Then, they started moving out of the forest together.
After some time, they finally reached his village market.
The moment Brinda stepped into the crowded marketplace, she stopped.
Her eyes widened.
There were people everywhere.
Merchants calling out to customers, villagers exchanging goods, children running between stalls, the smell of spices and cooked food filling the air.
She had never seen so many people gathered in one place before.
Brinda looked around with genuine amazement.
Brinda: "What's this place?"
Kritartha smiled.
Kritartha: "It's the exchange market."
He gestured toward the different stalls.
"You exchange your things to get the same valuable things you need. Like, I exchange my medicinal herbs and fruits for fancy clothes, fragrances, yummy dishes from Mithila, Ayodhya, Mathura and other cities."
He looked at her excitedly.
"You want to try anything? Come with me."
He started walking toward a food stall.
Brinda followed him curiously.
Kritartha quickly picked up a gravy sweet and held it out toward her.
Kritartha: "Try this one. This is my favourite."
Brinda looked at the sweet suspiciously.
Then she took it and tasted it.
Her expression immediately changed.
She quickly spat it out.
Kritartha stared at her in disbelief.
Brinda: "I didn't like it."
She looked around the food stall.
"Is there any meat available here?"
Kritartha blinked.
Kritartha: "Oh... You eat meat?"
He laughed awkwardly.
"Our clan people are vegans, though."
Then he remembered something.
"It's okay. We have a stall here for meat lovers, and it's specially brought from Kishkindha hunters."
He pointed toward another stall.
"It's a bit expensive, but I can exchange it for you."
He took Brinda toward the stall.
Kritartha: "Which meat do you like to take?"
Brinda answered without hesitation.
Brinda: "I always prefer deer."
Kritartha nodded approvingly.
Kritartha: "Hmm... Nice choice."
He turned toward the seller.
"Big brother, give her what she asked."
Brinda received the meat and began eating.
Unlike the sweet, she enjoyed this one immensely.
Kritartha watched her with an amused smile.
He had never seen anyone react so honestly to food before.
Afterward, they continued walking through the market, looking at different things.
Neither of them noticed that a few familiar faces had noticed them.
Kritartha's friends were standing nearby.
One of them narrowed his eyes.
Friend 1: "Hey... Is that Kritartha?"
The other looked in the same direction.
Friend 2: "Yeah, he looks like him."
He paused.
"Wait... Why is he hanging around with another woman?"
Friend 1 looked at Brinda.
Friend 1: "Yeah. And she's taller and bigger than him."
He stared for another moment.
"She looks strong and beautiful as well.
What happened to Kalindi?"
Friend 2 shrugged.
Friend 2: "I don't know."
He lowered his voice.
"He always hangs around Kalindi like her tail. Now he's not even talking with her, maybe."
He looked at Brinda again.
"And who's that woman? She looks so odd."
Before they could continue...
Kalindi suddenly appeared between them.
Kalindi: "What are you guys babbling about?"
The two friends immediately became nervous.
Friend 1 smiled awkwardly.
Friend 1: "Nothing."
He quickly pointed toward the sky.
"We're talking about the weather."
Friend 2 nodded quickly.
Friend 1: "Today's weather is so nice and cool, right?"
Kalindi narrowed her eyes.
Kalindi: "Then why did I hear my name in your conversation?"
She looked past them.
Her eyes suddenly fell upon Kritartha.
And then Brinda.
Her expression changed.
Kalindi: "Wait..."
She stared at them.
"Is that Kritu? Who's she?"
Kalindi immediately began walking toward them.
Her friends followed.
Kritartha and Brinda had stopped beside a fancy-dress stall.
Kritartha pointed toward the clothes.
Kritartha: "These are all used dresses of queens, queen servants, hall dancers, and rich people."
He looked slightly embarrassed.
"For now, I can't exchange one for you."
He smiled.
"But tell me if you like anything here."
Brinda looked at the clothes.
