Mysterious Time Traveler in Dwapara Yuga

Chapter 19: The Remarkable Young Princess

Now three years old, Ira was able to talk, making it easier for her to express her thoughts in the Raj Sabha. The ministers didn't take offense, believing that even a three-year-old Princess understanding their discussions without getting bored and asking questions was remarkable. They felt proud of her and were in awe of her knowledge.

One day, Ira decided to challenge her by writing letters to her three brothers, separately addressing each with their names. This was to show them that she had learned to write. Whenever they received letters from their brothers, they would ask, "Does sister still remember us? Are you telling her about us? Can she say our names now? Whose name did she call first?" When they heard about her crying tantrum, they wrote letters saying their father should take Ira to the Raj Sabha daily to ensure no one made their sister cry.

Seeing their love for her and reciprocating it, Ira decided to lessen their worries by writing letters to each of them separately to avoid childish banter. She also wrote to Krishna Bhrata and Balram Dau. When asked why she was writing to them when she didn't even know them, she replied that she wanted to congratulate them for defeating Arishtasura (the bull demon), Dhenukasura (the donkey demon), and other demons, praising their valor. In her mind, she thought of them as her spiritual father, and in the letters, she encoded her plans for Kuntala Kingdom.

She indeed challenged herself by writing five letters. Her small hands were now shivering from the effort, and she was walking quickly with her short legs, her mind in turmoil. "What if the Raj Sabha has finished its discussion? If I had known writing letters would take so much time, I would have written them after the Sabha. What will I do if they say I've grown up and shouldn't come to the Raj Sabha?" Her mind raced with thoughts.

As she neared the entrance, the soldier announced her name. She smiled at him and entered, only to be shocked by what she saw. All the ministers were waiting for her. When she asked why they hadn't started, they said the Sabha didn't feel right without her sitting beside Maharaja Chandrahasa. Thus, attending the Raj Sabha became a norm for Ira. Whenever she felt something was wrong, she would raise it as a curious doubt, and the ministers would pay attention, finding solutions that made things easier to understand.

After the Sabha, she would visit the Vaidya Sala. Thanks to the old man, she was very familiar with Ayurveda. Now, seeing the plants and their uses, which she once thought extinct, brought her great pleasure. Rumors began to spread about her intelligence. Even as a three-year-old, she could name all medicinal plants and their uses and prescribe medication for illnesses. Because of her unique birth and the continuous rumors about her intelligence and smartness compared to other children, Irawathi remained a hot topic across Aryavat, known by all people without distinction.

As time passed, Ira continued exchanging letters with her brothers and with Bhrata Krishna and Dau. It had been three years since they moved from Vrindavan to Mathura, defeated Kamsa, and reestablished Ugrasena as the Maharaja of Surasena Kingdom. She wrote letters to console them and sometimes sent pots of butter. However, trouble seemed to follow Bhrata Krishna in the form of Jarasandha, the Maharaja of Magadha, who attacked him. This would happen 17 times, and only one attack had occurred so far. Ira thought to her that once Dwarka was established, she would need to see the city that would eventually be submerged in the ocean.

Now five years old, Ira had some control over her life. She told her parents that she didn't like being the subject of gossip. They tried to keep information about her within the palace, but only partially succeeded. Ira was grateful there was no social media, as it would have been a privacy nightmare. Physically a child but mentally mature, she decided to focus on what she could control and ignore the rest.

One day, Ira was in the arms of Maharaja Chandrahasa as they made their way to the Raj Sabha. Inside, the usual calm atmosphere was absent. Instantly on high alert, Ira maintained her usual smile. When her father placed her on her designated seat, she asked the Maharaja what had happened, noticing the ministers looking at her hesitantly. Sensing something serious, she resolved not to move until she knew what was going on.

The Maharaja also noticed the ministers' discomfort and realized they didn't want to discuss the issue in front of Ira. Despite his efforts to distract her, Ira turned to the ministers and asked plainly what the problem was, insisting she would find out sooner or later. The ministers, realizing the truth in her words, sighed and explained.

A sudden illness had spread among the people. While no deaths had been reported, the affected people's condition wasn't improving. If this continued, many lives would be lost. Hearing this, Ira's face grew serious, and she stood up, startling everyone. She asked for permission from the Maharaja to visit the affected areas to identify the root cause of the illness. The ministers and the King were pale with concern, but seeing her determined expression, their anxiety grew.

Without waiting for a response, Ira ordered the maids to pack her clothes suitable for travel, necessary medicines, and to arrange a cart to visit the affected areas. Maharaja Chandrahasa, seeing his daughter's determination, told her she wasn't allowed to go anywhere that these were matters for adults to handle, and she should stay in her room. Expecting this reaction, Ira stood her ground, giving them two days to find the source of the illness. If they failed, she would handle it herself, as it was her duty as a Princess to protect her people.

This incident made the Kuntala Princess the talk of the people. Many commented that she was rude and not like their own children. If their child spoke to them that way, they would teach them a lesson. They speculated that the praise she received had gone to her head, making her prideful at just five years old.