Chapter 28

The sound of Lakshmana's powerful cry filled the room. She was two days old before Dr. Aida was able to make time for a trip to Kyrat. She held the small cold metal piece of the stethoscope on the infant's chest causing the baby to let out another loud cry. After a moment she turned to speak to the new proud parents. "Well as far as I can tell, she's a strong healthy little girl."

Pagan gained a smiled showing how honored he was to be the child's father. "Well, she is my daughter after all."

Dr. Aida laughed at Pagan's delight of having his very own daughter. "What about you Ishwari?" the doctor asked. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm still a little sore, but aside from that I feel fine." Ishwari answered.

Dr. Aida bundled up Lakshmana in a small pink blanket and handed the infant to a very proud Pagan, before turning to ask Ishwari to lay down on the bed. Obeying the professional's orders, Ishwari laid down on her back, allowing Dr. Aida to push on her lower abdomen. "It feels like everything is shrinking back to normal so there should be no issues. Just remember to take it easy and that your body won't fully recover for at least six weeks."

"Yes Ma'am" Iswari said as she slowly sat back up.

They continued with their discussion a while longer, planning healthy routines and scheduling the next time they'd be seeing each other for check-ups and shots. Pagan and Ishwari escorted the generous doctor out to the helicopter that was waiting to return her to the airport, thanking the woman once again for all her help. They had just started to head back into the palace when Ishwari almost bumped into Pagan, who had suddenly stopped in front of her.

"Is everything okay?" Ishwari asked looking at her king.

She had never seen a single person show so much happiness. "She's just so beautiful." Pagan responded as he gazed at the tiny infant that was wrapped up in his arms. His eyes were filled with a kind of love that he had never known before.

Ishwari laughed walking past the king. "Well she looks just like her father." Opening the door to the palace, Ishwari turned to look back at Pagan. "And you my king, are beautiful."

Pagan cocked his head to the side. "Are you trying to be funny?"

Ishwari laughed once again ignoring her lover's question. She decided it was time to go take Ajay off of Shanna's hands, whom was kind enough to watch him during their time with the doctor. Ishwari was happy about how well Ajay was handling a new baby sharing his attention. The morning after Lakshmana was born, Pagan brought young Ajay into the room where Ishwari was resting, holding the newest edition of their family. Pagan explained to Ajay that he now had a little sister and it was his responsibility to love and protect her. Though it was obvious that Ajay was too young to understand the duties that were asked of him, Ishwari knew deep in her heart that he would be the best big brother.

"Mommy!" Ajay yelled out as he ran into Ishwari's arms the moment she stepped in the door. He looked up at his mother. "Play?" He asked hoping that she'd sit on the floor and play with him. As much as she hated telling her son no, she had to decline his request knowing she wasn't recovered enough to sit on the floor.

"I was hoping you'd bring the baby. I want to hold her again." Shanna said standing up from where she had been sitting.

"Good luck with that." Ishwari spoke as she ran her fingers through Ajay's messy brown hair. "Pagan barely puts her down. Only time I ever really get to hold her is when I'm feeding her."

Shanna chuckled. "Only two days old and she's already daddy's little girl."

"Daddy's little princess."

Ishwari and Shanna both turned at the sound of Pangan's voice to find he was now standing at the doorway. Lakshmana was still snug in his arms, but was now starting to show signs of being fussy. Knowing that meant her daughter was becoming hungry, Ishwari strolled over towards her king. "What do you say I go feed her in our room where it's peaceful and you take Ajay for dinner?"

"I suppose, but I just hate giving her away." Pagan sighed as he kissed Lakshmana's head that was covered in brown hair. Upon handing his daughter to her mother, Pagan knelt down to Ajay's level. "Come on boy! Let's go get us some grub." Ajay smiled at Pagan and ran into his arms for an embracing hug. "Care to join us Shanna?" Pagan asked his head maid.

Shanna nodded, afraid to offend the king by denying his request. "I'll see you tomorrow." she smiled as she passed Ishwari, following Pagan in the direction of the dining hall.

Ishwari watched as everyone left the room before looking down at her newest child. "I think it's time we get you fed too." With that comment, Ishwari began to make her way to the golden doors of Pagans office. Once inside she sat down in the corner chair, lifting her shirt so that young Lakshmana could suckle her breast. "You've got such an appetite" She told the infant who was now fully feeding.

