Sahasthra stood outside the chamber waiting with anticipation as she peeked inside hiding behind physician Vishwanath. Today morning, her handmaid collapsed at once with no reason to point at which caused the visit of physician Vishwanath, and right when he was about to leave in the evening after prescribing some medicines for her maid, minister Jaidev rushed to their house saying that both the royal princes were beating the life out of themselves without any rational thinking.

Sahasthra almost perished in fear trying to trick her father about coming here, she informed her father about a made-up prayer chant session to the gods for unmarried girls in the village and that did the job, so here she was tailing behind the physician to have a glance at Dipankar.

Raghuveer's house always fascinated Sahasthra for its unique design. Huge white and red-bricked house, which was always surrounded by flowering and beautiful plants capturing your eye. Yet today she couldn't get those feels of pleasure instead the house looked gloomy and bleak with dark blackish-blue clouds covering the sky.

Physician Vishwanath and Sahsthra hurried inside the house to escape the slight drizzling rain. Stepping inside the huge house she could find the dissimilarity, usually, every corner of the house would be lit up by several lamps and dias, but now it was all dark and silent.

She would be in serious trouble if her father would find out about this visit of hers, but the thought that Dipankar might be hurt made her take all the risks she can. However the view in front of her made her frown deep, Prince Raghuveer lay on the cot with a bleeding face while Riya strode to Dipankar and pressed his cheek in force, and for the first time she heard Dipankar groan in pain.

Riya mumbled a few more sentences fuming in anger while she just glanced at everyone with confusion, even Riya's hand an invisible wound on it. What must have happened that everyone is bleeding? Was the house under the attack of robbers?

"Sahasthra, what are you doing here?" She could hear Riya's voice and all she could sense was fear for some unknown reason, was Dipankar also badly injured like prince Raghuveer?

That sentence from Riya made Dipankar rigid in his place, what is Sahasthra doing here? But whatever he has to act calm and reveal no emotions, like he always does. Retaining his signature grim back on his face, Dipankar turned around to have a glance at Sahasthra.

The moment he turned around he could see Sahasthra's eyes go wide as if she was witnessing a ghost, oh right, he absolutely forgot about his almost disfigured face with adornments of blood which were gifted by his stepbrother for this first-time visit.

Even before Dipankar could blink his eyes Sahasthra dashed to him with a delicate expression on her face and prior he could ask her what she was up to, she placed her soft palm on his wounded cheek as she looked into his eyes with tear-filled eyes.

And just like that Dipankar was lost completely as he looked in her eyes, all the pain in his throbbing jaw disappeared and so did he forgot about himself, after so many years he got this chance to see her beautiful eyes. Her eyes were always unique and that was the first thing as a child he noticed about her. Her dark honey-coloured almond eyes had a world in them, a world of innocence and love, which he apparently never deserves.

Thick lines of tears rolled down her cheeks from those mesmerising eyes scraping the life out of his heart. A small sob passed out her throat as she pressed her lips together and Dipankar felt the urge to wipe them out, to tell her that would be fine.

"We ju-just fought, I am absolutely fine-" Dipankar tried his best reason out saying that this was nothing he could not handle. But her soft fingers touched his broken nose making him let out a cry in pain.

Sahasthra's body trembled in anxiety thinking about the pain he would be facing, her face twitched in pain for him, unable to control herself she ran her cold fingertips on his broken nose, once again making him wince in pain and this time with uncontrollable overwhelming emotions she crashed into him, hugging him deeply to comfort him or maybe to even comfort herself to feel him safe.

Dipankar's eyes went wide as he was stunned by this sudden move of Sahasthra, this was so unlikely bold of her but unable to control the urge in him, he embraced her close, making her weep on his chest. A small smile took over his face reminding him of his broken nose.

While Dhruvan hastily covered his eyes but he kept peeking at the couple through the gaps in between his fingers with a hidden grin, Raghuveer couldn't but frown at the dramatic scene in front of him, Sahsthra was a way too good for him. Riya smiled dreamily imagining herself and Raghuveer in that place but a loud cough from the physician brought everyone back to reality.

