A Bougainvillea Odyssey

Chapter 4

**Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, thus does not revolve around the real world. Any kind of words or incidents mentioned does not signify anything related to the real world. **

While Shivantika and Rajveer were still in embezzlement, Nayantara recognized the person standing in front of them.

"Looks like there is no need for introduction, am I right Ms. Nayantara?" he said.

The person standing in front of them was Anirudh. He was also a resident of the same village that Nayantara and Rajveer belonged to. Being born to an underaged and orphaned mother, Anirudh was left on the temple stairs. Therefore, he was picked up by the chief priest and was named Anirudh Das. From the early days, Anirudh was quite an outgoing and sporty person who could fight in both the local and the martial arts way. He could read and write, but too learned sword ship from one of the travelers who stayed in the village for about an year.

All three of them, Nayantara, Rajveer, and Anirudh, knew each other from the early days of their childhood, as they were inseparable best friends. But things took a turn when Anirudh expressed his feelings for Nayantara and proposed to marry her. Nayantara from the beginning loved Rajveer and thus rejected his proposal.

In a rage of anger at facing a rejection from the person he loved the most in the entire world, left the village the very day. After months of Rajveer and Nayantara looking for him, one day they received a letter by the name of "My Most Beloved, Nayantara" by Anirudh.

Dear Nayantara,

The day you rejected me, I was in great devastation, because when nobody accepted me, when even my parents rejected me and threw me away, you were my lightning star, my angel, who showed me the way to enlightenment of the vast world. Even though you were being nice and sympathetic towards me, my stupid mind thought it was love. After the day of your rejection, I was in great turmoil, sitting under a tree in the forest, when I noticed a person about to get attacked by a tiger. Watching such a scene, I couldn't help but help him, who later turned out to be the crown prince Ahil Chandra of Braheshwat. Later on, to repay the favor of saving him, the prince appointed me in a ministry in the royal court. Now, after days of hard work, I've finally bought myself a house. These past few months, I've spent my time on self-realization, so even though I couldn't marry you, I hope, we still can be the best friends as earlier. Find me whenever you want in Kayati.

Yours only

Anirudh

The letter made Nayantara weep; to obtain a life full of love, she lost her best friend.

Three years later, now in the present time, looking at Anirudh in Kayati, brought all the past memories back to Nayantara.

"Introduction!?", said Nayantara in a raged high pitch voice, "of course you would need an introduction after we give you a beating."

For the first few seconds, neither Nayantara nor Rajveer could recognize Anirudh in his new look. He was now something like Twenty-six, three years older than Rajveer and Nayantara. A well-built-up muscled body with a height of 6'2 and a complexion between dusky and light skin tone made him so attractive, that women of any age would get crazy to even peek a look at him. It was not just his physical appearance, but also his righteous and kind attitude that made him incomparable to others.

Seeing them tied up in the dark room, Anirudh asked his men to untie their hands.

As they all stood up, Anirudh explained to them the reason for kidnapping them, while taking them towards a room at the backside of the house. The reason was as simple as the water from the river Miltayi, if somebody else caught them or recognized them, they might have ended up in danger, he had to make it look like a kidnapping so nobody would come up front fearing the instances the person might face in the future.