The beautiful green meadow had now ended, and the stone road began. The sun was now in its final moments. As the meadow ended, it was also time for the sun to set. When Raghuveer had placed his first step into the meadow, the sun was rising. Now, as his foot stepped out of the meadow, the sun was setting. Seeing this, it felt as if the sun had risen today only to accompany Raghuveer to the end of the meadow. Now the sun had completed its task and was bidding farewell to Raghuveer.
Raghuveer and Pratiksha stood on the stone road. Raghuveer turned back and looked at the meadow.
"Today was truly a very good day," Raghuveer said. His words carried a sense of memory.
"Yes… truly..! It was a very good day," Pratiksha said. Pratiksha was trying to become like Raghuveer. Because only then would she understand what was in Raghuveer's mind.
Raghuveer began walking ahead. Pratiksha followed behind him. Both said nothing. Pratiksha's wounded hand was still hurting. But she remained silent. She walked looking at Raghuveer's back. The breeze that flowed through the meadow, the swaying grass and flowers… it felt like the meadow was bidding farewell to Raghuveer.
They kept walking ahead. In the sky above, the moon was guiding them through the night. Tonight, there were fewer stars in the sky. Whether the moon had company or not, its friend the North Star was always with it. That's how Pratiksha felt when she saw herself walking beside Raghuveer.
"What do you like the most?" Pratiksha asked.
Raghuveer said nothing. Pratiksha looked at him. Looking at Raghuveer's face, it felt like even he didn't know what he liked.
They kept walking ahead. Looking at the stone road, it felt like this was the main road of a kingdom. On either side of the stone road were large trees — almost like a forest…
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew. Because of that wind, the rose from Pratiksha's hair flew and fell in front of Raghuveer. Raghuveer stopped. Pratiksha bumped into his back. "Ouch…"
Raghuveer turned around. The rose from her hair was missing. Raghuveer picked up the rose.
He handed the rose to Pratiksha. She touched her hair.
"My rose?" she said.
Raghuveer nodded.
"Will you tuck it in?" Pratiksha asked Raghuveer. She looked into Raghuveer's eyes.
Raghuveer shook his head no. He extended his hand. Pratiksha took the rose from his hand and tucked it into her hair. Raghuveer's refusal hurt her deeply. Because Pratiksha was the kind of girl who always got what she wanted immediately. But this time, she might have to wait a long time.
Don't worry… it's only been one day. There's still a lot of time ahead, Pratiksha told herself.
They started walking again. Now she was afraid to speak to Raghuveer, because if he refused her again, it would hurt even more. So she walked quietly.
I don't even know why… but after his refusal, my chest hurts so much, Pratiksha told herself. She looked at Raghuveer. Her hand was placed over her heart.
Maybe she had come after Raghuveer because of the green gemstone pendant around her neck.
Why is she following me? Raghuveer thought. I'm starting to doubt her. Should I kill her?
Both were speaking only to themselves. Some events in Raghuveer's life had made him unable to trust anyone. Some things in life change people deeply. Pratiksha was walking behind someone about whom she knew nothing.
A girl whose beauty could enchant anyone — she was walking behind someone unknown.
Pratiksha, who always rejected others, was now hurt by the rejection of a stranger. Why?
They kept walking. Now a huge wall appeared before them. The forest ended, and the walls came into view.
A massive wall. Looking at it, it felt like it was built to protect against outside invasions.
Raghuveer and Pratiksha stood before a grand gate. Some torches were burning there. Soldiers were standing guard. Torches were also burning atop the walls.
The two approached the gate. A soldier called out to them.