A year had passed, and Vajra had grown in ways both subtle and profound. His once-childish innocence had transformed into a deep compassion for all those around him. His strength was growing in his arms and heart, where courage and wisdom blended seamlessly. His love for his parents, Bhanu and Suthanu, had only deepened, his admiration for them showing in every small gesture, every word. Agastya, his companion in all things, had grown too—together, they were learning the ways of the world under the steady hand of the elder's guidance and wisdom. 

One bright afternoon, as the breeze whispered softly through the palace gardens, Vajra , Anirudha and Agastya sat attentively in front of Suthanu. She had been guiding them through  lessons, her voice gentle and warm as always but held the ground together for them. But suddenly, something changed. Mid-sentence, her breath caught, her hand faltered on the script, and before they could grasp what was happening, Suthanu swayed—then collapsed.

"Maiya!" Vajra's voice cracked, terror surging through him like a wave. His heart raced, and his small hands shook as he grabbed her arm, trying to shake her awake. "Maiya, please... wake up!" His voice trembled, desperation seeping into every word.

"Maiya!" Vajra's voice was louder, the terror gripping him with a force he hadn't felt in a long time. His small hands still trembling as he tried to wake her up. Tears welled up in his eyes, clouding his vision. His heart pounded in his chest, louder than his own voice. "Maiya, wake up...wake up. Please!"

Anirudha and Agastya, who had been nearby, was beside him in an instant. The three boys, no longer the carefree children they once were, sat beside her, helpless. Vajra and Agastya's tears streamed down their cheeks, their young heart breaking with the fear that something terrible had happened. Anirudha, silent but equally shaken, placed a hand on Vajra's shoulder before he rose to shout to the people. 

Suthanu was soon taken to her chambers but her consciousness had not broke. Satyabhama , Rukmini and Kalindi had rushed along the way as the physician now examined Suthanu. 

The physician worked swiftly, her hands moving with precision as she held Suthanu's wrist. Vajra could barely breathe, his eyes locked on his mother's still form. The air was heavy with fear, the weight of the unknown pressing down on him.

Then, slowly, the physician's lips curved into a soft smile. She glanced at Rukmini, Satyabhama and Kalindi. "It is good news," the physician said, her voice warm. "Rajakumari is not ill. She is simply... preparing for a new life - going to be a mother."

Rukmini , Satyabhama and Kalindi shared delightful smiles. 

Vajra, his tear-streaked face full of confusion, blinked up at her. "Maiya , is already my mother? What do you mean?" His voice was still trembling, his heart not yet calmed.

Rukmini knelt beside him, brushing a tear from his cheek with the back of her hand. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she exchanged a glance with Satyabhama, who was trying to stifle a laugh so did Kalindi. "Oh, my sweet dulhara," Rukmini said gently. "Your maiya isn't sick. She's going to give you a gift... a little brother or sister."

For a moment, Vajra just stared, his young mind struggling to make sense of the words. He glanced between his grandmothers, his confusion only deepening. "A brother... or sister?" he echoed, still not fully understanding.

Satyabhama giggled softly, ruffling his hair. "Yes, little one. You and Aniruddha are going to become elder brothers. There's a baby growing in your mother's womb."

The realization dawned slowly, but when it hit, the fear that had been gripping Vajra's heart melted away, replaced by something warmer, brighter. "A baby?" His voice was full of wonder now, his wide eyes turning to Suthanu, still unconscious but now peaceful. "I'm going to be an elder brother?"

Aniruddha, catching on, broke into a grin. "So am I!" he added, his earlier worry now entirely forgotten.

Vajra's tears were gone in an instant. Without thinking, he leaned over and hugged his mother tightly, as if his small arms could protect her and the new life growing inside her. He could feel his heart swelling with joy, a pure, untainted happiness that chased away the fear and confusion.

Suthanu stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. For a brief moment, her face was filled with confusion, the same terror that Vajra had felt reflected in her eyes. "Lal... what...?"

Before she could finish, Vajra spoke, his voice still shaky but full of excitement now. "Maiya! You're going to be a mother again! I am going to get a little baby brother or sister!"

Her confusion turned to realization, then to pure delight as Satyabhama came to her other side as she helped Suthanu to sit. Suthanu's face lit up as she raised a hand to touch her abdomen, her eyes filling with tears of joy. "Maa..." she whispered looking at Satyabhama who nodded, and then, looking into her son's tearful, smiling face, she let out a soft laugh, overwhelmed with happiness.

