Ira-The lost Princess

Meeting

Next day, as expected Kalyani received invitation from the royal palace. Though invitation was for both her and Ira, she told Ira to continue her work of gathering details on a new case of corruption. 

 She again entered same gate she had entered previous night but this time without face cover, in full con idence as Devi Kalyani.

As expected whole royal family was present in meeting hall. They stood up seeing her , making kalyani amused.'Pranipat Devi Kalyani' King began 'Aap yaaha aayi iske liye aapka bhot bhot shukriya''Pranipat mahraja'

'Devi Kalyani aapse milkar hame kitni Khushi Hui ham bataa nhi skte, kripya baithiye' Queen offered her to sit.Kalyani took her seat and waited for them to talk. While King and Queen were thinking on how to start conversation on a good note, Chotti Rani began 'Devi Kalyani, samajh nhi aata aapne Ira ke liye Jo Kiya uske liye aapka abhaar...' Kalyani interrupted her 'Apne bacche ka dhyaan rakhne ki liye koi maa aabhaar nhi leti' 'Par Ira to...''Hnn meri bhanji hai''Nhi Devi aap shayad jaanti nhi asal mein aapki bhen Ira ki saki maa n...' 'Chotti Rani ji,' Kalyani began in her no non sense tone, 'koi agar Janam Dene se koi maa ban jaati to is duniya mein yashodha ko koi naa jaanta'Her sharp words pierced heart of queen but she said ' Ji Devi aapne shi kahaa par ab mata devki bhi apne kanhaa par thoda saa samay chahti hai thoda sa farz, thoda sa hakk pura karna chahti hai'

'Aur aapko kyon lagata hai Ira aapke paas vaapis aayegi?'

Silence. Pin drop silence.

'Koi karan nhi hai' Prince Aditya said after few moments 'Koi kaaran nhi hai jiske liye vo jahaa aayegi, sivaay agar vo hamse sneh kare ham par vishvas kare aur hume parivar maane''Aur vo Aisa kyu karegi? Use iski kya avashyakta hai?' Kalyani back questioned.'Avashyakta use nhi Hume hai' This time King said.'Hnn hame uski avashyakta hai, hamari beti ki, iss rajya ko uski rajkumari ki, is Ghar ko uski beti ki' Queen said.'Rajkumari ko Ghar rakhna har kisi ke bass ki baat nhi hoti maharani iske liye bhot kuch karna hota hai' kalyani said in a mysterious tone.

'Aap kehna kya chahti hai Devi?' King said. 

'Yehi ki aapke Rajya mein aapki beti ke saath itna bada Anaya hua par aap chup hai...aap koi galti sudhrana bhi chahte yaa nhi...yaa fir aap apni galti maante hi nhi' Kalyani said looking straight into eyes of king.'Aap Maharaja se aise baat kaise kar skti hai?' Chotti Rani said.'Hume jo baat karni thi karli, ab ham Jaa rhe hai aur haan yahaa aana yaa naa aana ye faisla Ira ka hi hoga.' Devi Kalyani said, leaving behind hall filled with silence.'Yeh kya chahti hai?' Naina wondered aloud.

'Nyaya' Aditya said. All eyes turned towards him.'Nyaya pitashree, vo bhi chahti hai jo shi hai Ira ke liye, is rajya ke liye, sabke liye'

'Pitashree kyaa sirf kisi ki baat sunkar ek bachi ko uske mata pita se door kar dena apradh nhi hai?...kya yeh anaay nhi hai un mata pita ke saath...uss bachi ke saath, aur sirf yeh sochkar ki kuch bura hojayega, apradh karna, andhvishwas ke piche daudna...kya yeh galat nhi hai?''Jo kehna chahte ho saaf saaf kaho Adi' King said, though he was understanding meaning behind words of her son.

'Rajmata ne..' Aditya's voice broke off 'Rajmata ne jo kiya vo apradh hai.....par keval isliye k vo rajmata hai koi unhe kuch nhi khe skta''Achaa yehi hai ki unhe rajmata ke pad se hatakar tirath yatra par bhej diya jaaye.' Aditya said leaving room.

Entering his own chamber he sat on bed, burying his face in his hands. Last few days were difficult for lack of better word.Finding that the woman you respected your whole life was hiding such dark secrets behind her veil. His grandma loved him, probably most out of cousins . But now he doesn't know what he felt towards her, the love he has for her can't disappear but neither can he forget what she has done.Perhaps this was how his life was going to be. He will need to live with burden of responsibilities and guilt. Responsibility of this kingdom and this palace and guilt of being from this family.Suddenly he felt hand on his shoulder, 'Bhaiya' it was Naina. 'Hnn gudiya' he said making Naina sit besides him.'Aap chinta mat kijiye Jo hoga acha hoga' 

'Ham sirf umeed kar sakte hai Naina' Aditya replied with a sad smile.'par hame rasta to mil Raha hai naa bhaiya...hum kal Ira se Mila aur jo aapne Devi Kalyani ko bulaaya tha mulakaat ke liye vo mulakaat bhi achi gayi'

'Tum yahaa asal mein kya baat karne aayi ho naina' Aditya asked her softly.'Bhayia vo hamaari daadi hai.....aap unhe maaf nhi kar skte?' 'Tumhare anusaar tirath par jaana koi dand hai kya maaya?' 'Nhi bhayia...par...''par nhi nayna, parivartan'Aditya said in a determined, 'is rajya ko par usse pehle iss Mahal ko aur pehle iss parivar ko parivartan ki zaroorat hai, purane niyamo ko badalne kii zaroorat hai, andhvishwas ko khatam karne ki zaroorat hai'

'Mai pitashree se milne Jaa Raha hoon' he said leaving room.

King's chamber

'Is nyay ka adhikaar Ira ko hai putr Aditya par... Hume abhi bhi samajh nhi aa rha usse baat kaise kare' King said.'Is baat ko jitna taalenge utni hi bigdegi, Hume usse baat karni chahiye...Aaj hi' Aditya replied.Both king and queen were shocked at his spontaneous decision. 'Putra par vo manegi?...'Queen said.'Yeh jaanne ka ek hi tareeka hai,...aur ham use manane mein koi kasar nhi chodenge'