She shifted her gaze from book to the door.
"Come in." She said to the maid who was standing at the door with her head low. Ira again turned her gaze towards book.
The maid stepped in "Your highness, his majesty is calling you down stairs. Someone has come to meet you from Aaro."
As soon as she heard Aaro's name, she quickly looked at that maid. her hands trembled. The book she was holding was about to fall but she controlled herself. Placing the book aside, she stood up.
"A-Aaro? Did you said Aaro?" Her voice trembled. She thought she heard it wrong.
"Yes your highness, someone has come to meet you from Aaro kingdom." The maid replied.
"Who?" Ira walked towards the maid and asked eagerly. She was happy, confused but excited too. May be finally she can see a familiar face. "Has....has my grandfather come?" Her eyes gleamed with hope as soon as she asked the question.
The only one who can come this far for her, and waste his time for her is her grandfather. He is the only one who love her so much that he don't care what people will say if he come to visit his granddaughter just after her marriage.
"Sorry your highness, i can't tell you. His majesty asked you to come and see by yourself." The maid refused to answer because it was her king's order.
"Move!" She quickly ran out of the chamber and went towards stairs.
When she reached the stairs, she saw a familiar figure standing in the palace hall with her in-laws. She can't see the person's face because he was back facing her but she still recognised the person infront of her. After all, she spend her childhood getting pampered by him.
She covered her mouth with her hand, tears started to form in her eyes. she quickly ran down the stairs and went towards that person.
"Grandfather!" She called.
As soon as he heard Ira's voice, he turned around. Seeing his granddaughter after almost a week which is a long time for him, a uncontrollable smile appeared on his face. He opened his arms wide to welcome his granddaughter in his embrace after a long time.
Ira quickly hugged him tightly as if she met him after decades and don't want him to leave her. She buried her face in his chest, tears flowing down from her eyes uncontrollably.
Viraaj wrapped his arms around Ira's shoulder and stroke her head. He was trying to control his emotions but his affection towards her is so much that he missed her too much in such a short time and can't control his tears now. His eyes were moist and his heart that was feeling heavy till now because of worrying and missing his granddaughter, suddenly became calm as soon as he saw her.
"Ira, my child, how are you? Did you missed your grandfather?" He asked in a soft voice, still stroking Ira's head gently.
She nod, sobing silently in his embrace.
"I missed you too." He said and hugged her tightly. He placed a kiss on her forehead and then rested his head on hers.
Others were standing aside quietly to not disturb Ira and Viraaj's emotional moment. Letting them enjoy their reunion.
Ira was sitting in a guest chamber with her grandfather. Her head was resting on his chest as she was hugging him. He was stroking her head gently with his right hand and his other hand was on her shoulder.
"Ira..." Viraaj spoke.
"Hm?" She tilted her head to see his face.
"Are you happy?" He asked.
She smiled brightly and again rested her head on his chest. "Of course. how can i not be happy when you are with me? I love you grandfather, i love you so much that your presence is enough for me to live my life peacefully. I don't want anything."
Viraaj smiled after hearing her answer. He patted her shoulder "I know i know. I love you too my child but i am not asking you if you are happy because i am here."
"Then why are you asking if i am happy or not?"
"Because i want to know if you are happy in Jwalana, with your new family."
She fell silent. After seeing her grandfather, She almost forgot that she is in Jwalana with her new family. Her grandfather's embrace made her feel like home in which she grew up.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering. "I am happy. Everyone is so kind and caring. They respect me, love me, and care for me. I am really so much happy here, but....." She looked up at her grandfather's face "I miss you, i miss you everyday." She looked down again as her eyes began to burn in urge to cry.
Viraaj cupped her face with one hand and made her look at him. "I miss you too, everyday and every moment. The palace feel lifeless since you left. Everything is there but you are always missing. My eyes longed for just a glimpse of you and the longing to see you brought me here. I wanted to make sure that you are happy. I trust his majesty Abhiveera and his family but still, i can't control my protective nature towards you."
"And after hearing that you are happy here, i am so much relieved. Your happiness and protection, that's all I want. My blessings are always with you, and i am too. I know your in-laws are good people but still, if you have any problem, don't forget that your grandfather is always there for you. I will always stand by you no matter what the situation is."
She smiled with her teary eyes and nod. "I know." whispered.
He smiled and patted her head. He kissed her forehead, stroking her arm gently.
"Ah, i forgot. I have a gift for you." He mentioned the gift Ira's mother sent for her as he broke the hug and went towards his bags.
Ira chuckled "Grandfather, You've already brought so many gifts, now one more?"
Viraaj took out a small bundle bag and went towards her "Yes, but it's not from me, it's from your mother."
Hearing that her mother sent a gift for her, Ira became silent. She stared at the small bag her grandfather was holding. When she was in Aaro, she hardly got any gifts from her mother. Before her mother could give her anything, Veera would come in between and snatch it from her.
According to Veera, Ira don't deserve any gift or love from anyone. She is just a burden the whole family has to bear.
"What is it?" She stood up from her seat, still staring at that bag blankly as if she don't expect her mother can give her something expensive or precious.
Viraaj sighed softly, knowing what Ira is feeling. He opened the bag and took out a pair of wristlet.
As soon as Ira saw that wristlet, her eyes widened. She quickly looked at her grandfather with questioning eyes.
"H-How? Why?!" She asked, feeling anxious and shocked at the same time.
"Because you deserve it." Viraaj replied calmly. He held Ira's shoulder and made her sit on the sofa behind her. "Sit down. I tell you everything."
Ira sat down and quickly held her grandfather's hand. "Grandfather, why did you brought it here?! Didn't father and Veera stopped you?! Why mother gave it to me?! She should give it to Veera or else Veera will fight with mother! Grandfather, take it back. I don't want it." She asked so many questions one after another that it seems like she lost her mind after seeing those wristlets.
He held her both shoulders again and tried to calm her down "Ira, my child, calm down. Calm down. Nothing will happen. You don't have to worry. Everything is fine. No one knows that i brought this wristlet here."
Ira got even more worried and quickly stood up in schock "What?! No one know that you brought it here?! What you did grandfather, you should not have done this. What when they will find out about it? Mother will be in a big trouble. Veera and father will make her regret her decision of giving it to me. Please grandfather take it back. I don't want my mother to suffer because of me."
Viraaj held Ira's hand and made her sit down again "I told you, nothing will happen. I will handle everything. Your mother want to give it to you because you deserve it. You are the right owner of this wristlet."
He looked at the wristlet he was holding "When you were young, I thought I would give it to you when you get married. But the way things turned out, I felt that I might not be able to give it to you. I was very sorry. But what would I do? I didn't want to put you in trouble. That's why I had given up the hope of giving it to you." He looked up at Ira. "But when your mother brought this wristlet to me, that hope rekindled."
"Trust me Ira, you deserve it. Only you deserve it!" He tried to convince her to accept the gift her mother sent for her but he wasn't lying. Ira truly deserve her family wristlet.
"But grandfather, Veera? She will-" before Ira can finish, Viraaj interrupted her.
"I told you. Nothing will happen. I will handle it and will make sure no one will say a word to your mother." Viraaj reassured her so that she won't worry and will accept the wristlet.
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