New character alert- Pulvit: Dipankar's bodyguard.

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A greasy swirl of reddish-black smoke greeted Riya as she ran past people holding her skirt with both of her hands. The loud shrieks and heavy wails of the crowd tensed her heart, even more, she has never witnessed a forest fire but this scene of brightly burning trees and breath-stopping smoke was indeed scary but the thought that Raghuveer was trapped in there was forcing her feet to run into the fire without looking back.

However her desperate run came to a temporary halt as she noticed that this part of the forest through which the race track passes was completely engulfed in fire, her eyes brimmed up tears as she heard painful screams from inside the fire-caught forest making Riya rush inside, but right before she could step inside a firm hand caught her arm pulling her behind. Riya forcefully elbowed that hand away trying to jump inside the forest to save Raghuveer, but this time that hand swirled around her waist, pressing her back to his front forcefully.

“Are you stupid? Why are you going there!” Raghuveer screamed on top of his lungs as he caged Riya in his arms.

And the second her brain registered Raghuveer's angry voice, Riya turned around in a state of stupor facing him. Her racing heart calmed down as she quickly grabbed his face in her palms as she examined it for any wounds.

“Yo-you are safe.” Her question came out as a statement and tears flowed down her face, without a second thought her hands went around his torso as she embraced in a warm and breath squeezing hug. And Raghuveer was caught off guard by this reaction, making him stand rooted in his place. This was the first time a woman had ever hugged him, his hands remained to his sides as he looked at her who kept sobbing on his chest.

Riya is crying, but importantly for him. But why? Raghuveer never hugged people, he always made sure to maintain his distance but this time he couldn't help, voluntarily one of his hands rounded around her waist pulling her close, as the other hand patted her back trying to console her. But after a few seconds, she stopped her cries as she frustratedly looked up through her wet eyes, "Why are you hitting me?"

"W-what!" Raghuveer couldn't help as he uttered that word in disbelief, here he was trying to console her and she is thinking he was hitting her?

He uncomfortably clears his voice as he spoke, "I was patting your back to console you, woman."

For a few seconds, her face revealed no emotions but soon she nodded her head as if she understood. Riya slowly pulled his hand which was on her back and placed it on her head saying, "Pat my head then." Saying she placed her head back on his chest as she snuggled closer to him.

And Raghuveer's cheeks burned red as he felt her snuggle up to him, "You are no more crying, so getaway-"

"Ahh-" Riya started fake crying, as loudly as possible and unable to bear her ugly action Raghuveer knocked her hard and pulled himself away from her.

"Ouch! You didn't have to hit me that hard, Veeru." Riya rubbed her head as she complained, wiping her stained tears and from afar Dhruvan came running towards them.

"Rajkumar Ji! Are you fine?" Dhruvan asked nervously as he stood in front of his master fiddling his fingers.

"I am okay, we were able to survive before the fire broke out." Raghuveer dusted his soiled kurta arms as his eyes darted towards the forest where royal soldiers were trying to put off the fire. Raghuveer’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as he observed their work, who were trying to extinguish the fire. They had sacks of sand and drums of water ready with them as if they were aware that this accident would happen.

Just to make his hunch right, his step-mother was shouting at his step-brother Dipankar as if he had committed a grave sin. Raghuveer’s lips twisted in a mockful smile as he eyed them, so this unexpected accident of wildfire was expected?

A few minutes ago when all participants were riding on their tracks, Dipankar blocked his way on his horse by running on his side of the track, at first Raghuveer was irritated thinking that he was obstructing him to win the race but now somehow, unbelievably things were falling in place. Dipankar must have taken his track to save him from his mother’s men, but why will Prince Dipankar do that? If anything, since childhood Dipankar equally hated him like his mother.

Raghuveer’s heavy train of thoughts was halted as a loud voice screamed, with huge drumming sounds to grab attention.

