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Gangaputra saw the little cloth bag tucked on her waist. He asked questioningly.

Gangaputra- The last I saw there, it has nothing on it?!

Shikha teased him.

Shikha- Why were you looking at my waist, Gangaputra Bheeshma???

Gangaputra- When I lifted you down silly. Not that I was looking at it.

Very gently he pulled the bag from the waistline of her lehenga, without touching her. Okay atleast I'm that decent, he thought.

Gangaputra pulled the string of the bag. He upturned the bag on his other hand and saw a beautiful sterling silver om pendant chain fall on his palm. It was exquisite.

She was looking expectantly at him whether if he likes it or not.

Shikha- Do you like it???

Gangaputra holds the locket on his fist as to protect it. And he graciously accepted her gift because he didn't want to be parted by it.

Gangaputra- I loved it. That's a very beautiful pendant. Thank you, Shikha.

One warm compliment from him and she melted like butter melted by hot knife.

Gangaputra- By the way you need to be more subtle when you leave my side during puppet show next time.

He was grinning at her open-mouthed expression. So that's where she has lost her pin, he deduced.

Shikha- You knew?!

Gangaputra- I would never have let you out of my sight even for a moment when I'm with you.

Shikha blushed.

Gangaputra- I also have something for you.

He put the locket back in its bag and put out a beautiful and fine chained pair of anklets with solitary ruby on it. It also was wrapped in a cloth.

He moved the cloth and extended his hand in which the anklets was towards her.

Shikha saw it. It was so simple and elegant.

Shikha- You know that I'm not that into jewelleries!

Gangaputra- Do I???

Yes, he knew. And that's why he has chosen this fine anklets not heavy. He loves white and red is her favourite. And the irony is he has never seen her on red garbs ever.

When she didn't speak anything, he bent on his knees before her.
Shikha breathed heavily.

Shikha- What are you doing???

Gangaputra- Put your foot on my knee.

Once she has wanted Gangaputra on his knees before her (revenge reloaded II) but she never thought it to be happening like this. She was awestruck, mesmerized, flabbergasted and stucked in her place.

Gangaputra said a little bit authoritatively.

Gangaputra- Now.

And she did.

Shyly, she put her foot on his knee. And he fastened the anklet on her.

His fingertips felt so soft on her skin. A pleasurable sensation passed through her.

Gangaputra felt the same. He looked up at her.

Gangaputra- The other one please.

She put her other foot on his knee.

He diligently fastened the other anklet. She felt a little unbalanced and held his shoulders. He instinctively grabbed her by her waist and murmured.

Gangaputra- I've got you.

His eyes got in level of her bare navel and he shied away from it. He steadied her then. And to her utter surprise he picked her up and gently deposited her in her side of seat of the chariot.

And they rode back to Hastinapur palace. Silently, again.
***

Hastinapur palace was in topsy-turvy without their Tatshree/Pitamah. And it didn't took long for the women of the palace to know where their favourite Tatshree is right now.

Kunti, Madri, Gandhari, Ambika and Ambalika jubilantly told each other that he has gone in a pleasure trip with the elder Panchal princess. And they were very happy and excited about it.

One thing was said in unison that finally the time has come. Finally.
***

When Gangaputra and Shikha reached the Hastinapur palace, Shikha has dozed off on Gangaputra's shoulder. She has been exhausted like never before. And Happy too.

Gangaputra's one hand has been wrapped around Shikha to protect her from falling. He looked down at her and saw an innocent yet impish girl. His little girl.

He smiled.

Gently, he tucked the hairs falling on her eyes behind her ear. In a very tender tone, he said. 

Gangaputra- Wake up, Shikha.

She didn't. He mused.

Gangaputra- Wake up sleeping beauty. We've reached home.

Shikha grumbled.

Shikha- Let me sleep for a while Panchali. I'm having a very pleasant dream.

She mistook him for Panchali. And settled deeply on his shoulder. He chuckled.

Gangaputra- Wake up child.

Shikha- I'm not a child Gangaputra.

Shikha woke up from her dream. Oh god. She has been draped on his body for how long.

Shikha- What.. we've reached the palace. Why didn't you wake me up?!

He has been trying to wake her up for quite some time.

Shikha- Sorry, I didn't know when I fall asleep.

Gangaputra- No trouble.

He helped her down and they entered the palace.

The things they have bought have already arrived and when they entered the palace everyone was thanking them. Including their mothers.

Gangaputra was a bit annoyed as Shikha was already exhausted and all of them are exhausting her more. He bidded a Daasi for preparing a warm bath for Shikha as they are a little dusty from their outing. They can have their talk some other time.

Gangaputra whispered in Shikha's ear.

Gangaputra- Your bath is ready. Sneak out from here.

Amazed, Shikha stared at him.
Gangaputra- Go.

Thanking him, she sneaked away.
***

After freshening up Shikha went down.The warm bath has helped a lot in her exhaustion. She felt energized now.

