Devika went downstairs, thinking about what she should do to secure her safety and her family's future. She remembered that in her last lifetime she always was carefree. Her aunt and her father had never let her worry about anything or do anything taxing. Devika realised that she must become stronger now and support her family, unlike her previous life where everyone supported her.
Devika went in search of her father. He always did a series of exercises every morning to stay fit and was currently in the training area, doing the same. When King Nanda saw Devika heading towards him, he was surprised. Devika had always avoided exercising after learning basic self defence, so seeing her in the training area today was a surprise.
"Little one, what are you doing here today?" Nanda asked her.
"Father, I have realised my mistake. I was too weak and hence accidentally got hurt while rescuing Crown Prince Bhadra Kumar of Gauda. I want to start training as a warrior like you." Devika replied, her small face earnest.
King Nanda smiled and said, "Devika, every child of the royal family undergoes the basic self defence training. That training is hard enough by itself and you used to skip it whenever you can. To train as a warrior is very difficult, it requires patience and endurance. Would you still be willing to take up the training? Think about it once, my dear."
"Father, I understand the difficulties and I assure you that I will stick to the training despite of all the problems. Have faith in me. Please, Father... I humbly request you." Devika spoke, her tone very soft yet firm.
On any normal day, King Nanda could hardly ignore what Devika wanted and when she asked him so desperately, his resistance flew out the window. However he didn't think that she would complete her training. He was sure that she would leave this incomplete but he still gave in to her demands and called his highly decorated general Abhay. He was present in the training area itself, overlooking the training of his lead warriors. He came and bowed to King Nanda showing his respect.
"Rise Abhay. I saw you are training with your lead warriors today. How is the training shaping them up?" Nanda asked him. Devika observed that her father's voice was very friendly when talking with this General. Usually King Nanda had to maintain his kingly appearance and couldn't show familiarity with his subjects. She felt that this person was very familiar, but she couldn't place where and when she had met him.
Devika understood that this person held her father's confidence and belief. She glanced at the General, studying him with serious eyes. She could see there were marks of war left on the back of his hand and his arms. There was a scar on his face from his left eye to his jawline. It made him look scary and sinister. But she could also see the respect that the General's eyes held for her father and she deduced that he was not a bad person. When he looked at her, Devika offered him a smile. Surprised he also gave her a genuine smile in return.
"My daughter, Devika, wants to start training as a warrior. Do you think you would be able to teach her?" Nanda asked him.
"How can I ever turn down your request, Your Majesty?" General Abhay replied.
"Why are you referring to me so formally Abhay?" Nanda asked him. This sentence surprised Devika even more and she looked up at her father.
"Sorry, my friend. Some habits die hard." he replied before turning to Devika. He bent down to her height and said, "Little Princess, I have known you since you were barely a toddler. I had to go away to take care of a small problem and was not able to see you till now."
"It is okay Uncle Abhay. I am pleased to meet you now." Devika replied calmly.
Abhay was surprised at her behaviour. He had expected that his face would scare her a bit. He didn't expect a 7 year old child to be so brave. He laughed loudly and patted her on the head gently.
"Little Princess, once you start training under me, you will refer to me as General. On the training arena, I am not your uncle. Also your training would be complete when I say and not when you want. In simpler words once the training starts, you cannot quit halfway. Would that be fine with you?" he asked her straightforward.
"Yes, General Abhay. Father told me that warrior training is difficult but I still want to undergo the training. Please help me." Devika requested.
General Abhay nodded thoughtfully and said to King Nanda, "Let's start her training from tomorrow. I guess she must have appropriate clothing for training. Can that be arranged in such short time, Your Majesty?"
Nanda nodded with a smile and then left the training area with little Devika. His feet turned naturally to the small temple in the east end of the palace. Devika's aunt, Gayatri, was present in the temple with the priest, all ready for morning prayers. She entered the temple and stood next to her aunt while her father stood on Devika's other side.
"You woke early today my little Princess?" Gayatri questioned her.
