Hiii my lovely readers... 😍😍😍😘😘😘

Really sorry for a long gap❣️❣️❣️

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Gangaputra and Shikha were venturing towards the village fair.

Gangaputra climbed down the chariot first and moved around Shikha's side. When she was walking down from the chariot, he put his hands on her waist and lifted her down on the ground very deftly, in no time.

Shikha was looking at him astoundingly. Her hands were in air between them and his hands were still on her waist.

This tingling of her body is not going to stop, thought Shikha.

Don't do something stupid, chided Shikha to herself.

In a childish tone, she complaint.

Shikha- I feel like a handicapped.

Gangaputra growled at her.

Gangaputra- Shut up you moron. You feel like a weightless doll. And stop using derogatory terms for yourself. You are absolutely perfect, like I have said before.

Shikha don't need anything more to be awestruck by him anymore. He made her blush and glow and she basked in his compliments.

Gangaputra- And I know what are you doing?! You are making us wait, so that we don't have to go to the fair.

We. Such a beautiful word it is, thought Shikha. It feels like they are in the same team. We. Gosh! I'm mad and crazy.

Gangaputra chuckled and shook her lightly, still holding her waist.

Gangaputra- What are you thinking all the time?! Everytime you zone out. You are here but your mind is wandering somewhere else.

Shikha giggled.

Shikha- Umm... It's a secret.

Gangaputra was highly amused by her antics.

Gangaputra- What secret???

Shikha- A secret is something that is kept private and not to be revealed.

God! She couldn't tell him what she is thinking. He would be shocked and hell scared. And it would be hell of a pleasure to see his face.

Gangaputra said grumpily.

Gangaputra- Bad Shikha!

But his grumpiness was spoilt, when the corner of his lips twitched in amusement.

Shikha- Are we going to stand here all the day or should we go to the fair??? Let's go.

Gangaputra- Sure, your highness.

She chuckled. He's such a cutiepie, thought Shikha.

Side by side, they walked into the village fair.

And the village fair was dazzling and unimaginable for someone like Shikha, who has spent her whole life in practicing warfare and swordmanship.

Shikha was looking at the sights and activities of the fair with astonishment. Her mouth agape and her eyes twinkling seeing all the energy and fun of there.

Her gleeful expressions were so loud and visible that Gangaputra smiled. This is why he has taken her here; to see the colourful and uninhibited side of her. To see her amazed and unfettered. To see her free like a little birdie, ready to fly.

Shikha smiled, giggled, laughed seeing at the sights before her. It was truly amazing. The fair was full of various vendor shops selling every and all kinds of things.

The kids were enjoying loudly and gleefully on many swings(jhoola) and giant wheels. The cacophony of their shrills were music to her ears.

Everyone was free to act and do as they wish, without bothering anyone else. They were all engrossed in their own enjoyment.

Every scene was so delightful and beautiful that Shikha couldn't help herself but got absorbed on the infectious merrymaking. She looked here and there all the time, so that she couldn't miss anything; keeping all in her memory.

Shikha- oh my god, this fair should appropriately be termed as festival. I have never ever seen anything like that.

Gangaputra- Never???

Shikha- Never. Oh look at that and these .... Gosh! This is so amazing.

She was pointing out to him one after another entertaining sights to him and if it wasn't for her Mehendi, she would have dragged him.

Gangaputra was utterly entranced by her. He couldn't look anywhere but her. She was so spellbound by the sights before her that she looked like a mere child herself. And he was bewitched by her happiness.

Shikha was rushing to see another sight when she was bumped by one of the children who was running towards the swing, but Gangaputra was there to hold her in his arms.

Gangaputra- Easy, sweetheart. You have all day ahead of you. No need to rush.

She felt herself even hotter than a furnace. Is it because of the sun above them or because she was in his arms and he called her sweetheart or because of the energy of the fair. She shook her head as she doesn't care. This is the happiest day of her life.

A vendor was shouting from his shop to buy silken shawls. Shikha's attention goes towards it.

Shikha- Can we please see it?!

Gangaputra- Sure.

They walked to the shop. The vendor seeing Shikha tried to showcase his shawls, but seeing Mahamahim behind her, his eyes widened.

Gangaputra nodded his head to the vendor to continue it. The vendor showed her many silken shawls of different colours.

Shikha turned to Gangaputra.

Shikha- These are so beautiful. I wish I could touch them... They look so smooth and soft.

There is nothing that Shikha wishes and Gangaputra wouldn't be able to get it done. He picked up the shawl and bring it near her and rub it gently on her cheek.

Gangaputra- Soft enough?!

Shikha- Softest. 

Vendor- They are of best quality. You won't get it anywhere. How many do I pack???

