Journey Leading To Hazard

Chapter 6

In Indraprasth:

"Give him to me!"

"No!"

"I'm warning you for the last time. Give him!"

"No!!!"

"Okay."

Valandhara shouted in fear as Bheem picked her up with their son nestled in her arms.

"What are you doing?! You'll drop us! You, bhaaloo!!!"

"Don't call me bhaaloo! What will Laddu think?"

"Don't you dare call my son Laddu again!"

"What's happening here?" A very much confused Devika asked. They were in the hallway and these two new parents of the cute little baby boy had started fighting there only! Devika gave a stern look at them as she noticed the guards and dasis silently laughing behind them. Bheem upon seeing Devika gently put his wife down.

"Look at this Bhabishree! She's not giving me my son!" Bheem complained with a frown.

"And he is not stopping calling my son Laddu!" Valandhara complained too.

Devika stared at the both of them for a few moments before shaking her head. They would never change. Even becoming a parent had not brought a single difference.

Valandhara had gone into labor a few days ago and gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Today was the naming ceremony of their son and look at these two.

"Enough. Everyone is waiting for you. Come on, now." Devika ushered them to the hall where the ceremony was going to take place.

Nothing much had changed in Indraprasth apart from the arrival of the new member. It had taken Devika a little time to accept everything and make peace. And her family had supported her at each step. She had concluded that she was Dharmraj Yudhisthir's wife. The mother of his son. It was her only identity now and nothing else mattered.

That day after Sindhuraj had left, the silent spectator of the events, Sivi Naresh Govasena was also going to follow him. But his steps had faltered as Devika had stopped him from behind.

"I want to talk to Sivi Naresh in private if you allow Maharaj." Devika had requested to Yudhisthir solemnly. Yudhisthir though was concerned, didn't object and left with the others.

Sivi Naresh didn't say anything as he stood stoically whereas Devika observed him with tearful eyes. This man before her was her biological parent?

"A lot of questions were going through my mind that I wanted to ask. But now, I can only ask you one." Devika said finally as he remained silent only.
"Did you only come here for Sindhuraj?"

"Who is asking the question? The Maharani of Indraprasth or the daughter of Sivi?" Maharaj Govasena asked turning his eyes to her.

"Was I ever the daughter of Sivi? Because from my understanding, I was given away as soon as possible." Devika had replied as a lone tear fell from her eyes.

"We can only give away what belongs to us. Whom I gave away was my daughter only." Maharaj Govasena had answered solemnly.

"Then how could you give up your innocent daughter so easily?"

"Not easy. Never easy." He had looked at the far sky while remembering those days.
"When I received the news of your arrival, I felt blessed. Maharishi Brihudyanu himself came to bless the child that had born with the blessings of Goddess Amba! I was so happy. And I felt pride unlike anything when he predicted that my daughter will become the Samragi of Aryavarth and rule it one day. But ignorant me! Before I could understand the full meaning of his prediction, someone else did.