So, here we are again.
The vote target was not met, we couldn't even touch a basic 65 votes.
Now, I could easily give you the usual speech about how numbers don't matter to me, or how I write solely for the art. But let's cut the fake modesty and be completely real for a second. That is not how Wattpad works.
The algorithm on this platform is painfully simple. If a chapter gets hundreds of reads but the vote count stays in the gutter, the system marks the book as unengaging and completely stops pushing it forward. It buries the story.
Right now, around 400 to 450 people are actively reading every single update. So asking for 65 votes is literally asking for the bare minimum.
So no, I am not going to beg anyone to press a tiny star button.
Instead, to all the silent readers out there... If you are just here to consume the effort, time, and emotion I pour into every single scene without giving a second of support in return, do me a favor and leave. Stop ruining the balance between my reads and votes. I would much rather have a smaller, loyal readership than hundreds of ghost eyes dragging down the visibility of this book.
To my Janemans, if you ever feel that I don't value you or that I am delaying updates intentionally, please know that is not true at all. The only reason I am continuing this story and pushing through is because of you.
Thank you so much, and I love you all endlessly.
The target for the next update is once again 65 votes and 130 comments.
Happy reading!
• Shadows of Sanction •
Sunaina smiled gently, looking toward Kesar. "Then we should meet Kulguru soon and fix an auspicious date. The sooner Bhai sa and Avani get married, the better it is."
The casual words hung in the crisp evening air. Dilshana's breath caught in her throat. She remained completely motionless on the bench. Her green eyes widened in faint shock as her gaze snapped first toward Sunaina and then shifted slowly toward Kesar.
A sharp sting cut through her heart. She stood up instantly, the silk of her lehenga rustling sharply against the grass as she prepared to escape the garden.
Kesar lifted her eyes, her voice stopping Dilshana in her tracks.
"Kya hua, Naaz? Tumhe yeh baat acchi nahi lagi?"
(What happened, Naaz? Did you not like hearing this?)
Dilshana stopped, keeping her back straight, though her hands clenched tightly. She turned slightly, keeping her tone composed.
"Nahi... aisa kuch nahi hai."
(No... it is nothing like that.)
Kesar stood up slowly, stepping closer to Dilshana. "Hum ek stree hone ke naate yeh acche se samajhte hai ki kisi bhi stree ke jeevan mein dusri patni ka aana kitna kathin hota hai. Hum kabhi kisi ke saath aisi aniti ka samarthan nahi karte. Parantu... tumhe is baat ka bhan hona chahiye ki tum Devar sa ki patni nahi ho."
(As a woman, I understand very well how difficult it is for any woman to accept a second wife in her life. I would never support such injustice against any woman. However... you must realize that you are not my Brother-in-law's wife.)
The garden fell completely quiet. Sunaina and Trishani watched in silence.
Dilshana lowered her head slightly, absorbing the weight of Kesar's words.
"Hum is baat ko acchi tarah jaante hain. Aur humari had bhi."
(I know this truth very well, Bhabhi sa. And I know my boundaries as well.)
Gathering every ounce of her courage, Dilshana took a deliberate steps forward.
"Aap humse nafrat karti hain na? Kyun, bhabhi sa?"
(You hate me, don't you? Why, bhabhi sa?)
Kesar met Dilshana's gaze, her eyes burning with a fierce mixture of suppressed anger and glistening tears.
"Kyunki nafrat karne ka thos karan hai humare paas, aur sneh ya vishwas karne ka ek bhi nahi."
(Because I have solid reasons to hate you, and not a single one to love or trust you.)
Dilshana stood frozen, the sharp directness of the answer piercing right through her composure.
Kesar whispered as a stray tear escaped her eye. "Apne parivar, apne rajya, aur apne logon ki suraksha chahna koi apradh nahi hai. Aur hum tum par vishwas nahi kar sakte, Naaz."
(Wanting the safety of my family, my kingdom, and my people is not a crime... And I cannot trust you, Naaz.)
Every single word Kesar spoke landed with the crushing weight of undeniable truth. There were no false accusations, no petty palace politics, only a deeply devoted women trying desperately to protect her broken family from a perceived threat.
Tears welled up in Dilshana's eyes, spilling down her cheeks before she could stop them. She stood speechless, unable to offer a single defense or justification.
Kesar wiped her own cheek with her drape, turned on her heel, and walked away.
• The Empty Bed •
The midnight air settled cold, but Dilshana felt a heat rising beneath her skin. She lay completely motionless on the bed, staring blankly at the shadow.
Sleep remained entirely out of reach.
