Amarendra was happily sleeping as he heard that. Being a warrior, he learnt being alert in sleep at a very tender age. But he knew this was not any enemy approaching him, but his princess.
He kept his eyes shut as he wanted to see what she would do. But he could not help the smile on his face. He was so happy to see that he had managed to impress Devasena.
His smile widened as he felt her hand coming to touch him. But he could so feel her hesitation. Saving her, he opened his eyes and saw a beautiful sight.
His princess stood there in that moonlight as a light pink hue spread on her face. He tried very hard to stifle his smile. But she was so cute!
He got down from the branch, continuing his Moddhu act.
"Yu.. Yuvarani?"
He called. He slipped, purposefully to see what she would do and he smiled when he saw the worry lacing in those sharp eyes. He composed himself and stood steady.
His princess very quickly covered her worry and gave him a stern glare.
"Ikadem chestunnav?"
She asked in that No non sense tone of hers. He smiled.
"A..adi.. M..meeru.. Jo..jola pada..ra.. N..nenu nidra p..po..poyanandi.. That you sand lullaby.. And I slept!"
He said. He could see her getting disturbed. But he had to give it to her for maintaining her stern glare.
"Is this the place to sleep?"
He wanted to say that he slept here as this place brought him close to her. He wanted to say her that, from here, he could see the moon in the sky and the moon in his life. But, he couldnt say that right?
"A..Adii"
Devasena silenced him showing her palm. He pouted. Oh she was silencing him with gestures. His fiery princess. And he stifled his smile looking at her chuckle at his pout. Oh how he loved that sound.
"Noppi ela vundi? How are you feeling?"
He could not stop himself from smiling. She was so worried for him. So concerned. How he craved for this to stay with him all his life.
"Mee.. paata.. Lo.. Naa.. N.. neppi.. Maayam.. Aa.. ayipoyindandi. You sang and my pain vanished"
He said trying to maintain his act but also gave her a hint of him understanding that the song was for him in the name of the lord. He also knew that she trusted him. Otherwise she letting him inside Kunthala Royal fortress? He understood her that much.
"Velli paduko!"
She said and turned.
"A..Attage Yu.. yuvarani"
He smiled. And he understood that she was smiling too. He stood there as he saw her walk inside and he shook his head looking down.
"Baahu"
He heard his Mama call him. He turned and grinned at his Mama.
"Enti? Yuvarani was here?"
"A..Adi.. Ne..nenu nidra poyano ledo ani ka..kanukovadani.. She came to see.. If I had slept or not.."
He stammered. His Mama glared.
"Baahu! Putting up your act to me?"
He asked and Amarendra could not help but chuckle. He was so happy. His Mama was happy too. Both went inside.
Days passed. He came to know about Devasena a lot. She was impulsive, she was headstrong and she had the never give up attitude.
She had the best aim in Archery and she was so well versed with sword. He was so impressed with the way her sword bending to her every whim. And she had the best aim in archery.
But she was not satisfied. He chuckled thinking how she always tried to take multiple aims with multiple arrows with single bow simultaneously. And he grinned thinking how her Vadina always admonished Devasena's brother for letting her learn all these skills and making her a tomboy instead of getting her ready for marriage. But he was actually thankful.
As he churned the butter, he could not help but think of Kumara Varma. He knew that he was putting up brave front. But it did not mean that he was weak. But Kumara Varma required a strong lesson on getting his strength out.
In between all these, Devasena never forgot to tease him with all those glances and all those small small picks here and there asking him to do something out of his act.
He could not disappoint her. And at the same time he had to stay as Moddhu, so he always messed it up making her glare at him, but also giggle.
He tasted the freshly churned butter and moaned at the taste. A little more churning and the butter would be ready. He frowned suddenly. Something was amiss. He continued churning but kept his ears sharp. At that moment, his Mama came running to him bringing a good and a bad news.
"Rajamata has sent a proposal for Yuvarani!"
For a moment, Amarendra felt like flying high. His Amma always knew what he wanted. But he frowned seeing his Mama's sad face.
"But Yuvarani has rejected the proposal and has sent a very snobby reply."
"What happened mama?"
He asked and his Mama recited the whole fiasco of how the proposal came and how it was presented. Amarendra smiled. He did not expect anything less from her. After all no one rubs on her wrong side and gets away. He did not blame her. But somewhere he also knew that even if not for the attitude of Maahishmati minister, Devasena would have anyway rejected the proposal. He knew that she was impressed by him. His heart somewhere said that Devasena rejected the proposal for him. He smiled and said the samething to his Mama who jsut shrugged.
Channel V Dil Dosti Dance
Arjun
318