Once she was sure she was in a comfortable position, Ishwari began glancing around the room, smiling as she remembered her fondest memory of it. This was the room her and Pagan met in. They had come a long way since that encounter. Now she had a family with the man she once feared, a man who was so misunderstood. If only the people of Kyrat could see him the way she saw him, they would understand that Pagan was truly trying to help their poor country strive.

Ishwari focused closely on the large painting that hang beside the king's desk. The painting that sparked their first conversation. The more Ishwari looked at the painting from across the room, the more something seemed off about it. She wasn't sure, but from the angle she was sitting, it appeared as if the painting was more attached to the wall on one side than the other.

Lakshmana eventually fell asleep as she was suckling and Ishwari carefully placed her in the nearby bassinet that Pagan kept in his office. With curiosity overwhelming her, she made her way to the painting that caught her attention once again. She pulled on it slightly to find that it was indeed attached to the wall at one side, allowing it to swing open like a door. Behind it was a safe built into the wall.

She wasn't a spy anymore so she had no reason to snoop through Pagan's secrets, but she couldn't help wonder what he could possibly have in it that made him feel the need to hide it. She began thinking about possible combinations that would open the locked steel. Her first thought was his birthday, which came without success. She then tried the date of their anniversary. When that one failed, she shook her head, knowing that'd be the least likely combination as this safe was most likely here before her and Pagan ever met.

Ishwari thought long about different possibilities. Eventually a memory of Pagan speaking about his mother and how much he adored her came to her mind. "When did he say her birthday was?" Ishwari whispered to herself. After a moment it finally came to her. She entered in the numbers 06 10 48. To her surprise the safe clicked and she was able to swing it open.

To her surprise there was nothing unusual inside. A few stacks of currency, a small handgun, and a few folders. Laying on top of the stack of folders was an old photo. Ishwari picked it up to find it was of an asian woman who holding a small boy whom appeared to be around the age of six or seven. The beautiful brown eyes of the little boy gave it away that the photo was of Pagan and his mother. Ishwari smiled as she had never seen a picture of a youthful Pagan before. He still had his brown hair and round childish face. His smile showed how much he loved his mother. She moved her eyes up to examine the woman in the photo. Pagan's mother was gorgeous and it was clear to see where he inherited his good looks.

Ishwari went to place the photo back in the safe when one of the folders caught her eye. It was labled "CIA". She picked up the folder and opened it to find a list of CIA agents. A summary of each agent's family and home address accompanied each name. She thought back to when Willis had asked her for the favor of finding him a list of names. Without a doubt, Ishwari was sure this was the document he had been searching for.

"Would you like to see your mother before bedtime Ajay?"

Ishwari quickly placed everything back into the safe when she heard Pagans voice approaching from down the hallway. She was able to shut the safe and replace the painting back to its original position before Pagan made it to the doors.

"Mommy!" Ajay said excitedly as he ran up to Ishwari, who was now sitting back in the chair.

"Shhh" Ishwari placed a finger up to her lips, before pulling Ajay onto her lap. "Your little sister is asleep". Ajay smiled and looked around the room, trying to find his sleeping sister.

"Give your mother a kiss, so we can get you to bed." Pagan said, walking to stand next to them. Ajay began to whimper, not pleased that it was bedtime. "Don't give me that attitude son. Your mother needs her rest."

Ishwari kissed Ajay on his little forehead. "You go get some sleep. You need to have energy for all the fun you're going to have tomorrow."

With that, Pagan picked up the small boy and made his way to put the child to sleep. Ishwari decided that she did need her rest before Lakashmana woke up in a couple of hours for another feeding. She picked the sleeping newborn up and migrated to the bedroom, placing her daughter into another bassinet that was close to her side of the bed, before crawling into her own bed. After a few minutes Pagan returned, still in his elated mood.

"That boy is going to make a great king one day. He'll do wonderful things for this country." He smiled.

"Oh?" Ishwari raised an eyebrow. "I figured since you have your own daughter now, she'd be the heir."

Pagan's lips pressed into a hard line. "Ishwari. Just because I have my own biological child now doesn't make Ajay any less my son." Pagan sat down on the edge of the bed. "He is the oldest which means he will be king one day." Ishwari smiled at Pagan's thoughtfulness towards her son. "Now." Pagan leaned in for a kiss. "Get some sleep before our daughter decides she's hungry again."

Following his orders, Ishwari rested her head on her pillow, closing her eyes to drift off, thankful for her little family.