Ishita's Perspective

The atmosphere in the palace garden softened instantly as the high-energy beats of the previous songs faded into a gentle, melodic hum. Jay and Ahana stepped to the front of the stage, their voices hushed and respectful.

"This final performance is a surprise," Ahana whispered. "It's from the two people who knew our bride before the world did. This song has a secret history, a melody that turned Ishita's childhood tears into smiles."

I froze as the first few notes of *Thoda Sa Pyar Hua Hai* drifted through the cool night air. My heart began to thud painfully against my ribs. Rudra looked at me, sensing my sudden change in mood, but I couldn't look away from the stage.

My Mummy and Papa walked out. They didn't need flashy costumes or complex steps. They simply held hands, looking at me with a tenderness that made the world around us disappear.

*"Thoda sa pyar hua hai thoda hai baaki...*

*Thoda sa pyar hua hai thoda hai baaki..."*

As they began to sway, a flood of memories hit me. I remembered being five years old, crying over a broken doll, and Papa playing this song to make me laugh. But more than that, my mind raced back to last year-to Rudra's birthday. I had chosen this very song to propose to him, to tell the "Ice King" that I was falling for him. He had always wondered why I chose this specific old melody. Now, seeing my parents dance to it, he was finally seeing the root of my heart.

*"Kaun sa mod aaya zindagi ke safar mein*

*Bas gaya tu hi tu ab to meri nazar mein*

*Dil ki har ek dhadkan tujhko pehchanti hai..."*

My Mummy sang the lines with such grace, her eyes fixed on Papa, mirroring the journey I had taken with Rudra. I turned to look at him. Rudra was completely still, his **ocean blue eyes** fixed on my parents, then slowly moving to me. The realization dawned on his face-this wasn't just a song; it was my soul's language.

The "Ice King" looked visibly moved. His jaw tightened as he realized that when I had proposed to him using these words, I was giving him a piece of my childhood, a piece of my parents' love.

*"Aaj yeh kya hua hai dil nahi mera bas mein*

*Is liye sochti hoon tod doon saari rasme*

*Umra bhar ke liye tu aa mera saath de de..."*

As the lyrics spoke of breaking traditions and holding hands for a lifetime, my parents reached the edge of the stage, gesturing for us. I stood up, my **brown eyes** brimming with tears. Rudra stood with me, his **6'3" muscular frame** providing the strength I needed to keep from sobbing with joy.

Papa sang the final lines directly to Rudra:

*"Haathon mein haath sahi o tu mere saath sahi*

*Phir bhi teri haan hai baaki...*

*Thoda sa pyar hua hai thoda hai baaki."*

The song ended in a beautiful, lingering silence. My parents stepped down and embraced us both. I buried my face in Mummy's shoulder, my drying mehendi forgotten for a moment.

Rudra leaned down, his voice thick and rough as he whispered in my ear, "I never knew, Ishita. I never knew this song was your whole life. Thank you for choosing me to share it with."

I looked up at him, seeing a tear shine in the corner of his eye before he quickly blinked it away. The cold prince had finally melted completely, dissolved by the simple, pure love of a middle-class family's favorite song.

👑 Rudra's Perspective

I leaned back against my chair, my heart already heavy with the weight of her parents' performance, when the music shifted. It wasn't the upbeat dhol or the playful Bollywood pop from earlier. It was a haunting, soulful melody that seemed to pull at the very air of the Rajasthan night.

*O Rangrez...*

My breath caught. I watched as Ishita stood up from her throne. Her **mehendi** was dark and dry now, a deep mahogany against her **brown skin**. She walked onto the stage with a grace that wasn't just a model's walk-it was a woman walking toward her destiny.

As she began to move, the world around me blurred. The lights, the guests, the palace-it all vanished. I was thrown back five years. I remembered a Holi party, a sponsorship event for my company. I had been standing on a balcony, cold and detached, watching the commoners celebrate. And then, I had seen her. She had been dancing just like this-lost, ethereal, as if the color in the air was an extension of her soul. I remembered getting a small cut on my hand from a broken glass, and she, a stranger then, had stopped her dance to clean my wound with a tenderness that had terrified me.

