Inside Nikunj's house

It's a hot afternoon. Nikunj's house is camouflaged among the shrubs and trees. There's a heavy iron chest in a room which is not opened frequently. But Nikunj and his father are arguing across it.

"Pitaji, we come from a lineage of fiercest warriors," Nikunj was enraged, "And you're saying we do nothing when Mlecchas are so close to our borders."

"You are just a Gandharva-hunter, who hunts supernatural creatures which kill people, for a living, Nikunj," his father said firmly, "Don't you ever forget that."

"Gandharvas are not the biggest threat, Pitaji," Nikunj said, trying to convince his father, "Mlecchas are our biggest enemies. And being the most trusted commander of Sarsenapati Ji, you know that."

"Most trusted commander!" Nikunj's father sneered, "Who was disgraced by the great king Ajatshatru himself for performing his duties. They snatched every honour I earned before exiling me from the kingdom's army."

"The King wronged us, Pitaji," Nikunj kneeled before his father, "But we owe our lives to our motherland."

Nikunj's father thumped Nikunj's heart with his fist, "This thing will get you killed, son, just like your mother."
And Nikunj's father left the house.

Nikunj remained kneeling for sometimes and after getting up, he too left the house with his bow, arrows and sword.

Saranya was sharpening her arrows for the hunt today when Vaishali ran over to her in distress. "Saru Jiji. Saru Jiji. Please save Surya Bhaiyya." It had started raining unexpectedly.

"What happened to that nuisance?" Saranya said without stopping her work.

"He would drown in the Kubha river. Nikunj Bhaiyya has left for hunting Gandharvas. Jiji come fast. He'll die, Jiji."

Saranya left her arrow on the stone and ran towards the river.

"Go back home, Vaishali and wait for me," she said. But Vaishali didn't move.

"Don't you trust your Saru Jiji?" Saranya said in a complaining voice, "I'll bring your Surya Bhaiyya in one piece."

"Promise?" Vaishali asked innocently.

"Promise!" Saranya said and waited until Vaishali reached her home.

Saranya jumped into the river. The river had become more treacherous due to the heavy rains. Saranya was not used to swimming in such high currents, but thinking of Surya, she ventured into the deeper end of the Kubha.

The violent rush of the river was unexpected for Saranya and she started having difficulty to keep her head above water. The hold on her body started loosening and she started going deeper towards the bottom of the river.

Suddenly a strong hand grabbed hold of her waist and pulled her upwards. Those few moments Saranya felt as if she was nothing but a fragment of a dream. She looked into her saviour's eyes. Only half of his face was above the water. His one eye was silver like a sword and his other eye was purple like a hyacinth flower. Saranya felt a strange enchantment towards the person. She felt being pulled closer to the man. Then she saw his shabby beard.

"You?" She said.

"The same question I can ask you?"

"Vaishali said you were drowning. I jumped into the river and risked my life for you, Surya. What are you doing when the river is so violent?" Saranya was indignant.

"I love swimming in Kubha during heavy rains," Surya said, pulling Saranya towards the river bank. They both kept sitting there for some moments without looking at each other.

"You could get killed, Surya," Saranya didn't know why she was getting so angry, "Kubha is not so forgiving in this season? You could have drowned and no one would even have discovered your body."

"I can never die by drowning, Saranya!" Surya said simply.

"Why?" Saranya fired back, "Are you a Gandharva who cannot drown in any water body? Because as far as I know, only Gandharvas, Apsaras, Yakshas, Nagas, Pretas are the ones who cannot drown."

"Who knows? Maybe I could be one of them?" Surya raised his right eyebrow.

"Have you looked yourself in the mirror?" Saranya said, "Though Gandharvas are wicked, they are the most good looking living creatures."

"So why are you marrying Nikunj?" Surya said, "He is not a Gandharva. Unless he's a disguised one, fooling you all."

"You don't deserve to take Nikunj's name," Saranya said dreamily, "He is the bravest, the noblest man I've meet."

"And the most foolish one."

"You!"

"Saru Jiji! You saved Surya," Vaishali came running towards them in rain, "I knew my Saru Jiji will save everyone."

"Yes, princess Vaishali," Surya lifted Vaishali in his arms, "If your Saru Jiji was not there, I would have drowned and fish and crocodiles would have been feeding on my body by now."

Surya chuckled on seeing Saranya glaring at him.

So this was the fourth chapter? What do you think of the story until now? Who are you liking most in the story? Who are you imagining as Saranya, Nikunj and Surya in your mind? Please tell me in the comments.