[Jeevika has 9 different names; Manushri, Padmakshi, Vikriti, Shreeja, Vachi, Aarna, Vikasani, Krisha, and Karwasani.]

[any suggestions?]

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Three years later...

"Rajkumari!"

A group of five women can be seen chasing down a small girl. The girl chortles and quickens her pace. The Princess is being pursued by four women, one of them is trying to juggle a plate of food in her hands.

This was nothing new for the Dasis, as the girl never stays still, nor does she stay in a place for long. Always running around here and there.

The girl doesn't notice a man walking in front of her.  When the Princess collides with him, the plate of flowers flies out of his hands.

Flowers fall down on the Princess, who simply spreads her arms and spins in the flower shower. Everyone beam at their adorable Princess.

Her feet turn to the only person who can help her when she remembers she's being chased. The Dasis groan as they continue to follow behind the Princess.

The Rajya Sabha door is pushed open by Jeevika. Vikram sitting on the throne, with Satrupa and Raj Guru alongside him. Yuvati watches her daughter run in from her throne beside her husband.

"Pitamahi! Pitashree! Mata!"

Padmakshi runs into her Pitamahi's arms, who catches the girl in her arms lovingly. The dasis come to a halt in the middle of their running after finding that they were disturbing the royal court.

Ministers, members of the court, and residents smile instead of being upset or irritated that their Princess has disrupted the court. They adored their Princess far too much to consider anything bad about her.

"Kya huha mere bache? Kisne thang kiya meri Aarna ko?" [What's wrong, my child? Who bothered my Aarna?] Satrupa questions her granddaughter.

Vachi wraps her arms around her Pitamahi's neck, burying her head in the crook of Satrupa's neck. "Pitamahi, humhe maas nhi khana hai." [Grandmother, I don't want to eat meat.]

Everyone raises a brow at the disdain in Manushri's words. They were Kshatriyas, it was normal for them to have a non-vegetarian diet.

"Rajkumari, why don't you want to eat meat?" A minister questions.

Aarna raises her head from her grandmother's chest. Tears were pooling in her eyes, making everyone in the room panic. Their Rajkumari never cried, she was a jolly toddler and baby.

"Today I was walking past the kitchen, and there I saw how they made meat. They killed the animal, just so they could eat it later on."

Oh! So that was the reason. It made sense that the Princess was scared. Today was the first time the girl was going to try meat as per the tradition in Karwasa.

Up until the child turns 3, they are not allowed to consume meat or any non-vegetarian dishes. So she had never had meat before.

And now she is saying that she doesn't want to have it. Everyone knows how soft-hearted and kind their Princess is. She loves animals and they seemed to love her too.

"But Padmakshi, it is important-" Vikram is interrupted by Raj Guru.

"It's alright Jeevika putri. Vikram, Satrupa, Yuvati, I think that if Rajkumari does not want to eat meat, then we should serve her with vegetarian meal only." Raj Guru reasons with everyone. He knew that Jeevika was too gentle to let an animal get hurt.

Vikram nods in agreement and looks to Yuvati and Satrupa. Yuvati turns to the group of dasis, "From now on, only prepare vegetarian meals for the Rajkumari." The Dasis leave, obeying Yuvati's order and heading to the kitchen immediately.

Everyone glances at the Rajkumari, laughing when they see how she has all on her attention diverted to the kangan on Satrupa's hands.

"Samrat, Jyesht Samragyi, we should continue the Rajya Sabha." The Prime Minister requests Vikram and Yuvita.

Today they have a lot to cover. The court then proceeded with residents naming their problems and ministers from various fields discussing progress and improvements that were to be made.

As the Rajya Sabha continued, Jeevika felt bored. This was all grown up talk. Reaching up to Satrupa's left, Aarna whispers, "Pitamahi, I want to go."

"Where will you go?" Satrupa quietly asks, her hands patting Jeevika's back.

Vaachi's lips curl into a pout as she considers her options. Where could she go? The garden? Her brothers' room? The marketplace? Suddenly, Jeevika knew where she wanted to go.

"I will go and meet Maa."

Saying so, Jeevika jumps from her Pitamahi's lap, running away like a tornado. Satrupa shakes her head with a smile, her Aarna can never stay in one place for long.

· · ─────── · ॐ· ─────── · ·

As she fills her rangoli with colours, Darika brushes a strand of her hair away from her face. She sat on the ground in front of an idol of Narayan. She was alone and no one was to disturb her in her room.

Despite her desire for a Maa Lakshmi idol in the room, Darika already had received Jagatmata in the shape of her daughter, and she was unable to express her gratitude to Narayan.

Darika smiles when she hears a giggle. She was well aware of who was on the opposite side of her room. When the door to Darika's room swings open, she doesn't even have to look up.

"Maa!" Jeevika squeals, jumping into her mother's open arms.

Darika brightens as she holds the piece of her heart in her arms. She was only alive because of her Jeevika. The Samragyi closes her eyes and runs her fingers through Vikriti's soft hair, basking in the comfort of her daughter.

