Ineffable Conquest

True Love?

Everyone retreated back to their rooms. Dwayne went to check on Aditi.

'Aditi, are you okay?'

'Yes. It is quite normal for me now. I have always been neglected. Why do you think being a crown princess I am stationed in Southerland? He hates me. He HATES me.'

Dwayne moved close to Aditi. There were tears in her eyes. Dwayne knew that Aditi was a strong woman. But didn't knew she was sensitive too. He hugged her.

'Daring enough to hug the crown princess of Astralaya.'

'I am sorry Aditi. I never thought you were sensitive too.'

'Crown princess of Astralaya isn't sensitive,' said, sulking Aditi.

'But what about Aditi?'

'Maybe. She is sensitive. But who cares for her?'

'I do. I care for you,' said Dwayne with a smile.

'Good flirting big boy,' said Aditi giggling. 'I am not in mood right now.'

'I won't lie, Aditi. I have seen affection in his eyes. He loves you Aditi.'

'I don't see affection in your eyes,' said Aditi annoyingly. 'You don't understand me. You are also like other men. Leave me alone.'

'Think about it,' said Dwayne with pleasant smile.

'About you?'

'About your father. I will take your leave.'

It was a bright full moon. Mahadev had visited Bhavan on the request of Beckett. Eight of them were assembled in a common room. Beckett was fond of poker and invited king Mahadev to play with him. Mahadev was a great player of poker. When he heard that Beckett had invited him for a poker match he couldn't reject him as he was very attached to poker. Aditi was still angry over Dwayne. Dwayne was staring at Aditi.

'I won!! I WON!!!' said Beckett.

'Ahh!! I am so unlucky,' said Mahadev.

'Don't blame your luck father. You didn't play well enough to win.'

'Aditi!! How dare you talk to your father in such a demeaning manner.'

'Truth hurts isn't it?' said Aditi.

'ADITI!!! You teach me about truth,' said Mahadev. 'Then listen the truth, your mother died due to you. After you were born she contacted a very rare uterus disease. The reason for this disease was your BIRTH. She suffered her whole life with this disease. AND DIED DUE TO IT.'

King Mahadev was sobbing while Aditi cried her eyes out. She couldn't believe this truth.

'Where are you going Aditi?' shouted Erica.

'Far away from here,' mumbled, crying Aditi.

'My lord stop her,' said Dwayne in requesting tone. 'She could hurt herself.'

'Let her suffer. I take your leave empress.'

'Mother Erica, I take your leave,' said Dwayne.

'Where are you going my dear son?'

Dwayne left unanswered. He had to search for Aditi in this large palace. He was unsure if she was still in palace. He thought to use his sense of smell. He closed his eyes, he got a peculiar smell which was similar to the scent of Aditi. Her scent was not so strong but Dwayne had a great sense of smell which was strong enough to catch her scent. He followed the scent. She was nearby the palace. Near a small pond. Alone. Hearing Dwayne's steps she got alert and took her sword out. She nearly beheaded him.

'I don't want to die so early,' said, frightened Dwayne.

'How did you find me?' asked, suprised Aditi.

'Hey its Dwayne. Lower your sword.'

'ANSWER my question.'

'I think you are still angry over me.'

'Answer my DAMN question.'

'Scent.'

'What?'

'Your scent my dear.'

'But my scent is so weak. Wait....Dwayne, have you bugged me?'

'Bugged? What do you mean?'

'Tell me Dwayne!'

'Really. My sense of smell is very strong. I can sense slightest of the fragrances.'

'Okay. I trust you. Why are you here?'

'Can you lower your sword. Please!'

'Aah! Y...Yes. S...Sure.'

'Aditi, I care for you.'

'Of course, nobody else followed me. I know you care for me.'

Dwayne caught the scent of Xavier and told Aditi. Xavier was frantically searching for Aditi. He was shouting her name.

Aditi shouted, 'I am here.'

'Woah!' said Xavier. 'Brother Dwayne is here before me. Anyways, can I have a word with both of you?'

'What is it?' said Dwayne.

'Something related to the crown princess,' said Xavier.

'What do you want to tell?' said Aditi.

'I would like to ask a question prior to that,' said Xavier.

'Go ahead,' said Aditi.

'Do you know about your birth?' said Xavier. 'Was it normal?'

'My birth was absolutely normal,' said Aditi. 'Mother had a normal delivery.'

'Oh!' said Xavier. 'There isn't any uterus disease which is caused due to natural delivery of the baby. If a baby has a normal delivery then uterus is also healthy. Only chance is that she might have contacted any infection. But each and every infection of uterus has cure. I think your father has been misguided by someone.'

'What do you mean?' said Dwayne.

'Uterus diseases cannot be contacted due to a child's birth. There are no such uterus diseases which are caused due to the birth of a healthy child. Also there are less uterus diseases which are fatal. None of them are associated to healthy child's birth.'

'Someone wants that my father should hate me,' said Aditi. 'Who would have done that?'

'So your highness,' said Xavier. 'Your mother's death has no connection to your birth. I will take your leave.'

'Sure,' said Aditi. 'Thanks for helping me out, Xavier.'

'Your welcome,' said Xavier.

Xavier had left but had left behind an awkward silence. Aditi was now sure that somebody had plotted against her father. She saw Dwayne waiting patiently to talk with her.

'What were you saying, Dwayne?' said Aditi. 'Even Xavier cares for me.'

