Couldn't resist from updating today. It's 31st of July. 

And I hope I am not too late in congratulating my fellow Marvel fans on our achievement, as well as the phase 4 announcement. 

By the way, Mayanshi's wedding jewellery:

---***---

Jayendra rushed to Samarjit's chambers, trying to enter without announcing himself, only to be stopped by Venu. "Senapati garu? What happened?"

"I must see the prince. It's very urgent."

"He is observing the rituals. It's the day of wedding. He may not be able to help you today. I might be able to assist you." 

"I bring very grave news from the Eastern territory. Gopalapuram village has been attacked in the middle of the night by masked assassins. More than fifty are killed and several others are taken hostages. I need to bring this matter to his notice." 

"No. Wait. We need to think before acting. If the prince or the princess knew, they will postpone the wedding and go to rescue the villagers." Venu tried to hide his shock over the unexpected set of events.

"Well, this is important. I can't help it." Jayendra tried to walk past him only to be pulled back. "You dare stop the Senapati of Virata, boy?" He roared.

"Forgive me. But it looks like the attack has been planned to stall the wedding. Someone clearly doesn't want them to get united in matrimony. And I need not remind you how important this alliance with Srimukha is, to us. Please. I request you to consider the consequences." Venu begged him.

Jayendra's eyebrows knit together. "You are right. Someone is trying to stop the wedding. Who might that be?" He wondered if it could be Vaishali. But it seemed too cruel even for her to destroy a whole village of her own empire, just to stop a wedding. "Maybe Queen Bhargavi. Or Abhimanyu. Eastern border villages are accessible to them, and they dislike Prince Samarjit."

"No! Our prince has already made an accusation against Prince Abhimanyu, which turned out to be untrue. If we make another accusation, it will worsen the ties between Virata and Srimukha."

"It seems that's exactly what the mastermind behind the attack wants to happen. The information will postpone the wedding, and even if one person from the royal court questions Srimukha, it will lead to breaking the alliance." Jayendra decided to handle the rescue operation himself, without informing anyone. "I have to go. You have to cover up for me here. My absence should not create suspicion. Neither the bride, nor the groom, should know about this. I am counting on you, Venu."

"I will do my best." Venu bowed to him. Jayendra walked away hurriedly. 

No sooner had the army Chief left, than the prince's younger cousin appeared. "I need to talk to my brother. We should ride to Gopalapuram this moment" said Dhruvin.

"It has been taken care of, Lord Dhruvin. I request you not to disturb the prince." Venu stopped him from entering. 

"You can't stop me from doing my duty. I don't take orders from you." Dhruvin spoke angrily.

"But you will take orders from me." Jayendra reappeared. "I, the Army Chief of Virata, command you to not breathe a word about this to the prince and the princess."

"But--"

"If you defy me, you shall be arrested for plotting against the crown." Jayendra spoke sternly. 

"Wha-- No... I would never... plotting is..."

"Who else knows about this?"

"Mantri Agastya and, er,... my brother. They have gone to inform the Queen." Dhruvin answered timidly.

"Escort Lord Dhruvin to his chambers and make sure that he stays there." Jayendra ordered his soldiers. "And Venu. Try to reason with Mantri Agastya and Lord Dushyanta. Make them understand the gravity of situation."

"Yes, Senapati garu. I will ask them nicely." Venu promised.

---***---

"Unhand me, you coward." Agastya fumed at Venu. "Let me out of here." He yelled while Dhruvin tried to pacify him.

"My apologies, Mantri garu. Senapati's orders. It gives me no pleasure in restricting you to this chambers. But I have to obey him." Venu said calmly. He signaled the guards not to let them out.

"You will pay for this, you lowborn servant." Agastya yelled.

"Calm down, Mantri garu." Dushyanta stepped forward. "Venu, I hope you understand how important this is. If the prince knows you hid the news from him, he may have you executed." 

