Chapter 12

Rudra removes hair from shambhavi's face. Shambhavi slowly opens her eyes. Both looked at each other. Suddenly shambhavi gets up in huff and leave the cottage. Rudra tried to stop her but she left. Radha maa saw her coming. She goes towards her but she walks away in anger.

Radha maa: what happened to her? I should ask rudra

Radha maa goes inside the cottage and saw rudra standing near the cottage's window.

Radha maa: what are you doing? You are supposed to rest. You are not allowed to walk.

Rudra: ia m fine radha maa. See even my wound is healing.

Radha maa: I know you are recovering fast but that doesn't mean that you become careless. You still needs rest. I want to ask you what happened to shambhavi? I saw her going outside and she seems very angry. is everything ok between you two?

Rudra (hesitatingly): yes everything is fine. She just needs some fresh air so.

He stopped but radha maa wasn't convinced with his answer but she remained quiet. She gives rudra milk and fruits and told him to eat.

Radha maa: I am leaving for now but when I return then all these things should be finished.

Rudra nods in yes and radha maa left . shambhavi was walking angrily thinking about all the past moments she spent with rudra. She reaches near a lake and sat on a big rock. She thinks

Shambhavi: what is happening to me? Why am I becoming like this? Why I can't control my feelings when I saw him. Why? Why? why?

She throws a stone in the lake in anger. Radha maa comes there and sits beside her. For a moment both didn't say anything then radha maa starts the conversation.

Radha maa: what is it? Why are you here? Is something bothering you? You can tell me if you want to.

Shambhavi: no radha maa there's nothing like that. I am fine I am just a little tired that's all.

Radha maa: then why are you so angry and frustrated?

Shambhavi: I told you I am just tired that's why I am a little frustrated.

Before radha maa can ask another question. Shambhavi gets up and leave from there. Radha maa watchs her going suspiciously. Shambhavi came back to the cottage but didn't go inside the cottage. She turned to leave when radha maa comes and gives her another saree and ask her to take bath. Shambhavi goes to bath. When she comes back radha maa gave her some fruits to eat but she was not in the mood to eat anything.

Radha maa: if you consider me as your mother you will eat.

Shambhavi looks at her teary eyed and hugs her. She eats the fruits. Radha maa consoles her even though she didn't know the reason of her crying. She wanted to ask but remained quiet.

Radha maa: don't cry, I won't ask you why are you crying until you tell me.

She wiped her tears and said it's time to change rudra's dressing.she ask if she wants to come with her or not. Shambhavi remained silent.

Radha maa: don't worry I'll go alone.

When she was about to go inside the cottage a man came running.

Man(panicked): radha maa plz come with me, my wife and my son become unconscious suddenly. Plz come with me and look what is wrong with them.

Radha maa: ok I'll come with you right now. shambhavi take this and change rudra's dressing.

Shambhavi was shocked hearing this. Radha maa handed over some medicines to her

Shambhavi: but radha maa how can i?

Radha maa: why not? He is your husband and besides his dressing needs to be changed now.

Radha maa left with that man. Shambhavi was still standing there and was thinking about radha maa's word.she wasn't unable to decide whether to go inside or not. After thinking a lot she decided to go inside. rudra was lying on the bed. Shambhavi comes and rudra saw her in surprise.

Rudra: I thought you left.

Shambhavi: I didn't

Rudra: why are you still here?

Shambhavi(angrily): do I really have to give answer to all of your questions?

Rudra didn't say anything.

Shambhavi: radha maa told ne to change your dressing that's why I am here otherwise.

Rudra: where is radha maa?

Shambhavi: she is not here. She went to look after someone else.

Rudra: ok then I'll wait for her. You don't need to do all this.

Shambhavi: radha maa said your dressing needs to be changed now.

Rudra: no princess you don't have to do this. i am fine.

Shambhavi goes near him and sits on the same bed in which he was lying.

Shambhavi: I don't want to argue with you.

She starts removing his bandage. Rudra holds her hand.

Shambhavi: now what? Leave my hand

Rudra leaves her hand watches her strangely. He too gets up. Shambhavi was slowly removing bandage. Rudra felt a little pain. Shambhavi saw him in pain and started removing it more gently. Then she slowly wiped his wound and applies medicine on it. Rudra was in pain. He holds her tightly. Shambhavi gently blew on his wound. Rudra becomes a little relieved and then she wrapped up his wound. While changing rudra's dressing she becomes very close to rudra. She didn't even realize that she was sitting very close to him.shambhavi slowly raises her head and look into rudra's eyes. Rudra too looked into her eyes. They were becoming more and more closer. Finally both become so close that they can feel each other's breath. They were lost in each other's eyes.Their lips were so close to each other. Rudra slowly raises his hand and touches shambhavi's face, shambhavi closes her eyes. A tear fell off from her eye. Rudra wipes her tear.rudra's lips touches shambhavi's lips and they kiss. Shambhavi eyes were closed and so rudra's. They were kissing each other very gently and passionately.rudra was holding shambhavi's face and shambhavi was holding rudra's shoulder. When they finished kissing shambhavi slowly opens her eyes and saw rudra infront of her. She realizes what she has done and gets up quickly. She was shocked and was starts crying. Even rudra was stunned with what just happened.