Now, she was dancing for me again, and the lyrics hit me like a physical blow:

*"O rangrez tere rang dariya mein*

*Doobna hai bas tera banke*

*Haaye nahin rehna dooja banke"*

She swirled, her **emerald green skirt** flaring out, her **long curly hair** escaping its pins and cascading down her back. Her **brown eyes** were locked onto mine, burning with a devotion that made my "heartless" chest ache. She was telling me she wanted to drown in my colors, that she didn't want to exist as anything other than mine.

*"Ek bhi saans alag nahin leni*

*Khench lena praan is tan ke*

*Haaye.. nahin rehna dooja banke"*

The intensity of her dance increased. She wasn't just performing; she was surrendering her very breath to me. I sat there, my **6'3" muscular frame** rigid, my fingers gripping the arms of my chair so hard the wood groaned. I felt a surge of **ruthless pride** and a dark, overwhelming **possessiveness**. Every movement of her waist, every chime of her ghunghroos, was a claim on my soul.

*"Ghunghroo hai tu main to hoon paaon piya...*

*"Peepal tu main toh hoon chaaon piya..."*

She descended from the stage, her eyes never leaving mine. She moved through the crowd like a flame, the ghunghroos on her feet singing *jha-na-na-na-nan*. She was the shadow to my tree, the music to my feet.

*"Maala mein aa tujhko piro loon*

*Tujhe pehanu sajan*

*Hothon mein aa sargam sa bolun*

*Tujhe rat loon sajan"*

She reached me, her presence a heady mix of henna and sweat and jasmine. She danced right in front of my chair, her hands weaving patterns in the air as if she were literally threading me into a necklace to wear near her heart. The "Ice King" in me was gone, burned away by the heat of her gaze.

*"Apne hi rang mein mujhko rang de*

*Dheeme dheeme rang mein mujhko rang de*

*Saundhe saundhe rang mein mujhko rang de*

*Rang de na, rang de na, rang de na.. aa.."*

She fell to her knees at the end of the song, her chest heaving, her forehead resting against the edge of my chair. The garden was pin-drop silent. My siblings, her parents, the hundreds of guests-they were all witnesses to this ritual of absolute belonging.

I leaned forward, my hand trembling slightly as I reached out to touch her damp hair. I wanted to pick her up and carry her away from all these eyes, to lock her in my room and never let the world see this side of her again.

But as the final notes of the *Rangrez* alap faded, she didn't get up. She looked up at me, a mysterious, beautiful smile playing on her lips, her **brown eyes** sparkling with a secret.

"I'm not done, Rudra," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackle of the torches. "I told you I have more surprises for my almost-husband."

I stayed frozen in my seat, my **ocean blue eyes** fixed on her. My heart was thundering. I had built empires, crushed enemies, and ruled Rajasthan with an iron fist, but in this moment, I was just a man at the mercy of a girl who knew exactly how to break me.

"What are you doing to me, Ishita?" I growled low in my throat, my voice thick with a hunger I couldn't hide.

She just stood up slowly, gesturing to the musicians. She wasn't finished. The night was about to get even more intense.

I leaned back, my hand still tingling from the warmth of her hair, as the music shifted once more. This time, the soul-stirring melody of the *Rangrez* was replaced by a rhythmic, playful chime.

Kriti, Prachi, Aditi, Shifa, Riva Bhabhi, and Reet all swarmed the stage, their colorful lehengas creating a vibrant blur. They looked directly at me, their eyes filled with a teasing light as they sang in unison, challenging me-the "Harjai" (unfaithful/wanderer) who had kept their sister waiting for so long.

*"Tu ne paayal jo chhankaayi, phir kyun aaya na harjaayi?*

*O-ho-ho, o-ho-ho..."*

The question hung in the air, a playful jab at my cold nature. But then, the crowd went silent as a distinct, rhythmic sound echoed from the stage-the silver bells of her anklets.

Ishita stepped forward, her every movement deliberate. She wasn't just dancing; she was calling out to me. Her **brown eyes** were fixed on my **ocean blue ones**, and the "Ice King" inside me felt like he was melting under a desert sun. She looked breathtaking, her emerald green skirt swirling as she took over the song with a sassy, commanding grace.

*"Maine paayal hai chhankaayi, ab toh aaja tu harjaayi...*

*Meri saanson mein tu hai basa, o, sajan, aaja, na ab tarsa..."*

She was telling the whole world that I lived in her every breath. I watched her, my **6'3" frame** tense with a mix of pride and a hunger that was becoming harder to control. She was the one who had finally made me stop wandering.

