Hello guys... I hope you like this Chapter.

Kindly ignore the grammatical mistakes as English is not my first language.

Enjoy reading 🤗

Author's POV-

~Next morning~

The soft rustle of anklets echoed through the long corridors of Mahal, as Ekakshi skipped her way back to her room, her arms full of files of her therapies that had received from yesterday's session. Her laughter floated down the hallway - innocent, untamed, full of sunshine.

But inside the royal sitting room, Devyani, Shraddha, and Aradhna sat in anticipation. A quiet decision had been made. Now it was time to tell her.

She entered, still humming, placing the files at the table and plopping down between them.

"How's your therapy Eka? What did doctors say?" Shraddha asked out of concern.

"Masttt..." She replied in full chilled mood.

(Superb)

"Aap batao. Bas? Teen queens baithi ho jaise kisi courtroom mein," she teased, looking from one to the other.

"Kya faisla hone waala hai? Mujhe toh batao, main hun toh 'Yuvrani Sa' hi."

(You say? The three queens are sitting like they are in courtroom.)

(What decision is going to be made? Tell me, after all Iam the princess.)

The elders exchanged knowing glances.

Devyani cleared her throat, her eyes soft but steady.

"Toh suno, 'Yuvrani sa'... faisla tumhare liye hi hai."

(Then listen, princess... The decision is for yours)

"Acha?" Ekakshi raised her brows in amusement.

"Kya? Kya mujhe Jaipur ka CM banaya jaa raha hai?" she giggled.

(Really?)

(What? Do you guys have decided to make me CM of jaipur?)

Shraddha sighed dramatically.

"Shaadi ho rahi hai tumhari."

(Your wedding is going to happen)

Ekakshi froze.

Then blinked.

Then burst out laughing.

"Aap log toh sach mein bored ho gaye ho... kya screenplay likha hai!" She clutched her stomach, laughing louder. "Shaadi! Meri! Haan haan, karwa dijiye, saat samundar paar wale prince se!"

(You guys are really bored... What a screenplay!)

(Wedding! Mine! Yes yes, make it happen, with prince across the seven seas.)

But their silence lingered.

Slowly, her smile faded.

"Wait... you're not joking, are you?"

Aradhna placed a hand over hers. "Nahi beta ji. Tumhari shaadi fix ho gayi hai."

(No. Your wedding has been fixed)

Ekakshi sat still, the words taking a few extra seconds to settle.

"But... college?" she said quickly, reaching for the closest excuse. "Mera last semester baaki hai. And internship bhi toh hai... Delhi wapas jaana hai mujhe."

(My last semester is still remaining. And internship too... I've to go back to delhi)

"Aur waise bhi... Mai yahan Yuvrani banke nahi rehne wali." She said sipping her cold coffee while sitting cross-legged like a queen.

(And by the way... I'll not stay here as princess)

"Mai Delhi me hi settle hongi aur wahin pe kisi aise ladke se shadi karungi jo baat baat pe mujhe aap log ki tarah daante na." She dramatically sighed giving another excuse of not marrying.

(Iam going to settle in delhi and I'll marry the boy from there only who'll not scold me for everything like you guys.)

The women exchanged glances. A knowing smirk playing on their faces.

"Ladka Delhi me hi rehta hai apni family ke saath, well settled." Said Aradhna and further added

"Ek baar tumhari yahan se vidai ho gai, toh dubara yahan phatakne bhi nahi denge hamari pyari Yuvrani sa."

(The boy is from Delhi, well settled. Once you leave this place we'll not let you come here again)

The three burst out laughing.

Her jaw dropped to the floor. She cried internally for her stupid excuses.

Ekakshi shook her head, raising a hand like a lawyer in court.

"Dekhiye, agar mujhe shaadi karni bhi hai... toh ek condition hai."

(Listen, if I want to get married... I've one condition)

Devyani squinted.

"Ab kya?"

(What now?)

She folded her arms.

"Shaadi ke baad koi padhai nahi. No masters, no internship... full-time princess banungi!"

(Iam not studying after wedding)

"Yeh toh aur bhi accha hai. Ho bhi kyun na, mummy se nani tak ka promotion jo hoga wo bhi ek saal me." Aradhna said teasingly.

(This is even better. And why wouldn't it be? A promotion from mom to grandma - and that too in just one year!)

Eka's mouth hung open when she spoke those words.

"Mujhe itni jaldi mumma nahi banna." These words left her mouth unknowingly.

(I don't want to become a mother this early.)

The three women exchanged a collective facepalm.

"Be serious, Ekakshi!" Shraddha groaned.

"I am serious. Main abhi shaadi ke mood mein hoon hi nahi," she said softly, her eyes flickering.

(Iam not in the mood of marrying now)

"Mujhe samajhne ka time chahiye. Mujhe yeh sab..." she paused, swallowing.

(I need time to understand. All of this...)

