I ran through the forest with all the coursing strength I have in me, Grabbing the tree vines for extra muscle power, the wind slapped my face making my hair shoot backwards, My large eyes were on the grassy pathway, which scrunched with my every step.

 I was just 13 years old , how can they expect me to marry at such a tender age , it was my dream to learn and be something in my future and not some stupid man,My parents supported me but they can't turn against the rules, I must be married as soon as possible and being a born rebel, I ran away.

The dusty and rock laid forest floor made it hard to run with my bare feet, bruising my feet badly but I did not care, I tripped hard on an open root of a tree and fell down on the floor, bruising my legs, It pained when my ankle twisted in a strange way.

I winced when I saw huge blue blotch on my leg , I rolled my eyes and sighed , why am I so clumsy?

''Oho! How will you run now Bondita? You clumsy idiot!'' I cussed and slowly stood up with the help of a tree trunk and looked around grasping my bruised leg.. Wow!

Forest had always been our friend, the trees were my helpers, the birds my sibling and the soil my friend, being an outcast never made me feel small, but seems the forest is not supporting me today , I guess she wants me to marry a man 15 years elder than me too , seriously? I am just 13! Bondita always wins and today too she will.

I started running again , more like limping , If they find me , then I am a dead , I ran with all the strength I had , With each step my energy seems like draining my strength , I don't think I will be able to run anymore.

I reached the edge of my forest and saw smooth roads , I could just sit in the back of a cart and run away? Ha! Nice idea! Brilliant!

Tears streamed down my eyes as I bit my lips to stop myself from crying my heart my out , Those trees really injured my hands and legs .. scratches lined my hand and neck , I looked horrible , my hair must have looked like a birds nest.

My legs left my side and I fell on the perfect road , a silent cry leaving my parted lips , I did have the power to run anymore.

''Move out of the way girl!'' I heard an angry male voice , my eyes widened in horror when I saw a motor car coming straight in my way , I shut my eyes close and whimpered but nothing happened .. The car did not crash on me! Phew! Thank you Mother Durga!

I heard clacks of shoes coming towards me , this must be some aristocracy to wear these.. I felt him knelt beside , a lovely scent emitting from his body , I dare not look at him because Outcasts were not suppose to even glance at them.

''Do you know this is a road, and you are not supposed to just lie over here? You could have been killed! Don't you know that my mother needs to reach the hospital fast?'' he snapped viciously , by his voice I could get that he is not much older than .. but his young voice had power and authority.

''Dad, take mom to hospital , Let me see through this girl , How can people be so careless?'' he told his dad , I wept silently, with ravenous hair covering my face , I heard the car pass away from us .. leaving me alone with the son of a high cast.

''Hmm , now be quick and tell me what are you doing here girl?'' he snapped his fingers , the aristocrat grabbed my face and I winced , he turned my face towards him , I looked at his face through my hair , My mouth hung open. 

He looked young and alluring , nearly 2 years elder than me , he had dark messy hair falling on his face a bit , his eyes were deep hazel like the soil during rain , His perfect sharp jawline clenched and unclenched in his unfathomable rage. He looked like a man sculptured by god.

His left hand came forwards and moved my hair away from my face, revealing my face to him , I sinned him , he was not supposed to touch him , I know who he is now, the famed Zamindar Anirudh Roy Choudhary , what was spoken about him gave no justice to his beautiful looks .. 

I saw a look of surprise in his face , but he was quick to cover it by his pissed-off expression.. Why was he taken aback when he saw my face?

I let out a cry and looked down , trying to let me face be free from his harsh grip , But how much I tried , it seemed like he is holding my face tighter .. 

''Who are you? Please, Please don't cry , I did not mean to use those rude words at you , it just that my , my mother is about to give birth and we were getting late , If I haven't stopped , You would have died , I apologise ..'' he said , softly holding my face and wiping my tears away ..

I was in awe , no High cast apologises to an outcast , so they were right , he was a revolutionist since such a young age!

''My lord , please you are not supposed to touch me,I-I am an Outcast '' I whispered making him frown , He took a deep breath , Oops he was getting angry ..

