👑Forty Three~

[Play the song "Tere Hawale" from Laal Singh Chaddha, mentioned in the video box above, as the background music here]

The sun, a molten coin in the azure sky, cast a golden glow on the shores of Bali as Virat and Snehanvi chased after their children. The little ones, their laughter echoing on the gentle sea breeze, darted ahead, their tiny feet kicking up plumes of white sand.

Snehanvi, her hair styled in loose waves that danced in the wind, glowed with a radiant happiness. She watched Vamika, building a precarious tower of sand, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Careful, sweetie," Snehanvi called out, "It might topple over!"

Virat, swooped in beside Akay, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Let's make a super strong sandcastle, Akay! One that will withstand even the biggest waves!" He squatted down beside his son, his powerful hands expertly shaping the wet sand.

Together, they built a fortress, complete with intricate turrets and a moat that quickly filled with seawater. The children squealed with delight, decorating their creation with seashells and seaweed. As they worked, Snehanvi's hand momentarily brushed against Virat's. A jolt, familiar and electric, shot through them both.

Snehanvi looked up, her eyes, meeting Virat's. A soft, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips. Virat returned the smile, his own eyes crinkling at the corners. The chaos of the beach, the playful cries of the children, faded into the background. In that moment, it was just them, two souls connected by a bond that ran deeper than the ocean itself.

"It's beautiful here, isn't it?"Snehanvi murmured, her voice barely audible above the rhythm of the waves.

Virat nodded, his gaze lingering on her face. "It is. But it's even more beautiful with you here." He paused, his voice softening. "Thank you, Snehanvi, for everything. For being such an incredible mother, and for being... you."

A blush crept up Snehanvi's cheeks. She looked down at their sandcastle, her fingers tracing the outline of a tiny turret. "It's easy to be incredible when I have you by my side, Yuvraj. You inspire me every day."

He reached out, gently taking her hand. His touch was warm, reassuring. "And you inspire me," he said, his voice laced with sincerity. "You have been my anchor after entering Amber Taj. While we were getting married, I didn't know I was bringing a friend for life. You brought Akay's childhood back, you brought him back to me. He was drifting away. Vamika was losing her playfulness. You returned them, their mother. You returned me my old self. Thank you."

"I didn't do anything, Yuvraj. It's you who have done the most for me. You protected me, gave me a new life, a family, these beautiful children. I don't need anything from life. Thanks to you for everything."

Virat smiled at her and kissed her hand, making her heart flutter. They had been intimate before but this was a special feeling for her, a special moment indeed.

Their moment was interrupted by Vamika, who tugged impatiently at Snehanvi's hand. "Mum, look! My seashell is so pretty!"

Snehanvi laughed, the spell broken. "It is gorgeous, darling! The prettiest seashell I've ever seen." She squeezed Virat's hand before letting go, her eyes bright with happiness.

Later, as the sun began to dip towards the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange, pink, and purple, they strolled along the beach, hand in hand. Akay and Vamika, exhausted from their adventures, rode on their parents' shoulders, their sleepy breaths tickling their necks.

"This is perfect," Snehanvi sighed contentedly, resting her head against Virat's shoulder.

"It is," he agreed, tightening his grip on her hand. "Just the four of us, surrounded by beauty and love." He looked at her, his eyes filled with adoration. "This is what life is all about, isn't it? Cherishing these moments, creating memories that will last a lifetime. I hadn't got these moments after Anushka was gone. The kingdom, the royal protocols, duties, responsibilities, everything trapped me up in a loop."

"Before I used to think that being a king is easy,"Snehanvi said. "I was so wrong."

"Being a corrupted king is easy, Sneha. Being a righteous one brings all the difficulties."

The waves crashed gently against the shore, their rhythmic sound a soothing lullaby. The air was filled with the scent of salt and the sweet aroma of frangipani. As they walked, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, Virat and Snehanvi knew that this Bali escape, filled with laughter, love, and the simple joy of family, would forever be etched in their hearts as a cherished memory.

