Stranger

They both got out of the restaurant and mounted the horse together .Their journey seemed to be going fine until the stranger opened his mouth to start talking .

"What's your name little brother ?"

"N..Name ?.."she stammered "Shia ..an ..My name is Shiaan "She tried to smile while riding the horse . Being from a royal family ,she had always been interested in horse riding.Despite being a girl ,she requested her brother to teach her riding ,which he finally agreed to do secretly.It looked like her knowledge had finally paid her .

"That seems a little weird name ,anyway ,you ride quite well ,who did you learn from ?"

"I brother taught me " a natural smile rose over her face .

"Oh ,your brother might have been really good ?"he smiled while taking a turn .

"Yah "

"Do you have a sister ?"

"Why ?"

"Looking at you ,she might be beautiful ,right "he gave a weird but attractive smile .

"Yah"she nodded . Speaking of her sister ,she had died when Shia was only seven with mistry that nobody could solve .The reason of her death still remains unknown . Though ,she has two step sisters with whom she doesn't seem to connect much.

"Have you had lunch ?" he again asked .

*Oh God ,when is he going to stop.*

"Yah "she nodded .

"Are you from royalty ?"

*Does he know my secret?*

"N..no ... does it seem like that ?"she hesitated .

"I mean your clothes ,seems a little wired "

"My ..my father is a court official "

"Ohh ,I see"

After conversing for like an hour .The stranger stopped his horse in front of a hotel.

"Let's stop here ,you might be tired "said the stranger .

"No you can stay I'll continue with my journey"

"Oh come on ! It's still dark outside ,we are gonna be traveling through the forest ,so it's better if we do it in the morning ."Her Forehead dropped into tension while he continued."Don't worry we'll reach Wirye on time ,so let's rest for some now "

*Oh God ,no I don't want to .*

"But ...I ..I don't have money ..to stay "she exclaimed .

He put his hand across her shoulders and continued "it's alright my brother ,I'll pay " 

She imagined herself shouting No in her mind .Then she shook her head and immediately said "No I can't ...I don't take anyone's favour "she stammered.

"It's ok you can pay me back in the city now come on "he grabbed her inside the hotel and asked the manager to book two rooms while she kept thinking *It's not like we are staying at the same place ..No we ARE staying at the same place ...No it's not like we are staying in the same room *but just than manager replied "We only have one room ,Sir "

Her eyes went into blackout when she immediately shouted "No, I can't stay "Both the manager and stranger shaked from his sudden no .He asked the manager to book the room and went on with her .He again put his arm around her shoulder and said "Brother please be calm ,others are sleeping ,let's go "

She immediately detached her shoulder from his hands and replied "Mr ,I seriously can't stay ,you don't understand ".

"Are you lady ?"he said with a straight expression 

"No "she immediately shouted "I mean how can I be a lady ,I am a man " She stammered ,her heart rate increased and sweat started to flow through her forehead.

"Then be a man ,come on ..it's not like your a lady ,I mean ofcourse it would have been better "he passed a sneaky simple "But anyway we ,still have to compromise "He smiled "And you don't have to pay cause I am paying for MY room ,so it's ok ,let's go "

*It's not like we are sleeping together *again a thought came across her mind .

Just after that they entered the room ,she realised that there was no more furniture than a single mattress to sleep .

*No it can't be happening ,at least not to me *she again thought .

"What's with that tense look on your face ,let's sleep ."

She tired to smile when he has already started to lay down .He pointed at the side of the mattress and said "come on "

*It's not like we are doing something..right?*