'' I don't believe in such things , in my eyes all are equal , men , women all are humans , and look at you? You are heavily bruised, Let me take you to the hospital'' he wrapped his hands around me, I froze , I can get punished for this , for sinning a high-cast

I shook my head , let my tears stream down my cheeks , trying to remove his hand from my back ''Please sir , I can get punished for this , Please let me go..'' I pleaded but he refused to budge ..he helped me get up on my feet slowly , I winced at the sudden weight on my bruised leg

''Anirudh!'' we heard a stern voice from behind , we shot our head towards the most powerful zamindar Trilochan Roy Choudhary , we outcasts were not even supposed to glance at him.. I looked down , ashamed , why did I even run away? To face this?

''Nephew? Don't you know that she is an outcast?! You are not even supposed to look at her , forget touching her!'' he snapped in his authoritative voice leaning on the motor car.

''Uncle , how many times must I tell you that I don't believe in this nonsensical stuff! All are humans and now , she needs treatment and I will take her with me! That is my final decision!'' Anirudh snapped back at his own uncle, such an insurgent!

The Landlord's ancient eyes flashes anger for his nephew , then Anirudh did the unthinkable , He took me up in his arms as if I was a bride , I gasped in horror , what was he doing? I writhed in his arms but strangely he was stronger

''Anirudh! Put that dirty girl down!'' Trilochan boomed , Anirudh just scoffed and walked past him , he was a rebel just like me! Tears filled my eyes at those cruel words thrown at me by Trilochan

***

''I am sorry that I had no car to take you to the hospital , but this first aid might help and these English medicines too!'' Anirudh smiled at me , extending his hand that had these strange looking pills which I had never seen in my life.

I sat a few inches away from him , I am ashamed of even thinking of being with his stature , I will be the cause of taunts he will have to face in his future .. Helping an outcast.

We both are so young , just seen the word , ripe and ready for the world , 13 and 15 years of age , at such a tender age , Anirudh was gorgeous , strong and willed .. His smile was so beautiful that I felt my heart melting right away.

I gulped those strange pills and stayed silent , tears streaming down my eyes again thinking how Anirudh touched my feet for tying my twisted ankle , why was he doing this? 

''Hi , I am Anirudh , Anirudh Roy Choudhary , I hail from Tulsipur , I am 15 years old and you? What's your name little one?'' he asked extending his palm , I just looked away , allowing the guilt to gnaw me completely , I knew about him , who did not?

''Hey , look at me , what's wrong?'' he asked , his voice laced with worry , why is he worrying for me? Who am I to him? Why is he so kind? 

I froze again when I felt his fingers intertwining with mine , My headshot towards him with horror and withdrew my hand making him frown again.

'' Why did you run away from your home?'' he asked suddenly and I was taken aback , how did he know I-? ''I just knew'' he smiled as if he just read my mind.

''M-my family wanted me to marry a person who was so elder to me and I did not want to , so I ran away'' somehow I found my voice and whispered , I could feel the rage radiating from his body , he was getting angry , this guy need to bathe in cold water to calm his rage.

''What kind of Blasphemy is this? How can someone do this?! Once I become a Barrister I will make sure that I abolish all of these malpractices ..'' he seethed , somehow I smiled at this , my eyes gleaming under the sun.

''You are cute..'' he mused chuckling , my eyes widened , a red hue colouring my cheeks , I bit my lip and looked down as he continued laughing.

''Yes , you are indeed cute! Will you be my friend?'' he asked , I was a stranger and he just asked to be my friend? How sweet! 

''We never become friends with a high cast man..'' I whispered fiddling with the end of my saree , His hazel raked over my tiny and thin body and settled on my eyes , his stare was so deep that I felt I was lost in them. 

''I don't believe in that , now we are officially friends'' he chuckled again taking my hand shaking them with his , I just sat there like a rag doll , nothing to respond.

''This is a nice place and its making me sleepy , don't run away , am going to sleep , get it?'' he asked pointing his finger and I nodded.

He placed his head on my lap and I gasped again , within minutes his creaseless eyes lids closed over those hazels and he fell also , his parted lips letting his breath in and out , his chest rising and resting rhythmically.

I hesitantly placed my hands on his silky soft hair , my fingers intertwining with his locks , a smile touched his lips as my fingers played with his strands.

***

Ah Love!

Written with love , 

Me!