Prithvi strolled wearily on the enormous terrace in dense darkness. The wind was chilly but he felt impervious to everything apart from the agonising picture branded on his mind.

He would have to live with the image of Nandini's breakdown for a very long time, perhaps forever.

It had shattered him. And while he'd been standing dumbstruck in her room, memories of a different world had crowded upon him, and he'd seen her as she had been when he'd just moved to Shamli. Smiling...happy...carefree...filled with a natural exuberance and love for life and the whole world...

He had basked in that smile and love, and in return, had given her heartbreaks and fears, turning her into the sobbing, shivering figure in the room downstairs. In the past too, he had repeatedly behaved insensitively with her. But she had forgiven him every single time. Even when he had been at fault, she was the one who'd sought forgiveness time and again. It was a miracle she still cared for him...

The night he'd finally succumbed to the demands of his heart, Mochi had told him that his fears were unfounded. But the assurance had proved false.

He had destroyed her life in many ways...now the lone hope was that the damage he had caused to her and their relationship was not irreparable...

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

They were riding across the deserted land, horses galloping on rugged paths that had been untouched until now. Vegetation was sparse but the region glowed with an unnatural beauty. The only sounds were those of the horses' hooves and the blustery wind.

The orange hues of the sky warned of the approaching dusk. They needed to cover a long distance before nightfall, and she could feel that dangers were close by.

Yet, there was no fear in her heart.

Long hair flowing behind her in the wind, she glanced at the young man riding beside her. He returned her gaze and smiled warmly, and she felt a gush of steely strength and dizzying happiness. They were one with the elements and with each other...

The journey had been gruelling and exhausting so far. She knew his armour was extremely heavy, and underneath it, there were old and fresh wounds that were in need of healing. She too was wearing strong armour but it was much lighter than his, and her injuries were fewer and less serious. She could heal him and herself after they reached some sanctuary.

They could see a small stream now, and urged their horses to speed up. Once they crossed the stream, they would be completely safe. They reached the gently singing body of water in no time. He looked at her and with a faint gesture asked her to follow his lead, and she nodded. His horse charged into the stream and crossed to the other bank. Then he turned the animal around and gazed at her expectantly.

She coaxed her horse to move forward, but without warning, everything changed.

The little stream's water turned reddish brown, and it transformed into an enormous, raging river, frothing madly. Then her horse was gone, and she was standing alone on the bank. She realised there was a big gash on her left arm and it was bleeding copiously. Meanwhile, the river's waters were rising and devouring the bank. She hurried backwards, and looked at him powerlessly.

He was still waiting, confused and worried. Then he seemed to understand her decision, and the shock of betrayal spread on his features. He was going to leave any moment now. She tried to shout to him to explain her helplessness, but her voice was drowned by the wailing wind...

Nandini opened her eyes drowsily, and for the initial few moments, was conscious only of a soul-deep grief that she didn't think would ever lessen. Then she became aware that a hand was caressing her head affectionately.

"Nandini, wake up," Kadambari said gently.

Nandini turned onto her back, half expecting to see her mother. She blinked at the portly woman bending over her, and then examined her left hand. There was no blood on it.

"What's wrong? Is your hand hurting?" Kadambari enquired.

Nandini shook her head sleepily and sat up, still wondering if it had just been a nightmare. The anguish it had caused was so intense and deep...

"Okay, freshen up and have tea – and the biscuits too. You had only soup last night. I have to go to the kitchen and -" she stopped to peer closely at Nandini's face and ran stubby fingers over a cheek. "You skin is reddish in some places."

Nandini touched her cheek, and felt a faint soreness. Then the previous night's happenings hurtled back to her mind, and her drowsiness fled. "It was itching at night," she said awkwardly without looking at Kadambari.

"I'd made sure the mosquito screen on the window was closed properly," Kadambari mulled with a frown. "And there are no bed bugs here. Hmm...alright...I'll send some milk cream from the kitchen. It will help. You can call me up if you need anything, okay?"

"Okay, Choti maa," Nandini mumbled. As soon as she was alone again, she pulled open the drawer of the nearby stand and confirmed that the notepad and pen were safe. She had been able to hide the sketch only because Kadambari had headed straight for the bathroom after returning from the servant quarters.

Nandini picked up the notepad and smiled at the caveman. She couldn't believe he had been prepared to make more sketches for her to tear apart. Everything about his behaviour had been amazing last night. He had been so loving and understanding...

So why had she seen such an awful nightmare after parting from him on the sweetest note...

It had been frighteningly vivid, especially the part where the tiny, clear stream had turning into a flooded, scary-coloured river that had separated her from Prithvi. She tried hard to recollect what had happened before that, but those scenes were fading rapidly from her mind.

Nandini tried to push the nightmare out of her mind. She didn't want to think about its meaning or give it any importance, particularly since she was feeling so optimistic and serene otherwise. On that determined note, she replaced the notepad in the drawer and closed it. And then she saw the phone on the stand.

Kadambari had not let her hold it for a second more than necessary last night. What was it doing on the stand now...