*"Chale jab yeh purvaayi, baje dil में shehnaai*

*Tu hi mere sapnon ka, o, sajan..."*

As she sang about the winds and the wedding bells, she grabbed the end of her dupatta and let it fly, the silk catching the light.

*"Maine chunri hai lehraayi, ab toh aaja tu harjaayi..."*

The girls on stage immediately picked up the chant, their voices echoing through the garden, demanding to know why the "Prince of Rajasthan" was still sitting in his chair.

*"Tu ne chunri jo lehraayi, phir kyun aaya na harjaayi?*

*Tu ne choodi jo khankaayi, phir kyun aaya na harjaayi?*"

Ishita didn't stop. She moved closer to the edge of the stage, her expression turning soft and yearning, showing everyone the side of her that stayed awake thinking of me.

*"Main din-bhar soch mein doobun, main raat mein jaagun, na soaun*

*Tu hi dil mein rehta hai, o, sajan...*

*Maine choodi hai khankaayi, ab toh aaja tu harjaayi!"*

She clinked her bangles together right in front of me, the sound sharp and sweet. The girls behind her kept the pressure on, their voices rising in a beautiful, chaotic harmony of "O-ho-ho!"

I sat there, my jaw clenched, my **possessive** nature flaring up. I wanted to jump onto that stage, wrap my arms around her waist, and show everyone that I was no longer an "Harjai"-I was her man, and she was my Queen.

But I could see it in her eyes; she wasn't done. She had the whole family under her spell, and she was enjoying every second of my restlessness. The "Kukkad Kamal Da" performance was a joke compared to the way she was claiming me now with her bangles and her anklets.

She looked at me, a defiant, loving spark in her eyes, as the final chorus of the girls faded into a low beat. She stood tall, her chest heaving slightly from the dance, the emerald green of her outfit making her look like a jewel in the dark.

I looked at her, my gaze dark and intense. "You're playing with fire, Ishita," I muttered under my breath, though a small, proud smile was finally tugging at my lips.

She just tilted her head, her **long curly hair** swaying, and whispered, "The fire is just starting, Rudra. Don't look away yet."

I sat in the shadows of the canopy, my **ocean blue eyes** tracking her every move. The "Ice King" in me was struggling to stay composed. The way she had just claimed me with her bangles and anklets was enough to make me lose my mind, but then the music shifted. It became a frantic, joyous rhythm that signaled the end of her waiting.

She began to spin, her **emerald green skirt** blurring into a golden-green halo around her. Her voice rose, clear and defiant, over the cheers of the crowd.

*"Koyi Rok Sake Toh Rok Le...*

*Main Nachti Chhan Chhan Chhan..."*

A surge of **ruthless pride** hit me. She was telling everyone-the press, the relatives, the world-that no one could stop her from coming to me. She was moving toward me with a grace that was both **hot and adorable**, her **slim build** radiating an energy that filled the entire garden.

*"Palkee Mein Hoke Sawar Chali Re*

*Main Toh Apne Sajan Ke Dwar Chali Re..."*

As she sang about being carried in a palanquin to her lover's door, she looked directly at me. I gripped the armrest of my chair, my **muscular frame** leaning forward instinctively. She was describing our reality. After years of being a "cold-hearted prince," a man who didn't believe in God or love, I was watching my literal salvation dance toward me.

*"Mushkil Se Maine Yeh Din Nikale...*

*Chal Tej Chal Tu Oh Gadi Wale"*

I remembered the days she had spent in London, the distance between us feeling like an ocean of fire. She was singing about the impatience, the desperate need to bridge the gap. Then, the lyrics turned hauntingly deep:

*"Ho jaaungi main jal jal ke mitti*

*Maine piya ko likh di hai chitthi...*

*Sajan sajan sajan... Kar kar ke main intezaar chali re"*

I saw the vulnerability in her **brown eyes**. She had waited for me to change, waited for me to open my heart. And then came the line that made my jaw tighten with **shameless obsession**:

*"Ye sona ye chaandi ye heere ye moti*

*Ho sainya bina sab kuch hai... naam ka, naam ka, naam ka"*

She was a top model, a woman who lived in the world of luxury, yet she was telling me-and everyone listening-that my name was the only jewel she valued. She was stripping away the glamour of London and the brands, leaving only "Ishita" for "Rudra."