"I wanted to ask something from the Lord. I figured I should pray to him early so that my request reaches him early." Devika said, a small smile playing on her lips. Nanda just rolled his eyes at her reply and smiled indulgently towards her.
"Little Princess, you don't need to pray early to Lord for your request to be granted. You just need to have faith in Him and in yourself. Then you need to work towards your goals. Lord will support you in every good deed." the priest who heard them intervened.
Devika nodded signalling that she understood and smiled at him. Then she completed her prayers and stood watching her family pray. She realised that one of the reasons Bhadra had agreed to marry her was that she stood to inherit the entire kingdom and it became his after their marriage. She also realised that since she was the only child of a King, her future would pose many challenges. Various kings and princes would come after her hand in marriage, just to get the kingdom. She couldn't let that happen and the only way to prevent that is for her father to have another heir. If her father has a son then he can inherit the kingdom and she can live her life freely as she wished.
The more Devika thought about it the more she became certain 'But would father be willing? In my past life, father stayed a widower despite many ministers suggesting him to remarry.' Devika thought to herself.
She knew that many ministers of Nala kingdom had daughters that they want to use in order to secure a relationship with the royal family. But these women and their fathers were after economic gains and would have a greedy nature. Bringing such a woman into the family would be disastrous in the long run.
'If father agrees, what kind of woman should become his wife?' Devika was thinking, when suddenly her aunt shook her.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Gayatri asked her frowning.
"Marriage." Devika replied without thinking.
"What?" Nanda asked shocked. His daughter is so young and she is already thinking of leaving him alone. He became sad after thinking about it.
"I mean Father... Why don't you get remarried?" Devika asked hesitating.
"What?" this time King Nanda was angered a bit. He frowned at Devika scaring her a little. "Devika... This is not possible."
"But Father..." she tried to explain.
"Enough Devika." Nanda said loudly and left the temple premises.
"Aunty..." Devika turned to Gayatri with a sad face.
"Little Princess... You just poked his wound." Gayatri commented. She was also sad with her sister's death. Her sister, Devika's mother, had requested Gayatri to take care of Devika like a mother would care for her daughter. All these years, she had stayed in Nala Kingdom honouring her promise.
Looking at Devika's sad face, she said to her, "Don't worry dear. He is your father. He will be okay after a while."
"Aunty, Can you tell me what is the reason Dad didn't remarry after Mom's death?" Devika asked.
Gayatri nodded and took her to her mother's room. Even after the Queen's death, her room was maintained as before. Not a speck of dirt was to be seen. Gayatri started explaining, "As per our traditions, our parents decide who we would marry. When your father came with his family to propose marriage to my sister, both luckily fell in love with each other. On the day of their marriage, King Nanda made a promise to your mother that he would never take another wife after her. She had some complications during your birth and the doctor said that she wouldn't be able to bear another child ever again. Many officials and courtiers suggested to the King to take another bride. But your father was still in love with her and refused them all.
A few weeks later, we found out that your mother was poisoned. She was not supposed to survive giving birth neither were you. It must have been God's miracle and your mother's strength that not only you took birth but there was not a single trace of poison in your body. However your mother was not lucky and her body slowly succumbed to poison. On her death bed, she made your father promise that he would take another wife. In return, he vowed that he wouldn't remarry until and unless he found out who committed treason against her. She also made me promise that I would take care of you. She was worried that the new Queen would ignore you or try to harm you. Your father refuses to marry until the traitor is found and also because he is worried that the new Queen might try to harm you. You are a symbol of their love and he would never risk you."
Tears were escaping Devika's eyes as she listened to Gayatri. Looking up at her mother's portrait, she swore that she would find out who killed her. She felt another person stroking her head lightly. Devika turned to find her father present. He seemed to have listened to every word of Gayatri. His eyes were filled with unshed tears. Devika just jumped in his arms and started crying. Both father and daughter were trying to calm each other.
'Just how ignorant I was in my last life? Was I so blinded in Bhadra's love? I am truly guilty of my mother.' Devika thought, her head resting on her father's shoulder.