Mahendra walked into Durdhara's bedroom into Durdhara's room and found her chatting with Sakshi while Zayan and Ziva leaned against her, listening to them.

"Shaadi ke itney dino baad Rudragiri aayi hain humari bacchi. Ek aur din ruk jao,"he said, sitting near them, holding Durdhara's hand.

"Rukenge na. I'll come here for childbirth. It's our tradition after all,"Durdhara said.

"Right! Absolutely right. The daughter of the family births her first child at her own home. Tab toh ek doh mahiney pehele hi le aayenge hum tumhey,"Mahendra said.

"In fact, you should come here more often. Aisey toh Jawai Sa aaney hi nahi denge baad mein. Unhey aadat ho jaayegi humesha tumhare aaspaas rehene ki,"Sakshi added making Durdhara laugh while Chitra brought a tray of food.

"What is this Chitra? So many food?"Durdhara frowned.

"There's time for dinner. Kha lo,"Mahendra said.

"Aisey wakt pe khaatey rehena chahiye thoda thoda,"Sakshi said.

"Yes! Come on Booyi Mom, eat,"Ziva said feeding her with her little hand and she ate with a smile.

Zayan too picked up a snack and made her eat while babbling.

"Lo inhey bhi khilana hain,"Sakshi chuckled.

Durdhara ate from his hand while Mahendra said,"Arey inhey kiyu, humein bhi khilana hain. My niece or nephew is coming soon. Unhey bhi pata chaley ki Mamaji is so loving."

"Of course my children will know that, Dadabhai,"Durdhara said and ate from Mahendra's hand, followed by Sakshi's, as she too fed her.

"Pata hain Bhai, I am so lucky to have you people. Yeh parivaar, waha ka parivaar, humare Ranaji, sab humein importance dete hain. You all have prioritised me all the time."

"And we'll always do that. You deserve it, baccha,"Mahendra said.

They chatted about random things when Durdhara remembered something suddenly and asked,"Arey haan, I had totally forgotten about it."

"About what?"Sakshi asked.

"Voh...aap dono ko Chandraprayag ke itihaas ka kuch pata hain kya? I mean, not the facts that is known by everyone. Any unknown fact?"

"Well, not that I can recollect any right now. Sakshi, do you remember any? Your family had been closer to the Shekhawats more than the Rathores had been."

"Uhhmm! I just know that King Suryavardhan wasn't supposed to be the king. I mean, humare Dad ne humsey kaha tha jab humein unhey bataya tha aapke aur Kunwar Hardik ke shaadi ki baarein mein."

"Tell me more about it,"Durdhara said and Sakshi said to Ziva,"Zivu, go and check whether your homeworks are done or not.

"Okay Mom,"Ziva said and went away taking Zayan as he extended his arms towards her.

"Hum Jasrotias kahi saalon se dost rahe hain Shekhawats ke. Usi wajah se unki kuch neeji baatein humare khandaan ke logon ko malum rahi hain. I remember Dad telling me that Suryavardhan's elder brother Shaktivardhan was supposed to be the king, till he fell in love with a girl outside the royal clan and religion too. Their father King Jaykishoreraj changed the decision and declared Suryavardhan as the next king before passing away. At that time Prince Virat was around five and his mother Queen Manikarnika had already passed away. King Suryavardhan had married her younger sister princess Meenakshi and your Ranaji was already born and was around one year old."

"Mom is Veer Dadabhai's own aunt by relationship...I didn't know this!"Durdhara said in shock.

"That's because you never paid attention to these things. Aap yaha India mein utna rahi hi kaha hain since your teenage years! Vaisey, even I didn't have idea about this Shaktivardhan being the actual crown prince before King Suryavardhan. And the cause behind this incident too,"Mahendra said.

"That's because even you had been out of this region for years,"Sakshi said with a chuckle.

"Then where are King Shaktivardhan and his wife, now?"Durdhara asked.