*"Main sar se chunari utaar chali re...*

*Main to apane saajan ke dwaar chali re!"*

She made a gesture as if throwing away her veil, her **long curly hair** wild and free. She was done with the traditions, done with the secrets. She was walking into my life, and she was doing it with a roar.

She finished the song right in front of my chair, her chest heaving, the silver bells on her feet giving one last, sharp *chhan*. The silence that followed was heavy with the heat of our gaze.

I stood up slowly, my **6'3" height** towering over the garden, casting a shadow across her beautiful, glowing face. I didn't care about the family anymore. I didn't care about the decor or the hundreds of people watching.

I reached out, my large hand cupping her cheek, my thumb brushing over the bridge of her **Nath**.

"No one is going to stop you, Ishita," I growled, my voice thick with a raw, **possessive** emotion. "Because if they tried, I'd burn this palace to the ground. You aren't just walking to my door. You've already walked into my soul."

She leaned into my touch, a triumphant, tearful smile on her lips.

"The performance is over, Rudra," she whispered.

"No," I replied, pulling her closer until her emerald silk was crushed against my black pathani. "The performance is over. The reality begins tomorrow. And you have no idea how ready I am for it."

The energy in the garden shifted from a romantic performance into a full-blown, chaotic celebration. The DJ dropped a high-octane mix of Bollywood hits, and the entire **Sharma and Rathore clan** descended onto the dance floor.

I stood back, leaning against a marble pillar, my **6'3" frame** casting a long shadow. I crossed my arms over my chest, my **ocean blue eyes** fixed on one person and one person only.

Ishita was a whirlwind. Now that her mehendi was dry and the performances were over, she was letting loose all the adrenaline from her London trip and the wedding jitters. She and **Jay** were in the center of the circle, and they were, quite frankly, acting completely mad. They were doing ridiculous hook steps, jumping in sync, and laughing so hard that Ishita had to keep clutching her **emerald green skirt** to keep from tripping.

Her **long curly hair** was a wild mess around her face, and her **brown skin** was glowing under the fairy lights. She looked so happy, so untamed, and so incredibly beautiful that it was physically painful to look at her.

"Bhaiya! Come on!" Jay shouted, beckoning me over as he did a clumsy bhangra move.

I simply raised my glass of water and gave a slow, **cold smirk**. I wasn't going to join that madness. I preferred to stay in the shadows, watching her move like a flame. I saw her cousins **Kriti and Prachi** join them, and soon even my **Maa and Bebe** were swaying to the music.

But as I watched Ishita jump for the tenth time in her heavy, embroidered lehenga, my **possessive** instincts started to calculate the cost. Her feet-those delicate feet that were covered in intricate henna up to her knees-were taking a beating on the hard marble floor.

*Tomorrow morning, she's going to regret this,* I thought, a dark, amused glint in my eyes. *She'll wake up for the Haldi and the wedding rituals, and her feet are going to scream in pain. My little 'Global Star' is going to be a very grumpy bride.*

I caught her eye across the crowd. She blew me a kiss, her face flushed with heat and joy, before Jay spun her around again.

"Dance all you want, Jaana," I murmured to myself, my voice a low, **ruthless** vibration. "But tomorrow, when you can't walk to the Mandap, don't complain when I have to carry you there in front of the whole world."

The party went on until the early hours of the morning. The stars were starting to fade when the last of the relatives finally stumbled toward their rooms. The garden was a mess of rose petals and empty glasses.

I walked over to where Ishita was finally standing still, leaning heavily on **Reet's** shoulder, her chest heaving and her breath coming in short gasps. The 'madness' had finally caught up with her.

"Done?" I asked, my voice smooth and mocking as I stood in front of her.

"My... my legs feel like jelly," she giggled, though I could see the first signs of a wince on her face as she shifted her weight.

"I told you," I said, reaching out and effortlessly scooping her up into my arms. Her **5'3" slim build** felt like nothing against my chest. "You've danced enough for three weddings. Now, it's time to sleep. You have a big day tomorrow, almost-wife."

"Ru... put me down, someone will see!" she whispered, though she immediately buried her face in my neck, exhausted.

