TRIP(IV)

Everyone had their lunch and got requirements ready for making the lanterns. Abhi helped Ashmita clean the free space in front of the house. Rishi, Maira and Raj went to the backyard to get some clay. Sangeeta brought water and started making charcoal by burning out wood. Finally they all settled down and started making lanterns.

"Prince Rishi. Are you married?" Raj asked suddenly.

Rishi, who was mixing clay and water, startled and gave a weird look at Raj. Ashmita stopped what she was doing and eagerly waited for Rishi's answer with her face down. Abhi and Maira also paid attention as they've never thought about this before.

*Ahem* "No. Not even once." Rishi said awkwardly. Ashmita sighed unknowingly.

"Any plans to maintain a harem?" Raj asked him again. Sangeetha frowned at Raj.

Rishi choked on his own saliva and got to thinking, 'Man.. What is his problem? Why is he asking such a question? I didn't even think about a single girl until I saw Ashmitha. How could I think about a harem?'

"No Raj.. Not at all. My father already had strict laws made about marriages after he came to the throne. Also we don't allow consorts. Since you've asked, I am going to have only one wife all my life. Actually, not this life alone but many lives after this", Rishi replied with proud sense.

The old couple nodded and smiled at each other. "Good young man. I really appreciate your thoughts. Never go back on your words whatever the situation could be", Raj told with a friendly smile.

Rishi smiled back and nodded his head in approval.

"Now what about you Abhi? When are you going to get married?" Raj asked deliberately.

Abhi who is helping Maira and making his own lantern looked at Raj with puzzlement and thought, 'Old man. Please don't pull my leg'.

"I didn't think of it yet. Will see when time comes" Abhi said while looking around.

"Hoo.. Ok then. What about you two? Did your old man start seeing any matches for you?" Raj attacked Maira and Ashmita.

"What?? NO!" both of them shouted.

"Ok let it be. That old man didn't think about you. Don't worry, this grandpa and grandma here will find your perfect matches. What do you say Sangeetha?" Raj said while looking at Sangeetha

'This man. He never changes at all. Thinking himself as a cupid and making matches. Sigh. This habit of his!' Sangeetha thought to herself and played along with him. She said with a smile "Of course. I know few princes names we will gather more information and arrange a swayamvaram".

"WHAT????" Now both Rishi and Abhi shouted.

"What? What young men? As responsible grandparents we are discussing our granddaughter's marriage. Do you have any problems?" Raj asked while raising his eyebrow and with an authoritative voice.

Rishi and Abhi nod upwards and downwards at the sametime and silently drop their heads down.

'Ahhhh. This old man..! Why is he thinking of their marriage now? Does he want me to die with anger? I need sometime to clear my feelings about Feisty and here he is fixing matches? Sigh. God, did I avenge this old man in my past life?' Rishi thought to himself and cried inwardly.

'Marriage. No old man no you can't do this.. I want to express my feelings to Maira and I want to make her mine forever. But here you are spoiling my future. Please old man don't do this? Good heavens, please bless me with the courage to express my feelings to Maira before something bad happens' Abhi praying to the gods and crying his heart out.

"Seriously Raj? Are you really ready to give me away to someone? What about the promise you made for me?" Ashmita asked faking sad expressions.

"You brat. How dare you flirt with my husband in front of me. Huh?" Sangeetha said while folding Ashmita's ears and twisting them gently.

"Ouch.. Lotus it hurts! ok, I won't do that again!!" Ashmita said while laughing.

"Good," Sangeetha said. The atmosphere got lightened and everyone started laughing. Amidst their laughter they made clay lanterns. They burnt them and kept them aside to set for sometime.

"Ok young people.Today evening the market opens with a variety of shops. So you all can go and enjoy it. At night we all can go to the lake and lit our lanterns", Raj suggested and everyone happily agreed.

In the evening the four people went out to watch the evening market. On the way Maira asked, "Ashmita, who is this grandpa? How do you know about him?".

"Sis.. That's a long story. I will tell you in short. Raj Grandpa is the childhood friend of our grandpa. He used to be a commander in the army and his skills were extraordinary. In fact he got the name Simha for his tremendous contributions to our kingdom. And the most important thing is they had a love marriage." Ashmita explained.

"Aww.. Really? A love Marriage?" Maira exclaimed with shock.

"Yes. And do you know who helped him for his marriage? Our Grandfather" Ashmita said excitedly.

"My god this is really shocking news", Maira said with wide eyes.

"So he was a commander! No wonder he looks very fit in this age also. Is it after retirement he settles down here?" Abhi asked.

"Yes.This is the place where he was born. He is the one who takes all of us here whenever he has time,'' Ashmita said with a smile.

"So all of your team members visited here?" Rishi asked.

Ashmita nodded and they reached the market which is very crowded and lively. Everyone opened their stores and people are purchasing and bargaining things. Children are running across the street and buying some snacks.

"Ok first we will eat. I am famished and later we will buy some things like clothes, pearls and other things for our friends and family", Ashmita said happily.

The trio nodded and agreed with Ashmita's plan. They happily skipped through the food stalls and ate all the different varieties.

"Slow down you glutton. Seriously, how are you so thin even with all that eating you do?" Maira said while patting Ashmita's head.

Ashmita slowed down and said, "That's God's gift, Sis. Everyone doesn't have it" before placing a large piece of chicken into her mouth.

'Seriously? Is there such a thing at all or Ashmita is using her brain?' Abhi thought to himself.

'Feisty.. Why are you this adorable? Sigh. I've never seen such an unladylike girl in my life but still.. you are cute!' Rishi thought to himself and smiled.

They bought all the gifts they wanted to bring to everyone, had snacks full to their neck and most importantly they had a wonderful time together.