Her Mehendi has coloured actually so beautifully. For everyone it's the night of Mehendi ceremony but for her she has spent a lifetime of joyfulness with Gangaputra.

She has donned a beautiful red and golden lehenga. As she has said she is not that into jewelleries, she didn't adorned herself with any of it. But the anklets are the precious reminder of her lovely pleasure trip with him. And how he has gently put them on her ankles.

She could not believe at all that a man of his status and position, the Mahamahim himself of Hastinapur could bent on his knees and do the gesture.

No he wasn't the Mahamahim at all at that time. He was her sweet and adorable Gangaputra. Her playful Gappu. She chuckled.

Everyone was busy seeing each others Mehendi. When Radheya asked her to show him her mehendi, Shikha denied. In a cheerful tone she chided him.

Shikha- Radheya... Peek at your Urvi's Mehendi, if it has coloured or not... Otherwise everyone would blame you that you love her less.

Karna grinned cheekily at her.

Karna- That would not be even a possibility that I love her less. But wait... Let me tease Urvi for a while.

Saying that he left.

Shikha was searching for Gangaputra. She is going to show her Mehendi to no one but him first. And... He was nowhere to be seen.

She sat with a thud.

Gangaputra also has gone to take a bath himself. He couldn't believe at all that he has been so carefree and happy for the first time in his life. He is always happy for his family but today he's been happy for himself and Shikha.

She is a temptation. A temptation for a lively and lovely life.

Bad Gangaputra. Thinking like that. He dunked his whole body in the water he was bathing. After several moments, he came out from water and shakes his hair to and fro.

He got ready and came out to see the arrangements. It's rare he goes out, leaving behind his works of the palace.

He was walking through the upper balcony and glanced down. And was mesmerized by the sight before him. It was Shikha. Today he was thinking that he hasn't seen her in red dress and now she was wearing a very beautiful red Lehenga. And she is looking smoking hot in it. Shut up, nonsense. He scolded himself. But indeed she is looking gorgeous.

As if magnetized by his gaze, Shikha looked up at Gangaputra. Words remained unspoken.

She showed him her Mehendi.

And as if teasing him she lifted her eyebrows asking how's it?
Gangaputra shook his head and blushed.

He couldn't explain it, but there was something about her mere presence, like some unseen glow that gave him a warmth he had never known much less missed.
She is never going to change, her impishness, her mischievousness. The truth is he didn't want he to be changed. He adore her the way she is.

Shikha's mother was calling her. Shikha said with her eyes that she has to go. Gangaputra nodded.
***

Karna saw all this with a sunny smile on his face.

When Gangaputra turned to go he saw Arjun with a goofiest grin on his face.

Arjun said mischievously after greeting him.

Arjun- What is this happening here, Pitamah???!!!

Gangaputra feigned ignorance but his cheeks have hued crimson.

Gangaputra- Nothing's happening. Go back to your work. Or do you want to be grounded?!

Arjun turned to go but turned back and guffawed cheekily.

Arjun- Seriously!!! She is going to be my sister-in-law.

Speaking like that he ran away from there. Laughing.

Gangaputra shook his head on Arjun's mischievousness.

He muttered to himself on Arjun's remark.

Gangaputra- Not yet.
***

Shikha went to her mother, Prahasti. (I still don't know the real name).

Her mother, like everyone knows that Shikha has gone to the village fair with Mahamahim Bheeshma. She thought it a little bit improper but she kept her silence. She knew one thing that her daughter has a tenderness for Mahamahim Bheeshma and couldn't decide if it's a right thing or wrong.

Her daughter is sensible enough to make her own decisions.

Shikha greeted her.

Shikha- What's it, Maa?!

Prahasti sighed. It wouldn't be appropriate to scold her grown up daughter. And she has not seen Shikha happy like this before.

She said with a motherly affection.

Prahasti- Nothing. Just wanted to look at your Mehendi.

Oh! That's it. Shikha was a little bit apprehensive. She thought that her mother is going to scold her. Mothers are mothers. And she respects her mother's authority.

Shikha- Here it is.

She showed her mother the Mehendi. One eyebrow of Prahasti lifted questioningly.

Prahasti- why is there a 'Ga ग' on your Mehendi???

Shikha looked at her hand. Oh god. How could it be. She remembered she has said 'Shaश' to her mehendi maker. There could be a real mistake.

Shikha- It's a 'Sha', mother.

Prahasti- It looks like a Ga.

Shikha- Maaaa... Please. It's nothing what you think.

Shikha dashed away from there as fast as possible.

Prahasti smiled. Her daughter has atleast learnt how to be shy.
***

Shikha's mehendi maker has really done the mistake. When Gangaputra had accidentally smudged her Mehendi and tried to fix it, then all this mess happened. He mistook the word for a design and unknowingly has written his initial.

Goodness! You can't fight against the fate. Try if they may!
♥️♥️♥️