"What should we do now?"
He took a deep breath "Continue the mission as it is. Tell our spy to keep an eye on Veer and his majesty more carefully. We can't let anything happen to his majesty. I have promised him that I will protect him. I can't break my promise."
He was feeling helpless. How he suppose to protect Viraaj from his own grandson? What will they answer Ira if something happened to her grandfather? After knowing everything and if they failed to protect him, they will build hatred in her heart for them, again.
After discussing the matter with Abhiveera and Ashwant, Raksheet went to his chamber. He didn't brought the bird with him to his chamber because he don't want Ira to ask him about the message that came with the bird.
After entering in the chamber, he lazily threw himself on the bed. Closing his eyes just to take a quick nap and relax his chaotic mind which is feeling like it will blow out because of stress.
He heard the sound of bathroom door opening and closing. He inhaled deeply after hearing the footsteps approaching him and his wife sitting beside him on bed.
Ira rubbed her wet hair with the white cotton towel and placed it aside. She looked at him and sighed in disappointment.
'I thought to surrender myself to him tonight. But he is looking tired.' she thought and leaned closer to him. She ran her fingers in his hairs and asked in gentle voice.
"Are you tired?"
"Hmm..." He replied, without opening his eyes.
"Need a head massage?"
He held her hand and placed it on his chest. "No. I am fine. Just stay like this."
He opened his eyes when he felt the water droplets falling on his forehead. He looked at her and found her looking extremely breath taking with those wet hair, bare skin and white gown. He inhaled deeply, fighting the urge to kiss her right now. But It's wrong to kiss her and do romance when her grandfather's life is in danger and she is unaware of it.
"What happened?" She asked after seeing her husband looking lost in his thought.
He shook his head and caressed her cheeks. "Nothing. Just a little tired. Visiting the entire city and nearest villages is too tiring. That's not enough, I have to visit every state in kingdom before going to Bayar."
She raised her eyebrows in wonder that her husband is again complaining about his work. She thought may be something happened again that's why he is behaving like this. May be it's again about Bayar.
"Something happened? Tell me." She sat straight and grabbed the towel to dry her hair.
He also sat up and looked at her with soft eyes. Thinking what will happen to his beloved wife after knowing what happened in Aaro. The message, the betrayal, the traitor in her family. He lazily rested his head on her shoulder and whispered.
"It's too hard."
She looked at him over her shoulder and kissed the side of his forehead "What is hard? Your work?"
He nod and wrapped his arms arround her waist, pulling her close in a tight hug.
"Princess, please stay with me. I am trying my best to fix everything, give my best. Just stay with me, by my side. Trust me, I am giving my best so just be by side and don't stop loving me." He requested while hiding his face deep in the crook of her neck.
She rubbed his back in confusion that why her husband is behaving like this "Why would I stop loving you?"
'Because I am hiding so much from you.' he thought, feeling guilty for lying to his wife.
"I told you before, I will never leave you. Why would I leave my such a loving and caring husband. You always loved me then why would I leave your side? I am always with you. So stop thinking nonsense."
He chuckled and kissed her neck, making her shiver.
"I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too." She whispered back and kissed his cheek.
*Knock*
The sudden knocking on the door made them separate from each other and Raksheet stepped down from the bed.
"I see it." He said to Ira and walked towards the door. He opened the door and found a maid standing there with her head low.
"What?" He questioned.
"Your majesty, the dinner is ready. But his majesty Abhiveera is having his dinner in his chamber so everyone is having their dinner in their respective chambers, so i came to ask about you and her highness. Do you want me to serve dinner in your chamber?" She asked.
Hearing her answer, Ira stepped down from the bed and walked towards them. "Why? Is he fine?"
"Yes he is. He said he want some privacy." The maid answered.
Before Ira can ask anything more, Raksheet spoke "Serve our food in our chamber too."
The maid left after getting the order.
Ira looked at him and asked "What happened Raksheet? You are looking different today and grandfather don't want to have dinner with everyone in dining hall. What's going on? Is there any problem?"
