Poonam opened her eyes finally when Devburman pulled away. She was still breathless.

He looked apologetic " I am sorry I shouldn't have done that. You can leave if you wish and our deal is off! There is no need to visit me anymore."

She looked surprised "A deal is a 2-way thing. I am not breaking it."

It was his turn to look surprised.

"The deal will stay your highness unless you command me to break it. "

She said looking determined, her lips swollen red from his kiss.

She could see a hint of a smile on the corner of his lips. He rarely smiled except, while playing the dizi.

"Ok then what do you want to talk about today? The Palace would be full of gossip !" He said sarcastically.

She pointed at the flute tucked on his waist.

"I just want you to play that."

"Is that all?" He smirked.

"Yes, that is all." She replied.

Sometimes he wondered why she trusted him.

After sometime when he was steadier because of the music he asked her.

"You really don't have any questions?"

"I have several but I am not sure if they would make you feel better or miserable."

"Why not try and see." He replied.

"Why did you leave 6 years ago?" She asked.

"I told you I lost someone dear to me."

"Who was she?"

He paused for a moment "Its a long story.....She was Mrignayani. Prince Shivaditiya's first wife."

Poonam looked at him stunned.

He narrated the event which happened 6 years back. Her eyes grew wide with shock.

He had suffered more than she anticipated.

"I am sorry for your loss your highness."

"It's fine now. I left to become a monk actually, I went to Kashi, Rishikesh, the Himalayas, Tibet, and the west...then everything changed. I saw things that are much beyond cruel. The Barbarian who are invading the Northern Kingdoms will reach us someday. Being united is more important than fighting over petty egos."

He paused.

"It doesn't matter who is the king as long as the realm is safe and happy. By realm, I mean the entire subcontinent. After my return, I tried to convince my father to leave his ambitions but he didn't listen to me. I joined him to keep a check on him. But...it didn't work out in the end. Now my father is going to be executed and I can't do anything."

She placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Why don't you tell this to Maharaj or his Highness?"

"They won't trust me."

"No harm in trying" She replied.

"It's not that easy."

"Can I ask something?" She asked.

He nodded.

"I saw you with some men dressed in black. They didn't seem like normal soldiers, who were they?"

He looked away then at her "what do you think? What I might be planning?"

"I can't judge you, your highness. If I doubted you I would have stopped coming to see you."

"You could have complained about me."

"I trust you. I know you will never do anything

against the interests of the people." She replied.

There was a hint of emotion in his otherwise stoic face.

"What I am going to tell you. You must not repeat it to any other soul. Not even your princess."

"I promise your highness I won't."

"They are my people. I sent them to follow Shivaditya's army. To save him from assassination."

"Assassination?" Her eyes grew wide in shock.

"There have been several attempts on him. Some arranged by my father, some by the rebels. I tried to prevent it whenever I could."

She had a look of amazement.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Because that's how I get information. I collude with the enemy. Get their plans then send my men to fail it."

"So you have been double-crossing your own father!" She gasped.

"I am doing what is right. As Lord Krishna said in Bhagwat Geeta always support the dharma even if it means going against your own."

"But his majesty deprived you of your right! You were the original crown, prince."

"Only till he didn't have his own heir. Technically or even ethically he wasn't wrong. The crown prince is chosen from the extended family only when the king fails to produce an heir. Shivaditya is the legal heir. If he doesn't get the throne then don't you think it would be unfair towards him?"

She didn't have an answer. He was right.

"He deprived you of your love as well your highness", she said quietly, afraid of offending him.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

"That's a separate issue. It's not related to the line of succession or my father's betrayal. Shivaditya was very young he didn't understand what he was doing."

"How can you be so forgiving?"

"Mrignayani is dead, she can't be brought back to life. I wasn't totally honest either. We were planning to elope." He said hesitantly.

"But that would have been..."

"I know adharmic. But it's hard to explain. People do foolish things when they are in love."

"I totally understand," She thought.

"We were planning to run away and journey the remote lands, settle down somewhere in the Himalayas without the frills and obligation of a royalty. Maybe someday after everything is over here I would leave again to journey far and wide."

She wondered if he would take her along if she asked. She was way below his status. A low born commoner.

She touched her lips reminiscing the kiss. It probably meant nothing for him.

**********

The next morning when Chitra woke up she was still wrapped in Shiv's arms. She nestled against him resting her head on the crook of his arm.

It was still early but she was supposed to be at the temple with the Queen in a few hours. She felt him stir and knew he was awake though his eyes were still closed.

There was a smattering of freckles on his chest, she started counting them, gently touching them one by one with her finger.

She said, "Shiv how did you get that wound?"

She asked looking at the scar on his forearm?"

"You remember all my scars?" He chuckled his eyes still closed.

"Yes most of them." She traced a freckle with her finger and connected it to the other.

"It's just a battle scar" He replied.

"I don't want you going for wars" She traced another freckle to the next.

"I don't want to go either. I wish I could put a stop to it." He replied.

"You can if you want to. You know I have been studying your tax collection and budget ledgers. Your biggest expenditure in the last 6 years was military campaigns."

He opened his eyes "Someone has been keeping busy hmm?"

"I didn't have anything to do while you were away. Mother wants me to learn administration so that I can help you."

"You would make a wonderful queen. I am so fortunate." He said and kissed her forehead.

"Shiv are you a good king?" She asked thinking about Malati.

"I am not yet a king but I hope I turn out to be good...Chitra stop doing that!" He suddenly said.

"Stop doing what?" She asked.

He caught her hand trailing on his chest " If you don't stop we are never getting out of this bed which is totally fine with me." He grinned.

"I would like that but I have to be with mother at the temple" She replied.

"Cancel it," he whispered in her ear.

"As the crown princess, I have some duties. Mother won't like that."

"She would be very happy to let you go if she realizes that you are fulfilling your duty of making an heir for her."

Chitra blushed crimson "You are shameless!"

"How is that shameless? That's a very important work you see."

He flipped over pinning her under himself "Let's perform our duties."

He placed a series of kisses on her throat.

She wriggled under him " Shiv we can't do this now. Your aunt is arriving today and I have a lot of pending work. We can't stay inside all day."

He stopped "What! Aunt Shubhlaxmi is visiting! I am dead!" He rolled over lying down beside her " She is such pain in the ass!"

Chitra laughed " That's very rude Shiv. She adores you."

"Who told you that? She just treats me like a little boy which is annoying!"

He grumbled.

Chitra giggled wondering who dared to turn Shiv into a little boy.

"I am looking forward to it now." She sat up pulling the sheets around her.

He pulled her back pushing her on her bed holding her under him. hooking her wrists over her head.

"Not so fast Princess. I am not yet done with you. What did you call me? A little boy? I'll show you what this boy can do" He captured her lips with his before she could protest.