Hi Everyone firstly sorry for delay in posting the update but secondly i want to thank you all for your kind wordsđ¤ đ¤ Arms still hurting but am feeling much better. I hope the update was worth your waitđł and please forgive me for any mistakesđ
Precap: Nandani and Sanjam have been injured and Sanyogita has fainted after seeing her daughter state.
Chapter 7
The path from the entrance of the palace to his bedroom was airly silent even though it was lined on both sides with people, everything having come to a stand still with Sanyogita's cry and subsequent flight from the palace into the garden.
As they watched their king, who normally so strong walk through the palace carrying the stil form of his daughter they were reminded that inspite of all his responsibility he was still only a young man. As he passed them all and they caught a glimpse of Delhi's jewel in his arms, mothers clutched there children close to them, wifes reached for their husbands and strangers searched for another who also felt their fear and who could provide reassurance and as frightening as it was to watch their king walk along like a corpse it wasn't until Chand walked pass carrying their queen in his arms, that the tears started, bringing life back into the Mehel.
Prithvi heard and saw nothing his focus entirely reserved for his daughter and on concentrating on how to take his next step without breaking down and crying his heart out. As he walked along he saw before his eyes the balcony that they had been standing on the day they learnt they were going to be parents, the hallway were their daughter had taken her first steps with Sanyogita following behind her to make sure she was okay, he heard his daughters laughter as she learnt to crawl but when he heard the echos of his daughters feet as she ran through the palace Prithvi stumbeled under the weight of his pain.
As he watched his friend fallter Chand wanted to go over and help him but knew the best way to support his friend was to make sure that the other piece of his heart was safe, because he didn't even want to think about what would happen if Prithvi ever lost either pieces of his heart. Chand remembered how his friend had nearly been destroyed under the pain of his separation from Sanyogita for a few months and he knew that if Prithvi lost Nandani or Sanyogita know after having been lucky enough to be loved by them he would not survive and would simple be an empty shell.
Following behind her brother's held safely in Samars arms Prathas mind was racing with crazy thoughts and as the memory of her father dead body being brought back into the palace entered her mind, Pratha closed her eyes to reject it while subtly pressing closer to Samar. Feeling her press closer and shiver Samar wondered what had replaced the look of shock with fear in her eyes, but before he could do anything he saw his friend stumbel. Opening her eyes Pratha was just intime to see the first crack in her brothers armour and rushed to his side.
No he would let her down again, thought Prithvi as he furiously caught himself before he fell, shifting Nandani so that she was closer to him he started to straighen up when he felt a pair of arms of each side supporting him. Looking up he saw his sister and friend on either side and was grateful to them when they let him go again knowing that he had to get her to safety know because he hadn't protected her before.
Reaching his bedroom he saw Arjun and Pundir were already waiting there with the Vaaid and walked over to the bed to sit with his daughter in his arms. As the Vaaid started to lift Nandani out of his arms, Prithvi automatically pulled her closer to himself.
'Maharaj' the vaaid said as he again tried to lift Nandani, but again Prithvi pulled her closer to himself and then angled his body away from the bed.
Laying Sanyogita down on the other side of the bed Prithvi was on, Chand stopped long enough to make sure she was covered with a blanket before making his way over to Prithvi's side. Watching his friend turn away from the vaaid, Chand realised his friend would not give up his daughter and if they tried to force him, even in his shocked state his daughter would remain in his arms, so he turned to his sister sure she was the only one in Sanyogita's absence who could get through to him.
'Pratha' he said and was grateful that she understood without him needing to continue.
Bending down to kneel infront of her brother, Pratha put a finger under his chin and lifted his head, nearly falling back on her feet at the pain she saw in his eyes, wanting to put her arms around him and confort him the way he always did for her, but she knew she had to put Nandani first becasuse at the moment he was into much pain to do so.
'Bhaiya' she said softly and was thankful when he seemed to hear her.
'Nandani, ko waha lata do waaid ji un ka ilaj kar do ge' she said and when he continued to simply sit there while alternatley looking at his wife and daughter Pratha turned his head back towards herself and then making sure he was looking her in the eyes spoke
'Ap ko apni Pratha par barosa hai na? and was reassured when he nodded and so continued ' Tho fir humara kenna maan do' praying that he would listen to her she waitied to see what his next move.
Taking a deep breath Prithvi rose and lifted his daughter away from his chest and put her down on the bed and while straightening away from her he felt as if an invisiable fist had reached into his heart and wrenched out his heart. Turning away from Nandani Prithvi saw the vaaid had finshed check Sanyogita and was now behind him.
'Maharani ke dill me daar bahe gaya hai leken unko thori der mein hosh iyege' the vaaid ji told him before he could ask and then turned his back on Prithvi focusing his attention on his daughter instead and in doing so wining Prithvi's trust.
Sinking down onto the bed in between his Sanyogita and Nandani looking around the room Prithvi finally realised that we wasn't alone and that everyone dear to him and his Nandani and Sanyogita was here with him in the room, and then catching a glimpse of movemnet from outside realised that the people of Delhi were also here to support him.
Feeling moisture in his eyes Prithvi quickly reached up to wipe it away before his Praja saw and were weakened and it was at that point that their was 1 noticeable person missing from the room.
'Sanjam kaha hai' he questioned looking towards Chand, Arjun and Pundir and then frowned when they all lowered their gazes and looked away.
'Chand hum thuj ko kuch pocha hai, humko javab chahiye' he said sharply
'Prithvi, aaj ye sub jo Nandani ke saath huwa Sanjam usi ka karan upko teratha hai' Chand answered him in a faltering voice.
