❝ ɪ ᴀᴍ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ʙᴀɪᴊɪsᴀ. ❞

❝ ɪ ᴀᴍ ʙᴀɪᴊɪsᴀ. ❞

°•~━━✥❖✥━━~•°

The beautifully decorated cottage emitted the heavenly fragrance of jasmine and marigolds. Standing before the shrub of Tulsi, he remembered the first and only time he was present here, You're nothing more than a liability in the name of unrequired responsibility for me.

"Is there any special occasion today, Chakrapani?" Adhrik asked his friend. "Or this little heaven is always decorated beautifully as such?" He asked further with a content smile.

"Today is truly an auspicious day. Baijisa herself has decorated your little heaven. Consider it as decoration for your welcome," answered Chakrapani while chuckling.

Listening to his words Bhimaji, the child accompanying them asked curiously, "Shreeman, why would Baijisa decorate her house for your welcome?" And the question reflected in eyes of many.

"Well Bhimaji, you can ask this question to your Baijisa herself," Adhrik answered while patting the child's head in affection. Though the kid was curious, he obliged with his answer.

Adhrik stepped ahead towards the small elevation at the entrance of the house and closed his eyes in deep satisfaction. The warmth and comfort emitted from his little heaven made his heart sore in happiness.

The wind picked it's speed as if welcoming him back to his home. The gentle breeze grazing the surroundings calmly generated an atmosphere of calmness.

At the next moment his eyes snapped open and his body went rigid. A sharp blade was placed right at the nape of his neck exerting enough pressure to warn but not to harm. A threat that any warrior can easily detect.

A lady with the posture of a warrior and eyes of a predator, held a sharp sword right at his neck. Her courage reflected in her skills. The simple white lehenga didn't deter her beauty but magnified her aura of bravery.

He looked at her with enough respect yet an alertness that of a soldier towards a stranger.

"Introduce yourself and state the purpose for your presence," she commanded. Her voice sounded of steel and was unwavered.

Her eyes directly held his with grace and contained not a single spec of fear, that even the great kings of even bigger kingdoms have never dared to do so.

"I am here to meet Baijisa." He replied with firm authority and grace. Yet, his tone held the politeness and respect towards the woman in front of him.

"I am Baijisa," she replied with ease and confidence. People around them gasped while Adhrik couldn't help but smile serenely.

He replied immediately without missing a beat, "You're not."

That made her hesitant for a bit and his subjects even more surprised. True he had seen her just once at the time of their marriage ten years ago, but that doesn't mean he cannot recognize her within his heart beat.

Chakrapani on the other hand, prayed to mighty Eklanji that he must not harm that stupid and courageous lady infront of him.

Adhrik sensed light movement behind him when the lady's eyes flashed a bit behind him. In the brief second of distraction, he took the sword from her hand in a flick and swung it towards the source of sound in warning.

All this happened in a blink of an eye, that the lady whose sword he took gasped in surprise. Chakrapani's eyes widened in even more agitation. He must not harm her. He chanted.

But what made Adhrik astonished was instead of the soft skin of the person's neck, where his sword was supposed to rest in warning, it met with a sharp clang of when a blade meets blade in a duel.

His eyes widened in admiration while he loosened his grip and turned around to see the source of his admiration. No one ever has yet stopped the blow of his attack with the speed and efficiency that he possessed.

There stood she. Blocking his sword with a small dagger of her own in her hand opposite to his.

His breath hitched and his stone cold heart skipped a beat. Her long raven hair curtained her frame while her soft honey brown orbs stared straight in his stormy eyes. His gaze traveled towards her small button nose and red cherry lips.

Her pale skin radiated the glow of sunshine. He can't help but admire her soft delicate waist clasped by kamarband and her graceful posture of a highly trained warrior.

He couldn't help but get lost in her breathtaking beauty and exceptional skills. The people surrounding them gasped in astonishment and admiration towards their Baijisa.

He wanted a queen who can not only be a queen, but can handle the responsibilities of king too when the time comes.

The queen who will not let his subjects feel his absence, who doesn't have an ounce of fear in her eyes even if an enemy is in front of her with his army.

The queen who doesn't only increase the beauty of her crown but also knows the heaviness of responsibilities that comes with it.

And there he found her. His Ranisa, who will not stand behind him with her eyes downcasted but who will walk with him step by step in every decision.

He looked straight in her eyes and challenged her for a hearty duel with a small amused smirk on his face. He swung his sword towards her in attack while she unsheathed the swords behind her waist and blocked his blow again.

"Go and stand beside your husband, Bhagya." She ordered the lady who previously challenged Adhrik while revealing her as Saubhagyavati, wife of his dear best-friend.

Without even a slight hesitation, Saubhagyavati complied. A queen who can command her subjects at her will yet can rule their heart while having their utmost devotion.

His Ranisa.

While they both started to pull basic fencing techniques while observing each other's skills and limitations, Chakrapani prayed to his Eklanji, to not let any harm come on either his Baujiraj or Baijisa.

While he understood the playfulness behind the duel, which was coming off as well choreographed dance to the subjects surrounding them, he was not so sure if she recognized him or even if he recognized her.

But what Chakrapani didn't knew was, their soul identified them from the first glance they saw the other. What the people thought of as a duel, was their way of communication between their bodies, minds and souls.

Nature celebrated the moment with the blossoming of lushness and sweet aroma of flora surrounded them in a heart warming melody.

°•~━━✥❖✥━━~•°

sʜᴀʙᴅ-ᴋᴏsʜ :- ᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴀʀʏ.

sʜʀᴇᴇᴍᴀɴ : sɪʀ.

ᴇᴋʟᴀɴᴊɪ : ʟᴏʀᴅ ᴍᴀʜᴀᴅᴇᴠ.

ʀᴀɴɪsᴀ : ǫᴜᴇᴇɴ.

ᴋᴀᴍᴀʀʙᴀɴᴅ : ᴡᴀɪsᴛ ʙᴀɴᴅ.