Dipankar was himself shocked at his, he immediately yanked Sahasthra from him pushing her away as if her touch burned him. This is why he was supposed to stay away from this woman, she has the capacity to make him dance to her tunes. All these years of his act in pushing her was just dissolved feeling her touch, he couldn't believe this. Anger raged through him at himself, he should leave before he makes any more stupid moves.

"Pulvit! Let us leave." Shouting, he stormed out the chamber shocking Riya at his bipolar behaviour. One second he was stuttering and hugging Sahasthra as if he loved her; while the other second he pushed her away like she was some disgusting bug.

Sahasthra ran behind Dipankar to deter his pace, crying her eyes out making Riya groan in frustration, she can't even yell at him for god's sake!

"Dhruvan, why don't you try to stop them-"

"Oh no. Please, prince Dipankar looks very creepy!" Cowering behind he wept in a low voice.

"This fool." If possible Riya wanted to kick him hard to put some sense in his brain, but with no time at hand, she turned around and marched in the way at which they left.

The floor was wet due to the heavy rain and by the time Riya ran down to catch up with Sahasthra and Dipankar but she was surprised to see that they stood by the porch, while Sahsthra stood behind them near a pillar sobbing silently to herself unable to do anything.

"Rajkumar Ji," Pulvit glanced at Dipankar as he spoke, the cool and heavy rain already giving him chills, "If we don't commence now, we will be stuck in this heavy rain."

"Right, and you didn't even get treated. Now that the physician is here why don't you-" Riya stepped down trying to convince them.

"You.Are.A.Maid! Know your place before you bark!" Dipankar screamed in frustration, fuming with anger. All this bullshit tonight has happened because of this stupid maid! Had he not come here to save her, he would be back at the palace peacefully hearing his mother's taunts.

Riya gritted her teeth in anger, what? She is a maid? She earns lakhs and lakhs every month and dares this pathetic prince to look down on her? A low weeping cry in the background made Riya come back to her senses, right, this man is bipolar but not her! So she has to be the elder here.

"Um, Pulvit? Can you just give me a second with your honourable prince? I have something important to convey." Riya spoke in a highly sophisticated voice to show her casual and relaxed self.

"He will not! Why will he ever listen to-"

"Why will he not? He is a handsome and respectable gentleman who knows to respect a woman's wish, " Riya glanced at Pulvit partially as she batted her eyes dreamily, "Right Pulvit Ji?"

Riya could bet on her life that even in this dark night she could see Pulvit turn pink with her praises, who said you can only flatter a woman with praises? It works miracles on men too, all you got a do is to launch a right arrow, like her.

"Right." Smiling Pulvit stepped behind giving them space and Riya turned around and waved her right eyebrow at Dipankar showing him that she proved him wrong.

"Look, what do you think of yourself, huh?"

"I know I am a maid and all, but before everything, I am Sahasthra's friend." That sentence did the trick buying all of Dipankar's attention, "She really likes you, but you keep breaking her heart! If you don't like her, tell me, I will introduce her to new guys."

"W-what?" Dipankar almost stuttered hearing that, what does she mean by introducing Sahasthra to new guys? Is she crazy?

"Yeah, you heard me right! Like right now I have Jaidev at hand, so after you leave I will lock them up in a room, what say? It's so clever of me right?" Riya smirked grinning like an idiot knowing that her plan is working.

Jealousy can sometimes be a key to mend relationships. So she is giving this style a try and even if this doesn't work, should she just drug him and get married to Sahas?

"How dare you! I kill you and that minister if you as much as try to-" Blue and green nerves were almost popping out his forehead as he shook with anger and jealousy. This woman calls herself a friend? He should just get rid of her.

"Then stay back to protect and love your woman. If you can't, always remember she has better options at hand and I will make sure of it!" Flipping her hair dramatically Riya turned around marching back to the house, forcefully dragging a crying Sahasthra with her.

Halfway through the house, Riya stopped walking as Sahasthra kept hitting her hand, crying profusely.

Sahasthra quickly made a gesture moulding her arms, but her pain-filled eyes did most of the talk.

What did you do? Let me go!

With a small smile, Riya walked close to Sahasthra as she slowly wiped tears off her cheeks and face with her fingers.

