The grand city of Gandhar was filled with people as always, the market was buzzing with people. The people who didn't know the people who were standing in between them. The hero Kauri and the princess. This time both were wearing disguises. Anushna wore a commoner's dress and had a different hairstyle using flowers as ornaments, unlike the gold she always wore, while Kauri had a cap to cover his white hair and a pair of Dolen's old clothes, which still were big for him. This time Kauri also had to wear disguises as the story of the white lightning was being talked about far and around. The only person who didn't need a disguise was Dolen, who was frustrated as well as scared as he had to babysit both of them once more.
They slowly walked around the mart," so how are your injuries", asked Dolen.
"Yeah, they are fine. I would be one top-notch shape in a weak or so.", Kauri answered.
As they went, they could see multiple kids playing around, with hair covered in wheat flour to look like Kauri's and playing the game of heroes vs dragons.
Seeing this Kauri got a bit embarrassed while Anushna started giggling," yeah, you look like a man with flour smeared on his head, huh", she said.
Dolen then, chimed in between," So now you have gone famous?", he asked Kauri.
"I don't know, it had been weird. It has never happened to me", he said.
"Yes of course 'cause it was all me, I am the one who made it happen", answered Anushna in a self-loathing tone.
"And how so?", asked Dolen interested in the gossip.
"I told everybody about the grand adventurer Kauri, how he fought the dragons and at last same me. It was also helpful that he ran across the whole city while the fight, people saw by their own eyes how fast he was, and adding some grand drama and with the great storytelling I was able to do so."
By now Dolen was even more confused. Kauri asked," So that was why you asked me to give you all the details of the fight."
"Yep, and then I just shared it between all the nobles and maids, then stories got to soldiers and in such a way was able to get to the general crowd", Ansuhna answered," this is one skill, Idris is good at. When he tells about his fights, he shows himself as the grandest of all by the way he tells the tale. You should learn it too, it would be helpful."
"No need for that, the things already overwhelm me as they are", he answered," I already don't like it. How wherever I go, soldiers come to bow down to me, and how maids are always sneakily looking at me from the side giving weird smiles and all those noble ladies who are sending so many gifts and asking me to go visit their mansions for some reasons."
The last thing ignited something in Anushna," Inviting you, huh? Give me the details of all those ladies, I will need them."
"Why?", asked Kauri confused.
"Nothing just want to send some return gifts to them", she said with a tense smile.
Seeing all this play in front of him, Dolen was frustrated. "I feel like a third wheel right now", he thought to himself. But there was nothing he could do. He was asked to escort the princess around and if he refused, maybe his head would be removed from his body. On the other hand, he also needed Kauri's help with something, something which he could see right in front of his eyes, Kauri was quite good at.
"Hey Kauri, I really need your help, right now", Said Dolen.
"Yeah sure, what is it", said Kauri. Anushna also chimed in the conversation.
"Can I ask you in private", Dolen explained.
"Why in private? To can tell me too, my lips are sealed", Anushna said," don't tell me you are talking something profane here!!", as she covered her mouth looking at him disgustfully.
"No!!, that is not what I was saying", he said stopping the cause of the embarrassment," it is just that."
"Go on, go on. Tell us, we are your friend. there is nothing to hide", Ever nosey Anushna was on the case, now she wouldn't stop until she got to know each of the little details. Kauri was very confused by the situation. Dolen had never made the face he was making then, he didn't understand what would make him act like this.
"Alright I will tell you just stop", Dolen said finally succumbing to Anushna's antics.
"Well, it is about a girl, that I like. That's why I needed Kauri's help", he explained," i want to tell her what I feel."
This made Anushna give off a big grin while Kauri was even more confused.
"You want to confess to her?", he asked.
"Ye…yes!!"Dolen answered.
"Aww!!...you romance. How cute!!!", added Anushna making a puffy face as to hide her smile.
"Why you!!"Dolen shouted forgetting who Anushna was, his face red as an apple.
"I can't help you with that", Kauri said now more confused than ever," you should probably ask Idris when he gets back. I don't have any experience with such things, I don't even know how you should start that conversation."
Listening to this, Dolen took him to a side and then whispered in his ear," What are you saying? I mean how can you say that you don't have any experience with the proof in front of me."
"I don't know what you are saying. I have never asked someone out, before right now most people just hate me for some reason", he answered back.
"Don't tell me you and that girl are not going out. What more than how you act is needed to be couple-like. If that is not what it is, then just tell me how to get what you two have", Dolen said now angry at how stupid Kauri was acting.
"Wait what!!", Kauri shouted against the blatant declaration.
"What were you just talking about", Anushna said, chiming in the conversation.
"Nothing….nothing", Dolen said still not close to the answer. On the other hand, now Kauri was all red, he needed a few moments to congregate all the sudden flux of information.
"Now first tell about the girl, then maybe I can help you", said Anushna," After all, I am a girl myself."
"Yeah sure, she is from one of the kingdoms on the border", he explained," I met her on one of my routine trips to get the goods there. And that was when I met her. She is the daughter of a farmer. I don't know how should I met or talk to her or anything", he looked down due to disappointment." also there are the demons. They have been on a high rise all this time, I don't even know if it would be safe."
"Don't worry now our friend Kauri is here, demons will be gone in no time", Anushna said cheerfully," and on the talk of girl, just go to her farm and start the conversation with plants they grow and slowly shift it to personal things. It may take a month or so but this trick should work."
Listening to this, Dolen smiled and started going away," Thanks for the advice, I will set out soon, don't know if the town will exist in a month or not. Can't waste a moment, see you soon. Take care of that idiot."
"Yeah sure", Anushna answered as she waved him goodbye.
That is when a soldier came running towards them, by now the cap was off Kauri's head, and his white hair could be seen. The soldier came to them and delivered the news," Princess and the hero, Sir Idris and the ladies are back!!".