"It's all finished. .."

  Guru ji stunned in perplex. ..

Suman paced shravan and covered his mouth. .at the same time, krithika created a loud noise by throwing the water jug to the floor to mask his scream. ..

     Guruji thankfully sighed. .

" krithika  ..I medicate him for pain. ..Make sure that he remains at same position. .."

   Krithika nodded. .Guru ji covered the treated wound with a clean cloth. ..He yet to give medicine. .

     " bang. ..bang. ..bang. ..."

The main entrance drums banged. ..

Guru ji astonished  to hear the drum sound. ..the sound anounces the  arrival of someone  who is seeking permission to get in. ..

" suman. ..someone has come. ..let me  check with it. ..give the medicine to him. ..Krithika.
Be here. .."

Guru ji left to the main entrance hurriedly. ..

Suman held Shravan's head and carefully fed him medicine without disturbing his wound. ..

  
  With the medication 's effect, shravan opened his eyes momentarily. .those eyes stared at suman who was leaning at him ...Suman had to respond him by reciprocating. .. ..

   Suman ' s deligate eyes mingled with his strong eyes  with a flash. ..they shared thousands and thousands of untold stories. ..Suman felt a thunder strike over her body. ..her feminity bloomed into a spring. ..she felt as if she is trembling... though ,it was a momentary eye lock. ..

She stepped back immediately with perplexion. . ..being a princess, she was strong and she never set expectations on her wedding since her marriage would depend on her country 's welfare. ..

  Moreover, she was ready to accept her father's decision when it comes to her marriage. ..now...she couldn't understand herself  why she had lost her heart at the stranger's eyes. ..

She didn't even know who he is. . he looked like a warrior by appearance. . his eyes were gentle and genuine. ..but. ..why was her heart focusing  him unnecessarily. .she slammed her feet on the floor with much irritation. ..

" suman. .."

Krithika 's words  brought her back. ..

" krithika. ..take care of him. ..stay here itself. .."

   Suman left to the next room. .she didn't want to see him. ..she needed a clear vision on her mind. ..Shravan's face blocked her thinking. ..hence, she decided to stay away as much as possible. ..

------------------------------------------------------

  Even after reaching the other room, suman ' s  thoughts roamed over shravan. ..she sat for long time uncertain about her heart. ..

   She finished her bath and changed herself. ..she continued to stare her at the mirror without any goal. ..

" my lady. ..guruji asked  you to present at the court sooner. ..there is a message from the capital. .."

  The maid bowed and informed. ..

" I will come. .."

Now only suman remembered the drum sound. ..she forgot it totally. ..if guruji  had called her to the court, then it must be an important message. ..

Suman adorned with the jewellery. .she made her hair partially into a bun. .she let her remaining hair free. ..she  decorated the bun with fragrant wild flowers. .

Hurriedly, she finished her chores and rushed to the court. .

------------------------------------------------------

  The court was silent ..guruji was standing near the window. .His eyes were fixed somewhere distant. ..His flat face  and his unusual silence spoke volumes about his inner turmoil. ..

" guruji. .."

Suman called him softly. ..

  Guruji turned with a sigh. .His face was out of expressions. ..

" my child. ..I am defeated. ..I failed to safeguard you. ..I failed to safeguard you. .."

His words were tumbling. ..His eyes were almost moist. ..Suman was baffled. ..She had never seen her guru ji weakened. ..His condition  shook her out of words. ..

" guru ji. ..what happened. .?you are everything for me next to my father. ..and I swear you took good care of me more than my father. .."

Guru ji smiled at her fondly. ...

"  suman. ..the Royal  messenger has been sent by your father. ..He had fixed your marriage with jaya simhan, the w. Chalukian prince. ..He summoned you immediately to the capital. .."

  Guru ji spelt those words like a saint who had no feelings. ..His eyes dripple down tears ...

Suman underwent an undefined shock. ..she knew her wedding may  or may not  be happened by  her heart ' s wish ..frankly, she had been preparing herself for the same by  building a shell around her...

Fortunately or unfortunately, the shell had been broken just now with a momentary eye lock. ...

