Aradhya cried leaning against the cold rock wall of the dungeons of Ashokdhar. The sudden surge of grief took over her as she was being walked into the kingdom.

The word that Aradhya was a concubine's daughter had spread through the kingdom like wildfire. The citizens of the kingdom did not hold back in letting their tongues spiral out of control. Along with stinging words and hurls of stone at Aradhya, Vihaan and Rihit almost shielded her to protect her. Vihaan had requested the people to stop behaving inhumanely. Rihit had to get down and push the people back with his strength and yet the people had managed to make evident wounds on Aradhya.

The concubine's daughter is nothing but a disgrace. To Ashokdhar and the throne and title of the queen.

The people of Ashokdhar looked on as the chariot yanked forth a woman with its king residing in it along with the Senapati. Aradhya ducked everyone's attention as the limelight became too overpowering. She wouldn't have minded being looked on as the woman the king married but this gaze pricked her as everyone saw her with a sigh of disgust. Murmurs and whispers became audible and it seemed overwhelming.

All her life she was called that but all of a sudden a change of people and place and yet being called the same troubled her. The hopes she had for a better life were the ones that hurt her.

The mere thought of that scene made Aradhya tremble. New people and new place and yet the same views...

"What were you thinking?" A struggled voice was heard. Aradhya didn't try to hide what she felt. She left her face tear-stained and smirked.

"Maharani Sadhana...what brings you to the dungeons of your palace?" Aradhya smiled, sarcastically and stood up. She walked over a few steps towards Sadhana but failed as she felt her legs being bound to the floor.

"Stop pretending. Why did you attack Vihaan? I want answers." Sadhana pressed.

"Am I the one pretending or are you. As if you don't know why I attacked your husband."

"Maybe because I killed her brother..." Vihaan's voice resounded through the dungeons as he stood protectively before Sadhana. And as he finished his words, a swish of air was all that Vihaan felt right next to his temple. A dagger clang onto the rock wall by the sheer force Aradhya exerted.

Vihaan seemed surprised. He wondered how she knew to throw a dagger with such precision.

"Say that again and I won't hesitate," Aradhya warned.

"That won't be easy..." Sadhana uttered underestimating Aradhya's potential that she knew nothing of.

"Oh, believe me, Maharani. If I wanted, that dagger would have been in your spouse's heart."

The tension almost multiplied by a hundred at her words. Aradhya stood there, eyes bloodshot. Hair undone. Bruised around her wrists and arms by the shackles. And fire in her eyes.

Vihaan grabbed Sadhana and took her away throwing an intrigued look at Aradhya.

The plan of not showing her weakness to them worked but immediately broke the second they left. Her knees gave out and she fell to the ground. She hid her face in her hands and wept.

.   .   .   .

"You cannot do that, Vihaan." Guru Chitrabhanu said, dismay evident in his tone. Rajmata Bhadra stood by.

"You cannot just show that woman to be a criminal while the entire kingdom knows for her birth. You need to understand what she feels."

"Agreed that she tried to attack you but you know what she was going through. Now she had to go through the grief of losing her brother, being disrespected in her new home and also being despised for attacking you." Rajmata added. Vihaan stood with his head hung.

"Free her and you have to stay with her for a few days in the same room. Or it may cause havoc in our people." Rajmata ordered Vihaan to which he had to agree.
.   .   .   .

Aradhya stood in the massive room. A room may be thrice the size of hers. Spacious room, tables, chairs books and a huge window spreading over one side of the room. She was aghast by the sudden change in the arrangement.

As she was released by the king, Aradhya now had the liberty to walk freely around the palace but was still devoid of the pleasures or rights of a queen though she was one.

Vihaan walked briskly into the room and dominantly stood before Aradhya. Trying his best to know that he was serious.

"You are only here because Rajmata ordered me to. Don't think for a second of any plans or schemes to slay me again. If you do, not even Rajmata can save you."

Aradhya smirked, "it's you the one who needs saving." She sat down by on the opulent bedding of the room, fit of a king. "Well, I have already used two of my daggers, I have nothing left."

Vihaan groaned to himself at her morale bragging. He looked at her once again before turning away.

