Close to the king, close to the man
She has seen both the warrior-monarch,
And the lover at night.

****

Staring at the sunshine falling on her healing palms, Indumala sat near a window that overlooked a part of the royal garden. Thick green foliage swayed gently and colourful butterflies frolicked around. It had been some days since she wasn't working. The Rajan had dismissed her from duties.

These days he came to her often, finding time between his own responsibilities. Like a man who didn't forget to count his rosary beads and pray, Rudra made sure to wish her a good night every time. She even found him threatening the doctor: If her wounds get worse instead of healing, I am going to burn you– well, those were his words. Indumala knew it wasn't appropriate behaviour. Her wounds would definitely heal; it wasn't as if it were something impossible.

She had always been afraid of fire. As a kid, she would not play with firecrackers at all. Though when a grown-up, she got the courage to enjoy some.

"And that same Indumala didn't care to save the Rajan from a fire."

It soothed her to see the Rajan was so worried for her. Their bond wasn't something build on sparks and sudden friendships, but constituted a gradual transition from dislike to... That's where Indumala got stuck.

"Where is this going?"

She was a brave woman, but she never dreamt of jumping into the fire for someone else. It was so scary.

But she did it.

And dodging the usual, inviting warm hug, the Rajan had placed a kiss on her wounded hand. It was unexpected. No, a Rajan he was, and he very well understood the consequences of such an action. He was the most powerful ruler of the world, and for him to show such a gesture towards a woman could only be treated as something passionate, if not completely scandalous. The Rajan was prone to anger and tantrums, but not expressions of affection. Not one human ever told her about his softer side.

"Seems like, I am the only one who witnessed it."

Does that make me special?

Tickling sensations piled up in her chest. They could burst any moment and uncage themselves into a million butterflies, joining the ones flying in the garden. But then Indumala prided herself over her immense control. Had she never felt and judged a man as handsome or a potential match? Maybe yes. But if they ever tried to cross a line, Indumala showed them their place. Her heart was no plaything.

Yet, when Rudra showered his affections, Indumala willingly accepted.

She knew it wasn't because he was a Rajan. Yes, being powerful and rich was attractive, but it wasn't what made her smile and think about him. What melted her were his sudden embraces, his tears, his inability to be wicked however hard he tried, and his pain. She wanted to understand him like his own part.

Indumala heaved a sigh. No denying that she was feeling different about him.

She looked out the window and, blame the mischievous planning of fate, saw the Rajan and his retinue standing. They were talking amongst themselves. He looked happy. Indumala didn't want to feel too high about herself, but intuition told it was his practice to keep this brighter side obscure, and only upon her arrival did he unravel the layers.

Little did she know that he would look up at her window. It made her startled and red. What if he read her mind and understood that he was the reason behind the endearment blossoming under the pink shades of her cheeks? What if he pushed her away, at the end?

Smiling like a youth in his tens, the Rajan waved and beckoned her to join him. Indumala shook her head, but he thumped his foot and displayed his stubbornness. She laughed and mouthed 'alright' before going to the garden.

Upon reaching the garden, she smiled at his glowing face. His hair was messy, almost as if he had just come out of bed. Did he not look at his reflection?

"We are going boating."

Rudra's declaration moved the ground beneath her feet. Instantly, she imagined two lovers rowing a boat and having a heart-to-heart. Again, didn't friends do it too? Whatever the intention of the Rajan may be, she was in no position to disagree. It wasn't like she hated him, or he hated her. They had a place for each other in their lives, Indumala knew this much. If that place would grow and conjoin into a union was time's dictation.

"Why not?" She beamed. "But my hands are not fine yet, so I won't row."

He took her palms and inspected them. Out of the corner of her vision, Indumala saw the accompanying guards eye them with curiosity. Some averted their gaze, as if the Rajan had forbid from watching. It made Indumala blush deeper.

"It's better than before, thanks to the doctor."

"I heard what you had told him."

He rolled his eyes. "I need to be strict. Not everyone is here to see me kind and I want to keep that ruthless reputation."

Once, she was also a part of that crowd who knew just his reputation. Now, she was knowing him.

"Let's have some good time, Indu. You are going to enjoy this, I promise."

He placed his hand on her back, guiding her to the lake. There, a boat waited for them. Rudra climbed in first, and then helped Indumala. The guards were supposed to be positioned around the lake, always near the Rajan, but Indumala caught him glaring at them and making secret signals. Slowly, they dispersed themselves and hid behind bushes and trees. No one was in sight.

"So, Indu," Rudra began, "how does this holiday feel like?"

"It's definitely a sick leave, not a holiday. I will be glad if I can go on a holiday one day, but I understand that people like us rarely get to have time for ourselves."

"That's true," Rudra muttered with a pout. "I thought it will be nice if we go on a boating. I was actually going to send someone to find you, but then saw you at the window."

Indumala gulped. Even though sitting at the other end of the boat, she felt the heat of the warmth emanating out of his body. They fused into her being. She regretted not tying up her hair. The strands tickled her. She gathered her hair, moving it to one side of her shoulder and combed it with her fingers. "Rajan, is this lake–"

Turning towards him, she found the Rajan, his head tilted, stealing a glance of her deliciously exposed neck. He feigned to be attentive to her words when she paused. "I am listening," he said, his eyes fixated on her skin.

