Sanyukta's father was baffled to hear that his daughter had wandered off deliriously into the mansion next door but Samsher assured him that she was safe and being cared for under the supervision of his experienced wife. He offered to help move the other women into the mansion as well, but the Baniya was hesitant to rouse the family in the middle of the night. He decided that as long as his daughter was safe and secure the ladies of the family could move in the next morning and take over her responsibility. He thanked Samsher for showing consideration in the delicate matter and the two men parted for the night. As Samsher returned to the mansion he informed Randhir about his conversation with the Baniya, much to Randhir's relief. 

Randhir tried to sleep but was unable to, instead he tiptoed into Sanyukta's room and dismissed the sleepy maids off to their beds. He bolted the door shut and went near her to check her forehead noticing that the fever had reduced. He lay down beside her and thought about the events that had passed earlier in the night, shuddering to think what would have happened to her if he had not managed to rescue her in time. The idea of anyone attempting to harm her was unacceptable to him, while he felt guilty for having pushed her over the brink at the same time he was upset with her thoughtless act of running away. He knew he was treading on thin ice but it was too late to deny the fact that his heart had become too involved with her, even she knew it well. 

He had gotten news from the home front, dispatch riders had brought good tidings from his family, Parth and Vidushi were on the way to become parents, and in a few months she would return to her natal home to give birth to her firstborn, as custom dictated. Randhir felt happy for his brother and for Vidushi, he hoped that they would be blessed with a son so that the clan would have a new heir, Vidushi's social status would be assured and she could be less paranoid about sharing her husband with co-wives. In the euphoria that followed the birth of a male baby the morale of the entire household could be at its zenith and his parents would, at least for a little longer, stop badgering him to take himself a bride.  Speaking of brides, he recalled with a smile how the parting of the girl sleeping inches away from him had been smeared red with his blood earlier, and how he had meticulously scrubbed it away to obliterate any trace of the events preceding that. 

He wondered how it would feel to have her in his arms in bed, adorned in jewellery and in red and gold bridal robes, her hair parting scarlet with his vermilion. Feeling a sudden urge to, he swept her in his arms and put his lips to her fevered brow, wishing the cherished moment could last for an eternity. He felt her stir and as he met her eye he found she had woken up from her slumber and recognising him had embraced him in turn. He distanced himself quickly and brought her a cup of cool water to drink, helping her take slow slips, wiping her mouth after she was done. She beckoned him back into bed and as he sat gingerly on the edge of the bed she got up and straddled him, closing her mouth over his with her eyes shut. He could not help but respond as he felt her warm, slightly chapped lips entreating to be comforted. 

In a while their lips parted as she gasped to draw her breath. "I love you!" She whispered, clinging to him like a baby monkey fastening itself to its mother's belly, desperately seeking assurance and security in his arms. "I wish I had never met you in my life!" Pat came his reply, voicing his annoyance over her act of sheer lunacy. "Nothing would have happened if you had not provoked me last evening. Why do you keep pushing me away when you know it will not work, my heart does not listen to my mind anymore." She tried to rationalise her act. "You dream of becoming a Rajput wife, you should know that a Rajput spreads his affections rather thinly among his numerous wives and mistresses, he does not belong to any single woman. If you were one amongst the many women it would be your fate to share your man with all of them, awaiting your turn till he remembered you existed." He minced no words, he was telling her what reality was. 

"Why were you so agitated when you caught the strangers trying to violate me? I feel the same when another woman comes close to you, hope you understand. If you had no feelings at all you would never do all that you did last night. You know you went way beyond the call of duty." The tigress was back, fever notwithstanding. "You think only a man feels desire, but as a woman I feel the same urge. Yet unlike you, I feel no compulsive need to gratify myself in the arms of random men. You are the only one allowed to touch me. I may have fainted but I was well aware of how you examined me for any sign of assault, I felt your touch between my legs. It did not feel awkward, it felt natural, like you have the right to. You know what? I feel married to you,  I heard temple bells chiming as your blood marked my hair parting. You carried me over the threshold bridal style, put me down on your bed, undressed me behind closed doors and touched me intimately. I hereby proclaim myself to be your beendni, and you may do as you deem fit." She declared triumphantly.

"This is just your fever talking. It has been a long night, don't know about you but I need my rest Baisa. Just try to go to sleep, I have to rise early and leave from here before your Baniya brigade comes to claim you as theirs." He replied wearily. "Your wish is my command, my dear husband, we can set our nuptial bed aflame with our passion some other night." She added with a flourish as she continued to babble while in his arms, till she felt him drift off to sleep. She was at peace finally, he had proven his love to her without putting it into words and she longed to do everything in her might to sustain and honour his love. She knew how traumatised he had been until he had found her lying on the streets of the town, and she thanked her stars for having sent her silent sentinel to watch over her. She promised herself that she would give them both the best gift they deserved, each other, because nothing less would do.