Over the next few weeks, I ran into Anand in the halls or outside near the jasmine bushes, and without fail I would immediately turn dumb and blush a deep crimson. But one day, or rather one evening, when the entire royal family accompanied by my grandmother, went out for a temple festival, I stayed back to enjoy the serenity and beauty which I could never savor, because of some work or the other. I found a small pathway. Led by round smooth-faced rocks peeking out like grey turtles in the ground, I finally came to a pool of emerald green with the path ending in moss plundered cement steps. Hidden among the shade of the coconut palms, the water seemed almost frozen, and yet was inviting me to take a refreshing dip. Going against all my instincts, I stepped in, and relished the cool feel of water lapping against my skin. Suddenly, out of nowhere, someone cleared their throat. Immediately, I turned around to see, who else, but Anand standing on the steps, with a strange smile playing on his lips, and an even more strange look in his eyes. We held each other's gaze for more than what seemed like an eternity to me. Till finally, I summoned the courage to ask, “Didn’t you go with your family to the temple?”
“Oh, so you can talk,”Anand replied with a combination of sarcasm and delight in his voice, “Well, I was about to, and then I saw you walking towards my favourite place, and thought that I should come and charge you for trespassing.”
“Is that right,” I asked with one eyebrow raised, “and where exactly is it written that this place is exclusively yours?”
“Right here on these steps, with the moss as my witness. Why don’t you come out and look for yourself,” he asked with a naughty look in his eye.
“You would like that, wouldn’t you? And what if I don’t?”
“In that case, I would I have to join you and convince that everything in this place is mine,” at that time he looked at me and said, “well, not everything, not yet anyway.”
I lowered my gaze and that familiar blush crept in. My heart began to thud loudly like drums where the beat races faster and faster every second. And when I looked up, I saw Anand walking towards the water and more importantly, towards me. I stood frozen in the water and looked at him with the most surprising expression on face as he came closer and closer. He was only centimeters away from me. I could feel his breath and was almost losing myself in the depths of his brown eyes, till he spoke, “Your bewitching eyes outdo the emerald green of this pool and the fragrant green lush of the palm leaves. And if you make them any bigger, they may fall out.” As he said this, he held his palms as if to catch them. I was speechless. It was the first time someone, other than my grandmother, had ever complimented me. My eyes began to tear and it took all my effort to not cry, with happiness of course, and managed to whisper a tremulous, “Thank you, I think you have a way with words.” And with me, I thought to myself. He smiled at me and as if reading my mind he replied, with his velvet smooth voice, “I think you have a way with me.” Before I could react, his arms pulled my waist closer to his and his lips met mine in a sweet yet heart fluttering kiss. My arms went around his neck as his went up and down my back, sending tingles up and down my spine. The feeling was warm and pure yet thrilling and forbidden.
Forbidden? How could I forget? He was the prince, I was just a lowly servant, his nanny’s granddaughter. This cannot and should not be happening. I pulled away and saw what I thought to be love and devotion in his eyes for me. And before I knew it, he carried me to a patch of grass near the south end of the pool, and laying me down, with his body just over mine, confessed, “I have wanted you ever since I saw you alight from that tonga. I knew I was crazy about you when you blushed after I asked your name. You do not realize how beautiful you are, which makes you all the more desirable. Your black cascading hair, your mesmerising hazel eyes, and your perfect figure as you walk like a graceful tigress on the prowl, all does something to me. But I do not want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable, but if I did not tell you how I feel, I know that I could never have any peace of mind. I am hoping that you feel the same?”
I could not believe my ears. He was talking about me in this way? Where was I to begin? How could I tell him that ever since I saw him, I fell head over heels. He had taken over my mind, body and soul. “I am just as crazy about you, maybe even more. My day would not be complete if I do not run into you and fumble for words. When I am with you or see you, I become immeasurably happy, and when I do not, everything goes gray and meaningless. I want to belong to you, if you’ll have me.”
He smiled that lop-sided grin of his which made my stomach do flip-flops, and kissed me once again. This time it was with a lot more passion and we both knew it was leading somewhere. Somewhere, I could never turn back. Somewhere, that I had chosen to go, without thinking of anyone but myself and that Anand had chosen me. On that patch of grass, I changed from a naive school girl, to a woman who would face the consequences. Somewhere and soon enough I had to become deaf to the rustling of the coconut palms which no longer seemed like the onset of rain, but sounded like whispers. Anand became my strength and weakness, so with him, I knew I could silence all the whispers and my fate would once again be protected by my green guardians.
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