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 trembling limbs.
Slowly, the hand behind her back released the strings. He remained still over her for a long moment, listening to her ragged gasps.
His eyes locked onto her tear-stained face, wiping a wet track from her cheek.
"Ek na-mard ko ek lachar stree ki maryada par haath daalne mein keval kuch kshan lagte hain."
(It takes only a few moments for an unmanly coward to lay hands on a woman's dignity.)
His eyes burned into hers.
"Par aise saste shauk Agnijeet ne kabhi paale hi nahi."
(But Agnijeet has never entertained such cheap desires.)
Dilshana’s lips parted, her chest still heaving with silent sobs, but before she could utter another word, Agnijeet pulled her on his chest as he settled back onto the bed, locking her so tightly that she couldn't move an inch.
He leaned up, pressing a firm kiss against her heated cheek.
"In shabdon ka dand baad mein denge...”
(I will punish you for these words later...)
Dilshana stiffened, her heart slamming wildly, but his grip remained an unbreakable iron cage around her.
He rested his chin against the top of her head, his breathing settling into a calm rhythm.
"Aur Avani se vivah ke vishay mein hum tumhe koi safai nahi denge."
(And I will offer you no explanations regarding my marriage to Avani.)
His voice dropped, completely stripping away any room for argument.
"Humara rishta vishwas ka kabhi ho hi nahi sakta... isliye wo hum kabhi maangenge nahi."
(Our relationship can never be built on trust... therefore, I will never ask for that.)
Dilshana froze. She shook her head and pushed herself up slightly.
She cupping his face, her hands trembling with hesitation, but her eyes locked onto his.
"Aap galat samjh rahe hai. Hume aapki shadi se... koi aitraaz nahi hai."
(You are misunderstanding me. I have no objection... to your marriage.)
Her voice broke softly with an emotion she was desperately trying to suppress.
"Avani ek acchi ladki hain. Aapke khandan aur rutbe ke qabil hain. Wo aapke ghar ko aabad karengi, aapko khush rakhengi... Aap unke saath ek khushhal duniya basayein."
(Avani is a good girl. She is worthy of your family. She will bring grace to your home, she will keep you happy... You should build a prosperous world with her.)
A stray tear slipped down her cheek, landing onto his chest. She swallowed the suffocating lump in her throat, her gaze searching his face for even a sliver of softness.
"Maafi chahte hain agar humare alfazon ne aapko taish dilaya ho... Par hum sach keh rahe hain. Hum chahte hain ki aapki shadi ho jaye."
(I ask for forgiveness if my words provoked your anger... But I am speaking the truth. I truly want your marriage to happen.)
She paused, her breath faltering as she looked down at his chest before meeting his eyes once more. Her desperation turned entirely real, stripped of all pride and taunts.
"Par hume yahan qaid rakh kar aapko kuch haasil nahi hoga. Humare yahan rehne se aapki nayi zindagi mein sirf mushkilat paida hongi. Hume chhod dijiye. Hume jaane dijiye. Humare apne humara intezaar kar rahe hain. Isme aapki bhi bhalai hai aur humari bhi..."
(But keeping me captive here will yield you nothing. My presence here will only breed trouble in your new life.
Release me. Let me go. My family is waiting for me. It is in your best interest as well as mine...)
The silence that followed was terrifying.
Dilshana held her breath, expecting another harsh dismissal or a cold growl. But Agnijet merely stared at her.
"Theek hai."
(Very well.)
Dilshana froze. Her heart skipped a violent beat, her lips parting in utter shock. Had he really just agreed?
"Aap... aap sach keh rahe hain?
(Are you... are you speaking the truth?)
Agnijeet softly strocked her back.
"Humne tumse kabhi jhooth bola hai, Ardhangini?"
(Have I ever lied to you, Ardhangini?)
A bitter laugh almost escaped Dilshana’s throat. She choked it back, but inside her mind, a storm boiled over.
She thought fiercely, her eyes narrowing in silent hatred:
SubhanAllah... makkari toh dekhiye darinde ki. Baat toh aise kar rahe hain jaise koi aashiq apni dilruba ko mana raha ho...
(SubhanAllah... look at the deceit of this beast... Speaking as if a lover is wooing his beloved.)
Agnijeet wiped the wet track on her cheek with a roughness that grounded her back to reality.
"Ek samjhauta karte hain, Ardhangini. Humare doosre vivah ke agle hi din... tum jahan kahongi, tumhe wahan surakshit chhod diya jayega. Agar tum kahongi, toh hum sawyam tumhe Shahraz ki seema par chhod aayenge."
