Chapter 6 - A Warrior at War

"I know," Yashvir smirked, making Ahankara's eyes widen. Her brother would kill her if he found out that they had met before, and Ahankara had not even bothered to inform him about it.

"You know...?" Karan Singh frowned.

"I mean that's what I guessed," Yashvir replied. "Khamma Ghanni." Yashvir smirked at her, and even while her brother was standing right beside her, she found him giving her a once over. Ahankara clenched his jaw, glancing at her brother to see if he noticed, but he looked too busy in talking to Kabir.

'Of course,' Ahankara thought to herself, feeling extremely annoyed.

"Khamma, Ghanni, Rajkumari Ahankara," Yashvir repeated each word slowly, slightly leaning in towards her. She startled when he did that, and stepped back, blinking at him in shock. Ahankara could see the glint of mischief in his eyes, and the ghost of a smirk upon his lips. Immediately, she felt her blood boil.

"Ghanni Khamma," she replied through gritted teeth, resisting the urge to slap him across the face.

"You're truly beautiful, Rajkumari. This shade of blue really suits you," Yashvir complimented loudly, making sure even her brother had heard him.

Everyone looked at him in shock, as it was not considered acceptable for any man to comment on a Princess's or a Queen's beauty like that. Ahankara balled her fists, looking at her brother, waiting for him to react. But to her dismay and shock, he did not. Instead, Karan Singh laughed, putting his arm around Ahankara.

"You are right, Yuvraj. My sister is truly beautiful. She has taken exactly after our late mother," Karan Singh smiled, completely waving the remark off as something ordinary.

Ahankara looked up at her brother, shocked and disappointed. Why was he acting like that? Did he have no dignity? Did he forget his morals? Maybe he had, but Ahankara decided that she had not. She gently removed her brother's arm from around herself, and looked up at Yashvir, looking him in the eye.

"Thank you, Yuvraj, but I feel as though you should not be making such remarks about my appearance. It is against the morals of a Prince to do so, and it's truly against the dignity and respect of a Princess," Ahankara replied, and everyone's eyes widened. Everyone's except Yashvir's.

"Ahankara," Karan Singh whispered to her, stealthily grabbing her hand. "Beh-"

"My apologies, Rajkumari," Yashvir announced, before Karan Singh could complete his sentence. "I'm not normally this... Straightforward, but, I just haven't seen any match to your beauty in my entire life. Forgive me if I made you uncomfortable."

Ahankara eyes widened, shocked that the arrogant Prince of Kalang was actually apologizing to her. Before she could even process his words, Karan Singh replied for her.

"Oh, it's absolutely fine, Yuvraj. You don't have to apologize. Ahankara is just a little-"

"She's perfect," Yashvir cut him off once again, and Ahankara clenched her jaw at his words. "A Princess should be strong in her beliefs and ideologies. That is what makes her a great Queen one day."

"Yes, yes," Karan Singh laughed nervously. "But Ahankara is not to become a Queen, at least not at the moment."

"She will be one," Yashvir replied, the determination in his voice sending a chill down Ahankara's spine.

Karan Singh looked confused, but once again decided to wave his comment off.

"Oh, my apologies! What are we doing still standing here? Come, Yuvraj, I'll have the servants escort you all to your rooms. Come," Karan Singh said, changing the topic, as he gestured for them to follow him. He started walking, looking back to make sure they were following him. Kabir, Mahavir and Shivanya immediately did so, but Yashvir lingered there, slowly walking past Ahankara, his gaze set on her.

Ahankara suppressed the urge to look away, to shift her gaze to the ground, but she wasn't willing to give in to his intimidating aura. Not until he softly uttered those words to her, before walking away with a smirk on his face.

"Ahankara will be my Queen, and sooner than you think."

- - - - - -

Ahankara stood still, her eyes widened, her mouth parted in shock. Even though he had walked away from her, she could still hear his words echo in her mind, over and over again, as she stared at his retreating back. Yashvir stopped, and turned around, catching her staring at him. He smirked, before proceeding to wink at her, making her gasp and cover her mouth with her hand. Ahankara felt heat creep up her cheeks, and she turned her face away from him.

Satisfied with her reaction, he walked away with a victorious smile on his face, leaving her alone to panic over his words.

"Haye Raam (Oh God)!" She whispered holding her head, a look of pure horror on her face. She gulped, before holding up her lehenga and dashing to her room.

"Neharika?" She yelled, entering her quarters.

"Yes, Rajkumari?" Neharika hurried to her from the balcony.

"You were right, Neha," she whispered, grabbing her hands. "You were right about him. He's-he's here with a marriage proposal!"

"What?" Neharika exclaimed, mirroring Ahankara's expressions. "Did he say something to Maharaj? Tell me what happened!"

"No," Ahankara shook her head, before gulping. "He... He said to me that I'd become his Queen."

