Rudra and shambhavi (A Moharika FF) update pg 145 - Page 13

It was night time. The forest seems very quiet. Rudra collected some woods to light fire. Its getting cold by every passing moment. Both rudra and shambhavi were quiet. No one was talking to each other. They were sitting on opposite sides of fire. Rudra saw that shambhavi is shivering with cold.

Rudra: are you ok?

Shambhavi: I am fine.

Rudra: you don't look fine.

Shambhavi (shivering): I said I am fine

Rudra: ok then, where do we have to go in the morning?

Shambhavi: what kind of question is this? We'll follow the same route which we were following before.

Rudra: and you are sure that the path is correct.

Shambhavi: absolutely

Rudra: you remember princess its already night and till day after tomorrow you have to find a way to get out of this forest.

Shambhavi: I know and you don't have to remind me again and again.

Rudra: ok then good night I am going to sleep.

Shambhavi: I am hungry.

Rudra: what?

Shambhavi: I said I am hungry and I need something to eat.

Rudra: I am very sorry princess but you told me not to help you. Remember?

Shambhavi: yes I remember and I didn't ask for your help. I'll myself go and search something to eat.

Shambhavi left with a wooden torch to search for food. Rudra watches her going and goes to sleep. Shambhavi was searching for food. She was a a little scared of all the noises occurring in the forest. After searching for about half an hour she found an apple tree ( don't ask me apple tree kahan se aaya)😆. Shambhavi becomes happy and overwhelmed seeing the tree. She tried to pluck the apples but they were out of her reach. She was jumping and trying to pluck the apples but no use. At last she decided to climb up the tree. she was trying to climb on the tree but every time her lehenga gets stuck. Finally she was succeed in climbing up a little on the tree but as soon as was gonna climb up the tree sher lehenga gets stuck and she falls. Suddenly rudra came and catches her and saves her from falling from the tree (eyelock). He puts her down.

Shambhavi: why did you come here?

Rudra: because I am hungry too and I couldn't sleep.

Shambhavi was looking at rudra suspiciously.

Rudra: oh no princess. Don't even think that I came here to help you. I came here for my own sake.

Shambhavi: then how did you me find? How did you know I am here?

Rudra: I didn't. It's just a co-incidence that we both found the same apple tree.

Rudra climb up the tee and brought some apples and they both went to the same place where they came from. Rudra was eating apples and offer some to shambhavi but she denied.

Rudra: look princess, I know you are angry and you'll not be able to sleep until you eat something so take this apple and eat.

Shambhavi: no, I don't want it

Rudra: princess, could you please keep your anger aside for a moment and think logically. If you don't eat then you'll not be able to continue your journey tomorrow.

Shambhavi goes in thinking mode.

Shambhavi: maybe you are right.

Rudra: maybe? I am always right.

Shambhavi: whatever.

She takes the apple and eats and both asleep. It was midnight shambhavi was sleeping but rudra was awake. He was looking at shambhavi with intense hatred and reminding all the past events.

Rudra: what if I kill her right now. Her father is the reason of all my miseries. She is my enemy's daughter. Why am I listening to her? She is no one for me. If I kill her then vikramaditya will go through the same pain which me and my father have gone through.

Rudra gets up in anger and starts walking towards shambhavi. His eyes were full of rage. He was walking very slowly towards her. He was about to strangle her but stopped all of a sudden when he saw her sleeping peacefully. She was looking very innocent like a child. Rudra couldn't get the strength to kill her watching a serene smile on shambhavi's face. He backs off. Shambhavi was still sleeping. She has no idea what rudra is upto.

Rudra: no, I can't do this. I can't kill her. She is not my enemy. What I was going to do. It's not right. She is innocent and she is nothing but only a way to take my revenge.

Rudra goes to sleep.

Vajramitra along with baldev and his soldiers reach the cliff from where rudra and shambhavi fell.

Soldier: maharaj, prince and princess of videha fall from here. This is the same place.

Vajramitra inspects the cliff. He looked at the river and its flow

Vajramitra: the river's flow must have taken them far from here. We'll follow the direction of river's flow. That way we can find them easily.

Vajramitra and baldev with soldiers reaches down the cliff and starts following river's flow through the forest.

