Tales of the Heart #2 | VirMan | CH 42, PG 112 - Page 43

PLEASE READ! So I wrote this chapter a few days back and wasn't sure whether or not to upload it: I went with the former. If you've read my last post, I said something about not being able to update because of revision. Yes, I've been spending every day after college (bar today) making notes for my class (seriously, I should get paid for this 😆) and I hardly have much time. So I decided to make a rota of when I will be able to update. Usually, it'll be on either a Tuesday and Friday but may not be that same week, if that makes sense? Just keeps me a chance to keep things rolling and not get too bored of writing one thing. Thanks for reading!

OH! And guys, if you haven't already...check out Fan Fiction In The Spotlight! -Nominte A FF WINK WINK 😉🤣

It was a day after Virat and Maanvi had left for London. Things seemed quiet, almost too quiet in the Vadhera Palace. Though apart from this, everyone were busy in their own usual work. Queen Vanshika was looking over the laws of Chandrilasia whilst Swamini and Vijay were contemplating over the finances. There was a slight murmur in the air, an unusual sort of coldness.

Vijay Singh Vadhera held onto his chest with a groan, as if a thousand knives were stabbing his skin. "What happened Bauji?" Swamini asked, concerned. She pushed over the files, as she hurriedly rushed towards her father. He didn't reply. She frowned, taking off the lid of the jug and pouring fresh water into the glass. She gave the glass to him, and watched as he gulped it all down in one go.

"Thank you, beta." He gasped.

"It's okay, but are you sure you're fine? Should I call the doctor?" She said nervously.

He shook his head. "No, it's okay. I don't know, it was like my chest was contracting."

"Bauji, I think it's something serious. We have to get the doctor." She hesitated but was instantly quietened by Vijay's disapproval.

"I'm fine now, maybe it was just something minor. Don't worry." He assured her. She nodded, leaving the matter but somehow, she was still not convinced. Vijay took out the files that they were looking at, and started to inspect it. Swamini tried her best to keep focus but still couldn't get over her father's sudden ill health.

Jeevika, sat outside in the balcony, admiring the photo album. She had just received printed photographs from the conference and was placing them into the album. It was her own prized family album, it's golden lattice work patterned over the velvet purple cover. The first few photographs were of her wedding, her and Viren sat in their respected chairs, dressed up immaculately. She wore a maroon hue sari, adorned with diamond jewellery as opposed to gold. Besides her, Viren was also dressed in maroon but accompanied by the majority of cream in his sherwani. She smiled, remembering how her own father and mother cried, seeing their only daughter leave them. The next photograph was of her and her two brothers. They were standing on either side of her, smiling gleefully but with silent tears forming in their eyes. After all, which brother would want their sister to leave?

She had always wanted a sister. Someone that she could care for and someone who she could play tea parties with. Her brothers would sometimes pretend to be girls for the day and let Jeevika brush their hair and apply make up. Of course, their parents weren't so pleased but seeing the love the brothers shared for their sister, they didn't mind. The King and Queen of Rishania completely adored her; after all she was their youngest child. They were close friends with Vanshika and her husband, Vikram and were also present at his funeral. They were only related through friendship but it wasn't until Viren and Jeevika met each other, years later that they fell in love and married into the two families. Both Royal families were extremely happy; it wasn't something they necessarily wanted, though they would have loved for their children to marry, they didn't want to impose any such rules on both Jeevika and Viren. So you can imagine their surprise and happiness watching the two confess their love.

The whole countries rejoiced. It was like a happily ever after, both Chandrilasia and Rishania joining friendship and becoming each other's support. There was, however one country that was still a bit cold towards Chandrilasia and Rishania: the small country of Areenia. After the Great War between Chandrilasia and Costa Phoenix, the hatchet was buried and the war was forgiven. Areenia, an allied force to Costa Phoenix had signed a peace treaty with the two countries. Everything was forgiven and forgotten over the course of the next few years, but the people were still undecided. Many (those who are old enough to remember) still had nightmares of the brutal war and battle scars whilst others feared any other potential attacks. The King and Queen of Areenia, King Chandran and Queen Latifa showed pride over their country. They too did not want any blood being spilt, and not especially due to their previous ancestors. Both the King and Queen of Areenia, joined hands with the Vadhera's, to show their prestige friendship and that of the countries. However even then, the people were not too sure.

