The next day, his teams arrived, and as expected, Rajeev was with them. He had made a point to come down to see what was going on.

"So this is Palampur," Rajeev said standing on a green hillock as Darsh showed him around. His eyes widened with awe as they swept across the lush green countryside. "And all this land belongs to her?"

"Half of it," Darsh answered. "The rest will go to her uncle and then to his children."

"Pity," Rajeev tutted unable to cast his eyes away from the splendor. Darsh smirked. It was enough to blind anyone, and a man of Rajeev's prowess, who as had sharp a nose as himself for anything that smelt money, was bound to be impressed. But Rajeev's next questions caught him off-guard.

"And what about Ananya?"

Darsh stilled. That name still brought him jitters. Ananya, his Ananya! Well no, not his anymore, she hadn't been his for the past six years, since when she'd jilted him for another man.

"What about her?" He bristled. "That chapter was closed six years ago, Rajeev. She closed it herself. I have now decided to move on."

Rajeev gave him a long look. "But are you really moving on? Because as far as I remember it was Ananya who closed the chapter, it was she who moved on, not you. The last I remember, you were still picking yourself up. I thought you'd healed when you told me of your engagement. I thought you had finally found love again. But now that I have seen all this," Rajeev's waved his arm around, "I am not sure."

Darsh felt his pressure building. Rajeev knew too much, maybe it was a mistake to let him come here. He was the only one privy to this part of his life, no one else knew, not even his mother.

It was through Rajeev that he met Ananya seven years ago. She was Rajeev's cousin, they had taken a job to construct a farmhouse for her family. He had fallen for her the moment he saw her. Rajeev had witnessed his madness, the craziness of his young heart. He was also a witness to his heartbreak when she left him for another man. It had been torture. If the one year of their togetherness was heaven, this was pure hell. Six years later, he still hadn't found the courage to open his heart to another.

Yes, his princess had come close but that was only because he needed her closer. She was his guardian angel, she was the one who'd see him through this darkness.

"You can rest assured, Rajeev, that chapter is closed from my side too," he replied coldly. "I have a fiancée now whom I'm going to marry in a few days. She is everything Ananya never was - honest, loyal, a girl with a golden heart."

"And filthy rich," Rajeev reminded tilting his head, "Not to mention insanely beautiful."

"Yes, and that!" Darsh snapped. "I don't understand your problem here, Rajeev. Are you jealous?" The words were uttered with supreme arrogance but Darsh cursed himself inwardly. Rajeev was not only his friend and partner but a mentor too. The man had given him his first job, his first promotion, his first partnership. If there was one person in the world apart from his Ma who he couldn't accuse of any ill-will, it was Rajeev. Yet he had to do it. He had to shut these people up, he wished he could control their conscience as easily as he could control his own.

"Don't talk rubbish, Darsh," Rajeev looked visibly hurt. "I only want to make sure you are marrying for the right reasons. It's important, it's a decision of life, it'll affect you both!"

His voice stretched thin as if he couldn't stress the point enough. The message was received and acknowledged but ignored with supreme audacity.

"You are worrying unnecessarily, Rajeev," Darsh brushed him off. "My reasons are all genuine, I just told you."

"Not unless you add love to the list," Rajeev said tightly.

Darsh bristled. Love. That pesky, little emotion, that had always gotten the better of him. Neither could he keep it, nor could he let it go. He was stuck with it like his fiancée's demons. They both were alike in this regard, neither here nor there, living in a present ruled by their past. She had her wound to show for it, he had his insults. The only difference was that she was nearly healed. His wounds were still festering, renewing, sucking the life out of him.

"For your information, Aditi loves me." He tried to shirk away from his gloomy thoughts. "Love is already a part of the deal, without it, she would never have agreed."

"So Aditi loves you," Rajeev interjected. "And what about you? Do you love her in return?"

