🔱Mahayudh: War For Balance🔱

32. Dangerous Beauty

🔱

Right now they all were moving through a Delta forest with much difficulty, due to all the mud and marsh of the ground.

They had reached Shaakdweep yesterday only and now they were in the search of a completely dry like area which was completely contradictory to this area but could only be reached by passing this. This forest was miles away from Damyant, the capital of Shaakdweep. 

It was so elusive that their horses could not enter the atmosphere surrounding this forest. In fact no normal cloud could. But the sky above this area is completely dark and covered with clouds. Seems like the clouds are elusive too.

Hissing of snakes, sound of bugs and many animals were the only prominent noise in the forest. 

Khyati suddenly gasped as a tree snake launched itself on her from one end and ducked in time while the snake landed on the other side. They sighed in relief and proceeded moving.

Mrityunjay was leading their way with Pinak ready in his hand while Mheem was at the last. All of them had their weapons gripped tightly.

Despite being in the middle of a dangerous forest, Mheema and Khyati's chattering was not stopping. Or if you hear more precisely ,Mheem's flirting and Khyati's comebacks were not stopping.

This gave Umika an opportunity to talk to Mrityunjay, who since their last encounter outside the cave, had not even lifted his eyes to look at her let alone say a word to her.

Umika started walking a little closer to him and he sensed it but he ignored her completely. Umika cleared her throat for a moment thinking of how to start?

'Uss din aapko.........kheer acchi lgi thi?' (That day......did you like the Kheer?) she asked him awkwardly and then squinting her eyes shut on how stupid she must have sounded.

Her question stirred the memory of the most delicious food Mrityunjay had ever tasted in his life. It was not just about the food........it was something wbout the love and care with which the food was made.

'Hmm. Acchi thi.' (Hmm. It was good) he replied in a tone which sounded as if it was nothing extraordinary, which was quite opposite of what he really thought.

Umika was obviously disappointed but she didn't give up. She kept on asking him questions about what he likes and what he dislikes but he didn't even got bothered to answer her and kept his eyes ahead, watching out for any danger.

Umika asked another question. 'Mujhe champa, chameli, kamal.....ye pushpt bohot acche lgte hain......aapko konse pushp pssnd hain?' (I like flowers like plumeria, jasmines and lotuses...........what flowers do you like?)

This time Mrityunjay stopped and pinned her with a hard stare from him. 'Bss kariye Gauri!'(Stop now Gauri!)  was all he said in his hard tone and Umika's cheerful face transformed immediately into a sad one. She lowered her eyes and they proceeded moving.

Now Umika and he were moving together shoulder to shoulder. Mrityunjay glanced her and his eyes softened on seeing her sad and hurt expressions. His brows furrowed as he remembered his faith- he can love even the most un wanted beings but not the woman whom he wants to love. But he cannot see her like this.

'Parijat.' (Night-Jasmines) Umika's head snapped towards him as she suddenly heard his voice beside her.

'Huh?' 

His soft gaze softened more and he replied without a smile 'Mujhe parijat ke pushp atti priya hain.' (I like night-jasmines alot) With this Mrityunjay again took the lead, showing her his back but even without seeing he knew.........that she was smiling at his back.