Agam POV 

After 4 days of cold and grueling journey we reached the Himadari on 5th day's evening. 

We only stopped to take rest in the night and to freshen up as well as to eat. 

When we reached their palace entrance, we could see the King gathered there with his people. 

We climbed down from our horse and moved in front of him and greeted him with joined hands, 

'Khammaghani!!' 

He greeted in return, 

'Radhaswai!!' 

After him everyone greeted us too. 

Divij Rai Singh is younger than I expected since I never met him. 

We only ever conversed through letters and his words in those depicted someone who has many years of experience. 

Maybe I expected someone younger than my father by little. 

A woman comes forward then welcomes us in her cultural way. 

She also put red tikka on our foreheads while everyone is looking at us with pleasant smiling faces. 

This reminds of the time when I travelled to Malwa and their smiling faces. 

Seeing their genuine happy faces now makes me realise that during that time everyone was faking it there. 

But I don't regret what happened after that because that situation gave me the most precious beautiful gift of my life, Mohini. 

We enter inside after she is done. 

Divij Rai comes forward and says, 

'Aapka swagat hai humare swarg jaise rajya mein, hume umeed hai ki aapko adhik pareshani nahi hoyi hogi, apni yatra mein.' 

'Welcome to our paradise-like kingdom, we hope you did not face much trouble in your journey.' 

After such a warm welcome, I forgot about all my difficulties. 

He takes us in a room which is a meeting hall instead of court. 

I raise the question, 

'Why are we here instead of court?' 

He replies warmly with a smile as we seat down, 

'Aap humare atithi bhi hai aur madadagaar bhi, hum apne doston ko pahle baar yahan aane par darabaar mein nahin le jaenge, isliye pahale hum aapka yahaan swagat karenge.' 

'You are my guest as well as my helper, I wouldn't take my friends to the court on their first visit here, so first let me welcome you here.' 

Just as he finished the same lady who welcomed us comes inside accompanied by some attendees carrying food. 

They first fill up the flasks with a liquid then present some type of crackers like kachori. At the say of the lady the attendees leave us. 

Divij Rai comes stand beside the lady and introduce her, 

'Meet my wife, Reva Divij Rai Singh.' 

She is a beautiful lady no doubt. And the king is smitten for her and it is visible on his face. 

Reva ji comes forward and says, 

'That's our welcome drink, Jhol, I hope you all have no problem with alcohol because thats an alcoholic drink.' 

She waits for our confirmation and we just shake our heads then with a relived smile she continues, 

'That's called 'Bhey' or 'Spicy Lotus Stems', it is very good in taste and you will really like it. It is speciality of our kingdom.' 

Then they both sit down after they serve us then each other. 

We eat then talk in between about our kingdom, some advancements. 

Divij Rai compliments for my wife, 

'I thought your wife would come with you. I wanted to meet her ever since I heard about the way she handled everything on her and yours coronation day.' 

His wife also says, 

'Don't take it in wrong way but I have seen people in her situation to lose their self esteem and confidence but hers this act can inspire many people.' 

This puts a smile on my face, learning how much my Mohini has earned people's respect for her. 

Makes me proud to say that I am Mohini's husband. 

I nod my head and say, 

'There has to be someone who could look after the empire and its is still in developing phase, so we both can't come here.' 

They nodded their head in understanding. 

I asked him in good nature, 

'We only ever communicated through 4 letters but the way you phrased the words in the letters, it always gave me the indication that you are someone older than me, but I am surprised to see a younger version here.' 

At this he smiles and his wife says, 

'He get that a lot from the people, he loves grammar of language and has sharp mind too so people generally think it is someone older not this young king.' 

The adoration he has for his wife reminds me of Mohini and how much I am missing her. 

Divij says with a smile, 

'I too got that impression from you but when I met Viraj the suspicion got cleared.' 

I frown at that and ask him, 

'How did you figure out?' 

He says trying to suppress his smile and not meeting Viraj's eyes as he indicates for Divij to look at him, 

'People think that Viraj is rude but they don't know that Viraj is respectful when he talks about elders if they are on his good side but when he talked about you, he left respect to another side of mountains.' 

I look at Viraj pointedly but he doesn't meet my eyes. 

After we eat and wash our hands, Reva ji calls for the attendees who cleans everything up then take our seat. 

The elephant in the room makes the earlier happy mood all gloomy. 

Ekansh leans forward and say, 

'So lets discuss the thing for which we came here for.' 

They nod their head, I thought that his wife would leave but she comfortably sits beside her husband. 

Viraj then says with serious face, 

'Let me tell you that I am willing to repay the favour to you, but these two won't be getting involved in the war.' 

They frown at that and the King asked, 

'Can I ask the reason?' 

Viraj replies, 

'Ambari is included in the treaty and fighting against them will be against the treaty law but they would convince Ambari to back out too.' 

Ekansh says hurriedly when they become even more worried, 

'If they back out then only, would we back out, this is our stipulation but Jyotsar will fullfil their verbal agreement with you.' 