Nandini lifted the phone hurriedly and checked it. There were messages and forwards from friends in Shamli. But four special messages had arrived early in the morning from Prithvi. The first one said, "I don't deserve your forgiveness for what happened yesterday. But I promise I will never behave like that again."

There were two more messages in the same vein, humble and remorseful, and the last one claimed, "I will not attempt to meet you in private again. I'm going out for a drive and will return by ten. I hope you'll permit me to see you at breakfast before I leave for the day."

Nandini read and re-read the messages in shock. The nightmare, and now these strange messages that couldn't have been typed by the man she knew...what was going on...

She quickly called him up, and he answered on the second ring.

"Why did you send those messages?" she asked anxiously without any preamble.

"It was not for your benefit," Prithvi grinned, looking at the palace perched on the hilltop.

"Then why – you wanted Choti maa to read the messages," she grasped in astonishment.

"It worked, didn't it? You got your phone back."

Nandini chuckled and fell back on the pillows. "You're evil. But how did you know Choti maa had taken my phone away?"

"Experience," he said seriously. "I spent the first seven years of my life trying to dupe her."

She laughed again.

"Quick question," Prithvi continued guardedly. "Do I have to go to the hotel to meet that piece of shit or can I meet him elsewhere?"

Nandini cringed at the language, and feeling miserable on thinking about the awful situation she had created for him, she gently said, "You don't have to meet him at all."

"I do. I have the greatest respect for your opinions and wouldn't dream of disappointing you," he said solemnly.

Nandini smiled ruefully, but persisted, "I'm serious. You shouldn't do this."

"It's not just for you. He wouldn't travel so far without a good reason...and I want to know what that is," Prithvi lied.

The explanation didn't convince her, but his mind was plainly set. There was only one thing to do. If she couldn't dissuade him, she would endure it with him...

"You can meet him wherever you wish," she murmured. "Can I come along?"

Alarmed by the question, Prithvi swiftly considered his options. He didn't want her to be within a hundred kilometres of that reptile. And he also didn't want her to witness his unpleasant side again...not so soon anyway. But what if his refusal disturbed the hard won and delicate peace between them...

"If you want to," he said cautiously. Tell me you don't...

"I want to," Nandini mumbled.

Carefully maintaining a neutral tone, he said, "Okay, we'll meet him in the evening. You've not told Choti maa about this, have you?" he asked unexpectedly.

"I haven't," she affirmed, mystified.

"Good, I don't want her to know anything about it," Prithvi said absent-mindedly. Then he hesitantly asked, "Do you...do you want to spend the day with me?"

Nandini forgot to be puzzled and brightened up. "Yes! Yes, of course."

Relieved and touched by the enthusiastic reply, he smiled broadly and said, "I'll see you at breakfast then."

"Okay," she said cheerfully, pushing off the duvet and climbing out of bed.

She kept the phone on the stand and walked to the bathroom. Near the other bedstand, she vacillated for a second.

Last night, there had been a long and stout cane in Kadambari's hand when she'd returned from the servant quarters. It had been placed on the floor near the bed. But it was missing now.

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

Prithvi walked back across the barren yard to the tiny house. The middle-aged couple were still standing motionless near the door with hands joined, like a pair of perplexed but respectful statues.

"The work will go on for some more days," Prithvi said. "Will that be a problem?"

"No, sahib," the man replied diffidently, while the woman continued to look at him with bafflement.

"If you need anything or if there is any issue with the workers or the guards, call me up. You know how to operate the phone, don't you?" he asked.

Both nodded. The woman timidly said, "The men you sent taught us." Then with trepidation on her weather-beaten features, she added, "Sahib, yesterday evening, we found a cloth lying in the mud at the back of the house. A word is embroidered on it, and the mason said it's your name."

The cloth they had found in the temple, Prithvi thought with an unexplained irritation. It must have fallen out of his coat on the first day.

"Show it to him," her husband urged her.

As the woman started to go inside, Prithvi curtly said, "It's mine but I don't want it back. You can throw it away..."

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

Nandini applied the small black bindi on her forehead and looked critically at her reflection. The milk cream sent by Kadambari had soothed the reddish patches on her skin. And she liked the pink-and-green cotton outfit...

She heard the door open, and then a loud question, "Nandini, are you ready?"

Kadambari bustled into the bedroom and looked at her approvingly. "Good. We will leave after breakfast. Make sure you don't leave anything behind."

Nandini's smile disappeared. Ensconced in a blissful cocoon since last night, she had forgotten that Kadambari was still harbouring a terrible belief about Prithvi.

While trying to decide how to broach the topic, she pleadingly said, "Choti maa, I don't want to leave today."

"Don't be ridiculous," Kadambari frowned. "It is risky for you to stay in the palace."

"It's not – whatever happened yesterday was a misunderstanding, Choti maa," Nandini explained anxiously. "He was not going to -"

"I gave him a chance to defend himself," Kadambari interrupted with vehemence. "But he accepted he was at fault, didn't he? And he also apologised to you in the messages he sent today. Why would he do that if he wasn't guilty?"

