Ever since I have heard about Sudhas pregnancy I couldn't keep myself off. Sudha also had many a times sectrely helped me in the past ..... my help to her is because of her last loss.... all I want is, that she safely and happily deliver her baby and become a mother....what she had lost once already.

I was very much saddened by such a heart wrenching news of her previous miscarriage ....

Sudha is a simple maid and her husband is a soldier of a low grade.... both of them work hard to make up to their livings..... and may be due to that she had to work beyond her physical capabilities which must have led to that.

Isn't its a king's duty to take care of his people and whoever is working for him .....?? He should do something for them.....

Yes ... ofcourse it is true that he hates me and does injustice and unfair things to me but it will be extremely unfair of me to call him a bad king because he is not .....

I have always witnessed him as a considerate and a humble person who thinks and feels deeply for his people. I may never accept in front of anybody but....... deep down, the truth is Siddharth Veer is always a better King than my Father ........ the King of Shreemadpuri, who ensured that I always remain away from his court meetings and decision makings.... but somehow things doesn't remain hidden for long. I have witnessed my father's wrong doings which cannot be considered as ethical....... but still he is my father and all I know that he is my only family and I love him very much.

Coming back to Sudha,...... after listening her story from Ushaji, I then and there instantly decided to help her in whatever ways I could .....I know that I cannot do much for her and also there are high chances to put myself in a problem but still I cannot sit back and watch the show doing nothing..... It was just yesterday that I offered a little help to her, successfully without being caught by him. ...... but I don't know how will I be able to pull that same thing, everyday.

As its morning now, I already have my plates full of pending work and I am trying hard to quickly finish them off to get to her.

" It has been so long, I have last seen my favourite flowers....." said Siddharth Veer, looking at his own painting holding his hands behind his waist.

''......and.... here comes another order from ' Hisss. High. Ness' ." I internally cry told myself feeling absolutely pissed off to hear his voice. While busy dusting off his furnitures .

Listening to him I instantly stopped my work as I turned myself to look at him.

" So long ....?? Last week doesn't sound like 'so long' to me ?? " I said making a straight face.

He too turned himself to face me and smirked " I wish to see them again....... Just don't decorate it in a pathetic way like last time you did..... you have a very .....BAD TASTE in it ." He exaggerated the last words ' bad taste'.

I gasped in shock to know about my beautiful decoration is noted to be a 'pathetic' one and I rolled eyes angrily

" okay... YOUR HIGHNESS .... as you say. " and gave him a fake smile mixed with irritation." So where are the flowers?? " I asked assuming that he already got them plucked by someone.

"I guess , they are hanging on its branches.... and Unless you get them... how am I going to see them .....soooo go .... get them like last time you did ...." wearing a wicked smile on his face He said as if he only asked me to fetch a simple glass of water.

And with that.... all of the memory of my horrible trip to that jungle gushed into my head.

"WHATTTT...??? No ..... I will never go there again . If you are willing to kill me just do it but I ......" I spoke in one breath but before I could finish .......

He cut me in the middle and calmly said " You are going to get those flowers for me .... or this time I will punish Ushaji instead of you ....for YOUR disobedience..." he said glaring at me like a predator.

I widened my eyes after listening to his words..... I mean what kind of man he is ?? He is going to use poor Ushaji against me ?? I was just about to open my mouth to tell him the same .

"Mh -mh ... " he raised his finger to shut me as he noticed that I was about to say something

" I am not in a mood to waste my breath ....so ... just do as you are asked ...... your time starts now .....Chop chop." using his hand he silently showed me the door,

I was so furious that I just gritted my teeth and stomped off.

As I was walking on my way towards the grand entrance of this palace, as well as murmuring curses for Siddharth Veer Singh. I was anxious about whatever happened last time ..... but then the masked man masked face flashed in my mind.... and I recollected that how bravely he fought and saved me from danger , thinking of him, I stopped on my way as an idea lit into my head.

Immediately I turned my way towards the kitchen section and quickly prepared kheer ( a sweet dish like porridge) which I had learned from Ushaji during the last week ..... Yes ...being here as a maid, cooking is one thing which I sometimes really enjoy, inspite of being a newbie . Thanks to Ushaji for teaching me to cook. After I was done packing the same tightly, I again made my way to the forest, tactfully hiding a small parcel of kheer wrapped inside my dupatta.

After reaching there I started looking for the masked man...... but I couldn't find him anywhere..... all the directions were full of bushes and big trees and I stood there alone wondering his whereabouts.

Suddenly I heard some rustling sounds coming from the bushes near by .... along with the sounds there was some movements too. I look at it fearfully while the movement kept on happening but it stopped after a while and as I was about the take a breath of relief, ....something white pounced on me, straight from those bushes... which made me scream with all my lungs out. As I was scared to hell I took some hasty steps backwards.... and bumped hard on to something and I fell on my back.

