"No! Read my lips, I meant what I just said!" Randhir stated firmly.

"But why can't I learn swordsmanship? I know Rajput girls are taught these skills!" Sanyukta said defiantly.

"Because I said no once! There is no need to raise hell. You insisted on trying horseback riding so I taught you! Now I am too busy to make time for this whim. And I will not appoint a swordmaster for you because he will know that your Rajput background is dubious. Because girls from families with a marital tradition learn about warcraft from their childhood, and you don't know a khanda from a patta or a talwar. Stop acting impulsive and learn how to act more mature like Bhabhiji sa!" Randhir told her bluntly. He was not going to put up with all her eccentricities.

"Fine, I'll ask your brother to train me then!" Sanyukta ran toward Parth's apartment, her ghoongat drawn over her face. 

"Jija, I wish to speak to Bhaiji sa!" She announced herself after knocking on the heavy inlaid door. Anokhi emerged presently, asking her what the matter was and Sanyukta narrated her tale of woe. Anokhi smiled, trying to imagine how much longer Randhir would be able to keep his patience with his child-woman.

"Wait here, I'll get him." Anokhi went in and explained it all to Parth who burst out laughing. "Call her in!" He said, and Anokhi led Sanyukta indoors.

"So you want to learn swordsmanship! How much training have you so far Baisa? None, I presume. Wielding swords can be dangerous for an inexperienced person. Randhir is right, you may be hurt, or worse still, lose an eye or scar your young face." Parth tried to dissuade her.

"But I can at least try, I am confident that you will watch over me, then why should I be afraid?" Sanyukta told him in a defiant tone.

"You are my brother's wife. I cannot sow discord between a newly married couple, unless he approves I cannot undertake your training. What did he say about you training under my tutelage?" Parth asked.

"I did not wait for an answer because I knew he would not agree!" Her expression was still defiant.

"This is not done Baisa, you cannot defy your husband. It is a cardinal rule in our family." Sanyukta had to learn how to conduct herself properly before she was introduced to the in-laws, along with Anokhi.

"Bhaisa, may I come in?" The deep masculine voice identified Randhir.

"Please come in. I was just discussing with your wife the odds of her learning swordsmanship. It seems you disapprove of the idea." Parth smiled at his younger brother. 

"Forgive me for registering my protest bhaisa, my beendini needs to show more respect for her role as a Rajput bride. I don't want her hurt and bleeding in a juvenile attempt of using an unfamiliar weapon!" He said to Parth, without a glance at Sanyukta who stood by silently.

"Anokhi, take Sanyukta to her room and help her change into training clothes while we brothers discuss some details!" Anokhi knew Parth wanted to talk to Randhir privately, she led Sanyukta away to change her clothes.

"She could take a few lessons with a training sword Randhir, she is a mere girl. Who knows, the whim may pass and in any case, we will be gone by the end of the week. Don't deny her wish. It has been weeks since you two have been man and wife, the child in her must make her act impulsively during the day when in the night, I suspect, she does not give you reason to complain!" Parth winked at Randhir whose ears turned red at his brother's words.

"All right, if you say so, I will start her with the basics using training swords. I don't want her sulking during our visit to the shrine." Randhir excused himself to make the necessary arrangements.

In a few minutes Randhir and Sanyukta stood before each other, outfitted as Rajput footsoldiers. By now she was used to wearing masculine clothes which made horseback riding quite comfortable.

"Why are we duelling with wooden swords?" She asked him indignantly.

"This is your first sword handling lesson, these are training swords. You don't know anything about weapons yet to attempt duelling. Learn how to draw and grip your weapon properly first!" He said brusquely. 

Over the next few minutes he gave her lessons in stance, posture, positions, basic defence and attack techniques. He explained to her that swords of Indian origin, like the curved sword katti, were lightweight and so the swordplay was quite athletic, with the weapon being used to make circular movements around the swordsman's body and head. 

First lesson done, he began teaching her basic defensive technique, about how to block the opponent's blows. He gave her a demonstration and asked her to defend herself as he pretended to swipe at her slowly. "Keep your eyes on your opponent's move and weapon, you must focus and learn to anticipate where the next attack will come from." He warned her.

She learnt basic defence well, being young and agile, although she was no match for his strength and stamina. "Not fair, you are treating me like a kid, remember I am your opponent. Now on guard, enemy soldier!" She suddenly lunged at him, her wooden blade a whisker away from his chest. He subconsciously blocked her move in an instant, sending her reeling backward with such force that it knocked the air out of her lungs. Struggling to stay on her feet she lost her balance and would have tumbled down to the ground when he grabbed her torso in a lightning fast movement, breaking her fall.