"He was feeling guilty only because his words made me cry," Nandini persevered tenaciously. "Choti maa, we fight nearly every day. It has been like that from the start, but our arguments had become much more serious in the last few days," she disclosed wretchedly. "And yesterday, everything just...spilled out. It's true that he often says and does things that hurt me. But I do that too when I'm angry. And- and tell me honestly -have you ever seen him misbehave with any other woman?"

Kadambari turned her face away and ambled to the table. "You're lying to protect him. And his behaviour with other women doesn't prove anything. One incident is sufficient to understand a man's true behaviour," she said, re-arranging the items on the table inattentively. "I've made my decision. I will take you to Mrs Bhargava's house after breakfast, and then...then I think I will go back to my house in Devgarh."

"You can't do that," Nandini exclaimed, aghast. "You must not!"

"I have to," Kadambari asserted with a thick voice, using the edge of her saree's pallu to wipe a clean spot on the table. "He is not the person I thought he was. And I cannot stay back and watch him lead a dissolute life."

Struggling to be calm, Nandini walked to her, and both her hands gently caught the plump arm that was moving obsessively on the table. "Choti maa, please don't take a decision without knowing what really happened," she beseeched. "Just give us a chance and you'll see -"

Kadambari detached her arm and looked at her jadedly. "We will leave after breakfast," she repeated, and then walked out of the room.

Nandini followed her to the door, imploring continuously and unsuccessfully. Then she sprinted back to the bedroom and picked up the phone. When the call was answered, she distraughtly said, "Choti maa's not listening to me. She's so upset that she's talking about going back to Devgarh."

"I'm on my way," Prithvi said instantly.

Nandini walked to the sitting room and kept the phone on the short centre table. She opened the door fully, and then restlessly walked back into the room. Agitation was making it hard for her to remain still and she meandered restlessly.

Until last evening, their conflicts had stayed between themselves, but now a third person had been affected, and that too at a time when they had called a truce. The most regrettable turn was the change in Kadambari's opinion about Prithvi, Nandini thought forlornly. She had reconciled sadly to Kadambari's low opinion of her. But it was unendurable that Kadambari was equating Prithvi with revolting men who didn't deserve to exist in any form. And the older woman was so convinced of his culpability that she was preparing to leave the palace...

Nandini stopped near the balcony door and spun to see Prithvi striding into the room, bemused and slightly out of breath.

Out of the blue, the most excruciating scene from the nightmare zoomed up in front of Nandini's eyes. She was gazing at him across a huge river again, terrified he was going to leave her behind. Then expunging the picture from her mind with great effort, she walked to meet him midway.

He looked concernedly at her cheeks and lifted a hand to caress the skin contritely. Nandini caught his fingers and stared at the faint discoloration on his palm. The other palm was in the same condition.

"What happened to your hands?" she asked fretfully.

"I was watching a swimsuit competition on television late last night and couldn't stop clapping for the contestants," he shared mischievously, only for her glowering eyes to tell him that it was too soon for a return to his usual self. He hastily said, "I should go talk to Choti maa -"

"Prithvi!"

The angry shout startled them both. Prithvi spun around, and Nandini moved to a side to look at the room's entrance.

Kadambari was standing at the door, holding a thick cane in her right hand and looking outright furious. She had been on her way to return the cane to the maids when the partially open door to Nandini's room had roused her suspicions.

"I wasn't doing anything, Choti maa," Prithvi said quickly.

"He wasn't," Nandini reinforced, frightened by the appearance of both woman and weapon.

"Don't defend him, Nandini," Kadambari said angrily, marching into the room. "He said he wouldn't meet you in private again, but here he is. Out," she yelled at Prithvi, bringing down the cane on his left side.

"Don't hit him," Nandini cried out, horrified, and then blinked in surprise.

The cane had swished through empty air, and somehow, he was now standing behind Kadambari. The stout woman swivelled to regard him with even more ferocity. As she marched ahead, he retreated deftly but just enough to stay out of the cane's reach.

"I'll go but you have to listen to errr..Nandini first," Prithvi stipulated uncomfortably while stepping backwards through the door. The stranglehold of guilt hadn't eased enough for him to serve up the numerous explanations he could think of.

"I won't listen to either of you. You're too cunning, and she's the most gullible girl I've seen," Kadambari snapped, bringing down the cane wildly from one side and then the other.

"I'm not disputing either of those facts. But she should be given a chance to defend me," Prithvi insisted, dodging each blow with effortless grace. He was finding it difficult to keep a straight face as his mind churned out fun childhood memories of being chased around a massive kitchen by the same woman, though her weapon of choice at that time had been a rolling pin.

"Choti maa, please stop this," Nandini begged, trying to hold Kadambari's arm.

"Yes, that would be highly appreciated," Prithvi said seriously, evading yet another strike.

Nandini darted forward unthinkingly to stand before Prithvi in the same second that Kadambari raised the cane high and brought it down with angry frustration.

Nandini flinched and closed her eyes, preparing for the vicious strike. A hand enfolded her. She heard a loud whack and Kadambari's gasp but the cane had not touched her. She opened her eyes and saw the back of Prithvi's left hand for a split-second before he dropped it, and the arm that had wrapped her instinctively to his body also fell away.

Nandini caught the ill-treated hand and saw an ugly, increasingly crimson line on the palm.