"Wait, this is where I'll be staying?"
"Yes. Is it not evident?"
"How big should a king's room be if the queen's room is this big..."
"Don't get delusional. This isn't your room. This is my room."

Aradhya raised her brows, "Then why am I staying here? Why am I staying with the king?"

"Because we are married and you are my wife. Even if you didn't give a dime about my safety, I have to protect you as your spouse."

"I don't need you protecting me. And what even is there to protect me from?"

"You never know. And you need it or not, I'm obligated to look after you. So please, shut up. I have work to do."

Vihaan saw somewhat of a sad smile on Aradhya's lips. Her hair and attire were still of the wedding day and she seemed tired and well, Vihaan looked right through her mask of strength.

He stopped on his way out and spoke, "I'll send Nandini and Sadhana here. They'll give you better clothes. And please eat. You look like you'll faint any second." He continued, "and for god's sake don't hurt them."

"You know, I'm not that cruel and heartless to attack the sister of a murderer or the wife bearing his child," Aradhya uttered, almost offended by his words. Almost taken aback. Why would she ever hurt them, when they had no part in anything that happened between her and Vihaan?

Vihaan walked off. Leaving a tense aura in the room.

.   .   .   .

"I won't do anything to you, Maharani," Aradhya spoke, standing in the room looking at the entrance where Sadhana and Nandini stood with things and shuddered look on their faces.

"How would I know?" Sadhana pressed.

"I want you to know that the only reason your husband is alive right now, is you. Because I can't bear the guilt of a maternal woman grieving over her child's dead father." Aradhya turned around to look at Sadhana. Sadhana looked intrigued and grateful at the same time. Nandini on the other hand was completely unfazed by Aradhya's words.

"I guess Rihit told you beforehand." Aradhya pointed at Nandini who nodded and walked into the room.

Sadhana walked into the room, now, confidently and held Aradhya by her hands. Aradhya seemed utterly surprised.

"Look, I know what is running through your mind. It's not an easy feat to stay how strong you are after losing the person that meant the most to you. But, I want to ask you one favour. Please, spare Vihaan."

Aradhya looked away. Trying not to meet Sadhana's pleading eyes. Though she tried her best to resist her, Aradhya felt the loss deeply. The loss Sadhana would feel.

"Maharani," Aradhya continued, "I don't want us to be on bad terms. The women of the house are the ones who hold the family together, but please do not expect me to stay on good terms with Vihaan."

"We aren't telling you to forget about what happened and go on but we just want you to know, you have two friends by your side," Nandini replied setting down the platter with ornaments and clothing.

"I won't be surprised if you two bicker always. I won't be surprised if there was another attack on him again. But please. Be considerate and spare him." Sadhana requested.

Aradhya was in the deep depths of her dilemma. Who would she listen to? A to be mother's request, a sister's pledge or her heart. I voluntarily Aradhya nodded. Though not showing agreement, she was found to be making peace with the fact that she had married a person that she might despise but that person means something to the people of his own. She somewhere in there, in herself, started thinking from the perspective of people who were close to Vihaan.

There might be people who love him but Aradhya made a strong sentence in her head as Sadhana and Nandini started about the clothes and jewellery.

"I am not one of those. I am not one of those who love him."

.   .   .   .

"It's about time you stop blaming me and start being thankful." Vihaan blurted out while getting ready in his room. The newlyweds were in a heated argument. Yes, Aradhya started it, but she had her reasons.

"Be thankful for what?" Aradhya spoke in a raised tone.

"Because I saved you the pain Rajkumar Amar would have caused you."

"Don't even speak about him. You don't deserve to speak about him. He is way too benevolent for you to talk about him."

"Benevolent huh? You don't know what he is. I know him better than you. I have known him for years."

"I've known him since I was a child of seven okay? Don't think for a second about changing my views of him."

Vihaan was frustrated by now. He knew what he had done and why he had done it. He knew what Amar was chance the reason he agreed to marry Aradhya.

He held Aradhya by her arm with gruesome, enraged grip and stared at her with ever so growing flames in his cedar eyes.

"He was just using you. Using you as leverage. He was trying to get Maharaj Aagneya on his side and then planned to devour your kingdom." Vihaan said.

