Page 2

“Princess!”

I lifted my gaze from the spices to the heaving Suman.

“He has arrived,”

she said, gasping for breath.

My eyes widened. “Really?”

I asked, a broad smile erupting on my face.

She nodded.

Rising from the stool, I brushed the spilt turmeric off my clothes, while hurrying out of the kitchen.

I had been helping the cooks prepare lunch.

“Princess! You should at least change before meeting him,”

Suman yelled, running after me, trying to keep up with my pace.

“I'd rather not,”

I huffed, running down the corridors, caring less about the spices’ stains on my clothes.

Two years… I waited two years for this moment.

I wrote hundreds of letters, but he answered none.

He must have been angry about some of my mistakes when he left, but I couldn’t figure out what they were.

Suddenly, I collided with my Daadisa1.

“Ah… Daadisa1,”

“!”

she chided.

I looked at her nervously, nailed to the ground.

“Where are you running?”

She asked.

I averted my eyes, looking here and there to devise an excuse—fast and convincing.

“Umm….

To watch pigeons,”

Her gaze scrutinised my form, and I uneasily shifted from one foot to another.

“Where’s your footwear?”

she asked, and my eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as I lifted my lehenga2 and realised that I had been running barefoot this entire time.

“Um I… I do not recall where…they went,”

I blurted, gesturing animatedly with my hands in a hurry.

She frowned at me suspiciously and asked, “Where they went? Do they wander off by themselves like you? You must have left them somewhere,”

I truly didn’t know where I had left them.

My focus was solely on reaching the top floor to see my man return to the Empire.

“,”

she pulled my ear, making me crinkle my brows in pain.

“My shoes??? Umm….

I am fasting today,”

I managed to say.

“Fasting?”

She gave me an incredulous look and reminded me, “You had breakfast with me in my chamber earlier.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, writhing to get my ear off her hold.

“Half-day fasting, Daadisa! Now, please leave me.

My pigeons are waiting.”

I pleaded and ran past her towards the palace's main building.

She laughed behind my back.

Once I reached the rooftop, I leaned over the stone baluster, breathing raggedly.

Loose tresses from my braided hair danced across my face, and the dupatta3 on my shoulder waved in the gusty winds as I set my eyes on the main entrance, my heart pounding in anticipation.

The far-off view made me squint.

And I felt it—the faint vibration of the heavy entrance doors opening.

My heart raced wildly in my chest, and my breathing became shallow for a good few moments when I noticed a man mounted on a brown horse with white marks on its legs.

Rudra!

An ear-to-ear smile etched on my face.

I immediately scurried from there, fisting my lehenga, with Suman following suit.

The sound of my anklets echoed through the hallways of the giant building as I was descending.

As we approached the royal garden, I slowed down and took leisurely steps because my mother’s chamber was nearby, and I didn’t want to catch her attention.

Once I arrived, I tiptoed toward the guest chambers.

Since we weren’t having any guests for the time being, the chambers were empty, and no one was there to witness me lurking.

At the end of one of the guest chambers where Rudra stayed during his last visit, I quietly hid behind a pillar and moved toward an open window.

“You may leave now, and if anyone asks for me, tell them I’m in my chamber,”

I instructed Suman.

She nodded and left.

Holding my breath, I leaped into the empty chamber and hid behind the curtains in a corner.

After what felt like an eternity, my ears perked at the sound of doors opening.

I could hear his footsteps along with those of others, likely the attendants assisting him with unpacking.

Craning my neck, I peeked in and saw his back.

His shoulders had broadened, and his physique had become even stiffer and more attractive.

Has he changed his diet?

“Krupaya karke ye sab yahaan rakh dijiye,”

(Keep everything here, please.) He requested the attendants.

My stomach tickled with thousands of butterflies as I heard his voice after ages.

I couldn’t help but smile so wide that my cheeks hurt.

“Rehne dijiye, hum kar lenge,”

(It's alright; I’ll do it.) He informed them, and the sound of their departure from the chamber followed.

When I heard the door shut, I peeped in his direction, and suddenly, he said, “Baahar aa sakti hain ab aap,”

(You can come out now.)

I shivered at his voice and lost my balance.

“Aahhhh…”

I shrieked in pain.

He laughed at me, and seeing him laugh so heartily made me forget my pain, so I laughed along.

He stepped closer, offering his hand to help me.

I grasped it to rise, and the moment my palm came into contact with his, I felt a surge of emotion.

It was rough and much larger than mine.

He pulled me up, bumping me into his chest.

I looked up at him, locking my intense gaze with his.

Silence brought us closer before my eyes lowered to his lips.

Is it finally the day I'll have my first kiss?

But, he stepped back and questioned, “Kaisi hain aap?”

(How are you?)

My smile faded as he stepped a few more paces.

“Jaisa aap chhodkar gaye the,”

(Just the way you left.) I replied and saw him walk toward his trunk, chuckling to himself.

