The Escape

Running down the woods, we reached the northern border of Devgarh. I was feeling exhausted from running, but we cannot stop. Sanjay was holding my hands and guiding me through the dark. It was so dark that we hardly can see anything, Sanjay used his powers and He created the fire to light up the roads for us to see. I was amazed by seeing his magical powers. It was warm and strong and by the lights of the fire falls on him, he looked handsome that it was difficult for me to move my eyes from him. And after a long run from the castle, we reached a nearby mountain. He stopped at looked back at me. he said-" princess, we have to stay here for the night"

I replied-" Okay"

He quickly found a nearby cave shelter for us to keep our heads under it. He used again his powers to light up the woods to create a bonfire. He told me-" you can rest there, I will be here, If you need anything you can let me know"

I nodded my head. And went inside, from a little far I can see him sitting near the edge of the cliff has a keen eye on the surroundings. I asked him-" So you do have magical powers too? when did you learn about it?

He looked back and replied-" I have had it since always, Mother taught me to get control over it."

I said-" It is nice to have a mother who helps you with these and don't hide"

He said-' princess, you are very young, Sometimes, what you have is not a blessing, but could be just trouble, push you more to the responsibilities. sometimes truth which is been hidden is for good"

I said-" If I would have known with my powers I could have helped. Nobody had to die."

He replied-" No everything is in our own hands, But yes I can help you with your powers, I can show you how to control it."

I replied with a smile-"you would?"

He came near me and hold my hands, He put one of his hands on mine, and closed his eyes, he used his powers to connect my inner soul. and then opened his eyes and told me-" Princess, you have the power of life, the magical powers of holy water."

I was amazed to hear about it, "I want to learn it"- I said

He replied-" I can guide you to channel your powers so you can activate it and give it a form"

Next few hours he guided me to connect to my inner soul and know my true form. He helped me to connect with my powers and after several tries, I finally was able to control my powers, I can now, create a force around me as a shield, or can bend it as a weapon. Also, the amazing things about my powers were I can connect to any living form and can share the life force to heal or to create force and weapon.

I said-' Thank you, for everything, you did for me."

He just smiled at me and did not reply to anything.

I said-" why are you helping me, prince? In fact, knowing the factor that I am from your enemy kingdom, you saved me, not once but several times, you went against your brother, mother, and your kingdom, why?"

He looked at my eyes and replied-" That is what I am trying to find." he moved closer to me and said-' What is so special about you that is attracting me to you? Why do feel like someone I know long past? Why are you so... " he moved so closed to me, I can feel his heartbeat, I feel so nervous and also somewhere excited inside me. I tried to calm myself down.

I said-" Well... how long will it take for us to reach my home?

He didn't move his eyes from me, he replied-" Well, what funny incident it is, By mistake, we came in the opposite direction, it will day one day more to reach Rajnagri."

I exclaimed-" Opposite?"

He said-" certainly yes, but don't worry, we will reach there soon princess."

I nodded my head and asked him once again-"You said we are friends right?

He replied -" absolutely"

I said-" Can I ask you something?"

He replied-" Sure!!! What's bothering you?"

I said-" Sanjay, since I have been here, I have felt, something is been hidden from me, what is it? Tell me why does your mother want me? how do you have these powers? why this place feels dead, dark, and scary?"

Sanjay's face turned stoned and he was trying to ignore me, But I catch him up I asked again-" as a friend, I hope to get the truth"

He looked at me with a fear eyes he said-" I wanted to tell you, but for the first time I am scared...

I replied with a worried face-" what are you scared of Sanjay?" I hold his hands and looked into his eyes and said-" I am right here, you don't need to be worried about..."

I looked at me and said-" I am scared of losing you Megha, I am scared that if you know the truth, You might not see me as you are seeing me right now, you might leave me. I am scared of losing you Megha."

I hold his hands and replied-' Sanjay, I have always lied, betrayed, and cheated. you are the first person in these years who makes me feel like someone. Someone worth living... alive... you are the first person, I wanted to trust you Sanjay."

