PRITHVIRAJ

She is always all over the place, the fact that she invited Rajputs and Daiwar for dinner and this time, for the first time in two years they accepted her invitation.

She had invited them many times, whenever there is occasion, even when there is not a occasion.

But the refusal had been constant.

When Daiwar's invited them, they would always visit at their house but when spoken to keep foot in a house of Adhvaryu, the outcome was never favourable.

They attended the wedding, yes, but because of Daiwars.

The fact that the husband was Adhvaryu had nothing they entertained. I believed things will be better during that time, but constant attempt of my wife had showed me that afterall it was not.

Though, rarest occasion. This time when she called Daharthya on call, with lacking self-respect. And he picked because he would always pick her call, why not?

And when asked that this dinner is very important for her.

The most important day of her life.

He accepted.

And here she is, preparing meals after meals with only two servant's help for them.

Her cooking skills, well?

They say you have to compromise few things in marriage.

Or maybe Shanidha has spoiled me!

Either way, when she served some gajar ka halwa to me, completely covered in dry fruit, taking a spoon and pushing it in my mouth while practically running in the kitchen, she waited for my reaction.

How is it?

She asked me,

Ate it, gulping down, "Delicious!"

She didn't put sugar in gajar ka halwa.

She smiled, "I also made some Dhoodhiya Kheench, and Balushahi! Each is favourite of all three brothers also Balushahi is my brother's favourite so counts as one!"

"You don't have to cook everything by hand for them!" I asked her sitting down on the small one feet stool I have kept in the kitchen to give her company when she cools alone.

Something I have learnt from Dheer, whom I am excited to meet today as well.

"Finally a family gathering? Are you kidding me? I can cook everything I have cooked thrice if I have too!"

She will surely remember to put sugar the next two times.

She looked at me and then read me quietly before she returned to her shuffling.

She sighed and dropped her cooking, "Can you excuse us kaki?" She asked and then when the two helpers left she turned to me.

There she stands, Citrakāra, looking at me, not the owner of this Adhvaryu house, the madam of grahastyakar as she says, my Citrakāra, and turning of stove she walked towards me.

"What are you thinking about panchi?" She asked me, and her panchi felt like I was home from the distress that was a constant in me since I have heard that they said yes to her.

"Nothing?" I asked like she couldn't read me already. Her slow steps towards me, leaning forward she held my face in between her palms, and then sitting down on her knees, hugged me.

Her arms are truly where I want to be forever, but damn! The money I have to make for her, is a drive equally crazy for me.

She kept her head on my shoulder and she spoke so sweetly to me. "They will come, I know it. They will sit on the table, and for the first time in four years? Everything will be normal. Because it has to be! Understood?"

I wrapped my arm tighter, "The last time we all were together was when Ahilya had visited Gujrat with Rajputs and Daiwar to make me her reign holder! Since that stupid, printed shirt gadhedo to the Prithviraj Adhvaryu, everything was built within the timeline. But the cost of it was that family. Facing them together? Dheerviraj, whom I have basically ruined being called brother of a traitor to being the traitor brother of Ahilya, the liars of Rajputs, the ruining man of Daiwar's sister, kidna pper. I would be so many crimes together, and the fear of being it today to forever even the eyes of upcoming? I fear I am going to be a taint too!"

"They will only see you as Pritiviraj, not the ruiner, liar, kidnapper, traitor to taint!"