Prithvi looked at her and Kadambari cautiously. It had stunned him when Nandini had dashed to stand before him protectively, and now he was puzzled by the stark reactions of the women to the trifling blow. Nandini was studying his hand with a shock that suggested it had been cut open. Ordinarily, he would have exploited the moment for all it was worth if Kadambari had not looked so dismayed at her own action.

"It's nothing," he assured both of them, retrieving his hand reluctantly.

Recovering her composure, Kadambari stiffly said, "You deserved it."

"He did not," Nandini retaliated, angry tears in her eyes. "He came to my room because I told him you were planning to return to Devgarh."

Kadambari responded by throwing the cane to the floor and stomping to her room

Prithv started to follow her, but a hand restrained him.

"Wait here. I'll talk to her," Nandini said firmly.

He gazed at her with an uncharacteristic discomfort. "Okay, but don't be tough on her," he muttered. "She's very upset right now."

It took Nandini some time to overcome her astonishment and dryly ask, "You're giving me advice on how to behave?"

He smiled sheepishly and gave a noncommittal shrug. With a gentle smile, she hugged him tightly and then hastened to Kadambari's room.

Surprised by the reaction, Prithvi stared at her retreating figure. Then he was beset by a gloomy sense of déjà vu. Last evening, he had been in this same state, waiting for Kadambari to convince Mrs Bhargava. The whole crazy gender had evidently passed a resolution to alternately haul him over the coals and stick up for him.

"My lord, is everything fine?"

Prithvi looked towards the foyer and saw Sumer Singh striding towards him.

"What are you doing here, Baba?" he asked, alarmed. If Sumer Singh heard Kadambari's version of events, he would not forgive him in this lifetime. Then again, this was a chance to alter the narrative before the situation slipped out of control, he mused swiftly.

"I'd gone to your room but didn't find you there," Sumer Singh explained, pausing near him. "Then some guards told me they'd seen you rushing to this wing."

"I'm waiting to talk to Choti maa. She's a little annoyed with me," Prithvi sighed.

"With you? Why?" Sumer Singh asked, astounded by the information.

"Errr...do you remember the time you misunderstood a perfectly decent conversation between Nandini and me when we were in Ayodhya?" Prithvi reminded him carefully. "You know...when you pictured me as a combination of Raavan and Dushasan."

Sumer Singh embarrassedly said that he did remember the incident.

"A similar mix-up happened again," Prithvi said evasively, avoiding the mention of any details regarding the time and place. "I was having a very respectable conversation with Nandini. But Choti maa saw us and...got the wrong idea about my intentions.

Sumer Singh frowned at him. "It's odd that such a misunderstanding has happened twice. And that woman idolises you. You must have done something terrible to -"

"I didn't," Prithvi asserted uneasily. "You can ask Nandini."

"I think I will. Where is she?"

"She's talking to Choti maa," Prithvi muttered.

Sumer Singh was aghast. "You cannot let her deal with Kadambari alone."

"Nandini's angry too," Prithvi shared gravely. "She didn't like it when I was accused wrongly and cross-questioned. You know how...emotional she can get at times..."

"Oh," Sumer Singh said faintly and mulled over the situation. Then he gruffly added, "I suppose it wouldn't be appropriate to interfere in a discussion between two women.

"Not those two women anyways," Prithvi reinforced seriously.

"Yes, I will go and – right, I have to go," Sumer Singh mumbled.

Prithvi waited till Sumer Singh had disappeared from the foyer before smiling smugly. The topic would not be raised again today at least...

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

Kadambari stared vacantly at the attractive painting of a village scene on the opposite wall. She had hit Prithvi. She had hurt him physically for the first time in her life. But it was not without reason, she debated with herself. He had to be punished for his misdeeds and brought to the right path.

She didn't stir as someone rapped on the door, and didn't look up when Nandini walked into the sitting room.

Nandini halted apprehensively and gazed at the woman seated on the sofa. She had not been in this suite until today. And post this tête-à-tête, it was unlikely that Kadambari would permit her to step inside again in the future.

She walked to Kadambari and then turned to sit down on the floor with her back against the sofa. Then she quietly said, "Do you remember I'd told you about the time I had fever and he prepared some medicines for me? My family was not in town that night. and I'd been staying with a neighbour. There was a baby in that house and I didn't want him to catch the infection from me, so I decided to stay at home alone. Prithvi found out, and he sat by my side all night and tended to me," she mumbled, flushing as she tweaked the truth. "I was so weak that he could have....done anything. But he looked after me like my family would have." 

Nandini shifted her position to face a shocked Kadambari, and continued unevenly, "He has done more things for my family and me than I can tell you. But the most..." she paused, finding it hard to recall the moments without a spasm of agony. Then she steeled her mind and spoke again, "You know Prithvi was injured badly twice in the past few months, don't you? And on both occasions, he almost - " she swallowed, unable to say the word.

Unsure where the conversation was headed but not wanting to relive those ghastly days, Kadambari slowly said, "I know.."

"It was for me," Nandini divulged tearfully. "Both those times he put his life in danger to protect me."

