"Take some rest. We have welcome party for you, tomorrow." He informed.
Ira nod.
Finally Raksheet broke the eye contact "I am going to take bath. You can sleep if you want." He said and then went towards the bathroom.
Ira sighed in relief. She walked towards the bed and lay down. She was staring at the ceiling but Raksheet's golden eyes weren't leaving her mind. His golden eyes and the sadness in them was appearing infront of her eyes again and again.
"I am sorry." She whispered. Turning to her right side of the bed and she closed her eyes. She was so tired that she didn't realised when she fell asleep.
Raksheet came out from the bathroom and found Ira sleeping peacefully.
He went towards the bed. The view infront of his eyes was so beautiful and pleasing. A sweet smile appeared on his lips as he saw his little wife sleeping so peacefully. Controlling his smile, he lay down next to Ira. He turned to face her. She was sleeping so soundly. Her long eyelashes, her plump lips and soft and smooth skin was making her look so cute.
'You are so cute. And beautiful. Beautiful than any other girl i have ever seen.' He praised his wife in his mind. He extended his hand towards Ira's face, just to touch her face. He wanted to caress her cheeks but as he remembered what his grandfather said, he pulled his hand back. He didn't wanted to disturb her too.
'Grandfather was right, she need some time to feel comfortable. I should control myself and behave nicely. She might feel uncomfortable if i touch her...princess, you can take time to adjust in the family and i will help you as much as I can. And there is one thing that I can promise you, you made me fall in love with you just in a moment and i will make you fall in love with me even if it takes me forever.'
He looked at Ira with admiration. He didn't expected his future wife would really be as beautiful as he heard from his grandfather. May be there are more things about Ira as he heard.
He closed his eyes, feeling tired. He wanted to look at his wife for more time but his eyes refused. His eyes were feeling heavy, forcing him to close them. As he closed his eyes, he fell asleep.
After some hours,
Someone knocked on the door.
Ira groaned in annoyance as she was in half sleep. The knock again happened. She slowly opened her eyes, just to see her husband sleeping next to her, maintaining some distance not to disturb her.
Her eyes widened when she saw Raksheet sleeping next to her. She quickly sat up and looked arround. They were on the same bed. Just this thought was making her feel uncomfortable.
'Why is he sleeping next to me? He have his other chamber too. Oh dear! I hope i didn't do anything silly. I can't give him one more reason to be angry.'
When Ira was in her thoughts, the knock again happened.
Raksheet groaned in his sleep because of the disturbing noise.
Hearing him groan, Ira quickly got off the bed. She fixed her messy look and went towards the door.
She opened the door and found Avanya standing infront of her with a slight smile.
"Your highness, you here? Please come in." Ira said politely.
"I thought you will not open the door till the morning." Said Avanya teasingly.
As Ira understood what her mother-in-law was talking about, she quickly shook her head. "No! It's not like that. I was in a deep sleep so I didn't heard the knock."
Avanya laughed "I know, i know. I was just teasing you. I know you both are tired. Look at him." She pointed towards Raksheet, who was in his deep sleep, not bothered by their conversation. "I didn't saw him sleeping like this from years. In a deep sleep. He is so alert. The sound of a needle falling on the ground can wake him up too. But today, look, how soundly he is sleeping. he was looking so happy and relieved. Seeing him like this, makes me happy too. Ira.." she took Ira's hand in hers "Please keep him happy forever. Please take care of my son."
Ira didn't know how to respond. She looked at Raksheet and then again at her mother-in-law. She smiled forcefully and nod.
Avanya smiled brightly. A loving and caring life partner, that's all she wanted for her son. "Now wake him up. It's dinner time. Everyone is waiting for you two. Get ready and come."
"Ok." Ira replied.
Avanya released Ira's hand and walked away.
When Avanya left, Ira closed the door and went inside. She walked towards her bed and sat down. She looked at Raksheet. He is looking so pure and innocent that she didn't wanted to disturb him.
'He is a nice guy. He married me even though he knew I am worthless.' Ira thought 'I should at least treat him well.'
"Your high-" she stopped.
'He told me to call him by his name.' she remember that Raksheet want her to call him by his name. She didn't wanted him to be upset again so she did as he told her.
"R-Raksheet...." She stuttered. It's a bit awkward for her to call her husband by his name.
When she realised Raksheet didn't heard her, she again said.
"Raksheet..." This time a little louder.
But still, he didn't wake up.
Ira hesitantly extended her hand forward, towards Raksheet. She placed her hand on Raksheet's shoulder and shook him slightly.
"Raksheet!"
This time, Raksheet quickly opened his eyes and looked arround. He woke up flustered.
