Aruna dipped her fingers in the small steel bowl containing warm oil, anxiously saying, "I really don't know if it's a good idea for you to wash your hair in this cold weather, Nanhi. I know you're used to doing it regularly even during winters, but the winters in Shamli are not this severe."

"Don't be worried, aunty. I'll be fine," Nandini insisted.

"You're already looking so pale," Aruna fretted as her fingers gently moved on the thick, lush tresses. "I'm really worried you'll fall ill."

"That's just because I woke up early and couldn't sleep again for some reason," Nandini said uneasily. "I'm feeling perfectly fine."

Rajesh Garewal looked over the rim of the newspaper he was reading and said, "Don't fuss so much, Arunaji. She's a strong girl."

"She is, but I'm going to remove the evil eye from her anyway," Aruna said mulishly.

Nandini smiled as she enjoyed the oil massage.

It always helped her relax, and she was in desperate need of relaxation after the night she'd had. She didn't know at what point the crying had exhausted her so much that she had fallen into a deep sleep. But although she had slept for a few hours, for most of it, she'd been stuck in a single, never-ending nightmare of being trapped in an old, dark structure, and no matter in which direction she had run, with her heart hammering with fear, she hadn't been able to escape, and there had been a horrible feeling of impending doom...that time was running out, and if she didn't get out soon, she was going to be trapped within that ancient place forever...

She had woken up an hour ago, with her heart still feeling heavy and sick with grief, and her nerves still stretched with tension and anxiety. Her sorrow wasn't going to disappear or even lessen in this lifetime, but she'd decided to try this time-tested method to at least get rid of the anxiety from the nightmare.

"Dry your hair properly, okay? Or you could catch a cold. You should use the hair dryer," Aruna encouraged. "It won't damage your hair if you use it sporadically."

"That's really not necessary," Nandini awkwardly. "My hair dries quickly on its own."

"Yes, keep your modern contraptions away from my daughter," Rajesh commented from behind the paper. "She doesn't need them like you do."

"Don't be mean, uncle," Nandini protested lightly. "She just wants to help."

"This is what happens when you've been married for too long, Nanhi," Aruna said sniffily. "Men lose all sense and say any rubbish that comes to their minds."

Nandini chuckled as she listened to Rajesh Garewal's indignant response and the banter that followed, knowing that it meant nothing, and underneath all of the arguments and leg-pulling was a bond of unshakeable love.

************************

After signing on the last page of the thick wad of papers, Prithvi closed the file and pushed it across the smooth surface of the table to the grey-haired man sitting on the other side.

"That's the last of it for now?" he asked the oldest member of his team of assistants.

"Yes, sir, thank you," the man said, rising to his feet, holding several files.

"Tell the others I'm not to be disturbed for some time," Prithvi directed.

Once the door was shut, Prithvi pushed back his chair and got up.

He walked to the tall glass windows, and gazed out at the sprawling green grounds. Arms crossed, he leaned against the side of the windows, which were open as usual, letting cold air circulate through the room. This had the added benefit of ensuring the room was so chilly that Inder couldn't stay in it for long.

He had worked at a vicious pace since two hours, going through critical papers, engaging in multiple short meetings with people located in different countries, and making vital decisions. Now that he'd completed the most pressing tasks that had been pending since last evening, the thoughts, faces and voices that had waited in the background until now were back to disturb him again.

He'd made the plan and put Sumer Singh through an emotional rigmarole, and Sumer Singh had also messaged him a while ago, enquiring if he could share the news about Nandini's visit with Uday Singh. 

He had not replied so far, because he hadn't yet done the most important thing - ask Nandini if she would want to visit Taravan.  And it wasn't because he'd not had the time...he'd just wanted to postpone it until he could...

After last evening, he'd had more than enough things to be perturbed about even before the conversation with his mother. But now she was the biggest concern facing him.

And the talk with Haimavati hadn't done much to comfort him. The woman was mindlessly obstinate in her belief that his mother's emotional health was completely fine. And her biggest argument was that it had been over two years since his mother had experienced those periods of utter, numb blankness. But she had agreed to keep a close watch for any of the tell-tale signs...

