I left Tamizh's collar. I don't have time to fight with him now. I have to find her. I left outside the palace where Tamizh was following me.

"Atleast tell me where you left her! I'll search her."

"In the halfway. You'll see soldiers searching her there.", I informed him as I left in a horse.

My eyes searched her everywhere I was going. I looked back and saw Tamizh in his horse. Why can't he search somewhere else? Can't he see I'm searching her here?

I stopped my horse so did he.

"Go search her somewhere else. It's dumb to search her in the same place."

"Wait a minute. Tell me clearly. Where exactly did you leave her? We can go back there and search her around. She can't reach somewhere far when she was just walking. She must be tired and be wandering around."

"There's a forest nearby which leads us to our rival kingdom. If she reached either kingdom, she's dead." , I said and it gutted me.

"We can search her around that forest since it's near the place you left her.", He said and I nodded. Ofcourse, only one person can't search the whole forest.

We made our way to the same place where I left her. Seeing the place, I remember her standing there desperately seeing me leave. I shouldn't have done that..

Many soldiers were already searching her and nobody went inside the forest because there will be many poisonous snakes in there. I was silently hoping she would not go inside that forest.

We tied the horse in a tree and went inside the forest walking. There were many insects that are poisonous. It was still raining heavily. This fact made me more worried about her.

We kept searching the forest. We looked for footprints but it got washed away by the rain. The thunderstorm didn't stop.

Tamizh caught a snake in his hand which was going to bite his neck. It was poisonous. He threw it aside and we kept walking.

"The forest is so wide. We can split and search her.", Tamizh said and I nodded.

"Okay. Don't die.", I said and we split into two and kept searching for her.

It was a lot hard to find her in the heavy rain and thunderstorm. But, I didn't give up on her. I kept searching her through the rainforest.

It was raining heavily and I was walking through the dense forest. I was shivering in cold. I guess.....I'm lost!

There were many snakes and insects. I don't know if they're poisonous or not. But, I was so afraid of them. I was aimless where I should go. But, I kept walking. I was hoping I would reach some village and gain help from those people.

I might be wrong. But, I have no other choices left. I know he won't come back to look for me. He left me. He left me permanently. I hate him with my everything.

My lips were quivering. My body was shivering. I hugged myself as I kept walking further aimless. I feel like I'm going to freeze to death.

The thunders were scaring me a lot. It reminds me of my childhood. My bitter childhood.

I was 10. I was playing snakes and ladders with Ramya as my mother was cooking. It was raining heavily outside. My house has only one room where there is everything. We should walk 1 mile to reach the restroom.

I don't like that house. My father entered the house drunk. He often drink everyday. I wish there will be a day he doesn't drink and play with us happily.

"Pour my drink.", My father said to me handing me a wine bottle. I felt disgusting to touch that wine bottle. The alcohol smell hit my nose. I don't like when my father drink.

"I can't, dad. Do whatever you want.", I spat angrily. He gritted his teeth and slapped my mother where she fell down in the ground with a thud. I was panting in fear. My heart was racing.

"You became a bad girl, Thea.", He said and grabbed my hand dragging me outside where it was raining heavily. He made me stood in the rain and closed the door. I was standing alone in the rain. The street was empty.

It was raining heavily with thunder. I was scared and knocked the door several times but he didn't open. I was crying. I was standing in the rain the whole night. I don't know when I passed out. That was the first time when I had fit.

Tears rolled down my cheeks uncontrollable. But, it wasn't visible due to rain. I couldn't control my jerking movements on my hands and legs.

I was on the edge of passing out. But, I kept walking. There were snakes. They were slithering. I know they won't bite me unless they are disturbee of feel threatened.

For the first time, I was thanking I remember something I was taught in school. I was walking for a long time. My legs were slowly giving up. My eyes became blur. I was trying hard to keep it open.

Because, I can't just pass out in a forest. I can't go back either. Because, I forgot the way I came. It was dumb of me but, I thought I would remember where I came from. I was wrong.

It seemed hours and I was still walking. It was early morning. The sun wasn't visible but there was a little light which I was thankful. Last night, I couldn't see what was infront of me. It was still raining.

Suddenly I felt an arm around my waist and gasped. I turned back and saw Arjun burying his face on my neck and sniffing.

I feel very cold. And I don't know why I find him warm. I realised he was crying. I was shivering in cold and I felt a little better now.

I pushed him away from me anyways. I hate him. He stumbled a little backward confused. I don't know when I started crying.

"I hate you! Just go away.", I yelled while crying.

"Hey. It's ok. come to me."

"Stop it. Just stop your acting. I can't come with you. You left me here to die right? Then why are you backing off from your plan?", I yelled.

