Now that I had been banned from helping in the kitchen my lessons started quite early, that was after breakfast. After the incident the day before, I was a bit doubtful about how I would be received when I came out for my practice sessions. I was greeted by Suraj as I entered the practice ground. He showed me around the armory where all kinds of weapons were kept, explaining the use of all.

It seemed fooling around came naturally to him, so this time his props were the weapons which he handled / showed off with great skill. Then again he couldn't be faulted for that as he had an appreciative audience in me, looking wide eyed at everything and also giving his male ego a boost with exuberant praises. All of a sudden he stopped in between one stunt which he was showing using a spear and looked behind me sheepishly.

"You can make even the most unenthusiastic person take up arms in order to learn your kind of tricks" said Udai bhaisa smiling as he came towards us. I looked back towards him and saw Rudra standing right behind him. I had expected him to be thunderous to find me again with Suraj but he had his poker face on again.

"I was just demonstrating to Lekha how everything worked. It's always helpful to know when defending an attack" he said sheepishly trying to justify his cause. I just nodded my head in support not knowing what else to say being wary of Rudra's reaction.

Rudra gestured me to move ahead towards the practice ground with his face still showing no reaction. As I reached the field following him he handed me a wooden sword which I lifted with some difficulty though I tried not letting it reflect on my face. I could feel his eyes fill with amusement but he didn't even lift a finger to help me. He just started instructing me how to hold the sword and how to make a strike using another sword of his own.

"We will get a lighter and shorter wooden sword made for your practice but imagine that you have lost your sword in a tussle and all you can reach is another sword of a fallen soldier. Would you let the weight of the sword get you down or just pick it up to defend yourself?" he asked with his eyebrows raised a little later as he saw me struggle under the weight of the sword.

I bristled up at his words which indicated a subtle challenge thrown my way.

"I didn't ask for a customized sword. I will practice with this one here" I answered coldly, understanding the hidden barb behind his words. I realized that he might not have forgotten my display of martial arts the day before. I had thought that we had reached a certain level in our friendship after that smile he bestowed on me the day before.

He smirked at that and then out of the blue he asked "Why did you lie to me about your relation with Suraj".

I was taken aback by this sudden change of topic. I stared at him like a dumb person.

"Relation ...?" I repeated like a dim wit, my eyes rounding up in surprise.

"Yes, you said both of you loved each other" he said with his arms folded in front as if waiting to pounce on any lie I might sprout.

"I never said anything like that. You assumed and at that moment I was too angry to rectify your mistake" I said in an even tone, too tired of the topic to take the misunderstanding any further.

He stared at me for some time trying to process the information it seemed. He suddenly burst out laughing a full throaty laugh, making me wonder if he was trying to overcome his feelings and used laughter to vent out instead of anger, which I was expecting.

"Oh you... Oh you little minx. You took revenge on me for doubting you." he kept on laughing in between words. "That was indeed very clever of you."

He smiled at that.

"You are not angry with me" I asked stilled doubtful at his reaction.

"No. It was well played considering what a jerk I was being doubting your commitment to the marriage" he said.

I was a bit saddened by the way his mind came up with the conclusion as to why I didn't rectify the misunderstanding, without even realizing that it was the topic of falling in love which had made him draw up his own conclusion at that time. He didn't realize that if it wasn't Suraj then who was the other option I could consider falling in love with.

"These men..!" I thought rolling up my mind's eyes.

Outwardly I simply shrugged my shoulders acting all nonchalant.

He had a satisfied smile on his face as if he had attained a small victory. The enthusiasm with which he started off with the lessons in sword handling said it all. He was all encouraging with his words and even showed me few tricks to handle the sword with more ease.

Wielding a sword was not a child's play, I learnt that day. I had been given a wooden one so I would not hurt myself or anyone else but the weight was equivalent to a real one. My arms soon grew tired as I was unused to the weight. Rudra gave me some exercises to do with the sword.

We went for a short ride after the lessons. It was exhilarating galloping against the wind. Spring was ready to give way to the hot summers. Mid days became slightly hotter than before, so the cooling effect of the wind rushing past me had a calming effect on me. We didn't talk anything much but conversation didn't seem to matter. Both of us had plenty of things to think over.

When we returned back from the ride I saw maasa , taisa and buasa sitting with the girls discussing something. Taisa was due to arrive in the morning but after waiting for her for some time I had left for my lessons. I did my customary pranam by touching her feet. She gawked at me, and forgot to give me her blessings. I looked down and saw that I was wearing men style clothing instead of the lehenga. The girls started giggling looking at her.

"Jiji.. Lekha is learning sword fighting from Rudra that is why wearing such clothes at Rudra's insistence" said maasa touching her shoulder bringing her out of her reviver.

"But ... but what if others see her" exclaimed taisa truly distressed. I too felt panic at her reaction. Being under maasa's regime had made me forget that this world saw things differently.

"It was just the first day jiji and nobody saw them" said maasa trying to soothe her and looked at me for conformation raising her eyebrows at me. I had been so lost in my thoughts that hardly noticed if anyone had actually seen me in this attire, so I just gaped at maasa unable to deny or confirm what she said.

"No one saw us" said Rudra coming in from behind me and touching his mother's feet.

"You do whatever you want after marriage, but before that I don't want both of you galloping around dressed like that" taisa said in a stern tone glaring at Rudra.

Rudra sat down beside his mother, putting his arm around her shoulder in a comforting manner while I stood in the side feeling like a culprit.

Maasa must have guessed my feeling so said "Lekha go and sit down with the girls. It's not your fault that you were dressed like that. Both me and Rudra are responsible."

After uttering a long sigh she added in a soft tone"Poor girl... I was supposed to teach her all the customs and look what I did."

Maasa I was sure knew the effect of all the permissions she had granted till date but it seemed she was not at all feeling guilty about it. I could still see her eyes twinkling with merriment even though her sigh sounded quite saddened with the turn of events. She was trying to take the blame on herself to save my neck though it was I who had wanted to learn horse riding and sword fighting in the first instance.

I sat between the girls trying to avoid taisa's eyes. I knew she had a generous heart but her views were quite rigid where the traditions were concerned. I could feel a long struggle ahead if I was still in this century after two years when the time came for my gauna(*) and I had to go and stay with her. The blissful like under maasa's care was limited it seemed.

My optimistic heart planned to recruit Gayatri's help in this matter if things came to that. I smiled inwardly at my cleverness.



(*) explained in chapter 23

After a long time another chapter. I was contemplating to prepone the marriage dates ;-P but then the writer in me didn't want you guys to miss out on the culture of Rajasthan. So till now everyone must have guessed that the next few chapters will revolve around Rajasthani festivals.

But I would still like to ask my readers if they want to read about them or should I just skip and continue with the story.

So guys do write to me your views and don't forget to vote ... if you like what you read :D