Raghuveer and Riya are on a hunt to find the stall which sells Red-sage roots. And when they do, Raghu walks inside the hut to get those roots while Riya outside faces a head splitting ache with painful snippets of her life.

This late-night walk with Riya seemed unnaturally natural to Raghuveer. His memories of attending these famous markets were very vague, somehow unknowingly he spent all his teenage by his mother’s bedside wishing for her to open her eyes and feel better. Yet, he cannot say that his present is no different, he still strives for his mother's well being just like his past self.

His mother rose up from the low social status of being a maid to a king’s concubine, however, she never dreamed of anything other than his father. It is important for a man to have a goal in life, a dream, but when a dream turns into an obsession then and there begins your destruction. And his mother is living through that destruction phase.

In his childhood, his mother always made sure to teach him about his father’s greatness and Raghuveer was always impressed beyond words listening to those stories but as he grew up a harsh reality of truth hit him. His father never cared about anything other than his empire, all day and night Raja Vimal Das strived to increase the pride and wealth of Sagara kingdom, and in that process of his struggle for power and greatness, his wives and women were just wind of pleasure and relief.

Every rock and tree in their palace knew this truth except one, his mother. She lived in dreams that her husband loved her and one day he would come back to her, but when that never happened her heart weakened, physically. All her hopes turned into flows of water and slipped down her fist as she kept watching her husband take young concubines every month.

The situation worsened when Raghuveer had to move out from the palace, his mother straight away refused to shift with him. Soon after that, her health deteriorated drastically as she slowly accepted the fact that her husband can never be hers.

Raghuveer tried to provide all the medical help he could for his mother. His wish to cure his mother got so deeply rooted in him that he started to garden medical plants himself, he tried to grow several herbs and read countless books to help his mother. But, who will tell him that a broken heart can be mended by herbs? It longs for that love it can never receive and his physical help can cure nothing.

Usually, his day begins with reading and ends with planting and gardening with Dhruvan. But something has changed recently, his life no more revolves around just trees and books. His life somehow revolves around someone who makes him want to express his hidden wishes just like he did a few minutes. Mysteriously, he started talking about how he would care for his future wife, whereas the thought of marrying has never once crossed his busy brain.

After that particular conversation, Riya remained mum, and Raghuveer let her be as it was equally embarrassing for him to even think about what he had said.

They soon reached the hut which he was searching for. Red sage root, that plant works miracles on heart patients and above all, it was a code. A code from minister Jaidev.

“You stay here while I go and get those roots.” His words came out firm and demanding, and surprisingly Riya obliged and stayed back.

He quickly rushed inside the house. It was tiny and clumsy with several roots hanging around and at the end of the room was Jaidev’s bodyguard trying to arrange everything but failing miserably.

“Ugh,” Raghuveer’s nose scrunched up in disgust at the stinky smell of rotten roots hit his nostrils the second he stepped foot inside, “Why is it smelling so bad in here?”

“Oh that, I just washed them all, so that they remain clean.” He smiled giving out a sly grin as he answered and Raghuveer wished to band his head to a wall and die.

Are they some bloody clothes to be washed?

“Where is Jai-”

“IN HERE!” Jaidev’s loud voice came out from a room beside and Raghuveer quickly marched inside.

The moment Raghuveer entered he was engulfed in a bear hug by Jaidev. Frankly speaking Jaidev is his only friend since childhood and his most trusted man beside himself.

Unexplainably Raghuveer was much of an introvert since his teenage, he was that kind of person who preferred to stay away from people but not also the person who would bite if he was unnecessarily disturbed. With that in mind, no kid of his age ever tried to be friends with except one, Jaidev.

A minister’s son, he was and now a minister himself. Fortunately, even after Raghuveer moved out of the palace Jaidev never forgot their friendship, he made sure to inform Raghuveer about the important issues at the palace. Just like Raghuveer, Jaidev also passionately hated Rani Anasuya.