“Attention everyone! Please calm down, the wildfire has been successfully extinguished by our royal soldiers!” The organiser of the horse race was announcing this news as he stood on a huge rock, and soon everyone relaxed as they heard this good news. The fire was put off soon resulting only in the damage of a few trees.

“The most awaited night markets are open now! So I request all the citizens to have a look around them, and I promise you won't be disappointed!” The same man announced again and this announcement excited Riya.

“Night markets? What are they?” Riya questioned as her eyes grew wide in excitement.

“These night markets are only open on Maha Shivratri, as many people stay awake at night to pray for the gods, and once they are done with their prayers they break their fast and spend time here with their families,” Dhruvan explained animatedly as he pointed towards the stalls which were opening, he did not like the thought of this demon tagging along with them, but after almost three years he had come to this temple and night market so he decided to compromise for his happiness.

“Oh, oh I almost forgot! We even have stage plays on Ramayana and Lord Shiva tonight!!”

Riya and Dhruvan squealed in excitement like toddlers and Raghuveer mentally smacked his head pitying himself for getting stuck with such crazy people.

While Riya and Raghuveer moved towards the night market entrance, Sahasthra stopped behind as she secretly tried to get a view of prince Dipankar.

Rani Anasuya left after screaming at Dipankar for something and soon all the soldiers left from there leaving him alone. Dipankar slowly sat down pressing his back against a rock wincing in pain and Sahasthra’s legs itched to go and help him but she knew that Dipankar would never accept her help.

Sahasthra took a few steps forward to get a clear view of him and her eyes bulged open in shock looking at his bleeding leg, throwing all fears aside she immediately ran to him. She quickly sat down beside him and Dipankar was startled with her sudden presence.

“What the heck are you doing here?” He questioned harshly as rudeness laced his voice.

Sahasthra quickly pointed towards his leg as she gestured him saying that he was hurt, somehow her gesture only fueled his anger, “Look, you dumb girl! Get lost from here before I kick you out!”

Dipankar screamed on top of his lungs and Sahasthra flinched in fear and her eyes swirled with tears, as he always does this. They never once had a proper conversation before and Sahasthra always hated people who mocked her speech defect. But around Dipakar, her heart behaved different and stupid. How much ever he would scream at her, the will to stay near him strengthened in her.

Without answering him she quickly tore a piece from the pallu of her half saree and slowly tried to tie it around his leg. Dipankar tried to fold his leg to pull it away from Sahasthra but unfortunately, that move just increased his pain.

Sahasthra bent down and tied that cloth around his leg, from where it was bleeding.

“You ignorant, fool! How dare-”

Sahasthra tightened the cloth around his wound making Dipankar stop his sentence and scream in pain.

And after that Dipankar didn't make any efforts to scream at her as he sat in the spot sulking, making Sahasthra smile secretly. When Sahasthra realised that he was not even looking at her she slowly sat down beside him, her shoulders partially touching his.

“Let my bodyguard be here, I will see your end!” Dipankar muttered heavily, breathing in anger and Sahasthra pressed a hand over her mouth as she laughed silently looking at his child-like behaviour.

Ah, will he ever know how much I love him? An everlasting question which always buzzed in her heart was back as she looked at Dipankar from the corner of her eye dreamily.

••

Riya was mesmerised by the cosily busy streets, it looked as if all the crowd of this kingdom was right at this market trying to buy something or the other.

The huge temporary market had several lanes in it, every commodity was accommodated in a specific street and the first lane was dedicated to clothes and materials. The shiny sparkling fabrics and their smooth texture almost tempted Riya to buy one of them but soon her tight half-saree reminded her that looks can be dangerously deceiving.

Riya silently slipped her in Raghuveers as she slowly walked beside him. At first, he tried to nudge her hand away but soon he gave up mumbling some incoherent curses. Poor Raghuveer doesn't know the fact once Riya decides to do something no one can ever stop her.

"How long do we have to wander here? Let us go to the next lane, I want to catch a glimpse of the martial arts exhibit also!" Riya whined as she played with a golden bracelet on his hand.

