The Fire In Her Eyes

VII

The next few seconds that passed by felt like an eternity as they intensely gazed at each other, both feeling a surge of adrenaline rush passing through them. The atmosphere around them weighed down with a romantic tension, encompassing the individuals. The time seemed to slow down and the only sound that surrounded the area was the sound of their heaving breaths. The adrenaline rush was starting to fade away yet the pair refused to break out of their hypnotic trances.

A voice from a faraway distance called out,

"OYE! Who's there?"

Almost as if his touch had burned her skin, Mohana pulled away from Rudra abruptly, putting a few feet of distance between them. A look of panic and horror flashed across her face as she tried to grasp the reality of the situation while Rudra just look slightly annoyed that someone had interrupted them.

The sound of footsteps incessantly increased almost as if the person was advancing in their direction.

"HIDE!", Mohana whisper shouted to Rudra.

He gave her a look of deadpan but grudgingly obliged when she glared at him. He dove into a bush nearby and crouched down behind the copse of berberis. An old man, with a gray old face and tattered clothes, holding a sturdy wooden stick, limped into the clearing.

He heavily lidded eyes from the wrinkling folds squinted as he stared at Mohana, making her pity the dire symptoms of old age. His eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the youngest princess of the kingdom when she offered him a polite smile.

"Princess Mohana! What are you doing here ?", He asked in a hoarse voice, sounding immensely parched.

"Oh, I was just out here hoping to get a fresh kill," She calmly said despite of her internal turmoil.

"It's not safe in the woods for you, my dear. A lot of vile, nasty creatures out here and mind you I'm not talking about the animals," He said.

Although Mohana had heard of the men that had recently been causing trouble in the kingdom, she had yet to encounter one. 

"Come child, I'll accompany you to your ride.", The old man insisted.

"Oh no, dadaji(Grandpa), I'll be fine on my own.", Mohana tried to convince him as she saw Rudra poke his head out of the bush. Her eyes widened in trepidation as she made eye contact with him. It's wasn't the fear of being caught with a man but rather being seen with her sister's possible future husband that made her anxious. 

Since the old man's back was facing the bush, he was still unaware of the prince hiding in there. Rudra narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head telling her no. He knew the old man was just looking out for her but Rudra was more than capable of protecting her, knowing he'd even put her life before his. 

"Please, dear, I insist. I fear for your safety. Let me accompany you back to the castle or would prefer I inform the guards about your whereabouts so they can come for your protection?", He suggested.

"No!", She laughed nervously upon hearing the mention of her royal guards, "Now that you've mentioned it, I've been here long enough, we should head back", She caved in.

She shifted her eyes back to the bushes where Rudra was giving her a stern stare as if to say, 'Don't you dare leave right now'

Mohana shrugged apologetically and steered the old man in the direction of her horse.

She threw a quick apologetic glance over her shoulder as she exited the clearing only to find Rudra standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, sulking at her.

Something pulled at her heart as she felt guilty for leaving him all alone but alas she couldn't risk anyone finding out about their secret rendezvous.