Published on:- 1/1/25 [Wednesday]
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"Ye Rajdhara rajya ke Yuvraj hain aur yuddh mein jeeta hua hamara tohfa" the general declared in a firm and proud voice.

He then turned and walked toward the King and a glint of admiration was dancing in his eyes.

With a smile, the general bent down and touched the King's feet in respect. It was a gesture that carried both gratitude and loyalty.

"Pitah ji! Hum jeet gaye," the general said in a triumph filled voice.

"Shivaal!" the King responded as his eyes were glowing with pride.

Yuvraj's eyes widened as he looked straight at the father and son duo.

"Ye Shivaal.. SHIVAAL SAMAIYAR hai?", Yuvraj thought.

"Hamari jigar ka tukda", The king, Abhisaar Samaiyar placed a hand on the general's shoulder and his words a mixture of affection and admiration.

"Shivaal! Ap sirf ek senapati nahin hai. Ap Kundarastra ke raj kumar, honey wale agley raja hai. Aur aapne apne aur hamare naam ko aur bhi ooncha kar diya" the King said and his voice was resonating with authority and pride.

This victory was not just a war won, but the promise of a legacy that would live on and shaping the future of Kundarashtra.

The King's words echoed through the streets and were carried by the winds, as the people gathered in awe and their faces were lit with admiration and respect for the new ruler.

The crown of Kundarashtra had just passed to a new generation, and the kingdom's fate now rested in the hands of its future king.

"Andar chaliye. Apki Maa apka intezar kar rahi hai" the King said, gesturing for Shivaal to move forward. Shivaal nodded and took a step, but then, something caught his attention. He paused and turned, his gaze shifting to the Yuvraj.

For a brief moment, their eyes locked again.

"Pita ji! Hum apne tohfe ko jagah pe rakh kar atey hai", Shivaal said and his voice was steady but laced with a subtle defiance.

The Yuvraj who was standing nearby, shivered under the weight of his words.

The King, Abhisaar, observed the Yuvraj and his sharp eyes were narrowing as something about the young man caught his interest.

"Ye bandi hai, Shivaal. Aur bandiyon ko tohfon se tulna nahi karte. Bandi karagrah ke liye hote hai aur tohfa sajane ke liye" the King said firmly and his tone was carrying the wisdom of ages.

Shivaal's eyes were cast down in silent acknowledgment, but there was a hint of something deeper in his gaze.

"Jis cheez ko humne hath rakh kar apna kaha, wo cheez hamari hoti hai, Pita ji. Chahe wo bandi ho ya tohfa. Shivaal ki har ek cheez khaas aur kimati hoti hai. Yuddh mein jeeta hua Yuvraj bhi tohfe sa kimti hai aur ab hamara hai aur inko jagah karagrah nahi, hamara khaas seesh mahal hai" Shivaal's voice was respectful but firm and his words were sharp and clear.

There was no room for argument, no space for dissent.

The entire Kingdom stood in silence, sensing the intensity of the moment. It was clear that the Crown Prince of Kundarashtra was not a man to be easily challenged, and his unwavering determination left no room for objections.

The King's eyes twitched and his expression tightened. The third prince Shivam looked at his older brother and then at his father and at last, his gaze landed on Yuvraj of Rajdhara.

With a subtle motion, the king commanded one of the soldiers, "Inke chehre par se naqaab hataya jaye."

The soldier stepped forward to obey, but before he could touch Yuvraj, Shivaal's voice thundered through the air.

"Shivaal ki cheez ko haath wahi lagaye jiska zindagi se dil bhar gaya ho."

The soldier froze as his heart was pounding under the weight of Shivaal's open threat. Fear gripped him as he dared not move another step.

"Yuvraj ko Seesh Mahal me le jaye," he instructed the captain of the army, his voice cold and authoritative.

"Ji, Senapati ji," the captain replied as he used Shivaal's rank while bowing slightly before grabbing the Yuvraj.

The Yuvraj struggled briefly, but the captain's grip was firm. He dragged the Yuvraj away and led him to the Seesh Mahal, the private sanctuary of Shivaal Samaiyar, the future king of Kundarastra.

The King Abhisaar looked at Shivaal who hugged him and then ran to meet his mother, Iravathi Samaiyar.

***

Half an hour later, in the Seesh Mahal, the Yuvraj sat on the cold marble floor as his hands were bound and his eyes were dull.

The grandeur of the hall had a masterpiece of mirrors and gemstones that did little to ease his fear.

His amber eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but the heavily guarded doors and the eerie silence crushed any hope.

Suddenly, the doors creaked open, and Shivaal entered as his expression had a mix of triumph and dominance.

His sharp gaze fixed on the veiled figure before him. The Yuvraj sat silently, bound yet composed, his face hidden beneath the white cloth. His expression was calm, but his dark eyes burned with intensity.

Shivaal's curiosity had been simmering since the moment he claimed the supposed prince as his prize.

He walked toward the Yuvraj while his every step echoed with authority. He crouched down to meet Yuvraj's gaze while his piercing eyes were locking onto the trembling figure before him.

"Tum soch rahe honge ki tum yahan kyun ho aur humne tumhe mara kyun nahi?", Shivaal said and his voice was calm but laced with menace.

"Maarne me wo sukoon nahi jo din prati din, teel- teel karke maarne me hai".

Shivaal said and his words sent chills to Yuvraj's spine.

"Tum sirf yuddh ke bandi nahi ho, Yuvraj. Tum ek sandesh ho - Kundarastra ki shakti ka ek pratik. Aur tum, hamare anmol inaam, ab hamare ho."

The Yuvraj's lips trembled, but no words came out. Shivaal's intensity was suffocating, and the weight of his declaration crushed any defiance the Yuvraj might have harbored.

Suddenly, Shivaal gripped the edge of the veil and with a swift motion, he pulled the cloth away.

The sight before him left Shivaal stunned. His eyes widened as he took a step back, his usual composure faltering.

The figure he expected to be a young prince was, in fact, was a girl, a breathtakingly beautiful girl.

Her long lashes framed amber eyes that shimmered with a mix of defiance and fear. Her delicate features were accentuated by soft, flawless skin, and her slightly parted lips trembled as she met Shivaal's astonished gaze.

"Tum.." Shivaal's voice came out as a whisper.

For the first time in years, the fierce and confident general - the future king of Kundarastra was at a loss for words.

The girl was now unveiled and lifted her chin despite the fear in her eyes. Her silence was bold, and her beauty was disarming.

Her hair was messy and her face had dirt but she was an enchantress.

"Tum ek stree ho?. Ek stree se humne yuddh kiya? Aur ek stree ko vijay prapt kar laye hai?", Shivaal's shock turned into something more profound, an unexpected sense of intrigue and an undeniable pull toward the girl before him.

He recovered quickly and his expression hardened to mask the storm brewing within him.

"Kitni Sundar.... Bahut Sundar"

Shivaal said as his hand moved to touch her cheeks.

But before he could touch her, a sharp feminine, threatening voice echoed in the Seesh mahal.

"Humey hath lagaya to kaat ke fenk denge. Hume chune ka saahas bhi mat karna", She said and her words stirred something in Shivaal's heart.

"Toh yeh hai Rajdhara ka Yuvraj," he said as his voice was calm yet firm, though his heart still raced. "Nahi... Yuvrani."

The realization that he had unknowingly captured not just a royal figure, the crown Prince but a woman, the crown Princess, of striking strength and beauty, sent a ripple through Shivaal's composed demeanor.

...

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