Vajra hugged her tighter. "I was so scared, maiya. I thought something had happened to you and something happened to me too ". Vajra's innocence and love melted Suthanu , she could still see the fear that striked her son almost paralyzing the world around him.  

 "But now... I'm so happy!", Vajra smiled fully.  "Me , too", Aniruddha added along with Agastya. Suthanu smiled at the boys.

Suthanu gently stroked Vajra's hair, her heart full.The warmth of her embrace anchored him, yet his mind drifted into the depths of a memory—one that had once seemed so far away, but now came rushing back with the gravity of the moment. His first lesson of Dharma - in life and royalty ! 

"Lal," she began, her tone deliberate, every word chosen as if she were building a foundation. "There is something I need you to understand, something that shapes the very essence of life itself—the nature of a promise."

Vajra had been young then, his innocent heart open and his mind curious.

"A promise," she had said, her eyes locking with his, "is not just a vow spoken in a fleeting moment. It is a force, a power, that binds time, binds lives, and binds destinies. It is the cornerstone upon which trust is built, and without trust, the world itself crumbles."

She paused, the silence hanging heavy between them like the weight of the heavens, before she continued, her voice now almost a whisper, yet filled with immeasurable depth.

"To give a promise is to give a part of yourself, a part of your soul. It is a bond stronger than any chain, yet more fragile than the finest silk, for once broken, it cannot be mended. Think of a man, lost and thirsty in the desert. You find him, and with all good intentions, you promise him water. But if you do not keep that promise, his life is at stake. What is a promise, then, if not a thread that holds together the very essence of existence? To promise and not fulfill is to sever that thread, leaving the world a little more broken, a little less whole."

Vajra had felt a shiver run down his spine, the gravity of her words sinking into him like roots burrowing into the earth.

"But there is more," Suthanu had said, her voice now layered with a sorrow that seemed ancient, timeless. "There are promises made with good intent, yet they bind in ways that cannot be foreseen. Look at Bhishma, my reverred Prapitamaha. His promise was made in a moment of great nobility—to protect the throne of Hastinapura at all costs. It was a promise that forged our legacy, but it was also a promise that bound him. Over time, that promise became a chain, and that chain tethered him to Adharma. Though his heart knew what was right, the promise he had made left him powerless, trapped within the very thing that once defined his greatness. Had only his oath been he will stand by Dharma to always make sure the just is on the throne ; the history could have been very different."

Vajra had been silent, the weight of her words pressing down on him like the firmament itself. Bhishma, the mighty, the untouchable, brought low not by enemies, but by a promise he could not escape. But his mind was also confused by the history that Suthanu indicated but he was engrossed in the meaning of a promise. 

"Not all promises are chains," Suthanu had added, her tone shifting, becoming tender, like a soft wind easing the storm within. "Look to your Pitamaha,Krishna. His promises never wavered, never faltered, for each one was born not out of fleeting emotions, but out of deep understanding, out of truth. He did not promise lightly, nor did he promise in moments of joy or despair. His promises were thought out, shaped for Dharma itself, and because of that, they stood unbroken, eternal."

Suthanu had leaned closer then, her gaze intense, her words sinking into Vajra's very soul. "Remember this, Lal : A promise should never be made in moments of extreme happiness or sorrow. For in those moments, we are blinded, we are not ourselves. Joy and grief distort our vision, and promises made in those moments carry the risk of binding us to paths we cannot walk.Any extreme emotional situation can misled us"

Her voice softened, but the intensity of her words did not. "A promise should be given with the full weight of your heart, mind, and soul, knowing that once spoken, it will shape not just your life, but the lives of all those connected to it. And once given, you must fulfill it, for an unfulfilled promise does not merely fade—it decays, poisoning the ground it was built upon, poisoning trust, poisoning life itself."

In that moment, young Vajra had felt something profound stir within him— he would never ever give a promise without a thought ! 

"Maiya" he presently began, his voice almost a whisper. "I... I'm going to try very hard to be a good boy," His words were slow, thoughtful, as if he had spent a moments before saying them like he had prepared to say this since some time. "I'll be a good elder brother. I'll give the baby the same love Jyeshtha gives me... and I'll try to protect the baby like you protect me."

