Chapter 399 - 367: We Have So Much To Talk...

(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

Guys I hope you put more comments and power stones... Which will encourage me...

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After spending some time surrounded by his excited children, Devara finally turned towards his wives, who had been patiently waiting for their turn to welcome him home.

An auspicious aarti thali had already been prepared, its small flame dancing gently as it illuminated the faces of the women who had spent four years waiting for this very moment.

Gandhari stood at the forefront, her expression carrying the composure of a queen who had governed an entire kingdom in her husband’s absence, yet the tenderness in her smile betrayed the emotions she had kept carefully guarded throughout his long absence.

Beside her stood his other wives, each of them eager to welcome their husband, with Rajmata Satyavati watching the reunion from a short distance away, her eyes shining with happiness.

As Gandhari began performing the aarti, moving the thali in a circular motion before Devara, the other women joined her in the traditional prayers for his well-being.

The fragrance of incense drifted through the courtyard, mingling with the scent of flowers scattered along the palace entrance, while the assembled courtiers watched in respectful silence.

Devara stood patiently before them, allowing his wives to complete the ritual, but his gaze kept moving from one face to another, as though he wished to reassure himself that they were all truly standing before him and that the four years separating them had finally come to an end.

When the aarti was finished, Gandhari placed the thali aside and turned towards him.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

They had shared countless conversations in the past, faced difficulties together, and built a family that had grown far beyond what either could once have imagined.

Yet, standing before him after four years, Gandhari seemed to have forgotten every carefully prepared word she might have wished to say.

Devara solved the problem for her by stepping forward and embracing her.

"Gandhari, I have missed you more than I can explain,"

he murmured, holding her close.

"Four years seemed like a reasonable amount of time when I began my training, but there were so many moments when I wished I could simply return to the palace, sit beside you, and listen to you tell me everything that had happened."

"I kept thinking about all of you, wondering how the kingdom was doing, whether the children were growing well, and whether you were taking care of yourself while carrying so many responsibilities."

Gandhari returned his embrace, resting her head against his chest as the tension she had carried throughout his absence finally began to ease.

"You need not worry about the kingdom, Devara. We managed quite well, as you will soon discover, although I cannot promise that your children have made the task of maintaining peace within the palace particularly easy."

She pulled back just enough to look at him, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

"And as for taking care of myself, I would have done so far more happily if my husband had remembered that his family might appreciate receiving a visit from him before four entire years had passed."

Devara winced theatrically, recognising the gentle rebuke for what it was.

"I see that my homecoming is going to involve a few difficult negotiations."

"A few?"

Gandhari raised an eyebrow.

"You have no idea how many things we have to tell you."

Before he could reply, another of his wives stepped forward, unwilling to allow Gandhari to monopolise their husband’s attention any longer.

Devara welcomed her with the same warmth, drawing her into his arms and telling her how much he had missed her, while she responded by reminding him of the promises he had made before leaving and the many things that had happened since then.

One after another, his wives received their share of his affection, each embrace accompanied by whispered reassurances, fond complaints, and the sort of familiar conversation that could only exist between people whose lives were deeply intertwined.

Devara made certain that none of them felt overlooked.

He asked about their well-being, listened as they spoke, and occasionally interrupted himself to smile at some small detail he remembered about them.

Four years of training had strengthened his body, sharpened his senses, and expanded his mastery over divine techniques, but none of those accomplishments mattered as much to him at that moment as the opportunity to hold his wives again and hear their voices without the distance of a battlefield, a forest, or a distant land separating them.

Unfortunately for Devara, his wives had not spent four years waiting for him without accumulating an impressive collection of stories.

"You should know,"

one of them informed him as she finally released him from her embrace, though she continued holding his hand,

"that we have enough stories to keep you occupied for several days. And that is only if you promise not to interrupt us with questions every few minutes."

"Several days?"

Devara repeated, glancing from one wife to another.

"That sounds manageable."

His wives exchanged looks.

"Several days for the stories from the palace," another clarified.

"We have not even begun telling you about the children, their arguments, their achievements, their questions, and the extraordinary theories they have developed about their father."

"Some of them believe you can defeat any creature in existence, while others are convinced you can summon an entire mountain whenever you wish."

