The letter was in her hand!
Kaya's face paled up at the thought of getting exposed. Everything was taking a turn in the wrong direction. Even though she knew it was not her fault but she was still involved in it in someway, now she suddenly have parents who have agreed to get her married off!
Kaya gritted her teeth and looked through the crowd. Her fist turned cold and sweaty, neither was arya in her sight nor kriti.
Her eyes searched for kriti and when her gaze landed on a girl running in red towards bhuasa carrying the letter. she felt her world coming to an end.
She dragged her feets in an attempt to stop her but she knew there was no way it was possible.. her gaze met arya's who had an indifferent expression on her face but there was a bit of uneasiness also which was evident.
What's arya feeling right now?' Kaya thought to herself. 'how would she react if she was exposed?" Kaya wondered
"Maasa! Look our jiji has already started getting love letters now!" Kriti squealed in excitement looking toward arya. She thought the letter was meant for her as she had it initially.
Arya mentally face palmed herself. 'This childish girl!'
"Oh! Looks like my daughter has finally grown up, how about i get your hand painted red along with your devika jiji?" Maasa teased as bhuasa joined her.
"That's not the case-" arya wanted to explain that what they were thinking was not right...she has never looked towards or have ever been attracted to a guy in her whole lifetime...how will she explain that the letter was meant for Kaya.
"Here, give me the letter" kriti handed the letter to bhuasa for her to open it, bhuasa was the eldest among the house so naturally she should be the one first opening it.
"Bhuasa, wait-" Kaya screamed as her face turned pale. She said steeping forward and almost snatching the letter from the elder's hand. "It's my letter...i mean it's meant for me." She panted as her eyes fluttered in an anxious manner. "Oh is it for you?" Maasa said and bhuasa yet continued to open the letter.
'god! As much as these people show love..they have no concept of privacy' she muttered under her breath.
Before Kaya could do anything more she realised that bhuasa had already read the content inside the letter. Bhuasa moved her gaze to Kaya, and she knew it was over. Arya' eyes went wide in shock, gone!
Rudra's parent were always eager for this marriage and now even her so called parents had agreed to it
Bhuasa let out a teary smile and said" come here child." She took kaya's hand in her giving it a small sqeeze as Kaya remained speechless. Bhuasa passed the letter to maasa who was initially puzzled pondering over the reason behind as bhuasa becoming so emotional.
Kaya looked down at bhuasa's feet which were almost covered with her heavy skirt.
Bhuasa hugged her and kissed her on the head petting it lightly while wiping off her own tears. Arya stood numb .
Arya was not sure what to do as well, should she interfere or not, is her brother and Kaya destined to be together?
She could only sigh in disappointment yet maintained her usual poker face.
Kaya remained still not breaking away from the hug not did she hugged her back.
"wait here ,i'll call everyone and tell them the good news immediately" maasa said with a wide smile resting on her face. Kriti squealed in excitement and kaya couldn't help but narrow her eyes at her in irritation.
However she knew that the real problem lied somewhere else and she was determined to get down to it and find a way out of this situation.
She knew what exactly she had to!
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The night was cold just as much the day had been hot.
Kaya glanced at the bed as she carefully covered her face like a mask with a black scarf leaving only her eyes. She hid herself under the black cloth and wore a loose trouser like pant which was pleated.
She swore she looked like an assassin now, the ones she has watched in many of the Chinese dramas.
'princess, sleep peacefully while I go out to take a stroll' she adjusted the transparent dupatta on arya's body which covered less than what was on display.
She turned out and moved in the direction of the cupboard and opened a small box carefully which had delicate mirror work embellishment.
She took out the letter from it and kept it inside her clothes.
......
Roaming in the palace for what seem like an hour or so she finally found the stable where the horses were kept.
Fortunately for her, she knew how to ride a horse. She looked around and was irritated by the kind of noise they made.
'why so loud Mr, when every one's sleeping?' there were around 70 horses till where her eyes could see, had she explored more she would loose the count.
Finally in the end she chose the one who seemed the calmest.
" You are not just a horse, remember, you are my companion." she said to the horse who looked like he was carefully listening to her.
" my friend, keep in mind that you are also my crime partner. You will have equal share in whatever we do.alright" she said gently patting his head.
Kaya believe herself to be crazy talking to a horse like this late at night. However she believed in bonding before action.
Kaya released him of his leash and sat on it. She tenderly rubbed his side and signalled him to move.
But before that she heard a voice, which she knew very well.
"Stop whoever is there!" he called in a flat tone.
Rudra.
"...." She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down.
Rudra realized that it was probably a thief which was roaming in the palace and was going to steal the horse. After all he had been following the thief carefully since a the last half an hour.
'does this man not sleep?' she thought.
Kaya was stuck, she couldn't answer him, cause if she did,he would know immediately that it is her.
So she did what seemed right to her. She nudged the horse to move and it soon follower the ordered.
On seeing the thief on move with his favorite horse, rudra also took action in time and sat on the nearer horse to follow the thief.
Kaya's heart was in a haphazard but she knew she had to to get out of his sight soon.