"Just wait and watch, you prince will be walking back to you any minute now." Riya's confident words and her positive behaviour calmed Sahasthra as she expectantly waited for the prince.

After some good time, when Sahsthra's hopes began to scatter Dipankar strode inside the house with the same rotten expression on his face making her almost squeal in happiness.

"Grab this moment, my friend!" Riya slowly whispers in Sahasthra's ear slowly, "All you have is tonight to wrap that rude prince around your little finger." Saying Riya stood back straight smiling mischievously knowing that her innocent friend was now highly motivated to make that prince hers.

• •

Almost everyone had to get treated by the physician, and right now Riya was the last person in line.

Raghuveer stepped out to get some fresh air, while Dipankar sat by the porch with Sahasthra right beside him, fortunately or not she had taken Riya's words seriously so right now she was on a mission to express her undying love.

"Fracture? Oh my God, I never had a fracture in my life till now, what if my bone completely breaks off? What if-" The physician just informed her that this pain in her arm can be the cause of a broken bone.

"Don't worry child, a bone is no heart to never mend." Saying he applied some oil on her hand when he detected a crack, and Riya had to suppress a painful scream at his pressure-filled massage.

For Riya, that line would have sounded absolutely romantic if this was not an old man if just this was not an old man with a long white beard and ghostly white dhoti and a cotton Angavasthra. His costume looked so similar to that of widows which woke up those curious sleeping cells in her.

"I understand that you are a doctor and no offence, but you look like a widow." Saying Riya laughed loudly on his face, making him frown playfully as he slowly spoke, "Are you making fun of me, child?"

"Yes, no I mean It is just a joke-"

"I am a widow though." He replied slowly, shocking Riya as he continued to smash some green leaves and herbs between his palms to create a paste.

"My wife left me and this world after two years of our marriage leaving me all alone. Being a man didn't help me deal with my grief, you know." He said slowly looking out of the window as if he could see his past as if he could see his wife and those thin lines in between his eyebrows intertwined together as he went on with his story, "She was a beauty you know, she would donate our riches to the poor every day, treat maids with honour. But after she passed away, my father bought another girl the immediate day after her death expecting me to marry and produce an heir to continue the family lineage."

The frown deepens on his face as he gently runs his hand through his long beard and Riya couldn't help but feel sad, he must love his wife very dearly.

"What is her name?" Riya asked him and a small childlike smile took over his face as he pulled out a few herbs from his cloth bag, "Her name was Yashoda. Her love was like a river, providing life to everyone who comes to her."

Riya felt amazed hearing that, this old man who is nearly seventy or eighty years old, still talks about his dead wife like this? His aged eyes shone with happiness and love as he kept talking about her. If Raghuveer doesn't talk like this about her, then she is going to abandon him, and that thought clicked a question in her about why does she even want him to think like that? They are not a married couple, they are just-

"On that day, when my father asked me to marry that girl I shaved my head off and burnt my colourful silk clothes and for the first time stepped in these plain white clothes." He smiled proudly as his chest heaved with happiness.

"What? Did you shave your head? Why?"

"Widowed women have no right to live in pride, they are supposed to shave their heads and wear white and that, " He looked straight in her eyes as he spoke, "Is what I did. I am a widow, a man or not and I will never disrespect my wife by marrying another woman. So I gave up on that comfortable yet boring life and chose this way to treat poor people of this kingdom. So that no other man should ever suffer like I did, the helplessness of not being able to provide treatment for your sick wife."

Vishwanath's eyes teared up and Riya felt her heart move hearing those words. Do such people still exist on this planet? Who remains loyal to their loved ones and give up everything in life for serving people?

"I apologise, I didn't intend to remind you of your past. It's just that I am new here, I don't even-"

"I know." He looked deep in her eyes as if he could read her life, it felt like he could read all the words in her brain. All the raw pain disappeared from his eyes as a pleasant expression took over, "I know, and my guru wants to meet you, child."

"Whose guru?"

"The Master of every life on this planet, whose words are as mesmerising as a heavenly God. And he will be able to get you back to your life, to the life from where you have come from."

Guru : Master

The upcoming chapters are going to be important and interesting, so hang on guys!