They knew their equation had changed ever since the visit to the Chandela temples.  While surrounded by others they kept their distance from each other but if they had the opportunity to meet in seclusion they made the most of it and grew comfortable around each other, speaking in hushed tones as young people who are attracted to each other do. It was an exciting time for both, they enjoyed each other's company yet shied away from physical intimacy. They looked forward to stolen moments of solitude, which generally happened early morning or in the evening, usually if they camped by a  river or a pond and she would use the excuse to fetch water or to do the laundry when she spotted him leading Pawan to the water for a drink or to bathe him. 

If there were people around she would deliberately hold back Keshav, using him as a front to help her with the laundry chore so she had a valid excuse to share the spot with Randhir without things seeming awkward. When no one was looking she would watch with fascination, as she pretended to work on her clothes, the shirtless Randhir get into chest deep water to give the horse a good scrub, his rippling muscles flexing and unwittingly showing his body off to great advantage. As she witnessed him sincerely care for Pawan just like a father would for his child, touching him affectionately every now and then she daydreamed about them being a family and raising kids together. 

Once while she waited for him by  the water's edge she gathered up her dry laundry into a bundle and on impulse fastened it to her belly with a part of her odnhi, preening and admiring the reflection of her prosthetically pregnant belly in the water, hardly aware that she was being watched by an amused Randhir and Samsher who were looking forward to a refreshing dip. Her reverie was disturbed as she heard Randhir clear his throat to draw her attention and realising what they had seen she blushed to the roots of her hair as she tried to run back to camp, only to stumble and almost fall before a pair of strong arms gripped her firmly till she found her feet again. Samsher could not have enough of badgering Randhir about how he had planted the idea of having a child in her mind, even though he knew the boy had not taken advantage of the eager girl's naivety. 

Another time as she walked between some tall grasses to go to the river bank to fetch water he suddenly grabbed her from behind and closed his palm over her mouth to prevent her from screaming. He whispered slowly in her ears warning her that there was a deer fawn hidden in a cache nearby and she would frighten the little creature, exposing it to predators. After she understood what had happened she felt aroused sensing his firm body pressing against her, causing her breath to quicken. Only when he felt her heartbeat rise did he uncover her mouth and release his grip from around her waist, only to have her hold on firmly as she whirled around and drew him into a passionate kiss. 

The next moment he had pulled her flat onto the ground in the tall grass as he continued to kiss her, unable to restrain himself anymore, his palms cupping her and trailing themselves over the tautness of her bodice, causing her to writhe in pleasure. The sound of movement at some distance broke the spell and they noticed a female spotted deer approach the grass cautiously till she found her hidden fawn who began nursing eagerly. "I too want to nurse our baby, Banna sa! Please take me away with you." She whispered to him, guiding his palm to the spot just over her womb. "I want twins, and to feel them grow and kick inside me." She pleaded.

"You know that is not possible, Baisa. You are allowed to daydream, but not to go astray. Neither you nor I can defy convention." He whispered back. "But you desire me, I know it." She added, undaunted. "That I do, your thoughts do not let me sleep at night. I finally gave my pillbox away for safekeeping because I am afraid if you come back looking for the drugs again I will lose control of my senses. But this is as far as we will go, it is convention for your marital family's dai or midwife to look you over before you become a part of their family. They need to ensure your virtue and the health of your womb so they can be assured of progeny. If something goes wrong between us they will know it easily and then it will be hell to pay."

It was not as if she was unaware of that practice, her mother had warned her about it even before she attained puberty and she was constantly reminded of the merit attached to her virginity, which only her husband would have claim over. Even while bathing she dared not dwell too long between her legs other than for cleaning herself, though she knew how it felt when her fingers brushed over the nub on her core. But now she fantasised about him getting himself there, she knew it would be the ultimate bliss, she had clearly given him hints whenever she had the chance but he was firm about the sanctity of his conduct. While his restraint made perfect sense to her mind her heart chose to agonise over the pining for him and she absolutely abhorred the idea of being touched intimately by any man other than Randhir. She longed for him to understand her dilemma.

"If you love me would you let any other man take my virtue?" She hoped he would understand how she felt. "Amongst your people and mine matches are made by parents, we do not marry for love, that is the tradition. No matter how strongly I feel about you I cannot defy your father and stake a claim over you, and he is hardly likely to marry us off willingly. Remember that always, there is no other way out." He told her firmly enough, hoping to cut the discussion short. "Will you leave me alone to face such a fate? Abduct me, make me a spoil of war!" She went on. "How could I explain abducting a merchant's daughter whose safety was assigned to me? This is not dharma, we simply keep going around in circles with this push-pull, there is no solution in sight. I have to go now, and so have you lest people notice us both missing." He got up and walked away briskly, leaving her mulling over his parting words.