Baahubali found Rudra in the balcony of his chambers, sharpening his arrows. One of the many things that he discovered about Rudra during his stay in the palace of Maahishmati was that sharpening arrows was a grounding exercise for him. He did it when there was a need for him to think calmly in moments of feeling anxious.

"Rudra." Baahubali was frustrated, and made no attempts to hide it in his tone.

Rudra glanced back and smiled. "Baahu, what brings you here? Don't you have preparations to make for that mission you are going on?"

"I'll deal with it. But I need to discuss something with you first."

"Battle strategy?"

"Something more important."

Rudra frowned. What could be more important than planning for defense, or potentially attacking first, while going on a mission to rescue the citizens and diplomats being held captive in a distant, hostile land?

"But—"

"No, you let me speak today. It has been three years. Three years! When are you going to tell her?!"

Baahubali was initially delighted when both Rudra and Lalita individually confided in him about their feelings, under the impression that it would be easy to unite them. But much to his disappointment, they both made him promise not to tell the other about their feelings, as they were stuck in hesitation regarding whether or not they should confess. It was funny in the beginning, but as time passed, he felt increasingly helpless. The three years passed agonisingly for him. The twins celebrated their twenty-first birthday a week ago. Baahubali demanded that Lalita tell Rudra about her feelings, and that it would be enough of a gift for him. Lalita said that she would do it soon, without specifying when. Deeming it unfruitful to prolong his discussion with her, he decided on trying to push Rudra instead.

"Uh, Baahu... what are you talking about?"

"Don't do this, Rudra. You know exactly what I mean. You love Lalita. And she—" he held himself back. As much as she wished he could tell Rudra the truth, he did not want to hurt Lalita by saying it without her consent. "You need to tell her how you feel." Baahubali sat next to Rudra.

"But... What if she does not feel the same way about me? I don't want to lose a friend."

"So lying is right, then? Do you not owe it to her—and to yourself—to be honest?"

Rudra looked away, trying, and failing, to hide the unmistakable look of fear in his eyes.

Baahubali placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do you think I am wrong?"

Rudra stayed silent, unable to express the fact that he agreed with Baahu, as he always did on everything.

Nevertheless, Baahu understood what was on his dear friend's mind. "Then you better gather the courage and confess to her by the time I return with the hostages."

"I cannot promise you that I will do it," Rudra spoke softly. "But I can promise you that I will try my best to do so."

"That's at least better than what she's doing," Baahu muttered to himself.

"Huh?" Rudra frowned.

"Uh, no... it's nothing. Good luck, my friend." Baahubali hugged him. "Meet me after breakfast. I do need your advice regarding strategy." A sheepish smile formed on Baahubali's lips. "You are going to my minister for espionage and intelligence anyways. Give me as much information as you can."

Rudra smiled and shook his head. "As you wish, Maharaja-to-be."

It had been three days since Baahubali went away on the mission with Kattappa and a large platoon of soldiers, leaving Lalita alone with her conflicting thoughts. The royal family of Vidarbha, a large kingdom and potential ally, was visiting. Bhallaladeva stayed behind, not accompanying Baahubali, in order to personally receive the royal family. It was clear to Lalita that he was trying to gain their favour, so that they would support him if he became the king. She did not approve of the overly welcoming attitude adopted by both Bhallaladeva and his father, but did not say anything. She only took a formal tone that was firm enough to make it clear she was not going to be like her cousin. But what surprised her was that Sivagami also seemed quite impressed by the Prince of Vidarbha, Pradyumna. Perhaps it was the way he carried himself, or the way he was cleverly using his words to remain diplomatic, yet honest. But none of it interested her. 'Rudra is better anyway,' she thought.kattappa And in thinking that, she did not notice particularly how Sivagami kept smiling suggestively to her.

Later that day, when she went back to her chambers after formally greeting the guests, a young female maidservant entered, timidly asking her permission to speak.

"Varsha, right?" Lalita was confirming if she was recollecting her name correctly. She hated referring to them as 'dasi'. "You're Haritha Akka's daughter." Though Bijjaladeva did not particularly approve of it, she addressed all the servants respectfully.

"Yes, Rakumari," she was more at ease, smiling faintly. Varsha understood why Vidya was so close to, and now concerned for Lalita. "Raja-Vaidya Vidya sent me here." Vidya had recently been promoted to the status of one of the royal doctors.

"Oh. What is it?" Lalita sat straight.

"Well, um, Rajamata sent me here, to summon you, but... Vidya Akka secretly informed me to warn you that it is regarding..."