Every single word Kesar had uttered earlier, echoed through her heart with brutal weight. Why was she foolish enough to expect respect or warmth from them? Her only goal should be her duty toward her mother, and her eventual escape from this gilded cage.
A painful wave of regret washed over her as her thoughts rushed back to what had transpired in the dressing chamber that morning.
A searing humiliation burned through her chest as she remembered her own surrender. She had declared so fiercely that she did not accept this forced marriage, then why had she lose herself to him?
A bitter hatred for Agnijeet coiled tightly in her gut. How vile, how despicable could a man truly be? His wedding with Avani was already being arranged, yet he felt no shame in dragging another woman into a forced marriage? Was he so shameless that he intended to deceive two women at the very same time?
Slowly, she rolled onto her side, her gaze landing on the empty expanse of the bed.
A painful ache twisted inside her chest. For nights, Agnijeet would silently drag her closer, trapping her in a possessive grip.
She had convinced herself that she hated his crushing weight, his rough heat, and the intensity with which he stared down at her in the dim light.
Then why did this bed feel so suffocatingly empty without him? Because tomorrow, that won't be an empty space, her mind whispered, planting a seed of realization.
Her heart twisted as the visual forced its way into her head. Tomorrow, Avani would be lying right there. That shy, graceful Princess would be resting her head over his thundering heartbeat.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She could see his brown eyes looking down at Avani, his hands sliding over Avani's waist, his rough thumb tracing the curve of another woman's throat. He would touch her the exact same way. He would lean in close, pressing his mouth on her skin. He would hold her close under these very sheets.
Her fingertips trembled as she raised her hand to her collarbone, grazing the pulsing mark his lips had burned into her skin.
A ragged gasp escaped her lips in the quiet dark. She felt as though she were losing her mind entirely.
Her pulse spiked, a throbbing ache pooling deep in her chest that she could neither ignore nor escape.
She buried her face into the pillow, clenching her fists into the bedsheets, completely terrified of the undeniable power this man held over her body and her soul.
The days passed in a lively blur for the rest of the palace. Sunaina and the visiting royal family filled the grand courtyards with laughter, grand meals, and quiet family gatherings.
The cheerful sounds of the young children echoed through the stone corridors.
Two days had stretched into three, and Agnijeet had still not returned.
Every night, as the palace sank into pitch silence, Dilshana found her eyes drifting toward the door against her own will.
Sitting alone in the dark, she wondered what would become of her once Agnijeet married Avani.
Would he finally release her from this golden cell, or would he simply decide to kill her and erase her existence?
Staring at the empty bed, a flood of terrifying questions began to claw at her mind. The questions she had suppressed for weeks.
If a military commander drags an enemy woman away from the battlefield, what does he usually do to her? He throws her into a dungeon. He tortures her until her bones shatter, forcing her to bleed out every secret she holds. He uses her body again and again like a prize of war until she loses her mind, and then he discards her corpse into a ditch.
Then why hadn't Agnijeet done any of that?
Why did he only drag her in his embrace every single night, holding her in that grip just to sleep beside her?
And now... this second marriage.
A tearful sob caught in her throat as she buried her face in her hands as she thought... It would have been so much better if he had simply torn her apart, used her, and thrown her away like trash on the very first day.
At least that horror would have had an end. At least her pride would have stayed intact in her hatred.
But this agonizing confusion where her own treacherous body craved his touch while her soul bled, was killing her every single second.
• The True Rana •
Late the following afternoon, as Dilshana sat by the window staring absently at the distant courtyard, a soft knock echoed at the chamber doors. Kumud hurried to open them.
Two guards stepped inside, carrying wooden trunks bound with brass hinges. They set the chests down near the door, bowed low, and exited without a word.
Kumud's eyes widened as she knelt by the trunks and lifted the latches. Inside lay compartments holding pairs of exquisitely crafted royal footwear.
Each pair was a masterwork, embroidered with intricate gold tilla work, studded with small pearls, and crafted from the softest leather.
Kumud let out a soft gasp, lifting an ivory-colored pair encrusted with delicate zari work. "Naaz... look at these. They are breathtaking."
Dilshana walked over and looked down at the sprawling collection. A strange ache tightened in her chest. She knelt beside the trunk, her fingers grazing the lining. Picking up a pair of deep crimson velvet mojris trimmed with gold thread.
She looked up at Kumud, her voice laced with bitterness. "Yeh humare pairo ke naap ki hain... ya Rajkumari Avani ke?"
(Are these made for the size of my feet... or Princess Avani's?)
Kumud paused, the smile fading slightly from her face as she saw the uncertainty in Dilshana's eyes.