Guruji could feel her shock. ..He stood rooted in despair. ..

suman didn't cry...her heart wept. ..she clenched  the  side rail to hold herself. ..she closed her eyes for a  second ...the very next moment, she held her head straight. ..

" guruji. ...there is nothing to feel bad. ..send a reply that I will be arriving the capital soon. .."

  Guruji stunned by her reply. ..

" suman. .?"

" guruji. ..I believe my father won't let me down. ..Make arrangements. ..we will be returning soon. .."

" suman. ..we are not leaving. ..I won't let this marriage to happen. ..I don't want my daughter's life at stake. ..jaya simhan is a beast. ..deliberately I won't let you into trouble. ..at any cost, I will save you from this marriage. .."

His words were strong enough to convey his decision. ..

Suman laughed sarcastically. ..

" guruji. ..it's about the king 's decision. ..you and I are puppets on his hands. ..moreover, we are like trump cards on his hands  to protect the kingdom. .."

" however, no one is there to mind my wish. ..I have to accept the happenings. ..whatever it may be. .."

  Suman started to leave the court without seeing guruji. ..she hid her cry. ..she  cursed her birth as a princess at the very first time in her life. ..

------------------------------------------------------

  Suman locked herself in the room. ..for the entire day, no one disturbed her. ..she didn't bather to eat and drink. ..

Guruji was crisscrossing his room. .He rubbed his forehead tensed  ..He was uncertain the way he could save suman. ..

He was disgusted with jaya simhan 's name itself. .He proudly recalled suman 's  intelligence, beauty, humanity, kindness, pure heart. ....

He couldn't even imagine her to marry jaya simhan. ..He cursed his old age for inability to  declare a war against the king to save suman. ..

He sighed as he found no ways to stop the wedding. ..

Little while later, krithika informed guruji that the wounded man was getting conscious. ..

Guruji  went with krithika to check shravan. ..

------------------------------------------------------

Shravan was moaning with pain. .He was trying to get up. .guruji held him to lie down. ..

" krithika. ..stay with suman. ..I will call you. .."

Guruji sent her to the next room. He didn't want to risk himself by conversing with shravan in front of krithika. ..

" how are you now my boy. .?"

Guruji asked reverentially. ..

Shravan smiled broadly. ..

" much better guruji. ..thank you ...you have helped your enemy ...I don't know how I will repay you. ."

Shravan's words were bonded with gratitude. .

" shiv. ..I knew you from your childhood. ..though,i wasn't ready to help you ..it's all because of my daughter. ..you should thank her. .."

    Guruji beamed with pride while talking about suman. ..

" nothing wrong with that guruji. ..i might be a spy. ..a thief. ..a  culprit. ..."

Shravan kept on telling ...guruji 's face paled. .His breath paused for a second.. ..His thoughts raced. .

"My god. ..He was partially awake when we spoke. ..I wish, he shouldn't remember much. .."

   His words trembled. ..

" I didn't... mean... it shiv. ..I am extremely sorry. .."

Shravan looked him with gratitude. ..

" no guruji. ..you were right. ..you should analyse each and every aspect from your position. ..I really appreciate you. .."

    Shravan stopped at midway by seeing the door opened. . ..

   Suman entered the room with krithika. ..she smiled at him broadly. ..

" how are you now. .." her words sounded her  true concern. ..

" feeling better. ..princess. .."

Shravan's eyes stared at her flawless face. ..He totally forgot the situation where he was. . Suman too was not less than him. ..He stood like a sculpted idol. ..

   " ikkkummm. ..."

Krithika understood her lady 's mind. ..she cleared her throat deliberately to bring her out of spell. ..

" em. .em...i know it's too early to ask. ...may I know who are you. .?"

Her enthusiasm made her to ask this question sooner. ..shravan looked guruji ..guruji 's face showcased a eminent storm. ..

Shravan ignored his subtle warnings. .

" well. ..you have all the rights to inquire my lady. ...my name is sh. ......."

  Guruji closed his eyes in extreme fear..he prayed all the gods and goddesses in the world he believed to be existing. ....