"What?!" Neharika exclaimed in disbelief.

- - - -

"So, Yuvraj," Karan Singh said, as they finally sat down together at the dinner table. "What brings you to my Kingdom?"

Yashvir was not paying attention to his words, his eyes roaming around the room to catch any glimpses of his beloved. But unfortunately, he had not seen her since evening, since the moment he had winked at her.

How adorable she had looked as her cheeks tinted red, and her beautiful brown eyes widened in shock.

Yashvir's lips tugged upwards into a smile, as he stared blankly at Karan Singh's face, not even mentally present in the room.

Kabir kicked his foot from under the table, gaining Yashvir's attention.

"I'm sorry, what?" Yashvir asked, blinking at Karan Singh.

"Is everything alright?" Karan Singh frowned at him. "You seem anxious. Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"

"Yeah," Yashvir nodded, once again looking around. "Call Ahankara. Ask her to join us at dinner."

Karan Singh now raised an eyebrow, clenching his jaw. It was becoming too difficult for him to overlook Yashvir's advances towards his sister. He had remained quiet in respect for the Yuvraj of Kalang, since Kalang was a strong, influential Kingdom. But Yashvir seemed to be testing his patience.

"Yuvraj, do you see any other women present here to dine with us? The Maharani is sick, and thus she won't be able to join us. I'm sure your sister is tired due to the arduous journey, which is why she requested for her dinner to be served to her within her quarters," Karan Singh replied.

"I'm aware. That's why I'm asking you to call Ahankara," Yashvir stated.

Kabir ran his hand over his face in embarrassment, while Mahavir stared at Yashvir in shock.

'What is wrong with this boy today? He's humiliating all of us with himself,' Mahavir thought to himself, clicking his tongue.

"It's Rajkumari, Ahankara," Karan Singh emphasized her title. "And she won't join three men for dinner. It is not suitable for her to do so. I'm sure you are aware of these values and morals, Yuvraj."

"Hmm," Yashvir nodded, unfazed by Karan's Singh's taunt. "Let's get to the point then," he announced, pulling one leg over the other. Karan Singh frowned at him, before raising his eyebrows in question. "I want to marry your sister. Make her my Queen."

Karan Singh instantly stood up from his chair in rage, glaring daggers at him. Mahavir and Kabir stood up as well, but Yashvir barely shifted in his seat, making himself more comfortable, as he calmly stared at Karan Singh.

"How dare you, Yuvraj? How dare you ask for my sister's hand in marriage like that? You have showed up without your elders, without even bothering to notify me your purpose for coming here beforehand. Then you make remarks on my sister's beauty and appearance in front of all the servants. And now you're telling me yourself, that you want to marry her? Do you have no sense of custom, no sense of dignity?" Karan Singh's voice boomed through the dining hall, and all the servants and maids instantly left the room with their heads bowed.

Yashvir quietly stared at Karan Singh for a moment, before slowly standing up as well, fixing his clothes.

"Look, Maharaj," he said sarcastically, "first of all, you see this man? He is the 'elder' I brought from my family. As my late father's younger brother, I think he can be counted as such. And secondly, as far as my sense of custom, is concerned, does it not occur to you, that if I was following customs, and the general practices of royal families, I would not be wanting to marry your sister? I would be marrying some Princess belonging to a vast Kingdom, someone whose riches would further strengthen my land. Not the Rajkumari of Adibar," he mocked.

Karan Singh kicked the chair beside him, before marching up to Yashvir.

"How dare you insult my Kingdom and my sister while standing in my castle? You are not welcome here anymore, Yuvraj Yashvir Rathore! And forget about getting married to Ahankara, I will not even let you breathe in the same air as her! I was keeping my calm, remaining silent in respect of your title, of your Kingdom, but you have proven that you do not deserve it. So I request you, get out of my Kingdom right now. There is no place for you here," Karan Singh declared, looking Yashvir in the eye.

"How dare you insult the Yuvraj?" Kabir yelled, placing his hand on his sword, but Yashvir raised up his hand, stopping him. Mahavir, on the other hand, silently watched the scene unfold, mainly observing the storm brewing in Yashvir's eyes.

"Maharaja Karan Singh," Yashvir said calmly, although his jaw was clenched and his fists were balled. "We will leave your castle whenever you want us to, but I promise you, we will be back within ten days. Now whether we return with a procession," Yashvir looked him straight in the eye, "or with an army, that's up to you."

Karan Singh's eyes widened at his words, and even Kabir and Mahavir were shocked.

"You'll declare war if I don't marry off my sister to you?" Karan Singh asked in disbelief, beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.

"Precisely." Yashvir nodded. "Because if I do not have Ahankara as my Queen, the war that will go on inside me will be far worse than the one that will happen here," he stated.

"And a warrior who is at war with himself, doesn't remain a warrior. He becomes a monster."

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