The next day Abhijeet had almost completed the image he was working on. The rest of the team was spread around the palace. The Archaeology team was at the site. Excavation was still on.
" I can see the image of Aparajit is almost done." Said Prakash.
" Hmmm." Abhijeet answered.
" You guys left early yesterday?" Asked Prof. Dixit. " Mr Singh was looking for you."
" Yes Snigdha was not feeling well. So we came back. I dropped her at her hotel, and returned to our hotel." Answered Abhijeet.
In the forest every one was busy. The inscription on the walls were being photographed. The area around the memorial was also being dug for further investigation.
" Snigdha how was yesterday's party?" Asked Radhika smiling.
Snigdha felt cold fingers of fear run down her spine.
" Yes it was good." She answered in a small voice.
"I did not see you after sometime. Where were you?" Asked Asha.
" Yes I was not feeling well so we returned." She answered.
Just then her phone rang. She picked it up.
" Hello." She spoke into it.
" How are you doing?" Abhijeet asked.
"I'm Ok."She answered. "Are you going to come here?" She asked in a shy voice.
" Why do you miss me?" He asked.
" N ...No." She fumbled. "We are going to have a reading session, so we were waiting for you." She answered.
" Ok we will there in a minute."Abhijeet answered smiling.
After about half an hour they reached the site. Abhijeet's eyes searched for the one person his heart desired.
" Hmmmm what are you looking for?" Asked Radhika in a teasing voice.
" Me no nothing." He said with a start.
" Hah! Liar." Radhika smiled. " She is over there." She said pointing towards the lake behind the memorial.
" Thanks." He mouthed and walked towards the lake.
There she was sitting on a fallen logg. He went and sat next to her. She looked at him as he sat down. He put his hand over her shoulder.
" How are you?" He asked.
" I'm fine. I was missing some one." She said smiling up at him.
He kissed her forehead.
" Me too." He answered.
" Guys come one let's read some of the journal." Called Prof Dixit.
" Ok." Snigdha said picking up the journal to continue.
" The enemy was gathering at our borders. Prince Aparajit and Nikunj Bhaisa had gone to the borders to stop the rebellion. I was missing Aparajit a lot. I sat in our gazebo painting his likeness on a canvas. Mannu was there to attend to my needs. That's when I heard foot steps. Turned around to find Madhukar Rai approaching us.
" Greetings Princess. Oh it is indeed a lovely day that I got to she such a beautiful face early in the morning." He said in a oily voice.
His voice gave me the creeps. He was eyeing me in a lecherous way. I wanted him to go.
" Greetings to you too sir. The pleasure is all mine." I said instead as that was my upbringing.
Yesterday night after I was asleep, In the middle of the night I felt as if someone was starting at me. I was woken up with a start. I looked around in my room, the window was open curtains were flying. I clearly remember closing them. I was scared. I called Mannu.
" Mannu, Mannu." I called.
She came running into my room.
" Yes Kuwarisa." She asked.
" Check the balcony if anyone is there." I ordered.
Mannu went out and looked in the balcony. She came back after some time.
" No Kuwarisa no one is there." She answered.
" But I felt like some one was looking at me." I said in a shaky voice.
" Should I stay with you Kuwarisa." Mannu asked.
" No it is OK." I said " You go take rest.".
Mannu left, I sat on my bed with my chin on my knees, I couldn't get the feeling out of my mind. I had a very restless night.
Snigdha looked up at Abhijeet, it seemed like he was having to control his temper.
" If I had known what was going on... you never told me." He scolded me.
" I knew you would take a rash decision in your anger. I didn't want that." Snigdha answered.
"Let's take a brake." Dr Pal said after an awkward silence.
Abhijeet got up pulling Snigdha along with him. They walked the small distance and went to the lake side and sat on the fallen log.
" I missed you so much after you were gone. Each day was like a year." Abhijeet said.
Snigdha lay her head on his shoulder.
" I couldn't even see my son grow. It must have been hard for you. How did you manage." Snigdha asked.
" Maasa took care of him." He answered. " Then I had to marry for the country. I had a daughter we named her Barkha."
Snigdha smiled.
" But I failed you. I couldn't protect you." He sighed.
" Don't say that, you were the best son, best lover and best husband. You were the reason I had to come back. I've been waiting to be in your arms since I was born." Snigdha said silencing him with her hand.
" I would have gauged out his eyes if I had known. He is still there and still trying to pull us apart." He said as he pulled her into his arms. " I won't let him this time. I won't let you go. Never." He said as he captured her lips in a hungry kiss, kissing her with a hunger of being denied for so many years, Snigdha couldn't help herself, she ,moaned into his mouth.
This gave him the opportunity to explore her mouth with his tounge. Snigdha's hands creeped up to encircle around his neck she pushed her self Closer to him if that was even possible.
" God ! It feels like I've been waiting to hold you in my arms for ever." He said nuzzling her neck.
" I'm still crazy about you, you know that right." He asked.
Dr Pal stood at a little distance and looked at the couple. Who would believe something like this was even possible. Just then sound of a vehicle caught there attention. Out stepped Madhukar Rai. He walked up to Prof. Dixit and spoke to him.
" How is work going on?" He asked.
" We are making good progress." Prof Dixit answered.
They walked off towards the memorial. Abhijeet looked on in anger. After some time they saw the old man walking towards them.
" Greeting Snigdha, how are you doing today my dear?" He asked with a evil smirk on his face.
Snigdha looked away. She held Abhijeet's arms tight.
" What do you want Madhukar?" Asked Abhijeet.
" You know the answer to that don't you?" He answered.
" Which you will never get." Abhijeet answered as he stepped forward in anger.
Snigdha pulled him back.
" Don't he is an old man." She pleaded.
" We'll see." Madhukar said as he walked away.