"Yeh aapke liye hain, Naaz."
(These are for you.)
Dilshana traced the gold embroidery with her fingers. Agnijeet's dry words from that day echoing in her mind: 'If you had run away wearing shoes... your feet wouldn't be wounded like this.'
A bitter question twisted in her mind. Was this his silent way of throwing down a new challenge for her to try escaping again?
Before she could retreat back to the window, the outer doors swung open once more.
A senior maidservant from Kalavati's quarters stepped inside. She offered a brief bow. "Kuwrani Sa... Maharani Kalavati has issued a strict command. The royal family of Suryakot and the elders have gathered for the evening reception in the central courtyard. Maharani Kalavati expects your presence in the assembly tonight."
Dilshana's jaw tightened. Frustration flared instantly within her chest. Why would Kalavati force her, a war bride, to sit among the royal family while they discussed Agnijeet's marriage to Princess Avani?
She had no idea that she was merely being used as a pawn in Kalavati's scheme to provoke Maharani Sumitra and create friction against the marriage.
"Hum nahi aayenge," Dilshana stated flatly, turning her back on the maid. "Hume kisi jalse ka hissa nahi banna."
(I will not come. I have no wish to be part of any celebration.)
The maid did not flinch. "Maharani ka aadesh hai. Unke aadesh ki avagya karna kisi ke liye sambhav nahi hai. Aapko aana hi hoga."
(It is Maharani's order. Disobeying Maharani Sa's command is not possible for anyone. You must come.)
The maid bowed once more and retreated, leaving the chamber doors open behind her.
Dilshana's suppressed rage broke through. She paced back and forth, her fists clenched tightly on her skirt.
"Jab zaroorat hoti hai... tab pata nahi kahan gaayab ho jaate hain," she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling. "Jab pure mahel ke samne humari toheen ho rahi hai... tab Senapati ko apne zaroori kaamo se fursat nahi mil rahi."
(Whenever needed... he disappears to who knows where. When I am being humiliated before the entire palace... the Commander finds no time from his important duties.)
Deep down, she hated admitting it even to herself, but she knew that had Agnijeet been present, no one would have dared to force her.
Kumud watched her in empathetic silence before stepping closer. She picked up the jooti from the trunk.
"Main aapko taiyar kar deti hu."
(Let me help you getting ready.)
Inside the dressing chamber, Dilshana forced herself to stand still. She allowed Kumud to drape her royal odhni and slip the golden jootis onto her feet.
As Kumud brushed and pinned Dilshana's tresses, Dilshana stared at her own reflection in the mirror. A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"Tumhe kya lagta hai, Kumud... Senapati aksar jo itne din mahel se gaayab rehte hain, kya sach mein kisi saini kam me me mashroof hote hain?"
(Do you truly believe, Kumud... that the Commander, who often disappears from the palace for days, is actually busy with military duties?)
Kumud's hands paused. "Naaz...?"
"Arrey, seedhi si baat hai," Dilshana scoffed, her eyes flashing in the mirror as she adjusted her odhni. "Wo mard, jiska wajood hi aag se bana ho... jiski rooh ko jhulsa dene wali qurbat kisi bhi aurat ka imaan dolne ke liye kaafi ho... kya tumhe lagta hai aisi shakhsiyat ka maalik bina kisi mehbooba ke zindgi guzar sakta hai? Hargiz nahi."
(It is utterly obvious. A man whose very existence is made of fire... whose burning closeness is enough to shatter any woman's resolve... do you think a man of such aura can survive without a lover? Absolutely not.)
Kumud gasped softly, looking around in utter terror. "Kuwrani Sa, kripya! Unhone kabhi kisi ko mud kar bhi nahi dekha."
(Kuwrani Sa, please! He has never even turned to look any woman.)
"Aah! Yahi toh unki sabse badi makkari hai!" Dilshana sneered, her fingers clutching the edge of her odhani. "Wahi mard sabse zyada be-imaan hote hain jo duniya ke saamne farishta ban kar khade hote hain. Hum shart lagate hain, hind ke har kone me, kitne hi kotho me masoom ladkiya unka intezar kar rahi hongi."
(Ah! That is his greatest deception! It is always those men who stand like angels before the world who hide the most deceit. I bet in every corner of the realm, innocent girls are waiting for him in countless brothels.)
Her breath hitched slightly. Even while spitting pure venom, her own breath betrayed her.
"Humein toh hairat hoti hai," Dilshana continued, her voice dropping into a razor-sharp whisper. "Jo aadmi har raat ek dushman ladki ko apni aagosh mein qaid karne par aamada rehta hai... Uski itni pak saf tasveer kyu hai aap sabki nazro me?
