Alaknandha walked as her hair fluttere in the air, her clothes clung to her body, her arms tightly wrapped aroung herself. She stopped as she felt being followed by someone but did not turn around. A sweat dropped from her forehead. Her breathing became uneven. A feeling of uneveness crept through her.

"Who is there? Come before me." She asked

"Don't be a coward. Come face to face instead of following me." She said with a shaky voice. Her eyes searched her surroundings trying to find something.

"Come before me." She screamed.

She turned around at the sound of the rustling of the bushes. Her breathing became uneven. Soon a man stepped out of the bush. He was quite good looking with a well build body. His dress looked quite costly for a commoner. He wore a crown that inticated that he is a royal.

"Who are you mister? Why are you following me?" Alaknandha asked the man in front of her.

"Don't you know who I am?" he frowned looking at her.

"Are you the king of Hastinapur that I should know you." She asked.

"Well I am Duryodhana the eldest son of Maharaj Dhritarashtra and Maharani Gandhari. And most importantly the future King of Hastinapur."

Alaknandha's eyes widened at recognization. He is Dushala's elder brother and the yuvraj of Hastinapur.

"Pranaam Yuvraj Duryodana" She greeted him.

"Pranam devi. Who are you and what are you doing here? He asked her even though her knew who she was.

"I am Alaknandha rajkumari of Amernath. I am rajkumari Dushala's friend." Alaknandha said.

"What are you doing her alone devi?" He asked.

"I....I...was wonder around the palace and lost my way." She stammered. She shut her eyes tightly as she realized what a stupid excuse she had made.

Duryodhana looked at girl in front of him. A small smile spread on his lips at her cute antics. Poor girl doesn't even know to lie properly.

"Come devi I will help you to the palace."

Alaknandha nodded her head looking down.

Duryodhana stealed glances of her without her knowledge. Alaknandha shivered as the cold breeze touched her bare skin.

"Are you ok devi?" Duryodana asked as he saw her uneasiness.

"I am fine yuvaraj." she said shivering a bit.

Duryodhana looked at her shivering figure and understood that she was feeling cold. He gently removed his angavastra and wrapped it around her shivering figure. She looked at him with wide eyes. His fingers unknowingly brushed he hand making goosebumps to arise on her body. She clutched the angavastra tightly around herself.

"Thank you" she said in a small voice.

He nodded his head looking forward. It was the first time a simple touch has sent sparks on his body. An unknown desire stirred in his blood at the simple touch.

Soon they reached the back garden of the palace. They entered inside the palace through the back door.

"I will accompany you till your chamber devi." he said not wanting to leave her.

"It's fine yuvraj I can go by myself." she said looking at Duryodhana.

"I insist devi." Duryodhana insisted.

Alaknandha nodded her head allowing him. They soon reached the door of her chamber. She turned around and looked at him.

"It was nice meeting you yuvraj and thank you for accompanying me till here." Alaknandha said with a smile.

"The pleasure is all mine devi." he said.

She turned around to enter the chamber but was stopped by Duryodhana.

"Wait Devi"

She turned and looked at him with her eyebrows raised.

"I believe this bangle belongs to you devi." he said as he handed her the bangle.

She examined at the bangle. It was the same bangle that she gave to the shop keeper. That means he saw her wandering in the market.

"Thank you so much yuvraj. This bangle was given to me by my bhratashree. It means so much to me. How much money did it cause I will return it to you now." she said.

"Rajkumari please it is fine. I won't become poor for just buying a bangle. Keep this bangle with you as a gift from me." he said with a small smile.

Alaknandha smiled looking at Duryodhana.

"Thank you yuvraj and please don't tell anyone about what happened in the market." she said with puppy eyes.

"Don't worry rajkumari your secret is safe with me." he said making her smile.

Duryodhana looked at the retreating figure of the rajkumari of Amernath who had managed to steal the heart of the yuvraj of Hastinapur. He shook his head and went from there.

***

"Thank God you reached. I was so worried." Aadrika said as she hugged Alaknandha.

Subhadhra and Dushala were also there. They went forward and engulfed her in a hug. They were afraid that she lost her way or worse that something had happened to her.

"I am really sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone. Thank God you are fine. Are you alright?" Aadrika said with tears in her eyes.

"I am perfectly fine jiji. Sorry to make you worried about me." Alaknandha said smiling a little.

It was then they noticed the angavastra wrapped around her.

"What are you wearing Alaknandha?" Subhadhra asked looking at the cloth.

"Oh this one. I got it from a shop while returning. You know it was cold outside." Alaknandha lied.

The three doesn't seemed to believe her but did not say anything much to her relief.

"Anyway you are safe and home. I will never leave you alone." Aadrika said as she hugged Alaknandha.

"Come on the brave Aadrika is crying I never thought a day like this would come" Alaknandha joked trying to lighten the situation.

"I am not cying. Don't lie nandha." Aadrika said wiping the tears in the corner of her eyes.

The girls looked at Aadrika who had a red face because of crying. It was indeed a rare to sight to see her cry. She did not cry on her mother's death rather she consoled Alaknandha who was crying her heart out. She was the boldest among the two sisters. She was never afraid of anyone. She always voiced out her opinion on political matters of Amernath.

Even though they were sisters they are completely different in every aspect. Aadrika was the out spoken one while Alaknandha was the silent one. One is bold while the other one is timid. Maybe this was what made them close among the rest of their siblings. One without the other was very rare. After all sisters are different flowers of the same garden.