Married for three nights

Part 3

"For the sake of God would you just stop looking like that at the lady and walk straight like a respectable man? "Spooked at the thought of being alone with his sisters for so long he had then called for his childhood best friend. 'The Prince of Gujrat' but like every other time, this haste decision was proving to be a big mistake on his part because while his sisters were behaving themselves and chirping around like two pretty girls that they were. This man beside him had already started to brew trouble. For last half an hour they were striding round and round the part of the fair and kept glancing at a lady, standing near a stall buying something. Judging from her beauty, the jewels and silk adorning her and the large crowd of maids behind was a testimony that she was a princess.

"Oh well, why don't you go back into the camp, you boring man and let me enjoy myself? "He elbowed Nair. "Besides I need to find myself a bride soon....so why the hell not this one....here?"And without paying any heed to Nair's loud protests, he left his side slowly approaching the group of women.

'Uggh..' frustrated at the turn of events once again he gave in and followed behind Meghraj reluctantly because if something happened....well he could bet on his life that something was going to happen...he needs to be there to save that Meghraj.

"Good evening my lady. "Meghraj bowed a little with one of his infamously charming smiles and wished her as the group of maids around them parted.

"I am Meghraj Prince of Gujarat. "He let out an arrogant puff before continuing again. "And this man here is my best friend Nair." The ladies had had already pulled down their veils as the custom called for while Nair could not help sneering.

But the silence prevailed afterwards continuing more than it should have. The princess did not reply not even a nod. And that got Meghraj anxious because he believed it was the first time in the history of mankind that HIS characteristic charming smile was not reciprocated by a feminine blush, like it had always happened before and now this princess or whoever she was not only ignoring his words but glaring at him as well? What for?

"Nair!"Meghraj whispered to his friend. "Pray tell me do I look too old? Am-Am I loosing my charm already? Oh no! What will happen of me now? How will I find a wife?"He went hysterics and if not for the current situation Nair would have had a good laugh at this but no hint of amusement was he able to forecast right then, all thanks to the icy glare that the princess was tightening around them.

"Why don't we leave the lady alone now and talk about your dissipating charm elsewhere? "Nair muttered back to his friend hopeful that his friend may come this time around. "Alright we would go back...but not before I try this last time. "And he came back with another of his disarming smile.

But this time it was the princess who spoke the words. "I see....you two are wandering around this place for quite some time now....lost your way back? "She tusked softly but her posture stony and her eyes deadly.



"Mind if I call my husband....I think he can very well help you in finding your way back! "She needed not to speak twice because one of the maids had already ran in the search of her master and Stopped at the largest stall in the fair. 'The shop of weapons' Nair and Meghraj both looked aghast to where the princs...no..queen was looking, because it was not very long thereafter...when the large burly king started to walk towards them, the large crown shining atop his head.

But what disturbed them was the sword, that he was testing in the shop was still tightly held within his grasp.

"It...it...is...HIM!"Meghraj gave a frightening yelp. "T-the...the.."

It seemed like his friends was suddenly at the loss of words, so much so that he couldn't even utter the name.

"The war monger! King Chitram!" Nair provided and he could swear he heard the loud beating of Meghraj's heart.

"RUN!" He doesn't know which one between them shouted those syllables or if it was just a figment of his imagination but they ran anyway, as fast as their legs would take through the immensely crowded streets of the fair to reach their camp. 

Once there, they ordered the guards and maids to pack everything up and come back because they were already leaving.

"Oh God! I don't want to die like this! Not like this....I am not even married!" Meghraj panted climbing atop his horse and Nair on his own. For if that King got his hands of them, even their dead bodies won't reach home for if rumors are to be believed king Chitram feeds the corpses of his enemies to his pet tigers.

"com'on!" Nair hollered kicking his Persian chest brown horse and rode away with a strange nasty feeling at the pit of his stomach. 'He was forgetting something! But what?' 

Meghraj followed a little behind but the queasy feeling never left, instead kept on increasing as the horses galloped on.

And it was a good mile later when in a town he passed by two giggling girls that he recalled. 'HIS SISTER!'

'Oh God! No!' He pulled the reins of his horse and it halted instantly. Turned around and headed the same way they had came.

"Have the heat effected your mind?" He heard his friend shouting behind, the air rushing fast around his ears. "NO!" He didn't mind explaining anymore.

"Then it's nature's call, isn't it?" Meghraj laughed.

"No!  Maya and Mohini are still there. I need to go back."

"Goodness...Your memory is so strong brother! so-so strong that I want to pat you hard on your face. You recalled too early, don't you think?" He sniggered.

"DO NOT SPEAK A WORD TO ME! Because the condition we are in is solely due to you....You're just so desperate to land yourself a wife."

"Don't blame me for it, it was just a harmless hello I said and the queen turned her hood up and hissed. It was not my fault." Meghraj murmured and Nair didn't bother to banter with him anymore. He was far more distressed than being in the condition of speaking, let alone talking rubbish. 

He have to save his sisters, somehow....anyhow...

Another half an hour later they were back at Saurashtra and for the first time in his life he was so happy to see those twinkling eyes and mischievous grins that had always put him into trouble.

"Maya" He sighed. "Mohini."Jumping off the paddle he enclosed them in his arms together while they squealed in protest. 

"have you lost your mind?"Mohini glared at him pushing him away. "No...don't you understand sister...he wants us to tell mother when we get back to palace that what a nice boy he had been throughout the journey and behaved himself." Maya raised a suggestive eyebrow waiting for him to get angry at them once again, but he left both of them shell shocked as he pulled them closer to his chest instead and kissed at the top of their heads while he laughed. "perhaps you two are right!"

"He had actually lost it then?" One of the twins muttered. while the other nodded in silent agreement. "Oh poor boy!"

***

"I am not going to ride with him!" Maya probed her finger at Meghraj with distaste and Nair then looked at his other sister with hopeful eyes because the more time they wasted here...the more they went closer to death.

Mohini rolled her eyes. "no, not working brother....I will either ride with you or I want my own horse."

"we don't have another horse now and both of you cannot ride with me." It was just another futile attempt to make them aware of the looming danger."have mercy on that poor animal, he cannot carry three buffaloes on his back at once."Meghraj tusked. "It would die."

"what did you just say?"Mohini screeched. "see I told you brother he's nothing but a bullheaded arrogant donkey."

"How dare you call us buffalo?" Maya marched forward to back up her sister. "we would rather die here than riding with him!"

"Oh really?"Meghraj looked at them. "Die here?" He suddenly whistled. "well, it seems like your wish is going to be fulfilled soon."A speck of white horse was galloping towards them at a speed that could easily put the blowing wind to shame with a rider so enormous and his expression so menacing that even the powers of heaven would think twice before clashing with him.