Only after two steps, I realized he had caught hold of my pallu. I felt tears falling from my eyes, wetting my cheeks. He pulled it with force and I was disrobed. The upper part of my body was left with nothing but my blouse... I started crying and trying to cover myself. I can't even run, in this state. Where will I go? What is he going to do now? I wanted to die.. But I did the one thing, the only thing I could do at the moment, I begged in front of him.

"Please Rajkumarji, leave me. Please, don't take away my honour immediately after saving it a moment ago. The Sun, is not there to witness, but the Uncle Moon (popular way of addressing moon) is watching over us. Please don't do such a heinous thing with an innocent woman like me." I said looking down, but when I looked at him, I knew my efforts were futile. He was staring at me with....as my sakhi says.......lust.

"You're so beautiful like the moon, dear. Oh my love, don't speak of such folly again. Marry me and become my wife, I promise to keep you happy and fulfill my duties as a husband." he said in a husky yet gentle voice. But she was taught better than to trust such men, men who promise only to forget. She knew about the story of Shakuntala, the only difference was that she was not attracted to him and he was young, not old. And has he lost his sense of thinking, how could this be practical... A simple girl like her in a palace. But she knew, at the moment that this argument won't make him see any sense, so she said something rather more strong as an argument.

"But Rajkumarji I am engaged." I said suddenly feeling, so guilty. My fiance doesn't deserve this, I being disrobed by an arrogant prince. Tears once again started tickling my eyes.

"But you are barely 14, how can you be engaged?" he asked. The age limit 16 was for marriage first of all and that to mainly for Royals. Brahmins don't necessarily follow it, my family didn't but my fiancee's does, so I had to wait. Our marriage was fixed just before my parents died. But standing here barely covered, trying to protect my honour, all I could think was If at 14, I couldn't be engaged, then at 14, how do you intend to marry me? He looked about 19 and I could see he was enraged. He looked so scary. Why had to this happen to me Krishna...

I finally gave up my fatal fling to cover myself and started pulling my pallu in his hand with both my hands. But it seemed impossible to snatch it from him. He was tall and powerful. I couldn't control anymore. Sobs started escaping my lips without control. He was just staring at me, his eyes held amusement and lust... He won't ever be happy marrying a commoner like me.. Why can't he understand that... I belong to someone else. "I am a Kshatriya, we will marry in Ghandharva style." I heard him say and I knew that was coming all along. Now I feel like my mother was right, beauty is not always an asset to a woman, most of the times, it's the opposite. I know I am locked, even if he let me go now, my fiance won't accept me... But I can't live with him, maybe I can become a hermit. Instantly, my brain can up with a brilliant plan.. I hope my this fling won't prove fatal.