music or any other talents which generally princesses know. Moreover, she is just a simple girl. Are you sure that you want her as your daughter in law?" Bhargav was unsure at the King's words as Prince Virendra was the apple of eye of young princesses. Any princess would die to marry him.

"Bhargav, why are you worrying so much about this?" Surendra Dev gently put his hand on Bhargav's, trying to assure him. "She has the qualities of a Queen and she will make a perfect pair for Virendra. I have seen so many princesses but your daughter is different from all of them. She is brave yet gentle, aggressive yet polite. She is just perfect in all aspects." The king smiled gently. "Moreover, Virendra is so much immersed in the matters of the kingdom and the war that he almost forgot to smile. Your daughter is a perfect life partner for him."

"I agree with this but I need to talk with Lavanya too," Bhargav said with a soft smile.

"You know, this marriage will also strengthen our bond and friendship." King Surendra Dev laughed making the other smile too.

"You are really witty, aren't you Surendra Dev? Killing two birds with a stone." Bhargav chuckled and shook his head with amusement.

"Sister, do you think that the vendor really has connections with the dacoits?" Akshara asked walking to and fro in the room where they used to practice swordsmanship.

"Yes," Lavanya replied without averting her gaze from the sword which she was cleaning for a while.

"Right." Akshara nodded her head. "Great minds think alike. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so arrogant."

"There are many gangs of dacoits hiding in forests of Maheswari but I cannot figure out which gang is supporting that vendor." Lavanya lifted the sword in the air, examining if it was alright.

Akshara was about to say something, Bhargav's voice grabbed their attention.

"Lavanya, Akshara, what did you do at the temple and the market?" Bhargav's voice sounded cold and serious, making the girls gape at him. "Don't look at me like that. Answer me!" He raised the volume of his voice at the end of the words, making Akshara hide behind her sister.

"F-father, we didn't do anything." Lavanya stammered while speaking, unable to figure out why her father was so angry with her.

"Really?" Bhargav glared at the sisters. "Then why did the king asked me to meet him?"

"I didn't do anything wrong. I supported an elderly woman when an arrogant vendor was misbehaving with her." Lavanya replied confidently.

"You really impressed the king." Bhargav smiled, leaving Lavanya flabbergasted. "He asked for your hand in marriage with Prince Virendra."

"Huh?!" Lavanya's jaws almost dropped to the ground while her brows almost disappeared into her hairline.

"Really?" Akshara's eyes widened as she couldn't process the words which her father said.

"Yes." Bhargav chuckled, watching his daughters' reaction and sat on a stool nearby.

"Are you sure that the king asked my hand in marriage, not Akshara's?" Lavanya tried to compose herself.

"He wants you as his daughter-in-law," Bhargav said, looking at the swords kept neatly on the table.

"Why on the earth did he select me!?" Lavanya's facial expression turned into a desperate one. "What's so good in me? I don't know anything except cooking, doing house chores, and fighting." She walked towards her father and knelt down before him. "Father, d-does Prince Virendra know about this?" She asked, looking into his father's face, expecting a good answer.

"Prince doesn't know yet. He went to Avantipuram." Bhargav looked at his daughter.

"That's why." Lavanya nodded her head. "He already hates me since we were kids and why would he agree to marry me. I am sure this marriage won't happen." A big smile appeared on Lavanya's face.

"Lavanya..." Bhargav put his big palm oh his daughter's head. "The king won't ask for the Prince's decision. It's his decision and the prince has to obey him." Bhargav chuckled as he saw the change in her daughter's expressions. "And, it's my wish too that you will marry Prince Virendra."

"But father..."

"Lavanya, I am requesting you. The king wants this marriage because it will strengthen our bond with him. Moreover, it's impolite to reject the king's proposal." Bhargav explained in a gentle voice.

Lavanya let out a deep breath and lifted her head to meet her father's gaze. "I agree to this marriage father." She forced a smile. "As long as you are happy, I agree to do anything."

"Thank you." He smiled and gently implanted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Father, does this mean sister will become Princess?" Akshara's eyes sparkled.

"Yes little one." Bhargav chuckled, making Lavanya glare at her sister.

"I already had my dinner. I think you too should have your dinner." Bhargav smiled as he stood up.

