"Do you think I shall leave the estate? It belongs to me. I am not going to relinquish my birth right!" I heard Jasmine tell her grandfather.

I was in a quandary. She had become a riddle. I wondered what was brewing in that mind of hers.

She had openly declared that she would leave after the harvest in two weeks. I was heartbroken then.

She had become a person whom I could trust. And now, she was telling her grandfather that she would stay here to claim her stake. I was in two minds. I was relieved that she had no plans to leave. But I wondered why she would say that she would not leave the estate.

"No, Jasmine cannot have any ulterior motives. She's not another Gayatri and I have seen her love for the land. She is just like Pratap Uncle."

It is good that she has no plans to run away because I need her here.

Had Ma Sahib approve of Pratap Uncle's union with Rosalie Watson, I would have grown up with Jasmine. She would have been my fiancée and not Gayatri. Life would have been more exciting.

I came out of my idyllic dreams when I heard her grandfather leave the estate.

I am not going to let go of this matter easily. She had betrayed my trust by concealing her identity.

I met her hesitant gaze with a scorching glare. She quailed under my gaze.

I walked past her and went up to Ma Sahib's room.

I found her at the window looking abstractedly out into the valley.

The Cedars were swinging violently as if telling us about the storm that was raging inside each of us.

Ma Sahib's eyes were red and her face was tear streaked. I walked up to her and held her tightly.

She patted my head affectionately.

"If you want we can fire Jasmine straightway. You do not have to inflict yourself unnecessarily with her presence. She has cheated us by concealing the truth about her identity." I said with anger.

"Inder. I am not that weak. I have seen a lot in life. I lost my son and daughter-in-law because of my egotistical and narrow outlook. I'm not going to let go of my son's last memory. I knew about Jasmine's truth for I had seen her papers. I knew that this day would come. I had an inkling that Mr Watson would pay us a visit to take her back. But I'm not going to let my granddaughter go. She belongs here. All these days, I was watching her with a hawk's eye and she has proved herself beyond a shadow of doubt. She's here to complete her father's incomplete work. She's her father's daughter."

Ma Sahib detached herself from my embrace and sat down. I settled myself at her feet.

"Inder, I know you inside and out and I am aware of what you feel for her. You should now start making her aware of what you feel for her. That girl may be a whiz with figures but she is naïve in the matters of heart. It seems that she is a dunce where love is concerned and I should put her under Gayatri's tutelage for some training!" She let out a girlish giggle and winked at me.

I stared at Ma Sahib open-mouthed. I had never heard her laugh. I wonder whether the reason behind her smile was her reconciliation with her granddaughter.

"We will have another Gayatri amidst us!" She laughed.

I gulped in horror.

"I can't handle another Gayatri, Ma Sahib!" I muttered.

"Young man, you look surprised and shocked. You have my permission to court Jasmine because I have learnt my lesson. I want to give your love a chance and we cannot force anyone in the matters of the heart. You don't worry about Gayatri. She'll find someone who'll care for her." Ma Sahib said.

"You are a very shrewd lady, Ma Sahib. I never knew that you could read my mind. I thought that I had concealed my feelings for her from all. I was scared that if you discovered about my feelings for her, you would kill me for straying away from my fiancée." I said.

Ma Sahib smiled and stroked my hair lovingly.

"Go and talk to her. I'm sure that your angry gaze has spooked the girl!" Ma Sahib laughed.

I took her leave and rushed out into the garden to find Jasmine sitting with Laksh, Gayatri's younger brother.

"Jasmine, don't take Inderavadhan's anger to your heart. His anger will melt once he gets mesmerized by your blue eyes. He keeps on saying that all the women swoon in his presence. But now, he swoons in your presence. Bat your pretty little eyelids and make him dance around your little finger!" He laughed.

I heard her laugh merrily.

"Laksh, is Gayatri teaching you all this?" I heard her ask him.

"Jas-monkey, she has been my guru for many years!" Laksh laughed.

I barged in anger and grabbed hold of Jasmine's hand and dragged her to the study.

"Inder, let her go!" Laksh shouted from behind us.

I ignored him and pulled Jasmine into the study and shut the door behind us.

She was red in face and looked ready to throttle me.

As soon as the door shut, she burst forth before I could.

"How dare you manhandle me, you ogre! You are a caveman who has no etiquettes!" She shouted.

"You say that I have no manners? And what about you? I don't go about concealing things from friends. You broke my heart by not trusting me. I think that I have made a big mistake by losing my heart to you." I roared in anger.

Jasmine stared at me stupefied. Her mouth was open and her deep blue eyes shone brightly with unshed tears.

"Inderavadhan, are you playing some game with me? I had a very tough day today. I know that you are angry. But don't exact your revenge by playing with my emotions!" She cried.

I laughed at her and she glared at me.

"I knew it!" She crowed.

"Somebody rightly told me that you were a dunce in the matters of the heart!" I laughed aloud.

Jasmine punched me hard.

I blocked her punch and smothered her hand with a kiss.

She recoiled in shock.

"What will you tell Gayatri? I don't want to hurt her!" She said.

I made her sit down gently and sat opposite her and held her hands.

I stared into her earnest blue eyes.

"Jasmine, don't let that guilt consume you. We are not doing anything wrong. Gayatri and I are not meant to be together. I shall never be happy with her. She does not make me feel the way you do. Her presence does not ignite that fire of passion that yours does. Every single day with you feels like an adventure. You make me want to laugh and pull my hair at the same time. Your parents' union has taught me that you should fight for your love. Life is too short, Jas-monkey. Let's not waste a single moment. Give me and our love a chance. Once that termite, Suryavadhan is out of our life, both of us will convince Ma Sahib of our love!" I said.

My heart was beating loudly as I awaited her reply with baited breath.

"Did the ogre turn into Prince Charming overnight or has Gayatri performed some voodoo on you? Have you been reading those mushy romances that Gayatri reads?" She laughed.

I pulled her up to me and planted a tender kiss on her cheek.

"You have five seconds to make your decision. If you don't answer, I shall drag Gayatri to the temple and marry her tomorrow morning!" I threatened.

Jasmine laughed aloud.

"I don't think you'll be able to do that Inderavadhan for I believe that you are entranced by my blue eyes and I just have to bat my eyelids to make you dance around my little finger!"

She batted her eyelids and gave me a coy smile that sent my heart into a frenzy.

"I love you too!" She softly said and ran away.