If the situation took the turn he expected, he would have to go to the palace at Devgarh, which was the only insufferable experience that his mother had not forced him to endure yet.

Or he would have to bring her to Taravan before her condition worsened.

But there was some time to make that decision, and in the meanwhile, he had to deal with what he had been postponing since morning.

There was the minor practical issue that he didn't have Nandini's phone number, but it was essentially a mental discomfort that was stopping him...an uncomfortable feeling that he would be erasing a small portion of the wall between them once he messaged her.

In a somber, reflective mood, he walked back to his desk and picked up his private phone.

****************

Disha felt glad as she watched Rajeshwari happily have an unusually heavy breakfast in her room while watching a movie on her laptop.

Usually, she would be feeling tensed if the princess appeared too cheerful or excited. But this time, she wasn't anxious as the princess's good mood was the result of her conversation with her brother. And even otherwise, nothing could go wrong since Prithvi was here. But what he had told Rajeshwari for her to be so cheerful, Disha wondered.

She waited until the plates had been cleared and the princess had settled back into bed for her post-breakfast nap before leaving the room. 

Disha had just sat at her desk to go through the mails regarding the family's charitable organisations when she received a call from Prithvi.

She answered it quickly.

"Is Rajeshwari near you?"

"No, your highness. She's taking a nap, and I'm at my desk right now."

"Good. Nandini is staying with the Garewals in Jateshwari," Prithvi said. "It's close to Taravan. I plan to ask her if she can come over for lunch to give Rajeshwari a surprise. If she agrees, you would need to go to their house to pick her up. And make sure the news is kept from Rajeshwari. I assume you're supposed to have met her just once – in Shamli, so keep that in mind when you meet her in front of the Garewals."

Pleased with the news of Nandini's visit, Disha smiled and said, "Yes, your highness".

More than happy, she was relieved to know that Nandini would be arriving at Taravan. She had grown accustomed to the lack of any outward warmth or cheerfulness in the family. But there was something strangely morose in the atmosphere this time. She couldn't put her finger on it, but it had been there since she had returned from her leave. And, maybe because of everything that had happened in Shamli, she felt a hope that something could shift for the better with Nandini's arrival...

"Have Yamini, Grishma or Anuj spoken to her since morning?" Prithvi asked, though he was already certain of the answer. All three of them preferred to sleep late and wake up post noon unless there were any plans to go out.

No," Disha said, and after a short hesitation, she added, "The princess didn't leave her room at all yesterday after breakfast."

She didn't add that most of his friends very rarely spoke to anyone else in the family if he wasn't around. Grishma usually made much more of an effort than the others, but she too had seemed despondent and quiet since her arrival at Taravan, and none of them had met Rajeshwari or asked about her yesterday.

"I see," Prithvi muttered, feeling guilty at not having checked on his sister later in the day. "Well...if any of my friends do come to speak to her, make sure they know they must not mention yesterday's meeting with the Garewals and Nandini."

"Yes, your highness," Disha said promptly, without raising any questions.

"And send across Nandini's phone number to me," Prithvi said casually.

"Yes, your highness," Disha said, overcoming a moment of surprise. She wasn't surprised that he had asked her for the number even though he could have gotten in a second from the countless resources that were at his disposal. That was very much typical of him. But somehow, based on some things she had noticed in Nikumbh and Shamli, she had assumed there was a history between him and Nandini. But if he didn't even have her phone number...perhaps there was no connection between them after all...

*********************

Prithvi looked at the contact details that Disha had shared with him.

Nandini Bharadwaj.

Two words that had contained everything good that existed in the universe...or so he'd thought once upon a time...

His fingers remained suspended above the keypad, frozen for a long time. Then he took a sharp breath and started to type. When the messages had been sent, he kept the phone on the table, and leaned back in his chair, staring at the instrument.

It could take her a while to see the messages and respond. He could continue with his work in the meantime, that would be a better use of his time.

However, as minutes ticked by, he continued to watch the phone with an inexplicable tension.