"You think I want you dead?", He asked. Hurt flashed his eyes. Shit! Why did I say that!?

"Yes. Because you left me. You know how scared I was? How do you know? You would've been sleeping and enjoying with your concubines or Aarthi. Why did you come now? Just go back and enjoy your life without me!", I yelled hitting his chest. He didn't resist and pulled me to his chest.

I stopped struggling as I was exhausted. He placed his hand on my head brushing it gently as he kissed my forehead.

"I thought I could enjoy without you. But I couldn't even eat properly without you. And I don't know why.", He said calmly. I didn't push him back because he was so warm and I felt so cold shivering.

"I can't be angry with you even if I wanted to. What did you do to me?"

"I-I... I feel cold.", I said shivering ignoring his question. He touched my forehead checking my temperature as I shivered in his touch.

"God! Your body's temperature is so high!", He said worried. He cupped my face.

"You feel tired?"

"I'm exhausted."

The next moment, I felt someone lifting me up. Arjun carried me in a bridal style back from the forest. I saw snakes slithering on the trees as I hid my face on his chest.

"I promise. I didn't call your mother with names. I just said I won't bow her.", I said in a timid voice.

"But, why did my worker say you did?"

"Because, they're scared of your mother. They're scared that your mother will finish them."

"I'll take care of this. Don't worry."

"You gave me punishment when you heard I called her with names. Will you punish Aarthi for lying?", I asked expecting a justifying answer from him.

"Yes. I assure you about that. If I know they lied, I'll make sure they get their punishment. For lying plus for you ending up in this dense forest.", He said and i rest my head on his chest tiredly

"What about my family? Do they know you lost me?", I asked looking up at him.

"Yes. They know. Your brother would've killed me if something happened to you.", He said and it's true. I smiled.

"I feel dizzy."

"We came more deep inside the forest. It takes 2 hour to get out. Try to be awake.", He said and I nodded. I saw him following the marks on tree he left on the way he came inside the forest. Why I didn't have this sense?

"You sure you can carry me for 2 hours?"

"Keep talking like this. I will not sense any burden in my hands.", He said and I smiled.

"Wait. I'm still angry at you.", I remembered and he chuckled.

I felt more dizzy as I shake my head. But, it didn't work. I remember Arjun calling my name constantly. Everything was blur and I rested on his chest again without my sense. Everything blacked out.

I woke up slowly. My body hurts and I was more exhausted. The first person I saw is Arjun. I saw around and looked at the place where Arjun left me yesterday.

"We came out of the forest?", I asked in a mild voice.

"Yes. And we will go to our palace in a horse carriage. Riding a horse with you isn't a good idea. We will reach our palace soon and let's get your fever treated."

Then, I saw Tamizh whose face was plastered in concern and sadness.

"Bastard! You just cause everyone and heal it now. You should be guilt. Apologize to her immediately or I'm afraid your four concubines including Aarthi will be a widow.", Tamizh said looking at Arjun.

It was morning and the rain stopped. I'm grateful for that. Still cold breeze was blowing where I shivered.

"I'm sorry. You accept my apology?", Arjun asked.

"No."

"Why? What should I do to earn your apology?"

"I don't know. But, I will apologise when I feel like.", I said as I shivered again.

"I'm cold.", I stated. I looked at many soldiers who were standing behind Arjun. They were a lot. Arjun got a blanket from soldier and tucked me.

I felt better than before. A beautiful royal horse carriage came into our view.

It was aesthetic. He didn't let me walk and carried me inside the carriage. I laid on Arjun's lap where Tamizh was seated opposite to us.

"Get my horse back to palace.", Arjun ordered the soldiers.

"You love your horse so much?", I asked.

"It's my favorite. I've spent half of my wars in that horse. It's a well trained and obedient horse.", He said and i ordered.

"Please get mine too!", Tamizh yelled.

"Since Thara is rescued, why are you still coming back to my palace? Go back to your kingdom.", Arjun said formally. Why these two doesn't get along well?

"Since Thara is rescued, I want to scold the people who's responsible for her condition. I won't go without yelling at them.", Tamizh was determined in that.

"Don't drag my mother into this. I know you include my mother too. Don't you dare scold her! I hope we don't want to have a sword fight again.."

"Okay. Well. Let's ask Thara if she wants me to come or not.", Tamizh said and Arjun nodded thinking for few seconds.

"Tell him he don't want to come", Arjun said. So, Arjun won't punish his mother for her offense. The main criminal is actually her though..

"I want him to come with me. What if you chase me away like that again? I want someone to drop me back at my kingdom.

"You think I will hurt you?", He asked hurt.

"Yes."

"That's my sister!", Tamizh exclaimed.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