By the time they dropped the girls at the hotel it was around 9:30. Abhijeet stopped the car in front of the hotel, and got off he went around and open the door for them everyone got off and went up the hotel stairs, but Abhijeet pulled Snigdha back.
"Goodnight." He said smiling at her.
He gently brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. Snigdha gave him a shy smile.
" Goodnight." She answered.
" Dream about me. I definitely will." He said.
" Singdhaaa come on mam will scold us now." Radhika called.
Snigdha ran inside, stop at the door and looked back once, then smiled and left.
Abhijeet reached his hotel around 10:00. He ordered room service and after dinner tried to sleep, but after the days excitement he was restless.
In the morning they were back at the haveli. He was in the baithak where all the paintings from the memorial had also been brought up to the haveli. He was in the process of restoring Prince Aparajit's portrait. When Prof Dixit came in.
" What are you doing?" He said as he came and stood over his shoulder looking down at the painting which seemed to be taking the shape of a replica of Abhijeet's face.
" Abhijeet what the hell !? Who the hell is that?" exclaimed Prof Dixit in surprise.
" This Prof is Prince Aparajit." He answered smiling.
" How can this even be possible? Are you telling me that this is some kind of...." He asked.
Before Abhijeet could answer his phone rang, it was Radhika.
" Abhijeet." Her voice sounded agitated.
" What is wrong Radhika?" Abhijeet asked.
" Can you come down Snigdha is un controllable. We have found some jewellery here it like a broach. She is screaming." She informed.
" What?!" Abhijeet said standing up.
" Tell her I'll be there in 15 mins." He said as he started to leave.
" What is the matter? Where are you off to?" Asked Prof Dixit.
" To the forest site. They have found something and..." he trailed off.
" Ok let's go." Prof Dixit said.
They left immediately, they reached the site after 15 minutes. Abhijeet parked the car and cut the engine, and jumped out of the car to run towards the site. He found Snigdha on her knees near a dig, she was cowering.
" Kuwarsaaaa." She sobbed.
" Snigdha." He called as he ran to her and swooped her into his arms.
" Shhhhh it's OK I'm here." He cooed.
" Abhijeet look that's his." She sobbed.
Abhijeet looked into the small pit and saw a broach of ruby it was stained with blood, and rusted dagger.
" I know, it's ok. They are just lifeless objects. They can t harm you." He said.
She laid her head on his chest, he ran his hand through her hair.
Dr Pal looked utterly confused at what was going on.
" This so strange why is she so close to a stranger?" she said as she started going towards them. But Radhika stopped her.
" Mam they are not strangers. Let them be." informed Radhika.
"Who do these artifacts belong to? Why is Snigdha so scared?" Asked Prasant.
" They belonged to Madhukar Rai." He answered grinding his teeth in anger.
" How do you know?" Asked Dr Pal.
" I do because I pulled it out last time we faced each other, and this dagger was thrown here by me." Abhijeet informed.
" What!?" Dr Pal exclaimed.
" It is hard to explain. We will have to investigate further to understand." Abhijeet answered.
"Can I spend some time with her if you don't mind? Just to calm her down." He asked.
"Hmmm." Agreed Dr Pal.
"Are you ok?" He asked Snigdha.
"Yes." She said looking up, she smiled at him. " Now I'm fine."
Suddenly Mr Singh arrived at the site.
"I have an invitation for everyone today night there will be a get together in the palace as Mr Rai will be arriving from London." informed Mr Singh.
" Which Mr Rai?"Asked Abhijeet in a bold voice.
" Mr Madhukar Rai." Answered Mr Singh.
Snigdha shuddered in Abhijeet's arms. He squeezed her shoulder in reassurance.
" Wow a royal party!" Radhika exclaimed.
" Are you ok?" She asked Snigdha.
" Y....Y...yes I'm fine." Snigdha answered.
She looked up at Abhijeet nervously.
" He is coming close Abhijeet." She whimpered.
"Don't worry it's ok."Abhijeet assured her.
"Hey Snigdha let's read the journal." Radhika shouted.
" Coming." Snigdha answered.
She got out the journal from the bag and joined everyone inside the building.
"After that night he is all I can think about. Our Roka has been set for the next month. Staying apart from him is quite difficult.
Yesterday I bumped into our munim chacha Diwakar Rai's son, Madhukar Rai. It seems he and I were child hood friends. I don't remember, but the way he was looking at me gave me the creeps.
Mannu got me a present from Kuwarsa today. It was covered in red silk. I picked up the silk to find a white pigeon. It is very pretty. There was a letter tied to its feet. I took it and shooed Mannu out of my room. I closed the door, and opened the letter.
" My dear Barkha,
I've missed you every day. I am at Jodhpur for some business for my kingdom. I am restless here without you. Everytime I close my eyes I can see your face. I wish you were here with me. I can't wait for us to be one at last. I want you in my arms.
This pegion is a bridge between us. Send me an answer through this.
Your Aparajit."
I touched his name with my finger, wondering how did I get so lucky. Was this man really mine?
I picked up a parchment and started writing.
" Dear Kuwarsa,
I have missed you so much. I have wanted to see you everyday. You are always in my dreams. I feel so incomplete without you. Kuwarsa what have you done to me? When will you come? I know it will sound shameless, but I don't care, I want to be in your arms.
Come fast.
Your Barkha."
"God they were madly in love." Exclaimed Prashant.
"Yes their love was like a benchmark of our time." Informed Mr Singh.
Snigdha was starting at Abhijeet.
" Look Kuwarsa I have passed the boundaries of time and fate to come to you." She thought.
" I had told you, even death wouldn't keep us apart. I was right." Abhijeet thought.
" We can see that." Prof Dixit said.