In the morning

Shambhavi wakes up. She looks around but rudra was nowhere. She stands up and started searching for him.

Shambhavi: he must have left while I was sleeping. I should have never trust him. It's all my fault

Suddenly a voice came

Rudra: are you looking for me princess?

Shambhavi becomes shocked seeing him

Rudra: what were you thinking? I left

Shambhavi: no, I was just.

Rudra: c'mon princess. Why can't you just accept that you were looking for me?

Shambhavi: I didn't and where were you?

Rudra: I have to take some food for our journey.

Shambhavi: Finally you have done something useful

Rudra: can I expect a thank you?

Shambhavi : thank you. Now you are happy. Let's go

Rudra: are you sure we'll reach the mandir by today?

Shambhavi: yes I will surely find that temple today.

Rudra: today is 2^nd day remember?

Shambhavi (angrily): let's go

Rudra: ok

Both started their journey again.

Vikramaditya also reach the same cliff along with his senapati rananjay and some soldiers. Soldiers inform him about shambhavi falling from the cliff. Vikramaditya started searching for shambhavi.

Vikramaditya: I will not rest until I'll find you.

Rudra and shambhavi were walking in the jungle

Rudra: princess we should reach the mandir by now. Where are you taking ma?

Shambhavi: keep quiet and just follow me.

Shambhavi was also confused. The forest was very dense and everything looks same.

Rudra: what happen princess? Don't tell me you are confused.

Shambhavi: not at all. We are on the right path.

They were going through a lake but suddenly they heard an animal's voice. That animal was crying in pain.

Shambhavi: did you hear something?

Rudra: yes I heard. It must be some animal. So what

Shambhavi: can't you hear that animal is crying in pain?

Rudra: yes princess, I can very well hear it but we should not be bother about this because that animal could be anyone. That animal could be dangerous too.

Shambhavi: are you insane? How can we leave that animal crying in pain? I am gonna go look for him and will help him.

Rudra was shocked hearing this.

Rudra: but princess I told you that animal could be dangerous

Shambhavi: I don't care. I am going

Shambhavi started searching for the animal. Rudra also goes with her. After searching for a while they saw a deer whose leg was bleeding badly and he was crying in pain. Shambhavi goes towards the deer. The deer was scared. Shambhavi slowly goes towards her and sits beside the deer. Rudra was watching all this. She touches deer's head affectionately. She smiles seeing him.

Shambhavi: you will be fine.

Shambhavi torn a piece from her dupatta and soaked it into water. She cleans the wound of deer's leg. She takes another piece from her dupatta and tie it on deer's leg. Deer was not crying anymore and he also seems relieved. Rudra was watching all this. He thinks.

Rudra: I was wrong about you. Today I have seen another side of you. Behind a stubborn and short tempered princess there is a loving and caring princess too. Rudra was very impressed with her behaviour.

Shambhavi: now you'll be fine soon.

She left but rudra was still standing there looking at her adoringly.

Shambhavi: what happen? Are you coming or not?

Rudra came back in the real world

Rudra: umm yes I am coming.

Both started walking again leaving behind a relieved deer. While they were walking rudra heard someone's footstep as if someone was stalking them. He stops

Shambhavi: what happen? Why did you stop?

Rudra: someone is here. I heard someone's footstep.

Shambhavi: what are you saying? I don't hear anything

Rudra: listen carefully

Shambhavi listened carefully. She too notices some strange noise.

Rudra: let's go

Shambhavi: ok

They were about to go when suddenly some armed men came in front of them and stopped their way. They were looking like tribesmen with bow and arrow and swords. They encircle both rudra and shambhavi.

Rudra (furiously): who are you? And what do you want?

The entire tribesmen were looking at shambhavi and her jewellery. They didn't said anything and suddenly attacks on both of them. Rudra and shambhavi defended themselves very well. They were not afraid of them. They snatch swords from the some of them and killed many of those. They fight bravely but some of the tribesman escapes. While they were going a tribesman looked at rudra furiously as if he was saying I'll return soon.

Shambhavi: where did they came from?

Rudra: I don't know but I am sure they will return we better move of this forest as soon as possible

Shambhavi nods in yes and both left to find a way out of the forest.