After falling I realised that I wasn't alone to fall as I fell along with someone...infact, I fell 'on' someone because I felt that I was lying over somebody who was beneath me ..... before I could even get up.....a voice said

" ...God !!...you almost killed me...."

Hearing that voice my eyes widened and I somehow got up to sit , turning my head I saw that it was the masked man on whom I bumped and fell, slowly he too got up to sit .

"Its You..?? " I said in a happy surprised tone.

"Why do we alway bump meet everytime ??" He said through his covers and we looked at each other and bursted into laughter.

But I instantly put a finger on my lips to indicate him to be quite as something else drew my attention, I got up and slowly and steadily took steps ahead and caught hold of a small and beautiful little creature called rabbit , sooooo.....this was the one who pounced on me..... and almost gave me an heart attack, I noticed that it was wounded as its one of the front paws was bleeding a bit.

The masked man too came near us.

"What happened ?" He asked being curious.

"Its his paw, he is wounded....."

I said softly as I stroked this fur gently and looked around.

"Hold him ..... carefully...." I said to the masked man and handed him the rabbit

and walked away.

"Hey !! ... where are you going?? ... wait !! ." He said as he saw me walking away.

"I am searching for a medicinal herb which can heal his cut ...... ummmm ... it has to be here somewhere, its easy available in the forests like this." I said scrolling my eyes almost everywhere on the ground.

" You know about medicine and herbs ?? ... I mean How...?? " he said sounding surprised while following me holding the rabbit.

" ... actually I had a friend who's father is a herbal doctor, she knew all about it and as well taught me too ." I said still searching.

Within no time I got them and immediately plucked and grinded into a rough paste and carefully applied onto his cut while the masked man still holded the rabbit carefully...... luckily the cut wasn't that deep. I tore a little piece of my dupatta and wrapped around his paw as a bandage.

As I was about to finish wrapping the bandage , I noticed from the corner of my eyes that the masked man kept on staring at me without blinking away....... making me uneasy.

" What... ??.." I asked him taking a quick glance at his eyes and back to the bandage.

" Nothing..... it's just ....... I see you like helping others... " he spoke softly , his eyes never leaveing mine.

Again taking a quick glance at him " Yes , its one of my bad habits... I guess ... I don't know why I just cannot stay put when I see someone in a problem. "

" I think everyone should have this bad habit of yours ." He said continuing his gaze on me.

" Huhmmm ..... and there you go .... little guy." said the masked man addressing to the rabbit as he saw me finally done with the bandage wrapping.

"Okay !! ...Tell me one thing..., if you aren't afraid of rabbits, then what made you so scared that you chucked me to the ground so hard along with you." He mocked me while I again carefully took the rabbit back to my arms and gently stroked it's fur with pleasure.

" No ... I am not scared, " I said diving my brows into my nose "...okay... ya I was... but what would you do if something pounces on you from nowhere ?? .... ya.... I am scared of wild animals but

definitely not scared of rabbits, infact I like them so so much and I really wish to take him along with me....... but....." I paused a bit and sighed " ..... never mind " I said sadly.

" you can always take him with you " he said innocently nodding his head.

I laughed after listening to his words which got him confused.

" where... ?? ...To the place where, I myself is somehow surviving........?? Where 'the all mighty King' of yours, threatens me to hurt someone I care the most ??..... you mean there ??"

As I was sarcastically asking him those questions, he went uncomfortable and flinched a bit , I couldn't see his face due to his covers but his eyes looked hurt by my words .

" I ca...... I mean, His majesty can be rude sometimes but he's a good man by heart." He politely defended his king.

I rolled my eyes "Huh,....good man ?? well.... he never did anything good to me..... he is .... he is ... rude, inhuman and the most irritating man I have ever seen...... " I said with sheer hatred for Siddharth Veer Singh. Holding the rabbit in my arms, I bend down with a heavy heart and gently placed the rabbit on the ground. We watched it slowly

hopping away with my peice of dupatta as a bandage.

"Its not like that Nandini... " he again defended his king and sounded hurtful as ever.

" You don't know any......

Wait ...... how do you know my name....?? " I asked being surprised as my eyes grew big, I was stunned, that how can a stranger know my name, which I never told him before.

For a moment or so his eyes looked confused , his brows went quizzical while his eyes darted to every direction possible.

" ummm ..... ahh ...... whats..... whats a big deal in that.... almost .... everyone knows about you and your name .... ha ha ... you are Princess Nandini of Shreemadpuri ."

" Oh ..okay..... so that's how you know my name..... but you missed something..... I am a Princess who is a slave of Your 'His Highness ' , pathetically trapped and hopelessly captivated AND who really really wishes to go back to her home." I said cheerfully but gradually went sad and tears rolled out of my eyes.

I truned my face away from him to wipe my tears as I didn't wanted to sadden him along with me but he anyway noticed it.

"Nandini........." he spoke softly sounding considerate.

