Rajjo took a deep breath. It was time to start the conversation.

‘You know my mother’s sister-in-law got married in this village. They said when any local boy got married here, the first offering was made to Lala Hardaul.’

‘Why?’

‘Lala Hardaul is the dead prince, who is still alive here. He had to sacrifice his life to prove the purity of his love for his sister-in-law...’ she looked into Harsh’s eyes. She could see the beautiful sky mirrored in them.

As they walked by the river, hand in hand, Rajjo marvelled at the beauty of the mysterious town.

‘How did you find this place?’ Harsh sighed, watching the sunset framed behind a temple dome. ‘Orchha means hidden. Sometimes the most beautiful things are best hidden, be it romance or poetry. Only the ones who really seek find this beauty.’

Harsh looked at her enthusiastic face, she wore a plain white cotton suit and her dupatta was dyed in fiery colours of red and orange. It shone like fire in the twilight. She looked like a warrior princess with her shiny curls around her face. Suddenly she turned her beautiful face, the river flowing behind her – the setting sun kissing her face. The beauty of this entire town, carrying the hidden legacy of medieval India settled around Rajjo.

‘I came here because of the dead prince who is still alive’.

‘I want to just look at you some more, I don’t want to know about the dead prince.’ He tucked a curl behind her ear softly. Rajjo continued, ‘He was King Jujhar Singh’s step-brother. The king’s real brother, Pahad Singh, wanted the throne and falsely framed the Rani and her brother-in-law Hardaul for having an affair. The king immediately ordered Hardaul’s death, to be sentenced by the Rani herself. Jhujjar ordered his wife to poison Hardaul to prove her innocence, and Hardaul willingly accepted it.’

Harsh was looking at Rajjo very carefully. His heart was beating profusely. He knew something was approaching and he had no way to stop it. The feeling had not left him since he saw her standing in his room yesterday. Her eyes cloaked in sadness, a hesitant smile on her face. He knew something was coming.

He turned his gaze away from hers. Once again the overhanging balconies and huge decorous gateways of the temples loomed large in the setting sun.