*****************

Nandini shivered as she emerged from the bathroom, her hair wrapped in a blue towel. She shot to the bed and quickly donned her sweater. She then jumped onto the mattress and wrapped the thick blanket around herself.

After a few minutes, feeling a little warm and comfortable, she absently reached for the phone that she'd kept on the bed before heading to the bathroom, planning to call home. But she was distracted on seeing there were some unread messages, and opened the chat application. There were several messages from her friends. She was just about to tap on the one that had arrived first when a message appeared from an unknown number.

"Hey. This is Prithvi."

Shock nearly made her heart leap out of her chest.

Then a second message appeared -"Need to talk to you about Rajeshwari. Let me know when I can call."

She stared at the messages in disbelief. Only one word from the messages had penetrated her mind.

Prithvi...

A boundless exhilaration swept her up in its embrace. She stared at the messages without reading them, unaware of the radiant smile on her pink face and the fresh glow of happiness on her skin.

She clasped the phone with both hands and smiled joyously at the opposite wall while her heart continued to hop wildly in her chest.

It was the first time he had messaged her...the very first time!

But suddenly, a fear punctured her joyous bubble. Why had he messaged her? Had he assumed something....because of yesterday...

Her smile dimming sharply, she looked at her phone's screen, and hurriedly read the messages again, forcing her brain to resume its work.

Rajeshwari. The matter-of-fact messages were about Rajeshwari. Not about her.

And that was a big relief for her, Nandini tried to convince herself as her spirits stopped prancing and sank quietly. 

She had to respond, but what was the best thing to say. All her language skills appeared to have abandoned her. Every reply her mind came up with sounded clumsy and dumb. She struggled with many permutations and combinations of words for some minutes, and then, biting her lower lip hard, she typed out a reply.

"Hi, you can call me now if you're free."

Then still holding the phone with both hands like it was a treasured object, she stared at the screen with a combination of happy anticipation and deep anxiety as her pulse continued to race erratically.

**********************

Prithvi snatched up the phone while trying to be prepared to see Kadambari's usual 'good morning' message with an image of flowers and a corny quote.

But it wasn't from her this time.

He read this particular message and then realised he was smiling like a moron.

Muttering a nasty abuse for himself, Prithvi got up and walked to the sofa in the room. He sat down on it while gazing at the phone.

He paused for a few moments, and then tentatively called the number.

*****************

She had been waiting desperately for the phone to ring, but she was startled when it did, and then she experienced a fleeting moment of panic. There was an awful sense of foreboding that something would change irreversibly once she answered the call.

She took a long, wobbly breath, and then answered the phone on the fourth ring with a cautious "Hi".

"I hope I didn't disturb you," Prithvi said politely.

"You didn't," she said self-consciously, and then uneasily asked, "What did you want to say about Rajeshwari?"

"I wanted to ask a favour of you...for her," he answered casually. "Would it be possible for you to come here to meet Rajeshwari today? She's been feeling low, and I think it would cheer her up if you visit."

Startled, Nandini said, "You want me to come to Taravan today?"

"Not just you, I'm planning to ask the Garewals to come over for lunch. And I was thinking you could come a little earlier, and give Rajeshwari a surprise. She doesn't know you're in Jateshwar, and she told me this morning that she wants to visit Shamli next week to meet you. So I thought it would be a nice surprise for her if you visit. And this way you can also meet Baba and the others in private," he said. "And then you could return home with the Garewals after lunch. But it's fine if you don't want to do this. There's no compulsion," he muttered.

Nandini was caught in a mire of uncertainty and hope. She wanted to help Rajeshwari if she could, and the thought of being able to meet Sumer Singh and the others comfortably before the Garewals arrived was very appealing. But she needed to be sure of the reception she would get at the house before agreeing...

"Have you asked Sumer uncle if he wants to meet me?" she asked uncertainly.

"Yes, and he's looking forward to seeing you again. The thakur doesn't know yet. I thought I'd ask you before letting him know. But I know he's going to be thrilled to get a chance to flirt with you again."

