Deep inside the forest

Saranya and Nikunj were checking the forest for any Gandharva when they heard an old man's voice calling for help and the musical laughter of Gandharvas echoing.

"They've captured someone," Nikunj said in a low voice, moving stealthily towards the direction from where the call of help was coming.

"Yes," Saranya nodded, "And judging by the sounds, there are many of them. You wait here, I'll go call Father and others for reinforcements."

"We don't have time for that, Saru," Nikunj said urgently, "I must go there immediately otherwise they'll kill the helpless old man. You go and bring the others." And Nikhil ran towards the Gandharvas.

"But listen..." Saranya's sentence was left incomplete.

Saranya was right. There were twelve Gandharvas surrounding the old man in a circle. He was begging for his life but they were pushing him towards the other as if they were playing a game.

Suddenly an arrow pierced a Gandharva's heart. Other Gandharvas looked at the direction from where the arrow came.

"Leave Dada," Nikunj roared, "He's old. If you are really brave, fight with me."

"Who do you think you are?" A Gandharva jeered, "Do you own this kingdom and this forest?"

A sword passed through the Gandharva's heart.

"I don't need to own even a blade of grass to protect a helpless person," Nikunj said, his sword drenched in blood. All other Gandharvas attacked Nikunj. But a shower of arrows killed three of them.

"Saranya?" Nikunj was puzzled, "I thought you went to bring others."

"You are a fool, Nikunj," Saranya laughed, simultaneously fighting with other Gandharvas, "And I'm a bigger fool for loving you."

Someone behind a tree was taking an aim at Saranya and Nikunj with two arrows on his bow.

"I didn't know the Mlecchas were rich enough to buy Gandharvas to kill innocents," Surya said, taking away the bow and arrow from the assassin with an unbelievable ease.

"But they hunt our kind, Maharaj," the assassin said, bowing in front of Surya.

"They only kill Mlecchas' paid workers who target innocent humans," Surya shrugged, "Like we kill the humans who kill or molest our kind. I see nothing wrong in that. Moreover these stole Gandharva mudras from our treasure. They would've gotten death penalty, anyway."

"Pardon, Maharaj," the assassin was about to flee when Surya held his arm in his iron grip.

"What's the hurry, Sundarvarma?" Surya said with amusement, "We have a special treatment for Gandharvas who owe their fealty to a king other than the Gandharvaraj."

After some hours

The full moon was shining bright in the sky and a chakor cried from somewhere beyond the valley. The grass was swaying like an intoxicated dancer in the cool breeze. Nikunj and Saranya were sitting with Saranya leaning her head on Nikunj's shoulder.

"Did you really mean what you said in the forest?" Nikunj asked gazing at the moon.

"What did I say in the forest?" Saranya yawn. Her eyelids were heavy with sleep.

"That you love me. Have you meant it for real?" Nikunj asked.

Saranya sat up instantly.

"Of course I love you," she emphasized.

"You love me like how?" Nikunj asked, "Like the villagers love me? Like Vaishali loves me?"

"I love you as a wife loves her husband, stupid," Saranya blurted.

"Saranya..."

"What? You don't love me?" Saranya's heart was hammering inside her chest. She was sweating now. Whenever Nikunj called her by her full name, an inexplicable fear froze her heart.

"Of course, I love you but my love for Upganasthan is much greater than my love for you or Vaishali or Pitaji. With the threat of Gandharvas murdering innocents and Mlecchas invading our motherland, I don't want anything to hold me back from protecting my people. And I don't want you to waste your life, waiting for days, without knowing I'm dead or alive..."

"Sshhh...Hush now," Saranya kept her hand on Nikunj's lips, "Your dreams, your duties and your responsibilities are all mine. I promise till the end of my breath, I'll never let enemies win and won't ever stop you from performing your duties as the son of our motherland. Now tell me, will you marry me?"

Nikunj just smiled through his tears and hugged Saranya tightly.

What do you think of this chapter? Who are you rooting for- Nikunj or Sahasya? What do you think lies in the fate of Nikunj, Saranya, Sahasya and Upganasthan?