Manik came to Ratanpur, he spent two days checked everything discussed with people about their problems, he visited fields, had some training with soldiers there, gave some suggestions to Samanth, made some required arrangements and then, travelled to next village.

Manik's life is very different, after the completion of his education, war training, and field training at the age of thirteen he is made Yuvaraj. From that very year he started his journey as Yuvaraj, he started to participate in political alliances, boarders security and common people comfort.

Manik started his travelling journey, he visits one or the other places every month. He visits people works with them eats with them and sleeps with them as a common man. Even if they treat him as Yuvaraj he doesn't encourage them. He loves to be one among them.

Manik has only a friend named Parthasarathi, he is the minister's son. Both are childhood friends. Parth is a very reserved and calm person, he just follows Manik rules strictly. He never let anyone intrude in matters of Manik.

In this journey Manik is missing him a lot, Parth is getting married again, it's his third marriage, unlike Manik Parth has a good family life, he a son and three daughters, this marriage is out of some political allegiances, it's a king who fixed this marriage so Parth obeyed. Manik is not interested in attending marriages he feels it is a time waste process so he is travelling alone this time.

Manik travelled five villages in a row, he spends eight days in a row travelling and meeting people. He is tired and even felt bored. He is now thinking to return to mahal, as he got a message from his father to return mahal before Panchami. He replied saying he will. So now he started his journey.

Since from two hours Manik is on the horse, which is taking him back home, when it is almost dark, he planned to stop the journey and sleep for a while, his horse needs rest. He is searching for water, he heard a scream of a girl, Manik got alerted and started to follow the sound

"Please leave me!!!" She is again crying this time he even heard some men laughing, she again screamed Manik ran to the place and found four men are surrounding a naked girl, he took his sword and with one swipe he cuts all four men necks very neatly before they can even scream they fell. She screamed in horror. Manik looked at her.

A girl of age 14 very fair, with long hair, pulpy lips, big eyes short nose, then he looked down, his widened, she came to senses and tried to cover her body, Manik removed his turban and throws on her, she held it tight on her body. Manik is still looking at her curved beautiful body. She took the turban end and started to twist it around her body to cover it properly.

The moonlight which is falling on her naked shoulders is shining like a light, Then her visible cleavage which made Manik lust more. Manik got down from the horse, came near her, she took two steps back, she then looked at his face and she with wide eyes whispered "Yuvaraj!!!!"

Manik stopped his foot and looked at her.

She started crying "Yuvaraj they killed my family"

Manik frowned looked at her face and asked "what?"

"Yes Yuvaraj they killed my whole family and they tried to ...." she didn't speak more she started to cry more with hiccups.

Manik got angry looked at them felt like killing them again, but composed himself and asked her to lead him to her family. She took him to the place, the whole family along with servants and some dasis are killed, Manik went near her father body to check whether he is alive or not, seeing his face he shocked to the core, "pandit Srinivasa Murthy?" He said in shock

"Yes," she said with hiccups

"Impossible he is beat at fighting," Manik said in disbelief

"They came from the back and cut his throat, my brothers tried to fight with them, but they killed them by stabbing from the back, my mom asked me to run, I refused them...." she hiccuped again Manik looked at everyone and then at Nandini, he felt very bad and sad. He looked at her and said "take your belongings and get changed don't go anywhere be here and change it's not safe" she nodded, took clothes and stood behind the palanquin to change Manik came to her and said in frustration "I have already seen you naked so no need of hiding just change so that you are safe"

She nodded and changed back to her usual dress.

Manik started collecting logs to give fire to all the bodies. He righted her pallu to his dothi and started his work in darkness no one can invade her again. She is just crying.

By midnight Manik arranged everything and gave fire to bodies, all of sudden she started running into the fire, Manik forcefully held her tight she is screaming shouting crying and begging him to leave her to die as she is alone in this world. Manik didn't leave her, he hugged her tight she is crying like a maniac, uncontrollable.

Manik made her lean on his shoulder and he then sat down keeping her on his lap, she cried and slept, Manik looked at her, in moonlight she is like a faded goddess her beauty is breathtaking, despite this worst condition Manik is smitten by her beauty and her innocence. He kissed her forehead and placed it again on his shoulders and slept.

The next day morning, Manik is the first one to wake up, as he felt something went numb, he opened his eyes and found, a soft milky white, cleavage, at his mouth, he got tensed but then recollected all the things and slowly came out of her making the little gap to see her, she is breathtakingly beautiful, her dried tears made her tilted beauty. She started to move. She woke up, she when saw Manik widened her eyes in horror and got up from him, "kshama!!! Yuvaraj"

"It's Ok are you Ok now?"

She again got tears but she nodded

"Ok let us take bath, then collect bones and mix them in water"

She nodded.

Nandini walked to the river, washed her whole body, and came out, when she looked up found Manik gawking at her, the wet cloth which is covering her body is now stocked to her curves exposing more. Manik felt so aroused he reached Nandini and pinned her to a nearby tree and leaned to take her neck with his lips she whispered "Yuvaraj" he came out of trans and took two steps away turned back and took a dip in the river. Nandini changed to her regular dress. Manik brought the bones mixed them in water and again dipped them in water then came to his horse took his fresh dress and got changed.

"Shall I drop you at your house?" Manik asked

"So that again same as night may occur?" She asked sharply

Manik got angry he fisted his palm and took her arm "I will kill everyone who will eye you"

"Send me to any temple, I will serve God till I die"

"That is impossible," Manik said with anger.

"I will take you to mahal, along with me we will meet King and then decide what to do"

She nodded

Manik climbed on the horse gave her hand to make her sit on the horse she hesitated "I will walk Yuvaraj"

Manik took her arm lifted her like a feather and placed her in front of him on the horse. Having no choice she preferred silence. Manik took her shoulder and made her lean on him, she became stiff he grinned in frustration and started his horse to run.