A sudden change in Aradhya's confidence was noticed so quickly. She seemed to believe it for a second but then it got washed away by the waves of hate he held for him.

"You are awful," she continued with a choked voice, "Get away from me. Your presence makes me resent myself. Your words... How can you be so senseless?"

"Say what you want. Cloud yourself with all the delusions you want but the truth remains the truth." Vihaan stared into her brown eyes, wanting her to know that he was telling the truth.

Aradhya pulled free of his grasp and walked over to the other corner of the room. Where else would she go? She didn't know anything about the palace. She held her rising rage in and also a bit of grief.

"Well, what if it is the truth..." She thought. In the end, nothing was impossible anyway.

"Be ready in a few minutes," Vihaan addressed Aradhya, "we have to visit the chapel of the kingdom's God by the evening."

Aradhya hummed a yes immediately. It came as a shock to Vihaan. She who fought with him seconds ago was now so coolly agreeing to what he was saying.

Aradhya didn't notice herself saying yes as she still thought about possibilities. Of Amar and Vihaan.

.   .   .   .

The whole capital of the kingdom had gathered at the chapel of Devi Durga. The Mother of the kingdom Ashokdhar. The temple was opulent. More so than Aradhya had ever seen. Every inch of the kingdom looked sufficient. Everyone was content but she disliked the uncertainty of kind of the people. What use was economic development without social and mindful development?

Devi Durga stood mightily. A white limestone statue with red and oranges draped deliciously around her ethereal form. Her eyes were thick and black with a round red tilak between her brows. She held every different type of weapon, showing her valour while a bloomed lotus at one of her hands, showcased her feminine charm.

Aradhya and Vihaan stood before the goddess with their head hung. The priests continued with their rituals, the people stood back at watched while Rihit checked the security of the king and the queen.

Vihaan noticed the intrigue in Aradhya's eyes. The one he saw many times and was yet drawn like a fool to it.

"Why are you looking at her like that?" He asked.

"At who?" Aradhya asked while still staring at the astounding goddess before her. Vihaan cocked his brow at her.

"No, I'm just surprised. She seems beautiful."

"She always is. Why?"

"No, it's not that I didn't know about that.  It's my first time seeing such a big deity. We, in Shiladhika, worship Krishna. You know, he stands in the chapel of his own," Aradhya continued with newly found excitement, "he looks so peaceful. With a flute at his lips and a peacock feather at his turban.  He is always dressed either in yellow or orange and on Janmashtami, he is a sight to look at."

Aradhya went off and off about her views on her god. Vihaan listened to her with a gentle smile on his face. She talked as though, Krishna was her long lost love.

Breaking the moment between them was a screech in the crowd. Everything seemed to be distorted. Vihaan literally pulled Aradhya behind him. He looked at Rihit who was already ready with his sword drawn.

A group of five people dressed in black jumped out of the crowd and lunged at Aradhya. Vihaan drew his sword and fought off the guy while Rihit did the same on Aradhya's other side. Vihaan turned to Aradhya and handed both of her daggers to her.

"Let's see if you can fight for real." He said and went off blasting a fighter off. Aradhya turned just in time a sword swung at her and held the daggers strong. The clinks and clangs of the swords resounded throughout the chapel. The one fighting off Aradhya seemed familiar. Aradhya tried her best at fighting off a sword with a dagger and did so efficiently. Well...efficient enough.

The figure somehow had a lot of strength. A lot of methods and tricks. Aradhya tried to unmask the one fighting her but kept failing until finally, she pulled up behind the fighter's back and grabbed the persons face and last the mask fall free.

Aradhya looked broken. She was more flabbergasted than hurt. She never would have expected her attacker to be this person. She would've bet her life on it. But it seemed wrong.

As Aradhya contained her thoughts the person pushed the sword into Aradhya's gut. Not deep enough to kill her but enough to send a threat.

Aradhya fell to the ground as the assassins all evacuated. She bled on the temple floor staining the rock of the pious place with her blood.

All she heard was Vihaan calling out to her and that was the last thing she remembered was the person who attacked her.

The one gentle one.

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