Lalita raised her eyebrows. "Regarding...?"

"Regarding Rakumara Pradyumna."

"What about him?"

"What else, Rakumari..." she raised her eyebrows, deliberate and careful.

Lalita's face remained blank, just for a moment. "Wh–what?"

Varsha shrugged.

Lalita sighed. "Tell Rajamata I will be there soon."

Lalita was seething as she walked to Sivagami's chambers. But beneath the anger was helplessness, and fear. She did not know how to defy the woman who raised her. Technically, she had to be eternally grateful to Sivagami for protecting her in an environment which could have been extremely hostile—and to speak quite frankly, fatal—for her. But her heart belonged to someone else. It was cruel to marry someone she could never love and ruin his life only because she had to follow her mother's orders.

As warned before, Sivagami began trying to subtly hint regarding the topic of marriage, much to Lalita's frustration. "Anyways. How did you like the royal family of Vidar—"

"Amma, I don't want to be married to Pradyumna."

"Firstly, you will address him by his title. He is not your friend," Sivagami's loving, teasing expression turned grave. "And secondly, what?"

"I said, I know what you're trying to hint at. And I cannot marry the Prince of Vidarbha."

There was a long silence. Sivagami knew that the young woman before her was not one to bow down and submit to her wishes so easily. When she made up her mind, she was really firm. She was rummaging through all the tricks stored away in her mind that could possibly convince her. 'Perhaps,' she thought, 'being nice to her is the best way.' Lalita could appear really stubborn and strong, but her heart had always been big; big enough for it to fill itself with the emotions that could not be contained in others' hearts. Maybe even more so than Baahubali, sometimes.

And Sivagami definitely knew that Lalita's will had never been as strong as her twin's.

But Sivagami did not know what love did to strengthen her daughter's heart. She tried to force a smile onto her face. "I understand you must be nervous regarding leaving our home, but child—"

"No. It is not that."

"Then what is it?" she frowned.

"It is..." she sighed. "I do not consent, Amma. I don't. Being in wedlock with a man I have no feelings for is only going to ruin his life, and mine."

Sivagami just chuckled. Lalita was never, after all, the one to admit that she had even a minor difficulty regarding any issue. "I understand you, my child. I know you are nervous..."

"Amma, are you even listening to me? I just said I don't want to be married!"

"Perhaps you should just meet him once. I will arrange for it," Sivagami turned to send someone to summon Pradyumna, immediately standing up to walk towards the door.

"Amma!"

"I'm your mother, Lali. I know what you need. Just trust me." That was all Sivagami said before walking out.

She sat in the garden, where she was supposed to meet Pradyumna. But she saw Rudra lingering in the corridor nearby. She frowned and walked up to him. "Rudra, is everything alright? You've been pacing around here for a while now."

"Um, well—Rakum—uh, I mean, Lalita—"

Her eyebrows came together in an amused frown.

"I love you, Lalita," he blurted out. "I have, for the past three years."

Her lips parted. She could not believe her ears. She discreetly pinched herself, but Rudra noticed.

"Yes, this is real. I am telling you the truth. Never did I even dream that I would confess to you, or that it would happen under such circumstances, but... but I mean it, Lali. I have never loved anyone or anything more before," he stepped forward and took her hands into his. "Kattappa told me everything before he left. Please don't agree to marry Pradyumna. I promise I can take care of you just as well, if not better. I may not be able to give you the same luxury, but let me assure you, he cannot love you the same. Nobody will."

Time remained still. The both of them were in a trance. Lalita was still wondering if this could be a dream, abruptly ending at any moment. She silently gazed at Rudra, her vision blurred by tears. She took in a deep breath, realising that her surroundings only felt increasingly real by each moment that passed. "You... You cannot be serious—"

"If there is anything I will ever be serious about, it would be this. There is nothing more that I believe in, nothing that is more important to me. I really mean it."

She only fell into his arms, tightly embracing him.

"Whether this is a dream or reality, I wish this feeling could last forever."

"It will, if you wish for it, Rakumari."

"Then marry me, Rudra..." she looked up, not pulling away from the hug. "Marry me!"

He brought her head back to be pressed against his chest, placing a gentle, yet firm kiss on the parting of her hair. "Soon, I will apply sindooram where I just kissed you."

"I shall be in anticipation of when that moment might arrive."