"I cannot disobey Senapati garu." Venu replied without a hint of fear. "We just want this wedding to happen. We can't let you ruin it. It's nothing personal."

"That was too bold. You think I will ruin my brother's wedding? I wouldn't trouble him unless it is important. You know that" said Dushyanta. "At least let me go and join the rescue operation."

Venu considered releasing him. But then he remembered how unhappy Vaishali, Bhargavi and even Abhimanyu were, with the wedding. He had to do everything he could, to prevent addition of more members to the list. He couldn't risk it. "Forgive me." He bowed to them and walked out before they could speak another word. 'I'm so dead. The Prince will definitely kill me for this.' He thought to himself.

---***---

"Where have you been? And where are those brothers of mine?" Samarjit demanded to know.

"I believe they are welcoming the guests." Venu lied.

"Are they?" Samarjit asked in disbelief. "Good. Make sure that my brother stays away from the princess until we get married. I don't want him charming her and sweeping her off her feet." He tried to keep the bitterness in his voice to bare minimum. 

"I already have." Venu muttered inaudibly. 

"I wish mother was here. But she has a lot to do today. I am nervous. Is this how people normally feel while getting married?" Samarjit tried and failed to gain composure.

Venu glanced at Samarjit, who seemed to be crumbling under the burden of the protection of his empire. "Are you sure about your decision, Yuvaraja?"

"Why would you ask that?"

"It must be difficult for you to..."

"Yes. It is. Everything was normal few weeks ago. And now I am getting married for political reasons. It definitely isn't going to be easy. But I am not the only one getting into this. Mayanshi is facing a similar situation. Everything changes from today. But there is no turning back now. We are bound together for life. I really wish this marriage works." Samarjit sighed. "What am I doing? Can't let my emotions take control. We have to do this for Virata."

"I hope you find happiness." Venu smiled sadly.

---***---

Mayanshi kept glancing at the bangles Samarjit gifted her, debating whether it would be appropriate to wear them. 

"Yuvarani, I have selected jewellery that suit the bangles he presented to you" said Devika.

"Why would you do that? I want to wear what you have shown me before." Mayanshi put the bangles aside. 

"My apologies. I thought you might want to honour his wish." Devika sounded disappointed.

"I don't know what I want." She felt guilty for knowingly entering a loveless marriage. She wondered what her father would have said, had he been alive. 'Is he proud of what I am doing? Or is he disappointed in me? Would he even recognize me today?' A lone tear escaped her eyes, which she wiped away before anyone could notice it.

Raghuveera requested permission to enter. Though surprised, Mayanshi allowed him inside. She ordered the servants to leave them alone. "Nanna? I didn't know you were coming to visit me."

"Can't leave you alone. Not when you need me. This ring belonged to Kaushiki. Your father gifted it to her. I want you to wear it today. It may not be much. But it is her most prized possession." 

"I hope I deserve it."

"You do. They will be proud to see you inheriting what they cherished. Because they know you will sincerely look after everything they loved. Be it jewels or something much bigger than that. You are the right person. Never doubt yourself." He caressed her face. "Virata is fortunate to have you as the Queen and Samarjit is even more fortunate to have you as his wife. You both are strong and sensible. Everything will be fine. Even if it isn't, you will make it fine."

Mayanshi smiled through tears. "I don't know what I would have done without you." She embraced him.

"I have to go now. You must get ready." He took her leave.

When Devika re-entered the room, she was surprised to hear Mayanshi announcing that she would wear the bangles gifted by Samarjit. "They don't look so bad." She shrugged when her handmaiden frowned. 

It was time for her to appear in the hall. Bhargavi held her hand and helped her walk while the other ladies followed them. Despite their tiff, Mayanshi squeezed her hand. She knew what a daughter's wedding meant to her mother. Bhargavi noticed Mayanshi wearing Kaushiki's ring. "You look as beautiful as her. She would be so happy today." She remarked. 