Nandini smiled as a delighted warmth filled her heart. But it appeared too good to be true, she thought uneasily.

"You're not lying? Sumer uncle really said he would like to meet me?" she asked nervously.

"I wouldn't have asked you if I thought it was going to be unpleasant for you," Prithvi replied soberly.

"I know you wouldn't," Nandini mumbled. The thought of visiting Taravan had become very attractive now, but being in Taravan would mean being in the same house as him, and even if it was for just a couple of hours, it would be too difficult and awkward...

"I do want to meet them and Rajeshwari, but I don't think it's a good idea for me to come there," she added feebly after a pause.

"I assume this is about yesterday," Prithvi said calmly. "I told you...I don't know the reasons for a lot of things I've been doing since a while, and I doubt that's going to change very soon," he adjoined in a glum, low voice. "But I can give you my word that I don't wish to recreate the past any more than you do. I can't prove it to you...you'll just have to believe me," he said flatly. "And as for today...you're not going to be uncomfortable because I won't be here when you arrive. I'm going out of town for work and will be back only after two days," he adjoined nonchalantly.

Taken aback, Nandini automatically asked, "Where are you going?" and then cringed at the indignation in her tone. She had sounded like an upset child...

"Jainagar. If you still don't want to come here, that's fine. You can tell me frankly."

The distress in Nandini's eyes was submerged by a tide of fury and intense hurt.

She had come all the way from Shamli to Jateshwar for the short span of a week only because of a small hope of being able to see him once or twice. And he...he was going to leave the house on the day he had invited her. And not only that, he was going to be away for two days. Work was an excuse. He was leaving because he regretted what had happened yesterday and wanted to be away from her. And that was wonderful...it was the best thing for both of them, she thought bitterly. She also knew everything about her anger was unreasonable and senseless. But that awareness wasn't helping her in the least to become calm.

"If you're not going to be in Taravan, I don't have any problem visiting it," Nandini said coldly.

Prithvi grinned while relaxing against the cushioned backrest of the sofa, extraordinarily pleased by the ferocity in her words and tone. He could virtually see the enraged colour on her cheeks and the angry sparks in her eyes.

But he solemnly said, "That's wonderful. I'll talk to the Garewals then. Disha will pick you up in some time. And just a heads-up. The Garewals will expect you to be surprised when they tell you about my family background today."

Nandini's temper sharpened. So the prince was so busy that he couldn't even be bothered to come to the house to take her to Taravan.

"Thanks for the tip," she said caustically. "I'll try to look shocked when they tell me your family has descended straight from the heavens."

"To be honest, it was more of an ascent than a descent," he confessed.

She almost giggled at the humorous retort, but controlled herself and coolly said, "Very funny."

He grinned at the suppressed laugh in her voice. Then he hesitantly said, "I can wait and leave after you meet Baba and the others".

"Please don't, your highness," Nandini requested sarcastically and cut the call.

Smiling amusedly, Prithvi got up from the sofa and walked to the windows. He pushed one open wider and jumped down lightly onto the soft flower bed lining the walls. He had done enough work for the morning. It would be good to take a break and go for a long walk in the hills on this beautiful morning.

While heading to one of the side gates that opened into a fruit orchard, he sent a message to Sumer Singh, confirming Nandini's visit, and the details of it, and stating that Uday Singh could be informed now.

The sight of a peacock preening for the benefit of an indifferent peahen reminded Prithvi of his childhood friend. Sankatmochan didn't know anything about his plans yet, which was good. The fellow would not let him leave for Jainagar in peace if he learned that Nandini was coming for a visit. But luckily, he had gone off to a shrine that was at a considerable distance from the house, and was unlikely to return soon.

As he opened the gates to the orchard, Prithvi called up Rajesh Garewal.

********************

Sumer Singh read Prithvi's message with relief. He was grateful he could now tell Uday Singh about Nandini's visit. He was still shaken by the conversation he'd had with Prithvi earlier. Never before had Prithvi spoken to him like that...with so much honesty and emotional openness...

And it had happened because of Nandini...who was now coming to this house.