That's when Devyani finally spoke, her voice holding weight.

"Tumhe samajhna hoga. Yeh tumhara faisla nahi... yeh tumhari kismet ka faisla hai."

(You have to understand. This is not your decision... This was your destiny's)

Ekakshi looked at her, confused.

"Ek vaada kiya gaya tha... saalon pehle. Jab tum chhoti thi. Tumhari aur uski shaadi tay thi."

(We have made a promise once... Years ago when you were small. You will marry him)

"Vaada?" she whispered.

(Promise?)

Devyani nodded.

"Haan, wo vaada jo hamne Randhawa's se kiya tha. Wo ab vachan nibhaane aaye hain."

(Yes, that promise which we made with randhawa's. We are here to complete that promise.)

The moment hung in the air.

Something inside her shifted - a whisper of something she didn't fully understand. Her hands trembled for a second, but her face stayed unreadable.

"Aur hum abhi teri shadi nahi kara rahe hain... Hum sirf ye keh rahe hain ki teri shadi usi se hogi. Hum bas itna chahte hain ki tum dono ek doosre se milo aur samjho ek doosre ko." Said Shraddha.

(And weren't getting you marry now... We were just saying that you'll marry him. We only want you guys to meet and understand each other.)

She looked at all three of them, then nodded slowly.

"Theek hai. Agar yeh zaroori hai... toh karungi."

She tried to smile - but it didn't reach her eyes.

"But mujhe please ek room chahiye jisme main ro sakoon bina kisi interruption ke."

(Ok. If it's important... Iam ready. But please give me a room so that I can cry without any interruption)

The women chuckled through their tears, walking over to hug her.

But only Ekakshi knew...

Behind those calm nods and playful excuses, her heart was trembling.

The restlessness, the unease, the storm inside - it had started days ago.

And now, it was louder than ever.

She didn't know who the boy was.

She didn't know why her chest hurt so deeply.

But somewhere, a forgotten piece of her past had stirred.

And it wasn't going to let her rest easily.

~ Evening ~

The palace courtyard buzzed with celebration, music floating in the air like confetti. But none of it reached Rivaan.

He was thinking about the marriage... To which he said Yes last night.

His heart was aching at the thought of marrying someone other than His Ruhh .

His steps were brisk, heart thudding louder with every turn he took inside the ancient arches of the royal palace. He'd been searching the peace since he entered. His mind wasn't here for the wedding, not for pleasantries. It was searching... aching... demanding answers.

And then he saw him.

Ronav.

Leaning casually against the marble pillar, sipping water and watching guests from a distance - unaware of the storm walking toward him.

Rivaan didn't stop.

"Tu kaise kar sakta hai Ronav?" his voice cracked through the air like thunder, eyes burning.

(How can you do this ronav?)

"Tum logon ne usey mere se kyun cheen liya?"

(You people took away her from me)

Ronav froze.

"Rivaan..." he began, already sensing what this was about.

But Rivaan's pain had reached its tipping point.

"Tu toh mera dost tha... sab kuch jaanta tha... toh fir kyun?"

(You were my friend... You know everything... Then whyy?)

His voice cracked. His fists clenched at his sides.

"Jis ladki ne kaha tha ke woh laut kar zaroor aayegi... woh gayaab ho gayi, Ronav! Saal beet gaye... main usi ke intezaar mein tha. Har din uski yaad me tadapta raha aur wohh-"

(The girl who said she'll come back... She left, Ronav! Years passed... I was waiting for her. Everyday I suffered in her memory and she...)

"Rivaan, please... mujhe ek baar-"

(Let me)

"TU BATA KYA HUA THA!"

His voice thundered through the open corridor.

(You say what happened!)

"Kyun chhodke chali gayi wo mujhe ? Aisa kya hogaya ki wo bina kuch bataye gayab hogai? BATAA....!"

(Why she left me? What happened that she left me without even informing? Tell me...)

"KYUN NAHI LAUTI WO MERE PAAS? KYUU.....?"

(Why didn't she came back to me? Why?)

And suddenly... like time paused...

He saw her.

Dressed in a pastel lehenga, her hair braided delicately, soft curls caressing her cheeks - her steps graceful as ever, laughter wrapped in bells around her.

She walked toward them, innocent and unaware.

And Rivaan?

He froze.

The wind stopped. His breath caught.

Her.

HIS RUHH.....!

❣️｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡❣️

I hope you guys like this chapter.

Kindly ignore the grammatical mistakes as English is not my first language.

If you have any questions then ask me in the comment section.

Please Vote and support me 🥺.

Drop a Comment about you favourite scene so that I keep motivated to write further chapters.

Biggest truth is going to reveal in the next chapter. STAY TUNED....

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What do you say about Ekakshi's reaction towards marriage 🤭 ?

Who is Ruhh? How is she connected to Ronav?

What will be the reason behind Ruhh's exit from his life ?

Answer these questions....

Thank you 😊.