"M-Marriage proposal?" Ahil stammered as he heard that his lover got marriage proposals and he almost lost her.
Vansh nod and looked down at his hands "she is getting marriage proposals from long time, almost since you last visited us or maybe before that. But I was too busy in my work that I didn't payed attention to it. The families are wealthy and have good reputation. Some of them have good buisness and some have many farms. One is a soldier in Bayar army and one is a healer."
He chuckled sadly as he realised how late he got to know that his daughter is getting so many proposals and that too from the people of great wealth and position. "I didn't know about it until my wife told me two days ago. But it was too late. We had to move to Jwalana. And don't know how long it will take for us to return to Bayar."
"Doesn't matter how many times her mother asked her to meet the man she chose for her in my absence, she denied it. May be she thought that if her own father don't care about her marriage then why she should think about it." His voice cracked at the end, feeling guilty for his daughter.
Ahil gulped in fear and guilt that he didn't know what is happening around his lover. She would have got married till now if her father wasn't so busy in work. He turned his head towards the direction where Anaya was and found her sleeping peacefully while holding her mother's arm and her head resting on her mother's shoulder.
She rejected the proposal, that means she still love him. He still have that place in her heart that she don't want to replace. Tears started to collect in his eyes as he just thought how much pain he has given to her, intentionally or unintentionally. He have hurted her feelings too much that she don't want to show him the love she still have in her heart but don't want to forget it either.
He again turned his head towards Vansh and asked "So what are you thinking to do now?"
"What can I do? I can only wait until the war ends and after that, return to Bayar. As soon as we will return to Bayar, I will get her married to the best man I can find."
Ahil nod and looked outside the window. He wanted to ask for Anaya's hand right away but he don't know how she will react. She might get more angry and hate him thinking that he is forcing her to marry him.
The carriage stopped inside the palace and Ahil stepped down. He took a deep breath to collect his all courage to introduce Anaya to his family. He went towards the carriage door and said.
"Come out."
All of them started to come out of the carriage and at the same time, Ashwant and Abhiveera came out of the palace.
Ahil helped Anaya step down even though she tried to avoid him. He held her hand and helped her step down. He then looked up at the door of palace and found his father and grandfather standing there.
His father was having that stern look on his face, looking at Anaya who was looking down in fear as well as in respect.
Abhiveera glanced at his son and then at Ahil who was looking at him with hope.
"Greetings your majesty. Greetings your highness." All of them said.
Abhiveera looked at them and smiled. "Greetings."
Ahil cleared his throat, pushing his tears and emotions back, he said. "Father, grandfather, they are our spies from Bayar and their families."
Abhiveera nod but Ashwant didn't gave any response.
"They must be tired from the journey. Take them to their chamber to rest." Abhiveera said.
Ahil nod and said to them "Let's go." He signalled the soldiers to carry the bags to their chambers.
After showing both the families their chamber, Ahil came to his chamber and threw himself of the bed, staring at the ceiling. He don't know how to peruse his father to approve his relationship. How to seek forgiveness from Anaya? How to make Anaya fall in love with him again? How to win her trust again? And how he will do this all in just two days? He have to go on war and don't know whether he will come back or not.
The gate of Aaro palace opened as Raksheet's carriage entered inside. The carriage stopped infront of the palace door where Dhishva, Daksha and Veer were standing to welcome Ira and Raksheet.
Raksheet stepped down from the carriage and helped Ira to step down. They then went towards Ira's family members with a warm smile.
"Greetings father, greetings mother." Raksheet and Ira said and Daksha approached Ira to hug her.
"Greetings. How are you Raksheet?" Dhishva said and hugged Raksheet.
Raksheet broke the hug and smiled at him "I am fine."
"Nice to meet you again brother-in-law." Veer said with wide smile and approached Raksheet for hug.
Seeing his face and the smile on his face, Raksheet felt disgusted. The man who is trying to kill his own grandfather is pretending to be nice and welcoming him.
Raksheet still smiled at him as he don't have any strong evidence to prove his crime. He accepted his approach and hugged him.
"Nice to meet you too."
Ira and Daksha broke the hug and Daksha cupped Ira's face. Tears started to collect in Ira's eyes as her mother kissed her forehead and she felt the warmth in her mother's touch.
"How are you, my child?" Daksha asked.
Ira smiled with tears in her eyes and replied "I am fine. How are you? You are looking too thin. You must be in stress thinking about grandfather's health all the time."
Daksha shook her head and replied "No. It's not like that. You are thinking too much."
"How is grandfather?" Ira asked with worried face.
Before Daksha can answer, Dhishva spoke up. "Let's go inside first. Raksheet has come to our palace for the first time after marriage. We should not keep him standing outside for so long."
Daksha nod as she sensed the tint of anger behind her husband's words. She looked at Raksheet and smiled, cupping his cheek with one hand.
"Welcome Raksheet. It's nice to see you. Let's go inside."
Raksheet smiled at her and nod.
They entered inside the palace and Ira immediately went to meet her grandfather, Raksheet following her.
As she entered inside the chamber, her sight fell on Viraaj who was lying on bed, unconscious.
Her legs trembled and she stopped on her place. Raksheet entered inside the chamber and saw not only Viraaj but Shreyansh sitting on the chair beside Viraaj's bed.
He understood that this is the man Dhishva has assigned to take care of Viraaj.
Shreyansh stood up as soon as he saw Ira and Raksheet entering inside the chamber and greeted them. Raksheet nod in response but Ira wasn't able to think anything or hear anyone. Her eyes were fixed on her grandfather who didn't smiled at her when she came back to him how he used to whenever she comes to play with him.
With her trembling legs and eyes filled with tears ready to fall from her eyes, she walked towards her grandfather. She looked at his weak figure lying infront of her and tears fell down from her eyes.