Devara blinked.

"Summon a mountain?"

"You should consider yourself fortunate that they have not yet demanded a demonstration,"

Gandhari replied with a perfectly straight face.

The surrounding courtiers struggled to conceal their amusement, while Devara looked towards the children, who were still gathered nearby and appeared to be listening with considerable interest.

"Who told them that?" he asked.

"That," Gandhari answered,

"is one of the many stories we intend to tell you."

Devara sighed with exaggerated resignation, though the smile on his face never faded.

"Very well. I shall surrender myself to the collective wisdom of my family. But I hope you will allow me at least one evening to recover from the journey before beginning your interrogation."

"That depends on how many questions the children have," one of his wives replied.

"And how many stories we remember," added another.

"Then I fear I may need Vishnu’s divine endurance more than I needed it during our training,"

Devara remarked, prompting another round of laughter.

It was at this point that Mahamantri Shakuni decided to remind everyone that the kingdom had responsibilities beyond family reunions.

"Your Majesty,"

he said, stepping forward with a respectful bow, though the knowing smile upon his face suggested that he had been enjoying the spectacle as much as anyone else,

"I am delighted to see that your return has been greeted with such enthusiasm. However, I must inform you that your throne has been waiting for you for the past four years, and I suspect it would appreciate your presence almost as much as your family does."

Devara turned towards his brother-in-law, amusement flickering in his eyes.

"My throne has been waiting for me? I was under the impression that you and Gandhari had been keeping the kingdom running quite efficiently without me."

"We have, Your Majesty," Shakuni replied smoothly.

"The treasury remains in excellent condition, the administration is functioning well, the borders are secure, and the people have enjoyed a period of peace."

"I would even venture to say that the kingdom has prospered during your absence. Naturally, I shall provide you with a complete account of everything that has occurred, along with the reports that require your attention."

He paused just long enough for Devara to suspect that the pleasant summary was merely the opening act.

"After all, four years is a considerable period. There are matters of taxation, trade, diplomacy, infrastructure, military readiness, and several petitions from neighbouring kingdoms."

"I have arranged everything according to priority, so you need not worry about being overwhelmed on your first day back."

Devara stared at him.

Then he slowly turned towards Gandhari.

"Did he just say that he has arranged everything according to priority?"

Gandhari nodded, looking far too pleased with herself.

"He has. And I would advise you not to ask how many documents are waiting for you unless you genuinely wish to know the answer."

Shakuni folded his hands innocently.

"I have merely ensured that Your Majesty can resume his duties without unnecessary delay. The people have welcomed their king home, and the king must now reassure his people that their beloved ruler has returned to take his rightful place."

"How thoughtful of you,"

Devara replied, his voice laden with playful suspicion.

"You have spent four years managing my kingdom, and the very first thing you do upon my return is remind me that I have work waiting for me."

"Would you prefer that I remind you of the work waiting for you tomorrow morning instead?"

A few of the ministers lowered their heads to hide their smiles.

Devara shook his head, laughing softly before placing a hand on Shakuni’s shoulder.

"I have missed your particular talent for making unpleasant news sound like an invitation to a pleasant afternoon. Very well, Mahamantri. I shall visit the throne room, review the kingdom’s affairs, and listen to your report."

"But not before I have spent some time with my family. I have been away for four years, and I intend to reclaim at least a small portion of the time I have lost."

"Of course, Your Majesty,"

Shakuni replied with a bow.

"I would never dream of separating a returning husband from his wives or a father from his children. I merely wished to ensure that your throne did not feel abandoned."

"Then tell my throne to be patient,"

Devara said, turning back towards his family.

"It has waited four years. Surely it can survive a few more hours."

This time, even Shakuni laughed.

As the palace courtyard returned to life, with servants preparing for the king’s arrival, ministers exchanging greetings, and the children once again gathering around their father, Devara felt the last remnants of the long journey begin to leave him.

His kingdom was safe, his family was waiting, and the familiar warmth of home surrounded him on every side.

The throne could wait a little longer.

For now, Devara had four years of embraces to make up for, countless stories to hear, and a family that seemed determined to ensure that his return would be anything but quiet.

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(Author note:)

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