I looked up to see a middle-aged man
"What did you say?" I asked.
"I'm Rishyasringa. Owner of all the poems." he smiled.
"Your poems were indeed good. But I can't accept your letter. I'm already married, young man."
"But-"
"If you may excuse me. I'll take my leave."  I got up.

Rishyasringa

"Wait," he stopped me.
"What do you want, Rishiranga?"
"It's Rishyasringa." he chuckled.
"I'm sorry, Rishyasringa. Does it even matter? Let me go."
"I'm sorry if I came out as some stalker." he walked to the lake. "This is where I come to pray to the Lord Surya. That's when I saw you.  I don't know anything about you, my lady. Just you and all these letters." he turned to me.
"I liked your letters. But I can't accept it. I'm already married and I can't even think of anyone other than him in my life." I replied.
"What's your name, my lady?" he smiled at me.
"I can't reveal my name."
"My name is  Maaya."
"Maaya? You're indeed a Maya," he replied.
"This guy turned it into a pickup line."
"I'll take my leave." I walked away.
"Maaya, wait," he called out for me.

"What happened, Dhaksha? Why are you out of your breath?" Bheem na asked.
"If I tell him about Rishyasringa. He'll
certainly, kill that guy and make him into multiple pieces."
"Nothing, Bhaiya. I just got scared by the animals." I replied.
"Animals? How childish are you." he chucked.
"Yeah, yeah." I walked inside.
"Is your Sakhi okay? She's been acting weird lately." I heard Bheem na.

As days passed away. I couldn't find him for the next few weeks.

(after a few weeks)
I was singing my favourite song, "Murali Manohara." while plucking the flowers. It's Lord Krishna's song.
I've started to miss my brother.

"It's beautiful." I heard a familiar voice.
I turned to see Rishyasringa walking towards me.
"Your voice is Maya (Magic) indeed, my lady." he smiled.
"Thank you." I resumed plucking flowers.
"Let me help you, Maya," he asked me.
"What's the worst thing that can happen if I let him help me? I guess it's nothing."
"Yeah." I nodded my head.

After a few minutes of silence. He broke the silence, "Is your heart filled with sorrows?"
"How did he know?"
"Maybe yes or no. I don't know." I replied.
"I'll take that as yes." he smiled at me.
"Why do you have scars all over your hands?" he asked me.
"It's something personal," I hide it with my pallu.
"Did your husband do this to you?" he asked me.
"Alright. Thank you so much. I'll take my leave." I walked away.
"Wait," he called out for me.
"What do you want? I can't answer to any of your questions, Rishyasringa. I'm not in the position to do so too."
"Here, you've missed this flower." he took the flower from the ground.
"Oh, thank you. Put it inside the basket." I showed him my basket.
"Instead of placing the flower in the basket, he kept the flower on my earlobe."
"Perfect." he smiled.
"What was that?"

(After a few days)

I looked all over the place, there were no flowers. Everything was gone. As if someone has plucked it.

"Are you searching for these?" I heard his voice.
I turned to see him holding the basket of flowers.
"He vanishes and shows up on random days. It's very suspicious."
"Oh, you plucked it. Alright let me come on another day." I walked away.
"Wait," he stopped me by my wrist.
"What are your doing?" I took my hands quickly.
"I'm sorry. I plucked it for you." he smiled.
"Let me tell you something, Rishyasringa. This can't be prolonged."
"What? Plucking flowers for you?" he smiled.
"You can't show up like these. I told you right? I'm already married. My heart is with him."
"My heart is with you, Maya," he replied.
"I won't be coming to this place anymore. I'm sorry, Rishyasringa." I walked away.
"Wait. There is a place I wanted to show you. Let that be our last meet. I swear on the god. I won't show up again. I won't disturb you." he said.
"What should I do?"
"Alright. Let's go." I nodded.
"But, promise me. You won't show up again." I asked him.
"Cross my heart, Maya." he replied.

He led me into this pathway full of flowers which I never knew existed. It was indeed beautiful. All of a sudden he closed my eyes.
"What are you doing? What happened?" I shouted.
"Did I make a mistake of coming here?"

"Wait, Maya," he whispered.
He took his palms off. I opened my eyes slowly to see this beautiful glowing falls with lilies all over the land.

"Wow, this place is beautiful," I replied.
"I wanted to take you here for so long. I wanted to be with you for one last time here at this place."
"Listen, Rishyasringa. I'm married and I might be older than you. You are like my younger brother. We can't do this. I hope you'd understand it."
"I'm sorry, Maya. After I lost my brother and my father , I've become vulnerable.  My heart has weakened too. That's why, I couldn't stop myself from feeling things." he replied.
"I'm sorry for your brother and your father. I'm sorry if  I'm being rude but this is reality. You have to accept it and move on."
"Don't be sorry, Maya. I hope you'll understand too. You've lost your brother too-" he stopped in between.
"What the actual fuck? How did he know about my brother?"

"What did you say? You said something about my brother? How did you know?" I exclaimed.
"Yes, I know about your brother's death. And I know that your name is not Maya, it's Dhaksha. Right?" he smirked and moved closer to me.
"What the fuck-"

I kept moving back and slipped down.

"I'm Rishyantha from the other side. I'm shall be your death, Dhakshayani. I was sent here to seduce you. It seems you won't fall for this face.  You seem to love your Aarya more." he laughed at me.
"What have I got myself into?"

"This was the weapon that was made to kill you. It's time for me to use it. We'll see who shall help you." he took a sword out.
"Your death is near, my beautiful Maya." he smiled at me.

"Govindha!!"

To be continued....

What will happen next?

Vote and comment:)

Add to your story list
Stay updated😊.

Thanks for love and support❤