He turned his head away, to the sprawling green hills. After last night's storm, the rain had given some respite. The day was bright, with a golden sun casting a hazy glow on the land that stretched miles and miles until the horizon. It was just like her, made of gold. And he loved gold. He loved everything golden.

"Yes. I do love her," he said with a firm voice.

Rajeev pursed his lips. "You can say that facing me."

His head snapped. "That's enough, Rajeev. I don't think I have given you the permission to interfere in my personal life."

"I don't need your permission. I already have it considering you are my friend. I only have your welfare in my heart, Darsh..."

"I don't need you to worry about my welfare!" Darsh screeched, losing his mind. "I can very well take care of myself, thank you very much! You know why Ananya left me, right? Because she wanted money, she couldn't wait for a green boy to earn the riches she desired. Her father called me a scoundrel, he couldn't bear to see his precious daughter with a bastard. And now that I have a chance to rectify it all, you think I'd let it go?"

Rajeev listened to him stunned, unable to form a reply. Darsh looked dazed as once again his tired eyes swept across the horizon.

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"Do you even know what I'll achieve after all this?" He waved an arm around, his eyes glinting in the golden sun. "Riches, wealth, connections! I will be shooting to the sky, reaching the stars! No, I will be a star, the North Star, immovable and unreachable, looking down on them from high above. No one would call me bastard then, no one would dare to call me a dog! Do you think I'll let the chance go Rajeev? Only a fool would do that and I'm not one!"

He felt his head whirring as the bright glare of the hot sun blinded his vision. He swayed on his feet, suddenly losing his balance on the rain-slick ground.

He scrambled for help, his arms flailing to clutch the nearest object for support. Unfortunately, there was only Rajeev and he made no attempt to step forward. Rajeev crossed his arms and watched him with evident scorn. Darsh somehow regained his footing just in time without falling flat on his face.

"You could have helped me...," he panted giving Rajeev a reproachful look. Rajeev shook his head.

"No one can help a man who can't help himself, Darsh. It's been six years. It's time you get a grip."

Turning his back, Rajeev walked away. Darsh scoffed. He was in control, he had a grip on the situation as tight as ever. In a week he'd be married and all his demons would be shooed away.

*****

The rest of his day was as rotten as his morning, but Darsh trudged through it with a steely determination. No one could halt him now, no one could thwart his desires. His goal was set. This marriage will bring him what he had always craved. Love or no love, he'll see to it that he got what he deserved.

What did Rajeev know anyway? At thirty-five he was still single, having never found his 'the one'. He could wait for eternity and still may not find her. And even if he found her, what was the guarantee she would want him?

Scoffing in irritation he stood in the hot sun as his team of workers fenced the village green. On the other side, another of his teams was busy erecting some sheds that were to act as a temporary site office.

Lunchtime came and passed. Darsh continued his work in one of the newly built sheds, explaining his plans to his engineers, architects, and project managers. It was not just the hospital he was building, he had plans for a five-star hotel, a golf course, a luxury holiday resort, two restaurants, and even a mineral water plant in the hills near the temple caves. He couldn't let all that sweet water go waste when he could make money out of it, could he?.

Nearing the evening the workers left for their accommodations, which were to be the old cottages near the eastern side Aditi had planned to use for her hospital. It was unfortunate what happened, but her loss was his gain. And he had no regrets as he was making up for it with his charitable wing.

The sun sunk low towards the west, the site was deserted when he heard Aditi's jeep entering the premises. Her footsteps echoed nearing him, he found himself breaking into a relieved smile.

"Thank god you are here. I was missing you." He realized he meant it when he pulled her closer for his long-awaited snack. Now that she was in front of him, he was suddenly realizing how hungry he was.

She rolled her eyes and raised her arms to shove a basket between them. "I've got some real food. I think you need it more than your usual snack."

Making a face he washed his hands, then helped her set up a little picnic on the grass outside. It was a simple fare of sandwiches, fruit, and juice. He ate to his heart's content.

