***

Did he run away? Did she look that scary? Rolling her eyes she quickly picked up the plate lying at the edge of her bed. It had several curries and roti but all she could point out was chole and almost in seconds she gulped down the food licking her fingers clean.

She slowly bent sidewards trying her best to not create any pressure on her aching legs and placed the empty plate on the wooden table beside the bed. The second her back touched the smooth bed she slipped into a deep slumber, sleeping like a log.

Her peaceful sleep was broken as she heard a loud banging sound of doors opening, Riya quickly sat up rubbing her eyes trying to open her sleep-filled eyes.

"How long are you planning to sleep, woman?" She could hear Raghuveer's irk filled voice as he shouted at her.

Riya partially lifted her eyes to have a look at him and unavoidably she noticed that he looks all clean and fresh. Unlike yesterday he has worn some bright clothes today, a dark blue kurta with a single gold chain around his neck which gained attention towards his tall neck.

He slowly took steps near her and she couldn't help but notice his clear skin and once again those godly attractive lips, "What have you done to Dhruvan?"

Raghuveer inquired, folding his hands over his chest as he silently observed her, what would have this woman said to Dhruvan that he completely refused to even involve in a conversation about her?

"Um, who is that we are talking about?" Riya flashed a small as she asked him and Raghuveer just wanted to hit himself wondering why did he have to treat her?

"My servant, who brought food for you yesterday-"

"Ah that one, he ran away even before I could get to see his face! And furthermore, what will I do to him?" Riya waved her hands in the air as she spoke and Raghuveer stood speechless, he knew that Dhruvan is a scaredy-cat but isn't running away extremely unacceptable?

"Anyway, I was wondering if I could use your washroom?" Riya murmured slowly and the immediate second Raghuveer knew this is discomfort now. The washroom is far away and this woman is in no condition to walk that far.

He rubbed his head thinking deeply about what should be done, Dhruvan will kill himself but he won't even cast a look at her let alone helping her to use the washroom. Raghuveer now regrets that he had fired all his female help.

With no choice at hand, he bent forward and scooped her up in his arms and Riya squealed in surprise as her hands rounded around his neck.

"What are you doing!"

"The washroom is relatively distant from here and with your swollen legs you will not make it there in a day." Raghuveer stepped outside his chambers and marched away from his house.

It was slightly uncomfortable for Riya to find comfort in this position nonetheless the view of his face from elevation was blissful enough.

Her left hand around his neck could feel his somewhat moist hair and miraculously he smelt of thick spices like cinnamon. She leaned her head on his shoulder and looked forward struggling to divert her attention away from him.

"Why are we going towards the forest? Is washroom not inside your house?" She asked bending her head to meet his eyes and Raghuveer scoffed in annoyance.

"Nobody has washrooms inside their house, woman."

"Really? But I think I have had a washroom at my house." Riya told, trying to stress her brain to develop some images of her life.

"And how do you remember that when you can't even recall what your name is?"

Riya can feel the warm rays of sun hitting her as he carried her with ease. His house was exceptionally huge surrounded with tall green trees and lines of organised plants. His face was void of any strained looks and she rolled her eyes seeing how successful he was at maintaining a stoney face.

"Who said I don't remember my name? My name is Riya!"

"And?"

Riya narrowed her eyes listening to that, "What and?"

"What is it after Riya? I mean your surname." Raghuveer said and Riya could bet on her life that he was biting his cheek inside controlling his anger.

He huffed a little as he adjusted her in his arms and his struggle brought a smile on her face. Ah, so he is a human after all.

"Do you remember your father's name? It will be easy to track down your family if you can remember his name."

A wave of sadness rushed through her as she thought about who her father might be, why doesn't she remember anything about her family or herself?

"He-I just know that he loves me dearly, but somehow I can't recall anything." Riya murmured as she sadly fiddled with the beaded gold chain around his neck.

And Raghuveer could sense that despair in her voice, she got quiet and stayed mum playing with the chain around his neck. It was annoying him about how carelessly she was fiddling with his chain whereas no one even dares to lay a finger on him.

But instead of yelling at her, he let it go, she is sad and he didn't want to create her mood even rotten.

He slowly looked at her and was shocked to see thin drops of blood coming out through her nose and right at the moment Riya also noticed it placing her fingers near her nose.

Her eyes widened in fear as she slowly whispered, "Blood?"

Raghuveer immediately turned around and made her sit on a stone nearby as he yelled for Dhruvan and in seconds he reached the spot.

Raghuveer sat on his knees as he examined Riya's face and head where she had hurt previously. "What must have happened that your nose is bleeding all of a sudden?"

He almost spoke to himself as he placed a small cotton cloth which Dhruvan had brought with him.

"I was trying to recall my memories and instead of memories blood came up." Riya tried to joke to lighten Raghuveer's mood but he narrowed his eyes at her and just like that Riya understood that he is bad with jokes.

"Dhruvan, you stay here with Riya while I go and get some herbal paste to stop this nose bleed." Saying Raghuveer disappeared in seconds running inside his house leaving a shivering Dhruvan behind.

Dhruva slowly lifted his eyes glancing her from the corner of his eye and was relieved to see drops of blood near her nose.

"Thank God, she is bleeding blood which means she is a human!" He mumbled to himself in happiness and joy as now he can be sure that this woman is just a human and not a demon.

And his low words didn't go unheard by Riya, so this boy thinks that she is a demon? How childish, she suppressed a laugh as she thought, should she just have some fun with him?

Riya swiftly crossed her left leg over her right sitting straight and Dhruvan quietly observed her, folding his hands together.

She touched the blood near her nose and rubbed it with her thumb as if she was testing it and a spineless Dhruvan shivered seeing her doing that.

"Ah, how many days had it been since I had a young boy for dinner! The last time was on a full moon night and because of my hunger I keep losing blood like this!"

Tisking in annoyance Riya lifted her eyes and gave a huge toothy smile to Dhruva.

And those words and that creepy look on her face made Dhruvan let out an ear-splitting scream, "Rajkumar Ji!!! "

• •

Riya sat on the porch of the house petting a little calf. It was soft brown in colour with beautiful large eyes as it concentratedly chewed up the grass which she was feeding her. The evening's weather was delightful with teases of cool wind at times.

She wore one of Raghuveer's kurta as they had no female clothes available at the moment. The washroom was located somewhere far away from the house almost close to the forest, it felt completely unfamiliar for her to use that room but however having a warm water bath helped with her sore legs.

"What is this calf's name?" Riya asked Dhruvan who was standing far away from her with a wooden stick in his hands as if that is his protection from her.

"La-Lakshmi." His stuttering voice made Riya laugh out loudly as she rubbed the soft neck folds of the calf.

She was about to ask more questions and irritate him and that was when a soldier came inside running with a letter in his hand.

And Raghuveer who was busy inside stepped out of his house to see what the issue was about.

"What is it?" He asked, folding his hands behind looking straight at the soldier.

"Minister Kashyap is planning on visiting you before sunset, my lord."

Raghuveer closed his eyes in anger and Dhruvan's face turned red as he concealed a cry.

Riya sucked in a long breath seeing Raghuveer's rotten expression, Who is this now?

***