"To protect you?" Kadambari gasped, rage spurting in her eyes. "He nearly – for - but you - From whom?" she spluttered incomprehensively.

"Indrajit's men...they tried to run us over with the car," Nandini recollected miserably. "Prithvi pushed me out of the way and the car..." she shivered. "And the next time was when another old enemy- "

"Stop it," Kadambari said thickly. "I don't want to know anything more."

"You can hate me...curse me," Nandini whispered. "But don't be unkind to him...and please don't talk about going back to Devgarh. He loves you very much and needs you."

Kadambari covered her quavering mouth with the edge of her pallu.. Everything had become jumbled into a giant complication. And was any of it even true...

"How long do you want to stay back?" she asked tersely after some time.

"Three more days," Nandini blurted automatically.

"Alright, but both of you will have to obey the rules I lay down. And for today, you will not meet or talk to each other."

Dismayed, Nandini said, "But Choti maa, I thought -"

Kadambari raised a hand placatingly. "Everything you said might be true. But it's also a fact that he's a young man...and terribly shrewd," she grumbled. "And you're too pretty - and trusting. What if he gets you into trouble?" she demanded bluntly.

Nandini reddened with mortification.

Kadambari doggedly continued, "I've taken the responsibility for your safety, and I will do whatever it takes to fulfil my duties."

"We'll do as you say," Nandini agreed unhappily. "Just don't talk about leaving."

Kadambari rose to her feet. "I'll bring the good dresses and jewellery to your room. You can change -"

"I don't want them...please," Nandini adjoined timidly, scrambling up. "I know my clothes are ordinary, but I'm comfortable in them."

"Do as you wish, but then you will have to stay in your room all day," Kadambari said obstinately, "I will not have you roaming through the palace in these dreadful outfits." Then she strode out of the room with her chins in the air.

Prithvi looked up disinterestedly from his phone, and then quickly stuffed the instrument into the pocket of his jeans and donned an anxious expression. Kadambari stopped near the door itself, and Nandini did the same.

The look on Kadambari's visage gave him hope. Despite the absence of a smile, he could tell that her wrath had shifted from the volcano category to the campfire one. He glanced at Nandini, who was standing against the doorframe, and her wan smile dented his optimism. A compromise – a depressing one - had been reached, he deduced thoughtfully.

He walked towards them, hesitantly saying, "Choti maa..."

"I need a day's time to think," Kadambari announced sternly. "And until I arrive at a decision, you will not spend any time with Nandini or talk to her on the phone."

"But she's leaving tomorrow," Prithvi said warily, glancing at Nandini questioningly.

Kadambari threw a sideways look in the same direction and saw a squirming girl. Then she primly said, "She says she wants to stay for three more days."

He looked at Nandini with stunned elation, and softly asked, "Really?"

There was so much hope and gentleness in that single word that warm colour seeped into Nandini's face and her eyes turned damp. She smiled and nodded.

"That's enough staring for today," Kadambari snapped.

"Errr...there's a quota for that too?" Prithvi enquired solemnly, laughter glimmering in his eyes all of a sudden.

Nandini tried to catch his eye frantically. If Kadambari realised he was teasing her, it would be disastrous...

The older woman, however, starkly said, "Yes! But if you behave well today, you can meet her at meal times – in my presence - tomorrow onwards."

"That is very reasonable, Choti maa," Prithvi appreciated humbly. "You will not find a single reason to complain...I promise"

Kadambari harrumphed, then looked at Nandini. "Go to your room. I need to speak to him alone."

Nandini looked unsurely from her to Prithvi, whose reaction to Kadambari's diktats had been quite suspicious. He did not return her gaze though, and maintained his respectful attention on the other woman.

Sighing, Nandini turned and strolled to her room. On the way, she spotted the cane and picked it up speedily to prevent any more violence. At the door, she swivelled once, and Kadambari's austere stare send her scurrying into the suite.

Kadambari looked up at Prithvi and gestured to him to bring his head down. Resigned to his cruel fate, he obeyed the command and then winced as his ear was brutally twisted out of shape.

"I will be watching you closely," Kadambari forewarned vehemently. "If you attempt any mischief with Nandini, I will beat you till your bones break."

"I won't look at her even if you beg me to," he guaranteed hastily.

Kadambari's fingers loosened.

Prithvi straightened and rubbed his recently freed and tortured ear ruefully. Then he moved to hug Kadambari. "Don't ever talk about going back, okay?" he mumbled.

Kadambari battled an ambush of tears and won by a hair's breadth. "Go now," she said hoarsely, pushing him away. "Breakfast will be ready very soon."

Undeterred, he caught her plump face and kissed her forehead, and dashed off with a grin as she raised a hand to hit him.

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

Nandini moseyed pensively along the beautiful corridor, engaged in a spirited discussion with herself about the possibility that time had slowed down specifically to torture her. If only she had her phone with her...but Kadambari had taken it in the morning, vaguely saying she would return it later in the day.

The disappointment at losing the chance to spend the day with Prithvi had stung throughout the day, and the uncertainty over how she would accompany him to meet Rajyavardhan Singh was making her even more restless. And then there was the petrifying nightmare that was continuing to trouble her thoughts...