Suddenly I remembered something

" OH MY GOD !!! .... where did it go ?? " I started to look here and there.

" What ..?? " he look at me with a question mark on his face.

"That... " I panicked to notice that the small parcel of kheer was missing. I hurriedly looked at the places to where I went and finally found it laying safely on the ground where we fell , thank god it didn't leak anything out.

I carefully picked it up and brushed it with my dupatta. Holding it with both of my hands I presented to him.

Looking at it curiously

He asked " what's this ...?? "

I bit my lips to control my slipping smile." It's.... it's .... for you ."

" But..What is it ...?? " he asked again, taking it from my hand.

"Check it yourself ". I said being nervous while fidgeting with my dupatta.

He carefully unpacked it and slowly removed the lid.

" Huh.... its kheer .... you brought this for me ...?" he sounded like smiling and surprised as his eyes twinkled looking at the kheer.

" Its smells good..... hummmmmm " he took a long whiff of it as it's sweet aroma mixed in the atmosphere gushing into our nostrils.

" I made it for you .... as a thank you gesture." I said being all smiles.

To which he looked at me being stunned " YOU. made it.... That too for me ... ?? " he sounded as if, it was unbelievable for him that I can even make something.

" Yes... I made it ... please taste it fast and tell me how it is." I was getting impatient.

He too was very eager to taste it but stopped as he realised that he was still wearing a mask cover..... so he requested me to not look at him while he relishes the kheer to maintain the rule of

' secret Identity ' and I too assured him the same, with that he turned himself and uncovered his mask and ate it quickly and immediately fastened his mask to cover his face and again turned back to face me.

I looked at him, eagerly waiting to know his reaction to which he made a sound as if he tasted a pudding of mud.

" yew .... the way it smelled, I thought it would tasty.... but .."

Listening to him my face fell.

He continued speak with his 'mud tasted' tone .

" but ......"

"But ....?? But .What ..?? Is it that bad ?? " I asked with a heavy heart.

" But....." " its way more delicious then It smelled .... it was just amazing... I loved it ." He all of a sudden cheerfully praised my kheer which instantly brought back my lost smile.

" God !! you are just so ...... "

Placeing both of my hands on my hips, I shook my head and squeezed my eyes with a little annoyance about his mockery but smiled later at his childishness.

" I like to tease my friends like that. ..??" He said casually.

" FRIENDS .... ?? " I looked at him being surprised.

"Yes .... Friends ..... you don't want to be friends with me.? " He asked, straight looking into my eyes as if he could see through my soul.

I blinked away

" N...Noo ..... the thing is I was surprised ....I mean ..... I can always make a friend especially in the place where most of them hates me like hell ....... I will be honoured to have a friend like you, who is well mannered, good by heart and a nice man...... Friends it is " . And gave him a small and an assuring smile to him.

" It's really nice to meet you Friend and the pleasure is mine " he said softly.

"Hey !! by the way .... what's your name??, ...... I would really like to know my new friend's name. "

Again he went a little uneasy..., he was blinking fast as if he was thinking hard about something,

" my name Izzz ...Sh...Shourya Veer ". He told his name as if he just made up that name or was thinking whether to tell me his name or not , may be because of his 'secret identity' rule.

" Thats a nice name.... It suits you well. Don't worry I'll keep your name secret." I said nodding my head. He too nodded as an agreement and raised his hand to tighten his face cover ...... that's when I noticed something green on one of his fingers, a golden ring with two lion's faces holding an emerald on top . This ring was just not an any ordinary ring ..... it was exactly the same ring which I always noticed on Siddharth Veer's finger.

" That ring...?? " I said pointing my finger towards his hand , recognising it very well.

" I mean.... this ring looks exactly the same ring which Siddharth Veer wears it."

He instantly looked at his finger with his wide eyes, I noticed that he was quite taken aback by the sight of his ring but he suddenly laughed off .

" ha ha ..... this ring ?? ... this is ofcourse His ring ..... he gifted it to me today only , as I had successfully completed his difficult task which he had appointed me last time..... so he got happy and gave me his ring .... see I told you.... he ain't that bad."

" ya ... ya ..... whatever" I said rolling my eyes again as I was unable to digest the last part of what, he just said.

After a little silence between us , I thought of confessing about something to him.

" As we are friends from now , I .... I.... want to tell you something." I said hesitantly .

" Ya .... anything ..?? " he waited for me to speak further.

"The thing is ..... ah... umm ..... actually, that day when we first met I was sent here to get some flowers but instead of that I had some other plan."

" Plan ...? What plan ?? " his brows did a nose dive and he looked at me curiously.

" A... Plan to escape " I continued.

" A PLAN TO WHATTTT..?? ." His eyes expressions instantly changed from soft to intense, mixed with anger , his body stiffened as he pinned me with his glare.

" HOW DARE YOU DO THAT....??" He yelled.