The faint sound of crickets singing around the house echoed through the night as Dhruvan hurriedly tried to set the dining area near the kitchen. He quickly placed all the silver plates and dishes cooked for the night in between and arranged seven wooden stools around for the guests to be seated. This was the first time ever that he got to see so many people staying back at his master's place, and with that excitement, he actually prepared too many dishes than necessary.

"Do you require my hand in anything, Dhruv?" Jaidev leaned against a pillar near the corner of the hall as he questioned with a smile on his face.

"Oh no! Don't bother, minister! I am almost done with everything, I just have to call Rajkumar Ji and-"

"Aren't you aware of Riya being injured?" Jaidev asked as a small frown crept over his face, and all the colour left Dhruvan's face as he remembered that. "Raghuveer is helping her have food."

All Dhruvan could feel was guilt, he should have just gone alone without begging Riya to come with him.

The sad look on Dhruvan's face didn't go unnoticed by Jaidev. So instead of letting it go, he made a suggestion for him, "I am on my way to meet Raghuveer, how about you come with me and see how Riya is doing?"

After much contemplation Dhruvan quickly covered the food items with a thin cotton cloth to prevent any bugs and excusing himself he ran out to his chambers, his quarters were nothing too big nor too small. It was perfect for him, with bricked mud walls and wooden ceiling the room can cool any second but the beautiful view of the backyard from the window is what he loves about his chambers.

He quickly grabbed something for Riya and ran back to Jaidev after locking his chamber. The always silent house was now a little nosy with Rajkumar Diapankar's gruntings and complaints but this is definitely something he can get used to.

Shortly Jaidev knocked on the wooden door of the chambers where Riya was resting, somehow Dhruvan's mind was processing a little differently now, why did they lock the door? Can it be possible that-, he immediately placed his hand on his mouth gasping loudly.

No, Riya won't eat Rajkumar. She almost seemed human to him! Was he tricked? Oh lord, no! What kind of a servant is he, that he couldn't protect his master from a devil?

Biting his nails in sheer fear he pushed the door open barging inside to save his master however right at that moment Raghuveer happened to open the doors leading Dhruvan crash to the floor in a swing.

"Ahhh!" Dhruvan caught his back crying due to the fall and Riya who sat on the bed warmly wrapped in a thick blanket began laughing. And her unsophisticated laugh made Dhrvuan cover his face in embarrassment.

After an eternity long of pleads from Riya and Jaidev requesting Dhruvan to stand up, he finally got up from the floor dusting the imaginary dust off his kurta as he sat dead in a corner with his eyes stuck to the ground.

"Raghu, " Jaidev could not waste his time anymore doing these childish acts and right now with prince Dipankar not around making it the perfect time to have the talk, "I need to have a word with you."

After so many days, Raghuveer actually felt tired and sleepy with all the events happening but understanding the serious tone of his friend he decided to step out.

Riya sat smiling on the bed as she glanced at Dhruvan, "How long are you going to sit sulking there?"

Dhruvan just rolled his eyes ignoring her words as he kept staring at the very interesting ground.

"Alright, I am sorry! But it was really unusual seeing you barge inside the room like that."

After hearing her plea, Dhruvan finally decided to let his anger down as he dragged the wooden chair near the bed, and he sat down still sulking but continued to talk, "I was worried you know, what if you are killing my master for your food!"

Right, this fool.

"Didn't I tell you Dhruvan? I only eat young boys." Riya smacked her lips together rubbing her tummy indicating that he is still her food and the immediate second Dhruvan jumped away from the chair crying ready to run away.

Laughing loudly Riya quickly shouted before he could leave, "I was joking! I don't eat humans!"

"I knew it!" Dhruvan wiped his fake tears hurrying back to his chair near the bed as he spoke, "Thank God! I was so worried about how to get a shaman this late at night."

"My hand is broken and all you could think of was getting rid of me? Seriously?" Riya turned her head away from him faking her anger, while inside she was cracking up thinking that he might have visited a Shamen to save his master.

"Here, I got something for you." Saying he opened his fist revealing a small, thumb-sized clay statue of Lord Hanuman.

"Your hand is hurt right, so I have brought this magical statue for you. Lord Hanuman will always protect you from all evils and darkness." Saying he placed it in her palm with a huge smile.

Riya was speechless, her eyes almost teared up seeing it. Speaking about facts she never had any close friends in her life, once back in her acting school she happened to faint due to overwork and later that day only one friend of hers happened to visit her with flowers and chocolates, and that one person is Nirmal. Her now personal manager.

"Thank you so much Dhruvan." Saying Riya admired his work, the statue was so tiny and small but Dhruvan made an outstanding design and sculpting. "But what about you, if you give it to me?"

"Ah, I have sculpted several statues after a certain presence in this house."

"Were you that scared of me to actually sculpt God's idols?" Riya scoffed loudly as she spoke, and a sudden wave of pride filled her head as Dhruvan nodded his head.

Yes, her world and her audience were right. I actually deserve an Oscar!

"But come on, you have never seen a devil then how were you sure that I was one?" Riya questioned as her eyebrows furrowed together.

"I don't know! I just thought you might be one by seeing your hairstyle and your behaviour."

"Alright, so scoot closer then! I will tell you what a devil might not look like!" Riya spoke excitedly, making Dhruvan jump closer in anticipation.

"A devil will look nothing like me-"

"Umm, Why?"

"Because only angels can be as beautiful as me!" Riya screamed the last part in joy and Dhruvan shook his head to oppose her statement.

