Every ripple that managed to create succeeded well in disturbing the serenity of the pond.

After chanting verses of mantras, Rudra opened his eyes. The warm soothing rays of new dawn seemed to bless him.

Drops of water trailed down his body, with a motive to get swallowed by its origin and like a ever ready mother, the pond embraced those drops, mixing them with herself.

Blessed were those drops who got the opportunity.

Rudra climbed up the steps, each step leaving behind a wet mark.

Bhairav offered him the cotton wrap. Draping it over his shoulders, Rudra swiped his curly wet hair off the forehead and smiled with inscrutable zest.

"Bhairav," he addressed.
"Prepare."

Bhairav stared at his young lord.

Like every clarion of war, fate had again blessed them with the shrill call.

The difference being, this war wouldn't be fought in any battlefield nor would be there, any rules followed.
Pure savage, it was.

What havoc and loss this war would cause, everything was safely tucked in the womb of future; the foetus breathing each day, each second.

"As you say, your highness."

Bhairav fisted his hand above his heart and bowed down, earning a full-fledged smile from Rudra.

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The smile never left her lips.

Gauri watered all the plants on the terrace. Her feet, as if, had grown wings, glided across the floor.

The air carried a sweet fragrance today. Maybe, somewhere Rudra had secretly whispered her name.

As amusing her thoughts were, that did quite expertly guide her to delve into a fit of giggles.

The sky smiled back at the young lady, for a spectrum of light flitted across it.

Raising her arms in air, she animatedly performed few dance steps with an imaginary music playing in the background.

Gauri opened her eyes after she had just completed three consecutive spins in an axis.
Her gaze dropped upon the fellow neighbour staring at her awkwardly, with wide open eyes.

Gauri let out a nervous chuckle, "Vishal bhaiya... "

"Hey, Gauri. I just remembered something. You ah! Continue," her neighbour spluttered hurriedly and walked away, without even letting Gauri speak.

Gauri whined and stomped her foot on the floor, hurting herself in the process.

"Ouch! Rudra, you... " she yelled.

An arm snaked around her waist from behind, the palm resting upon the fabric of her abdomen. With a sudden pull, she found her body glued to a hard and muscular front.

"I... " Rudra whispered.

Gauri gapped like fish pulled out of water. Was she dreaming with open eyes? Again?

Her eyelids drooped when a hot breath scorched her skin. If this was a dream, then she would forever remain in the beautiful illusion.

"Good morning, angel."

Rudra's deep husky voice broke Gauri's trance. She scanned his presence with big rounded eyes.

"Are you for real?" The question, involuntarily slipped out of her mouth.

Rudra's eyes danced with mirthful shine. He furrowed his brows and contemplated for few seconds.

"Hm... brilliant doubt. Let me clear it for you."

Cupping her face, he tilted it and gave her a mind-blowing lip kiss.
Gauri repeatedly blinked after he released her.

"Not clear yet?" Rudra asked, pouting a little.

He tipped his head and took his own sweet time in pecking her lips.

A splash of crimson splattered on her cheeks, the richness of the colour reaching down her neck.

"Is your doubt cleared? Or do you want me to explain more?" Rudra quizzed, amusement dripping out of his words.

"Huh?" Gauri uttered.

"Careful, Gauri!" Rudra exclaimed suddenly.

"Huh?"

Rudra walked her to the nearby seat and made her sit on it with an unmistakable exigency. He faced her with stern eyes.

"Are you planning to break your neck and land yourself on hospital's bed, hm? Can't you walk carefully? What if, I wasn't there to hold you."

Gauri stared at him.
"Huh?"

"What huh? You're turning careless, Gauri. See Savitri Maa, your daughter... "
He trailed off, shaking his head in disappointment.

Gauri's eyebrows raised so high that they almost touched her hairline. Her gaze fell upon her mother who was standing near the door. Concern was etched on her face.

Savitri sauntered over towards them.

"Are you okay, laado?" Savitri asked concernedly.

"Huh?" Gauri breathed out.

Rudra suppressed a grin.
"Don't worry, Savitri Maa. Oops! I hope you don't mind me calling you Maa."

A breathtaking smile bloomed on Savitri's face. Did she ever doubt on this young man and her daughter? No, because she trusted them, that both were mature enough to not let down their family. And this trust was the bond that bound them together.

She caressed Rudra's face and patted his cheeks.
"Not at all."

"Huh?" Gauri stared at them with wide eyes.

Savitri lightly tapped against Gauri's skull, earning a pout from her.

"You! How many times should I tell you to not daydream while walking? Thank god! Rudra decided to check upon you," Savitri chided.

Gauri rubbed her head and scrunched her face. Rudra winked at her, discreetly.

"Rudra, did you have your breakfast? Yes or no, join us now," Savitri ordered with a laugh.

Rudra chuckled and nodded obediently.

All of them, made their way downstairs. Often, Rudra teased Gauri, his fingers lightly creating patterns on her waist while Gauri shot arrows of glare at him.

Rudra pecked her cheek, causing her to actually miss a step. However, before she could kiss the floor below, Rudra stopped her fall.

"Gauri." Savitri yelled in frustration.

"Maa," Gauri whined.

She felt like bursting into tears any second.

After few minutes, whole Singh family including Rudra, sat for the breakfast. Gauri admired the view in front of her.

Love poured in milkshakes, affections served with delicacies, a little-bit of laughter, lots of jokes and Rudra never felt more of a part of the family than at that very moment.

Gauri glanced at each face glowing with happiness, a sweet smile played on her lips automatically.

"... really," Rajveer laughed.
"Gauri, listen to this one. You'll roll on the floor."

