3. Who is he?

I don't like when my father scolds me which is once in a month or week thing. It is truth he gets annoyed but not angry. Today he was far beyond angry. And there are three reasons for that.

First because one of his guard had failed him.

Second because of my bruises which are really annoying than painful.

And third because of the man standing across from me.

Earlier that day…..

As I am running I realised I have worn yellow skirt today so obviously it looks like I am waving invitation for boar to yes I am your pry not that stupid guard so follow me.

I search for a sturdy tree with low branches to climb it. For a minute I thought my heart is beating with double speed but then I realise it is the sound of wild boar's hoofs. How can I forget why I ran. 

I find the tree but I can him close so I take my dupatta and blindly throw it at him and start to climb the tree. I am very good at this because Bhima uncle made me practice with long skirt many times. Because he knew I cannot always wear my warrior attire.

When I reach a good distance from ground I sit myself at nearby branch and try to control my breathing to normal. 

As I see down the scene makes me laugh hard. I didn't know that that wild boar's could look so good in dupatta. If that was the case I have thrown I before. Thank God for the good aim I had on him.

The boar struggles with my dupatta and at last it falls away. He looks angrily here and there and then walks to nearby tree and sits there. And it's looks like this little chase tired him as I see he is falling asleep. And unfortunately my dupatta and tree I am at is only just a hands away.

Offo! Now what should I do. Where is that guard? I have keep this incident between us only. Except I have to tell about this to Bhima uncle, not my father because the guard will feel great humiliation. At least my uncle will see to him and teach him better.

As I sit there thinking of a way to get out of this situation without making loud noise. I see shiny fruit at a branch opposite of mine. Oh they are Mangoes. Now that I see it I can stop myself from having it.

As I am going to spend some time I as well eat something to strengthen myself and think clearly as I don't think I can think anything right now except that fruit.

I slowly shift myself to the other side and sit my self at that branch. I reach for nearby mango and pluck it. 

By the time I eat fifth one the boar wakes up. I collected all the seed of mango. And a idea come to mind. See empty stomach is always a distraction and eating something always makes you happy and optimistic.

My hands are all stick but I don't mind that and see nearby. I take aim at heaps of stone at distance and throw the seed of mango at it.

There collision make not big but some noise that the boar runs towards it. I take the seeds in case I need it and stop from a feet away from ground and here and there just to be sure he is not nearby. My feet touch the ground and I slowly take steps towards my dupatta. I take it wrap around me then slowly but steadily go towards the direction where I came from earlier.

I again take one seed and throw it again to far distance just in case. As I walk run towards my basket as I see them I see my knife and lotuses. I wash my hands in stream and grab them and put them in my basket. I don't see any guards nearby. This is different.

Okay! We are all alone, aren't we? My subconscious says.

Yes we are. I smile grateful for it.

After this whole incident I at last get some time away from everyone's eyes. But I can't stay here because the boar is still out there. I make way for palace. When I hear twig breaking again. Oh no!

I stop and turn around and there he is the boar. I swear after today I am never wearing green and yellow colors. In forest. I say sheepishly as I love this colors.

Oh God ! What should I do?

I slowly remove knife from my basket which I earlier droped in hurry to run but now I am not abounding it.

Okay I can do this. I only have to scare him. I wish I had my sword he would ran away. But I have make do with this one knife which by the way is very sharp.

This time boar doesn't wait for my being still he comes barrleing towards me angrily.

I put my basket away as it has precious things in them and keep my self steady for attack. As the boar reaches me he jumps on me and I place my knife in front of me knowing maybe I have to kill him.

In aftermath, I am sitting at the ground with little scratches on my arms and bruises on my right shoulder as I fell down with force on it. And the boar, he is staggering with my knife in his stomach. He is one stubborn boar. As I try to stand I feel immense pain rising from my right ankle and foot which makes me moan in pain. I realise my mistake too late as boar attention comes back to me again.

He makes himself ready to attack me again. Like he wants tell me that if I am going down you are going with me. His eyes wilder than before. And in that I feel like death is coming for me.

There are so many things I want to do. I have not even gone out of my rajya. I want so many things that my uncle's speak about other rajya's palaces, lands and other things. I always liked small babies. I don't care about having husband except Kumud Ma said I have to if I want baby of my own. 

So many things. Tears well upy eyes and my vision gets blurry as I see the boar running towards me.

I close my eyes and feel sounds of coming towards me when I hear swoosh and thud.

Am I dead? Is this what it feels? But why am I still feeling pain through my shoulder and foot. I try open my eyes. As I open it the sight that greets me is boar's body only two feet away from me with a large spear through it. As I look at it I feel whispering near me. 

From somewhere someone is calling me. I look up to see who is it, when I see a young boy which is more man than boy looking at me with concern in his dark black eyes. The sun behind him makes his shiny raven black hair more beautiful. And I look properly at his face, my heart skips a bit. 

"Is she okay?" a gruff sound comes from behind him and then I notice that he not alone. There are seven more riders with him. I look at there attire and notice that they all are well dressed so maybe they merchants or some kind of royals.

"I don't know. Looks like she is in shock" the man beside me (which I am not going to say is boy because he is not) says to that older man who asked the question.

He looks at me again. "Are you alright? Do you need my hand to stand up? Are you hurt?" He asks. His voice is so deep and husky. One second where did that came from. ESC (evil sub concious) shut up. I scold her in my mind.

" I am okay. Just little bruises here and there." I say as I try to get up and fail miserably.

"There is nothing wrong with asking my one hand for support if it's suffice to princess's dignity." He says teasingly.

I get angry at his last two words but let it go because he saved my life and thank him for it. He gives me his right hand and waits for me to take it. I hesitate for a second but then I can't sit here all day.

I take his hand feel a spark go through me with that. What was that? I look at him thinking did he feel that. Does he know something is wrong with his hand. I see he is staring at me with something in his eyes but it goes before I can judge it. 

With his support I get up but stumble again and his left arm comes around my shoulder to stable me. I feel another spark. Not uneasy but, I don't know. Something is definitely wrong with him. I will tell my to healer look if he is ill as he saved my life. As a thank you.

"Thank you! But I am ok…." I start to say when I am cut in by noise of horses coming towards us. They break through the clearing and I turn to see my father there looking wildly from here to there and then when he see me he sighs heavily.

But then he looks at me again and eyes is getting red with rage. Now what did I do. I start to say something when I notice anger is not for me but behind me and around my shoulder and then I realise that, the man beside had my hand in his and his one hand around me. And he is looking at my father smugly.

Why?