Heart as a kite!

Gandhari had never felt like this before. She felt a strange weakening around her knees, and her cheeks felt flushed. For a few moments, she had lost all sense of time and place. As if there was no one there, except her and the man with the beautiful brown eyes!

She realised her hands were still outstretched, her fingers slightly touching his wide strong chest.... And that she was still staring into those most captivating eyes.

"Control yourself, you idiot!" She mentally chided herself, and tried to speak in a steady calm voice, "So, aaa... mm.... So,-thanks for saving me from the fall" she said, rather uncomfortably. She was feeling distinctly hot around her neck, ears and cheek. "MayInoyur?" She spoke hurriedly, completely muddling up her sentence, so that it came out as gibberish. The pinkish tinge of her cheeks became even more reddish.

"Sorry?" Said the stranger, not understanding a word of her jumbled up sentence.

"Sorry. I meant to ask for your introduction," said the princess, now more calm.

"Oh!!!" He gave har boyish grin. Dimple appeared on both his cheeks, and his whole face lit up. "I am Veerbhadra.I am Saumya's brother. And you are.... " He paused to look her look her up and down, and then continued, "Princess Gandhari." He bowed. "It is a pleasure to meet you! Saumya talks a lot about you."

"Ohh! She does? Nothing bad I hope!" She smiled. Saumya was her attendant, and also her best friend. They were nearly a same age, and had been together since they were about 5 years old. They knew everything about each other and shared all secrets between themselves. In fact they were so inseparable that it was impossible to recall one without the other.

Gandhari knew that Saumya had an elder brother, but she had never met him before today. She had always imagined Saumya's brother to be a big, rough looking guy, who was only interested in wars, politics and such, just like her own brothers. She had never expected her brother to be so.... handsome!

"Saumya gives you nothing but compliments. However I must say, even her best compliments are not close to what you are! ... You -" He suddenly realised what he was going to say, and that too, to a princess, and immediately stopped himself. He had never known such a beauty. Gandhari was a marvel to look at, and she had a melodious voice. Veerbhadra felt himself redden. The princess was having a strange effect on him. It was as if he had no control over his thoughts at all. He had never felt so much attraction towards anyone before today.

"She is a princess, you idiot! Behave yourself!" He scolded himself in his mind.

"Did you say something?" She asked.

"No - No, nothing!"

After an awkward pause, Gandhari said, "I should take your leave now. Bye!"

"Bye!"

Gandhari moved on the reach her quarters, but she had to restrain herself several times from turning back to look at him again.

"Don't turn. Don't turn. Don't turn." She kept on reminding herself till she finally reached her chambers. Upon entering her room, she immediately asked all her maids and attendants to leave the room, all except Saumya, so they could be alone for a few minutes.

Saumya immediately understood her heart's condition, and pressed for information. After a little persuasion, Gandhari told her the truth. Saumya was amazed, and glad, and also worried.