As they say, do not follow a sound.... It's the premiss of every horror movie, every mystery book, to think even the Ramayan has said don't follow the sound.

But I am smart... Right... I followed them with guards by my side... Probably read the idiot's handbook to following sounds..

Sounds unfamiliar? It's cause I wrote it.

Anyways, as I set out on this uncharted territory to find my husband, I unmistakably saw him, standing there, in a pool of mud. He did seem to be injured. Maybe it was useful this time to come out.

Now, being in public meant one thing. I always had to call him Arya. I wasn't used to it, seeing as anytime we talked, we were alone, so I would just call him by his name.

Which is how I fumbled, "Yudh-Arya! " I called, running towards the mud when he held up a hand.

"S-stay there. This is quicksand. " He said, stilling his body as one should.

"What should I do to help? " I shouted, as the guards to gathered around us.

" Yuvraj, seems to be quicksand. Should we bring a stick? "

" Yes, either that or a spear. " He resigned, limiting his movements.

As the guards left, I sat on the ground.

"So? Why did you shout? "

"I've twisted my ankle. " He said, gritting as it was still stuck in the mud.

"The second time? What's actually wrong? "

" My ankle is twisted, I'm not lying. I shouted a second time because I tried to set it right, but it was stuck in the sand by then. It's still in the same position. "

" I know you don't lie. I was just wondering why. " I said, smiling.

We waited for about fifteen minutes before the spear came, while Yudhishthir prepared to pull himself out.

The guards and I lined up on one wnd of the spear, throwing the other to him, while he pulled himself out.

Carefully, he did, wincing each time as the drag of the movement stressed up in his ankle.

Once he was finally out, I asked the guards to look for a pond or a nearby river.

Lying down face first, he panted from the exertion and pain, slowly turning himself around.

" You feel better now? " I asked, going by his side to rest his head in my lap.

" Yes, I do feel better. You'll get your clothes dirty. "

"They'll be washed. Now shush. Conserve your energy. Can you stand?" I asked, looking at him.

He looked up at me through his lashes and answered, " Well I could, but I don't want to leave this place. "

"What? Muddy with a twisted ankle next to a quicksand? "

" No, by your side. " He said, smiling as he closed his eyes.

It was only a few moments of reprieve he had, when the guard announced,
" Yuvraj, there is a pond nearby. Should we bring water? "

Yudhishthir opened his eyes and sat up. " No. I'll walk. "

"Are you sure? You might injure yourself further. "

" I'm sure. Come. " So i stood up, holding him around the waist as we moved towards the pond.

Once there, we washed him off. The mud and such.

I brought him back a change for his dhoti.

" Now how do I change? " He muttered.

"I'll go away? " I asked, when I was met with a resounding no.

" I can't do this here. It's not honourable to do this. "

"Hold on. I have an idea. " I said, and I walked close to him with the dhoti. He looked at me in alarm.

" No. What I'm doing is different. You open the one you are wearing, seeing as it is stained with mud, I'll hold two ends of it, it'll act like a curtain, then you wear the new one. Easy. " I said, looking at him.

He looked reluctant. " I'll close my eyes if that makes it more comfortable for you? " I asked and he sighed, nodding his head.

"It's not the comfort I'm worried about. " He mumbled out as he finally opened the dhoti and I closed my eyes.

" Hold please dear. " He said, helping me clutch on to the ends.

"Done? " I asked, three minutes in.

" No. Have patience. " He strained, while I looked up at the sky, opening my eyes.

" What about the closed eyes? " He asked, scandalised.

"I'm looking up,you idiot. Keep calm and do your job. I know mine. " I said, laughing at his mutterings of how incorrigible I was.

" Alright. I'm looking now. " I said, trying to tease him.

" What! No! " He said, one hand up to close my own eyes.

"What are you doing! I won't look at you stupid person. I do not want to. " I said, coy.

"Well alright - wait, what do you mean you don't want to? "

" Well, we are out here in the middle of the jungle, it's hardly proper to see my husband in a state of undress don't you think Yuvraj? " I said.

I was immediately tugged closer, the wet cloth dropped.

" I promise you, the only time you'll see me like this is if we both have the choice. " He whispered.

" Oh? Then what if I make that choice for us now? " I whispered back.

You really think that I don't know you by now husband dear.

" What if I agree? " He answered.

" Well, then. "

"What? " He asked.

" Well, you'll have to wait... Till we reach the land of flowers! " I yelled, running away towards the palki.