She shook her head, swallowing back the lump in her throat. "Unki bhuri aankho ne hume behka diya tha.. bholi bhali ladkiyo ka to fir kya hi hota hoga.. Zaroor bahar unki koi alag hi duniya aabad hai!"
(It astounds me... how a man who is so bent on trapping an enemy girl in his arms every single night... has such a pure image in all your eyes? His brown eyes had bewitched me... what must happen to innocent, naive girls then? He surely has a whole different world thriving outside!)
She sighed deeply. "Bechari Avani..."
(Poor Avani...)
Kumud looked at her, deeply hurt and bitter, her tone laced with quiet disbelief. "Naaz... aap kya keh rahi hain? Aapko anuman bhi nahi hai aap kiske bare me baat kar rahi hain..."
(Naaz... what are you saying? You have no idea whose character you are speaking about...)
Dilshana scoffed, turning her face away with indifference. "Humein yeh dhokha hazam nahi ho raha, is liye bata rahe hain... aur kya?"
(I cannot stomach this deception, that is why I am speaking of it... what else?)
Kumud stopped her hands completely as tears slowly gathered in her eyes.
For the first time, there was something fierce in the quiet maid's voice.
"Aapne kabhi socha hai, Naaz... ki Maharana Udayraj ke jivit bade putra hone ke baad bhi, Kunwar Sa ne Mewad ka raj-mukut kyun nahi pehna?"
(Have you ever wondered, Naaz... why, despite being Maharana Udayraj's eldest living son, Kunwar Sa never wore the crown of Mewad?)
Kumud slowly turned toward her.
"Mujhe rajniti ki samajh nahi... lekin itna toh pura Hind jaanta hai ki Mewad ke Rana sa kaun hai."
(I may not understand the intricacies of politics... but all of Hind knows who the Rana of Mewad is.)
Dilshana's fingers stilled over the edge of her odhni. The question unsettled her more than she expected. Her mind instinctively returned to the royal court she had witnessed on the day of her forced marriage. Durgpal had occupied the golden throne, with courtiers bowing before him and addressing him as Maharaj.
Yet the moment Agnijeet had entered the hall, the entire atmosphere had shifted. Conversations had died mid-sentence. Even the men seated closest to the throne had straightened instinctively.
But she remembered how, the entire court had seemed to bend around Agnijeet rather than the man seated upon the throne.
A tear slipped down Kumud's cheek. She did not wipe it away. Her voice carried a quiet certainty.
"Durgpal ji singhasan par baithe hain, Naaz... kyunki Rana Sa unhein baithe rehne dete hain."
(Durgpal sits upon the throne, Naaz... because Rana Sa allows him to remain upon it.)
Dilshana's eyes narrowed.
Kumud reached for the end of Dilshana's braid, her fingers moving almost absentmindedly through the strands, looking at her through the mirror. "Aap jin dino ki baat karti hain... un raaton mein wo kisi mehbooba ki baahon mein nahi hote, Hind ke kono ki dhul chhan rahe hote hain. Apne sharir par sekdo ghav jhelte hai."
(The days you speak of... on those nights, he is not in the arms of some lover; he is treading the dust of Hind, searching its farthest corners.)
Dilshana slowly lowered her eyes. She remembered the scars she had glimpsed upon his body.
"Hind ki betiyaan apne ghar mein chain ki saans leti hain, kyunki seemaon par Rana Sa aur unke sath hazaro yoddha apna rakt baha rahe hote hain. Log sukh se sote hain... kyunki andheri raat mein unki talware jaag rahi hoti hai."
(The daughters of Hind sleep peacefully in their homes because Rana Sa and thousands of warriors are shedding their blood upon the frontiers.)
Dilshana's lips parted slightly. The accusation she had thrown at him only moments ago suddenly felt heavier in her mouth.
Kumud stepped away from the dressing table. There was no anger in her voice now. Only an almost painful pride.
She let the words settle before continuing.
"Singhasan aadmi ko ek jagah baandh deta hai. Raj-dharma, sandhiyan aur darbar... sab uske kadam rok dete hain. Lekin Senapati par koi bandhan nahi hota."
(The throne binds a man to one place. Royal duty, alliances, the court and its conventions... all of them restrain his steps. But a Commander is bound by none of these.)
Kumud's voice finally cracked.
She looked down, blinking rapidly, but another tear escaped.
"Isliye wo Rana hokar bhi Rana nahi hain, Jab ki Mewad ke singhasan par baithna aur Durgpal ji ko wahan se hata dena... Rana Sa ke liye baayein haath ka khel hai."
