The early golden rays of the morning sun were shining bright on Riya's face and unable to continue her beauty sleep in the bright light, she woke up running a hand across her face. A slow blush crept up to her face as vivid images of last night flashed in front of her, she slowly brought her fingers up and touched her lips with a dreamy look on her face, unable to pull herself out of the happy bubble.

That was not even a kiss, stupid. Her brain kept taunting her but come on, touching him is something unforgettable even if it was a small peck.

They were so close last night, that Riya can still remember his manly scent. It was her first attempt at a kiss and was going to be her first kiss but that Son of a buffalo, Dhruvan had to pop up right at the peak time.

Last night, Raghuveer was almost about to kiss her and right at the moment, they could hear a faint hum of some godly prayer.

"Oh lord, you are the best."

What, who is this moron interrupting now!

Raghuveer already seemed distracted, but Riya was not going to let this chance go in vain so she placed her hand around his neck and pushed herself a little forward and just when she was about to press her lips against his, they again heard the song. Loud and clear now.

"Oh Lord take me with you! I will die-" Dhruvan's screeching voice felt like a mosquito's moan in the ear to Riya.

Raghuveer stood up at once pulling himself away from Riya as he looked a little flustered and Riya saw red. If that piece of shit would have entered the house silently then she could be kissing Raghuveer by now.

"Um, Ahem." Raghuveer coughed slightly as he tried to look anywhere buy Riya, "Why don't you go back to your chambers-"

"Then what about what we were about to do!" Riya complained as her cheeks turned warm, this was somewhat embarrassing but nonetheless, shouldn't she get what she was expecting excitedly?

"Wh-what?" This has to be the first in his life that he ever stuttered and that too in front of a woman, but how can he blame himself as Riya is no normal one.

This flustered expression and confusion on his face almost looked cute to Riya. Who can be luckier than her to get a view of seeing a rigid prince blush?

"Just go to your-" Before he could complete his statement Raghuveer felt soft lips being pressed to his making him almost bend backwards due to the unexpected move of Riya, Raghuveer unknowingly leaned forward to deepen the kiss but Riya pulled herself back, "Okay, Rajkumar Ji I will take my leave then." Patting his chest Riya swiftly turned away from him as she ran back to her chambers giggling mischievously.

And an innocent Dhruvan reached the house singing his godly song, "Oh Lord-"

"Shut up!" Raghuveer almost screamed in frustration at Dhruvan, "Are you trying to scare the gods with your screechy voice? If you dare to sing once again in this house, I will pull your tongue out!" Screaming he strode to his room with heavy footsteps and a disturbed heart.

"I was just trying to scare the demon with my godly songs." Whispered a confused Dhruvan who was startled by this new bizarre side of his master.

• •

Riya quickly changed herself from Veeru's comfy kurta to an uncomfortable half saree and strolled out of her chambers trying to act as cool as possible. So what if this was her first kiss, alright, alright, the first peck. This is normal, it has to be normal but the thought of facing Veeru made her blush deep pink. What must he be thinking of her? Did she behave like a desperate woman yesterday night? Oh God. Riya facepalmed herself as she walked out the main door of the house. She has to stop overthinking about every damn thing in life.

As she stepped outside of the house, along with the light morning fragrance filled wind Dhruvan too greeted her as he sat down by the patio with a bowl of flour in his hand.

Riya was stunned at the sight as he slowly drew a design of a Rangoli on the wet ground, his hand moved with perfect strokes as he drew and she sat down on the stairs watching him with amusement.

"Seriously Dhruvan, you are a perfect wife material. You-"

"Are you crazy? I am a man, not a woman." Dhruva scoffed in annoyance as he kept drawing the Rangoli, "Can you do me a small help and get some flour from the kitchen?"

He kept drawing with all the concentration in the world and Riya couldn't help but oblige. She stood up and sprinted towards the kitchen but before she could her eyes fell on the huge Pooja room attached to the kitchen.

The tiny arch of the prayer room was heavily crafted with deep ebony wood, the unique patterns on it compelled Riya to feel the texture of it, so she stepped forth however all her attention and curiosity was diverted inside to a broad muscled back. Riya could almost feel a drool slip out of her mouth as she stood by the arch ogling Raghuveer, a thin white thread remains crossed on his naked back as he devotedly prayed.

The room had several paintings of goddesses and gods but the small statue of Lord Shiva in between the room grabbed all the attention as it was grandly decorated with several flowers. Raghuveer chanted prayers in a deep rich voice and right now all Riya wished for is a camera, she should have carried her handbag with her when she fell off that cliff!

Raghuveer got up with a small plate full of sweets and Riya jumped forward to grab one from it and before she could Raghuveer tossed her hand away with a foul expression on his face.

"Don't!"

"What? I just want one-" Smacking her lips she stretched her hand forward once again but only to get hit by him.

"Stop it, woman! If you want to have Prashad, go wash up and pray to God first." Saying he walked out the room with a small smile.