"What is my Manushri doing here?" Darika questions her baby girl.

Jeevika pulls away from her mother, her eyes reflecting mischief. "I was missing you so much, Maa. Do you know how much I love you."

Darika raises a brow at Jeevika, who is pinching her mother's cheeks. This was a trick that Vachi always pulled when she wanted something from Darika.

"What do you want now?"

Sheepishly smiling at her mother, Jeevika avoids eye contact. "Woh humhe apke haathon ki Kheer khani hai. Kya aap humhare liye banayenge?" [I want to eat the Kheer made by your hands. Will you make it for us?]

Darika chuckles at Jeevika's words. This girl and her love for Kheer. "Avashya banayenge, parantu pehle hum yeh rangoli bana le." [Of course, I will make it, but first, let me complete this rangoli.]

Jeevika nods with a frown, freeing herself from her mother's arms. She takes a seat in front of the Sanragyi and Darika busies herself in making the rangoli.

Jeevika keeps on moving her feet and legs. She was getting impatient. Sitting quietly was not in her nature. Shreeja's head whips around the room, her eyes capturing everything.

Her gaze is drawn to the statue of Lord Vishnu. Jeevika is lured to the idol by a magnetic force. Krisha felt as if she had seen the statue before because everything about it felt so real.

The Rajkumari approaches it, a handful of colours in her hands and a playful smirk on her face. Darika is completely oblivious to the fact that Jeevika is not seated in front of her.

Vikasani rubs her palms against Narayan's cheeks on the statue while standing on her toes. She repeats the process on the other cheek, unaware of the colour smearing on her chubby cheeks.

Jeevika backs away and grins at her antics. Shreeja's hands jump up and touch the colours as she feels something cold on her cheeks. Jeevika notices that her cheeks are coloured as she examines her hands.

Jeevika is suddenly overcome with warm sentiments and unknown happiness. She starts to clap while laughing, ecstatic at what has just happened.

Darika's attention is drawn away from the rangoli and toward the source of the applause. Her gaze then shifts to Jeevika, then to the colours on Narayan's statue.

Darika runs to Jeevika, kneeling in front of her and tenderly gripping her shoulders. "Jeevi, what happened? What are you doing clapping for?" Darika's gaze is drawn to Aarna's cheek colour. "And why is there colour on your face?"

"Maa, did you know that when I applied the colour to the statue, it also appeared on my cheeks? It's brilliant."

Darika grins as she listens to her daughter's words. Of course, the colour would also show up on Jeevika's cheeks. MahaLakshmi, in the shape of Jeevika, had unknowingly attempted to colour her Narayan.

The colour on Jeevika's face was the colour of Narayan's love for his Shree. The pure and spiritual love that Lakshmi-Narayan had for each other.

"Maa, yeh koun hai?" [Mother, who is he?]

Darika's heart breaks at the question. It seems as though Lakshmi doesn't remember her Narayan. Taking a deep breath, Darika answers, "Jeevi, yeh Narayan hai. Jagatpita." [Jeevi, this is Narayan. The Universal Father.]

Jeevika makes a puzzled expression. Darika catches the look and scoops Jeevika into her arms before moving towards her room's bed.

Darika takes a seat beside Jeevika's head after laying Vikasani on the bed. Vachi prepares for a story by pulling the blanket over her.

Darika pats her hand on Jeevika's forehead and she begins to speak, "Maa Adishakti created three deities; Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh. Brahma Dev creates us and the Universe. Mahesh, a name of Mahadev, destroys the world when it is in a state of chaos and ungodliness and in order to re-create. Then there is Vishnu, also known as Narayan."

"Narayan takes care of us, preserves us and maintains order in the universe, with the help of Maa Lakshmi; his wife. Whenever humans stray away from the path of Dharam and righteousness, Narayan descends in the form of an avatar to restore moral order."

Darika stops as she hears snoring. When she looks down, she realises Jeevika has slept off, while listening to her.

Sighing, Darika caresses Jeevika's face. "Hey Narayan! I pray that you reunite with your Lakshmi very soon."

Darika returns to her rangoli after saying this and continues working on it. Jeevika sleeps soundly in the love and protection of her Narayan, who keeps an eye on her, protecting her from evil.

· · ─────── · ॐ· ─────── · ·

Darika's remarks make an eight-year-old Krishna smile softly. Even he was eager to see his Priye again, but he couldn't because his hands were tied. He will only be able to reunite with his Priye calls out the name of his avatar.

His hands brush up against his colour-smeared face. Our Makhan chor chuckles as he peers out the window.

"I will meet you soon, Priye. And when I do, I don't plan on leaving you again."

· · ─────── · ॐ· ─────── · ·

I hope you guys like it. Extremely sorry if I bored you.

Please tell me what I can improve on and who you have liked so far.

Also, this is a work of fiction and my imagination, it is not to be taken offensively pr seriously. Please refrain from reading if you are offended easily because this story will have changes.