“What happened to you, man! You look so tired? Are you even eating any-” Jaidaev babeld as he hugged Raghuveer.

“Jai, will you stop playing a mother hen and come to the important part?” Saying Raghuveer pushed him aside, settling down on the bed and Jaidev frowned, rolling his eyes as he dragged a chair and sat by the bedside.

“I have sent the code to tell you something important. Your father is not even in a critical health position but your mother has started with her traps.” Jaidev spoke as he handed Raghuveer a glass of water.

“That is usual, anything other than that?” Raghuveer gulped down that glass of water and spoke in a monotonous tone.

“Concubine Malathi’s son has unfortunately drowned himself while swimming.” All the cheer in Jaidev’s face faded as he said those words.

“What?” Raghuveer’s eyes went wide as heard that, “He was barely thirteen-”

“Thirteen or not, he is a potential threat to the throne and Rani Anasuya is making sure to strategically eliminate every tiny thing which can prevent her son from taking up the throne.” Jaidev’s features turned into a long grim as he spoke.

The news was a lot for Raghuveer to even make a comment on it. He was well aware of the extent to which Rani Anasuya could go but doing this? Killing an innocent child for the throne? She could have just kicked him out after he was eighteen.

“The time has come Raghu, you cannot forever stay away from what you are meant to be,” Jaidev said, placing a hand on Raghuveer’s shoulder.

“Jai, you should know better that I have no-”

“No interest? That is all what you have got to say? Just for your happiness, you are willing to push your motherland into the hands of a cruel woman Anasuya who controls that dumb prince like Dipankar?” Unexpectedly Jaidev’s voice rose as he spoke, frustration and pain were clear in his voice as he tried his best not to scream at his friend.

“I agree, Raghu.” Jaidev said slowly this time, looking into his friend’s eyes, “Your father is no ideal man but we have to accept the fact that he is a respectable king. Our peasants, no more die of poverty and hunger, rather they are living with pride. And I hope you are aware that prince Dipankar is no match to your father, he can never rule like your father.”

Somehow that last line triggered swirls of anger in Raghuveer, “So you're telling me that I am like my useless father?” His emotions got hold of him as he stepped down the bed fuming with rage as he walked out of the room and just before stepping out he turned around saying, “Remember, Jaidev. I am not my father and I will never be!” Screaming loudly he strode out the hut.

What did he say? There is no more poverty in their kingdom? He should try saying that bullshit to Dhruvan who suffered all his childhood. People live with pride now? He should say that to those abandoned mothers who sell themselves in brothel houses just to feed their children. In Raghuveer’s eyes, his father was neither a good husband nor a rightful king.

However, his raging thoughts came to an abrupt halt as he saw Riya senseless on the ground.

Riya’s hair was now out of the bun as they lay scattered on the floor and her hands were palmed up into fist as she held her hair, Raghuveer’s heart raced in fear as he saw her like that.

“Riya! Wake up.” Raghuveer bent down as he took her in his hands, jerking her slightly to wake her up. He quickly pushed her hair behind her ears as he lightly tapped her cheek but to no avail, Riya didn't open her eyes, instead, her hands fell to sides like a dead person and panic shot up his heart and his mind froze for a second not understanding what to be done.

“Raghu, stop it with your tantrums and come back-” Jaidev walked outside to beg his friend to come back but was shocked to see the scene in front of him, “What-, Who is she!”

Hearing Jaidev’s voice pulled Raghuveer back from his panic state, he promptly scooped Riya in his arms barging inside the hut and made her lie on the bed.

"Shut those windows and get a warm rug." Ordering he sat by Riya's legs and rubbed her feet to create heat. Rapidly taking turns he kneaded her palms and foot but she didn't take the name to wake up.

"Rajkumar Ji, here." The servant handed Raghuveer a huge feathery rug and Jaidev stood by the entrance as he watched his friend behave bizarrely different from his self.