Jeevika turned the page over before placing the new picture into a blank space. She smiled looking at her and Viren sitting in the conference whilst the other was of Maanvi and Virat. She was holding onto him, a scared expression clearly shown on her face. He placed his arm around her, comforting her as if to say that he was going to be there with her. Jeevika smiled, watching the unexpressed love jump out of the picture.

"What are you smiling about?" Viren asked as he walked outside onto the balcony. The day was transitioning in to the evening, but yet the sun was still out, a few minutes before the sun sets. He placed his hand inside his trouser pockets before sitting down besides her, and taking the album into his own hands. He glanced at Virat and Maanvi's picture.

"Don't they just look like the perfect couple?" She spoke, her eyes still fixated on the picture.

Viren nodded. "But I think'" He moved his hand towards his own picture with Jeevika. "'This couple look more of a perfect couple." Jeevika blushed, nudging him slightly. He laughed, falling off his seat from her slightly forceful push. Viren pretended to frown as he stood back up and picked Jeevika up from her seat. She gasped, telling him to get her down whilst he ignored her. Viren sat down on the chair where she had been sitting on and pulled her onto him so that she sat into his lap.

"Virenji!" She blushed, looking away from his eyes. She tried to get out but he was too strong for her. "Leave me, Virenji. What if someone sees?" She said embarrassed.

"So let them see!" He joked, pushing her back to kiss her. She pushed him away and tried to get out again, failing miserably. "Besides, our room, our balcony. If anyone wants to watch they can, I won't stop them."

She gasped, punching his chest tightly as he pretended to be hurt. Jeevika instantly stopped and held his chest before realising his prank. She frowned, and placed her arms together, crossed. He tried to get her to look at him, before pulling a sad face and placing his fingers over his ears and gesturing for forgiveness. Jeevika looked at her fool of a husband and began to laugh as she hugged his chest. "Aap bhi na, Virenji!" She laughed, as he hugged her petite body. "But seriously, I can't believe just how much Virat and Maanvi have gone through. May they always get happiness."

Viren sighed before pulling a smile. "Yeah, that is also true. And you know what, I'm pretty much those two would have confessed their undying love for each other by now." He laughed lightly.

"I'm very happy for them, finally Virat had found his true love."

"And us?" Viren smirked.

"What about us?" Jeevika teased.

"Have we found our true love?" He teased back, kissing her softly on the cheek.

Jeevika giggled, pushing him off before whispering back. "Maybe'Maybe not." He tried to kiss her again but she pulled herself out from his lap.

"Nehi, Jeevika. How is this fair? I only wanted to spend some time with my wife." He pretended to be sad.

"Oh really?" She spoke walking towards him. Jeevika fixed Viren's loosened tie before looking up at him. He tried to kiss her again but she stopped him. "That can happen later, but first Dadaji was asking for you."

He exaggerated a sigh, and placed his hand onto his chest, beating it twice. "It hurts here, Jeevika. Every time I am away from you, it hurts here." He looked down, a solemn expression on his face. Jeevika placed her hands on her hips, seeing completely through her husband's faade, and laughed, pushing him out of the balcony and into the room. He sighed loudly as he walked away, she still laughing. Jeevika shook her head, containing her laughter as she placed the remaining pictures back into the album. She sighed, the day darkening. She wondered what Virat and Maanvi would have been doing. Somehow, as the wind started to get more powerful, she couldn't help but feel that something was wrong, as if something bad was going to happen.

Viren skipped along the Palace grounds to his grandfather's office where Swamini and Vijay Vadhera were still looking over the country's stats. Besides them, his mother was sitting watching the two conversing. He smiled, greeting them.

