The first thing Shanta had done the next day was write a letter to Ayodhya about her wedding. They would recieve the letter after the wedding and would not be able to come. She didnot have time to meet Rishyashringa at all as there were many preparations to be done even though the Shanta had insisted to have a simple ceremony very early in the morning. Soon after the wedding, Shanta had gone to don a simple white dhoti, blouse and a couloured angavastram that would be her regular attire from then on. Rudraaksh replaced her jewels. Vershini was in tears as she helped her daughter change. " Though you were not with us for long, I feel empty already. The few months you have been with us has been the best in our lives. Without you there is no Anga. Persuade your husband to stay here with you."

" Ma, I will not force him. I want to go there willingly. He cannot do his duties here." Shanta replied hugging her mother.

"If it so difficult  for me to see you go, I cannot imagine what your mothers went through, what Kaushalya went through..had I never asked for you, you would have still been in Ayodhya happy, perhaps married to a prince.." continued Vershini guiltily.

" No. I am happy here,mother. No prince or king  could have filled Rishyashringa's place in my heart. Everything that happened was for the good. I would have never met my husband." Shanta consoled Vershini.

" I will send all the letters from Ayodhya. You will visit Anga frequently?" Vershini asked.

" I cannot do without seeing you all as often as possible" Shanta smiled.

King Rompad who was better composed than his wife bade Shanta goodbye with misty eyes. She and Rishyashringa walked down the streets with basic weapons they needed to defend themselves in the forest. People of Anga had lined the streets to send away their daughter. 

" We have to build our home first" whispered Rishyashringa,his hands folded to the people who were all thanking him. They had no time to talk after the wedding.

" I know" Shanta whispered back.

It was afternoon by the time they had reached a location that had a water source nearby,plenty of trees that bore fruits  and was not close to civilisation. " I have never done this before." Shanta said.

" I have, don't worry. You should rest. We have had a long walk" he said putting an arm around her.

"I will certainly help. We need to finish off before night fall. How do we start?" she asked eagerly.

Rishyashringa  started off by using large sticks to build the basic structure as Shanta mixed wet mud with hay. It was evening by the time it was done. " It has to dry overnight" Rishyashringa  stated. " On the hay for tonight?" Shanta asked.

" I am sorry  you have to adjust to all this" he said quietly wiping off the mud on her cheek. Shanta hugged him. "Don't apologise, I will do anything to have you by my side.

" You look more pretty  in these clothes" he said softly swaying with her in his arms. " You look more handsome up close" she whispered. He snorted. " I don't know why you love me but I know it's not because of my looks." 

" Maybe this will show my love" she said leaning up, pressing her lips to his. Rishyashringa was shocked at first but then relaxed into the kiss, pressing her closer. His hands searched for the pin that held her hair up. She broke apart breathing heavily. " That is addictive" he gasped.

" Hmmm" she said  as he backed her  against a tree.Shanta closed her eyes as he took her lips in his pressing her against the tree as the kiss heated up. Instinctively his hands skimmed across her curves  resting on her hips. He realised what he had done. " I am sorry..I don't know what I was thinking..". She silenced him by kissing. " I am yours with my mind,soul and body. You need not apologise for anything. You won't hurt me" 

He wrapped her in his arms rocking her softly. " Are you tired?"

" A bit" she confessed.  Rishyashringa arranged the hay on the ground and slept next to Shanta.

 " So beautiful" Rishyashringa breathed  looking at her. " Yes.The sky is so much better than a plain ceiling." Shanta said looking at the beautiful stars sprinkled in the vast sky above them. Then she realised he was talking about her. She blushed. He kissed her cheeks softly, " Do you miss Ayodhya?"

" You must have heard about my adoption." she said. " Aadi" he nodded.

" Yes. Sometimes I wish I could see them all. But I have recieved everything I needed and more in Anga. My life has been very happy, happier now." she said moving closer to him. " You will see them soon,my love" was the last thing Shanta heard before going into a deep sleep.

* Thank you for reading. Have a nice day :)