The Lost Prince

22 years later.......

Karan looked down from the wide window at the lush green grass as he sipped on his morning coffee. It was Mukta's engagement ceremony and the entire mansion was lit up in joy, to celebrate her new phase of life.

So much had happened in the span of few years.
When he refused to take up the reponisibility of the Crown Prince, Samar was more than offended. He had a hard time convincing the latter that it was his right as the elder between the two. When Samar did not budge, he had blantantly told him that he deserved to live and die in peace and would not rake his brains to take up any additional responsibility than what was already on his plate.
He was happy being the younger brother.

Samar was crowned along with his parents and Radhika by his side.

Meera had a ping of hurt on her heart since then and could not swallow the injustice. She had been silent since then. Karan knew the reason but did nothing to pacify her. It was not his right to be the Crown Prince. It was sole right of Samar when he was sane and alive. Meera just had to live with the fact.

Radhika had exhausted herself during the crowing ceremony. She was dead on her feet after a week of celebrations, only to realize that she was exhausted not because of over-working, but because she had conceived.
The Shekhawats had another reason to celebrate.

Meera gave birth to a healthy boy, followed by Radhika. The boys had a difference of seven months.
Karan named his boy 'Shikhar', while the younger Prince was known to be 'Indraneel'.

A few years later their grandfather breathed his last. The old man left the world on a silent night and with a satisfied smile of having his entire family under one roof. Raghav was not a family anymore. No one missed him, not even his daugher, who was under the protective and loving care of her two uncles and grandparents. Raghav still stayed the outhouse and was as good as discarded. He was nothing more than an ignored neighbour. He was not invited to any of the celebrations in the mansion. He was satisfied that his daughter was taken care of. He did not look forward to another child, since he did not want to compromise the fate of another human with him. One of the reason was, he could not forgive himself for his unborn child that died with Urmila.

Mukta was loving elder sister to two little monsters. She met her parents whenever she was around the outhouse. But the two young boys were not allowed in that area and Bhoora made sure that they stayed away from the outhouse.

"Karan?" The feminine voice startled him and he turned around to look at Meera.

"If you done with the coffee, you can get ready. Your mother was asking for you." The coldness in her voice did not bother him anymore.

He nodded and walked away with the cup in his hand. Meera has stopped arguiing with him long back. She was doing her duties as the daughter-in-law and a good wife. She could not ever complain about Karan. He was a good husband. He was a loyal brother and he was loving father. The only thing that bothered her was that he refused to be crowned. According to her, he had the right to the crown since he was the one who handled everything when Samar was in the darkest patch of his life. She thought Samar had recived everything on a golden platter, while Karan did all the hard work.

But she was sane enough to keep the thoughts to hersele. She did not have the courage to look in Samar's eys and she knew Radhika had no part to play in the royal games. Her resentment was limited to her husband only.
When Raghav's wife found a tiny flicker of resentment in Meera after the crowning ceremony, she had tried her best to talk to Meera. But Meera was smart enough to steer clear from the vile woman. She knew, Kran had forgivrn her for her earlier behaviour with Radhika, but he would not think twice to throw her out of his life if she slighltly consipred against any of the family members.
raghav and his wife were stripped of their access to thier daughter. Meera would not survive a day without her son. She loved her son more than the crown.