"Dead!"Sakshi's answer shocked her.

"What?"

"Hmm! They had mysterious deaths."

"I have heard about them and knew that they died in a car accident,"Mahendra said.

"Yes, but the night when they died, people said that they hadn't stepped out of the palace. Some people also say that they died in fire set in the palace. God knows what's the truth."

"I knew that Queen Manikarnika had died under strange circumstances. She was poisoned,"Mahendra said and then added with a sigh,"that's why I was reluctant regarding your marriage with Prince Hardik when the offer had come from the Shekhawats. I was sure you'll reject him, given the type of personality he had. But then, you accepted him."

"He's the best husband I could ever have, Dadabhai. Sachmein,"Durdhara said, holding his hand.

Mahendra smiled and said,"I know. Dikhta hain unkein aankhon mein, aapke liye pyaar. I am happy now. Just be careful always."

Durdhara nodded and Sakshi said,"Accha abb inhey aaram karne dete hain. Let's check on the dinner."

"Oh right! I have an online meeting too. Dhara, tell Prince Hardik to pick you up tomorrow after dinner. Hum unhey personally invite karenge. You just tell him you aren't going tomorrow morning,"Mahendra said and Durdhara chuckled and gave a nod.

As the couple left, discussing about the gifts they'll be sending with Durdhara, the princess leaned back, taking her phone and called Hardik.

Hardik was returning from the office when he received her call.

"Finally you remembered me,"he said, faking haughtiness.

"Don't be so upset my dear Prince. I am just enjoying at my home after a long time,"Durdhara said with a chuckle.

Hardik smiled, content with the joy audible in his beloved's voice.

"Toh! Kal subha lene aarahe hain hum aapko."

"Nahi nahi! Hum kal raat ko jayenge after dinner."

"What? No way! Dharaaaaaa!"

"Offh ho! Doh chaar din raha nahi jaata aap se? How will you stay without me for more than a month?"

"WHAT? WHY? MORE THAN A MONTH? WHY AGAIN?"

"Stop freaking out. Riwaaz hain hum Rathores ki. Betiyan, in fact, bahuyein bhi, pehela baccha apne maayke mein rehekar..."

"Oh such a stupid rule."

"Huh! I'll follow it anyhow. Even Dadabhai had let Bhabi go to her paternal home for this purpose. Their family doesn't even have this custom, still."

"Okay fine. Majal ho humari ki aapko rokey kisi baat pe, Your Highness!"Hardik taunted while frowning and Durdhara's laughter rang in his ear, soothing his heart at once.

"Vaisey, you'll be invited for the dinner tomorrow. Dadabhai khud call karenge aapko."

"Naa bhi karte toh bhi hum daurey daurey chaley aatey aapko lene."

"Good Prince! Now listen, ek important baat hain."

"What?"

"Aapke aaspaas koi hain?"

"No! Except the driver."

"Good! Abb hum jo batane jaa rahe hain voh dhyan se suniye. Thik hain? Don't react."

"Fine!"Hardik replied.

Shubman stared at his musical instruments one after the other. He touched his taanpura when Meenakshi came to the music room.

"Maan!"

"Yes Mom?"he asked, turning towards her.

"Prasad lijiye. I have gone to mandir to pray for your success. You have to win the competition, okay? I have told all my friends that my son will be the winner."

Shubman chuckled and gave a nod. Meenakshi made him eat the prasad while asking,"Kya baat hain? You seem to be off."

"Nothing. It's just, I don't know, Mom. This is the biggest competition of my lif so far and I feel something wrong is going to happen."

"Don't think like that. Nothing wrong will happen. You'll have your dinner and go to sleep early today. No fidgeting with phone or gadgets, okay?"

Shubman gave a nod. "Okay Mom."

Meenakshi gave him a hug and then left while he looked back at the musical instruments, thinking,"I hope I can do justice to my talent."

************************************Here goes the update. Keep Reading and Keep Vommenting Guys.😘❤️