(To sit upon Mewad's throne and remove Durgpal from it... is nothing more than a matter of his left hand for Rana Sa.)
Dilshana remained utterly still.
Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror, but she barely seemed to see it anymore.
For the first time, the man she had reduced to a ruthless captor and a merciless warrior seemed impossibly larger than the image she had created of him.
Dilshana knew one thing better than most. Agnijeet was not merely a formidable warrior. To the Sultan and the Sultanate-e-Shahraz, he was their greatest nightmare and their most formidable obstacle.
Dilshana remained quiet for a long moment, staring at Kumud. She lowered her eyes and gently touched Kumud's arm. "Humein maaf kar do, Kumud... tumhara dil dukhana humara iraada nahi tha."
(Forgive me, Kumud... it was never my intention to hurt you.)
Kumud blinked through her tears.
Dilshana drew a slow breath.
"Jo tumne bataya... hum uski qadr karte hain. Agar wo apni aawam aur apni sarzameen ke liye itni badi kurbani de rahe hain... toh wo aap sabke masiha honge."
(What you have told... I do value it. If he is making such a great sacrifice for his people and his homeland... then he must indeed be a savior to all of you.)
For a brief moment, something uncertain flickered in her eyes.
"Aap sabke liye wo Rana hain... Lekin Kumud... apni mitti se mohabbat karne wala har shakhs apne gunah se bari nahi ho jaata."
(To all of you, he is the Rana. But Kumud... loving one's homeland does not absolve a person of wrong he commits.)
Her voice faltered. "Wo ab bhi humare liye wahi zalim hain jo humein ghasheet kar yahan le aaye... aur phir qaid kar diya."
(To me, he is still that same cruel man who dragged us here... and then imprisoned us.)
Her eyes filled slowly. "Wo apni aawm ke liye bahar talwar utha rahe hain... aur hum? Humare bhi to kuchh farz honge?"
(He is raising his sword outside for his people... but what about me? Do I not have duties of my own?)
A tear slipped down her cheek. She gave a broken laugh.
"Wo apni duniya aabad kar lenge... naye rishte, nayi zindagi... aur hum yahin is chaar-deewari mein sad kar mar jayenge."
(He will build his own world outside... new relationships, a new life... while I will slowly wither away and die within these four walls.)
Her voice finally cracked.
"Aur humse hazaron meel door... humara parivar shayad ab bhi humari raah dekh raha hoga. Na jaane kitni raaton se soye nahi honge... Aapke Rana Sa pure Hind ka sahara hain, par hum bhi to ek mazloom maa ki aakhri ummid hain."
(And thousands of miles away from me... My family may still be waiting for me. Who knows how many nights they have spent without sleep... Your Rana Sa may be the hope of all Hind, but I, too, am the last hope of a helpless mother.)
She wiped her cheek hurriedly, as though ashamed of the tears.
• The Spectacle •
The evening welcomed a reception in the central courtyard, bathed in the soft glow of lanterns and filled with the fragrant smoke of burning incense. The entire royal family gathered for the occasion.
Musicians performed a soulful melody, echoing their stringed instruments off the carved arches, while attendants moved silently, serving exquisite dishes to the guests.
The seating was strictly arranged according to royal protocol. On the higher platform sat Durgpal alongside Sangram, Vishwajeet, Prince of Suryakot Mahendra, who was Sunaina's husband and Avani's brother, and the male noblemen of the court.
On a separate platform adorned with velvet bolsters and curtains, the women sat together. Kalavati sat near the front, flanked by Trishani and Kesar. Beside them sat Yashodhara Devi and Sunaina with her two young children.
Maharani Sumitra sat with her daughter Avani tucked near her side. Avani wore an exquisite royal attire, her head bowed slightly. Every time a guard moved near the courtyard archway, she darted her glance toward the entrance.
Dilshana was seated toward the far edge of the women's circle. She briefly caught Avani's blushing state.
Suddenly, the music seemed to lose its rhythm as the guards stationed at the archway straightened into rigid attention.
Agnijeet stepped into the courtyard.
He carried the fine dust of a grueling journey. The entire courtyard fell into an instant silence. Every person in the assembly turned to face him.
Avani's breath hitched as she locked her gaze onto Agnijeet. She felt a delicate blush rush across her cheeks, and she quickly lowered her head, hiding her shy smile.
Agnijeet walked into the center of the hall. Suddenly, a soft rustle of silk broke the quiet. Sunaina stood up from her seat, her face lighting up as she hurried down the steps toward her brother. "Bhai Sa!"