To divert her attention, she had watched cute cartoon shows and silly movies on television, and read some more pages of the novel. But nothing had helped lessen the agitation within her, since it had kept preying on her mind that she was idling away precious time that could have been spent with Prithvi. Supporting him...helping him in whatever little way she could...Or simply being with him...

If not for Uday Singh, her whole day would have been doomed. He had asked Sumer Singh to bring her to a lovely, open hall near his suite. And bravely pretending she'd not noticed Kadambari's dour disposition, Nandini had accompanied her inexplicably nervous guide.

Uday Singh's sincere happiness at her return and his humorous stories had enlivened her. They'd chatted gregariously, had a scrumptious lunch together and had even played chess for a while. Then on noticing the elderly man's increasing tiredness, she had insisted that he take a nap, and had returned to her suite. Television and reading had helped divert her attention for some time, and the evening tea had perked her up sufficiently to think about exploring some portion of this wing by herself. Controlling her nervousness, she had set out on the mission and had been rewarded with a tour of beautiful rooms, balconies and passageways. Then worried about forgetting the way back, she had decided to return to her room. It was close to sunset, and with any luck, Prithvi would return soon...though it was unlikely they would meet tonight, Nandini realised dolefully.

She halted abruptly and looked at the young girl who was turning away from her door and walking away.

"Wait," she yelped, scampering to stop the visitor.

The surprised girl turned and hurried to her with a courteous smile. "Good evening, ma'am."

Nandini stumbled to a pause and eagerly said, "Good evening! You were looking for me?

"Yes, ma'am. Kadambari ma'am wanted to give this back to you," the girl replied, extending a phone to her.

Nandini took the phone gratefully. "Thank you so much."

"She said there was a call from your home but she didn't answer it. And she also asked you to remember what she'd said in the morning," the girl added unsurely.

"Okay, thank you, and please tell her not to worry," Nandini said industriously. The girl assured she would convey the message and left.

Nandini went through the missed calls and messages as she walked to her room. There were none from Prithvi. But he would have known that the phone was with Kadambari, and it was good that he had kept his end of the bargain. She too would not flout any rules laid down by Kadambari no matter how difficult it would be. Then maybe tomorrow she would be allowed to go out with him, Nandini mulled hopefully as she started to return the calls of her family and friends.

When all the calls had been answered and the messages had been replied to, Nandini's fingers hovered over the name of the first person she had called that day. The desire to speak to him was overpowering. And she had to find out about the meeting with Rajyavardhan. But Kadambari had forbid them from speaking...

Nandini was struggling to make up her mind when the decision was taken out of her hands. She eagerly answered the phone with a gleeful, "How did you know I got the phone back?"

He carelessly said, "I didn't, I just took a chance."

"Grandpa was trying to get in touch with me so she sent the phone with a girl," she said cheerily. A conscientious voice in her head complained that they were flouting Kadambari's rules. But hadn't they stayed apart for nearly the whole day without even exchanging a message, she reasoned ashamedly.

"God bless your grandfather," Prithvi said sincerely. And his suggestibility.

Nandini smiled and asked, "How was your day? Did you find anything -"

"No...nothing," he muttered, and then half-heartedly asked, "You're still sure you want to ruin your mood?"

The question mystified Nandini briefly, then she straightened in the chair. "You're going to meet him now? Yes, I do, I want to be there," she confirmed. "But Choti maa -

"Don't worry about her. She's usually busy till seven, and we'll be back before that."

"But the town's far away from here, and what if someone tells her we've gone out together?"

"We're meeting him at the base of the hill, and Choti maa won't find out," Prithvi said unconcernedly. He could have asked Rajyavardhan Singh to come to the servant's gate. It would have killed the scumbag on several levels. But he hadn't wanted the man to befoul a place that had won a tiny part of his affection despite being connected to his family. In fact, he didn't even like the thought of the ****** being in the vicinity of the hill for too long...

"Okay, so when will you reach here," Nandini asked distractedly. The base of this hill...so it would take very little time to see him and return...

"About five minutes and five hundred questions ago," he replied dryly.

"Wait – what? You're already here?" she squeaked.

"There's a woman waiting outside the door. She'll bring you to the servant's gate. I'm waiting right outside it."

Astonished, she disconnected the phone and ran to open the door. A pretty female staffer was standing outside, smiling at her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were waiting outside," Nandini apologised.

"It was no problem at all, ma'am. Please come with me."

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

Nandini relaxed only after the gate came into view, and the absence of guards in the area was additionally reassuring.

"The prince is waiting outside the gate," the young woman said in a conspiratorial tone, glancing around edgily.

Thanking her, Nandini hurried to the gates and used the small entrance to step out.

She smiled on seeing the young man standing with his back to her, gazing at the valley. A dazzling black car was parked near him. Uday Singh's gift...

Prithvi turned from the view of the valley and offered a tired, strained smile.

Guilt obliterated all other thoughts from Nandini's mind. In the anxiety about reaching the gate unseen, she had not dwelled upon the purpose of their trip. But it hit her hard now that he was paying the price for her impulsive actions. He could say whatever he wanted to mollify her. The truth, however, was that he was being compelled to meet a person he abhorred...just because of her, she though bitterly.

