✨✨✨✨✨✨
⟨ THE WOODS ⟩
Narmada jammed her hands together clapping for Zain, after he was done playing his dizi (traditional way of calling flute).
“That was a nice melody Zain” She said smiling.
“Thanks Narmada”
“Seems like you are getting comfortable playing your dizi, you should play for people who are obsessed with melodical songs and make money from it” Narmada said smiling.
“I can’t do that Narmada” Zain said shaking his head.
“Why not Zain? You are so good at what you do, you should make money from it”
“I am only comfortable playing my dizi only when I am alone or when I am with you” Zain said.
“Are you really shy like Anisha said you were?” She asked smiling.
“Not really. I am not a courageous person, so I get shy when doing something even though I know I am good at it” He said.
Narmada smiled and wrapped her arm around his shoulder.
“Don’t worry Zain, because I got your back, I am not the type to get shy even though I know I am doing something in a wrong way. Narmada is here to send some of her courage to you, because I am not shy” Narmada said, and Zain laughed.
“You weren’t this way when I first met you, what happened?” He asked smiling.
“I met someone crazy yesterday, and somehow I want to act and behave like her. She’s good at what she does, and she is very crazy”
“Who?”
“Swati, she is my new friend, and she is very beautiful” Narmada said.
“You are more beautiful”
“Really?” She asked smiling, and Zain nodded his head.
“When I first met you, I saw you self crushing yourself in the mirror you were holding, and the way you smiled and looked at yourself in the mirror, made me admire your beauty. And when I saw the horse running towards you, I figured out that I have to save the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with”
“I only shouted at you, because I was scared of what might have happened to you if I didn’t push you out of the way. I was shy to speak to you, and that was why I quickly left”.
“But I came back again and I saw you leaving with a maiden, my wish was to see you again, and thankfully I saw you again, and here we are, bonding so well” Zain said looking at Narmada.
Narmada smiled and asked. “Is this your way of saying you are in love with me?”
And Zain slowly nodded her head.
“I love you too Zain, right from the very first day I saw you. There are lot of things I haven’t told you yet, but believe me when I say I truly love you” Narmada said with tears falling down her eyes.
Zain cleaned her tears with his thumb, and caressed her face softly.
“I won’t force you to tell me, and when you finally decide to speak up and tell me the truth, I will forgive you right away” Zain said.
“You will?” Narmada asked looking at him.
“Yes I will Narmada, because I love you so much, thanks for coming into my life” Zain said and Narmada smiled sadly.
He kissed her forehead and pulled her into a hug, wrapping her arms around her. Narmada hugged him back, and slowly allowed her tears to flow.
“I am sorry Zain” She said, Zain smiled and pats her softly.
“Don’t be Narmada. I will listen when you are ready to talk” He said and kissed her hair.
✨✨✨✨✨✨
⟨ THE BIBLIOTHECA ⟩
“I told you he wasn’t going to come. He’s nothing but a liar and a proud little rat” Kenji said.
“Can you just shut up? I know he’s going to come” Anisha said.
“How sure are you?”
“Because I believe him” Anisha said.
“Don’t tell me you already have trust on a boy you just met recently? How lame” Kenji said.
“I also trust you when we first met Kenji. I don’t why you are always angry anytime Ansel is involved?” Anisha asked.
“Because I don’t trust him”
“Look at who is talking. You haven’t even trust yourself and you’re saying you don’t trust someone else”
“That’s harsh Ani”
“Then stop talking bad about Ansel, you don’t know him and yet you are talking bad about him” Anisha said.
“Anisha” Jai said approaching them.
“You came” She said smiling.
“I promise you I was going to come, right?”
“Yes you did” Anisha said giggling while Kenji frowned.
“Did you bring the books?”
“Yes I did, and I am going to teach you everything I know. Come with me” Jai said and took her hand.
Both went to the reading spot in the bibliotheca, and they sat closer to each other, as Jai lectured her.
Kenji wasn’t happy about it, so he went to where they were and pushed Jai away, and he fell to the ground.
“Why did you push him Kenji?” Anisha asked.
“I just wanted to sit in the center of you both. I didn’t push him that hard, he is just too soft and that’s why he fell” Kenji said and sat down.
“Aren’t you going to lecture us anymore, tutor Ansel?” Kenji asked.
Jai looked at Kenji and sighed
*If only he knows I am a prince, he won’t be doing this to me* Jai said inwardly, before sitting back on the chair.
✨✨✨✨✨✨
⟨ BACK IN THE PALACE ≈ NIGHT ⟩
Tatiana slowly opened her eyes, and sees Cheng holding her hand, with his head buried to the ground.
“Cheng”
He looked up and when he sees Tatiana awake, he quickly hugged her.
“I am sorry Tatiana, I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry” Cheng said crying.
“I am okay Cheng, stop crying” She said, and Cheng broke the hug, and held her face.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you Tatiana, I lost control and I wasn’t thinking” He said with a feeling of guilt.
“Don’t feel guilty Cheng, it wasn’t your fault” Tatiana said with a smile.
“How can you forgive me so easily Tiana? You begged me to stop, but I never did”
“Because I know is not your fault Cheng, and beside I am your bride, so it’s a normal thing” She said smiling.
“Does it hurt down there?” He asked, still feeling guilty.
“Yes, but I will be fine. How long have I been unconscious?” She asked.
“Twenty four hours”
“Twenty four hours? Wow you almost killed me for real”
“Sorry” He said bringing down his head, and Tatiana smile.
“I was kidding”
“I tried to heal you earlier, so you will wake up, but I couldn’t do it”
“Really?”
“Yes Tiana. My powers didn’t work on you earlier” Cheng said.
“Maybe is because I was unconscious”
“But I was able to heal your wounds and wake you up when you were beaten up after you were accused of poisoning Narmada” Cheng said.
“I don’t why, maybe it’s just happened that way” She said and Cheng smiled.
“I am glad you are awake, my beautiful damsel” Cheng said and kissed her.
He broke the kiss some minutes later to look at Tatiana, but he gasped with wide opened eyes.
“What wrong Cheng? Why are you looking so shocked?” Tatiana asked.
“Tiana, you are… You are fading away”
……
TBC