It was dark. The torches and lamps were being put off in the chambers of rest, as everyone was retiring for the day. The palace that bustled with activity during the day was almost completely silent now. The only sound audible enough for it to be identified was that of Lalita's anklets; she was walking towards Bhallaladeva's chambers. She hated that Baahubali was not there, for he would have instantly come up with some plan or the other. Now, the only option she was left with was to seek help from her cousin, who had grown very distant from her in the past three years. Though Baahubali wished he could do something about it, he did not know what to do. He told himself that Lalita and Bhalla were never destined to share such an affectionate bond, like himself and Bhalla did.

She asked a guard outside to announce her presence in Bhalla's room. He was, as usual, sitting with his father and a few other close associates.

'Are they wine goblets in their hands?!'

Lalita was appalled that Bhallaladeva appeared to have made a habit out of drinking, but told herself not to judge him and focus on the matter at hand. She had instructed the guard to tell Bhalla to meet her privately in a secret corridor that was less likely to have any spies or curious observers.

When he arrived, she informed him of the situation, and how she could not marry Pradyumna, for her heart was already Rudra's. Bhalla listened to everything with only the slightest of twitches on his face, which Lalita noticed despite the darkness. She understood that he was not going to be a neutral bystander regarding this matter.

"Bhalla, I really need you to help me... Please say something!" Lalita was desperately hoping that her cousin would take her side.

He sighed, running a hand over his face. Hopefully contemplating what could be done.

Terrifying moments of silence passed.

"Bhalla?"

"...I think you should be a little more mature about this, Lalita."

Those words completely shocked her. She was being convinced to get married against her will, and she had to behave maturely?

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, think about it... marrying Pradyumna would secure an alliance of great importance. It would do wonders for our kingdom—"

"Bhalla, it's my life! I need to live like—like a corpse so that you can get a few more trade agreements? Do you even hear yourself?!"

"Stop screaming, you will wake the whole palace up," he muttered through gritted teeth. "Come on, Lali, you know that it would make everyone's life easier to have such a powerful kingdom supporting us. There is no form of alliance stronger than the ones formed due to marriage. Nobody would ever dare break that code. If Vidarbha was bound to support us at any time, we could become the strongest kingdom in the country—just think!"

Lalita did not know what to say. She had a thousand arguments in her mind, against what he just said. But she did not find the strength to articulate all her opinions. She knew Bhalla was too blinded by desire to understand her now. Worse, he was justifying it with the excuse of needing protection from conflicts that were completely unfounded in any evidence. If he could not understand the simple fact that this is not a reason good enough to take away her right to choose whom she wants to marry, he could never pay attention to the problems that will still persist despite forming an alliance with Vidarbha. "You're not going to help me, no matter what I say. Will you?" Her calm demeanor shook Bhallaladeva's confidence about gaining what he desired.

"Don't do anything stupid, Lali," he tried to intimidate her. That only furthered her fury.

"I dare you to stop me." She began to walk away but paused, and turned her head to look at him. "I am never going to call you my brother again, Bhalla. Henceforth, do not expect me to treat you like one."

Bhalla scoffed. The relationship he just lost did not matter to him much, compared to the pain caused by his lust for power. Resolving himself to find out whatever she was planning and disrupt it, he too left, equally fiercely.

Lalita threw a few clothes and some jewellery into a sack, along with a few other essentials they would need to survive a week long trip on a ship. Rudra, who was waiting in her chamber, stared at her confusedly. "Lali, what are you—"

"We are not going to get any help from Bhalla. You can forget that he even exists. Let us leave for Hemavati, this instant."

"Wh—what? But what about Rajam—"

"Amma... will understand. She is not in a position to listen to me right now. Let us go there, get married, and come back here. Then we can convince her."

He raised his eyebrows, hesitating.

"What is it?"

"I don't think that's a very good idea."

"Do you have something better on your mind?"

He sighed softly, remaining silent.

"If... if we don't do something on our own right now, Rudra, we might never be united again. Please try to understand."

They both sat in silence for a while, unmoving. Rudra spoke first. "You wish Baahu was here, do you not? He would be the best person to convince your mother."

"And he would be willing to really support us the best way he can, unlike someone," she muttered.

He chuckled. "Trust me, Rakumari. I am not going to let you down. If marrying you according to the customs of the tribe my mother belonged to is the only thing that can ease your distress, then I will go to any lengths to do just the same." He sat next to her and placed his hand on the small of her back. She only rested her head on his shoulder and tightly held his waist with her slender arms in response.

"Really?"

"Yes, really!" His chin went on top of her head, as though it were the most natural thing for him. "And, I might've just thought of a plan..."

"What is it?"

"The lake on the outskirts of the city," he simply stated. Lalita needed no further clarification; she nodded.

"I will see you soon."

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