"How was your day?" he asked as he sipped his juice. The orange glow of the sun cast her face with a rose-gold aura. He watched her mesmerized remembering their evening at the Sunset Point. She looked as beautiful as ever, but with one difference - that day she glowed with happiness riding Aron with the little boy, today she looked downcast.

"It was okay," she chewed her lip. "I took Dadaji to Rajpur for a checkup. Some of his reports are not good."

Darsh shook his head. Yes, Balwant Sharma had been looking peaky lately. He hadn't taken the news well, just as Aditi suspected. It was inevitable in a way. The man loved Aditi, it must be horrible for him to come to terms with that incident. Shaking his head he glanced at her as she sat next to him fiddling with the grass. He wondered what she had gone through that night. He had never asked, he had never dared. It would be beyond his understanding anyway, something he was shielded from because of his male privilege.

He decided to change the topic.

"Any any plans for tomorrow? I heard some of your friends are coming?"

"Yes," her face brightened. "Aalok is coming over, he'll stay until the wedding. I am planning for a medical camp in one of the hamlets, it would be my last here."

She looked wistful. Darsh stiffened, his face losing color.

"Cancel it. You are not going anywhere with him."

She looked at him in surprise. "But..I have already told him. And Deothan is not too far from here, just an hour's ride. We should be back by afternoon."

"I said no, Aditi! You are not going with him! I don't trust your useless friends. That night none of them accompanied you, how could they leave you alone? Why did you go alone? It could have been avoided if you..."

He clapped his mouth shut suddenly realizing his mistake. Her face lost its sheen, taking a dull pallor. Lowering her eyes she wrung her fingers. He cursed under his breath.

"I'm sorry, Aditi. I didn't mean to..."

Swallowing a lump, she shook her head, then straightened herself to give him a determined look.

"It's okay. I realize I haven't shared anything with you about that night. I know you are already aware of a lot of things, but...is there anything you want to ask?" Her lips quivered as she tried to keep calm, giving him a chance to speak. He felt his heart twist. Despicable though he was, he knew he wouldn't be able to withstand her honesty for too long. Her innocence and honesty were commendable traits as long as he was not required to return in kind. It was better she kept her secrets, so he could keep his with a clean conscience. Moreover, he knew everything there was to know, there was no need to put her through the ordeal again.

"I don't want to know anything you are not comfortable telling."

"I can try." Another honest assurance. Darsh pursed his lips.

"It's not necessary. Let's just forget it ever happened, it's not worth remembering anyway." Sighing to himself, he leaned forward to hold her hand. "Please Aditi, promise me you won't go anywhere again. I have to get a lot done in the next few days, and I won't be able to focus if you go adventuring with that good-for-nothing friend of yours."

"Please, Darsh. They offered to come, but I asked them not to. They needed to catch the next train from Rajpur..."

"Promise, Aditi." He didn't want to hear any excuses. "I need a promise."

She looked disappointed but gave a tiny nod. He felt relieved. The sun had sunk and grey dusk was shrouding them. The air was cool, fragrant with newly bloomed wildflowers and toasty earth. In other words, another perfect opportunity for him. He cast his eyes around to check if the coast is clear. She pulled her hand back to begin clearing up.

"Let's head back now. It's getting dar..."

She was unable to finish her sentence. Pulling her in his lap he claimed her rosebud lips, trapping her between his knees and chest. She struggled a bit then gave in letting him have his way. He smiled in her mouth tasting her sweet nectar. It was sweeter than honey, more fragrant than the wildflowers. Potent than his cannabis, more intoxicating than any liquor he had ever tasted. He could have drunk it forever, revitalizing himself with her essence, if not for that silly, loud jingle of a cowbell from a neighboring field.

Startled, she pushed him away wiping her face, then gave him an annoyed look.

Darsh smiled contentedly. Rajeev was stupid. This was no mistake. This was the wisest decision he'd ever made. This girl will bring him what Ananya had never brought - happiness, peace, prosperity, and eternal salvation. Only this girl had that power. This girl and no other.

***** *****