Veerata spoke after a brief and awkward pause. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” 

His apology baffled Satya. Certain she hurt his pride, she expected him to be furious and shout back at her. When she looked at him again, he had not moved from his spot. 

“Satya,” he said with a wistful gaze. “It’s time you know the truth.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“About a month ago, I asked your uncle for your hand in marriage.”

His words felt like a dagger in her chest. Her mouth fell open in shock. 

“I also spoke to Acharya about it,” he added. 

Acharya? and Uncle too? Both of them knew and didn’t tell her?

“I realised they didn’t tell you,” he continued. “It made me hope that maybe I still had a chance. I waited for the right time to tell you about my feelings.”

Satya wondered aloud. “Your visits... at the university—”

He interrupted, shaking his head. “That was all real. My leg’s condition remains weak, and my personal physician, Vidyuta, stayed back in the capital when I came here. You know that, don't you? I needed your help. But it’s true, I also wanted to see you. I wanted you to get to know me better.” He raised his hands, palms upwards. “Satya, do you not see it? I keep thinking about you all the time. You healed my leg and saved my life. You saved Anjalika, too. We avoided a war because she survived. As Senapati of Satayu, I’m indebted to you forever. But I feel much more than that. I feel like... I can’t live without you.”

She clamped both hands to her mouth. No! This can’t be happening! He can’t be confessing to me! This is a nightmare!

Veerata continued. “I shall cherish and respect you always. I promise! Please, I beg you, don’t turn me away. You must accept me and become my ardhangini for life.”

Ardhangini? Become his wife? No!

“If you accept me, then no one can stop us from getting married.”

If I accept him?

The words struck her. Her hands went back to her sides. “I understand now, Senapati,” she glowered at him. “My uncle already refused your marriage proposal, didn’t he?” 

Veerata’s handsome face stiffened, as though she had shot him with an arrow. “He said he cannot allow it because I am a born Kshatriya while poverty and past circumstances have reduced your family to dasas.”

“Yet here you are! Ignoring his words and proposing to me?”

He frowned. “I don’t care about the past... or your caste or community. You are beautiful, talented and kind. That’s all that matters to me. I’ve never met anyone as wonderful as you.”

Overwhelmed, Satya gulped and shook her head. “What did Acharya say?”

He sucked in a quick breath and released it in a defeated sigh.  

Did he get a scolding from Acharya? 

Veerata confirmed her suspicions. “Acharya said he hopes for you to become a brahmavadini and I should never entertain thoughts of marrying you.”

Tears of relief welled up in Satya’s eyes. Acharya and Uncle Madhava had already decided her fate. She could only be grateful to them both for standing up for her ideals. 

Becoming a ‘brahmavadini’ meant living an ascetic life, dedicated to attaining spiritual knowledge, along with advanced research on her chosen subject. Marriage was out of the question. No wonder Veerata found the idea distasteful. 

“Satya, please hear me out!” He took a step towards her, his hands reaching for her shoulders. “I have no intention of making you give up your studies or your work. I just want to know how you feel.”

How do I feel? Do I not hate you? Satya realised for the first time in months that she had forgotten how it felt to hate this man. How did this happen?

“Answer me, Satya,” he entreated. “Tell me, do you accept me?”

“I shall never marry you,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I shall marry no one. Acharya is right. I want to become a Brahmavadini and study for the rest of my life. That’s the only thing I care about.”

Veerata fell silent. His face changed again. Was he embarrassed or upset or angry? It was impossible to tell. Satya, too, had nothing more to say. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, wondering at her own courage. 

I just refused to marry the great general of Satayu! 

“Satya, what’s happening up there?” 

Aunt Sulochana’s voice came from the staircase. 

Veerata released her shoulders and stepped aside. Satya opened the door. Her aunt entered the room, looking askance at one expressionless face to the other tear-stained one. 

“I heard loud voices,” she said. “What’s the matter, Senapati?”

“I’ve completed the inspection,” Veerata replied. “I’m leaving now.” 

He skipped down the stairs two at a time and left the store before Aunt Sulochana could ask any more questions.