Then shook her head.
Brinda: "I don't want."
Kritartha looked confused.
Kritartha: "You didn't like any here?"
Brinda looked at him.
Brinda: "I don't want you to give me something like these."
Before Kritartha could answer, he noticed Kalindi and his friends approaching.
His expression immediately changed.
Without thinking much, he reached for Brinda's hand.
Kritartha: "That side we have more beautiful jewellery. Let's go..."
Brinda immediately pulled her hand away.
She looked at him with surprise.
Her voice was soft, but firm.
Brinda: "How dare you touch my hand?"
Kritartha blinked.
Then he quickly took her hand again.
Kritartha: "We need to move fast."
He glanced toward the market.
"This market will get close in two Ghadis(40 Minutes)."
He pulled her gently.
"Let's go."
The two quickly ran toward the opposite end of the marketplace.
Brinda didn't resist this time.
But inside, she felt something strange.
No man had ever touched her hand before.
She didn't know why that small moment affected her.
Meanwhile, Kritartha felt something equally unfamiliar.
He had held Kalindi's hand countless times.
But holding Brinda's hand felt completely different.
His heartbeat quickened.
He couldn't explain why.
Finally, they reached a quieter part of the market.
Kritartha released her hand.
He looked around.
Kritartha: "Now we're safe here."
Brinda looked at him for a moment.
Then she turned toward the forest.
Brinda: "I'll go for now."
Kritartha immediately looked concerned.
Kritartha: "Should I walk you to home?"
Brinda shook her head.
Brinda: "No, I can go."
She looked toward the setting sun.
"And it's not safe for you if you come with me. The sun is about to set. You should go home."
Kritartha nodded.
Kritartha: "Sure."
Then he smiled.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow."
Brinda sighed.
Brinda: "Don't dream too much. We won't meet again."
Kritartha smiled confidently.
Kritartha: "We met today just because I wanted to see you."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"And I want to see you every day. I'm sure we're gonna meet again and again."
Brinda simply sighed again and walked into the forest.
Kritartha stood there, watching her disappear between the trees.
He lifted his hand and waved.
Then he remained there for another few seconds.
Suddenly, Kalindi and her friends approached him.
Kalindi: "Who are you waving to?"
Kritartha kept silent.
He didn't answer.
Friend 2 looked toward the forest.
Friend 2: "Who's she?"
Kritartha turned around casually.
Kritartha: "Who's who?"
He pretended not to understand.
"I'm just killing mosquitoes."
He waved his hand.
"Come on, let's go. We need to go home."
Kalindi stepped in front of him.
Kalindi: "Kritartha, stop."
He stopped.
She stared at him.
Kalindi: "Why aren't you talking with me?"
Her voice became softer.
"Are you still angry at me about yesterday?"
Kritartha didn't turn around immediately.
He stood silently for two seconds.
Then he answered calmly.
Kritartha: "I have other priorities."
He finally looked at her.
"I'm not angry on you. I'm just being me."
He turned away.
"Let's get home."
Kalindi stood there, watching him leave.
For the first time...
She felt that she was losing control over him.
THAT EVENING
Kalindi sat outside her home, staring into the distance.
Her mind kept returning to Kritartha.
"He's not giving me the same attention now which he gave before..."
She frowned.
"Is it because I ran away when he was at the verge of his death?"
She quickly shook her head.
"Of course anyone would do the same."
"Why can't he understand me?"
Her mother came outside carrying a basket.
Kalindi's Mother: "Why are today's groceries less?"
Kalindi looked away.
Kalindi: "Because Kritartha didn't help me at all today."
She hesitated.
Then added:
"And I even saw him with another woman today at the market."
Her mother looked at her thoughtfully.
Kalindi's Mother: "Oh... So be it like that."
She sighed.
"I'll try to gather more flowers from tomorrow."
Then she looked at Kalindi seriously.
"And don't overthink about him. I'll see a good man for you in our clan."
