A Journey of Reforms and Resilience

After Ira's policies were implemented as a trial period of two years, the first dramatic step taken was the public execution of the corrupt official Allavandhan by Senapathi Rudhran. This served as a stark warning to anyone tempted to embezzle public funds. Following this, the Kuntala Kingdom underwent a thorough sweep to identify and eliminate corrupt officials and those whose loyalty lay elsewhere. These corrupt officials decided to lie low, unaware that Ira had already gathered extensive information on them, waiting for the right moment to act.

In the aftermath, Ira forged strong friendships with Karthi and Aryan. Despite being from the Dwapara Yug, they had modern ideologies that aligned with Ira's vision. Together, they formed a separate organization composed mostly of girls dedicated to protecting Ira. They also developed an elaborate spy system that spread far and wide across Aryavat. Ira was often the first to know about any significant events, thanks to her network.

When Karthi and Aryan asked how she managed it all, Ira replied matter-of-factly, "Don't tell me you all thought that these two years I was only focused on implementing those policies." Before they knew Ira well, they had thought she was just an innocent and sweet girl. But after becoming friends, they realized that while she was indeed sweet and innocent in some ways, she was also strategic and formidable against her adversaries.

No one believed that the people Ira chose as spies could perform such roles effectively, but the results they collected during the trial period astonished everyone. Ira's decisiveness and ability to handle matters ranging from politics to agriculture and culture made her someone one could talk to endlessly without boredom, and it always made others feel included.

Karthi and Aryan grew closer to Ira despite their five-year age difference. If anyone wanted to find Karthi or Aryan, they would simply ask Ira, as she always knew their whereabouts-even more so than their own parents. Often, they were not in the kingdom because they were handling urgent matters for the organization. Ira couldn't travel freely due to her status as a princess, but Karthi and Aryan could go anywhere, making them an effective team. The people of Kuntala nicknamed them the "Troublesome Trio."

To cover up their missions, the trio developed a habit of playing pranks on the people of Kuntala. Despite the mischief, the people didn't shun them; they saw it as a sign that the Princess genuinely liked them enough to play with them. The policies implemented by Ira had significantly improved their standard of living, something they had never imagined possible. The people welcomed the trio with open arms, knowing that if one was present, the others were nearby. Even though Ira was the mastermind behind their plans, any scolding was usually directed at the boys. The villagers would often say, "Because of them, Princess Ira has become naughty."

While the people of Kuntala were grateful to Karthi and Aryan for ensuring Princess Ira's safety, they were unaware of the trauma she experienced during the kidnapping. Yet, truth nobody knows when Ira hear about this she said what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them, so it was decided to leave things as they were.

Two months later, Karna learned about the incident. Although Ira had been found within twelve hours and was fine, he couldn't shake his restlessness. He remembered how she cried for a long time after the bandits' first attempt to kidnap her, and he felt guilty for being so absorbed in his Shiksha that he neglected the person who had unwavering faith in him. So, he wrote a letter to her, expressing his regret and asking if she was alright. He even jokingly asked if she had bitten anyone in her anger, like she had done with him. He promised to visit her as soon as he finished his lessons in three months.

When Ira received Karna's letter, her happiness knew no bounds. Karna remembered her and promised to visit! She eagerly anticipated his arrival, hoping to talk about many things and ask him to teach her archery. Even a few pointers from him would be valuable. She also planned to request her father to let Karna train the military forces of Kuntala, seeing it as a beneficial move.

During dinner, Ira recounted her encounter with Karna while stopping the spread of illness. She told how he had protected her and now, as a student of Lord Parashuram, he inquired about her well-being and promised to visit after completing his training. She shared her idea of having him teach the soldiers. Her brother, Yavaraj Makaraksha, agreed, saying that if Karna was as talented as she claimed, there would be no problem. In fact, if he was truly exceptional, they could even grant him a village to rule as a king. This would silence the critics who claimed that they only talked but never implemented their ideas.

Hearing this, Ira also reflected on Karna's unwavering loyalty to Duryodhana, even after discovering that the Pandavas were his brothers. Karna's dedication stemmed from Duryodhana being the only one who offered him recognition, despite his low caste. If the Kuntala royal family gave Karna the recognition he craved, it would solidify his loyalty to them. Even Duryodhana's initial offer of Angadesh to Karna, which began as an evil plot, evolved into a genuine friendship. This epic bond between them made Ira envious in her previous life. She believed that if Karna did not feel obliged to Duryodhana for what he had done and saw their friendship as true and unconditional, it would change everything.

