Firstly, I'm so sorry everyone for the late update! It's not usually like that but one of my friend's parents has passed away unfortunately, I was busy helping her around. This chapter is especially dedicated to her and I just hope that you all like it and everyone prays for her and her family x

KRISHNA'S POV:

I clutched my sword and made my way down to sword practice when I saw the familiar glistening trail of a cloth sweep by.

I followed it quickly, making sure my feet made no sound and to my surprise, Rukhsana was standing there, twiddling the frayed ends of her saree in her fingers. As soon as she saw me, she lowered her gaze and her cheeks turned pink.

I walked close to her and we stood meters apart.

"So... err-" I began, sighing, not knowing how to begin.

"Do - do you know about the engagement?" She breathed out.

My eyes lit up. "Yes."

She smiled again. "Well... okay. I'll just go then." She turned to go but in my subconscious mind, I felt the urge to clutch her wrist and I did, making her stop suddenly as the wind seeped through the gap between us. She turned to look at me in utter shock but satisfaction.

I released her as soon as I realized what I had one and we backed away slightly.

"Alright. I don't think you want to do sword fighting with me." I laughed.

"What do you mean?" She straightened up. "Are you implying that I'm not good enough to fight with you?" Her tone tightened.

"Well, yeah. Princesses don't fight-" I said mockingly.

Her smile disappeared and as soon as I said this, her sword was already drawn out and pressing into the flesh of my neck. I smirked as a drop of blood dripped onto my shoulder. She turned round and stopped, embarrassed, her sword dangling beside her hips.

I blinked and went up to her, my bare chest pressing against her back. My hands slipped down her arms and gripped her hands. I brought up the sword to lay horizontal on our line of vision. Her eyes widened as she looked behind at me, looking into the distance.

"Don't stop fighting, even if it's against me." My lips brushed against her ear and I couldn't help but feel her heart racing fast.

The pattering of feet made us jump apart like static electricity.

"Ramesh." I muttered, looking away with my hands on my hips.

He stopped short at the awkward sight of us and looked rather worried.

"Go and clean my room." I urged him. He nodded and left quickly. Before I could say anything, Rukhsana made her way out of the arena quickly and I laughed at her rather innocent state. My hands reached up to the scar that she had created of my neck and I smiled.

KAURVAKI'S POV:

"Ramesh! Come and clean all this up. What is this mess? I shouldn't be having to tell you for god knows how many times?!" I cried to the servant, he ran straight up to me and bowed.

"Apologies, Rani Kaurvaki."

"Right. I want this spotless. Nothing should be left out in Dhruv and Rukhsana's eng-"

"Err, if I heard correctly - did you say Dhruv?"

"Yes. Why?" I said superciliously.

"Pardon me, my queen. But don't you think it should be Krishna instead? After what I saw today...." he trailed off, his eyes widening.

"What did you see today?" I said, trying not to grit my teeth.

"Young romance blossoming." He sighed and jumped at what he had said, and at my furious state.

"Go away! Go! Stupid man doesn't know what he's saying." I convinced myself.

He ran away.

Krishna's envious smile tore my heart and a continuous pain begun in my stomach, like a tree had whacked me amidst the hollowness, yet the acrimonious words waiting to be said filled it.

KRISHNA'S POV

The morning drew upon the city and my smile hadn't washed off still. With sheer joy and lameness, I strutted into the castle, greeting everyone energetically as they greeted me.

My feet stopped quickly and almost lost their balance when they came to the large courtyard decorated in Rangolis.

Mother was sitting on a stool, leaning over and drawing some more.

"Good morning mother!" I cried across the hall.

Her head looked up towards me with a vacant expression. She just about smiled.

"You're here, Krishna." She said with a rather extended slur.

"Err, yes?" I said confusingly but with a joyful tone.

"What's the matter? You're rather.... unusually happy?" She stood up, folding her arms over her chest.

"Well... yeah, it seems unreal..." I muttered, grinning to myself.

"Just a simple warning from me," she began, advancing towards me with her faint smile stuck on her face.

"It might. Just be unreal." She leant in and the watery glisten in her eyes worried me.

My smile twitched but I guessed she wasn't - faking it?

"What... do you mean?" I asked politely, as she turned to go.

She stopped with her back facing me and tilted her head so I could only get the side view of her face.

"Even your mother met the same, sticky end." She whispered, a clear tone of hurt digging into my heart.

"Mother? What on earth are you talking about?"

"DON'T CALL ME YOUR MOTHER."

My insides felt as if a massive tree had hit them and everything seemed to shift a slight inch or two.

"But mother, you're...."

"YES. You heard me. I'm not your mother." She spat with sparkling tears almost fizzing into her pale, withdrawn cheeks.

My own mouth turned dry and I stared at her, dumbstruck. We were a few meters away from each other.

"Why have you always been so angry with me?" My whimpering voice started after a good minute of uncomfortable silence.

Her eyes glanced up at me and then to the side behind me. I noticed many servants had stopped at the sound of the commotion.

"Scurry off!" Rani Dharma told them as she came and stood beside mother in confusion. Her eyes looked weary and tired as she sighed at the sight of me.

Dhruv appeared, frowning.

"YOUR mother died. She left you to interfere in our life to fulfill her pending task of ruining our family. Understood? I'm not your mother."

The ground beneath my feet shook and I felt like someone had punched me hard in the cores.

"I'm telling you. I won't sacrifice my son's happiness like I did to mine. I'm telling you!" Mother burst out uncontrollably. "You have no right to break my son's heart."

My heart was almost in my mouth when I saw the whole family gathering around at the corridors surrounding the hall.

"Mother!? What-" Dhruv ran up to us and stood beside me, facing mother.

"Step aside Dhruv! He's not your brother!" Her hoarse voice tugged at my heartstrings.

"He's stealing Rukhsana from you Dhruv!"

My head jerked up at this.

"What on earth-" Dhruv murmured full of shock.  "I - don't know what you're saying." He stuttered.

"Oh you know very well what I'm saying." She stumbled across to Dhruv and took his face in her palms. A feeling of jealousy arose in my diaphragm.

"Don't sacrifice what you wanted for so long alright?" She whispered to him, before shooting me a piercing look.

"Don't you all have work to do?" Rani Dharma shooed off everyone else and Maharani Charumitra's mental sniggering reached me.

Once again, emptiness surrounded us as all that remained was me and Dhruv, standing amidst the half-prepared preparations.

"What did she mean, you and Rukhs..." I stopped.

"No - I ..."

"Dhruv. Be honest." I sighed and shot him a serious look, facing him.

He looked down at his feet before my face.

"Well... I don't know if she reciprocates the feeling but-" he stopped again.

"I'll take that as a yes?" I whispered unwillingly, my ears failing to admit the truth.

His lips twitched. "Ever since I saw her, she's the only thing on my mind. Her presence makes me feel special, her graceful appearance makes my heart ache - making me want to... spend as much time with her as possible."

I listened reluctantly, each word hitting my ears like the crashing of a cymbal.

"But tell me one thing." He began.

"Why did mother say - you're trying to... you know, snatch her away or something?" He said uncomfortably.

"Krishna. Tell me - do you actually like Rukhsana. And be honest. I beg you." He responded to my silence.

"No... I - you know that girl who always follows me .. well-" I looked down.

"Oh my gosh!" A smile drew up on his lips. "You and her are-" he stopped.

I pretended to blush and nodded with tears creeping up on the back of my eyelids.

He hugged me tightly and I could feel my throat choking.