"You don't have to do this," Prithvi encouraged gingerly, noting the pallor on her face as he strode to her.

Nandini urgently said, "Neither do you. I mean...you could wait in the car, and I'll tell him you don't want to speak to him."

He caught her by the elbow and impelled her towards the car, soothingly saying, "Wonderful idea. And right after that, we'll go to the nearest zoo and I'll feed you to the biggest snake there."

Nandini slid dejectedly into a luxurious seat and kept her phone on the dashboard. Prithvi got in beside her silently and started the car. As the car began to make the downhill journey, she felt certain that he was only distantly aware of her presence..

Then the car began to slow down, and then gradually halted on the roadside. Some distance away, there were two men and a swish white vehicle. Nandini's stomach turned on perceiving the old man with a golden cane and an envelope in his hands. And from what she could see, he was enduring the same reaction on spotting her in the car. She looked worriedly at Prithvi, but he was already disembarking.

Halting in front of the car's bonnet, Prithvi looked coldly at Rajyavardhan Singh. The limitless hostility he'd tried to repress half-heartedly had come tearing up to the surface. But he had to control his temper for the duration of this ordeal.

Rajyavardhan's aged face showed a fluctuating blend of fear and hope as he regarded Prithvi. Then he looked at the girl scurrying to stand near his grandson, and the emotions in the mix changed to fury and relief. His eyes shifted back to Prithvi.

Nandini's wary gaze moved from the nearing men to Prithvi's hard expression. Unlike Rajyavardhan Singh, his visage displayed no conflicting emotions. There was only unadulterated hatred and anger. .

Rajyavardhan Singh was frightened, but he continued to walk forward. Manohar followed his employer defeatedly. While Nandini's presence was reassuring, the encounter was certainly not going to end well. Rajyavardhan Singh would be in an awful mood for the next few weeks, and that was bad news for anyone who had to interact with him frequently. And then there was that dratted letter. The only positive element was that they had arrived exactly at the stipulated time, not a minute sooner or later, as decreed by the prince.

Rajyavardhan stopped at a safe distance and timorously said, "Belated birthday wishes. I pray that you be blessed -"

"You're stinking up my day for this?" Prithvi asked emotionlessly.

Rajyavardhan took a shaky deep breath. "I wanted to ask you...once you find Priyamvada, would you permit me to see her?"

"No," Prithvi replied nonchalantly.

"She's my only surviving child," Rajyavardhan reminded imploringly.

"In spite of your best efforts, yes," Prithvi retorted.

"Prithvi, there are things you don't know," Rajyavardhan said desperately. "I want to tell you everything that happened before – and after everything changed. I've written it down in this letter." He turned to Manohar and handed the envelope with an impatient sign.

Manohar walked to Prithvi with a doomed air and held out the envelope respectfully with wobbling hands.

Prithvi took the envelope indifferently and tore it into two. Then he flung away the pieces.

Manohar thanked God profusely. Although Rajyavardhan had been obsessively secretive about the letter, it was easy to imagine the content. And he did not want anything to tarnish Priyamvada's image in her son's eyes, Manohar mulled stalwartly. Priyamvada had been a wonderful, compassionate and lovely woman. Everyone had loved her. Everyone...

He felt even better as Prithvi's phone trilled, distracting the prince.

Brows knitted, Prithvi looked at his phone. He needed to answer it, and wanted some breathing space to do so. He signalled insolently to the two men, asking them to move back further. Although Rajyavardhan appeared humiliated, he and Manohar obeyed the wordless command at once.

Prithvi looked at his grandfather and impersonally said, "Keep your trap shut till I return." Then he glanced at Nandini and calmly said, "Do not pick up the envelope."

When she nodded, he walked reluctantly to a spot some feet away, standing with his back to the others. The call was from the person who had promised to find out if Priyamvada had been part of a group of women who had been rescued from a prostitution ring a decade ago. Subjugating a torrent of useless emotions, he answered the call grimly.

Meanwhile, avoiding a hate-filled gaze, Nandini hurried to lift the two pieces of envelope from the ground. Rajyavardhan disregarded his better judgment and Manohar's frantic whispers and strode rapidly to stand before the girl who was straightening up with the pieces in hand.

Startled by him, Nandini drew back and looked uncertainly at the malevolent countenance.

"These pathetic attempts will not impress me," Rajyavardhan jeered in an undertone. "Filth like you and your family will never rise above the gutter. And mark my words... my daughter's return will be the beginning of a never ending eclipse for you."

Nandini looked at him silently. It was not an idle rant...he had cursed her. And the words had hurt and angered as deeply they'd meant to. And yet, to nurse a grudge against him would be as illogical as grieving over the tirade of an unknown lunatic on the roadside, she reflected cynically.

Rajyavardhan felt momentarily nonplussed by the calmness on the girl's face. Then annoyance flared in his eyes and he startled to snarl a more abusive statement but something distracted his attention. His heart sank like a stone. Prithvi had finished with the conversation and was looking at him with a black rage.