“Arthaath abhi bhi nahaati-dhoti nahi hain aap,”

(It means you still don’t bathe.) He replied, taking his clothes out.

I took a sharp breath.

Enough was enough!!!

I was desperate to live with him, dying with each passing moment, and here he was, making fun of me.

For two years, I waited for him, hoping that when he returned, we could advance our relationship.

We would discuss things further and perhaps consider marriage.

But he was still treating me like a young and foolish girl.

“Rudra, aapke jeevan mein koi aur hai kya?”

(Is there anyone else in your life?) I couldn’t stop myself.

Turning around, he looked at me and shrugged his shoulders.

“Nahi to,” (No.)

I sighed in relief.

“So why aren't we like other couples? Why don’t you come closer to me? And why haven't we kissed yet?” I asked.

Inhaling a deep breath, he asked, “How many couples do you know who are prince and princess, whose families are enemies and are having a secret affair?”

I closed my eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh.

I tried to count, but I couldn’t think of any. “None,”

I muttered sadly.

He questioned again, “What did you say?”

“I said none,”

I exclaimed a little louder.

His gaze softened, and with a smile, he inched closer.

Standing before me, he grazed my cheek hesitantly, beholding my eyes.

“What do you want, ?”

The way my name rolled off his tongue wretchedly flattered me.

His deep eyes—dark oceans of mystery—captivated me instantly, yet I endeavored to look beyond them.

I found myself walking on the coastlines, the waves slowly teasing my feet and pulling me inside.

Their sound and the scent of the sea breeze sent chills down my spine.

I couldn’t see the end of it. There was just loneliness to the horizon, a silence of its kind, and the possibility of a storm erupting at any moment.

Strangely, everything was scary yet attractive.

I wanted to swim through those tides, to feel what lay beyond, to see where they ended, and to discover how deep they were.

“What do you want, ?”

he questioned again.

Blood rushed to my cheeks, and my knees got weaker.

He took a step forward, closing the distance between us, and I looked at him courageously.

“All,”

I said.

“I want it all, Rudra.

Waiting is impossible now.

For two years, you feel someone around you—you crave to talk to them, you burn for them.

I have had enough. Now, please give me all. Tell me that you love me and make love to me. I trust you, and I love you so much.”

The silence followed before he asked, “Are you sure? I mean, isn't it unprincipled to do such things before marriage?”

Worry laced his tone.

I shook my head.

“Sooner or later, I know we will get married, and I'll be your wife.

And these principles and traditions cannot bind my love for you.

I’m all yours,”

I meant it.

I had no doubts about him in my heart, not even a bit.

He could be an enemy to others, but every time we spent time alone, he always behaved courteously towards me, showing respect and maintaining boundaries.

How could I ask for someone better than him?

“And I’m all yours, too,”

he confessed, taking his hand close to my cheeks.

I inhaled a shaky breath when I felt his hand against my skin.

As his touch aroused every inch of me, I blinked nervously.

His palm was big enough to cover the side of my neck, gently grazing my earlobe.

Pulling my face closer to his, he looked intently into my eyes, the tension growing between us.

I had never felt this way.

He’s never touched me this way, ever.

His natural, mild scent enveloped my mind, leaving my throat dry.

He leaned in closer.

My lashes fluttered heavily, and my lips parted as his warm breath fanned over my face.

The distance between our lips narrowed, and I closed my eyes, feeling the sparks running down my spine.

I never thought it'd feel like this.

I felt his pruned beard against my cheek, and a low moan slipped from my mouth.

He pressed his lips against the side of my jaw, and I muttered under my breath, “Rudra,”

It came out almost inaudible.

He moved his lips closer to my ear, his uneven breaths tickling my stomach.

I clutched the fabric of my lehenga, trying to suppress my inaudible moans.

“I want to see you tonight,”

he muttered, and how he said it left me utterly stunned.

My heart pounded intensely in my chest as he added, “Naked,”

The heat erupting through his words warmed my insides.

“And you have to write down everything in a letter for me.

What do you want me to do to you? How do I take you? You'll have to be very particular with your words,”

I was utterly taken aback by his demand, my eyes wide open at the tone he used.

I felt flushed and thought, if merely his lips on my cheek could make me so hot, how would it feel when he took me?

I truly wanted to experience what I learned in my classes—the sensation of the first touch, intimacy, and all those sparks.

I felt a bit of it, which made me crave more, feeling insane.

“Very particular?”

I gulped, my voice a mere whisper.

“Yes, very, very particular.

I want every detail.

If you miss something, I miss that too,”

he said, gently touching my cheek.

The earnest expression on his face indicated that he was serious.

“Alright?”

he asked, and I nodded.

“So, tonight?”

he further asked, and I nodded again, whispering.

“Yes, I love you.”

His lips curved into a light smile, and he murmured, looking into my eyes.

“I love you too, .”

These words from him made my day.

He had never said them before, but he did now, looking directly into my eyes.

He finally expressed his love for me.

Was I going insane?

Totally!

***