❝ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀᴀᴠᴇ ᴡᴀʀʀɪᴏʀ ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴜsʙᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ғɪɢᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏғ ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴏᴜʀ ʙᴀɪᴊɪsᴀ? ❞

°•~━━✥❖✥━━~•°

The duel escalated quickly to the advanced level of fencing. Both the swordsperson checked each-other's capabilities, tested each other's limits. With swift moves and on the spot reflexes.

The swords clunged with each other methodically emitting the sound of valor. Both of them were careful as to not harm the other, nor backing down. Baijisa's skills in warships were well-known but never seen.

The verandah was converted into their personal arena while the majority of Udaipur gathered to witness the phenomenal battle between a man and a woman.

Even the soldiers, doing their duties nearby, gathered to witness the duel, astonished by watching something that they could learn from. The intensity increased efficiently while the playfulness disappeared gradually.

Yet, the boundaries of the duel were never crossed.

With just a glance of him, she recognized who he was. His aura screamed of authority while his body blended with his weapon. Those raging silver eyes held the maturity that was not present when she last saw him, now.

She took great care not to let a single scratch on him. Afterall, he belongs to her. She wanted the duel to be continued but the desire to see his face overpowered her will to battle.

The mask that is the pride of every soldier of Awadh was the only thing restricting her from her purpose. She glanced at Chakrapani who caught her gaze in a flash of a second. She blinked her eyes at him conveying her intentions.

Adhrik saw what transpired between both but couldn't decipher the meaning of the gesture quickly enough.
And with a swift flick of her wrist, her sword flunged his mask straight towards Chakrapani.

Who was alert and quick enough to catch it perfectly. The mask and sword of warriors are their pride in and out of the battlefield. If the mask would have touched the ground, his pride would have shattered.

He was too dear for her to hurt him with something like playing with his pride. His self-respect and emotions. But it was necessary, otherwise he would have never shown her his face. Or so she thought.

His raven locks flew freely around his face while the crown strip glinted in the sun where the precious stones were embedded. His predatory eyes complimented his sculpted face with broad forehead, a red tilak while his pointed nose and high cheekbones added to his regalness.

The ethereal smile on his cherry red lips enhanced his jaw line. Sculpted torso wrapped in white cloth with golden embroidery, matched the shine of his thick gold waistband and ornaments.

Her heart skipped a beat while his breath hitched. Both of them froze in their places. It was the first time after ten years, they saw each other and were lost in each other's presence.

But what surprised Chakrapani, the known Pandit most was how people saw Baijisa. Some were shocked, some were surprised and even some had judgment in their eyes due to how she was lost in the said 'Dev-purush'.

Granted, the Dev-purush himself too looked no lesser than god with his charms and skills that of a high ranking warrior though his mask marked him as a common soldier. Just because looking at other men than your husband for more than a few moments was considered no less than sin at that time.

But for them both, it was like the world surrounding them disappeared. She saw him like he was the only person that mattered. A gentle smile bloomed on her face deciding her accomplishment was worth the hazzard.

He understood the reason for her small satisfied smile yet couldn't help but give a small chuckle back in adoration. Suddenly the fact that he was unmasked and his pride, his mask was flung unceremoniously straight in his friend's hand didn't matter to him.

If it was anyone else, it would have resulted with his sword dripping blood and a head that would be rolling on the ground detached from the body. Yet, here he was standing with content in his still cold heart.

"Naath,"she said.

Her soft and respectful voice rang over the surroundings in astonishment. He couldn't help but laugh out loud in his deep voice that can melt anyone. Even Chakrapani's eyes popped out seeing him laugh so freely after many years.

She surely did recognize him even after ten years of their marriage, without his identity or even his presence. And that's how the souls are connected with each-other.

The crowd surrounding them gasped in astonishment. Low murmurs began circulating all around them. This said Dev-purush was the husband of their Baijisa who was considered dead in war.

Some people even thought him to be a merry figment of her imagination.

"Are you really the brave warrior who is considered as the husband that is figment of imagination of our Baijisa?" Bhimaji asked innocently, peering at Adhrik.

While Baijisa smiled melancholically, a ton of guilt punched Adhrik in his guts. He was just a fragment of imagination for them. Well how could they believe in his existence when he himself was an abhorrent husband and never showed his presence.

He can't even imagine what this society would have done to her without a male presence, if she had not earned herself the respect of these very same people. Yet he couldn't show his displeasure towards a child when he himself was the cause of such a blunder.

"I don't know about bravery, but yes. I am the husband of your Baijisa." he replied firmly. The realization of the impact of all the pain he would have caused her, caused him to close his eyes tightly in remorse. While she couldn't believe her ears when he claimed her as his wife.

Her heart skipped a bit and a gorgeous smile graced her lips. Though he was not forgiven, and she will make sure to get him on his knees, her heart felt the contentment and peace that it craved for since past ten years.

"Oh! So this is your Balamji, Baijisa?" teased her friend Saubhagyavati. For the first time people saw Baijisa avoiding some one's eyes and her white cheeks adorned red with a blush. He found it really adorable.

The ladies giggled uncontrollably whispering at each other. Noticing the flying gossip, Baijisa immediately straightened her posture and cleared her throat.

"I think you will feel more comfortable inside our house, naath," her subtle command with narrowed eyes implyed him to stop the commotion, made him chuckle again wholeheartedly out of amusement.

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A couple standing at a distance watched the whole predicament with a sharp gaze. They had pride and contentment brimming in their mature and experienced eyes.

"He has got his match. Don't you think, husband?" the lady asked with a small smile.

"Indeed he has, wife." replied the man with a smirk of his own.

Both of their stances were majestic and an aura of regalness radiated around them. Their hearts were at peace and their hope for the future of their nation was secured.

°•~━━✥❖✥━━~•°

sʜᴀʙᴅ-ᴋᴏsʜ :- ᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴀʀʏ.

ɴᴀᴀᴛʜ : ʜᴜsʙᴀɴᴅ.

ᴅᴇᴠ-ᴘᴜʀᴜsʜ : ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ʀᴇsᴇᴍʙʟɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴅs.

ᴛɪʟᴀᴋ : ᴠᴇʀᴍɪʟɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ғᴏʀᴇʜᴇᴀᴅ.

ʙᴀʟᴀᴍᴊɪ : ʟᴏᴠᴇʀ/ʜᴜsʙᴀɴᴅ.