"She just fainted Raghu, so will you please relax and tell who she is?"

Just fainted? She looks so pale, damn it! What must have happened?

"Shut up and get me a bowl of warm-"

"Mm," Riya mumbled painfully in her sleep and Raghuveer immediately scooted close to her.

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open but almost immediately her face scrunched up in pain.

"Riya, are you all right?" Raghuveer tapped her cheek to make her receptive and Riya moved slightly trying to sit up.

"Why are you getting up? Sleep, you-"

"I-i want to sit." Her weak whispering voice got Raghuveer to do whatever she pleads for, he quickly pulled out a pillow and placed it behind her and helped her sit.

Anticipating for her to speak more he sat close to her, however, a slow blow of the wind through the window made Riya's lips shiver in cold and the suppressed anger flickered through him making him shout, "Shut that bloody window first!"

The commanding tone got Jaidev to jump forward and close that window. Who can that woman be that his friend is so desperate to help?

"What happened? How did you faint?" Raghuveer carefully asked as he pulled up that rug till shoulders to keep her warm.

"I-i think I am remembering my past." Riya managed to squeak out those words and Raghuveer nodded his head silently indicating her to proceed.

Unexpectedly Riya's eyes teared up as she spoke, "I miss home. My fa-father must be worried about me."

Weirdly a tiny part of him didn't like this, but this should be for good. Riya is an unmarried young woman, and it is highly inappropriate for her to stay with him under the same roof.

"Just tell me your father's name or your surname, I will take care of the rest."

"It is Riya M-" Riya placed her hand near her forehead pressing it forcefully to remember, "It's on my mind bu-but I am unable to-"

A thin drop of blood dripped down her nose and Raghuveer placed a hand on mouth stopping her from talking as he slowly wiped blood near her nose.

"Your nose is bleeding again. Stop stressing yourself, Riya. If your memories are meant to return, they will." Raghuveer tried to talk into forgetting about this, bleeding nose is never a good sign. It can be dangerous and she should stop trying to forcefully recall her memories.

Riya leaned back on bed rest giving up on compelling her brain. Her head still hurt slightly but it was not intolerable.

Raghuveer stood up walking out of the room, as quietly as possible he asked Jaidev to leave promising to explain this situation later. He returned a wet fabric from the other room and sat down near Riya as he slowly tapped that cloth near her bleeding nose. Riya's cheeks turned crimson at his touch, Raghuveer wiping her nose was something she never imagined.

"How is your headache now? Do you want to rest for some time?" Raghuveer inquired as he looked in her eyes. He pressed his palm on her forehead to check her temperature, "Good thing that you have no temperature, or it would have been worse with your headache."

Raghuveer babbled to himself like a professional doctor and Riya couldn't help but giggle at his behaviour.

"Have you finally lost your mind that you are laughing now?" A small scowl settled on his face as he frowned at her.

"It's nothing." Riya waved her hand pushing his question aside as she slowly tossed the rug away, and a small smirk made on her face as she asked, "So you will be calling me by my name now?"

Raghuveer's eyes bulged slightly hearing that. There is no harm in calling by her name but he liked how every time she would frown when he calls her woman and not her name, annoying her is fun but somehow even without trying she irritates him more.

"Whatever, rest up so that we can leave tomorrow-" Raghuveer tried to divert the topic yet what he said was appropriate, she has rest so that her headache can heal.

"I am not sleepy and moreover I want to walk to free my cluttered brain," Riya spoke in a complaining tone and it made sense.

Shortly, after making Riya forcefully drink a glass of Kadha they were soon off outside the house. She had asked him infinite questions about whom the house belongs to but Raghuveer intelligently managed to divert the topic. His head almost ached to answer the questions she asked however when she received no straight answers she let it go.

"Where are we going now?" Riya questioned as she walked along with Raghuveer.

The hustle of night was slowly settling down, it was probably an hour or two past midnight.