Prithvi walked towards his reviled grandfather unhurriedly. The towering relief offered by the phone call had given way to murderous fury the instant he had turned. He had known he would have to take the envelope from her and tear it into smaller pieces. And he had hoped against hope that he wouldn't have to give up the facade of restraint. But when life itself wanted to enjoy some good, old-fashioned violence, it would be a shame to give up the opportunity.

Then he found his way blocked by Nandini.

"You cannot stop me," Prithvi said grimly.

"I know...but I don't want you to stoop to his level," she requested with a gentle firmness, her voice loud enough to be audible to the other men too.

Prithvi stared at her as the words penetrated the angry haze in his head, unsure if he had heard correctly. The surprise on his handsome face escalated to utter shock as she moved to stand by his side and held his hand, entwining their fingers firmly.

Nandini gazed coolly at Rajyavardhan, who was glaring at her. "I don't have any desire to impress you, because your approval means nothing to me. I love him, and so if there is even one tiny truth in those pages that could give him some peace, I want him to know it," she said candidly.

Rajyavardhan felt sick with impotent rage but he wasn't surprised. She'd displayed the same brazenness in the hospital, hadn't she...

Prithvi, meanwhile, was trying to conquer a staggering disbelief as he gazed at an exquisite profile. Then a powerful exhilaration started to thrum through his veins.

He glanced at Rajyavardhan Singh with ferociously exultant eyes and smiled coldly. "You see why she's the only girl for me."

Rajyavardhan cringed at the statement, and then powerlessly watched his precious grandson lead the worthless girl back to the car. It was alright though. His beloved daughter would return soon. And then everyone who thought he had dogmatic ideas about the purity of bloodlines and the difference between the classes would be in for a huge, nasty surprise...

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

In an ecstatic stupor, Nandini unthinkingly got into the car and kept the pieces of the envelope on the dashboard. Although she had spoken her mind to Rajyavardhan with a tranquil mind - and didn't regret a word, it felt impossible to recollect what she had said. Her head had emptied out, leaving space for just a handful for words.

The only girl for him...the only girl...

He'd said it because of his delight at her behaviour towards Rajyavardhan Singh. However, that knowledge did not lessen her pleasure, and the beautiful smile on her lips stayed intact as the car started moving. She had a vague awareness that they were not taking the uphill road back to the palace and were moving in a different direction altogether. This was a narrow and secluded road with thick woods on both sides, and the path was becoming rougher. It was not important....she would go wherever Prithvi wanted to.

She glanced at him, and her stomach somersaulted. He was gazing at her, and there was an unfathomable emotion in his dark eyes that caused a queerly painful shiver within her. Then he looked back at the road wordlessly.

Nandini felt hot and winded despite the air-conditioning in the car. Her heart had barely calmed down when the car took a sharp left turn to enter a road that apparently cut through the woods, and then stopped with a jerk. She looked at him in puzzlement, expecting to hear that something was wrong with the car.

Prithvi looked at her and apologetically said, "Don't get mad at me,"

"For what?" she asked in confusion, and then squeaked as he hauled her out of her seat and embraced her fiercely. Astonishment kept her still for a fleeting instant, then she wound her arms around him just as tightly.

Nandini soberly said, "I'm sorry I made you meet him.'

"Don't be," he murmured. "Now I have at least one good memory associated with him."

She beamed into his shoulder, then drew back and amusedly asked, "Why did you think I would get angry about this?

"I'm not done yet," he said quietly.

She forgot her next question on countering the heart-stopping intensity of his gaze. Weaving his fingers into her hair, he pulled her closer with barely restrained impatience and kissed her hard. The deceptive stillness in the woods was unbroken for many minutes, and the sole sounds were of rustling leaves and chirping insects.

He raised his head unwillingly. Breathless and disoriented, she stared mutely at his red face, and then somehow found herself back in her seat.

"I was thinking we could go to the lake for some time. You're okay with that?" he asked her casually after a minute. "We'll be back before Choti maa finds out."

Not feeling capable of meeting his gaze, she looked at her lap and shyly mumbled, "Okay."

He started the car and they continued on the same dirt track for a wobbly five minutes. Then the road became smoother and wider, while the wood started thinning.

The lake was now visible in the distance, and the pretty view nudged Nandini out of her flustered haze. After another three minutes, the car drew to a stop close to the enormous water body. She looked at her companion hesitantly and asked, "How much time do we have?"

"About half an hour," Prithvi smiled.

With an excited smile, Nandini opened the door and got down quickly. Enjoying the fragrant wind that was toying with her clothes and hair, she walked forward and gazed at the serenely beautiful lake with wonderment. The trees lining its edge and the surrounding hills augmented its loveliness. Against the overcast sky, the whole scene was simply enchanting. Her gaze flew to the top of the hills and her enthusiasm soared.

She turned eagerly to the car and saw that he was only just disembarking from the vehicle.

"It's so gorgeous," Nandini squealed with excitement, forgetting to be coy. "And the palace looks like a picture in a fairytale book."

"Don't stare at it continuously," Prithvi cautioned, leaning against the side of the car.

Nonplussed by the warning, she asked, "Why not?"

"There's an old curse associated with the palace," he said solemnly.

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