"It's me, it's me." Ira said, trying to calm him down "Sorry i disturbed your sleep. But mother-in-law was calling us for dinner."
Raksheet rubbed his eyes while sitting up "It's ok. I was in deep sleep. And what? " He looked at Ira with a smile "Mother-in-law?"
Ira nod
He chuckled on her innocence "You can call her mother. Just mother. No need to call her mother-in-law. Such a big name."
"O-Okay." She replied hesitantly.
"Get ready. You are the new bride, you should look good infront of everyone. Don't take much time or else everyone would think you are a lazy spoiled princess." He said teasingly.
Hearing him calling her lazy and spoiled, she got offended. She narrowed her eyes and looked away "I am not a lazy spoiled princess!" She said and quickly went towards the bathroom while stomping her feet.
He laughed quietly at her childish behaviour. He was happy to have a wife who is a bit childish so that she can always make him smile, in hard time too. And relieved that at least she is replying to him properly now.
Everyone was waiting for Ira and Raksheet at the dining hall.
Abhiveera was sitting at one end of the table and others were arround him. Neisha, Ashwant and Avanya were sitting at one side and Ahil was sitting on other side on his usual seat, leaving one seat empty for his brother to sit beside his grandfather as always.
"Why are they taking so long? I am hungry. Can I start first?" Ahil asked, rolling his eyes all over the food on the table. The dinner was specially made for Ira's welcome. The food was looking more delicious than usual, increasing Ahil's appetite.
"No. You should wait for everyone to come. It's Ira's first dinner with us. We should wait for her. Do you want your sister-in-law to feel left out from the family?" Avanya scolds Ahil.
"No." Ahil replied with a puppy eyes but still staring at the food.
"No need to make that face. Look, they are here." Ashwant said, pointing towards Raksheet and Ira with his eyes.
"Finally." Ahil mumbled but soon he got a hard glare from his mother.
Raksheet and Ira came towards them and greeted everyone.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting." Raksheet said.
"No no. It's fine. Come, sit." Abhiveera said with a smile.
Raksheet gestured Ira to follow him.
They went towards the seat. Raksheet's seat was empty but the seat beside him was already taken by Ahil.
Raksheet fake coughed to make Ahil realise that he should change his seat now.
But Ahil didn't understood the sign because he was busy deciding what he should eat first.
Feeling done with his brother's behaviour, Raksheet looked at his mother so that she will help him and tell Ahil to move.
Ira was standing quietly beside Raksheet, letting them do whatever they want.
Raksheet's mother gave him a 'i will handle' look. She then turned her gaze to Ahil
"Ahil, please get up. Let your sister-in-law sit." She said with a smile but it was a warning more than a request.
Finally Ahil looked up from the food. He looked at his mother then at his sister-in-law and his brother who was glaring at him.
"I am sorry sister-in-law. I didn't realised you both were standing." Ahil apologized as he got up from his seat hurriedly. "Please, sit."
"It's ok. No need to apologise. it's your usual seat that's why you didn't realised." Ira said while sitting.
"Yes, sister-in-law." Ahil replied.
"You can call me by my name. Anyways, i am younger than you." Ira said with a slight smile.
"Really?!" Ahil asked excitedly but soon his excitement fade away.
"No, let him call you sister-in-law. Or else he will be too frank with you." Raksheet said with a serious look.
"You are so mean." Ahil commented in disappointment and turned his gaze towards his plate.
"At least, he can call me sister." Ira suggested.
"Yes, ofcourse! I can!" Ahil quickly replied, clearly showing that now he won't listen to anyone.
Raksheet sighed and whispered to Ira "You will not listen to me, right? Stubborn princess."
Ira didn't replied and acted like she didn't heard him.
Abhiveera and others were watching this all drama, controlling their smile.
"Okay, are you guys done? So I can speak?" Abhiveera asked, gathering everyone's attention.
Ira quickly straighten her posture and looked down.
"Yes grandfather. Sorry for our behaviour." Raksheet apologized.
"It's fine, the family dinner should be like this. Full of laugh and jokes." Abhiveera replied "Okay, let's speak about important things. Ira...." He called her.
Ira slowly looked up at him with her silver eyes.
"Welcome to the family." He said politely.
"Thank you, your majesty." Ira replied with a smile.
"No need to be so formal. We are all family. You can call me grandfather."
Ira nod but when she heard 'grandfather' word, her grandfather's face appeared in her mind. She was missing him. At the time of dinner, her grandfather was always with her. Sometimes he used to feed her with his hands and that made her miss him more.
Seeing Ira's sad expression, everyone looked at each other.
"Ira, are you okay?" Neisha asked concern, making Ira come out of her thoughts.