Shambhavi: no, what have I done? This shouldn't happen. How can I make such a huge mistake?

Rudra gets up. He was equally shocked. He becomes speechless. He too didn't believe what just happened

Shambhavi: I won't be able to forget myself ever. I have committed a crime. Maa kali will never forgive me.

She sits on the ground and was crying badly. Rudra approached her but stops

Rudra: no princess it's completely my fault. I should have control myself. You can punish me for what I have done. Plz dont cry it's not your fault.

Shambhavi: it's completely my fault.

She gets up in anger.

Shambhavi: it's all my fault. I should have never agreed to come with you. I should have never agreed to make that deal with you. i should have never trust you. You are nothing for me. You don't exist for me.and I am nothing for you. We are enemies. You are my enemy and I am yours.

Rudra was shocked hearing all this. He becomes sad and angry.

Rudra: yes you are right. I should have never forget that you are nothing to me except my enemy's daughter. I should have never saved you. I regret saving your life.

Shambhavi too becomes hurt and sad.

Shambhavi: why do you hate my father so much ? you have no proof against him that he killed your mother.infact it's your father who killed my uncle and that too brutally.

Rudra: my mother pointed towards your father when she was dying. What else do you want?do you think a dying person will lie?

Shambhavi: I don't know all this.i just know that my father is innocent and he can't kill anyone.

Rudra: I don't care if you believe it or not. You can't change the truth and the truth is he is a killer and he has to pay for what he has done.

Shambhavi and rudra looked each other with anger and hatred. Shambhavi walks off from the cottage and rudra turned his face on other side.

Shambhavi comes outside the cottage crying badly and thinking about what just happen inside. She was cursing herself. She fell on her knees while crying. Rudra too becomes teary eyed inside the cottage but his face was blank and expressionless. shambhavi controls herself and wipes her tears she saw some men coming towards her. She was stunned seeing that it was her father vikramaditya. She quickly gets up and ran towards him. Shambhavi hugged her father and starts crying. Vikramaditya and rananjay was relieved seeing her. Vikramaditya too starts crying

Vikramaditya: my dear I have been looking for you everywhere. Tell me you are fine. You can't even imagine how much I have gone through.

Shambhavi (crying): I miss you pitaji. Plz take me home. I don't wanna stay here anymore.

Vikramaditya: sure my dear I'll take you home. Your mother and brother are worried about you.

He wiped shambhavi tears. Meanwhile radha maa comes there and ask them who they are.

Shambhavi: he is my father radha maa.

Vikramaditya: I am the king of videha, he is my senapati rananjay these are my soldiers.

Shambhavi thinks what if radha maa told pitaji about rudra. He will kill him. No I won't let this happen.

Radha maa: ok.

Radha maa was about to say about rudra to vikramaditya but shambhavi stopped her by holding her hand. She looks at her and nods in no. radha maa changes the topic.

Radha maa: you are our guest maharaj and you look exhausted too. I am requesting you to stay here for sometime.after that you can go and I will also tell you a short way to go out from this forest.

Vikramaditya looked at shambhavi she smiles and nods in yes.

Vikramaditya: ok if you insist we'll stay here for sometime.

Radha maa take them to another cottage.shambhavi too goes with him. When they reach the cottage radha maa gave them some food and water.

Radha maa: maharaj . you should rest now. If you need anything then don't hesitate to tell me.

Vikramaditya: of course and thank you for all this.

Radha maa goes outside. Shambhavi too goes behind her.

Shambhavi: radha maa I know you are angry with me.but I can explain everthing.

Radha maa smiles and said

Radha maa: no shambhavi you don't need to explain anything. I know everything.

Shambhavi was shocked hearing this

Shmabhavi: but how do you?

Radha maa: I was outside the cottage when you and rudra were talking.but I want to tell you one thing.you two are made for each other. I have seen that love and care in both of your eyes. You deserve to be together.

Shambhavi becomes a little stern and says

Shambhavi: no radha maa we can't be together. We are enemies. There is only one relation between us and its hatred.

Radha maa: I have never seen enemies taking care of each other.

Shambhavi was avoiding looking into radha maa's eyes. She was showing fake anger.

Shambhavi: it was only for humanity. He saved my life and I saved his life. Nothing more than that.

Radha maa: really that's it. You sure there is nothing more than that. Why are you lying? you are lying to yourself.

Shambhavi: no radha maa I am not.

Radha maa comes near her holds her hand and put it on her heart.

Radha maa: now tell me there is nothing between you and him

Shambhavi becomes speechless. Tears started rolling down from her eyes.

jyoti072013-08-23 10:53:58