Agnijeet stopped in his tracks, the harsh line of his jaw softening just a fraction. As Sunaina reached him, he opened his arm and pulled her into a hug. He pressed a warm kiss onto her forehead.
Sunaina looked up at him, her eyes carrying a gentle warmth. "Aapko toh gyat tha ki hum aane wale hain, Bhai Sa? Phir aap kahan chale gaye the?"
(You knew we were arriving, Bhai Sa? Where have you gone then?)
Agnijeet's eyes moved calmly over the gathering. His gaze glided first to his mother, then shifted briefly to Avani before finally landing on the far edge of the platform, where Dilshana sat still under the soft glow of the lanterns.
His unreadable eyes locked onto Dilshana for a fleeting second before returning to his sister.
"Kuchh alaavshyak kary tha, Sunaina."
(There was some important work, Sunaina.)
Sunaina shook her head with a faint smile. "Koi bat nahi. Par Iss baar hum aapki ek nahi sunenge, Bhai Sa. Yeh vivah nishchit karke hi jayenge yahan se..."
(It's fine. But, this time I will not listen to a single excuse from you, Bhai Sa. I will only leave after finalizing this marriage...)
Agnijeet offered no verbal reply to her declaration. His eyes merely shifted past her to the two young children standing near the steps, looking up at their uncle with wide eyes. A rare curve touched the corner of Agnijeet's stoic lips.
He stepped closer, placing an affectionate hand over their heads.
"Bade ho gaye hain dono..."
(Both of them have grown up...)
Agnijeet turned to address the rest of the gathering. He approached the elders first, offering a respectful bow to Yashodhara Devi, and all the women on the platform before acknowledging the visiting royal family of Suryakot.
Seeing Mahendra among the men, Agnijeet stepped toward him and pulled him into a brotherhood embrace, greeting his brother-in-law with respect.
Durgpal never looked away. As the head of the house and the reigning king, Durgpal was forced to handle this alliance publicly. He fixed his intense scrutiny on Agnijeet, searching his face for any sign of where he had been for the last three days.
Durgpal raised his voice, cutting through the courtyard. "Kahaan chale gaye the, Senapati? Teen dino se nagar me aapka koi pata nahi tha."
(Where had you gone, Commander? There was no trace of you in the city for three days.)
Agnijeet stood tall, keeping his face as a complete wall of stone.
"Kucch atyanta aavashyak karya tha, Maharaj."
(There was some extremely important work, Maharaj.)
Durgpal stared at him for a long moment, failing to read the man standing before him. He flashed a smirk, taking the duty upon himself to drop the announcement as he gestured towards Yashodhara Devi. "Bhabhi sa vivah ka subh muhurat nikalwana chahti hai. Maharani Sumitra ki bhi yahi ichha hai ki Suryakot aur Mewad ka yeh sambandh bina kisi vilamb ke sampann ho."
(Sister-in-law wants to fix the auspicious date for the wedding. Maharani Sumitra also desires that this alliance between Suryakot and Mewad be completed quickly.)
Agnijeet simply gave a decisive nod.
Dilshana felt that single nod strike her like a silent blade cutting straight through her chest. She sat frozen in her seat. She felt a strange ache spread through her heart, leaving her numb.
Across the platform, Avani lowered her head further, forming a blushing smile across her face.
A profound sense of relief washed over Yashodhara Devi, a quiet breath escaping her as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
The formal announcements concluded and the gathering began to relax into hushed conversations.
Dilshana sat bowing her head as she tried to process the cold numb feeling in her chest, staring blankly at the floor.
Suddenly, she felt a dark shadow fall over her.
Before she could even raise her head to look up, Agnijeet wrapped his hand firmly around her wrist. He pulled her up from the bolster onto her feet.
"Kaksh me chalo."
(Let's go to the chamber.)
Dilshana heard a audible gasp ripple across the assembly.
Maharani Sumitra widened her eyes in sheer shock, tightening her jaw. Avani froze, locking her eyes onto Agnijeet, who held Dilshana's wrist firmly in his hand. Kalavati watched with a victorious glint in her eyes.
Dilshana stumbled slightly, feeling a flush of embarrassment burn across her cheeks under the intense stares of the entire gathering.
Agnijeet turned on his heel, towing Dilshana behind him. He led her away from the gathering, walking down the long corridor toward his chamber.
Behind them, they left the silent courtyard in complete disarray.
Every person present kept their eyes glued to the disappearing figures of Agnijeet and Dilshana. To Maharani Sumitra and Avani, this act delivered an indirect slap in the face.