"It is difficult to find a cart now, so we will be taking a boat." He tried to maintain the nonchalantness in his tone as he somehow knows that she would be excited regardless of her sickness.

"A boat?" Riya questioned eagerly holding Raghuveer's arm, "I am so excited!"

After that they didn't talk much, the night's silence was peaceful and content as they walked at a moderate pace.

"My mother left us when I was around seven I guess," Out of the blue Riya started talking about her past, it first confused Raghuveer but he chose to remain silent and be attentive to her.

"Ma loved me but Papa does more I guess. He never married again after my mother left us, but instead, he became both mother and father for me." Riya glanced at the starless night as she spoke, few memories were rushing through her brain and she couldn't control but tell about it to Veeru.

"You know, it's so different here. I am still not sure how, but my dressing was different back there, I mean at home. Food habits were also varied, but I am unable to connect the dots, Veeru." A slow frown settled on her face as she thought about how her memories and her present are so drastically different. However, her thoughts came to a halt as Raghuveer slowly patted her head silently acknowledging her rant.

"It explains most of the things like how you are not comfortable in this dress but don't stress out when it is time they will be back and you will be able to go to your father." He tried to console her and miraculously it worked as she slowly went back being excited about riding a boat.

And when they finally reached the lake Raghuveer stepped inside the boat which was ready to leave and Riya feared to step in as the boat kept shifting in the water.

"Stupid boat." Mumbling to herself she slowly stepped inside the boat.

The boat was narrow and long with three planks on it to sit down. Riya was mesmerised by this scenic view, a luminous shiny moon in the vast sky was almost making the water look like flows of sliver and that tiny lotus at far inside were a stunning view.

Raghuveer quietly sat behind expecting Riya to sit on the middle plank. But who will tell him that Riya always does the least expected?

After having a good view of her surroundings Riya sat down beside Raghuveer, squeezing herself in the tiny space and Raghuveer's eyes narrowed at her, "You are supposed to sit forward, not beside me."

And Riya successfully ignored him by playing with the water. Soon, the boat started moving and Riya was now bored of playing with water. She slowly scooted close to Raghuveer and this time he couldn't help but scold her.

"Are you for real? You are trying to flirt even-"

And the moment he opened his mouth with a rotten expression on his face, Riya's brain sent an immediate emergency signal to all her body cells telling that her plan to be touchy with Raghuveer has failed, so her female brain created a timely come back to put an end to Raghuveer's nagging.

"It was cold Veeru," Riya muttered in a sad voice as she moved away from him, "The hammering pain in my head is back so I just wanted to rest."

Her sad and low voice poked arrows of guilt in Raghuveer. Of course, she was sick! He should have been more smooth, she was cold and here he thought something else!

Liar, her brain taunted her but Riya kicked that voice away as she sadly looked at Raghuveer.

Just a look at her puppy face Raghuveer had to give up as he asked, "What do you-"

Aha! Got you. Riya immediately crashed into his side as she mumbled, "Putting your hand around my shoulder can help with this cold, you know."

And like a good boy, Raghuveer obliged.

Riya could smell his manly scent from this closeness. She previously thought he smelled something like forests but now with this closeness, she knows what he smells like. Raghuveer has the scent of petrichor, he smells like that mind-blowing scent after rain and she absolutely loves this. Curling up close to him Riya slowly drifted into a peaceful sleep knowing she is safe in his arms.

Raghuveer noticed Riya slowly slipping into sleep and he tried his best to look anywhere but her. Every time she smiles at him he can't help but enjoy her happiness and every time she touches him, like all she wants it to be in his arms unknowingly his stupid heart melts for her touch.

He has to do something about her, this cannot go on. Being with Riya is delightful. She is like a ray of light in his dark life, but in reality, he has the capacity to even turn that ray of light into darkness and he cannot pull her into his dark life, he will not.

***

• Kadha- A homemade

Ayurvedic

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