Shikha- No, no. I don't want to buy???

She moved away from there. Gangaputra was on his heels behind her. He put his hand on her arm.

Gangaputra- Why didn't you buy it, you like that so much???!

Shikha shrugged. She was blowing air on her mehendi to get it dried.

Shikha- You didn't tell me that we are coming to the village fair. Else, I would have brought my money bag with me.

It was now his turn to look at her open-mouthed.

Gangaputra- You are my guest at Hastinapur. You didn't have to pay for anything. You can have anything you like.

Shikha asked casually.

Shikha- Anything???

Gangaputra- Anything.

But Anything is something she wants to win rather than have. It's You, big guy.

She chuckled humourously.

She- Don't tempt me... Otherwise I'm going to buy the whole fair.

Gangaputra's one corner of lip lifted.

Gangaputra- Back in threatening mode.

Shikha- Absolutely.

Gangaputra- Alright. Now let's go. That vendor was making puppy eyes at me to take the shawl.

Shikha laughed.

Shikha- My poor Gangaputra!!!

Gangaputra gently chucked under her chin.

Gangaputra- Silly little girl!!!

They walked back to the shawl vendor who heartily welcomed them again.

Shikha chooses two beautiful shawls.

Gangaputra- For you and Panchali???

Shikha answered sheepishly.

Shikha- Nope. One is for my mother and another is for...

Gangaputra- And another is for???

Shikha took her eyes away from him as she felt shy.

Shikha- And another one is for your mother. Queen Satyavati.

Gangaputra was stunned. He was tongue-tied but said in a choking voice, full of emotions.

Gangaputra- That's... That's very sweet of you to think about her.

Shikha went crimson from pink.

The Vendor asked hopefully.

Vendor- Only two??? They are all quality shawls ma'am. Please take some more.

Gangaputra- Send them all to the Hastinapur Mahal. Say that it was sent by Princess Shikha. And keep the first two packed separately.

Vendor said jubilantly.

Vendor- Yes your excellency.

Shikha- I was only kidding when I said that I'm going to buy the whole fair.

Gangaputra shrugged his shoulders and said teasingly.

Gangaputra- You should have thought before you said that. Now the deed is done.

Shikha said laughing,

Shikha- I should have known better. But don't worry, I'll pay you later. 

Shaking his head, he said mockingly.

Gangaputra- Shut up, silly.

Shikha- No, no. I'm serious. Wait... I'll train an eagle and send a message with it to you. You will come to meet me at Panchal. How fun would it be. Think about it.

Gangaputra laughed at her childish plot. He asked sardonically.

Gangaputra- Are you sure you can train an eagle???

Shikha- Oh you don't know, I have many skills. I have trained a bull. A very, very stubborn bull.

He shook his head on her playfulness.

Gangaputra- Liar!!!

Shikha- Gangaputra!!!

She elbowed him. He chuckled.

But in a sense, she thought that indeed she has trained the most stubborn bull among men. Gangaputra Bheeshma. (Tasmā Bheeshma Vrishashmrita).

Gangaputra- Very Well. I'll consider.

Shikha grinned cheekily.

They toured to the rest of the fair.

Shikha was bumped several times by the multitude of the children running to and fro, but Gangaputra was there to secure her in arms all the time. It was such a sweet yet protective gesture of him to be so concerned about her, wondered Shikha.

They stopped at many shops.

Shikha's gaze fell on a puppet show there, and before she could ask Gangaputra, he already took her there.

Gangaputra felt elated seeing Shikha so cheerful and laughing. And it filled his heart with completeness. A completeness, he felt for the first time.

While Gangaputra was engaged in the puppet show, Shikha stealthily tiptoed from there. She went to a vendor woman who was selling chains and pendants.

She has already saw it when they were looking out through the fair. But couldn't buy in front of him. She wants to gift him as her return-gift to him for his consideration. Oh stop lying, Shikha. You want him to wear as a mark of yours. That's it.

Shikha saw a splendid and lustrous 'Om' pendant made up of sterling silver. It's simplicity reminds her of him.

As Gangaputra was enthusiastic about white things, this was perfect for him.

Shikha bought the chain and pendant in exchange of her golden hairpin. She has to pull the pin with her thumb and forefinger so that the mehendi wouldn't smudge.

As the vendor was a woman, Shikha asked the woman to put the jewelry on a small string bag and tuck it on her waistline of the lehenga.

She has done all this on a blink of eyes, so that Gangaputra wouldn't find her missing. And thanks to God, he didn't. Phew.

When the puppet show ended, they proceeded on their further adventure.

Gangaputra asked her playfully, if she was enjoying herself or not and the answer came positive.

Hell yeah... This is the best day of her life. And there is much more to come.
♥️♥️♥️