Yashodhara Devi closed her eyes briefly, a shade of embarrassment flushing over her face. Beside her, Kesar bowed her head, her calm face tightening with quiet mortification at the scene that had just unfolded.
Sunaina instinctively turned her head toward the men's dais, her worried gaze locking with Mahendra's troubled eyes.
• Crossing the Line •
The corridor stretched endless before them. As Agnijeet towed her along by her wrist, Dilshana's mind was in absolute turmoil. Why? Why had he done this? In front of Maharani Sumitra, in front of the entire assembly, and above all, right in front of Avani, the woman he had just agreed to marry?
The doors of the bedchamber creaked shut behind them.
The moment Agnijeet released his grip, Dilshana snatched her hand back, stepping away from him as her eyes blazed. "Kyu tmasha bnaya humara?"
(Why did you make a spectacle of me?)
He didn't even slow his pace. Unbuckling his sword belt, he glanced at her briefly, his tone completely flat.
"Kaisa tamasha?"
(What spectacle?)
He walked straight into the bathchamber. Dilshana stood frozen, her chest heaving with explosive frustration. Her jaw clenched tight.
She moved around the chamber, hurriedly blowing out the oil lamps one by one, leaving only a couple of flames in the far corner.
Under her breath, she muttered a series of venomous curses for him, cursing his coldness, his arrogance, and the dark fire he brought into her life. Exhausted by her own emotions, she climbed onto the bed and lay down.
A short while later, Agnijeet stepped out. He moved silently across the room and lay down beside her.
Dilshana didn't turn around, but the bitter anger inside her chest refused to stay quiet. She whispered. "Kitni behayai hai... Apni hone wali begum ke saamne bhi yaad raha ke qaidi ki kalai kaise pakdi jaati hai. Lanat hai aap par..."
(What utter shamelessness... Even in front of your future bride, you remembered how to grab a prisoner's wrist. Damn you...)
He simply uttered a low grunt. "Hmm."
Dilshana turned her head slightly to look at him. His response felt like a slap, shattering something deep inside her chest.
The painful realization hit her. She didn't even hold the right to demand an answer or an argument.
A bitter ache pressed against her throat as she lashed out at his intolerable habit of silence. "Aap par toh bad-dua bhi zaya hai... Jahannum bhi aapko dekh kar darwaza band kar de!"
(Even a curse upon you would be wasted... Even hell would shut its gates at the sight of you!)
Agnijeet rolled over onto his stomach. "Peeth akad gayi hai humari. Upar chalkar dabao."
(My back has stiffened. Walk on it.)
She stared at him in the dim light, her eyes widening. A wave of utter disbelief washed over her as he slowly smoothened his beard.
She shook her head and turned around. She lay motionless, waiting for him to drag her in his arms, as he did every single night. Minutes stretched into agonizing silence. The room remained cold and still.
Agnijeet didn't move. He didn't reach for her.
Dilshana turned toward him in the dim light, her breath uneven as the consuming thoughts finally broke through her lips.
"Aapne kabhi poochha kyun nahi?"
(Why did you never ask?)
Agnijeet did not move, but the sudden stillness in his posture told her he was listening.
"Wo zeher... kisne bheja tha humein? Kiske hukum se aur kyun pheka tha humne aap par wo?"
(That poison... who sent me with it? Under whose orders and why did I throw it at you?)
She swallowed past the lump in her throat, her voice trembling slightly under the weight of her own audacity.
"Humara ghar... humara parivar... kaun hain hum? Aapne ek baar bhi kyun nahi poochha?"
(My home... my family... who am I? Why didn't you ask even once?)
Agnijeet turned his face toward her, his gaze dangerously cold.
"Humne tumse tumhara naam poochha... utna bohot hai. Baki tum kaun ho, tumhare peeche kaun khada hai... isse hume koi antar nahi padta. Aur agar poochh bhi lein... toh kya tum aisi ho jo sach bologi?"
(I asked for your name... that is enough. As for who you are, who stands behind you... it makes no difference to me. And even if I ask... are you someone who would actually speak the truth?)
His words stripped away whatever dignity she was trying to hold onto. She knew she was hiding her identity, she knew she was living a lie. But his utter detachment made something far darker sink into her mind.
"Humari pehchan jaan kar bhi aap kya karenge?"
(Even if you knew my identity, what would you do?)
Her voice cut through the stillness, raw with bitterness as she pushed herself up to face him. "Aapne toh humein kabhi insaan samjha hi nahi. Aapke liye hum bas ek jism hain. Sirf badla lene ka zariya."
(You never considered me a human being anyway. To you, I am just a body. Merely an instrument for your revenge.)
She leaned closer, matching his deadly quiet with fierce defiance.