Raghuveer tried to give her an angry look to shut her up but unexpectedly Dhruvan stepped forward speaking, "She is right, Rajkumar Ji! My feet are aching! I can no more-"

"Namasthe, Rajkumar Raghuveer Ji!" Suddenly, as a young man jumped before them, halting Dhruvan's speech as he surprisingly looked at him.

"Namasthe Pulvit, how come you are here?" Raghuveer asked with a monotonous tone and Dhruvan silently tried to set his wild hair.

"I had to accompany Rajkumar Dipankar as I am his personal bodyguard. But I unable to reach him after the wildfire, have you-"

"Yes! I have! He is still back near the forest I guess." Dhruvan almost chirped with happiness as he talked to Pulvit.

Somewhere Riya was unable to connect the dots, what was she missing? She knows for sure that Dhruvan is both scared and loathes the queen and her son, Dipankar. Then why is he talking so animatedly and happily around Dipankar's bodyguard?

Pulvit nodded his head as if he was trying to figure out a map in his brain and once again Dhruvan spoke up, "If possible, I can guide you?"

Somehow this sweet and helpful side of Dhruvan made Riya's eyes itch at his cringey attempts to talk with that bodyguard.

Raghuveer made no attempts to either stop Dhruvan from offering help nor did he consent him. But soon, after a few seconds of deep thinkings, Pulvit decided to take Dhruvan's help and shortly they left to the tracks where the race was held.

Raghuveer strode forward and once again, Riya caught his arm walking beside him.

"Can't you keep your hands to yourself?"

For a moment Riya almost thought that he was awfully angry at her listening to his tone but his expressions told something else.

"Even I don't want to," Riya cleared her throat uncomfortably as for the first time her voice was betraying her action, "But what if someone abducts me?"

Raghuveer almost stopped walking, looking straight in her eyes with a dead expression as he spoke, "You are actually expecting people to kidnap, you?"

Riya's mouth almost hung open hearing him mock her, "What do you mean, you? I am a-"

"Drop it now, I have got to buy something from that stall." Saying he caught her hand and walked towards the other side where there was a herbal store. It had different types of roots hanging around the entrance and just by looking at it Riya had decided that she hates this store, why does it have to smell so bad?

"Ah Raghu beta, welcome! How come you are visiting my stall?" An aged man, probably in his sixties asked Raghuveer as he gave out a bright toothy smile. Somehow, weirdly that old man looked cute to Riya. His saggy skin and his half lost tooth made her almost pinch his cheeks.

"Namasthe Daada, I needed to buy some red-sage roots." Raghu veer answered with a small smile.

"Sorry dear, those roots sold out quick. However, I know a stall which might be having a stock."

Momentarily, Raghuveer and Riya were back on the path to find the location of that shop which sells red-sage roots.

"I was wondering, does Dhruvan know that bodyguard?" Riya asked as she kicked a pebble near her feet.

"Sort of, Pulvit tried to train Dhruvan in a sword fight but-"

"But Dhruvan is untrainable, right?" Riya giggled as she spoke and Raghuveer couldn't help but chuckle along.

"By the way, why are these red-sage roots so important?" Riya asked as she slowly looked at Raghuveer but instantly the happy smile on his face vanished as a grim look took over.

"Can you not stay silent for at least a few seconds and mind your business?" Raghuveer mumbled with a frown on his face.

Riya couldn't help but scowl at his tone, what did she do now? All she asked was a tiny question and somehow that angered him!

Rolling her eyes in bitterness, Riya strode forward furiously. And Raghuveer behind nearly facepalmed himself, why can't handle his anger?

Riya walked away from him ragging with frustration and Raghuveer trailed behind her trying to mentally construct an apology.

***

• Rajkumar: Prince

• Beta: Son

• Daada: Grandfather

"The sun loved the moon so much that he died every night to let her breath."