Suthanu's breath caught in her throat. She looked into her son's earnest eyes and saw not just a child, but a soul full of compassion, already trying to carry the weight of responsibility on his small shoulders. His innocence had not left him, but it had grown into something purer—a love that expanded beyond himself.

"You're already a wonderful boy, Lal," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You're a lovely son any mother would wish for"

Vajra's eyes filled with tears again, but this time, they were not born of fear. He looked down at her stomach, where the new life stirred within, and placed his hand there, gently, as if afraid to disturb the fragile gift. "I'll love the baby just like you and Pita love me," he said, his voice barely audible now. "And I'll make sure the baby knows how special you are. I'll be good, maiya, I'll be a good brother... I promise."

"I promise maiya , I do", Vajra repeated like he did know what he was committing to. He had thought of about it , seen it coming and kept it for this day. 

Suthanu's heart swelled with a deep, quiet joy, one that surpassed even the news of the coming child. In that moment, she saw the fullness of her son's heart—a heart that already understood love in ways most could not, a heart that wanted to give as much as it had received. A mind that collected it's lessons at the right moment , a honesty that left her spellbound itself. She drew him into her arms, holding him tightly, her own tears spilling down her cheeks.

"You will , Lal," she whispered into his ear. "You will be a wonderful elder brother." Suthanu could not help about remember in that moment , her own brothers. She looked at Aniruddha and gestured him to come closer too as the latter smiled bouncing slowly to hug her. 

Vajra clung to her, feeling the warmth of his mother's embrace, the steady beat of her heart against his. He stayed there for a while, his love for his mother and the unborn baby filling him with a new sense of purpose he had never known before. He was still young, still learning the world, but in that moment, he knew one thing with absolute certainty—his heart had room for so much more love, and he would make sure the baby, his new sibling, would feel it every single day.

The room, once tense with fear, now pulsed with quiet, tender joy, a love so pure it seemed to fill every corner. The grandmothers watched on, their smiles soft, knowing that this family's bond would only grow stronger with the new life on its way.

The soft evening breeze carried the scent of the garden flowers through the open corridors of the palace. The setting sun cast long shadows on the steps, where Satyabhama and Krishna stood in wait, their eyes fixed on the distant path. The air was thick with anticipation. Satyabhama's golden saree shimmered under the fading light, her face a calm reflection of the excitement she felt, while Krishna, ever serene, stood beside her, his eyes twinkling with their eternal knowing.

"Bhanu should arrive soon," Satyabhama whispered, half to herself and half to Krishna, her hand lightly resting on his arm. Bhanu had been on his usual trip to Indraprastha to monitor the state. 

"He will be here any moment, priya," Krishna replied, his voice warm, his eyes gentle. "And I sense his heart already knows what awaits him."

Before Satyabhama could respond, a distant figure appeared on the horizon, unmistakable in his proud bearing. Bhanu rode swiftly towards the palace, the dust from the road swirling around his chariot as if the wind itself wanted to hurry him along.  Dhruv came behind in a horse along with a few soldiers. The sight of him filled Satyabhama's heart with a rush of joy and relief, her eyes brightening as she took a small step forward.

But before Bhanu could even reach the palace gates, a streak of motion darted across the courtyard. It was Vajra, his small legs moving as fast as they could carry him, his face lit up with a pure, childlike joy that seemed to brighten the entire world around him.

"Pita ! Pita !" Vajra's voice rang out in excitement, his words tumbling over one another. "You're home! You're home!"

Bhanu reined in his horse, his face breaking into a broad smile at the sight of his son, his heart swelling with warmth. He barely had time to dismount before Vajra flung himself into his arms, breathless and radiant.

"Pita, I have news!" Vajra gasped, his face flushed with joy as he looked up at his father, his eyes wide with excitement. "I'm going to be an elder brother! Maiya is going to have a baby!"

Bhanu froze for a moment, his body still as if the world itself had stopped. He blinked, the weight of his son's words sinking in. His hands trembled as he lifted Vajra into his arms, holding him tight, as if he were anchoring himself in the reality of the moment. His heart soared, and then, without a second thought, he broke into a run, holding Vajra against his chest, his laughter filling the air.

He ran past the palace gates, past Krishna and Satyabhama, past the customary welcome that usually awaited him. Nothing mattered in that moment but the news that had turned his heart into a storm of joy. His feet barely touched the ground as he made his way toward the inner chambers, his mind only on Suthanu, the woman he loved more than life itself. 