"Aap yeh chahte hain ki hume aahista-aahista aapki aadat pad jaye... aur phir umar bhar aapki baahon mein qaid rahein?"
(So you want me to slowly get used to you... and then remain imprisoned in your arms for the rest of my life?)
She pointed a finger at herself.
"Aisi milkiyat, jise har raat aap apni samjhein... par jiska wajood aapke liye mazak ho?"
(A possession that you claim as yours every night... but whose very existence is a joke to you?)
The poison of her suppressed agony spilled over without hesitation.
"Toh phir yeh achchai ka naqaab utaar dijiye. Agar humara jism hi chahiye aapko, toh be-jhijhak le lijiye. Tod dijiye humein, jitna todna hai. Aur agar humari zubaan se raaz chahiye, toh ek qaidi ki tarah poochhiye. Zor dijiye. Aur jawab na mile toh sir qalam kar dijiye humara."
(Then take off this mask of goodness. If it is only my body you want, then take it without hesitation. Break me as much as you want to break me. And if you want secrets from my lips, then interrogate me like a prisoner. Force it out of me. And if you get no answer, then sever my head.)
Her breath trembled, her hands shaking with the weight of her outburst.
"Magar yeh aadhi meherbani, aadhi darindagi ka khel mat kheliye."
(But do not play this game of half-mercy and half-monstrosity with me.)
Agnijeet remained motionless, his eyes narrowing into cold slits as his voice dropped into a low warning.
"Apne shabdon par niyantran rakho... aur so jao, Ardhangini."
(Control your words... and go to sleep, Ardhangini.)
She chuckled.
"Ardhangini se yad aaya."
(Speaking of 'Ardhangini'...)
A bitter scoff broke from her lips. Tears of humiliation glistened in her eyes, yet her defiance turned shameless and sharp.
"Jab aapki begum avani aayegi... tab kya hoga? Raaton ka hisaab kaise rakhenge aap? Aaj humari raat hogi... kal unki?"
(When your bride avani arrives... what will happen then? How will you keep account of your nights? Will today be my night... and tomorrow hers?
The mockingly cruel smile on her face fractured into painful tears, but she did not back down. "Aur jo raat unki hogi, us raat humein bhi aapki zaroorat padi toh? Thak nahi jayenge aap do bistar ke beech?"
(And on the night that belongs to her, what if I need you too? Won't you tire yourself out running between two beds?)
She swallowed the burning lump of grief in her throat, spitting out her final taunt with utter contempt.
"Kabhi-kabhi sochte hain ki us din Maharani Kalavati ne sahi nasihat di thi aapko... wahi hona chahiye tha. Rakhel banakar rakhte... yeh shaadi ka khel kyun khela?"
(Sometimes I think Maharani Kalavati gave you the right advice that day... that is how it should have been. You should have kept me as a mistress... why did you play this game of marriage?)
The moment the word rakhel left Dilshana's lips, the air inside the chamber turned ice-cold.
A guttural sigh escaped Agnijeet's mouth, vibrating low and lethal in the darkness. He pushed himself up and sat straight, his dark silhouette towering over her like a shadow of impending doom.
Dilshana's breath hitched instantly. Her heart leaped into her throat as a sudden wave of sheer terror washed over her. She shrank back, realizing too late that she had finally pushed the beast past his limits.
Agnijeet moved. He suddenly pinned her flat beneath him, wrapping his hand into her hair to tilt her face back with deliberate force. His dangerous eyes swept down her.
"Jaisi tumhari iccha."
(As you wish.)
Before she could process his words, he pressed a kiss against her puls on her neck.
Dilshana gasped as she slammed her hands on his shoulders as she squirmed beneath his weight.
"Chhodiye humein! Chhodiye!"
(Leave me! Leave me!)
Agnijeet ignored her desperate struggles completely. As his mouth moved up the curve of her neck, his hand slid behind her back, his fingers settling over the strings of her blouse.
Dilshana stiffened in sheer horror, her eyes widening as she felt his tugging at the knots to untie them.
"Nahi! Mat kijiye!"
(No! Don't do this!)
His thumb brushed over her back near the strings as he murmured close to her ear. "Daro mat... hum dhire se karenge."
(Do not fear... I will do it gently.)
The curses poured out of her throat in a tear-choked torrent.
"Bhediye!
Haivan! Aapki nase fat jaaye! Aapka khoon sukh jaye!"
(Monster! Beast! May your veins burst! May your blood dry up!)
Dilshana thrashed violently, her hands clawing desperately at his shoulders, pushing against his chest with every ounce of strength left in her limbs.
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