Hopefully?

~~~~~~

"Look, the traitor is here to greet us from front!"

Daharthya, man who never lets me forget with his nature of speaking too much and speaking only poison, he spoke the moment I my wife, my Citrakāra was stepping by the open main gate with pots and wooden door to greet them. He turned around and showed me his back, "This is more appropriate for you?" He joked and Ekvarthya chuckled, before I could even retort, Sarisha Bhabhi jumped on Manyata, and her beera extended his hand to me in an handshake, I took gracefully, this was not first time, dinner with Daiwars. We had been visiting each other often.

Jasvanthya looked at me, did a curt nod with a joint hand while Samaira gave me her hand and it took me thirty whole seconds to realise I am suppose to kiss her knuckles, Ahilya meanwhile stopped for no one. She was already inside, and from the right hand when I had turned to see her walk inside, it must be illusion but she had smiled watching the house.

She took her sandal off and stood on the rock concrete the open area post the entrance door in my house.

She must have missed Gujrat too?

I walked towards her while Manyata and everyone fell into chaotic conversation. Standing beside Queen of Vardhgarh, and owner of Gujrat's reign.

I spoke, "I tried to bring the Gujrat with me, as much! I hope you like this place? I would like to watch you visit this place often!"

I asked her, she rewore her sandals and walked away back to her family.

Everyone had already walked inside, taking in the sight of house, Dheerviraj and Shanidha had already reached so I watched Sarisha Bhabhi getting acquainted with Shanidha.

And Dheerviraj standing in the corner doing nothing like always.

I asked him to come forward, greet. And he descended stairs nodding towards the King Rajput who spoke profoundly to him! Not as much with me.

I walked beside Jasvanthya who was next to his wife down towards the living room which was half Gujrat and half Rajasthan sitting on the elite sofas of perfect blend, hand designed.

I can watch everyone who visited for the first time in awe with this place.

Samaira doesn't speak much from what I have heard and seen, but while she was next to her husband she spoke to me, "You have a very nice house," She spoke in formality or honesty without question I thanked her.

She lowered her steps rather matching mine instead of her husband who eventually slowed down along, but she continued conversation with me.

"Are those painting done by Manyata?" She asked, and I nodded.

I was taken by surprise with her forward, leading conversations with me because from what I know she should be hating me for getting her brother killed.

"Yes," Since she led a conversation, with right decency we are meant to reciprocate it with another question or topic to discuss.

"How is Jodhgarh? Operating fine?"

And the moment that statement ended, I came to realise how taunting it sounded.

And the way she twitched her lips shut, she even took the offence.

Great! One person who decided to talk nicely with me.

And I, "I mean, Jodhgarh is finally in good hands now!"

Again!

Frustrated, I shrugged entire topic, "How is Abhyananta? I haven't seen her,"

"Maybe that's why she is not kidnapped yet," Samaira said and turned towards her husband who asked for his own wife's hand and then led her to the sofa she could have walked till fine without his support and sat her down meanwhile stood behind her.

I felt my perfect wife looking at me from distance, she have me a sympathy stare.

She expected me to engage into a conversation she was having with Jinitya who had also decided to join us, the fact that Ekvarthya brought his wife at our home is the most positive outcome of the evening today because he never takes his wife anywhere.

When I appeared beside Ekvarthya who was with laughing at something Ahilya had commented about Daharthya. He only lowly looked at me before he returned back to the initial conversation.

I listened to what they were speaking, "You can always try but Gujrat will never go in hand of Rajputs!"

Ahilya spoke so proudly,

"Your child will be Rajput!"

And she only laughed, "Yes, and yet I believe in it!" When she said it so proudly, I looked a Dheerviraj who had a daughter.

But the thought itself that she is considering Adhvaryu's for anything is the most ridiculous thought. "And anyone abolished will never even be a consideration! Afterall, all they have to offer is ruins!"

She cleared her throat before standing up,

It was her recall to start dinner instead of bickering over unnecessary arguments.

I smiled to everyone, even if Manyata was trying to make sure that I don't become too visible that ultimately I become a target.

I still gave my honest smile, not the panchi smile, not the liar smile.

As I spoke to everyone and not to someone in particular in fear of being ignored. "Manyata herself have cooked almost everything for you all!" We departed towards a dinner table designed in a gujrati blend of wood with rajasthani sophistication. I didn't have dinning table before, I and my wife, Citrakāra eat wherever we are sitting together.

But since we started gathering with Daiwar visits and once maybe, Agnihotri visit. We bought a table.