Satyabhama stood at the doorway, watching her son disappear into the palace, a quiet, bittersweet smile playing on her lips. She had been ready to greet him, ready with the oil lamp and flowers, the ceremonial welcome returning from his journey. But Bhanu had not even seen her. His joy had swept him past all decorum, all formality.

For a fleeting moment, Satyabhama's heart sank.

But then, she turned to Krishna. His eyes were already on her, his expression soft, understanding. He stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder, the familiar warmth of his touch grounding her. "He has found his own joy, Priye," Krishna said quietly, his voice like a balm, full of love and wisdom. "It is the way of life that we both know."

Satyabhama nodded, her heart still heavy, but lightened by Krishna's words. She exhaled softly, the sadness melting into something deeper, something richer—an understanding of the cycle of love and life. "I know," she whispered, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. "I know. And I am happy for him... for them." She paused, her eyes following Bhanu's path into the palace, her voice softening. "But a mother's heart is never free of its longings."

Krishna's eyes sparkled with a mix of affection and knowing. He turned her gently towards him, lifting her chin so she could look into his eyes. "Your love for our Lal is eternal, Priye," he said, his words gentle yet firm. "It is not diminished by the love he now gives to his wife and children be it even his own praja. It is only transformed, woven into the fabric of his life in a different way. You gave him the strength to love, and now he shares that strength with others. That is your gift to him, and through him, to the world."

Satyabhama smiled through her tears, nodding as she leaned into Krishna's embrace. "Yes, Swami," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You are right, as always. I am proud of the man he has become. And I will always be his mother."

Krishna smiled softly, kissing the top of her head. "His heart will never wander far from yours, Satyabhama. It is bound to you in ways that no distance, no love, can sever."

They stood there for a long moment, wrapped in the quiet peace of their understanding, as the last light of day faded into twilight. 

Bhanu burst into the chamber, his footsteps heavy yet fueled by an indescribable lightness, his heart pounding with the weight of the news that Vajra had delivered. His eyes found Suthanu immediately, lying in her bed, radiant in the soft glow of the lamps that flickered around the room. There was a quietness in her beauty, an ethereal calm that seemed to hold the world in place as she met his gaze. Her eyes were glistening, filled with joy, yet touched by the same tenderness he had always loved in her.

Bhanu knelt beside Suthanu's bed, his hands still holding hers, but now the weight of his emotions hung between them like an invisible bond, drawing them even closer than before. The news of becoming parents for the second time was no ordinary moment; it was the culmination of their love, their journey, and their shared dreams.

He studied her face for a long moment, the soft glow of the lamps casting gentle shadows across her delicate features. Suthanu had always been beautiful to him—radiant in a way that transcended mere physical form. But now, in this moment, she was something more. She was the very embodiment of creation itself, carrying within her the precious spark of life, their life.

His voice, when it came, was low and trembling, as though the enormity of his feelings had stolen away his breath. "Praneshwari," he whispered, his fingers tracing the soft contours of her hand, "you've made me a father again... but more than that, you've made me all over complete again. You are... you are everything. You always have been, but now—"

Suthanu smiled softly, her heart swelling as she watched him struggle to put into words what neither of them could truly describe. She could feel his love, his awe, in every glance, every touch. The bond between them had always been strong, but now, with another child growing inside her, it felt as though their souls were forever intertwined.

"You are the light of my life, Priyavara," she whispered back, her voice as soft as the night wind. "From the moment we first met, to now, as we bring this new life into the world—every step of this journey." Her eyes flickered with unshed tears, and yet, her smile remained radiant, glowing with the kind of quiet, profound joy that only true love could bring.

Bhanu's breath hitched in his chest, and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers in a gesture so intimate, so gentle, that the world around them seemed to disappear. For that moment, it was just the two of them, suspended in time, united in their love. 

"Do you remember," he said softly, his lips brushing her hair as he spoke, "the first time we held Lal? How small he was, how fragile? I thought my heart would burst from loving him so much." He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes, his expression tender. "And now... now we will feel that all over again, with this child. But somehow, it feels even deeper this time. Because I love you more now, Aaru... more than I ever thought possible."

