The horses were stopped by their masters at the pleasant forest near the banks of Sarayu. Mrunmaye and Rameshwari got down from their stallions and so did Ulka and other maids.

The prince of Shripuram and princess of Kosal, walked side by side for a while. No talks took place, just both of them enjoying a type of blessed silence of that was only possible in each other's company.

Rameshwari was looking at her feet while walking, a smile had been adorning her lips as she walked beside him. Her irises gazed at his feet, then at his hands swaying naturally as he walked, her gaze went up to his face, which was looking at her only.

A smile was adorning Mrunmaye's face, adding to the charms of his youth, as he kept looking at her and her only. And like every time, the cheeks of Rameshwari heated up, seeing that subtle smile of his, that generous smile of his that only appeared when she was with him.

It was quite intriguing how the one who had won the entire earth, lost herself to a smile, a smile which was like the sunshine and the birdsong, which was both the cage and the ever open door. Her eyes lowered themselves again, as she stepped a little sideways, so there was less distance between them.

Their fingers and knuckles brushes past each other once or twice, sending sensations of bliss in both their bodies. Rameshwari gazed at his hands, and stealthily intertwined her little finger with that of his.

Mrunmaye looked at their hands, and then at her who was now looking on the other side so to hide her blushing cheeks.

He simpered slightly before intertwining all his fingers with that of hers, comparatively smaller and softer one, which made her look at him with a surprised expression.

"Udhar baithe ?" He asked pointing at the shade of a small flowering tree.

Rameshwari just nodded demurely before he gently took her along him. Both of them sat down, and the maids occupied their places beside.

Mrunmaye leaned back, resting with the help of his elbow, looking at Rameshwari who was staring at the ground.

"Kya aapko mujhse baat karne mei ruchi nahi ?" He asked.

"Aisa nahi hai." She said looking at him, worried that she might've offended him in some way.

"Toh kariye na." He said sitting up and leaning towards her little, causing her to instantly look down.

"Rajkumar woh..." She was too flustered to say anything.

"Woh kya ?" Mrunmaye asked in almost a whisper like voice, Rameshwari looked at him, his eyes seemed to have been holding everything her soul thirsts for. And to him, her eyes seemed to be like the ones which can burn a heart to ashes and also turn the universe upside down, at least his universe.

Ulka who was sitting beside looked at them both rather amused, to her it looked like the prince and the princess were having a deep conversation with their eyes.

The maids which were suspicious of something between Rameshwari and Mrunmaye, were cleared of their doubts, because they both were looking into each other's eyes for a little too long to be just acquaintances.

Suddenly Rameshwari was brought out of her stance when Mrunmaye raised his arm up and plucked a small branch with several flowers.

The Ram-suta looked at the prince of Shripuram with interest as he separated the flowers from the bunch and then entangled the best of them in a small palm-sized bouquet, and then handed it to her.

Rameshwari looked at the small bouquet amusedly, a chuckle left her lips for she found it very adorable.

"Badi acchi kala aati hai aapko pushpo ke saath." She said looking at him who just staring at her with immeasurable love and a small smile.

"Aise kya dekh rahe hai ?" Rameshwari asked.

"Prathna kar raha hu." Mrunmaye said.

"Kya ?" She asked curiously.

"Ki tum sadev aise hi haste raho." He said.

Rameshwari's lips parted and then curled into a smile, the pupils of her heterochromic eyes subtly got enlarged, as they got half closed while she tilted her head.

Suddenly the sound of footsteps alerted everyone, it belonged to sage who was walking towards them. He had a long black beard and matted hair tied in a bun over his head.

They all stood up seeing him, but the faces of Rameshwari and Mrunmaye fell extremely serious, knowing who he was.

"Mai Rajkumar aur Rajkumari se kuch baat karna chaahta hu. Akele mei." He said.

Ulka and the maids looked at Rameshwari, who gestured them to leave. They obeyed. The moment they were out of sight, Mrunmaye came in front of Rameshwari, folding his arms.

"Aane ka karan kya hai, kaal ?" He asked.

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A/N

Oooh..... Kaal himself is here 🌝✨

What's gonna happen ?