Vikram supported Indira by letting her lean on his shoulder so she could walk without putting pressure on her injured knee. He had offered to carry her, but she firmly refused.
As they reached the village entrance, one of Indira’s friends — who had been searching for her — rushed toward them in a panic.
 
“Oh no... what happened—M—”
“Mm,” Indira interrupted quickly, giving her friend a subtle shake of her head to stop her from saying more. Her eyes darted between Vikram and Sena, silently urging her friend to stay quiet.
Vikram and Sena noticed the exchange. To avoid any awkwardness, her friend quickly shifted the topic.
 
“Um... Indira, where have you been? What happened?” she asked, glancing between the two men.
Sena stepped forward and offered to explain, even suggesting they help escort Indira home.
 
Her friend gasped at the idea and glanced at Indira, eyes wide, shaking her head slightly in protest.
“Umm... it’s okay. We’ll take her home. No worries,” her friend replied quickly.
“I think it’s better if we help,” Sena insisted gently. “She shouldn’t put any pressure on her knee, or it could get worse.”
 
Indira lightly touched Sena’s shoulder and said, “It’s okay. You’ve helped me enough already... I’ll be fine now.”
Sena handed her a bundle of herbs to brew as tea, which would help ease her pain. Then, with a small nod, he and Vikram took their leave.
Before continuing their journey, they stopped by the village market to buy clothes and other essentials for the road ahead.
……….
 
As time passed, Vikram grew wiser and stronger.
Now, he understood why his brother loved to travel — the lessons, the experiences, the growth — none of it could be gained by staying within the walls of a palace.
He wanted to remain in the village longer, but a year had passed. It was time to go home.
 
News of the king’s return spread quickly through the village. His arrival was awaited like a festival. The streets filled with music and dance as villagers gathered at the entrance to welcome him. Among them, the first familiar face Vikram saw was Mano.
 
The moment Mano spotted Vikram in the distance, he ran toward him and embraced him tightly.
“Oh, my brother… I missed you so much.”
“Look at you. You’re well,” Vikram said, patting his back with a smile.
“And you look amazing — healthier and stronger,” Mano replied with pride.
 
As they walked toward the palace, Vikram noticed how warmly the villagers greeted Mano. He also observed that his brother wore simple clothing, far from royal robes.
He ruled the kingdom in his own way — and Vikram smiled.
“You’ve done well,” he said, gently tapping Mano on the shoulder.
When they entered the palace, Vikram saw Saki standing among the staff.
“Mother Saki!” he called out, hurrying to embrace her.
“My dear King… I’m so glad you’re safe,” she said, her voice trembling and eyes glistening with tears.
“Thanks to you, Mother Saki, I am,” he replied, deeply grateful.
 
With emotion in his voice, Mano stepped forward and placed a firm hand on his brother’s shoulder. Then, with pride and power, he announced to all:
“The King has returned!”
His voice echoed through the palace halls and out into the village.
A thunderous cheer rose from the people — the celebration had truly begun.
 
……….
“I’m Indra. We meet again.”
The king froze. Indra?
The woman he had met in the enchanted forest… was the princess?
After disappearing for a week, Mano returned — not alone, but with a woman whose face was hidden beneath a shawl, and guards accompanying her from a distant kingdom.
 
The king raised an eyebrow. “What did you do this time, Mano?”
With a grin, Mano gestured toward the woman.
“Let me introduce you — Princess Indra,” he said. As the woman gently pulled back her shawl, revealing her face, he added, “My friend.”
The king’s heart skipped a beat. The same woman who had made him blush in the forest now stood before him with regal poise.
 
“I’m Princess Indra. We meet again,” she said softly, her smile calm and confident — while the king was anything but calm.
She’s the woman from the forest! Why is she here? Friend? Whose friend? Mano’s? How?
Princess?!
 
