9 9. The Night of the Festival

Back at the royal premises, both Zaharia and Vinasaka appeared as if nothing happened. When Amir returned, all the siblings were asked to gather at the court where the king and the queen were already present. Of course the queen couldn’t come on her own so she was helped by her attendants. It was the monarch of the diamond kingdom who was about to arrive shortly.

“What could be the matter, father? Is everything alright between both kingdoms?” Amir enquired since the monarch himself was coming.

“Oh no! It’s a happy occasion, nothing to be afraid of. In fact this will only lead the two kingdoms to get closer to each other,” the king’s voice sounded really energetic and all of them probably got a hint regarding what it was all about.

About half an hour later, there was a lot of commotion outside the royal palace gates and the guards soon announced the arrival of the Diamond kingdom.

The kingdom of diamond and hearts were long friends since both the kings had known each other since their gurukul days, have fought alongside in the battlefields and thus would be only happy to be able to turn relatives from friends. They greeted each other warmly. However there was one more person who came with him, the younger brother of King Saudis, Lord Aryan. He was well known across kingdoms for his teleportation skills, one of the best skills used in battles. Since he wasn’t quite adept in martial arts and sword fighting unlike his older brother, the two together would always make an amazing duo.

Amir didn’t refuse when he was asked his opinion, more like he couldn’t, could he? Maybe the relation was enforced to strengthen the ties between the two kingdoms but refusing it could make things worse. However, they were still young, so there was enough time till they actually got married.

Zaharia was still in detention and all she kept thinking was about the crazy turn of events that took place that day. She was quieter than normal so Amir thought that maybe he had been too strict with her. One night, when Zaharia was star-gazing outside her pavilion, Amir approached her quietly from behind and before making an appearance himself, held out a doll from behind in front of her.

At the first glance, she couldn’t stop her smile but when she realised her lips curving automatically, she held them back and stiffened her body and face and said, “Brother, you know I have no interest in these things!”

“Then why don’t you start having interest?” Amir sat beside her, disappointed by the fact that she wasn’t too surprised. She held the doll in her hands and stared at it, hard, when her brother said, “Forgive your brother.” The very words surprised her and caught her off guard. She instantly lifted her head to look at her brother with a startled look on her face. “I think I have been too harsh on you,” Amir spoke quietly but Zaharia rapidly waved her hands to show that he was wrong, “NONONONOOOOO why would you think that? I know it was wrong of me...it’s just that,” she stopped mid-speech but Amir knew what kind of guilt she was holding in. He took her hands in his and assured her, “Whatever happened with Mihas...just know it’s not your fault, okay?”

“Still, the fact that I was the reason doesn’t change. I just want to protect him.” Amir smiled and rubbed her hands, “I know.... you are a good sister,” and like that they decided to keep watching the stars for a little while longer before they retired to their own chambers.

Days passed and it was finally the festival of lights. Everywhere was decorated with lights, different types, sizes and colours. It was said that these lights were holy and the festival was to scare away the evil. It was a huge festival for the kingdom of hearts. Even people from other kingdoms would come to visit the town.

Vinasaka would normally return before nightfall every day, but Mir asked him to come with him to the town if he could. It would be really fun with both of them enjoying themselves together. Vinasaka honestly didn’t want to refuse at all but he was especially not allowed to go out during this time of the year and for the first time he didn’t know why. He had no other options but to refuse. If only Amir didn’t return so quickly every day, then he could have easily sneaked out.

But it looks like finally his chance had arrived.

The third day of the festival, when the crown princess of the diamond kingdom had visited the kingdom of hearts, Amir was to take her out to look around the town. Now that they were engaged, both the heart kingdom and the diamond kingdom would often interact with each other, be it in terms of trade, or local people or even royals. The entire street kept stealing glances at the two royals who walked awkwardly beside each other without a word, followed by ten or more guards and personal attendants. It was nothing more than two strangers engaged with each other. Even if their fathers were close, there was hardly any time that they had visited each other before, apart from may be, once in their childhood when the crown princess sneaked a peek at him when he came to the diamond kingdom with his father, the royal highness.

People around them gaped and even stopped to look at them, occasionally complimenting the pair. Vinasaka took this opportunity and sneaked out with his little friend. Mir looked quite happy and both of them strolled through the streets without anybody staring at them or trying to recognise. It was peaceful and nice. They walked together looking at different types of decorations around them. But as they were nearing a temple, strangely Vinasaka stopped and the next moment he was on the ground clutching his hand.....actually clutching the bracelet in his hand which had tightened its grip suddenly.

The smoke of the incense burner, the smell of the consecrated fire, the burning woods all mixed together with the sounds of the holy bells alerted them of the vigorous ritual taking place inside. Mir held onto Vinasaka who screeched in pain but tried hard not to make any sound but gradually kneeled on the ground holding his hand. Mir didn’t ask him what was wrong anymore. He had already seen him avoiding the questions for days now, so he somehow, after a lot of efforts picked him up and left.

They were still young so their wizardry wasn’t developed completely. Therefore, Mir’s magic could only carry them a little, though thankfully it looked like they reached near the woods. He had to literally drag Vinasaka to the cave himself, not to mention that he had used up all his spiritual energy and how he was just left with Vinasaka half passed out in front of him. At least, it looked like it stopped hurting, so he just sighed in relief and crashed beside him.

The next morning when Mir woke up, he blinked several times in order to grasp the situation they were in and when he realised that he fell asleep in the cave, he almost tried to jump up but found something obstructing his movement. Beside him, was Vinasaka who looked like he was having a good night’s sleep. He was facing Mir and his hands clasping Mir’s sleeve only brought a light chuckle to the later, the sound of which slightly disturbed Vinasaka’s sweet dreams and he opened one of his eyes to find a shabby part of the cave. Upon a little more movement, he found Mir’s smiling face closer than he had ever seen it. He jerked himself away and finally Mir could sit up.

“Wait....! Where are we? ....why were we sleeping together?” Vinasaka actually realised a little late.

“How is your hand? Does it hurt?”Mir said without looking at him.

“My hand?” He tried hard to remember and when he finally did, he held his head with his hands, “Ahhh geez, I should have listened!”

“I think you should return as soon as possible,” Mir reminded him another important thing which he seemed to have completely forgotten and just as he heard the words, Vinasaka’s eyes grew rounder and rounder until he shouted, “HOLLYYY CRAPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!! It’s probably going to be my last day in the world.” He suddenly turned to Mir and said, “It was nice knowing you Mir, if I am alive, we will meet again but if we don’t could you at least make me some sweets for offering. My birthday is due in five days.”

Mir couldn’t help but laugh, “You act too much!”

With that they parted, but indeed that might not have been entirely acting. As he reached near the royal gates, he saw the guards were running around frantically ,and close behind them were Zaharia and Mihas standing with Amir, faces tensed up like never seen before. He was so dead...