KRISHNA'S POV:

I found my eyes following the glittery pink lehenga that Rukhsana was wearing, and they couldn't help but seamlessly follow her around.

Just then - I saw her whisper something in her friend's ear and leave the venue, quickly scurrying up the stairs while looking to either side.

"Dhruv..... I'll be right back." I said, leaning into a whisper but not taking my narrowed eyes off her.

"What? Where are you -"

I got up quickly and followed her. After I ran up the stairs and found myself in the middle of a corridor, I realized I had lost her.

For the moment.

From the far north corner, I heard a weird snuffling noise - as if someone was laughing or crying.

I sneaked up on the curtains, and quickly pulled them apart to see an astonishing sight.

"I knew it! I knew you were a-" I stopped abruptly as Rukhsana looked at me with big eyes that brimmed with tears. Surprisingly, she was standing on a stool and was a few feet higher than me.

I cringed my face and just as I was about to ask what was wrong, my eyes fell to her sides and saw her whole wrist bleeding.

"What do you think you're doing here?!" I cried, not taking my eyes off her wrist.

"Shhh!" She begged.

"Were you..... were you slitting yourself?" My eyes widened.

"N-no." She quickly hid the knife behind her back.

I clutched her shoulders tightly and almost shook her.

"Don't. Lie. To me."

She looked at me with big eyes.

"Look, I know we don't like each other but - come on, I'm not that bad, well - not a reason to commit suicide anyway."

She didn't respond but arched her eyebrows.

"Look Prince Krishna, I would appreciate it if you could-"

"Please don't kill yourself otherwise mother will kill me!" I begged, looking up at her.

To my surprise, her tense face relaxed into a sly grin and she smirked to herself.

"Think my advice is funny, do you? Well, I'm telling you little girl-"

She started bursting out into laughter and a few of her friends came from behind the pillars.

"We've tricked you, Prince Krishna." One of her friends said. "Again!"

"He's too innocent!" Another said.

"I like innocents." Rukhsana stated.

As she commenced pulling out a small red bottle, she lost her balance and fell with an open mouth. My arms wrapped around her waist tightly as her hair flicked onto my face when she fell into them.

My jaw dropped.

"Not again." I muttered with a groan.

As quick as lightening, she placed the side of the blade under my chin and smirked with a playful smile.

My eyes fell down to hers and watched her expressionless. Her friends laughed in surprise.

"You've lost again, Rajkumar Krishna." She winked and I almost lost the balance on my feet when she thrust the knife off and went off with her friends, leading the group.

🎀

I watched Rukhsana smile and laugh with her friends during the wedding, and the droning voice of the priest almost made me fall asleep.

"God, when will this end?" I whispered in Dhruv's ear.

"Shh!" He said sharply, almost as I had disrupted some day dream he was having.

"Alright brother, don't get snappy with me."

Dhruv rolled his eyes. "You're right. When will this end....." he muttered, like he was waiting for something to happen.

"Pardon?"

"Oh.... nothing." He said quickly.

I frowned.

"What's the matter sons?" Father wrapped an arm around my shoulder as he took the seat next to me.

"Nothing, father. We're bored." We both said at the same time.

He laughed, tilting his head back.

"Can't concentrate on anything other than sword practice, Dhruv?" He thumped his back playfully.

"Well - yeah." He put abruptly.

"And what's got you in a twist, Krishna?" He turned to me with an enjoyable smile. "Your blind weaponry practice I'm guessing?"

"That too...." I murmured.

"What? That's not the only thing you're worried about?" He said shockingly, but with a smirk.

"N-no... I meant like -" my eyes couldn't help settling upon Rukhsana again, no matter how hard I tried.

"I see....." father straightened up with a one-sided smile.

"I see everything." He winked and looked into the far distance.

"Ashok! Come here for a minute." Rani Dharma's voice sounded.

"Dhruv - which family do you think Rukhsana is from?"

He jerked his head up at the sound of her name.

"Well?"

"Oh err... I - don't know. She seems from a noble family."

"I don't know. Why would she be dancing then?"

"You know this isn't court dancing? She's at her friend's wedding."

"She isn't someone ordinary." I nodded.

"Yeah. She's special."

"Agreed."

"Krishna, come here a minute." Father said.

I got up with confused brows as he led me into an empty corridor.

"Now tell me." He said, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at me seriously.

"Talk to me about princesses."

I gulped. Had I done something wrong?

"F-father let's talk about the border of Magadh and stuff yeah? So -"

"No no no! I want you to tell me the name of any girl you like."

"What-"

"Shh!"

I blinked in shock.

"Well? Go on...." father urged.

I sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Uhh... there is one..." I began.

"And?"

"She's called-"

"Rukhsana." He finished off with a satisfying smile.

"Huh - but h..."

"Don't lie to me Rajkumar Krishna. I know your secrets." He winked.

I looked at my shuffling feet. I had never had such an intense conversation with my father before - and that too about .... princesses.

"I'll talk to your mother right after the wedding."

My head jerked up. "About what?"

"Well what do you think?! Your marriage of course!"

I felt my forehead glistening with sweat that was caused by the heat flushing around my cheeks, mainly due to excitement but a little dose of anticipation as well.