Rudra kept on following her and the horse galloped to match her pace. He secured his hand on his sword and knew that he won't restrain himself from using it if the need arises.
With each gallop, kaya could feel her wounds opening up, she hissed and looked back to only see rudra still following her.
'Why is he so persistent?' if only he stops, will she able to take a break and take a look at her wound. She could feel the blood running down her waist, sending a cold shiver down her spine.
Rudra kept his gaze on the thief, who was in all black. He knew with the way the thief was riding the horse that 'he' was tired, after all they have came really far. He would have actually cared less upon a horse getting sealed but it was not just simply a horse. It was his favourite horse! And he knew better to claim what was his.
Kaya knew she couldn't keep up with this anymore, and with a loud thump she fell on the desert cold sand. She rolled down from the sand hump and came to a halt while momentarily clenching her teeth at the pain. Her body kept on sliding on the smooth sand.
Rudra soon stopped and came down with his sword. To be honest he felt confused by what made the thief surrender easily. Not being aware of the reasons that the so called thief was hurt..very badly.
Kaya saw the approaching man and secured her hand at her scarf. Her eyes were dazy and her gaze blurred.
She can't let him see her face! Nor can she stop now, she has to go to that address at any cost!
"do you know the consequences of stealing a horse of the royal family? You could loose your head." he said calmly.
The sword was pointed at her head.
Kaya couldn't help but feel helpless. She can't give up this easily when she took this big risk to help herself out .
Taking out his sword, rudra kept it at the thief's neck.
"come on, now remove that mask." he said in a stern voice.
Since it was dark, rudra couldn't actually make out his face while she was laying down.
Kaya glanced at the sword and then pushed herself up to get up. With won't steps she rose to her full height. She took two steps back slowly and never removed her hand from the holding of her mask where it was tucked.
"don't even think of running away, you won't be able to!" he said in a firm tone as he glanced at the thief's face....
"...." his eyes jolted up in surprise when he stared at the thief's face or more particularly her eyes... He could now see properly...her kohl filled eyes which stared straight into his, face a fierce look. And it didn't took him longer to realize that the thief was not a man but a woman....
Her eyes were similar to ....kaya
Kaya was going to attack him seeing him startled. Taking this opportunity she striked her hand in his direction with all the knowledge she had of mma.
At first he didn't even thought of dodging her. His mind was filled with many questions.
However the second attack was easily suppressed as he grabbed her hand and twisted her hand behind her back.
"I'm surprised by what you, a lady can do. " he whispered near her ear, luckily for her he wasn't able to identify her.
"but remember, that I, a rajput do not wish to raise my hand on a women." she gulped visibly at the close proximity as well as on the rising pain.
She groaned but quickly learned that she was not supposed to let him get any hint that she was kaya!
When her blood soaked dress touched his skin, he looked at her surprised.
A frown appeared on his forehead.
"you are wounded...yet you are trying to suppress the pain? "
He trailed his finger down her back to feel the density of the wound...
He has long forgotten that this lady whom he was showing concern had tried to steal his horse.
"leave my hand!" kaya said , changing the pitch of her voice.
" I can't do that lady. You are hurt and you can won't be able to walk longer seeing the loss of blood. Believe me I am now only trying to help you.' His hold on hers became gentle.
Kaya couldn't help chuckle.
This man who seemed so childish at a time was talking about helping her.
'Alright so now he knows that I am a women and is hurt on the back....i hope his thoughts don't conclude to the actual truth.'
"if you really want to help me, then let me go. I have somewhere I need to be" she asserted feeling a sense of weakness taking over her. She was doing all this to runaway from him and this silly marriage. She didn't know when she'll go back to her world but she knew for sure that till the time here, she'll enjoy her life, without getting married!
"I can't do that, it's late and not very safe for a women to be out at night"
Godammit!
"listen...sir, neither is it safe for me to continue staying here with you. According to your logic, you too are a man so how can I be assure that you won't try to do anything indecent with me?" kaya stated.
But it didn't took him time to reply to her.
"No matter how beautiful a women you might be , I will never even think of doing any thing indecent since I already have someone I have given my heart to"
And that was it! This man.
She pushed him harshly as he jolted backwards. Rubbing her arm she thought of his words. His heart"? And yet he wants to marry me.
But to think of it this was only right, he has a girl he likes which gives her another excuse to be against this marriage.
"I have some medicine with me if you want..." he said pointing to a bag which was hanging down the horse neck. It was there for emergency purposes, since the horse was one of those used in the warfare.
Ignoring his offer she directly asked what was on her mind, " and who is this lady that you have given your heart to.. Sir?" she tried to ask politely. She needed that information.
Rudra upon hearing her question turned and chucked lightly, a small smile spreading to his lips, his hand reached to the medicine bag as he said...."To me only one lady is beautiful in the entire universe and that is.."
"..."
He turned towards her and said in a soft tone
"Kaya....."
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Yay! 2180 words after a long time. I apologize since I could not update the chapters since her long as I was really busy. However please keep looking forward to ore updates!