He needed to speak to someone about it...and hopefully to get an opinion that wasn't as alarming as his own. He would generally have spoken to Kadambari first, but this was one news that had to be kept away from her at all cost, he thought warily. The woman despised Nandini with a vengeance and would go crazy with rage if she found about today's lunch plans.

When he entered Uday Singh's room, he found the latter sitting in a cosy chair, enveloped in several layers of wool and his feet up on an ornate, cushioned stool, nodding off while reading a magazine.

Uday Singh looked at him when he asked for permission to enter the room, and then sharply said, "Come in, come in. Is everything okay, Sumer?"

"I'm not sure, your highness," Sumer Singh murmured.

Uday Singh frowned at him, and indicated a chair that was to his left. "Sit down, and tell me what the issue is."

Sumer Singh gingerly took a seat, and then began to slowly narrate a short gist of what Prithvi had shared with him, starting with the news that Priyamvada had asked Prithvi to go to Jainagar, and he would be leaving shortly and would probably have to stay there for a couple of days.

Then he halted, and when the silence had continued for a few moments, Uday Singh brusquely said, "Go on."

Sumer Singh reluctantly said, "Your highness, Rajesh Garewal and his wife have brought Nandini with them to Jateshwar. Prithvi happened to meet them yesterday during their outing, and now he wants to give Rajeshwari a surprise by inviting Nandini and the Garewals to the house for lunch today. I believe Nandini will be arriving earlier, and the Garewals will follow."

As he spoke, an incredulous delight spread on Uday Singh's face.

"Nandini is coming here today? But this is incredible news!" he exclaimed. "And the fact that Prithvi thinks her visit would be a good thing for Rajeshwari means she must still be that bundle of sunshine I remember. Ah it's going to be wonderful to meet that child again," he beamed happily.

"He only doing it for Rajeshwari," Sumer Singh said cautiously, though he wasn't sure if he was saying it for Uday Singh's benefit or his own. "And he told me very clearly that neither of them have any interest in.... He just wants to cheer Rajeshwari up because she has not been in a great frame of mind since some days."

Uday Singh impatiently said, "Of course he is doing this only for Rajeshwari. Wait...did he invite Nandini before or after Priyamvada asked him to go to Jainagar?" he asked astutely.

"After," Sumer Singh admitted. "And...he said he knows I haven't spoken to Nandini since years, but I must forget the past and treat Nandini just as I did before."

"Then it's clear, isn't it? Why would he invite Nandini to the house today if his intention was to spend time with her. And he asked you to be nice to the girl. What more proof do you need to confirm that he is fine with her now," he demanded.

Sumer Singh shifted awkwardly in his seat. "Your highness, I'm worried that this renewing of contact between them might not be the best thing for him."

"I've told you this before, Sumer. There is no possibility of them getting together again," Uday Singh said dismissively. "But it would be heart-warming to see them be cordial with each other and interact normally. Young men and women are much more sensible about these things now," he sighed. "They understand that emotions could change with time, and the practical thing to do is to move on with your life, and not send hired assassins to poison or decapacitate me to take revenge," he brooded briefly, mulling over the unpleasant endings of a few old love-turned-hate stories. Then he looked confusedly at Sumer Singh, "What was I talking about? Oh yes, Nandini and Prithvi. Yes, it's going to be a beautiful day, so wipe that doomed look from your face and make arrangements for a great lunch with lots of sweet dishes."

**********************

Rajesh called out his wife's name loudly once...and then again. He was enjoying the sun's warmth in the front yard, and didn't want to go into the house to speak to her. And since the subject was Prithvi, his wife was bound to get hyperexcited, and so it would be better if they discussed the matter here to avoid being overheard by Nandini.

But the boy would truly have been a wonderful match for Nandini, Rajesh thought despondently. He had become so polite and well-mannered and mature over the years. If not for the unpleasant and weird members of his family and the differences between the backgrounds of both families, he would have been even more zealous than Aruna in planning a match between the two.

He snapped out of his thoughts as Aruna walked up to him, asking him why he had called.

