The First Kiss

"Come on, Wake up Birha. Let's go to the mountain." Risha tried to pull her blanket.

"Ahan. What's wrong with you? " Birha, being a lazy girl shouted.

"Please no."

"Hmm". Finally, Birha was up.

__

"Don't you stay long in the woods!" Said their mother.

"Okay Maa." both answered.

Walking down the mountain, a soft breeze touched their face. Risha's long bang was touching her pink lips. Her rosy cheeks were adding more beauty to her already pretty look.

"Do you know why our land is called Riverland?"

asked Risha.

"Um, no."

"Because this land is surrounded by Rivers on four sides. These mountains are the centre of these Rivers. That's why we call this Riverland. After all, it is protected by Rivers."

"Hmm". Birha seemed to take little interest in this story.

After some time, they were in the middle of the woods. The tall trees, soft grass, and beautiful flowers were the favourite spot of Risha. Both the sisters had made this spot their sitting space. They had put a wooden table and chairs around the tree.

"I never thought, I would meet this beautiful lady again in my life." A man's voice came from behind.

Risha picked up her sword and asked, "Who is there?"

"Your admirer." He was from Arz's army. The man, they met yesterday.

"...." Risha was silent. She was confused, about why she hadn't fought with him.

"Miss, can you please allow me to talk with you?" The man asked in a humble voice.

"I don't talk to strangers," Risha replied.

"Am I that stranger to you? " He looked into her deep black eyes. Their eyes met and a connection she always hoped for was there. His golden eyes had a spark within them. His soft and pink lips were already catching the attention of Risha. His red face, golden hair and pretty smile were making Risha go crazy. This was the first time Risha had looked at a man romantically.

She controlled herself and remained silent.

"Didi, why aren't you fighting with him? Kill him or let's go back." Birha pulled her back.

"Mn."

"Let us live our lives and never come here again. It's my place. You're not greeted here." She pointed her sword at this handsome man and said angrily.

"Is that so?" The guy teased her.

She was silent. Why she didn't answer him back? This was so unlikely of her. She was known for being blunt and rude and now she was all silent. "What's happening to me?" She thought.

"I think we are soulmates, Miss." said the golden-hair boy.

"..." Risha looked at him astonished. What the hell he is talking about?

She picked up her lunch and held Birha's hand tightly and walked away.

"Why don't you accept this, Miss"? The man shouted from behind.

"Di, (Short form of Dedi meaning elder sister) why don't you just kill him?" Birha again asked her.

"shut up, let me think."

Why he was following me?

"Stand here, I'll be back soon". Risha said.

"But Di, where are you going? " asked Birha.

She came back to their spot. He was still standing there. He was so tall that she almost reached his shoulders.

She came closer to him, and so closer that her face was touching his chest. She stood on her feet thumb, trying to reach his face. He grabbed her by her waist with one hand and pulled her face with the other. Now they were so close that they could just kiss each other. But who would? She was a proud girl and he a flirty. Did she care about anyone? Of course not. She closed her eyes and placed her lips on his lips. He was so amazed that he couldn't kiss her back.

After a while, she stopped kissing his lips and took a few steps back, gazing into his eyes. The golden eyes were full of surprises. He was amazed by her move. She was looking at him with all love she had hidden in herself.

"We'll meet again." both their eyes said.

She ran away to her sister.

"What happened? Why are you so pale? "asked Birha.

"Mn, no... Nothing..."

"Did that guy do something to you?" Birha asked anxiously.

"No, shut up." she moved fast that Birha couldn't catch her.

___

"Wai... Wait, Wait Di..." Birha ran towards her.

She ran as fast as she could and her breath was stumbled. She reached home within 15 minutes which usually took 45 minutes.

"Risha, what happened? Are you okay?" Her mother was concerned.

"..."

"Hump, Hump"... Birha felt out of breath and tightly gripped her hand on the main gate.

"What is wrong with you girls? " Misha Bai was trying to understand the situation.

"Did someone follow you?"

"Maa, water..." Both girls said at the same time.

When the girls came to their senses, the mother again inquired about their earlier behaviour. But she couldn't get a satisfactory answer.

_____

After having lunch, they usually took a nap in the woods - the spot in the jungle which they named Birsha, taking Bir from Birha and Sha from Risha -- but today the situation was different. They had to take a nap at home, which they hadn't done in many years.

"Di, I can't sleep."

"Mn", was the reply.

Birha knew she wouldn't get any answer if she disturbed Risha now, so she tried to sleep again. And Risha... she could only think of that scene again and again. It was her first kiss so her mind replayed it a thousand times.

"How can I do this? What happened to me? Have I lost my sense? I kissed a guy from Arz's army. What the hell? Risha, you have gone insane. The whole community will kill you if they find out. Arrrgh." she thought.

But now it was of no use. She had already submitted to him. Without knowing anything, the brave Javedan girl was wearing her heart on her sleeve. The blunt Risha had lost to the golden-haired guy. After all, she was waiting for this moment for all these years. She knew he was the one. Her heart and mind were on the same page for him. She didn't even know his name but his eyes said it. "You are mine, I'm yours".

Love doesn't care about caste, religion, creed, or colour but connection. They both felt the same. They had waited for years for this moment and they had finally found each other. But, it was not as simple as it seemed. Love is not always about sunshine and rays, it comes with thrones, storms and heavy clouds.

_____

He was still standing there in the middle of the jungle, amazed and confused about the bravery of this girl. "How can she kiss me like that? Is she feeling the same? She didn't even know me" Thyme thought. "Who cares, I love her that's the only thing that matters right now." He blushed.

Thyme was a major (The middle-ranked officer in Arz's army). He came to Riverland a year ago. The Conquer of Riverland was all about bloodshed and violence. But gladly he was not a part of it. Arz's army was the powerful one. Their homeland was Beesak. They had conquered all the nearby regions; Riverland was the only one left. In 1847, they had conquered the Riverland and now it was also under the rule of Beesak. Thyme Gray was a wanderer more than a Major. Due to his habit of travelling, he had come to Awaish and here he lost his soul and heart to Risha. The native community used to dislike Arz's army, they were afraid of their atrocities and sins. Arz was the powerful ruler of Beesak and now he was ruling the whole region with his powerful army.

Thyme had never thought he would love a girl from another area and community. But he was helpless. His mind and heart had already accepted Risha as his soulmate. He didn't know her name yet but he remembered her looks by heart. Thyme was 15 years old when he joined Arz's army. Within five years, he was promoted to Major due to his ability and courage. At the age of 19, he asked Arz to send him Riverland as he was a traveller and couldn't spend much time in the country. As he was the loving disciple of Arz, he accepted his request and sent him to Riverland.

Thyme was astonished by Riverland's amazing scenery. Within a year, he was familiar with every town of Riverland.

He was searching for a girl whom he saw in a Baazar (Market). She had long hair, deep black eyes, rosy cheeks and a thin waist. He travelled from post to pillars of Riverland to find her and now she was here at Awaish. And that girl had kissed him. He was still uncertain of his fate. How could she kiss him but she did it anyway. After all, it was a matter of hearts. He blushed and went back to his house.

____