Through the corner of her eye Mayanshi glanced at the guests quickly. Though it was in short notice, several royal families were present, for it was the union of two greatest kingdoms of Bharatvarsha. Most of them, who knew her personally, beamed at her. But none as much as Samarjit.

His eyes twinkled and a delightful smile spread across his face as he saw her walk towards him. His heart pounded. A part of him was still unable to believe it was happening. And yet, another part of him always knew it would happen. Though he vowed to control his emotions, he couldn't ignore the feeling of bliss in his heart.

Mayanshi glanced at her brother, who nodded at her encouragingly. She took a deep breath and sat down. The tradition required them to place a paste of jaggery and cumin seeds on each other's head, thus signifying the start of an inseparable bond. 

It was one of those few times when his hand came in contact with her. Samarjit looked at his mother to see how she was taking it. If she felt unhappy, she didn't show it on her face. He felt grateful, for it would have been a immensely painful to see his mother being sad on the day of his wedding. He hoped he didn't hurt her by getting married, when she was still mourning Vasishtha. 

After all the rituals were performed, Samarjit tied the mangalsutra around Mayanshi's neck and made her wear toe rings. The royal priest pronounced them husband and wife. 

"Congratulations, Yuvarani. I feel honoured." He beamed at her.

"The honour is mine, Yuvaraja." She replied.

They sought blessings of their parents. "Welcome to the family, child. I hope you value and prioritize each other's happiness." Vaishali blessed them. Despite putting up a show to being delighted, it was evident that she did not approve of this union. "Marriage is not easy. It is built on the base of trust and understanding. Never break each other's trust." She advised them. They understood what she was trying to convey.

They moved ahead and sought the blessings of the courtiers. Mayanshi noticed the absence of Jayendra. Before she could ask where he was, the royal priest ordered for the post wedding rituals to be started. It took another prahar until everything was completed.

"You need to rest for a while before the remaining rituals begin." The Gurupatni Usha Devi, advised the bride and the groom after welcoming Mayanshi into the palace as per the tradition. "Go to your respective bedchambers."

Mayanshi, who expected to be asked to share the chambers with Samarjit, was delighted to hear it. "May I take your leave, Yuvaraja?" 

"What's the hurry, my beloved?" He held her hand. "Don't you want to spend some time with your husband?"

"I would love to. But not when everyone's watching us." She made an excuse. "I don't want any disturbance. I want to lose myself in your eyes."

Samarjit fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Silver-tongue." He muttered.

He reached his mother's bedchambers. "I thought you might be drinking."

"I drink to forget my sorrow. And this is something I can't forget. Not even the best wine in the world can ease my mind today." She replied.

"Amma, why do you worry so much? She is my wife now. We are together. Everything's solved."

"Right."

"Do you think she would try to harm me?"

"She has every reason to do so."

"You are wrong. She is ambitious. But she is noble. She won't hurt us. Besides, I am her family now. She surely would think twice before harming her husband." He assured his mother. 

"There are women who are capable of harming their husbands."

"I am not saying she worships me because she is married to me. But she is a wise woman. She very well understands that her own position in the royal court will be under threat if she does something like that" said Samarjit.

"You are right. I will try not to worry." She nodded and dismissed him.

As he walked towards the door, she looked at his retreating form. 'You are all I am left with, Samarjit. I will protect you with all my might.' She cursed herself for allowing her only son to marry due to political pressure. She dreamed of a happy married life for her son. 'My son deserves to be the king and he also deserves the affection of his wife. Is it too much to ask for?'

She looked at the portrait of her husband with profound hatred. "If only you were a good father, he won't be suffering today. You were a bane to us. Alive or dead, you only caused us distress." She spat angrily. "I was too weak. I should have gathered some courage and got you killed earlier."

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I want 72 Comments. Okay, how about 62? 52? Please. Write something. It's been so long.

I would like to thank everyone who messaged me to check whether I am fine. I feel honoured. Thank you so much for all the affection.