Meanwhile, outside the chambers stood Raghuveer and Jaidev as they discussed in silence,

"I am repeating this Raghu, Prince Dipankar has to be the one behind this attack in the forest." Jaidev rubbed his forehead with frustration unable to believe that his friend is not considering his words.

"And I have already said this, that from Dhrvuan's statement Dipankar and his guard have actually saved them." Raghuveer leaned by the wall beside his chamber as he spoke.

"Don't tell me that you are actually buying that crap! Think, Raghu. Think! Dipankar, the prince who could never ever lift a sword as a kid, do you think he is capable of killing a group of ruthless robbers to save Dhruvan and Riya?"

Those words raised a question in his brain, Raghuveer remained so distracted today that he almost overlooked this aspect.

"Until and unless it's his men or the Queens." Raghuveer heaved a heavy sigh as he said those words.

"Exactly what I was trying to convey! It's time Raghu, come back to the palace with me before the Queen buys all of our ministers by baiting power and money!"

Before Raghuveer could say anything loud footsteps reaching them halted their talks and Dipankar marched towards them with a flushed face and Sahasthra kept tailing behind him like a lost puppy.

"I need to have a word with you." Dipankar announced loudly and Sahasthra stood beside him staring at his face with a huge smile.

Raghuveer nodded his head ready to talk about the issue but Sahasthra did not budge from her place as she dreamily stared at Dipankar making him rub his face with his hands in irritation.

"Sahasthra, why don't you step aside for some time?" Dipankar suggested and she shook her head immediately, everyone could see how Dipankar was trying to control his foul words and anger as he requested again.

"I have some political issues to discuss with him in private and meanwhile go meet that maid who broke her arm-"

Dipankar swallowed his sentence, noticing the red face of Raghuveer and Sahasthra, so he reframed his words speaking, "I meant your friend who hurt herself, I would suggest you to meet her and provide some strength for her."

Smiling Sahsthra nodded her head walking inside the chambers but before she did, her hand traced along Dipankar's stomach and his hand as she ran inside quickly making Raghuveer turn his head away in cringe.

"Look prince, if you have anything to say to prince Raghuveer then do it before me-" Jaidev stood in front of Raghuveer as he tried to speak.

"Why? Scared to leave your prince alone with me?" Dipankar smirked as he spoke, and slowly he walked outside the house and Raghuveer followed him.

The backyard was a little chilly and cool to Dipankar, must be because of the tall trees and several plants.

"I really do not wish for this to be the case, but tell me have you developed any feelings for that maid?" A huge scowl took on Dipankar's face as he stared at the tall frame of his stepbrother who stood expressionless.

Under this faint moonlight of the night, Dipankar could actually see what this bastard prince has that the minister council has always been favouring him. His eyes squinted at the challenging smile on Raghuveer's face.

"What if I do?" Raghuveer's head remains high in the air, if Dipankar was trying to defame him about having feelings for a Riya then he must know to do better than this, he continued talking as he challenged him, "But before that tell me, do you have any feelings for that mute girl?"

Dipankar's eyes turned red in anger hearing that, "She has a name! Call her-"

"This is exactly how I feel when you call Riya as a maid."

Dipankar let out a burst of mirthless laughter as he heard Raghuveer's words. Somehow weirdly enough, at times like this, the stubborn and challenging side of Raghuveer reminds him of his mother Anasuya.

"Do you like the moon?"

Raghuveer scoffed silently, his fingers tightening on the sword case hanging low on his waist. Well, if this man is going to be all poetic, he better chop his head off.

"Answer me, " Dipankar smiled as his eyes remained glued to the white half-moon, indeed the moon looked mesmerising. The tall trees were swinging slowly dancing for the night's breeze letting out a tunic rustling sound of the dry leaves falling off. Distant noises of Riya and Dhruvan arguing over something could be heard and for the first time in his life, Raghuveer could feel home.

Fights, arguments and post-anger pleads with lots of loud conversations, isn't it what house seems like? He has never been in such an environment before but his heart confessed that this might be a home he has desperately dreamed off.

"It is." Raghuveer glanced at the bright milky moon, which was surrounded by several radiant stars.

"Sahasthra is like the moon, for me. The one you can only admire its beauty and adore its pleasant nature from far, but you can never have it."

Raghuveer's head snapped at his words, what must be so wrong that this always moody brother of his is now talking about his feelings?

"Why? It is because she deserves a much better handsome man in her life?" Raghuveer couldn't help but joke about that and Dipankar actually laughed out loud this time saying, "You know right, all of us have got our father's handsome genes in us so no one can ever beat out beauty."

And immediately both the princes caught their stomachs laughing, this moment seemed so natural and pleasant unlike their fights in childhood.

"Jokes apart. I wanted to know about your intentions regarding the throne." Dipankar's expression returned back to that of his normal grim as he raised the most anticipated question.

"I might. A golden throne and an empire to rule is never less tempting." Raghueer said as he looked at the huge forest in front of him. Can he? Will he be able to actually rule an empire? But those doubts always excited him about what he might end up achieving.

"Right." Saying Dipankar chuckled, they couldn't believe how smooth this conversation was actually going.

"It won't be easy though, " Dipankar said as he rubbed his palms together to generate a little heat.

"Now, what fun will it be if I can't even break those walls of the palace your mother has built?"

Raghuveer smirked as he looked in Dipanakar's eye expecting him to blow up at hearing his mother's name but instead, he let out a sad smile.

"The walls of a royal palace are built with the blood and vengeance of innocent souls, Raghuveer." Dipankar looked dead in his eyes as he questioned him, "Are you ambitious enough to break through the flesh of every person who blocks your way and taint your hands with their blood?"