Gauri scowled at Rudra.
"That was a lame joke. I didn't even understand it."

"You didn't?" Rudra exasperated.

Gauri smirked. She was ready to give him a taste of his own medicine.
"Nope."

Rudra frowned and blinked twice.

"I'll explain it to you later, exactly how I explained you on the terrace."

"Wha... no, no." Gauri choked on her food.

She chuckled awkwardly when all heads tuned towards her.
"I was kidding. Haha."

"Are you sure? I can explain it you, again," Rudra offered.

He supported his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his palm, staring at her intently.

"Shut up!" Gauri grumbled.

"Gauri... " Savitri said with a warning undertone.

"Maa," Gauri whined.

Rest of them, divulged in a laughter.

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"Rudra," Gauri called out.

If Rudra thought, she hadn't noticed how he had been stealing glimpses of her in between conversations, then he couldn't be more wrong.

Rudra put on his shoes and finally looked at her, piercing her soul with his stare.

"What's wrong?" Gauri questioned in a whisper.

Rudra's expressionless mask didn't even give her a slight clue.

"Going out of state for two days," he spoke.

"Why?"
Although it was an unreasonable question, still she asked him. Maybe, she wanted to assure him that this time she would be waiting when he returned back, home.

"I have some... works that need my attention," he answered.

A faint shadow of something indecipherable marred his features, though dissolving as fast as it crossed.

His fingertips brushed her Gauri's silky hair.

This time there was no hesitation, no embarrassment from her side. Closing her eyes, she just dived into the emotions and lived the moment.

Rudra's lips brushed her forehead and they stayed like that for quite sometime.
What would it take to stop the time, then and there?

"Miss me, each second of the forthcoming days," Rudra murmured against her forehead.

Gauri exhaled deeply and watched as Rudra walked out of the door.

"Don't go," her heart spoke softly but like every other voice, it too drowned into nothingness.

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Rudra smirked looking at the unknown caller I.D.

"Ghani khamma," Rudra drawled.

The inevitable sound of sniggering reached his ears, making him break into a fit of devilish chuckles.

"You know, what is needed to be done here," Rudra commanded soberly after gaining his momentum.

The person at the other end spoke a few words before disconnecting the call.

Sparing a last glance at the Singh house, he drove away.

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Gauri treaded across the market, accompanied by her mother.

The stalls of vendors selling varieties of goods were lined one after another in a congested manner. From sacks filled with rice to vegetables to clothes; everything was being sold and purchased.

With the shop vendors screaming at the top of their voice, grabbing the attention of passerby and coercing them, to women bargaining high and lows; all in all, the market bustled with liveliness. Like any other normal day, this market hardly left any space for breathing.

Gauri stared at her mother, trying to suppress the vehement urge to laugh anytime soon. Her mother was literally threatening the vendor.

"Do I look as a fool? You want to sell it, I'll give 20. Not a single rupee more than that,"
Savitri said in a commanding tone.

Sighing in defeat, the vendor agreed to her whims. He didn't want to lose his first customer as they were termed auspicious for the business of the day.

"What a dangerous Maa I have," Gauri exaggerated.

Savitri glared at her.
"Shut up and take care of the bags. This market is infamous for petty thieves. Can't take a risk when you have been acting like an airhead since morning."

Gauri scrunched her face, her lips puckering a little.
"Maa, it wasn't my fault," she whined.

Savitri walked over to the next stall without giving a heed to her daughter's words and melodramatic expressions.

More and more people pouring in made it almost impossible for Gauri to catch upto her mother.

Meanwhile, she felt a tug on the bag at her left side. A man was trying to cut off the straps with a blade, very sneakily.

"Not sneaky enough, dumbo," Gauri fumed.

She swung the other bag in her right hand which was loaded with items and crashed smoothly on his head. The man staggered and missed the fall, escaping the spot in an instant.

"Can't even take that, you imbecile. Who put you in this job?" Gauri yelled.

A victorious smile lit up her face.
"Rads should've seen that. My skills are getting better with time," she said to herself.

"Indeed," a masculine voice, spoke from behind.

Gauri turned around abruptly, nearly slapping the man with her long hair.

Had the man not ducked down, he would have got a nice smack across his face by those long voluminous hair, he was sure of that.

"Oh my! So sorry," Gauri giggled nervously.

"Wow!"
The man infront of her flashed his nice set of white teeth.

"The way you handled that thief was commendable, I must say," he said with a chuckle.
"Smart woman, aren't you?"

Gauri smiled with an uncertainty.
"Do I know you?"

"Probably not but you know dhada bhai, so let's know each other," he paused and smiled brightly.

"Hi! I'm Veer, Veer Pratap Rathore."

Gauri gasped, "Rudra's brother?"

Veer smirked.
"Right."

"I was too eager to meet you. You have been quite a talk of palace. Wait! Scratch that. Only special Royal squad's but you see, I am thorough at getting what I want," he whispered the last part.

Gauri smiled at him.
"Why didn't Rudra introduce you to me? Very rude of him,"
She said.

Veer gave her a smug smile.
"Agreed. Why did he hide you from me?"

"Come, let me introduce to my Maa. Come."

Both of them walked further into the crowd on search of Savitri, indulging deeper into conversation.

Totally unaware that a pair of eyes was seemingly glaring at them.

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Devendra Raj banged his fist on the bonnet of his car. His eyes showed indescribable rage. Screaming in frustration, he again crashed his fist on his car, bruising his knuckles with the impact.

"Damn you," he whispered while pacing around.

"Damn you to hell! Veer Pratap Rathore, damn you." He yelled.

His gaze shifting towards the rear view mirror where Veer's and Gauri's image faded as they got engulfed in the crowd.