Little children screaming and running past the stable woke Manik up very early next morning. It was still dark, as the sun hadn't risen yet. He washed his face in the fresh water pit nearby and followed the children to see what was happening.
Nandini was in her room getting ready to teach dance. She wore a simple light yellow cotton sari that was suitable to dance in. She found her anklet tucked into a bag that she hadn't unpacked since she returned from Azianagar. She hooked the ends of the anklet around her ankle and thought of the first moment she saw Prince Manik when she performed at the court in the Dharmveer Palace. She remembered how strikingly handsome he looked clad in royal silks and jewellery. So much has changed. I have changed, I rightfully pushed him away when he came near me then. Now, I want him to be around me all the time. He has changed too. He was the Crown Prince and now... He deserves so much more. Sometimes I feel that I took it away from him. If not for me, he would have married Princess Alia and become the King of the Indian Empire, she thought. She brushed her hair and braided it, remembering Manik wipe it dry yesterday. Just then Nandini's friend Deepti came into her room. Deepti had traveled to Vidyanagar as one of her distant relatives passed away. Nandini hugged Deepti immediately.
Nandini: Deepti! When did you come back?
Deepti: Nandini, I just came from Vidyanagar yesterday. My younger sister informed me that you were in town and were restarting your dance classes. So, I came by to see you.
Nandini: I am very sorry to hear that your grand uncle passed away.
Deepti: Thank you.
Nandini took her kumkum box, and applied a red bindi between her eyebrows looking into the mirror. She found him in herself when she looked at her reflection the mirror. She smiled thinking that that kiss in the rain made them both one. Deepti was noticing Nandini smile to herself.
Deepti: The last time I saw you, you pushed me out of your house because you didn't want to see His Royal Highness Prince Manik...
Just his name was enough to make Nandini smile again.
Deepti: What happened in my absence?
Before Nandini could answer Deepti's question, a little girl came inside and pulled Nandini's hand.
Nandini: Come lets go and start the class.
Nandini, Deepti and the little girl walked outside Nandini's house and halted at the entrance porch. There were around 10 young girls sitting and waiting for Nandini to begin the class.
Nandini: Good morning. The sun is about to rise. Stand up and do the namaskar.
All the girls and Nandini stood up. Nandini was facing the east, while her students faced her.
Manik stopped as he reached his destination, Nandini. The first rays of the sun made her shine like gold when he saw her in a half-sitting dance position. He stood there and watched her as she continued with the namaskar.
Nandini: Ta Ki Ta. Ta Ka Di Mi...
Nandini hit the wooded stick on a wooden slab as she repeated Ta Ki Ta making the girls dance according to what she had taught them earlier. When she noticed some girls not doing the dance correctly, she got up and showed them. Manik was mesmerized yet again when he watched her dance. He remembered the first time he watched her dance in Azianagar. He remembered how he was amazed how a girl who was so courageous could also be so graceful when she danced. He kept walking towards Nandini even without himself realizing it. He tripped on a stone on the path making all the dance students turn back and look at Manik. Nandini noticed him and ran towards him immediately.
Nandini: Manik, are you alright?
Manik: What did I do to deserve someone like you in my life?
Manik, I am the one who is lucky to have you in my life, Nandini thought. Manik noticed a strand of hair on her face and tucked it behind her ears. A young girl walked up to them and spoke making both of them realize that they had company.
Girl: Nandini Akka (sister), why is this man touching you?
Nandini was embarrassed. What could she tell that girl? That he was her lover? Thankfully Manik helped her out.
Manik: There was a bug on her face, I just pushed it away.
He spoke to the girl looking directly into Nandini's eyes. Just then Deepti walked in and spoke to Manik and Nandini while bowing down paying respect to Manik.
Deepti: so this is what happened in my absence. I am very happy that you came looking for Nandini, Your Royal Highness.
Manik: You don't have to call me that. I am just Manik.
Girl: Nandini Akka, can we continue?
Nandini: Sure, lets continue with the class.
Nandini walked back to the porch leaving Deepti and Manik standing a distance away. Nandini smiled as he watched her dance, and Deepti noticed the love in his eyes as he watched her.
Deepti: I am thrilled that you both are together, but please don't hurt her again. She was lost when you said you will marry Princess Alia.
Manik: I would never. I left my royalty because nothing means more than her happiness to me.
Deepti: Good, because if you hurt her, she will destroy you. You know how good she is with her sword.
Manik: I definitely do, I have been beaten twice by her mastery with the sword.
In some time Nandini finished the dance class and the young girl who asked why Manik was touching Nandini came up to Manik, dragged him to Nandini and spoke to him.
Girl: I noticed an ant on Akka's shoulder and I can't reach it, could you get rid of it please?
Manik walked up to her, bent down, smiled at her innocence and spoke.
Manik: Sure, I would love to.
...
So, he is living with the dancer girl, I will have to stay here for longer to find out more about things, King Vedant's spy thought as he watched Manik from a distance.