"So much for your bravado!" He smirked at her, causing her to glower. Randhir knew it was time to distract her. "Come, let us see the real swords in the weapon room now!" He offered, handing the wooden training swords back to the guard who stood by. 

The guards stationed at the entrance of the weapon room bowed respectfully before Randhir, and he acknowledged them. Sanyukta, who was looking for a way to swallow her wounded pride, was fascinated by the huge display of weapons in the room. 

"Back home the military hardware is much grander than this one. This is a typical Maratha dandpatta or a gauntlet sword. It is highly effective as a thrusting weapon. Many a soldier has simultaneously fended off numerous attackers using the patta efficiently!" He told her, pointing at a fine specimen.

"The khanda is popular both with Sikh as well as Rajput warriors. Prithviraj Chauhan and Maharana Pratap used them. Gatka, the Sikh martial art also uses a khanda during sparring."

"The Firangi is a sword with a rather long blade and hence it is popular with cavalrymen who fight on horseback. This one is a combat talwar. Here, try gripping it yourself!" He placed the heavy sword within her reach.

She was surprised to feel the weight of the heavy sword on her wrist. "Do you use this in combat?" She asked her.

"All the time, we are trained to use all of these swords in battle!" He said dramatically. Just then she sloppily ran her finger on the edge of the sword to test the sharpness of the blade, causing it to graze her skin. Randhir hastily placed the sword back in its place and grabbed her bleeding finger, sucking onto it till the flow stopped.

"I am fine, don't worry!" She tried to assure him in a voice as soft as a feather and he melted like candle wax, pushing her against a wall till they were hidden from the view of the onlooking guards.

"I cannot see a single drop of your blood spilt. Remember Baisa, I will always remain your bodyguard, and I cannot see you in distress. Do you know the real reason why I did not want you to take sword lessons? We have been married for weeks now, making love without missing a single night. What if we made a baby already? It would explain your crazy mood swings. I don't want you hurt in any way, with or without my child inside you. Is that so hard for you to comprehend?" He let out a deep sigh as he kept her pinned against the wall.

"I love you!" was all she could manage to say before he pulled her in for a hungry kiss, his arms now snaking around her petite waist, and she responded eagerly. As he pulled away to let her catch her breath she held on to him lovingly. 

"We should leave now, what will the guards think?" She blushed at her own question. 

"They already know, they are trained combat soldiers who can sense the sound of two hearts beating rapidly in an enclosed room." He said, grinning shamelessly. "

"Have you no shame? Why did you kiss me if you knew that?" She looked scandalised. 

"Trust me, they have seen more brazenness. Rajputs are high on testosterone and notoriously horny, that explains their multiple partners. Not even the female staff is safe around our men!" By now they had marched outside and were out of earshot of the guards. 

"Does that mean you will jump on any available woman too?" She asked him, sounding concerned.

"I have not done that so far, but who knows what circumstances will prevail in the future? You cannot always be around, and the taste of a woman is both heady and addictive!" He teased her.

"Don't forget, husband, what applies to you also applies to your wife!" She told him sternly.

"If you are unfaithful to me the clan will shame you and drive you out of the house, whereas they will just snigger behind my back about my libido if I sleep with another woman!" He knew he was pissing her off now.

"Bhaisa, Sanyukta wants to see a demonstration of actual swordplay, would you duel with me for her benefit?" He asked Parth loudly, without giving Sanyukta an opportunity to react to his previous statement.

As Parth and Randhir got into a friendly duel both Anokhi and Sanyukta stood by, admiring their agility and swiftness, even though they were simply swashbuckling for their audience. 

"Time to sheath your swords now, we need to finish dinner and go to sleep quickly. We have to begin our journey before daybreak. Saloni, come let us get dinner served." Anokhi called for the duel to end. That night as Randhir and Sanyukta cuddled in bed she worded out her nagging doubt. "Will you really be unfaithful to me?" She asked him. 

"Could you bear it if I am?" He asked her. 

"Obviously not!" She said promptly.  

"All right, then I'll make sure you don't find out about the other women!" He wore a sly smile as she fruitlessly attempted to punch him.

"Evil man!" She remarked, as she rolled over, turning her back to him. 

"It is so easy to hassle you! Come here, let me love you! Silly girl, as long as I have you, why would I need another woman? Just keep me intoxicated with yourself, that's all I need!" He spooned her as she slowly drifted off to sleep in his arms.