At the porch, Dhruvan was almost done with the Rangoli yet there was no sight of Riya. What was she even doing? Wiping the thin lines of sweat on his forehead he put the bowl aside.

"How are you doing Dhruvan?" A familiar voice greeted him forcing him to turn around.

Dhruvan's eyes shone with happiness as he saw minister Jaidev standing in front of the house.

"Minister Jaidev! Namaste!" Dhruvan warmly welcomed the minister inside, minister Jaidev is a great minister about whom the entire empire is proud of and above all he knows how important he is to his master.

"How have you been doing, Dhruv?" Jaidev patted affectionately on his back as they walked inside the house.

"Minister please take a seat, I will inform Rajkumar about your visit." Saying Dhruvan walked towards his master's chambers and from the other side, Riya walked outside with a scowl on her face.

Why is Veeru behaving like her late grandmother who would never feed her without a bath? Riya rolled her eyes which caught a glimpse of a stranger sitting on a wooden chair as if he owns everything in this world and like that in seconds she disliked this man.

"Who might this beauty be?" Jaidev spoke out loud as if he was wondering to himself and an involuntary scoff left her mouth as she gave him a pathetic look.

She has seen several men hit on her with all the tricks available in this world and with just a look at this man she can say what his intentions were. And what? Did he call her a beauty? Her hair was dripping with excess oil and she herself was feeling like shit.

Riya turned away trying to ignore him but he stood up walking towards her, "Young lady, may I know your name, please?"

His voice truly sounded desperate making Riya uncomfortable, and once again all Riya did was stare at him, "Lady, are you Dhruvan's sister or are you Raghu's cousin whom I am not aware of, by any chance?"

And that got her talking, as she was ready to bash him with her words, "Ewe, No! I am not your Rajkumar's cousin!"

"Oh thank god, you can speak." Jaidev smiled at her as he slowly pulled his left ear and somehow, weirdly enough Riya found it adorable.

"And who might you be?" Riya questioned as she folded her arms over her chest trying to intimidate the tall man in front of her.

"Please forgive my poor manners, I am Minister-"

"Jaidev?" Raghuveer called him as he entered the hall and Jaidev paced to him pulling him in a manly hug and Raghuveer almost immediately backed off.

"I always warn you! Stop touching me!" Raghuveer complained dusting his kurta and Riya couldn't help but admire the scowl on his face. Oh God, why am I so smitten by his each and every move!

Scolding herself Riya decided to go and take a bath before Raghuveer might decide to starve her for not taking a bath. Almost crying she picked up a set of half saree from her almirah, why can't she just wear Veeru's kurta!

Riya gathered up a small tin of turmeric powder and another tiny tin of scented mixed herbs for cleaning. The more she remembered about her life the more she missed her accessories, and right now she desperately wanted a soap.

With her hopeless wishes and dreams, she stepped outside, reaching the backyard and found Dhruvan trying to clear up bushes which connect to the forest behind the house.

"What are you doing there?" Riya asked with utmost curiosity and Dhruvan stood up with frustration, his face had a tiny shade of pink and he looked as if he might cry any minute soon.

"Hey, what happened? Why are you crying?" Riya placed her hand on his shoulder as she carefully asked him.

"Let it go, you will make fun of me," Dhruvan spoke in a squeaky voice controlling his cry.

"I promise, I won't! You can always trust me, what happened, Dhruv?"

From the beginning, Riya always knew that Dhruvan is a little weak and sensitive in nature. His softness was the reason she was able to play games with him but right now she was feeling protective for him. What must have made him cry?

"Minister Jaidev was ordered to bring Ashwagandha roots from this forest for the king and he ordered me to fetch them from here." Tears rolled from his eyes and Riya almost panicked seeing him in this state.

"What is wrong with that, Dhruv?" She inquired as calmly as possible and this time Dhruvan let out a full-fledged cry as he spoke in between his tears, "T-those roots are only found d-deep inside the forest! It is too dark and there might be wolves and tigers and-"

Riya placed her plan on his mouth preventing him from talking anymore and when he finally closed his mouth, she slowly wiped out tears under his eyes as she spoke.

"Stop crying now, I will come with you. And you should know right, I am a demon and no darkness is more dangerous than me, what say?" Riya wiggled her eyebrows trying to brighten up his mood and it magically worked.

"You will come with me?" He asked expectantly, the fear and anxiety slowly disappearing.

"Of course!" Saying she placed her small boxes and her dress on a rock aside as she threw her hand around his neck in a friendly manner, "Lead the way, my boy! Let us rule this forest!

"Oh no. Remove your hand-"

"Grrrr" Riya growled in his ear trying to imitate a tiger and Dhruvan closed his ears in fear with his hands.

"Stop it! What if the real tiger comes out?" He whispered lowly and Riya couldn't help but laugh as she made the sound again.

"Why the hell on earth did I ever ask for your help-"

"Grrrr"

"Oh Lord, please save us." Dhruvan prayed to the gods to save them from the wolves and tigers as they slowly walked inside the forest for the roots, but little did he know that humans are far more dangerous than animals.