He pulled out his hands from mine and said-" you know nothing about me and my kingdom Megha, what are you doing to me Megha? I never felt so weak, so helpless before, I don't know why, But I want to share you everything But I can't, It never happened to me before, I use to be strong, But now, you are making me weak, "

I replied in a worry-" Sanjay calm down, you can count on me. I am here, I promise I will keep up whatever the truth. you are not weak Sanjay, how can you be? You have incredible magical powers...

He replied in the exhaust-" It's a curse Megha, you don't know, This kingdom possesses deep dark magic, and I was cursed with these powers for a lifetime, with no heart in here" He kept my hands in his chest. I could feel the tension, the worry, and fear in his eyes, But touching him felt so close, so painful, I can feel his pain, but I couldn't feel his heartbeat. Just then Sanjay pulled out his hands and turned around, he felt someone's presence. He shushed me.

He said-" Somebody's here, we need to hide. He blew off the bonfire. I got scared and hold onto his arms. He looked directly into my eyes and I felt I skipped a beat of my heart. Just then, we saw we were surrounded by the army of Tarun, He smiled at us and said-" Hello brother,". he looked at me and said-" It's nice to meet you again princess, So now we have two option, one, we could all fight and waste the time, and second, we could all be nice and go to The Queen"

Sanjay said-" Tarun, I don't want to hurt you, you are my brother. Let us go, and no one will get hurt here."

Tarun replied with a confident smile-" we will see who gets hurt. Moreover, I don't want to hurt you brother, but it’s the Queen's order I cannot escape"

They started fighting, Sanjay was indeed powerful, but in front of 100 soldiers he is becoming weak, I know I have to do something, But I don't know what should I do? Then I remember what he had taught me to channel my powers. but I was scared because I am still not sure if I can do it or not, I am just learning, But still, I close my eyes, tried to channel my inner soul with my powers, and forms a connection, It would still take some time, and the meantime, one of the soldiers attacked me, in order to save me, Sanjay came forth and he got hurt by the sword in his chest. Looking at him, got me so angry with them, I formed the biggest shield wave and threw at the soldiers, Tanun escaped but, most of the soldiers git hurt, In the rage of anger he came forth to attack me, Sanjay stood up and used his fire to guard us, Tarun got badly hurt, and Sanjay took me in his arms, And channeled his powers with me, and We escaped from that place. Sanjay was badly hurt and using his powers almost drained his energy. But he still managed to bring us to the border of the kingdom. From the border, I can see my kingdom, to this part of the forest was dark, cold, and shady and the next place was my kingdom, with sunlight, warmth, and gaze. I saw he was bleeding. I channeled my powers with him and healed him. Still, he was weak at the moment. He looked at my face and said-" thankyou princess"

I said-" I should thank you, For saving me. I am so sorry you got hurt because of me."

He smiled at me and replied-" Don't worry, I will be fine in some days"

I said in a worry-" What about your mother? I caused so much problem..."

Before I could finish he hold my face and kissed me, it felt so good, I almost melted in his strong arms, I couldn't feel my heartbeat at that time as it was beating so fast. when his lips met mine, I felt the meaning of my presence. I was paused at the moment not sure what to do, It came all at once in my mind, The betrayal of Arjun, Leaving my kingdom, falling in the woods, him saving me, I was not sure what I was feeling, I wanted to hold on to him, But I am scared, he already has a fiancé, He was from my enemy kingdom, his mother wanted me dead. They attacked my kingdom, but at the same time, I feel safe with him, I feel me, with him, I wanted to embrace it. Just then he pulled out, he looked at my blank confused face. he said-" I know what are you thinking about. Just know that for the first time in life, I felt so alive, I felt the presence of my heart. I LOVE YOU."

I replied-" But..."

He kept his finger on my lips and replied-" You don't have to... I understand, we are different. Be safe"

while he was returning, I reached out to his hands and asked-" Will we meet again?"

He said without looking at me-" It's good that we should not"

And he left, I was still standing there, trying to analyze what had happened and there is no trace of him, it's like he never existed, but why do I feel like he does? I should be happy I am about to reach home, But why am I not? I stood there and sun rays fall on my skin, I closed my eyes and What I saw is "Him". I realized I made mistake, It's him what I wanted and I need to find him.