'Kya' Prithvi asked in shock. 'Sainapathi' he called out 'Sanjam ko yaha le auo'abi ise wakth' he said.
'Hum yaha hai' Sanjam answered stepping out from behind the pillar where he had been standing, knowing that he was the reason that his sister in law and neice where in this state but still needing to stay until he was sure they would both be okay. As he walked towards Prithvi his heart clenched wondering how he would survive with out his family, he had done it before only because he had the thirst for revenge driving him, but now after knowing the blessings of a mother, the love of sisters, the joys of a neice but most importantly was the love and bonds of brotherhood and friendship. Sanjam knew that he owed all this to Prithvi who had extended his hand in friendship and in doing so had given him back his future, so it was ironic that he today was responsible for Prithvi possibly losing those he loved. He had no hopes left for himself his only wish now was to see Sanyogita and Nandani better. Reaching Prithvi he knelt down in front of him 'Hum Ko Maf Kardo Maharaj' he said.
Prithvi looked down at the boy infront of him and felt his shoulders get another bit heaver and silently wondered how much more weight they could take before he buckeled under the weight. Taking a deep breath to try and calm himself down he spoke in a soft voice
'Aaj hum ko maloom hua ke jis se hum sirf dost nay par bhai sumja tha, hum us e ke leye Bhai se kum hum ko dost be nay mantha' Prithvi heard the gasps but paid no attention his gaze firmly on Sanjam awaiting his response.
'Nay Prithvi aise koy baath nay hai' Sanjam cried as he continued 'Tum sab humare leye meri jaan se be pyare hai' he said before continuing on struggling to keep his voice steady ' Aaj ye Sanjam jo tere aage hai woh Sanjum jo ek dost, bhai, beta or Chaacha, he said stopping as his voice broke on that word - 'Woh sub teri haathir hai, or hum ne kya keya, hum ne tujise dok ponchiya, isi leye hum tum se Mafi mang rahe hai' Sanjam finished in a shaky voice.
Seeing both her brothers in so much pain Pratha ached to go and support them but knew that they had to sort it out between themselves and felling helpless leaning in closer to Samar needing to feel him close by.
Arjun and Pundir alternatley watched their friends and the vaaid feeling helpless knowing they couldn't help either but as they looked at each other they both knew they would help their friend when it came time to find the one responsible for robbing their home of its laughter.
Chands attention was fixed firmly on helping the vaaid ji, he felt angry at Sanjam for doubting their affection for him, but he was glad that Prithvi's attention was diverted so that the vaaid coudl do his job otherwise Prithvi would never have moved because even know he still had a hand on his daughters knee needing to have that physical contact with her. As he watched the vaaid give Nandani the sleeping potion he knew it was time to call Prithvi.
Removing his hand from his daughter knee Prithvi put both hands on his friends shoulders and asked him to stand pleased when he did so. When they were both standing Prithvi answered Sanjam.
'Nay Sanjam hum thuj ko maf nay kar saakthe' he heard the gasps in the room but wasn't surprised when no one spoke up against the their maharaj's decision so he continued on 'isi leye kyu ki teri gaalthi nahi thi tho mafi kis leye' and then hugged his brother.
'Par Prithvi' Sanjam started to say but Prithvi cut him off
'Hum ne ke diya na, tho bass. he said.
'Prithvi' hearing Chand say his name Prithvi hurried round to stand by his daughters head.
'Waaid ji humari betia ko hosh kyu nay i'
'Maharaj hum ne unko need ke thewa diye'.
'KYA!' Prithvi shouted in shock. 'Par Kyu' he asked immediatley
'Kyu ki un ke baa toot gaye hai or bethar hua ga ke wo sola rahi hai' the vaaid ji told Prithvi not having to explain to him what he had to do knowing the Prathvi had received the same injury himself, although he thought his had been after a war and not within his home, the one place where his daughter was supposed to be safe Prithvi tjought as the palace walls started to close in around him and he had difficulty breathing.
'Bhaiya' Pratha said in a tearful voice still unable to belive all that had happened today. Lifting his hand to put it on his sisters head he gave her a hug and kissed her on the head before moving to the beds so that he could sit down and then tenderley lifted his daughters head into his lap before nodding to Chand.
The sound of his daughters arm being popped back into place was louder than a gun short and the sound revibarated off the walls that even those outside in the halls heard it and like prithvi gasped in pain, each feeling the pain of the little girl.
He had done it, Prithvi thought, he's managed to fool everyone into thinking he was okay and even if he wanted to throw up watching the vaaid ji he coould control himself until he was alone or so he thought. He was fine untill he happened to look over at Sanyogita and saw tears leaking out of her eyes, making him want to throw something, but reminded himself that he couldn't do so in front of his praja. However that was before he looked down and saw his daughters eyelashes sparkling with tears that had leaked out of her eyes while she slept and that was when the first tear fell from his eyes and landed on his daughters cheek minglking with her tears.
The people in the room watched silently as the man, wife and daughter all broke and kind, the moment made even more heartbreaking because of the fact that they could only confort each but were having to suffer alone.
Waiting until only his family remained in the room he lifted his head and said in a soft, cold but lethal voice.
'HUM UK KO DEKHNA CHAATHA HAI, YAHA HUMARI AGEY, AHIR HUM KO BI DEKHNA HAI KE KUN HAI JO HUMARI BETI KE ANKH MEIN AASU PONCHIAYE OR JEENA RENA KA UMEED KARTHA! Prithvi said everybit the kind inspite of the tears in his eyes.
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