Parvati gave me death glare while her mother looked on shocked. Even I was taken back and didn't know how to react. I had never thought that Rudra would publicly claim me as his fiance. Vasundhara giggled from behind me as Rudra walked out of the house carrying me like a trophy.

Some of the workers in the courtyard also stared at us open mouthed leaving all their work aside. I blushed crimson as I met Suraj's laughing eyes.

"What was that?" I whispered angrily at Rudra.

"What ...What? I am just helping my fiance" whispered back Rudra, copying me.

"I am not your fiance and I already told you that I am not going to marry you. Go marry Parvati."I whispered angrily.

"You sound jealous but I can't help appreciating her. Her kachoris were quite delicious." smirked Rudra.

"I am not jealous and yes 'kakisa's' kachoris were quite delicious ... and I am not going to marry you" I said rudely feeling vindictive, but couldn't help rectifying the fact that it was kakisa and not Parvati who made the kachoris.

His feet came to halt just for a second as he stared down at me then laughed loudly as if I had just cracked a joke.

He placed me back in the carriage softly. As I looked up I saw Suraj and Vasundhara grinning at me from ear to ear. Parvati and kakisa seemed to have thought it wise to save themselves from the embarrassment and stayed inside.

I turned my face away from everyone I felt too upset and didn't find any humor in the situation.

I felt someone sit next to me and soon the carriage started.

"Everyone seems to have lost their sense of humor now that I am sitting here it seems." I heard Rudra speak from next me. Surprised I looked up and found him sitting right next to me, while Vasundhara sat on the opposite side grinning at me.

"Suraj sa do you people have horse riding contests too?" I said deliberately ignoring Rudra. I could see his face loose humor at that, from my peripheral vision. Vasundhara too seemed to get tensed seeing her cousin frown.

"Yes Lekha we do in winter months. We all go to Amer for the competitions. It's like a huge mela of warriors pitting their skills against each other." said Suraj enthusiastically unaware of the tension behind him.

"You can also join us this time if kakisa allows"

"Lekha do you know new fabrics will be coming tomorrow for making dresses. I am so excited" said Vasundhara trying to lighten the tension.

I also felt discomfited so joined her saying" Do you make your own dress? I know only little bit of stitching"

"Parvati is an excellent dressmaker. I will ask her to help us with some styling" said Vasundhara unaware that this was another topic to be avoided.

"Yes she must be. I know for sure that she would make an excellent wife for someone lucky enough to marry her" I couldn't help adding. I could feel Rudra tense beside me.

Rest of journey was done in silence except for a few tidbits from Vasundhara and Suraj.

I was helped down by Rudra but this time he refrained from picking me up.

I was able to walk on my own in another three days but it seemed Rudra had changed his mind about befriending me. He took the pathway in front of his room rather then come all the way around to pass from in front of my room like before. I did miss his smiles and nods but it was something I had to do in order to mentally separate myself from him.

Lajo the news reporter of the house kept passing me information about others and specially Rudra. I sometimes doubted that she specifically spied on him. I could feel that she was turning into a budding match maker of sorts.

On the fourth day I again helped maasa in the kitchen even after all her protests.

"Maasa can I ride Pari today?" I asked.

"You are indeed a brave girl Lekha. You have not given up on riding after that nasty scare. But are you sure your ankle is better enough to hold on to the stirrup?"

"I will be fine maasa. I had learnt a good lesson that day about horse riding" I said trying to pacify her.

"Alright go, but be very careful dear. Suraj is going to get an earful from me if even a single scratch comes on you" she said agreeing at last.

I reached the stables where Suraj greeted me with surprise.

"Lekha! ... You can walk?" he asked looking at my foot. I grinned at him and nodded my head.

"I have come to ride Pari" I said excitedly.

"But kakisa..." he said doubtfully.

"Oh... I have come here with her blessings" I laughed.

"And bhaisa..."he said still unsmiling.

"What of him? I have maasa's permission... don't need anything" I said tilting my chin up in defiance.

"Well... then alright, but I am not responsible if...." He didn't say anything further but he didn't need to, I understood.

"Where is the saddle...?" I said trying to lighten the atmosphere.

He helped me saddle Pari without further ado and also helped me climb her. I still hadn't got the hang of climbing on my own and needed help.

As we rode around the courtyard slowly to warm up, we were back to being pals like before. He had lot of funny things to say about Parvati's mother that got me thinking about what Vasundhara had said about Suraj and Parvati. It was odd that a man in love would make fun of the family of the girl he loved.

"You like Parvati?" I couldn't resist asking.

"Who me?" he said looking surprised.

"Yes"

"Who told you?"

"No one... I just had a feel"

"No. I don't even like her... Don't tell I told ... but she and her mother have their eyes on bhaisa" he whispered conspiratorially even though we were quite alone.

"Who? ... Udai bhaisa?" I asked feigning ignorance, but I wanted to hear him say it.

"No silly ... Rudra bhaisa. Didn't you see how eagerly they tried to impress him?"

"Ah! Yes" I said.

"It was real funny the way Rudra bhaisa lifted you up. I think he wanted to ward off the duo ... and you were right there to help him create a misunderstanding and to stop them from pursuing him any further." He explained.

This was a new angle I had failed to think about. I was a means to an end. Now I understood why he leaked out the information of our engagement. I regretted over reacting as now I knew that Rudra was not interested in our marriage but considered it as a means to escape the clutches of the marriage obsessed mothers.

Suraj was not there when Rudra declared the news of our engagement so he didn't know that it wasn't a misunderstanding but a fact. On my request maasa had not told the news of our engagement specifically to anyone as there was still a little chance that I would vanish all of a sudden before the occasion.

"Ah... Yes" I said.

"You both are like two sparrows... always chattering around "said Udai bhaisa as he came upon us on a horseback. He had Rudra with him who acted his usual self, glaring at us.

"Bhaisa come join us. We were just talking about how Rudra bhaisa made a fool of Parvati and her mother" laughed Suraj. Rudra stared at me accusingly.

"They must be again after bhaisa to get her married to Parvati. But... now they won't be able to trouble him anymore he is already engaged..." he said in a flow then stopped abruptly remembering that he had been forbidden by maasa to reveal anything.

"Rudra bhaisa is engaged!" exclaimed Suraj, his eyes going round with surprise. "To whom...?"

Udai bhaisa hesitated.

"To Lekha" replied Rudra in a detached voice when no one else responded. The man remembered my name, I thought sarcastically.

"Lekha! ... our Lekha... but ... she never... so it means that it was not a misunderstanding" he said with disbelief in his voice.

"It's not fixed yet" I said trying to diffuse the matter, but in fact complicating it even more. There was complete silence after that.

"Let's go. I will take you for a gallop" growled Rudra glaring at me. I remained stationary unable to react at this sudden change of events and with the kind of looks I was getting from him I didn't want to be anywhere alone with him.

"Go Lekha" prompted bhaisa. I looked at him surprised that he was siding with Rudra today but seeing his pleading eyes I thought it best to obey.

Rudra took the reins of Pari and lead us outside without a word.



Guys!!! need feedback...

Do tell what you think about the story so far. Its encouraging to know if I am going in the right direction with the story line.