"Let them look," I growled, walking toward the mansion with long, steady strides. "They've seen the model. Now let them see the Queen being carried to her bed."

I stopped dead in my tracks just inches from her bedroom door, my **6'3" frame** looming over the two girls blocking my path. Kriti and Sannvi stood there with their arms crossed, trying to look brave despite the fact that I was the "Ice King" and currently looked like I could crush a boardroom with a single glance.

"No, Jiju! This is where the royal transport ends," Kriti said, her voice filled with mischief. "It's bad luck for the groom to enter the bride's room this close to the wedding. Put Didi down right now!"

Sannvi nodded vigorously, guarding the door handle like a tiny soldier. "Tradition is tradition, Rudra Jiju. You've had her all night. Now she belongs to the bridesmaids for the pre-wedding prep."

I felt Ishita giggle against my neck, her breath tickling my skin. She shifted in my arms, her **long curly hair** brushing against my chest. "They've got you trapped, Ru," she whispered playfully.

I looked down at her, then back at the cousins. My **ocean blue eyes** narrowed, and for a second, the **ruthless businessman** in me considered just walking right through them. But then I looked at Ishita's face-she was exhausted, her eyes heavy, her feet undoubtedly throbbing from the 'mad' dancing with Jay.

"She can barely stand," I said, my voice dropping into a low, **possessive** growl that usually made my competitors tremble. "Her feet are going to be swollen by dawn because she didn't know when to stop dancing. Are you two going to carry her to the bed, or should I?"

Kriti hesitated, looking at my **muscular build** and then at the petite Ishita. "We... we'll manage! We have Reet and Shifa inside too!"

I let out a cold, sharp huff of a laugh, but I slowly lowered Ishita until her feet touched the cold marble. I kept my arm firmly around her waist, supporting nearly all her weight as she winced, her face contorting just like I predicted.

"See?" I muttered, looking at the cousins. "She's already hurting."

I turned Ishita toward me, ignoring the girls entirely. I reached out and tucked a stray curl behind her ear, my thumb lingering on her cheek. "Go," I commanded softly, my gaze dark and intense. "Sleep. Because once that sun comes up, Ishita, there are no more rooms in this palace that will be off-limits to me. Not a single one."

Ishita blushed a deep crimson, her **brown eyes** shimmering with a mix of exhaustion and love. "I'll see you at the Mandap, almost-husband."

"Count on it," I replied.

I waited until the cousins had ushered her inside and the door clicked shut. I stood there for a long moment in the empty, silent corridor, the scent of her jasmine and henna still clinging to my suit. My heart, the one I didn't believe in for thirty years, was thundering.

I turned on my heel and walked toward my own wing. The 'Ice King' had a wedding to attend, and a Queen to finally claim.

💖 Ishita's Perspective

The first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was a sharp, stinging throb in my soles. *Rudra was right.* I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. My feet felt like they had been marched across the Thar Desert after last night's madness with Jay.

I sat up slowly, looking at my hands. The mehendi had come out a deep, rich mahogany-almost black. They say the darker the henna, the more your husband loves you. If that's true, Rudra's love is terrifyingly deep. I traced the tiny "R" hidden near my palm and smiled through the exhaustion.

I dragged myself to the bathroom, getting freshened up and slipping into a simple, lemon-yellow cotton suit. I didn't put on a drop of makeup. Today, I wanted my skin to breathe before the heavy bridal layers began. The only jewelry I wore was my engagement ring-the massive diamond Rudra had picked, which felt heavy and solid on my finger, a constant reminder of the man waiting for me.

*Radha Rani, help me,* I whispered, looking at my reflection. *I'm nervous, excited, and so emotional I could cry at a moment's notice.*

I walked out to the living area, where the atmosphere was thick with the scent of sandalwood and fresh roses. My **Mumma and Dada** (Mami and Mama) were already sitting near the ceremonial havan. This was the **Chooda ceremony**-the moment they would put the bridal bangles on me, the ones I wouldn't be allowed to see until the wedding.

"Come, my princess," Dada said, his voice cracking as he saw me.

As they began the rituals, dipping the red and white bangles in milk and rosewater, I felt a lump in my throat. These were the hands that raised me, and today, they were officially preparing me to leave. I closed my eyes, the sound of the mantras filling the room, feeling like a bridge between my middle-class dreams and the royal life that awaited me.