"Did you call for me?" Viren asked, stepping in.

Vijay smiled. "Yes, come in." He thought for a bit of what he was going to say. "By the way, did you call Virat and Maanvi?"

"I was going to but I couldn't get through to them. I think they are out or something, after all, it's still day time back in London." Vijay nodded understanding. "I'll try and call them later."

"Be sure you do that." Vijay stated. "And anyway, we wanted to talk to you about something." Vijay nodded to Vanshika and Swamini.

"Yes, do say'" Viren replied, wondering what was going on.

"Beta, you have shown your abilities time and time again, there's no doubt that you can take charge of Chandrilasia and make us proud." Vanshika smiled at Vijay's words. "And we'" Vijay looked over at Swamini and Vanshika. "'We decided of entrusting as the King of Chandrilasia."

Viren gasped, shaking his head slowly. "Dadaji, Ma'Buaji'" He didn't know what to say. He gulped. "This soon?"

"Ha, beta." Vanshika replied. "I had always thought of you taking over Chandrilasia soon and now look, you have a wife, and besides Virat is even married, there's no reason for me to be the Queen now. I have done my duties, now it's your turn."

"But me?" Viren questioned. Sure, he knew he was going to be the rightful heir as the eldest son of the Vadhera's but somehow he couldn't fathom of ruling over a country. He couldn't believe that it was the time to become the King, and there was a slight apprehension over whether or not he would able to complete his duties as well as his mother and grandfather did. "Are you sure that I'll be able to do this?" He asked nervously.

"Viren, do you honestly think this? We all believe that you can do this, after all you're the heir to the Vadhera throne." Swamini replied.

He smiled, feeling anxious, scared and excited all at the same time. He closed his fists, not sure what to do. Should he hug them or touch their feet? Should he jump around excited or control himself? He just didn't know. Vanshika smiled, understanding that her son was going through a burst of emotions, and simply hugged him, congratulating him again. Vijay and Swamini did the same, leaving Viren pretty content with himself.

"Viren, now that we have told you, you should go and tell Jeevika. After all, she is the Queen now." Vanshika asked. "And I know that she will support you in every way."

Viren nodded.

"By the way, when shall we start preparing for the ceremony?" Swamini asked. Every time there was a new King or Queen elected to the throne, a ceremony was held to welcome them. The last ceremony was between King Vikram and Vanshika, and now it will be between Viren and Jeevika. The elder Royals could not wait, for so long they had been waiting for this moment. In fact, Vanshika had wanted to give up the throne years earlier but with everything that happened with Virat, she just wasn't able to. Now that Virat had Maanvi, and Viren was stable in his own marriage, it was now time for Vanshika to finally retire and live a peaceful life.

"I think we should wait until Virat and Maanvi come back, then we'll start planning. It could take a few months." Vijay stated.

"I agree." Swamini and Vanshika said.

Viren was quiet, still reeling from the big news. He was always known as the future King but now that he was finally taking over the throne, he just couldn't believe it. He imagined himself sitting on the golden throne with Jeevika besides him. There was a loud cheer from the crown whilst Vanshika took the crown that she had kept safe and placed it over Jeevika's head. His grandfather had taken the Vadhera's King crown from it's safe and placed it over Viren's head. Everyone was happy, cheering, screaming almost.

Suddenly, as if all of a sudden, the crowd began to get rowdy. There was a scream, and shouting as heavy footsteps was heard. Viren frowned, wondering why he was thinking of something like that when he heard the shout. Jeevika rushed in, her hair messy, her breathing heavy.

She was scared.

"Woh'Woh!" She hesitated. Everyone heard the sudden crash, and looked at Jeevika in concern.

"Jeevika, what happened?!" Vanshika asked, rushing up to her. Jeevika couldn't reply.

"Ma'Woh!"

"Jeevika?" Swamini asked, trying to console her.

"Ma'Tanya is here!"