ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)

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This chapter has 3200+words (excluding girl's girl) and ends with a question so make sure you read till the end ❤️

*** Kusuma ***

I was on the terrace hanging clothes when I felt hands closing my eyes from behind.

"Parameswara!" I exclaimed with joy, immediately recognizing who it was. The hands slowly left my eyes, and I turned around to see my husband, admiring me with delight.

"How intelligent are you, my divine?" he asked in amusement. "Recognized it within a second."

"There's nothing intelligent about it," I said, brushing off his praise. "You're the only one who would play this trick."

"My divine, do not insult me," he said, offended. "If I say it is intelligent, then it is intelligent."

"Hmm," I smiled. "Why is the Eastern intellectual picking up on Southern self-obsession? Did the King and General's company rub off on you?"

"Might have," he chuckled, looking down sheepishly.

"And what is with this hair?" I asked, running my fingers lightly through his longer, slightly unkempt strands. "And the beard?"

"You don't like it, my divine?" he asked immediately, his tone suddenly serious.

"I like it," I replied just as quickly. "But I think you'd look more elegant in your usual style."

"I'll go shave," he said without a second thought and turned to leave, but I held his hand and stopped him.

"Don't run away so fast," I said, placing my hand gently on his cheek. "Give me some time to adore my Parameswara."

He smiled, gently took my hand, and kissed my palm.

"I'm on leave today," he said. "You can admire me as much as you want."

"Also," he added, pulling a small box from his kurta pocket, "I got something for you."

"What is it?" I asked, curiosity rising.

"See for yourself, my divine," he said, handing me the box. I opened it with eyes full of wonder.

"Bangles," I smiled, lifting the gold bangles with intricate designs carved into them.

"You like them?" he asked.

"I love them," I smiled back and handed them to him.

"Parameswara," I said, extending my hand in a playful gesture. He smiled, took it, and slipped the bangles onto my wrist.

*** Yashoda ***

I looked at Lord Krishna once again as I sat down in the temple, contemplating whether I should tell Dheeru the truth or not.

"I've been asking for the past one hour, Madhava," I said, growing a little frustrated. "Why are you not answering me?"

"And what exactly are you asking, child?" a voice replied.

I turned around, startled, to find a sage sitting a couple of feet away. He had a charming, almost mischievous smile.

He felt oddly familiar—like someone I had known for a very long time—yet I couldn't quite place how or why. Something about his presence put my mind at ease, made me want to spill all my worries and seek his counsel... but I held back.

(Note: This is the same sage who appeared previously, including in EBL. Though he may seem divine, he is not God. He is a follower—deeply spiritual, with a mysterious insight into the future trying to make the world a better place. I don't think I or anyone else can write God as a charcter so I would never dare do that :)