Warrior Princess; Her Quest to the throne

As per the narrative built by Prithvi, Shaurya was to pose as Bela's son instead of a fellow agent, keeping the identity and details obscure.     

Shaurya inclined his head in respect, but Gayatri was busy scrutinizing him. She stepped ahead and gave him a pat down, checking him for any hidden weapons before looking at Bela a touch apologetically, "He is a stranger!"     

Bela waved her apology away and replied, "Please do the needful."     

Gurukul, Chandragarh     

"What is he doing here?" Vandit frowned and muttered to Ishani as he saw Mriga making way towards the foodhall with Yash.     

Last night, Vandit had just returned after meeting Ishani and found a dazed Abhirath sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall in the common wash area. The poor guy looked as if he had been struck by lightning. It had taken Vandit sometime to get him back to reality and from his broken, awkwardly worded sentences, he figured that the big guy had managed to accomplish the impossible task of conveying his feelings to Mriga after three long years of being in love with her.     

Vandit had spent the next half hour playing love guru to the guy, using his meagre, recent experience. Much to his astonishment, Abhirath had listened to him with rapt attention, almost as if he was making mental notes of the same.     

He had just been on the verge of telling Ishani about it when he saw Mriga with the 'loser'.     

Pushing back the wooden stool, he stood up by the time Mriga made her way to them.     

"Oh! You guys are still here. I thought that I was late," she said absentmindedly.     

Ishani was trying to figure out the situation. She wasn't sure why Yash was here and Mriga seemed to be alright with it. But more surprising was the fact that Vandit was standing in a militant pose looking at the guy, who seemed to be ignoring everything and was busy pulling out the seat for Mriga to sit on.     

"I'll help myself," Mriga stopped Yash.     

"How dare you show your face here? Mriga, I can't believe that you are hanging with this guy, especially after what happened last night," Vandit nearly shouted.     

All three pairs of eyes swung towards Vandit. Surprise, caution and resignation was visible in different sets.     

"Vandit, don't you think you need to tone down your aggression a bit? What's wrong with you?" Ishani whispered, tugging at his sleeve.     

"I just want to eat in peace before I go for my training. If you have a problem, I will go and sit elsewhere," Mriga said to no one in particular.     

"Don't be silly. I think it is the effect of staying in my company for too long that this guy has become overdramatic. Sit down. Yash, you too," Ishani took on the role of the peacemaker since everyone else seemed to not bother with it.     

She pulled Vandit's hand and made him sit down as well. He sat down but kept staring at Yash, shooting daggers through his eyes.     

"Cold puris* taste really bad. Let's eat them while still hot," she tried to take his attention away from the other guy.     

What was wrong with Vandit? He wasn't this confrontational ever. Even if Yash was here, if Mriga didn't have a problem, she wouldn't make a scene out of it, either.     

"You forgot to put the sweets in the breakfast tray," Vandit said suddenly.     

Mriga paused while chewing while Ishani was perplexed again. Vandit didn't like sweets particularly, and he was the one who had filled his own tray. Why was he saying this?     

"Sweets are definitely needed when we are celebrating something. And today calls for a big celebration. My friend proposed to the girl of his dreams after a long period of loving her unconditionally from a distance. All this while he has held only her in his heart and didn't even throw a glance at anyone else. Whether…" in the middle of his speech, Mriga pushed away her seat.     

"Ishani, I am sorry for this. I will see you in the dorm at night. Vandit, I have an extra session with Chiranjeev today and won't be doing the practice with you. Have a good day," with that, she picked up her tray and walked off.     

Yash stared at her retreating back and got up as well.     

But before he could move, Vandit spoke up, "You screwed up your chance. Now it is someone else's turn. So, back-off. And consider yourself lucky that it is me who is saying this right now."     

Yash inclined his head a little and said, "Thanks for the heads-up. Noted!"     

As he also walked away from there, Ishani who had been looking at the proceedings with growing irritation, scowled at Vandit.     

"Well done! I didn't know that you were such a high-handed guy. You are no one to tell Mriga anything or act on anyone's behalf. Who gave you the right to behave in such a manner?" she was breathing fire now.     

"But, Abhi…" he started with hurt in his voice.     

"Yeah yeah, I figured that your dear friend proposed last night. I think all the people sitting within 500 metres distance from this table know it now," she started sarcastically.     

"Tell me something. Is she Abhirath's girlfriend already? More importantly, are you Abhirath? Stop acting so presumptuous," with that, she got up as well.     

She knew that Vandit's heart was in the right place but she had known Mriga for all her girly life. They had grown from giggling children to young ladies, together. She understood her better than anyone else. If Mriga had decided to let Yash stay next to her, she must have a reason. As for Abhirath, she didn't think Mriga had ever seen him in this light before last night. Ishani would wait for her to come back and confide. Ishani had full faith in her judgment. More importantly, she would support her in whatever Mriga decided to do.     

That's what best friends did!     

*Puri - It is a deep-fat fried bread made from unleavened whole-wheat flour