"Arunaji, Prithvi had called me just now. He has invited us to go to Taravan for lunch, and he said his sister would like to spend some time talking to Nandini, so he was asking if Nandini could go there an hour or so before us. He will send Rajeshwari's personal assistant, Disha, to pick up Nandini. I told him I would ask Nandini and let him know."

Thrilled, Aruna said, "I love the idea! She must definitely go - but...why are you being so calm and cheerful about it?" she asked her husband suspiciously.

Rajesh smiled smugly. "Prithvi extended the invitation on behalf of Uday Singhji and Sumer Singh. He will not be present at Taravan when we go there because he's going to Jainagar for two days. So, you will not be able to play any of your games today."

Aruna gaped at her husband, but the disappointment on her face swiftly diminished, and she offered an equally smug smile in return. "Even if he's not there, this is a good chance for Nandini to get a better understanding about his family and lifestyle. And since Prithvi is not going to be there, he must have definitely asked us to visit again when he's present. Did he not?"

Rajesh scowled at his wife.

"So he did do that," Aruna laughed. "So, Rajeshji, all in all, this is a win for me, not you!"

Rajesh shook his head bemusedly at her. Then he said, "If we're going, we need to tell Nandini about Prithvi's family background."

Aruna nodded. "I'll ask her to come here and we can discuss it together."

Some minutes later, Nandini was sitting with the couple in the lovely yard, trying to appear as serious and innocent as she could as they shared the plan for lunch, and Prithvi's request.

"So would you be interested in going there earlier to meet Rajeshwari?" Rajesh asked her intently. "If you don't want to, it's fine. We can go together. Or if you don't want to go there at all, we can cancel -"

"I don't mind going early," Nandini said with a quick smile before he could finish the sentence. "It'll be nice to have some time to talk to Rajeshwari." And to speak with Sumer Singh and Uday Singh, and also maybe try to find out about the accident that Prithvi had refused to talk about yesterday. And then there were his treasured friends too whom she would be meeting today, Nandini thought with a faint unease in her chest...

Aruna smiled while Rajesh nodded. "Okay, that's settled then. Rajeshwari's personal assistant, Disha, will be coming here to pick you up in a short time. And we will return home together post lunch. And...there's also something more we need to tell you."

He exchanged glances with Aruna, who said, "Nandini, there is something you don't know about Prithvi's family. They're...errr...they belong to a royal family," she said carefully.

Nandini did her best to look stunned and give an appropriate response.

"But Prithvi doesn't want your family to know about this," Rajesh said gravely. "So please don't tell anyone at home."

Nandini nodded weakly and said, "Okay, I won't tell anyone at home."

"You don't have feel intimidated by that in any way, Nandini," Aruna said hurriedly. "They are a very normal family, and don't have any airs at all. You already know Rajeshwari and Sumer Singh, and Uday Singhji is a sweetheart. They will make you feel very comfortable."

Nandini offered the expected responses while trying not to laugh hysterically. If that was a normal family that didn't have any airs, she was the queen of the entire universe.

*************************

As Disha got down from the beautiful grey car, she was greeted warmly by Aruna Garewal.

"Please come in, Disha," Aruna welcomed her into the house.

"Thank you, Mrs Garewal, but I need to return to the house soon," Disha said ruefully. "Is Nandini ready?"

"Yes, she is, I'll call her right away," Aruna said, and hastened to the house.

She returned to the yard a couple of minutes later along with Nandini and Rajesh Garewal.

Disha offered Nandini a reserved smile and greeted her civilly. Nandini smiled back at her, and returned the greeting, and after taking leave of the Garewals, both of them got into the car.

Aruna smiled with contentment as she waved Nandini goodbye.

In an emerald green kurta, and black leggings, Nandini looked very beautiful and attractive, Aruna contemplated happily. She had thought the outfit was too plain, but it had looked wonderful once Nandini had worn it. And the short open-front black cotton jacket with a floral print made the overall outfit look really smart. It was a shame that the jacket was hidden by a black sweater for now, but the colours still popped.

She had also wanted Nandini to apply lipstick and wear better jewellery, but the girl had insisted on a simpler look. Thankfully, she had left her gorgeous hair partly open since it was damp.