👑 Rudra's Perspective:

The Rathore Mansion was a battlefield of tradition and luxury. From my balcony, I could see the staff rushing back and forth, loading gold-trimmed gift boxes into a fleet of black SUVs. The "Ice King's" wedding wasn't just a ceremony; it was a global event.

"Bhaiya! The elephant is here, but the horse trainer says the stallion is too 'spirited' this morning," Akshat shouted, running into my room without knocking. "I told him the horse is just matching your energy!"

I stood there, already showered, wearing a simple silk kurta as I watched the chaos. My **6'3" frame** felt restless. I wasn't interested in the timing of the *Barat* or the gathering of the ritual items. I was only interested in the clock. Every minute that passed was a minute closer to Ishita being under my roof.

"Make sure the jewelry for the *Salami* is accounted for," I commanded, my voice cold and authoritative, though my heart was doing something entirely different. "And Akshat? If the horse acts up, I'll ride the SUV. I'm not wasting time on animal tantrums when I have a bride to fetch."

Vardaan walked in, checking a list on his iPad. "Relax, Rudra. The timing is set for 4:00 PM. We leave the gates with the dhol at exactly 3:30. Everything is gathered-the gold coins, the silk stoles, the royal offerings."

I nodded, turning back to the window. My **ocean blue eyes** scanned the distance toward the venue where Ishita was. I wondered if her feet were hurting. I wondered if she was crying during her Chooda. Most of all, I wondered if she knew that behind this mask of "The Top 5 Businessman," I was barely holding it together.

I wasn't a man of God, but as I looked at the ivory Sherwani hanging in the corner-the one I would wear to claim her-I found myself making a silent vow to whatever forces had collided our destinies.

*She's coming home today. And once she's here, I'm never letting her go.*

💖 Ishita's Perspective

The hall of my home was a sea of marigolds and white lilies, but all I could focus on was the cool touch of the milk and rose petals in the brass bowl before me. I sat cross-legged on the floor, my **Mumma and Dada** (Mami and Mama) sitting on either side of me, their hands trembling slightly as they prepared to slide the red and ivory bangles onto my wrists.

Kriti pressed play, and the soft, ethereal strains of *Din Shagna Da* filled the room.

*"Din shagna da chadheya*

*Aao sakhiyon ni vehra sajeya..."*

As the music swirled around me, I closed my eyes. Behind my eyelids, my entire life played out like a film reel. I saw the little girl who used to play dress-up in her Mami's sarees; I saw the dreamer who boarded a flight to London with nothing but hope; and then, I saw the marble stairs of the Shiv Mandir. I saw **Rudra**-his **6'3" frame** blocking the sun, his **ocean blue eyes** catching mine for the first time.

*"Mera sajna mileya*

*Sajna milan vadhaiyan*

*Ni saajan doli leke aauna..."*

A tear escaped and rolled down my cheek. *My Sajna is coming for me.* The "Ice King" who didn't believe in God was coming to take me away in a royal doli. The weight of the Chooda began to climb up my forearms, and with every bangle, I felt my identity shifting. I was no longer just Ishita Sharma; I was becoming the heart of the Rathore family.

The song transitioned into the soulful chant of the soulmates:

*"Dholna ve, Dholna ve...*

*Ranjhan Mahi dholna...*

*Tu mera naseeba dholna..."*

I felt Mumma's hand on my head, blessing me, and I leaned into her. My heart was thumping in my chest-a mix of the nervousness of leaving this house and the desperate longing to be with Rudra.

*"Jaavan na main bin shehnaiyan*

*Satrangi rubaiyaan*

*Sunaa ja tu arjaiyaan..."*

The music felt like a bridge. On one side was my childhood, my middle-class roots, and the parents who had pampered me. On the other side was a man who was **ruthless and heartless** to the world but became **calm and soft** just for me.

As the final notes of the *shehnai* in the song faded, my Dada tied the ceremonial thread around the bangles and covered them with a silk cloth. I wasn't allowed to see them yet, but I could feel them-heavy, cool, and a permanent mark of my new life.

"It's done, Ishu," Mumma whispered, wiping her eyes. "You're a bride now."

I looked down at the silk-covered bangles, my heart racing. Rudra was probably getting ready at this very moment. Was he thinking of me? Was he as restless as I was?