Everyone started to sit on the table, amazed on the designs, bickering on some topic. Everyone in this felt a part except me.

No matter how much Citrakāra was trying to give me strength to withstand everything, I was failing miserably.

I laughed and took a safe bait of being quiet instead. Like always since the day I had been allowed by Vidyut Daiwar himself, I pulled Manyata's chair while everyone were settling down.

King, Queen at the main ends in distance, Ekvarthya, Samaira, Jinitya and Jasvanthya on the other side meanwhile us the Daiwar and Adhvaryu were to sit on this side.

It was simply 25 seat sofa set, we all resided with good distance. And I was about to sit down with Ahilya called for Daharthya.

I looked at her to wonder if she wants anything but instead she smirked a smile, "I get it that you asked me to come here because you still have a relation with Manyata. And I must assist you being your queen and wife. I did? But sitting on the dining table the taint on my name? Will be overboard for me."

She said to him, not to us.

Manyata looked up at me from her seat, instead of settling down I came around chair and stood behind her. "Please start the dinner,"

"No!" Manyata yelled out, she stood too and standing behind the chair along with me. "Please, begin now!" She held my hand and I looked at her.

"Don't do this, it's like abandoning our guests!" I told her and she shook her head. Vidyut Daiwar waited with his hands closed together for my take on such situation. Being around him is like giving exams, something I am not trained well for given I am illiterate.

I took a deep inhale,

I pulled the chair again, and I made her sit.

"Firstly, they are your family. I know I am too, but they are here for you, and we can't be rude to our guests!" I told her and she sighed shaking her head but sat when I insisted.

And I took a step back from her seat, "Please enjoy the dinner!"

Everyone looked at me, strangely, they looked at Ahilya who started to eat without even Daharthya beginning first.

"The food is exceptionally good," Ahilya said eating in formality.

And involuntarily, or maybe intentionally everyone started to eat because the situation couldn't be stretched into a drama any further, and I would expect it not to, though Manyata's just stirred her food in the plate without consuming even a spoon.

She looked at Sarisha who herself was looking back at her with conscious eyes. I knew the first person Manyata will tell would be her Bhavat.

But I didn't have a first person to tell.

I simply just stood while entire family completed their dinner, unlike Gujrat they washed there hands in finger bowl and then stood, thanking Manyata for the delicious food.

The announcement should be joyous, and the situation spoke so intense I couldn't bring myself to usher anything.

But when standing, Manyata asked everyone to sit back.

"Please. I respectfully ask you all to sit on the dinning table," She took the stand and then she looked at me.

She asked for my hand, I shook my head, I told her not to do it this way.

She dropped her hand, and till continued, "My beera never taught me, that you should invite guests and then disrespect them. A lesson I was given, simply that every guest must leave your house belly full. And I chose to do everything of my upbringing. I made sure not to walk away from the table while you all collectively brutally decided to abandon my husband from the table, and I made sure not to interrupt anyone until everyone are full. My duty as a host completed. But my duty as a wife demands me to speak."

"Yes, panchi. . . Prithviraj have committed something which is forever going to be written in bold when history would be recited in papers! And maybe, in one's opnion," She looked at Ahilya, "A crime that huge should never be forgiven or forgotten," She gulped and looked at her Beera to see if he was dissappointed in her. Because of course, she is Manyata! "But something such as what has been a past, deed, explanation of everything that ran between two of you and the Adhvaryu, Rajadi? History that shouldn't become future. I expect not my child to fight for yet another revenge, with Rajadi."

She said and eyes widen in surprise.

I took my step towards Manyata and held her waist from behind.

"I am not going to sing more sorries than I already have. But my children deserve the Gujrat in them Ahilya bahen! And not the only Gujrat in form of this Haveli! I don't want to deprive them of what they come from and what they should be having like Adhvaryu brothers!"

Ahilya shook her head, "They can have all the Gujrat they want to explore as Manyata's children! Dheerviraj's nephews! But never as your children! Never as Prithviraj Adhvaryu's children."

She spat and without stopping another breath stoke she hurriedly walked away in full rage.

Everyone torn between rather staying at least to congratulate now that their Queen left?

Daharthya, the king came towards us, and spat, "My children will be looking forward for a new fight in future! One more score of Adhvaryu and Rajput to settle!"

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