It was sad that Prithvi would probably not meet Nandini today. Nonetheless, this day could prove to be one more step in the direction that she wanted the story to proceed, Aruna mulled hopefully as she returned to the living room.

********************

In the car, Disha looked at Nandini and apologetically said, "I'm sorry if I seemed very formal back at the house. The prince had reminded me that I am supposed to have met you only once before...in Shamli, and I didn't want to appear very friendly."

Nandini responded with only a smile. She didn't want to get into any conversation about the dazzling prince who always knew everything and understood everything and managed to think of everything.

She asked Disha, "How have you been? And how is Rajeshwari?"

"I've been well, but the princess has not been feeling great," Disha admitted. "You'll see for yourself when you meet her."

Concern glimmered in Nandini's eyes. Then she asked, "Rajeshwari doesn't know I'm coming to the house, does she?"

"No, and I believe she will be thrilled by the surprise. Pardon me if I'm taking a liberty by asking this, but will you be staying here for long?"

"You can ask me anything, don't worry about it," Nandini smiled. "I'll be here for a week."

"Okay...I think I should tell you it's possible the princess might want to meet you again in the coming days," Disha said warily.

Nandini gave Disha a swift smile, and then wanting to change the topic, she asked, "Did you come straight to Taravan from Shamli?"

Disha shook her head, "The prince told me I could take a break and visit my family. It was really nice of him to do that," she smiled fondly.

Concerned that she might bluntly ask Disha to stop talking about Prithvi any minute now, Nandini lightly asked, "Where does your family stay?"

"They're in Calcutta."

"Oh I've always wanted to visit that city," Nandini said honestly, and began to ask about Disha's family.

She listened with genuine warmth and empathy as Disha spoke about her aging parents, her sister and teenaged nieces.

But some time later, Nandini started to feel a restlessness and looked around at the scenery as Disha talked, but she didn't see any houses. There were only fruit orchards around. Yet, she was sure he was nearby...

And then she saw him. Several meters ahead, he was strolling by the right side of the road, hands in his pockets.

She watched him turn as the car approached, and heard Disha hastily ask the car to halt and then mention to her that the all-knowing, compassionate prince was standing on the other side of the road.

She didn't want to meet him. She wanted to sit in the car until Disha finished offering her obeisance and returned. But the other woman was plainly expecting her to disembark...

Frustrated, Nandini left her bag in the car, and got down. She was still on her side of the road when her eyes collided with his.

The piercing brilliance in his gaze stole her breath. And then, out of the blue, she was yanked back into the dream that had plagued her almost all night. She was racing through the dark, gloomy rooms and passageways again, aware that her chance of freedom was narrowing with each second...

Feeling a bewildering sense of dread, Nandini pulled her eyes away from his with an immense effort as she crossed the road, but her stomach muscles had clenched into knots.

Prithvi was talking to Disha now, and she had just reached them when he glanced at her and gave an unexpected smile that made her heart stutter again.

"Hi, would you like to walk to the house through the orchards? It's a very pleasant walk," he said charmingly.

Flummoxed by the unanticipated suggestion, Nandini confusedly said, "Oh...I - Okay, sure."

"Great," Prithvi said genially, and he looked at Disha, "You can go ahead to the house. Check in on Rajeshwari".

"Yes, your highness," Disha replied, and hurried off to do as he had said.

Right before getting into the car again, she turned to look at them on an impulse. They were walking towards the small gate that opened to one of the fruit orchards.

She didn't know if there was a failed love story in this case...but it was good to know that her instincts had been accurate about one thing at least long before she had even seen them in the same frame, Disha thought with a smile.

They not only looked beautiful together, they looked right with each other...

********************

Feeling extremely edgy, Nandini glowered at Prithvi as they walked slowly towards the gate.

He had caught her off guard with this idea, and now, instead of avoiding him altogether during this visit, she was going to have to walk for God alone knew how long to get to the house.

"I'd told you I didn't want you to wait," Nandini said resentfully.