'Erm...I.....I admire you,' stuttered Dwayne.

'Yes I know that you admire me. You told me truth even when I was in a bad mood. People who admire you always tell you truth no matter what the situation might be. Yes I know my father loves me. This is the reason why he kept a secret from me. It hurts, Dwayne. It hurts.'

Aditi hugged Dwayne.

'You truly admire me,' whispered Aditi.

'Ahem. You didn't understand me quite well.'

What do you mean?'

'What I...I mean is....'

'I am hearing, Dwayne,' said Aditi laughing sheepishly.

(Damn!!! He is going to propose her. She is going to say YES. Did my prediction go wrong. No, maybe its not Aditi. Mahadev and Swarada are still under suspicion.)

Dwayne said, 'I love you.'

Aditi replied, 'It maybe possible you just got attracted to me because I am beautiful. It maybe possible that you just want to further marry me because you know I am crown princess of Astralaya.'

'Aditi, I admit you are beautiful. But you aren't the first beautiful woman I met. I admit you are the crown princess of Astralaya but...but then I can pledge on the name of my father and the supreme god that I do not intend to gain any materialistic gain from you. I don't need any of your comforts. I just need you my dear....just you.'

'Why do you love me? How can I be sure you really love me?

'What do you intend to know?' enquired Dwayne.

'Reason and guarantee of your love.'

'Father loves his children because they are his creation. No matter how good or bad they be, he knows that they are his children, his creation. Father always cares for his children. Some maybe strict, some maybe angry while some maybe OVERPROTECTIVE. He just loves you the way you are because he has no other alternative. You are his creation and he is your creator. Mother loves her children because of the 9 month bond she forms with the child. All this 9 months mothers are always caring, protective, loving and affectionate. You maybe angry over them for 100 reasons but she would be the first one to note your hunger. She puts her life before her children because her love is selfless. Siblings love you not because you have same parents but because you share the same house. They love you because you support them no matter what the world thinks of them. You believe in them. You motivate them. Siblings are your best friends. You choose friends according to your choices. You have freedom to choose your friends. They maybe of different race, class, views but you may still befriend them. But life partner is different. You love your life partner because you get connected emotionally. It is because you understand your partner's happiness, pain and pleasure. Life partner is the one with whom we plan our future. The reason is because you understand them. You can change for them. You change them. I am emotionally connected to you, Aditi. My love is as selfless as a mother. My love is as caring as a father. My love is as supporting as a sibling. My love is as motivating as a friend. My love is as understanding as a life partner. I just love you!! I cannot prove my love dear. My love for you isn't so cheap that I need to prove it. Just look into my eyes. Look into them. They reflect the person I am. They reflect my love for you. I promise you they won't lie.'

All these words were straight from Dwayne's heart in a single breath. He was not a philosophical guy. He was not a flirt. He was a lover. A true lover. They were his emotions for Aditi. She looked into his eyes. She saw care, affection, protection and love in Dwayne's eyes. She hugged him. She kissed him. A deep kiss. Eyes closed, universe had slowed down for both of them.

They parted due to lack of breath. They just felt their presence. Dwayne looked into Aditi's eyes. Aditi was craving for love. She had found one. Dwayne was still desperate. She was even more desperate than him. She hugged him even more tighter.

'Your are so warm darling.'

'Dwayne,' said Aditi blushingly.

'True Darling.'

'D....Dwayne. I love you too darling but I must share a confession first.

'Yes my dear.'

'I have been cheated couple of times in past. I was young. I had no idea what love means. They took advantage of it. One after the other made a fool of me. When I was a student in anonymity a guy proposed me. I accepted him. But when I spied, I came to know that he didn't love me instead was after my beauty. Another one knew that I was from royal family. He took advantage of my trauma during my breakup and consoled me. I fell for him. I spied over him too. Turned out he was after my royal lineage. I never found true love. I was always loved for my beauty or due to my royal lineage.'

'Thank you for sharing your past with me. I will ensure that this never comes between us. I also promise you that you have the right to kill me if I am unfaithful to you.'

'Of course I will kill you if you are unfaithful,' said Aditi with a wry smile on her face.

'Okay. I will ensure you don't kill me.'

'D...Dwayne I want to let you know that I am not a virgin.'

(Wow quite a revelation.)

This was quite shocking for Dwayne but it was quite normal that one would lose their virginity before marriage. He was fine with it as he thought he was quite broad minded. He respected Aditi even more because she confessed about her virginity. But in Sech many royal marriages had been cancelled due to premarital affairs. There was a social stigma over virginity. But Dwayne accepted Aditi.

'Okay,' said Dwayne.

'You don't have any problem.'

'No not at all. I love you dear not your virginity.'

'That's sweet of you. I want you to keep my virginity a secret.'

'Obviously why would I tell that to anyone.'

'So.....What next?'

'Marriage?'

'YES!!'

'Daara....' said the heavy masculine voice.

'Wait...You are going to ask some questions.'

'Daara. Don't interrupt when we speak,' said the feminine voice.

'This is your stay,' said the husky voice. 'We will accompany you tomorrow morning. Refresh yourself. As more mysteries unravel. We take your leave.'

'Wait....' said Daara.

(Vanished. How many magical powers do they possess. There is someone. I could feel a presence.)

Who are you? Come out.

(Who is it? Why do I feel frightened? Why am I sweating?)