Lavanya and Akshara nodded and Bhargav went to his room. Akshara peeked until Bhargav disappeared from the room. As soon as he went out of sight than she turned towards her sister with a goofy smile on her face.

"Hmm...sister, you are going to become the princess of Maheswari." Akshara wiggled her brows while a mischievous smirk appeared on her face.

"It looks like you are even more interested than me." Lavanya huffed while rolling her eyes. "I lost all my appetite after listening to that spoiled prince's name." Lavanya looked at Akshara before walking out of the room.

"Aii...sister, wait for me." Akshara yelped as she quickly closed the door of the room and followed her sister to her room. "Aiya...sister, listen to me. You should be happy that you are getting married to Prince Virendra." Akshara giggled as she closed the door and sat beside her sister.

"I never dreamt that I would marry Prince Virendra." Lavanya rolled her eyes and let her body fall freely on her bed. "That spoiled prince! He always used to fight with me when we were kids. I really hate him." She huffed and closed her eyes, trying to calm her nerves.

"Really? Is someone going to get married to Prince Virendra?" A familiar voice spoke, making Akshara look at the direction of the window.

"Brother Surya!" Akshara's lips curved into a big smile as she got down from the bed and walked towards the window. "Come inside. What are you doing at the window?"

"Are you a thief or what, Surya?" Lavanya scoffed and lazily pulled her body up to sit. "Why do you always sneak through the window instead of using the main door?" Lavanya shook her head and looked away from Surya, trying not to vent her anger on him.

"Why are you so angry, Lavanya?" Surya jumped into the room and walked towards Lavanya before taking his seat on a nearby chair.

"Father fixed my marriage with Prince Virendra." Lavanya sighed and looked at Surya, expecting some support from him.

"That's great!" Surya snapped his fingers and his eyes beamed with happiness. "So this means I can have the view of beautiful princess Saanvi whenever I come to see you. That's really great, isn't it Lavanya?" He glanced at Lavanya with a mischievous smile on his face.

"Tch...you are the most shameless person I have ever seen." Lavanya rolled her eyes, controlling herself from throwing him out of the window.

"Sister, it's okay." Akshara couldn't control herself anymore and burst into laughter. "He is just teasing you." She held her stomach, trying to control her laughter.

"Your sister is an easy target to tease." Surya laughed watching Lavanya's expressions.

"Are you done, hm? Leave me alone." Lavanya yelled.

"Ok ok. I am sorry." Surya pressed his lips together, controlling his laughter. "Why are you so unwilling to marry the prince?"

"You already know Surya that he doesn't like me. Moreover, what is good in me that will make him like me?" Lavanya glanced at her friend.

"Oh! So you are worried that he won't like you, that's it?" Surya chuckled.

"That's not it Surya." Lavanya glared at Surya. "I cannot adjust myself in the royal palace. My life won't be easy and free going. I won't be able to continue being Sanvika Devi." She let out a deep breath and looked at her friend with a desperate expression on her face. "What should I do now?"

"Lavanya..." Surya sat beside her and held her hands. "Don't worry so much about this. You will continue being Sanvika Devi and I promise that. Akshara and I will take care of our gang and we will give you each and every single information about what's going on. You trust me, right?" He looked into her eyes to which the latter nodded. "That's good. I have my own ways to reach you. About prince Virendra, he will fall for you for sure. No one can stop this."

"How are you so sure about this?" Lavanya looked down, avoiding Surya's gaze.

"Because you are special Lavanya. You are different from any other girl in the entire world." Surya pressed her hands gently, assuring her that everything would be alright. "You have your sister and me, why are you getting afraid then?" He smiled gently.

"Yes." Akshara knelt down before her sister and put her hand on the latter's lap. "We are here to help you."

"Thank you so much." Lavanya smiled while a drop of tear escaped from her eyes. "Thank you so much for helping me. I don't know what would I do without you two."

"Now look, our crybaby is ready to cry." Surya chuckled and wiped her tears gently. "Don't cry now. We are always here with you."

"And you don't look good with red swollen eyes and runny nose. So stop crying." Akshara giggled, earning a soft smack on her head from Lavanya.

"Thank you," Lavanya uttered and hugged both of them while both of them hugged her tightly.

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A new character male character is going to enter in the next chapter. So I need a name for him. Chose one from below, please😊

1. Havinash

2. Hiresh

3. Harshik