"I didn't do it for you," he lied, glancing at her with amused eyes. "I want to see Rajeshwari's reaction when she meets you. And...thanks for agreeing to do this."

"I'm doing it for Rajeshwari, just like you are," she rejoined stiffly, and then offhandedly asked, "Has Uday grandpa been told about..."

"He has, and as I'd expected, he has arranged to undergo an urgent botox treatment before meeting you."

Her lips nearly curved into a smile but she maintained a straight face.

They had entered the orchard now, and it was genuinely beautiful, with lush trees that had been planted carefully at a distance from each other. But their branches were reaching out to each other longingly...

She would have loved to walk here in a serene frame of mind, not when her mood was swinging violently between anger and nervousness.

"Everyone at the house is going to be thrilled to meet you again," Prithvi murmured. "You don't need to be stressed about it."

Surprised, she met his gentle gaze, and then looked away hurriedly. "I'm not worried about that."

"So, it's my company that's making you look like a baby rabbit trying to sitting on a porcupine while waiting for a hawk to snatch it up?" he enquired.

"What?" she asked confusedly.

"That's what you look like," he remarked drolly. "A baby rabbit. Trying to sit on a porcupine. While waiting for a hawk to snatch it up. But you don't need to be anxious - or hopeful," he grinned. "I'm not going to try anything with you here – so close to home...and without enough foliage," he added teasingly.

Flustered, she evaded his laughing gaze. "Don't be ridiculous. And I'm not scared or stressed."

"You are. Hmm...what else could be making you so uncomfortable around me?" he contemplated. "Did you have any sexy dreams about me last night?" he asked interestedly

Aghast, she looked at him furiously with splashes of crimson on her cheeks. "All I saw were nightmares," she retorted angrily.

Prithvi thoughtfully reasoned, "Well...with things being as they are, sexy dreams about me would seem like nightmares to you. But it's nothing to be embarrassed about. I've also been seeing a lot of nightmares about you," he said solemnly.

Blushing fiercely with embarrassment, Nandini spun towards him. "Is this why you wanted to walk with me to the house? To prove you're as obnoxious as you once were?" she snapped.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, that went too far," he apologised.

The apology astonished her with its sincerity, and she looked at him doubtfully.

Prithvi sighed. "Look, I'm struggling to find a middle ground here between...many different things, and some of those things might make you want to use a tonne of pepper spray on me," he confessed, making her turn scarlet again in mortification. "And so, it's a good thing I'll be leaving in a short time."

Nandini's face fell. She had forgotten that he was about to leave. She turned and began to walk again, and after a few minutes, she abruptly asked him, "Are you really going because of work? Or is it because of me?"

She looked at him searchingly, desperate to know the answer.

"I decided to go much before I thought of inviting you here," he clarified intently, meeting her gaze. "I admit I think it would do me good to be away...clear my head a little after – yesterday," he muttered. "But mainly, I'm just following the queen mother's orders."

Nandini's temper aggressively spiked up again. Priyamvada would have found out that she was here, and so had naturally asked her precious child to go away...

"And you're the most obedient son on earth, is it?" she asked him coldly.

"As a matter of fact, I am," Prithvi said seriously. "Folk songs are being written and sung about my devotion to the queen mother as we speak."

She glared at him and then looked ahead.

There was silence for some moments, then Prithvi dispassionately said, "I don't disobey any of her orders related to work or social engagements".

Disconcerted, Nandini glanced at him. "You're talking about her like she's your boss, not your mother," she said hesitantly.

"She's a lot of things to many people," Prithvi commented unemotionally. "But that woman is not my mother."

Nandini looked at his hard set of his features in shock. She'd known that things weren't fine between him and his mother, but the icy hate and revulsion in his voice had caught her unawares.

Tears gushed into her eyes all of a sudden, and she felt an overwhelmingly tender urge to embrace him lovingly.

But she couldn't...she had to be stronger than she had been in the past, Nandini told herself distraughtly.

The battle within herself was still going on when her hand slid into his and grasped it warmly.

His fingers didn't stir for some seconds, then they tightly closed around her hand.

********************