"But instead of hating me, she said she love me more now. She respect the love I had for Irya and i am not responsible for her death. I am the one who suffered the most. Most of the time, people try to escape from their past by using others; but I was strong and thoughtful person to not do anything like that. When I was trying to understand what she was saying, she suddenly asked me to marry her. I told her that may be I can't love her as I used to love Irya but she was ready to get half of my love, leaving remaining for Irya."
He wiped the fresh tears that fell from Neisha's eyes and side hugged her "After a month, we got married and she helped me build my kingdom like before. She became my strength in every situation doesn't matter how much it hurted her. She knew Irya was my first love but she was ready to be by my side with the remaining and unsteady love I have for her. She was ready to be my second wife and hided my past from everyone to keep my image clean."
"The only good thing that happened to me at that time was her coming in my life and marrying me. After a year, we got the good news that Neisha is pregnant and she gave birth to Ashwant."
He looked at Ashwant and he just smiled in response "He was weak when he was born. At that time, I felt like my misfortune is surrounding my son and wife. After giving birth to Ashwant, Neisha was weak too. I decided not to have more kids as it can put Neisha's life in danger. I didn't wanted to loose her like Irya. When they recovered, everything became normal again in my life."
"I was having good time with my family When Bayar started creating problems for us. They became our enemy. The alliance ended when Irya died. Rajwardhan and my friendship ended and I became his biggest enemy. For many years, He was trying to rage a war against Jwalana many times but couldn't find a valid reason."
"When the son of previous emperor took the throne, Bishwajeet Rajput, he investigated the matter of our alliance breakdown. And don't know how he got to know everything that happened that night. He arranged a meeting with me and Rajwardhan and strictly instructed us to not create any unnecessary or personal war as it can affect the empire and people. Rajwardhan couldn't protest against emperor so he agreed. He was feeling too weak to keep the throne for himself if he couldn't take revenge for his sister's death, so he passed the throne to Abel."
"When Abel's coronation ceremony was held, I had to take my wife and son there. I didn't wanted to step in that kingdom but being a king, I had to attend the coronation. More than guilt, I was feeling scared for my family. I didn't wanted to put their life in danger bringing them their. Throughout the ceremony, I was keeping my wife and son with me; afraid that Abel or Rajwardhan would hurt them. But no one did anything except for looking at us with disgust filled eyes."
"I left Bayar as soon as possible after ceremony. After few years, I decided to pass the throne to Ashwant and after his coronation, he got married. After a year later Raksheet was born and then Ahil."
Ira looked at Raksheet and smiled. He passed a smile to her and Abhiveera said.
"I always feel sorry for what happened but I couldn't always blame myself for it. I didn't know anything. May be Rajwardhan knew what Irya wanted and she must have protested against the marriage but her brother forced her that's why she killed herself. Rajwardhan is also responsible for her death but he just wanted to accuse me and put the blame on me after closing all the door that can help me prove myself innocent. If he wouldn't have accepted my marriage proposal and forced her to marry me, she would have been alive and living her life happily."
He sighed deeply and tried to smile. He looked at Ira and said "Ira, do you remember the special person I talked about that day?"
Ira nod immediately and he chuckled.
"Irya is that special person. The poetry I was reading that day was for her. I used to write poetry for her often before getting married to her. She used to like poetry and she did poetry on Abel's birthday. From there I started liking it and learned it. But when Abel got crowned and I realised that this poetry is not the symbol of my love but the symbol of a kid loosing his beloved aunt, I stopped doing it."
"Then why did you read it that day?" Ira asked in low voice.
He glanced at Neisha and they smiled at Ira. Everyone looked at her and Abhiveera said "Because you came in our house one day ago."
"Me? What does it have to do with me?" She asked.
"I don't have Irya's picture to show you but as much as I remember her because I can never forget her face for the rest of my life, You both look exactly alike."
Ira's eyes widened in shock. She expected Irya to look like her because of those silver hairs and silver eyes but she didn't expected her to look exactly like her.
"E-Exactly like me?" She asked, feeling afraid to imagine Irya looking exactly like her "H-How is it possible? I don't even know her. Then how can we look alike?"
"E-Exactly like me?" She asked, feeling afraid to imagine Irya looking exactly like her "H-How is it possible? I don't even know her. Then how can we look alike?"
"Don't be afraid. Some people do look alike even if they don't know eachother." Abhiveera said.
When realisation hit her, Ira looked down, thinking may be Irya is the reason Abhiveera asked Raksheet to marry her. She felt like there is no one who wanted her for who she is. Even Abhiveera asked Raksheet to marry her because she looks like Irya.
She looked up at Abhiveera and asked in hurt voice. "Is that the reason.....y-you asked Raksheet to marry me?.....Is that the reason Jwalana sent marriage proposal for a sick and unknown princess of Aaro?"
Everyone looked at her with wide eyes and at eachother, thinking she misunderstood their intentions. They didn't wanted Ira to be Irya's substitute but they wanted her to be with them. Abhiveera always had love for Irya in his heart and he can never have soft corner for anyone who looks like her.
If he had not known that Ira was sick, he would never have asked Raksheet to marry her. He wanted to help her as an atonement for the mistakes he made in past. He wanted Ira to come in his palace and truly protect her unlike how he was unable to protect Irya.
"You are misunderstanding Ira." Abhiveera said "Yes, you do look like Irya and i wanted you to live in my palace but that was not the only reason i sent Raksheet's marriage proposal. I thought you are a good match for Raksheet. You are kind and understanding girl. I wanted my grandson to be with the person who understand him and always love him. The way you love your grandfather, I was sure that you will love my grandson more."
Raksheet held Ira's hand and said "Grandfather is right. You are not anyone's replacement. Yes, you caught our attention because you look like princess Irya but we love you for who you are. I can never love anyone just because they look like someone I know. I love you because of your personality and love you have for me. I don't care whom you look like. You are my wife and I love you. That's enough. I didn't know how princess Irya used to look. I just know how my wife look and it's enough for me to know."
Ira just looked down, still feeling like a substitute.
Suddenly Raksheet held her hand and stood up with her "Grandfather, we are leaving."
Abhiveera nod and said to Ira "Ira, always remember that you are not a substitute. And no one can replace you."
She nod weakly, still looking down.
They left the room and Neisha said "She must be feeling hurt to know about Irya. Anyone will feel scared and hurt if they got to know that someone used to look like them and killed herself in the palace they are living right now."
"I hope she won't cry. She is already looking tired." Avanya said.
"Raksheet will take care of her." Ashwant assured.