The Last Princess (18+)

22.0 Royal Differences

Avanti placed a small red tilak on her husband's forehead. It was something that she did every day, but it was a bit different today. Her husband held their newborn daughter in his arms, slowly rubbing the infant's back in a slow, soothing motion. It was their daughter's first Holi. They both had placed a small amount of red colour on both of her chubby, pink cheeks simultaneously and their little angel had blessed their eyes with a small smile of hers as if grasping the purity of the festival.

Avanti's husband, Raghav, took a pinch of emerald green colour and applied it to his wife's soft cheeks. Avanti couldn't help but blush a zillion shades of red as his hands caressed her cheek, followed by her neck. Raghav passed her a small smile in return. The action may seem mundane to many, but Avanti didn't miss the glint of happiness in his usually cold, hard brown orbs. With her, and now their daughter, the spy of Mewar was unhinged, his usual cold face was nowhere in sight when he was with his small, yet precious family.

Avanti had thought that maybe this man could only have that minuscular amount of warmth and love in his heart and eyes that he showered on her. Maybe that was all to him, as she had never seen him engage in unnecessary conversations with anyone else, let alone pass those small, yet heart-wrenching smiles of his.

Oh, how wrong had she been!

Ever since the birth of their daughter, Nayab, there had been momentous changes in both Raghav's behavior and his daily routine. He now earnestly tried to be back home as early as his tasks permitted and was reluctant to leave in the morning. Whenever he stood at their threshold to leave, he would pass lingering looks at their little bundle of joy, who would just stare at her father in awe.

Avanti felt like the happiest woman in the entire world, for in this entire universe, she now had a small Dunya of her own. Her own family.

"Rang lagana hi tha, toh kesariya rang charha detein, ye haare raang ka vish kyun?"

(if you really had to apply colour on me, then why choose the green of poison instead of yellow?)

Raghav let out a small laugh at her complaint, cuddling his daughter closer. There was nothing more nayab to him than his Nayab and his Avanti. Absolutely nothing.

"Hamari mohabbat ka rang hai, aap pe chaar jaaye wohi kaafi hai, ab chahein aap isse vish hi kyun na samjhe," he said teasingly making Avanti blush again before she grinned at him.

(its the colour of my love, as long as it is on you, I don't care if you perceive it as poison)

Avanti coloured her own hands in blue and blushed again when her husband caught her eye with his containing mischief. The reason behind choosing this colour was her eyes. Avanti had inherited the lightest of blue eyes from her mother.

As she proceeded to apply the colour to his cheeks, Raghav caught her milky wrist in his hand. Avanti frowned at him.

"Aapri aankkhan da rang hai, kitni baar charhaneka iraada hai?"

(it is the colour of your eyes, how many times do you plan to colour me in that colour?)

Avanti's blush deepened as she applied the colour on him, before placing her head on his chest, where his heart lay caged and beat for her.

Anika had changed into some unpretentious clothes, her nathni, and headpiece were the only jewelry on her as she extinguished each of the candles. It was a hassle to light each of them, now it was another headache to extinguish them.

Anika had also not wanted anyone in their private chambers, none of the servants were allowed in her small balcony, she had designed it on her own and made sure to clean and maintain it on her own as well.

Shivaay watched his wife as he leaned on the door of the balcony. Anika kept huffing and puffing as she blew out the candles. It had been a hectic day. Holi in Mewar was very different from that of Singhall. It was a bigger deal here, there were more people to celebrate. They sang, danced, and feasted all day long. Colours danced in the air as they all celebrated together.

She had sent her father her greetings for the festival. He was slowly recovering, old age had been catching up on him. She trusted her daayi maa to take proper care of him.

A part of Anika was glad that they were done with one of the biggest festivals that were grandly celebrated in Mewar, she had sufficient time now to work on the promise that she had made to her ailing father, the promise to find his eldest daughter.

Shivaay snaked his arms around her waist, causing her tense muscles to relax as she melted into his arms. A sigh of relief left his lips, as Anika leaned back in his chest. A sukoon like no others wounded itself around both their hearts.

The luster of the full moon was an alluring sight. The luminescence fell on the couple in a way as if it had been highlighting the most beautiful creations of God after waiting for eons for a single chance to do so.

A million thoughts ran through Anika's head. She felt hesitant to share her thought with her husband, which was an eccentric occurrence as they both had become quite comfortable with each other and didn't think much before sharing their inner turmoils.

However, Shivaay had been in a very joyous and festive mood today, and Anika did not wish to ruin it by asking him about Avanti or polluting the ambiance with her worries regarding her sister.

She was glad that he was finally relaxed, ever since she had made him promise that he would fund her sister, he was been quite tensed. She assumed that maybe he was working on it, sending soldiers to locate Avanti, or maybe he was just being kept occupied by his court matters

"Ap phirse chand dekh rahi hai kya, Anika"

(you are looking at the moon again, Anika)

Anika nodded slightly at his joshing.

"Aap bhi dekhein," she mumbled quietly, her thoughts scattered (you have a look at it too)

"Dharti pein hamari Anika hai, aur aasmaan mein chand," he kissed her hair, "Aab kon kaafir chand ko dekhega?"

(there is my Anika on earth and the moon in the sky)(now, which disbeliever will look at the moon?)

Anika smiled this time, though it did not reach her eyes. She felt too selfish at times, here her sister was missing and her father was worried sick while she had been celebrating Holi with her husband. Could anyone be more selfish than her? She was a princess, now a queen, she was always supposed to put her kingdom, subjects, and family first.

"Dhyaan rahein Samraat, kahin aapke Rajputi suraj ko hamari chand ka grahan na lag jaaye,"

(beware, king, otherwise your sun might get hidden by my lunar eclipse)