"We should leave now." Ashwant said.
Avanya came to Ira "Ira, we should leave now."
Ira wiped the tears from her cheeks and nod.
All of them came out of the marriage hall and went towards carriage.
Ira's family members came to leave her. Veer and Veera followed them from behind, looking done with everything and waiting for this drama to over.
Ira was holding her grandfather's arm until he removed her hand from his arm and gave it in Raksheet's hand.
"Take care of her. She is my everything." Viraaj said to Raksheet.
"I will." Raksheet replied with a reassuring smile.
He led Ira towards the carriage covered with flowers. Specially decorated for newly married couple. He helped her get in.
All the kumar family members stepped in the other carriage and it started to move.
Ira was looking back from the window. Her eyes stucked on her grandfather who was waving at her with smile and teary eyes. She was looking at him until he was out of her sight.
Raksheet was looking at her with concern. She was quiet throughout the journey. He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to know her. But she wasn't in the state to talk. May be he should let her calm down first.
After some hours of journey, they arrived infront of their palace. In Jwalana Kingdom.
"Your highness, we arrived." A soldier informed.
Raksheet got off from the carriage and helped Ira to get off.
"Welcome to your new home, sister-in-law." Ahil said excitedly with a sweet smile.
"Thank you." Ira replied in low voice. She looked at the palace. It was huge and luxury. The garden was so beautiful. Beautiful than the garden in her palace. The palace was of reddish brown colour. Anyone can tell by just one look, this is the palace of Jwalana's king. The symbol of flames and fire.
"Let's go inside." Avanya said.
Raksheet extended his hand towards Ira to hold.
Ira looked at the hand for a while and then held it.
He led the way and they entered in palace.
Maids and servents were standing at the door to welcome the newly married couple.
Everyone came near the door and stopped, letting them welcome the new couple.
"Congratulations your highness." A senior maid said. "Her highness is so beautiful." She was talking about Ira.
Raksheet looked Ira and then again at the maid "Thank you Advika."
Advika nod and gestured them to come inside the palace.
They all stepped in.
Neisha told two maids to take Ira to her chamber and help her get changed. And Ira left with the maids.
"You all can go to your chamber. Tomorrow, We have welcome party for Ira, so better take some rest." Abhiveera said.
Everyone went towards their chamber but he stopped Raksheet.
"Raksheet, wait. I want to talk to you."
"Yes grandfather." Raksheet replied.
"Raksheet, are you happy with this marriage? Do you like your wife?" Abhiveera asked.
Raksheet smiled at his grandfather's sudden question. "Yes. I am happy with this marriage. I like my wife too. But..."
"But what?" Abhiveera asked.
"But, may be Ira is not happy. It looks like she don't wanted to marry me. She didn't talked to me. She didn't even looked at me! There was no sign of happiness or atleast a smile on her face. She was just looking down continuously. Grandfather, did you asked her grandfather if she want to marry me or not?" Raksheet asked worriedly.
Abhiveera placed his hand on Raksheet's shoulder and said reassuringly "Of course. I have asked him. He said Ira is ready to marry you. May be she is feeling nervous or shy. This all is new for her. New people, new family, new Kingdom. She never met so many peoples without her family members arround her. She need some time to adjust. And you have to help her in it. You have to make her feel comfortable. She will trust you the most. You are her husband and you have to make her feel comfortable arround you. Just give her some time and she will be fine." He reassured.
Raksheet smiled understandingly and nod. "Ok grandfather. I will help her to adjust in the family and get along with everyone."
"Good. Now go to your chamber and take rest. We have welcome party tomorrow. You and Ira should look fresh. Ok?"
Ira was sitting infront of dressing table. Two maids were helping her remove her jwellery and comb her hair. She was still thinking about her grandfather and her kingdom. She already miss it all.
At the same time, Raksheet entered in the chamber. He stopped at the door when he saw Ira sitting infront of dressing table and two maids arround her.
As he entered in the chamber, the maids quickly went out.
Ira didn't looked at the door but she sensed someone standing there and looking at her. It must be Raksheet. She knew it.
She stood up and greeted him "Greetings Your highness."
Raksheet walked towards her with a slight smile on his lips and said "You don't have to do this. You are my wife. I don't want my wife to greet me so formally."
Ira stood straight and replied, still looking down and avoiding his gaze "As your highness say."
"You can call me by my name when we are alone. It's Raksheet....incase you don't know."
"I know." Ira replied.
Raksheet's eyes lit up when he heard that Ira know his name and he found it a good opportunity to talk more with her. "So....can I call you by your name or should I call you 'my lady'?" He asked, removing his turban and placing it on the dressing table.
"Whatever you like, you can call me."
"Okay.....i will call you Ira or princess." He said, hoping Ira to respond but she didn't. She stood quietly on her place without looking up at him or anywhere else.
Raksheet felt a bit uncomfortable and awkward because of the silence between them. To erase this awkwardness, he spoke "So....princess, did you like the chamber? Mother has got this chamber decorated under her supervision. She didn't want you to lack anything." Raksheet said while looking arround the chamber with a smile on his face.
"Yes. I like it. It's beautiful." Ira replied.
Raksheet turned his gaze to Ira, he was wondering if she even looked up once at the chamber.
"Princess, if you don't mind, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do you know how I look like?" His tone suddenly became serious.
Ira wasn't expecting this question. She don't know how to answer this. She didn't looked at Raksheet at least once. But she can feel that he is tall and strong. But that can't be a good answer. A soldier can be tall and strong too.
"W-What do you mean?" She stuttered. Her mother told her to not make her husband angry but just after their marriage, after hearing this question she felt may be her husband is already angry on her.
Raksheet took a step forward towards Ira.
As she felt him taking a step forward, she stepped back. Scared of him.
Seeing her stepping back, Raksheet felt that may be he is scaring her. He stopped on his place and spoke "We didn't see each other before marriage. Ever since you entered in the marriage hall and till now you are looking down. You didn't looked at me for once. Why? Don't you like me?" His voice was sad and Ira can feel it. His such a beautiful wife is not interested in him is really heartbreaking for him and even though he wasn't ready, he married her.
"No. It's not like that." She replied.
"Then what's the matter? Tell me, didn't you wanted to get married?"
'Yes, i didn't wanted to get married.' she thought but she didn't said anything. She just kept quiet. May be Raksheet is hurt by her behaviour and it was heard in his voice. She know how it feels when you like someone and that person ignores you or mistreats you. She didn't wanted to hurt him more, so she decided not to tell him the actual reason.
"At least look at me." He insisted.
She wanted to look up but she don't have guts.
Feeling done with this all, Raksheet stepped forward and held Ira's chin "Ira...." He made her look at him.
A shiver ran down her spine. No man had touched her like that. She felt butterflies in her stomach when she looked at the man standing infront of her. He is tall, handsome. He have golden eyes, looking like fire. His skin is light brown. His hair are red, like flames of fire. His touch is so soft and pleasing but his eyebrows were slightly curled in sadness.
"Look at me when I am talking to you. I am your husband, don't treat me like a stranger." He said, looking straight in her eyes.
She wasn't able to break the eye contact. She was hypnotised by Raksheet's golden eyes. She wanted to look away, she wanted to remove his hand from her chin and step back but her body refused. Her knees were feeling weak. Her heart was racing inside her chest.
'Please, let go of me!' she requested in her mind.
As if Raksheet heard what she was saying in her mind, he let go of her chin. Still looking deep in her eyes.
She was relieved, he let her go but he was still looking at her. There is something in his eyes which was not allowing her to look away.