Mihira and Nila had named their daughter as Nilothpala, they called her Uthpala for short.
When Uthpala was born, the Huns celebrated for a whole week. By the time Uthpala learnt to walk, Mihira taught her horse-riding and how to shoot arrows.
A Few Years Later
"Catch me if you can!" an eleven year old Uthpala shouted over her shoulder as she galloped on her horse.
Nila watched in amusement when Mihira was not far behind. Father and daughter competed with each other and raced each other.
Mihira shot arrows mid-leap and Uthpala did the same. They both hit bull's eye each time. Nila and the Hun audience cheered and applauded.
Four Years Later
A sixteen year old Uthpala sat in her father's war council listening in rapt attention. She gave her suggestions wherever required. Mihira and Nila beamed with pride at her intellect and leadership capability.
When the war council concluded, Uthpala asked "Mother, I have spent years learning the ways of Huns. Can you take me into the Gupta Empire so that I can learn their ways too?"
Nila exchanged a look with Mihira, he nodded in approval. Nila smiled, "Alright, dear. I will take you"
A Few Days Later in the Gupta Empire
The Princess embraced Uthpala, "My!" she remarked, "How much she has grown!"
Uthpala greeted the Princess and the Princess' son warmly.
"She has striking resemblance to her father, doesn't she?" the Princess remarked to Nila.
"Yes, she does. Took after him in stubbornness too!" Nila said, laughing.
Nila and Uthpala often visited the Princess and her son over the next few years.
A Few Years Later
"You want to marry a Gupta Prince?" Mihira exclaimed, "Why?!"
"Because I have feelings for him, Father and he has feelings for me!" said Uthpala.
"There are so many Huns you can choose from, Uthpala" Mihira said, sternly, "Why a Gupta?"
"Wait, Mihira!" Nila intervened, "She has a point. Think about it! If the daughter of the Hun King marries a Gupta Prince, then, there can finally be peace between these two Empires. Further, he is the son of my best friend, I can rest assured if she weds him as I know my friend will take good care of her"
It took a lot of convincing from Nila to get Mihira to agree but he did.
"I just cannot bring myself to refuse anything you ask" Mihira grumbled, pulling Nila into a tight embrace and bending down till he was eye to eye with her "I love you too much"
"And I love you!" Nila said, cupping his face and kissing his lips.
Six Months Later
The wedding was a grand success. Allies of both the Guptas and the Huns were present on the occasion. The wedding was celebrated for over a week with dance, song, pomp and ceremony.
"Mihira, look!" Nila said, as she adoringly watched at her daughter, "Look how happy she looks beside him! I feel we made the right decision"
"Yes, we did" Mihira agreed, "Finally, there is peace between our Empires after years of bitter power struggles"
The King of the Guptas, Narasimha Gupta and the King of the Huns, Mihirana signed a treaty of peace and non-aggression amidst deafening cheers from the crowd.
The Princess squeezed Nila's hand, "I am so glad!"
Nila squeezed her hand back reassuringly, "So am I! Years of war finally comes to an end. Years of hatred and discontent will be put to rest today"
For the first time, in so many years, the Huns and the Guptas celebrated side by side, as brothers. Nila caught Mihira's eye and smiled warmly.
"To think that the love between a Hun man and a Gupta woman can lead to peace and harmony between two different Empires" the Princess remarked.
"Perhaps, as they say" Nila said, her eyes still locked with Mihira's "True Love does conquer all!"
YOU ARE READING
Embrace the Snow
Romance"Hailing from Malwa, Nila was used to a riot of colours in both natural and manmade. Here, in the snow-covered landscape, everything had seemed a monochrome of white to her. Today, without anything to protect her from the cold, she could feel thousa...