Suthanu closed her eyes as his words washed over her, a single tear escaping and trailing down her cheek. "Adi..." she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I feel the same. My heart is so full, so overflowing with love for you, for Lal, and now... for this new life inside me. It feels.."

The words hung between them, shimmering with truth. In that moment, the world outside their chamber—the palace, the kingdom, the responsibilities that awaited them—ceased to matter. What mattered was the love they had for one another, and the life they had created together.It was the very essence of their souls, intertwined and eternal.

Bhanu's fingers gently traced the outline of her face, his touch light and reverent, as though he was afraid that she might vanish if he pressed too hard. "You are my world, Suthanu," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I never knew it was possible to love someone this deeply, to feel this kind of a connection. And now, with this child... it feels like our love has taken root in something far greater than us."

Suthanu nodded, her tears flowing freely now, though her smile remained. "It has," she whispered back. "Our love... it is eternal."

But as Suthanu's gaze drifted, her eyes slowly took in the sight of Bhanu's crown, still resting on his head, his sword on the bed. He had come straight in perhaps, unburdened by the weight of formality, only carrying with him the rawness of his joy.

Her eyes softened as they moved past him, catching the image of Vajra, nestled in Krishna's arms, his little face glowing with happiness as he whispered something to his grandfather. And then, just behind them, Satyabhama walked in with grace, her face calm yet radiating a deep contentment that only a mother could know.

Suthanu's eyes locked with Bhanu's again, and in that unspoken language they had perfected over the years, she silently gestured toward his crown and sword, her expression full of understanding. Bhanu followed her gaze, and instantly, realization dawned upon him.

He rose to his feet, slowly, almost reverently, as if the weight of his crown and sword had suddenly become noticeable. His eyes fell on his mother and father, and a wave of humility swept over him. How could he have forgotten? In his rush to be with Suthanu, in his overwhelming joy, he had forgotten the customs, the blessings he owed his parents, the very people who had taught him what it meant to love and to be loved.

With a deep breath, Bhanu walked toward them, his steps steady, but his heart full of emotion. He knelt before Krishna and Satyabhama, bowing his head as his mother placed a gentle hand on his crown.

"Lal..." Satyabhama's voice was soft, full of affection and pride. Her hand rested on his head, a gesture of blessing but also of love that only a mother could give. "You've brought us all such joy today again along with Thanu. Last time , the news was in Hastinapura and you have let us experience the news of joy that we thought we had missed."

Bhanu looked up at her, his eyes shimmering with tears once more. "Forgive me, Maiya. I rushed past you, I—"

Satyabhama shook her head, her smile tender and understanding. "There is nothing to forgive, Lal. Your heart was where it needed to be. A mother knows that." She placed her palm gently against his cheek, her eyes misting with emotion. "And your joy is mine as well."

Bhanu's heart swelled, and without another word, he stood and wrapped his arms around his mother, pulling her close in a heartfelt embrace. "Maiya," he whispered, his voice thick. "You've always been my strength, and you always will be."

As he pulled back, Bhanu took her hand in his, his palm placed on hers with a quiet reverence. He looked into her eyes, his expression full of love and gratitude. "Maiya," he began, his voice steady but full of emotion, "your place in my life only grows more special with every passing day, trust me. You've taught me what it means to love, to lead and to protect. And now, I will pass that same love to my children, as you passed it to me."

Satyabhama's breath caught in her throat, her heart touched by the depth of her son's words. She could see the man he had become, the father he would soon be, and it filled her with a profound sense of fulfillment. "Lal," she whispered, squeezing his hand, "you have always made me proud. And now, as I see the love you give to your family, I know that my heart is full."

Bhanu smiled, his eyes glistening with the unshed tears of a son who had always found comfort in his mother's love. And as he stood there, holding her hand, he knew that no matter how much time passed, no matter how many roles he played—as a husband, as a father—he would always be her son.

Krishna, watching the scene unfold with a quiet smile, stepped forward and placed a hand on Bhanu's shoulder. Bhanu hugged Krishna with a smile as Vajra looked at Krishna and Bhanu later at Suthanu. A smile taking over his face , he would love everyone too. 

And as the family stood together, their hearts bound by love and joy, the chamber seemed to glow with a sacred light—a light that reflected the profound happiness they shared, a happiness that would grow and deepen with every passing day.

To be continued...

This is the surprise I indicated. 

I hope the pace of the book is not slow. How is it going? 

Please do leave your votes and comments!