Suddenly so self-conscious, Indumala tried to see her reflection in the water. She looked decent, if not the best. A bit exhausted and drained, perhaps. But the sun helped in hiding the dullness and made imperfections appear as a work of art.

"Is this lake man-made?"

"Yes, should be, but I don't know who created it."

"Doesn't matter, really. It's beautiful."

"Indeed." He smirked. Indumala knew for whom it was meant. Beautiful, really? She could muster up a smile and look down at her feet, admire the orange fishes swimming in the crystal clear waters, or just act oblivious to the surprising attention she received.

"I have a request, if you don't mind," he said. Indumala's little gasp was not unnoticed by Rudra. "It won't trouble you."

Indumala wasn't ready for anything, not now. She had just begun to know the Rajan. She had to explain to him that whatever was happening could be interpreted in a flirtatious way. Or as if he was courting her. But, she didn't know what to do! Were these merely her thoughts? "Rajan, I–"

"Don't call me Rajan. Call me Rudra. This is my request."

Indumala's irises expanded like the cosmos. She wouldn't be exaggerating if she said she saw stars. Yes, she knew where this was going but didn't have the guts to say anything. "Even when in front of other people, like the ministers?" She could clarify at least this much.

"Of course." He looked too sure about it, so proud was the way his shoulders lifted up themselves to express approval.

"But, isn't it audacious?"

"You are audacious. If you slapped me, you can also call me by my name."

"I am sorry!" Indumala realised why he said it. He was upset. He was taunting her. "I won't ever do that. I beg you, please don't behave like this. I can't–"

"I am not angry, Indu." He flushed scarlet. "I genuinely want you to call me Rudra."

She hiccuped. Covering her little lips, she whispered, "Really?"

Rudra had to strain his ears to hear her. "Yes. Call me Rudra. From this moment."

"But–"

"Call me Rudra."

Indumala sighed. "Rudra, alright?"

He grinned, sublime wrinkles appearing near his eyes. "That's great."

"You are unpredictable, Rudra."

He touched his heart. "So sweet to hear, Indu. It pleases me. Praise me more."

"Row the boat, you fool. And it wasn't something positive that I said."

"I would still take it as a compliment."

Indumala covered her face and shook with laughter. Rudra definitely found it amusing. Indumala was too shy to match his gaze.

"Did I upset you?" he jestingly asked.

"No."

"So why are you not looking at me?" He made a scrunched face. "I am sad."

You know what you are doing, Rudra. "You aren't so good that I would look at you all day."

He hissed and shrank. "You just pierced me with the most poisonous arrow."

"I don't care."

"What do you think? Are you someone at whom one can look all day and forget the sunset and sunrise?"

"I..." Am I? "I don't know."

"Poor Indu, you need to pamper yourself more. Perhaps I can spoil you. I am the Rajan, after all. I can give you an ego boost. I can make you feel like you are the one around whom the world revolves."

Indumala cocked her head to the side. "And then I will go around getting on everyone's nerves like you do."

"Do I get on your nerves?"

Indumala thought about it for a while. "Not really."

"So can we have fun like this? I know I am a busy man and you are also quite ambitious, so it will be hard to find time. But such hobbies help."

"It's your call. I am anyways your bodyguard. I need to follow you."

Rudra stopped rowing the boat. It stood still in the middle. Time seemed to have ceased to move too.

"If, you weren't my bodyguard, or weren't bound by obligations, would you rather not follow me?"

His eyes sang with childish hope. They requested destiny to not break his heart, not a second time. Not when he was trying again, giving life a second chance. The ebony eyes, frightening and haunting, lit up with a lamp of love.

"If you had asked me this during our first meeting, I would have said yes, I would rather stay away. But truthfully, where I am now, I think following you has become habit. It's not the duty that binds me. It's the innate nature of human beings– they get comfortable around certain people. Once they could live without them forever, yet at present a day without them is bland."

Judging from the widened eyes of Rudra and his gaping lips, Indumala realised she had uttered too much. Well, if she had gifted him disrespect in the past, now he deserved some sort of...care.

Well, she didn't know if he deserved it, but she wanted to give it. She wanted to pour it all.

Maybe he needs it too.

"Thanks, Indu." Rudra's fair cheeks flowered like hibiscus. The coldness in him tasted the kiss of a bonfire, bewitched by its company. "I will remember your words forever. They will give me strength when I need it."

"I am happy to provide. I am here."

Rudra wiped his eyes. "The sun."

Indumala knew it wasn't the sun. Don't cry, Rajan– Oh! No, Rudra. "I know. How about we take a walk in that garden?"

"Sure."

They reached the shore. The guards came out of their hiding spots. They tied the boat and then began following the Rajan and his bodyguard. But before Rudra and Indumala could cast a spell on each other, the lovely bubble broke. Devanj came from the other side of the garden. He bowed to the two. Indumala returned the respect.

"I am sorry to disturb the Rajan, but we have rescued a new girl from Revat. Would you come and see her for once?"

"Oh, yes. I will."

"I have kept doctors for attending to her." Devanj's lips quivered funnily. "You can come later also."

Rudra narrowed his eyes. "I am coming now." He turned to Indumala, placing a hand on her face and caressing her supple skin. "We will talk later."

Indumala could have said– it's a privilege; your desire it is, to talk with me or not, and I am no one to protest.

"We will." Instead, she made a decisive choice.

Rudra traced her chin, looking into her eyes, his favourite temple. "Good to know."