Raksheet walked inside the chamber and she followed him.
"I know I can't help you but at least i should know. Being a part of this family, i have rights to know everything." She demanded.
He sat on the bed and looked at her with helpless gaze 'You have all the rights princess, but I can't tell you about it now. Please forgive me.'
"I don't know princess. May be he really want some privacy. May be he want to spend some time with grandmother only. Let them be together." He lied, not wanting Ira to have a slightest idea about what is happening.
"Really?" She asked and sat down beside him
He nod and hugged her from side. "You are such a overthinker. Now stop stressing your mind."
The servents brought the food in their chamber and placed it on the table and left from there.
"Did you had your lunch?" She asked while filling his plate.
"No." He replied.
"Why?" She looked at him with unpleasant expression and placed the food infront of him on the table.
"I had to finish the visit before evening, so i didn't took the break. It's fine, I can have dinner with you is enough for me." He said while forwarding his hand towards her mouth to feed her.
She turned her face away, refusing to eat "But it is not enough for me." She said sulking "I told you not to worn-out yourself. At least have your food on time. Can't you do this much for me?"
He chuckled and took down his hand. "Fine, I will not do that again. I will eat my food on time and take care of myself. Ok?"
She looked at him and sighed. She cupped his cheek with one hand "Please Raksheet, take care of yourself. I can't see you falling sick because of working day and night without any rest."
He held her hand and kissed her palm "As you say."
After a week
"Are you ready? Shall we leave?" Agastya asked.
"Just a moment." Ankush wore his bracelet that Vikram gave him. "Ready. Let's go."
"You remember what i told you, right?"
"Yes I do. This mission is the biggest mission of my life. I will give my best. Doesn't matter how much they will make me suffer, I will not break." Ankush replied confidently.
Agastya smiled at him and patted his shoulder "I am with you. Let's fight together."
After getting their lunch from Mukta, both of them left for palace. On their way, some peoples already started to question Agastya about Ankush. He works in place so it's obvious that many people know him. He is femous.
"Hey! Agastya! How are you? Going to palace?" One of Agastya's friend asked.
Agastya smiled at him and answer "I am fine. Yes, going to palace."
His friend tilted his head a little to look at Ankush who was trying to hide behind Agastya.
"Who is he?" He asked, pointing towardss Ankush.
Agastya looked on his side and found Ankush trying to hide. He moved aside to let his friend see Ankush and replied "He is my cousin, Ankush."
Ankush's eyes widened when he heard Agastya telling his friend his real name.
"Are you crazy!" He whispered "Why are you telling him my real name?"
"Don't worry. Your real name will not affect this mission. It is a temporary mission anyways. I have already told her highness that all the documents that can prove your identity have been distroyed and I made a new identity certificate for you." Agastya wispered back.
"Nice to meet you Ankush. I am Rajat." Agastya's friend forwarded his hand towards Ankush and he accepted with a little hesitation and shyness as Agastya told him to act.
"Nice to meet you."
They broke the handshake and Rajat asked "You never told me about him. And are you taking him to palace?"
Agastya nod "Yes, I am taking him to palace. He used to live in East Village but now he will live with me and work with me."
"Why? Where is his family? Are they here as well?"
Ankush looked at Agastya with sad eyes and again looked down. Agastya wrapped his hand arround Ankush's shoulder and replied in a little sad tone.
"I am his only family. Last year, in the landslide, he lost his entire family. So now he will live with me and work with me."
"Oh, I am sorry. I shouldn't have asked about it." Rajat replied with a sorrow and regretting asking about something so sensitive. "I am sorry Ankush." He looked at him apologeticly.
Ankush nod in response, hesitantly glancing at him and again looking away "It's ok, you didn't knew about it." He then looked at Agastya and asked "Shall we leave? We are getting late. They will not give me job if I am late."
"Right, let's go." Agastya removed his hand from Ankush's shoulder and looked at Rajat "We are leaving. See you later."