The main gates of the Junagarh palace were wide open today. The chariot was ready in the soft morning sunlight. Today was Prabhasha's second day at the academy. Prafulla himself stood by to help his sister get ready. Prabhasha was dressed in royal attire, a small sword on her back, and a newfound confidence in her eyes. Holding his sister's hand, Prafulla led her toward the chariot, with Snigdha accompanying them. Arohi and Aditya were seeing their children off from the palace gates. But as the chariot left the palace grounds and passed through a populated thoroughfare, a poisonous murmur began.
A few selfish and malicious-minded people standing on both sides of the road began whispering to each other. They couldn't bear the sight of this happiness in the Junagarh palace. Suddenly, an old man from the crowd spoke in a harsh voice, "Look, look! Going to the academy in royal style! I heard she showed great bravery yesterday. But why so much pride? Do we not know whose blood she carries?" Another woman twisted her face and said nastily, "You're right! Does she become their child just by saying so? Is this girl really the child of Arohi and Aditya? Are we blind? Now the fruit of Sushila's sin is being treated like a princess! It's nothing but a mockery."
As these words reached Prafulla's ears, his fists tightened. He ordered the chariot to stop. Snigdha gripped Prafulla's hand and said, "Brother, calm down. Don't listen to them." But Prafulla's blood was boiling. He stepped down from the chariot and stood in the middle of the crowd. Fire seemed to erupt from his eyes. Seeing his fierce form, the faces of the locals turned pale; those who were talking big just a moment ago were now trying to hide behind one another.
Prafulla walked up to the man who had first raised the issue. Prafulla's voice roared, "What were you all saying? Since when did you gain the audacity to judge whose blood or whose child she is? Listen carefully—those who judge relationships based on blood or birth are not humans; they are low-minded animals! You say she is Sushila's child? Remember, Sushila was an enemy of this state, but this child is innocent."
One person from the crowd gathered some courage and said in a muffled tone, "But Prince, the truth will not change..."
Prafulla raised his hand and silenced him. His voice became even deeper and more emotional, "The truth is what we believe. God knows that my mother, Arohi, emptied her own lap to save this palace. And today, she has taken Prabhasha into her own heart. Prabhasha is my sister—regardless of her birth identity. But today, before everyone, I take an oath. Prabhasha is not just my sister; to me, she is like my own daughter! Just as a father protects his child, as long as I, Prafulla, am alive, no one has the power to cause even a scratch on her. Those who question her birth should remember—Prafulla's sword is always ready to pull out their tongues!"
The entire area fell silent upon hearing Prafulla's thunderous declaration. No one dared to utter another word. Prafulla returned to the chariot and, placing his hand on Prabhasha's head with great affection, said, "Don't be afraid, sister. As long as this brother of yours is alive, no poisonous words in this world can touch you."
The chariot began to move again. Tales of Prafulla's immense patience and valor spread throughout the kingdom within moments. When Arohi heard this news while sitting in the palace, her eyes filled with tears again. She realized that her son, Prafulla, had grown up not just as a warrior but as a true human being. The jealous words of the locals were blown away like straw before Prafulla's fire. Justice and love triumphed once again on the streets of Junagarh.