With such a strong bond, Karna would be able to guide Duryodhana on the right path effectively. Instead of merely requesting, Karna could command him in the name of their friendship. This shift could help steer Duryodhana away from his path of adharma. Ira envisioned a future where Karna and Duryodhana, as true friends, could live and grow together in harmony.

Ira was brought back to reality when her brother Chandran shook her firmly. When asked what she was thinking so deeply about, her answer shocked everyone. "I was thinking about which state under the Kuntala Kingdom to give to Bhrata Aditya," she said.

Maharani Vishaya, curious, asked, "Do you have that much confidence in Karna?"

Ira replied confidently, "You'll understand when you see him. By hearing what you say," Chandran said, "I badly want to see him. So can you give us a small clue about him so we can picture how he looks?"

Ira described Karna vividly, "He looks like he is a part of the Sun. His thejas (radiance) is otherworldly. If you ask me, I would say he is a smaller version of the sun. When his kavach (armor) appears and the sun glows on it, you feel as if you are standing in the presence of the Almighty himself. By looking at him, you know you will feel safe no matter where you are."

As the days passed, letters were exchanged between Krishna and Karna. Karthi and Aryan also wrote to Karna, taking the liberty to call him "Bhrata" in their first letter. They humorously mentioned how Ira continuously praised his valor and requested him to give them pointers when he visited Kuntala. They warned him to be prepared mentally and physically for the long list of activities Ira had planned.

Meanwhile, Ira's policies began to bear fruit. Corrupt officials were still under the radar of the Maharaja and his confidants, preventing them from sabotaging the implementation. The targeted beneficiaries received their due support, especially in education. Dreams of studying became a reality, leading to higher participation.

Traditionally, household women saved money in kitchen utensils. But upon hearing they could earn interest by saving with palace officials, they began depositing their money, which bolstered the treasury. This enabled the kingdom to invest in infrastructure like roads, small-scale cotton industries, and storage facilities for wheat and rice. The introduction of a minimum support price protected farmers from middlemen.

Trade policies-controlled imports and taxed imported goods similarly to local produce, making local goods more affordable. This created a surplus of money, which in turn was deposited with the palace, creating a cyclic process. The economic status of the people improved, and poverty decreased. Infrastructure projects provided jobs for non-farmers, giving them a steady income.

Unbeknownst to the public, the first policy Ira implemented was the formation of a separate regiment of women in the military. While people thought it had yet to be enacted, this regiment was already operational under Ira's control. A battalion of women had undergone rigorous training in Kuntala and Dwarka, ready to serve their kingdom.

In Guru Drona's Ashram

Hearing about the achievements of Princess Ira and the various developments in Kuntala, those who initially thought she was talking nonsense now felt like they had been slapped in the face. This included the Kauravas. However, Duryodhana acknowledged the wisdom in her policies and remarked, "It seems we need to establish good relations with Kuntala Kingdom."

Ashwatthama retorted, "Still, she is wrong about one thing: women in the army." Duryodhana, sensing Ashwatthama's lingering resentment, replied, "You're still upset that your father supported her just once? If you should be angry at anyone, it should be Arjun, not some princess."

This conversation was overheard by the Pandavas, as it was meant to be. Bheema, in a fit of rage, felt like imprinting Duryodhana's shape onto the ground. But before he could act, Yudhishthira and Arjun managed to pull him away to a shaded area under the trees to calm down.

Sahadev observed, "I told you before, Nakul, I had a feeling she knew what she was doing, and I was right."

Yudhishthira added, "It's truly bold and brave to change traditions that have been followed for so long. Her pure spirit to help her people is noble."

Arjun, reflecting on the developments in Kuntala, said, "Seeing the progress there, I think it's not bad to embrace change. I'm very curious to understand how her mind works. Honestly, if she said there's a way to make animals talk, I'd believe her, because she never speaks of anything she cannot achieve."

Nakul and Bheema exchanged glances and began to tease Arjun. "Someone here hasn't even met her but says he'll believe anything that comes out of her mouth. Yet, he never believes me, his own brother! What a sad life I have!" Nakul lamented dramatically.

Sahadev joined in the teasing, "Nakul, be careful what you say. Who knows, we might have to call her Bhabi in the future!"

Arjun turned bright red, lightly hitting Sahadev. "I never said that! What I meant is, she makes the impossible possible. Did you get it now?" He asked, twisting Nakul's ear playfully.