Kalindi immediately shook her head.
Kalindi: "It's not about him, Mom."
Her voice became frustrated.
"His attention, his efforts, his excitement for seeing me... everything disappeared in one day."
She clenched her fingers.
"I don't want him. I want that back."
Her mother frowned.
Kalindi continued.
"I have an easy life when he's with me. I want that back."
Her mother looked at her with concern.
Kalindi's Mother: "It's not the right thing, what you're thinking. What you're feeling is different from love.
You should focus on your life and your future rather than depending on other people."
Kalindi looked toward the forest.
A determined expression slowly appeared on her face.
Kalindi: "You'll see what I can do, Mom."
THE NEXT DAY
Kritartha returned to the same place where he had seen Brinda the previous day.
He walked toward the waterfall.
He looked around.
She wasn't there.
His expression fell slightly.
He slowly approached the pond and peeked over the edge.
Suddenly, a voice came from above.
Brinda: "Don't you have shame checking for a woman when she's taking a bath?"
Kritartha immediately looked around.
Then he looked upward.
Brinda was sitting comfortably on a tree branch, looking down at him.
Kritartha smiled.
Brinda crossed her arms.
Brinda: "I remembered that I told you not to come here again."
Kritartha smiled innocently.
Kritartha: "I came for you."
Brinda stared at him.
Brinda: "You're doing too much."
Kritartha quickly corrected himself.
Kritartha: "I mean..."
He pointed toward the forest.
"I need your help looking for some herbs here."
He smiled.
"As I'm new to this place, I could use your hand."
Brinda looked at him for a moment.
Then sighed.
Brinda: "Oh... okay."
And she helped him collect the herbs.
Like that...
Kritartha and Brinda kept meeting for six days.
Every day, he found another excuse to return.
Sometimes it was herbs.
Sometimes he simply wanted to explore another part of the forest.
And sometimes...
He had no excuse at all.
He just wanted to see her.
With every meeting, their conversations became easier.
THE SIXTH DAY
Kritartha walked toward the waterfall with a smile.
He expected to find Brinda waiting for him.
But when he reached the pond...
She was sitting near the waterfall.
Quiet.
Her usual expression was gone.
She looked deeply troubled.
Kritartha immediately noticed.
His smile disappeared.
He approached her carefully.
Kritartha: "Hey..."
He tried to lighten the mood.
"Here I come again."
He smiled.
"How about we explore a new place for a beautiful walk?"
Brinda didn't answer.
She simply stared at the water.
Kritartha's expression became serious.
He sat nearby.
Kritartha: "What happened?"
Brinda remained silent for a moment.
Then she finally spoke.
Brinda: "Two days back, some of my people were killed."
Kritartha's face tightened.
Brinda continued.
"And today morning, two of my relatives were killed by the same guys too."
Kritartha stared at her in shock.
Kritartha: "That's brutal..."
His voice softened.
"And so sad."
He looked at her worriedly.
"I don't want you to stay in this forest."
He shook his head.
"I'm afraid the same thing will happen to you too."
Brinda looked at him.
Her expression became firm.
Brinda: "I won't let that happen."
Kritartha moved slightly closer.
He looked directly into her eyes.
There was no hesitation in his voice now.
Kritartha: "Brinda..."
She looked at him.
Kritartha: "Come with me. To my home."
Brinda's eyes widened
His voice became gentle.
"I'll take really good care of you and make sure you never feel lacking in anything."
Brinda stared at him.
Brinda: "What?"
Kritartha smiled softly.
Kritartha: "Yes, Brinda."
He looked at her with complete sincerity.
"I'll do everything in my best to make you happy."
Brinda's expression softened with confusion.
She couldn't understand why he was willing to do so much for her.
Brinda: "Why... why will you do that?"
Kritartha looked into her eyes.
He finally said the words that had been growing inside him for the past six days.
Kritartha: "Because I love you."