He says in distress, 

'I don't think that they will back out.' 

Not wanting to sound invasive but want to know so I ask, 

'If you don't mind, could you give us some background on why your brother is attacking you and Ambari empire supporting him.' 

He looked at his wife who give him assured smile and a nod he looks at us, 

'My brother is angry because I married his would be wife.' 

It takes me a moment for me to catch up then I understand, that his wife was going to be married to his brother. 

How could he do this to his brother? 

I stand up and say, 

'I have also limits to my immoral ways but what you did is beyond my limit, you snatched your brother's would be wife, taking his honour and dignity, which I can't support.' 

Ekansh also stands and says, 

'We didn't expect this from you. We would rather support your brother in this war than you.' 

I can't believe that I have been deceived second time with these fake pleasant faces. 

I have to up my mind in IQ or people will just fool me everytime. 

Seeing our disgusted expression, his wife stands up, shaking her head and says, 

'You are taking it in wrong way, Raja ji, it came out all wrong.' 

I raise my palm to stop her and say in angry tone, 

'How could you sit beside that man and show him affection when he immorally put hands on your honor and snatched his brother's dignity and honor?' 

She looks horrified and repeatedly shakes her head. 

And here I thought they were so good and have moral values. 

I look at Divij Rai who looks all calm and collected like this doesn't bother him. 

He takes his wife's hand and makes her sit down beside him while she looks at him questioningly. 

I look at Viraj to find him calmly sitting there so I ask, 

'Why are you sitting there so calmly? Are you not angry? Or did you know about it already?' 

He looks at me like I am the idiot and says, 

'Yes I already know but I didn't jump to conclusions before hearing the whole story.' 

Ekansh pretends whispers, 

'We should listen to their whole story because when Viraj see me like I am an idiot it is a normal thing but if he includes you too in that look that means we are acting rashly like an idiot.' 

I look at him and ask seriously, 

'Was that whisper?' 

He nods his head warily and I glare at him then say, 

'Then never discuss your problems or plans in whisper again because before you even act, people will already ambush you.' 

I look at Divij and his wife then sit down with Ekansh waiting for them to speak, his wife starts, 

'Our father has fixed our marriage when we weren't even born, they promised each other that whoever has the girl will marry their girl to other's son.' 

Divij continues with expressionless face, 

'Avij is my older brother and he was the Yuvraj of Himadari so his marriage was fixed with Reva when she was only 16 years old.' 

Reva says with a sad smile, 

'My parents had me after which my father died leaving behind me and my mother, she started to rule the empire but she also started to become old and she also wanted me to marry.' 

Some of the things are making sense now. 

'When the word of my marriage got out, the king of Ambari sent his marriage proposal to me which I rejected because I wanted to honour my father's wish and agreement to marry his friend's son.' 

She swallows thickly as she remembers her father then continues, 

'Humne Himadari ke Yuvraj ke baare mein kayi kisse sune the, unki kayarta ke toh khaas taur se, hume kisi anjan aadmi se vivah karne ke darr se adhik ek kayar vyakti se vivah karne ka tha.' 

'I have heard so many stories about the Prince of Himadari, especially of his cowardice, I was more afraid of marrying a coward than a stranger.' 

She looks lost in the memories and she says, 

'Par iska matlab ye nahi tha ki hum apne pita ki baat ki avehlna kare, par darr aur adhik badh gaya, jab inke bhai humse 19 saal ki umar ke jagah, 16 saal ki umar mein vivaah karne ki baat karne lage.' 

'But that doesn't mean that I would disrespect my father's wish, but my fear got worse when his brother started talking about marrying us at the age of 16 instead of 19.' 

The terror is visible on her face, 

'My mother made me understand that it was a privilege that I was going to be married in 19 years of age and that women generally get married in 14 to 16 years of age only, so its not a big deal.' 

Divij puts his hand on hers giving her a supportive smile and then he continues the story, 

'Humare bhai sirf kayar hi nahi murkh, pagal insaan bhi the, hume unke Raja bane se koi samsya nahi thi par humare rajya ke log inhe Raja ke roop mein swikaar nahi karna chahte the phir bhi sabne humare Pitaji ki iccha ka palan kiya.'

'My brother is not only a fool, he is also a mad man, I had no problem with him becoming the king, but the people of our kingdom did not want to accept him as their king, yet everyone followed our father's wish.' 

I could the distressed lines forming on his forehead, 

'Humare bhai ki aadatein kharab thi isliye jisse dekhte hue, humare pitaji ne saaf shabdon mein hume mana kiya tha ki hum rajkosh mein se ek bhi sikke ka upayog nahi karenge, jo chahiye wo unse mange lenge. 

'Having seen our brother's bad habits, our father had told us in clear words that we would not use even a single coin from the treasury, and would ask him for whatever he wanted. 