A storm of questions flooded his mind. He abruptly stood, strode over to Mano, and whispered urgently, grabbing his brother’s arm.
“Why is she here? And friend? What do you mean?”
Mano simply smirked — a mischievous, boyish smirk that only made the king more nervous.
Uh-oh. What’s he plotting now?
“Come, brother,” Mano said smoothly. “All will be fine.”
That night, after dinner, Mano escorted Indra to her room, then noticed his brother sitting alone in the garden. He tried to sneak up on him — but, as always, got caught.
 
“You’re good at sensing people,” Mano muttered, sitting beside him.
“Well, being able to sense things is a skill you pick up when you’ve lived among wild animals,” the king replied, chuckling softly.
 
But the mood quickly shifted. The king turned to him, serious now.
“So, tell me. Why is Indra — I mean Princess Indra — here?”
Mano looked at him with a knowing smile.
“Brother, I think it’s time this kingdom had a queen.”
The words struck like lightning. The king stared at him, stunned.
But the response came fast — too fast.
“No,” he said firmly. “Absolutely not.”
Though Mano tried to reason with him, the king wouldn’t hear it. Frustrated, he stormed off to his chambers.
 
The next morning, as he stepped into the garden, he noticed Indra sitting beneath a tree, reading a book. Her thick lashes framed her eyes beautifully, and her skin looked smooth, radiant in the morning light. She looked effortlessly elegant. When she noticed him staring, she smiled — a soft, graceful smile that tugged at his heart.
He immediately looked away.
No… no… he muttered to himself. Don’t fall for this.
That afternoon, the palace staff gathered at the garden, drawn by a commotion.
 
Kchang! Kchang!
Cheers and excited voices filled the air.
The king’s eyes widened as he caught sight of Indra, clad in simple but elegant attire, sparring with Mano — wielding a sword. She moved with the grace of a dancer and the power of a trained warrior. Her technique was precise, her stance firm.
When Mano blocked one of her strikes, she leapt into the air and delivered a swift kick, knocking him to his knees. The crowd gasped.
She was undeniably skilled — she knew martial arts.
Mano raised his hand in surrender, and the crowd erupted in applause.
“She’s a woman… how could she win?” someone muttered from the crowd, too cowardly to show their face.
Indra extended her hand to Mano, helping him up. Then she turned to the crowd and spoke firmly:
“Yes, I’m a woman. But I need to know how to protect myself.
How long can we depend on men to be our shields?
What if one day the shield we rely on turns into a prison?
You protect your wives because you love them. But what if one day you're gone?
What will protect them then?
The world can be cruel — and if a woman can protect herself, then she becomes the weapon.”
 
Her words silenced the crowd. The women stood taller. The men looked thoughtful — some even guilty — as they imagined the futures of their wives and daughters.
The king, watching from afar, couldn’t help but smile.
She’s not just strong… she’s wise.
………..
“Now tell me… why her?” the king asked Mano, his voice calm but weighted.
Mano smiled knowingly. “So, you’ve noticed something too. Yes, Indra is different. She’s strong, brave, and intelligent — not like most women we’ve known.”
 
He paused before continuing.
“Brother, when you entrusted the kingdom to me, I was honored — happy, even — that you had faith in me. But what if something happens to me? Or to you? In times of crisis, you can't look elsewhere. That’s the duty of a Queen — to stand beside you, to protect what we both cherish.”
Mano looked into the distance, his tone softening.
“You married Chandra because you loved her. But this time, I’m asking you to marry Indra — not just for love, but for the kingdom. An alliance with her country could strengthen our borders and our future.”
 
The king sighed deeply, feeling the weight of duty press against the memory of love.
“And what… what was her answer?” he asked quietly.
“As I said, she’s my friend,” Mano replied. “When I visited her land, I met with her father. We spoke at length. That’s why she agreed to come here. Her parents trust her judgment — and now, you need to speak to her yourself.”
That night felt heavier than most.
Accepting another woman into his life — into his heart — was not easy. The shadows of the past still lingered. But Mano was right. The kingdom needed a Queen. And Indra… she was everything a queen should be.
 
Let’s do our best this time, the king told himself.
Though not fully at peace with the decision, he tried to convince himself —
Maybe this is my second chance…
A second chance to be a better husband… and a better king