Even though I completely detest the thought of sitting in one, it is my only reprieve after the stunt I just pulled.

What was I even thinking? I'm stupid. But I also knew I wouldn't be left alone, so I did what everyone does....

I preteneded to be sleep. Which is when, I was pulled out rather roughly by familiar hands.

" What are you -Yudhishthir! " I yelled, as I was taken to the horse.

"You're coming with me . " He said, sitting me on his horse as he got on behind me.

" What are you planning?"

"Oh nothing, just planning a horse ride dear wife. Why, didn't you tell me you wanted to do that? The day after we were married? " He said, as he caught on the reigns.

What did I get myself into. .....

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Soon, in about a prahar and a half, we reached the Pushpbhoomi. One could tell, for the air was infused with the various scents of the different flowers grown here. It kind of felt like DDLJ.

We got off the horse to see a beautiful hut in the middle of the flowers, with intricate craftsmanship. The roof, though of hay was embellished with the luxurious Lilly flowers, while vines of beautiful purble flowers were used to create an arch right above the gate.

"This is beautiful. " I whispered.

"Yes, it is. " I heard and we walked in.

"Are we living here alone? " I asked.

"If you'd like, I can request a cook -"

"No no. It's alright. I just wanted to know. " I said, as we were about to step in, when I was stopped Yudhishthir.

"What? " I asked

" Wait for a minute my dear. " He said, running inside the house.

After about ten minutes, he came out with an arti thaal.

"What is all this? " I asked, laughing.

"Well, seeing as it's just us, we need to welcome the grih lakshmi with honour, don't you think? " He asked, putting a tilak on my forehead, while doing the arti.

How couldn't one cry....

"What happened ? Is something wrong? " He asked, looking at my tear stricken face.

"What? Oh no. These are happy tears." I said, smiling as I wiped them off.

His smile returned, with the radiance of a thousand suns.

"What is it? " He asked, as I still stood next to him.

"Won't Narayan join his Grih Lakshmi as we walk in? " I giggled.

" Well, but I am already here. "

"So? You'll walk in with me. Come. " I said, pulling him by the hand as we made our way inside.

It was one of the most humble ways to live, clearly reflective of both our tastes. With a simple bed, a small mirror side table in the bedroom, while the kitchen outside in the main hall. It wasn't much, but it felt like home.

"So? What would you like to eat, for the first time in this house? " I asked, putting my hands around his neck.

'Well, kheer doesn't sound too bad. " He smiled, as we moved towards the kitchen.

"Come, we'll make it together. " I said, as he looked at me.

"Me? " He asked, confused.

"Oh yes, why not ? Or do you not want to cook since you are a man? " I asked with scrutinizing eyes.

"What! No. Not that. I don't know how to cook. " He said, rubbing his neck nervously.

I smiled and pulled him towards me.

"We'll learn together. Even I don't know how to make kheer. I've only watched my mother and dadi make it. Never made one myself. " I said, as he laughed.

"Alright, let's begin. " He said, as I sat down on the pedestal, lighting the coal on fire.

"First, we wash the rice. " I said, giving him a handful in a wide pot.

He did so, with the pots of water kept in the house, while I looked for the milk and sugar. Or jaggery. I didn't know what I would find.

" I did it.. " He said, as I finally found some jaggery.

" Now, we'll add the rice to the milk, after we warm it. It needs to be warm, not boiling. Then, we add the rice and let it cook. " I said, pulling out the pot of milk. We sat, portioning the jaggery as the milk came to a lukewarm temperature.

Slowly, we added the jaggery, dissolving it into the milk.

" Yudhishthir, taste the milk and check. " I asked, as he did so, he scrunched his eyes.

"What's wrong? "

"It's a bit too sweet. We added too much. " He said, as I tried it too.

It was indeed a bit too sweet.

"Don't worry, I think the rice should fix it. Come, we'll add the rice then we'll go out. " I said and we added the rice to the pot of milk.

Covering the lid, we stood up. Soot and traces of milk covered both our faces.

"You look like a monkey. " Yudhishthir said, laughing at my face.

"Well, if I am the bandariya, then you are my bandar. " I said, as we walked out towards the flowers.

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A warning...
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE KHEER!

This is just what I have seen myself as well and what I have learnt. There are better ways, but they aren't living in the palace and it's their first time. Making kheer.
So, mistakes are bound to happen, it's not that they'll be experts on the go.

Anyways, tell me more in the comments and do vote.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