Hume isse koi apti nahi thi par humare bhai ne iske liye bhi pitaji se ladai kar li jiske karan woh hume har mahine kharchi dete the aur usse ek paisa adhik nahi.' 

I had no interest in it, but my brother fought for this with our father, because of which he started to give us expenses every month and not a single penny more.' 

He takes a deep breath then says with a disgusting expression on his face, 

'But my brother had serious problem of gambling addiction, so he lost all his allowance every month in this gambling.' 

To which his wife gaves a sarcastic huff of laugh, he continues, 

'Ambari ke raja ko ye baat bilkul pasand nahi aayi ki Reva ne unhe aswikar kar diya wo bhi ek juari ke liye. Toh unhone humare bhai, Reva aur Himadari se badla lene ki sochi. 

'The king of Ambari did not like the fact that Reva rejected him and that too for a gambler. So he thought of taking revenge from my brother, Reva and Himadari. 

Kisi tarah se humare bhai ko udhar mein dooba diya, jue ka upayog karte hue, aur humare bhai rajkosh mein se kuch nikal bhi nahi sakte the kyunki humare pitaji har mahine ginti karate the. 

Somehow he got my brother got into debt, using his gambling problem, and my brother could not even take out money from the treasury because our father had counting in treasury every month. 

Toh unhone Reva ko hi bech diya Ambari ke raja ko.' 

So he sold Reva himself to the king of Ambari.' 

Ekansh stands up angrily, 

'What the fuck? He can't do it. He was not even married.' 

Divij nods his head disgustingly and says, 

'Thats why they came up with the contract.' 

I lean forward and dreadingly ask him, 

'What contract?' 

He answers looking me in the eye, 

'Ki humare bhai Reva ke saath shaadi ki pehli raat bitaenge aur uske baad unhe, Ambari ke Raja ko daasi ke roop mein unhe saup denge.' 

'That my brother will spend the first night of marriage with Reva and then hand her over as a slave to the king of Ambari.' 

Ekansh cursed and stood up, walking few feet away as he breaths deeply facing his back to us. 

Reva ji looks at him questioningly and I just shake my head, its not my story to share. 

And Ekansh won't like me spreading it out. 

Viraj indicates them to continue so Divij further says, 

'Humare pitaji ko pata chal gaya tha ki humare bhai ne kya kiya kyunki unhe woh likhit samjhauta unke samaan mein mila, uss din humare bhai aur pita ji mein bahut badi ladai hui.' 

'Our father came to know what my brother had done, because he found that written agreement in his things, and that day my brother and father got into a big fight.' 

I could never fathom what Reva ji had gone through if she married his brother instead of him. 

'I also found out about the grant from my father when I saw him in distress the other day. 

He was in a dilemma as he couldn't cancel the wedding as it would reflect bad on Reva and can't expose his son, because he was still his son.' 

His eyes catch a far off gaze as he remembers it, then pain comes over his face, 

'But my brother didn't took him as his father.' 

He takes a breath and continues, 

'Maar diya humare Pitaji ko unhone, humare bhai hume kabhi pasand nahi karte the kyunki sabki pasand humesha hum rahe kabhi woh nahi, jisse unhe bohot jalan hoti thi. 

'He killed our father, my brother never liked me because I am always everyone's favorite and he is never the one, which made him very jealous. 

Jis din ye ghoshna hoyi ki vivaah jald se jald hoga taki Yuvraj ki taajposhi ho sake, hume bohot gussa aaya.' 

The day it was announced that the wedding would take place as soon as possible so that the crown prince could be crowned, I felt very angry.' 

He looks down controlling his emotion, 

'I confronted him that he can't even wait for our father's tairavi, he just menacingly laughed and took great joy in telling me that he has no sadness for our father's death as he is the one who killed him.' 

Reva ji starts to rub his back, knowing how heartbreaking it is for him, he continues, 

'I couldn't fathom, how could my own brother do this to me.' 

I myself can't fathom how could he do this to his family and for what, just to satisfy his ego and his addiction. 

And I can't believe that Ambari's king agreed to this stupid agreement. 

Ekansh from his position asks, 

'Did that Ambari's king really wanted to fulfill the agreement?' 

To which in reply Divij shakes his head and says, 

'He just wanted something to satisfy his ego, he wanted Himadari to suffer and teach Reva a lesson, show her that she left him for a gambler who sold her without blinking an eye.' 

Ekansh replies low, 

'Lucky that he doesn't have to die.' 

He looks questioningly at us but I don't elaborate. 

Again it is between us so it better stays in here only. 

Divij continued, 

'Hume unhe kisi bhi tarah rokna tha, unhe raja bane se rokna tha par hum apne pitaji ke iccha se bandhe hue the.' 

'I had to stop him somehow, I had to stop him from becoming king but I was also bound by my father's wish.' 

I can understand the feeling of helpness, that he felt at that time knowing that he can't either help his people nor Reva ji. 

'So I decided that I would let everything happen according to his plan but instead of him, I would marry Reva.' 

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