Agni, Astra, Vaayu

They entered in horse tribe where all the horses of Jwalana palace were kept. But there was another special place where the horses belonging to the members of the Kumar family were kept. The tribe was big with a big open land for horses to run and play. The rest of the horses are also released there at a set time so that they can move around and get fresh air.

Raksheet led Ira towards the horses of kumar family.

"Ira, Meet Astra, he is grandfather's horse." Raksheet said, standing infront of Astra and stroking his forehead.

Astra is a black and elegant horse. His height is slightly more than normal horses. His legs are strong. Just a look at him shows how powerful he is. His skin was shining in the sunlight and his hairs are long and silky.

Ira placed her hand on Astra's forehead and slowly strokes it.

Raksheet was watching her quietly, admiring her love for animals.

"How old he is?" She asked.

"27, he is 27 years old. In all the bottles grandfather has fought in the last 18 years, Astra has always accompanied him. He is the bravest and strongest horse in tribe. He even got some wounds in battle but he is a warrior." He replied.

"Nice." She said while noding "Where is your Agni?" She asked, looking at him.

"Behind you." He replied while controlling his smile.

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and turned around. As soon as she looked back, Agni was standing right infront of her face. She got startled by seeing him so close and immediately stepped back.

Seeing her reaction, he started laughing.

"Stop laughing! Why he was standing behind me like that?!" She asked, breathing heavily and looking at Agni in disbelief.

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't informed you about him standing behind you. I am sorry." Raksheet replied, holding back his laugh "He already saw us entering in tribe so he came towards us but i stopped him. But he is a stubborn kid, he slowly came towards us and stood behind you."

"Why didn't you tell me he is standing behind me?" She asked.

"I wanted to see your reaction." He replied, trying hard not to laugh.

"Huh? My reaction? What if i had a heartattack?" She asked in anger.

Raksheet walked towards Ira and wrapped his one hand around her waist "You are not that weak. But still, i am sorry. I won't do it again."

She pushed him away "You already promised me you will not make fun of me. You broke your promise in such a short time? I don't want to talk to you." She turned around, back facing him, not wanting to look at him.

He widened his eyes as soon as he remembered his promise. He grabbed Ira's shoulder and tried to turn her arround to face him. But whenever he tried to turn her around, she again turned back. He had no choice except moving from his place and standing infront of her to make her look at him.

She was about to turn away but he held her hand and stopped her. He cupped her face and spoke "I am sorry. I am really sorry. I didn't meant to break my promise."

She shrugged his hands off her face "But you broke your promise."

He clicked his tongue, regretting promissing her about something he can't stop doing. "I am sorry. Look, Agni is watching us. What will he think when he will find out that we are fighting because of him? He will be sad." He pointed towards Agni. The poor soul who have to take the blame on himself to save his master.

Ira narrowed her eyes and glared at Raksheet "Agni? He didn't do anything. He won't think anything. He is just a horse."

"No. He is not just a horse. He is my best friend. He can understand my words, my feelings." Raksheet walked towards Agni and kissed his forehead.

Ira tilted her head "How can he understand your words? Animals can't understand our language."

Raksheet looked at her and raised his one eyebrow "Why? Can't your Vaayu understand your words?"

Hearing Vaayu's name, Ira's expression changed. She fell silent. She looked down at ground, thinking about Vaayu. His face was appearing in her mind, the memories she made with him. How he used to listen to her talks whenever she feel sad or lonely. She is the only one who can ride on him. How is he? Is he ok? Does anyone take care of him? Veer doesn't bother him, does he?.....Do he miss her?

She looked up at him with her moist eyes "How do you know about Vaayu?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"Your grandfather told my grandfather and he told me." He walked towards her "Do you miss him?" He asked in a soft voice.

She nod, trying hard not to cry.

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her. He stroke her head to console her. "I am sure he miss you too."

As soon as he hugged her, Ira burst into tears. She grabbed his shirt tightly, sobbing silently.

"Don't cry. If you want to meet him, i will take you to Aaro. You can meet him there." He suggested.

She shook her head "N-No. It's fine. No need t-to go there. It's not appropriate for us t-to go to my parents house j-just after our marriage. I-I am just worried for him. Is he fine?" She replied, her head resting on his chest.

Raksheet furrowed his eyebrows "Of course, he is fine there. Why do you think he wouldn't be okay there?"

Ira broke the hug and wiped the tears from her eyes. "My brother.....my brother don't like him. He won't miss any chance to trouble him, to give him pain."

Hearing that her own brother don't like her horse, he looked at her shocked "What?! Why? He is just a innocent animal, what he did to your brother to hate him?"

She smiled bitterly. There is nothing she can hide now. He will know it someday anyway. "Vaayu didn't do anything to him. It's me, because of me, my Vaayu have to suffer."

He narrowed his eyes in confusion. He was unable to understand what Ira is talking about. "What do you mean?"

"My brother don't like me." She finally opened the biggest secret of her life that her family hate her. "No, he hate me. He hate everything which is connected to me. Even if it's my innocent Vaayu. He hate him too. When i was in Aaro kingdom, Veer often tried to create problems for Vaayu and me. He didn't let him eat peacefully. He sometimes didn't give him food. He used to make him stand in the burning sunlight for all day." Her heart ached when she recalled all the heartbreaking memories in which Vaayu had to suffer a lot because being her only friend.

Raksheet clenched his fist in anger. He hate it when someone torture an animal or a weak individual. But he is more angry because the animal he is hearing about is Ira's beloved Vaayu. His wife's sad face made him boil in anger at the person who had hurted her.

"Do you want me to bring Vaayu here, so you can see him everyday and take care of him." He asked.

She quickly shook her head "No. I can't bring him here because my grandfather want him to stay there.....He will miss me even more if Vaayu comes here. He will feel alone if Vaayu leave him how i left him.....Let him stay there, My grandfather will take care of him how he took care of me. He can't stay with Vaayu all the time but he can take care of him as much as he can." She chuckled "My Vaayu can protect himself. If Veer tried to hurt him, he will show whom he is messing with."

Raksheet slightly bent his back so that he can match Ira's height. "It means, he is as strong as his master."

She smiled brightly through the tears and nod "Yes, as strong as his master."

Before Raksheet can say anything more, Agni interrupted them to gain their attention.

Neigh!

He looked at Agni and stood straight "Oh, so you feel left out?" He asked, rubbing Agni's back.

He then turned his gaze towards Ira "Princess, do you want to ride?"

She looked at him surprised "What? Me? No, i can't."

"Come on, i know you can ride a horse. Your grandfather gave us all the information about you."

'All? Your head!' She thought.

"But how can I ride in a gown?" She asked, holding her gown with both of her hands and showing it to him.

"Ah.....that's right." He replied in disappointed tone. He thought for a while and then spoke "We can ride together. You can sit behind me." He suggested.

Ira thought about his suggestion before answering. she looked at him, he was having a big smile on his face, hoping that she will agree to ride together. Seeing her husband smile so brightly, she didn't wanted to disappoint him again so she just nod in agreement. "Ok. As you wish."