The Compensation

Aakarshan

Aakarshan

(Attraction)

Arnav was exhausted as he returned back to the kingdom with his father and brother. It had been a short yet exhausting war extending for just one day.

"Oh! Thank God, you all have returned safe and sound from the war. The fear that something might happen to you, was killing me." Empress Mayuri said as she walked towards the Emperor with a plate filled with earthen lamps and flowers and circled it in front of him.

"You don't need to worry, Empress. As long as your sons and son in law are here with me, I don't think that you shall ever need to worry about me." Aaryamann laughed putting an arm around Vikram, his son in law and Arnav.

Shyam made an irritated expression as his wife, Sayantani approached him to congratulate him about their win. He blatantly ignored her and went away.

Anjali ran towards her father and hugged him tightly.
"I am so glad you are safe."

"And I am so jealous that you are not glad about me being safe!" Vikram sighed making Anjali blush and giggle. She came towards him and congratulated him.

She then went towards Arnav and hugged him. "My little brother captured the enemy and got him killed so soon! When did you grow up?"
Arnav made a face making Anjali laugh as she hugged him back.

"Now, all of you must be so tired. Please rest before you proceed meetings about the war in the assembly hall. I shall ask the servants to send refreshments and food for everyone in their own rooms." Sayantani said.Everyone nodded and went to the respective rooms.

Arnav couldn't think about anything but the girl whom he met today. She seemed familiar but he didn't know how. He smiled as the mendicants treated the wounds he had got from the girl as a warfield gift.

He continued thinking about the girl as he came back to his room after a warm bath.

The poor girl's wounds were deep. Did the mendicants tend to her too? He thought to himself.

"Arnav, you mentioned a lotus symbol, didn't you? Well I, have some interesting facts for you," Aman said enthusiastically as he entered Arnav's room.

"Ah! That's what I was waiting for, our reporter Aman's research!" Akash approached both of them. He had already taken a bath and had his bruises tended.

"Aman, please! I am not in the state of mind right now to listen about that mysterious girl. The state of the princess of Padmadurg was quite disturbing for me. However bad someone's father might be, I don't think anyone deserves to see their father dying in front of their eyes.
And she is so brave, I admire her so much and can't help but sympathize with her.
I am going to put a petition at the court to free her from prison and send her back to her capital with respect." Arnav said.

"Woah! So much affection for an enemy's  daughter. Looks like when you become emperor, Aaranya is going to have two empresses." Akash said.

"What?" Arnav looked at him in confusion.

"Yes, my prince, seems like you have fallen for both the forest girl and the princess of Padmadurg. "
Akash teased.

"No, Akash there shall be only one empress!" Aman said calmly.

"Will you people please stop talking about this type of marriage future! I want to let the Princess of Padmadurg go back to her kingdom. So, let me frame what I have to say in court. Bravado like hers doesn't deserve being kept as a prisoner." Arnav said, irritated by his friends.