Abhaya

I couldn't stop thinking about her after our last encounter. This was the first time someone dominated my mind completely. I couldn't sleep, eat, could do literally nothing. The way she smiles, that tiny little dimple that forms on her left cheek and her voice that makes me feel like I am listening to a melodious rhythm on repeat. Why can't I get her out of my brain? Why?

She's just so beautiful. Her eyes so deep, her beautiful long hair, that hugs her bare waist, her cute little dimple, her elegance, and that shade of pink that covers her cheeks when she's shy. Everything about her is driving me nuts. I've seen her a million times before. But I've never felt this spark before.

We've practically grown together. Even though we were not so close before, but how come it's now that I notice her, her beauty, her soul, her eyes? My heart flutter everytime I see her. I've never ever had this feeling before. My heart starts beating so fast when I am near her, sometimes I feel to pull it out of my chest and tell it to shut up.

When she was dancing in the stage yesterday, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her steps, grace, expressions, everything killed me bit by bit. All this time Kamakshi was always with Aparajita, even in Gurukul (ancient school). But I never noticed her so carefully. How dumb and unfortunate of me. Is this feeling what people call love? If this is love, I am falling deeply, very deeply in love.

I want to see her now, every moment. I want her just in front of my eyes, all the time. After much consideration, I decide to go to Aparajita's chamber. I just want to check on her health, nothing else. Yes, just check on Aparajita and come back. Will Kamakshi feel I am being doubtful? No, I am just going to check on Aparajita, that's it.

I quickly brush up my hair, put on my uttariya (upper body cloth) and leave for Aparajita's chamber. On my way, many thoughts cross my mind. I almost change my mind for 10 times before reaching her chamber. But finally I am in front of his chamber.

"This is your last chance, turn back." I say to myself, unconsciously, knocking the door.

Not turning back now. It's late. I must embrace this situation now. Wait! Why in the Swarg (heaven) am I being so dramatic? I snap out of my thoughts as I see the door opening. My breath gets held up. It's Kamakshi on the door. My lips get stitched. Speak something. Something. Something.

"Uhhh... Umm... Aparajita?" Is the only thing I manage to speak.

My heart racing like the horses during wars. I can't breath. Why did she come to open the door? Why?

"Stop being stupid, she's the only one inside apart from Aparajita. Of course she'll open the door." I say to myself.

"Rajkumari left to take a walk a few moments ago." She says staring straight into my eyes.

God! Why does she always do this? Straight into my eyes with that deep brown eyes? Why?

"Umm... Okay... I... I umm... I will wait for her return. I need to talk to her about an urgent matter." Abhaya, are you dumb? Why are you stuttering? And what urgent matter? God Vishnu, save me!

"Sure, please come in, Rajkumar." She says with a smile.

There appears her little dimple. God, I am dead. My heart skips a bit. I clench onto my Uttariya.

"What's wrong? Are you alright, Rajkumar?" She asks looking clearly worried.

"I am alright... I'll come in." I say between my breaths.

She steps aside, and I enter the chamber. I sit on the stool near the balcony. She goes upto the table, pours a glass of water and offers it to me. I politely take it from her. At that very moment, my fingers brush against hers. Shivers go down my spine. The glass of water falls from my hand. Dumb me. My uttariya and dhoti gets soaked with water.

I hurriedly stand up from the stool and go for the door. I open it and I see her. She's looking at me, all shocked.

"I am all soaked up. I will change and return back." I say in a hurry and leave without her reply.

I half run, half jog my way towards my chamber. As soon as I reach my chamber, I open it quickly, enter and close the door behind me. I rest my back on the door frame and stand there for few minutes, clenching on my chest. My stupid heart, it gets out of control during wrong time. Why? After all that adrenaline rush has gone, I order the servant to bring a fresh pair of dhoti and uttariya. I am redressed after around 30 minutes.

I spend next 10 minutes, talking to myself, telling everything was okay. After mustering enough courage, I leave my chamber. I quickly walk towards Aparajita's chamber so that I reach before I change my mind. I finally reach there. I knock on the door two times. No answer. I knock again. No answer. I ask a maid passing by, if she knows if Kamakshi and Aparajita are inside. She had no idea.

I knock several times again. But no answer. Finally, I decide to open the door. I push open the heavy door. I enter the room. I see nobody. I shout Kamakshi's and Aparajita's name, no answer. I check the bath area, nobody is there. At this point, I start getting worried. I quickly leave the room and ask the nearby maids if they've seen Kamakshi and Aparajita leave their chamber. All of them thought they were in their chamber.

My panic grew larger. I started running around the palace, calling out their names, hoping for an answer. I run around the palace twice. No clue. I check the garden, stables, kitchen and other parts of the palace. No trace of both of them. Finally, I find myself in the garden. I stop and sit on one of the swings. The palace is in chaos, everybody is searching for both of them.

I close my eyes and try to think. Where could they be? It's nearly sunset. Suddenly, I remember. When we were studying together in Gurukul, Kamakshi and Aparajita often used to leave the Gurukul without informing anyone. They used to stroll in the market and come back during sunset. And I've heard this complaint several times from Aparajita's father. But it's already sunset, why haven't they returned yet?

In recent times, there have been cases of thievery and molestation. Some soldiers of foreign invaders were left behind when they attacked our kingdom and fled after losing the war. Those soldiers had become thieves. What if they encounter one of their troops?

Without further thinking, I quickly gather a few soldiers, hop on my horse and leave to find them. We first go to the marketplace. All the shops were shut. There was no trace of anyone there. Our shouts echoed in the emptiness. Then we get divided to find them. There are two routes to the palace. The one from which we came and the short route that goes into the forest. Knowing Aparajita's thought process, she'd choose the short route. So I lead three or four soldiers to that route and others go on the second way.

Soon, we find ourselves in the forest. We start searching for the two of them. My shouts pierced through the thicket of trees. I sounded desperate. After a few minutes, I spot some dead men. I whistle, so that all the soldiers gather around me. We get down from our horses. We slowly walk forward. I finally spot Kamakshi.

She's standing there, with a bloody dagger in her hand. She's looking at someone. I don't speak anything, just incase she's in danger. We slowly move forward. I finally see what she's staring at. It's Aparajita. She's sitting on a rock. There's a white cloth wrapped around her arm. A man is sitting on his knees near her, applying something on her other wounds.

"Aparajita..." I shout.

All three of them look at me. I could see the man's face now. I recognise him at the very instant. Rishabha. I draw out my sword instantly. Aparajita quickly stands up, stepping in front of him, like a shield.

"It's okay, prince Abhaya. He didn't harm us. He helped us in fact." Kamakshi says soothingly.

I push my sword back.

"Why is he here?" I ask raising my eyebrows.

"He's my guest." Aparajita says coldly.

She's never sounded so cold to me before. Did I do something wrong? No I didn't! Then why this attitude?

"I came here to search for you. Let's go to the palace now. Save your explanations for later." I say returning her coldness.

"He's coming with us." She says stepping forward.

"Alright." I say without looking at her.

Rishabha brings his horse from the woods. One of the soldiers gives his horse to Kamakshi and rides with other soldier. Kamakshi and Aparajita share one horse. Kamakshi rides the horse while Aparajita, being injured, sits behind her. God! How do I wish to replace Aparajita...

***

Hey readers! Hope you enjoyed today's update. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Also, tell me what was your favourite part or line. Don't forget to leave a vote! Stay tuned... Take care... xo

P.S.: the scene of Abhaya and Kamakshi in the start is when simultaneously, Aparajita was encountering Achyuta in the previous chapter...

~Rose