(Let us make a deal, Ardhangini. The very day after my second marriage... wherever you say, you will be safely dropped off there. If you say so, I will leave you at the border of Shahraz.)
Dilshana stared at him, her chest heaving. Part of her couldn't process the sudden promise, it felt too simple, too smooth to be true.
Agnijeet’s grip on her waist tightened. "Par humari ek shart hai."
(But I have one condition.)
"Jab tak humara doosra vivah nahi ho jata... tab tak tum humari Ardhangini ho. Aur tab tak tumhe apni is visheli jhihvaa par poora niyantran rakhna hoga. Sweekar hai?"
(Until my second marriage takes place... you are still my wife. And until then, you must keep absolute control over your venomous tongue. Do you accept this?)
Dilshana instantly agreed.
"Hume manzoor hai. Hum apni zubaan par qaabu rakhenge."
(I accept. I will control my tongue.)
Agnijeet shifted her off his chest, rolling her over to her side of the bed.
Dilshana slowly turned to his side, looking at him. He was already staring at her. He repeated his command.
"Peeth akad gayi hai humari..."
(My back has stiffened...)
Dilshana let out a long sigh, the sound carrying all the exhaustion, frustration, and helpless grief residing in her chest.
"Kash tut gayi hoti..." she whispered, her voice cracking softly.
(I wish it was broken.)
Her self-control had lasted for a grand total of twenty seconds.
Agnijeet didn't even bother reminding her of the deal. He simply shifted into the middle of the bed, spreading his shoulders across the mattress.
Dilshana shifted her weight, and stood up. For a long minute, she stood frozen, her eyes tracing the expanse of his bare back in the dim glow. His back was a sprawling canvas of battle, carved with countless violent scars where sword blades and arrowheads had once torn through his flesh.
Dilshana raised her foot and cautiously placed her bare sole onto his spine, attempting to balance her weight on just one leg to avoid putting her weight on him.
Agnijeet let out a low grunt.
"Step on it."
She clenched her jaw tight with suppressed frustration. She lifted her other foot and stepped completely onto his back, while trying to maintain her balance.
As she began to take slow steps from his upper shoulders down toward his lower back, the sheer physicality of the man beneath her feet hit her with clarity.
His back was impossibly broad and dense, the thick iron muscle beneath his skin flexing subtly with every rise and fall of his breathing.
Her delicate feet, adorned with toe rings looked like fragile ivory carved against the battle-scarred earth. It was a striking contrast of softness resting over dangerous strength.
She paused her foot over a jagged scar near his lower back.
"In zakhmon ne aapko insaan se haivan banaya... ya aap paida hi doosron ki zindagi dozakh banane ke liye hue the?"
(Did these wounds turn you from a human into a beast... or were you born simply to turn others' lives into hell?)
The words slipped out before she could stop them. The deal! She instantly bit her tongue, her eyes widening in sudden realization. "Humara matlab tha ki... maidaan-e-mard ke badan par toh yeh zakhm zevar ki tarah sajte hain, hai na?"
(I meant that... on the body of a true man of the battlefield, these wounds adorn like jewels, right?)
He remained motionless.
"Tumhara niyantran dekh kar humari aatma tript ho gayi, Ardhangini."
(My soul is truly satisfied seeing your self-control, Ardhangini.)
Dilshana froze, her cheeks burning.
Trying to shift the topic before he could void their deal, She let out a soft breath, her voice dropping into a velvet murmur.
"Shadi mubarak ho...."
(Congratulations on the marriage...)
Before the final word could even fade from her lips, Agnijeet suddenly shifted his back beneath her.
The sudden sway threw Dilshana completely off balance. She gasped aloud in sudden shock, her foot slipping off his lower back as she tumbled hastily down onto the mattress.
"Ahesan faramosh!" Dilshana hissed, her hands flying out to catch herself.
(Ungrateful!)
In a blink, he turned and catch her waist, hauling her down on him.
She let out a breathless gasp as she landed over his chest. The sudden closeness was suffocating, the scorching heat of his skin radiated through her clothes.
His voice was a rumble against her ear.
"Tumhe bhi."
(To you as well.)
Dilshana blinked, her eyes wide with confusion. "Kya?"
(What?)
He simply shook his head slightly, dismissing her question before she could process his words.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she forcibly twisted out of his grip, rolling off his back and onto the far side of the bed.
He did not reach across the distance to drag her back. He simply stayed where he was, settling into the quiet.
Dilshana lay motionless on her side, staring into the shadow corner, her heart beating like a trapped bird until the deep rhythm of his breathing filled the silent chamber, lulling the night into sleep.
•
The morning sun filtered through the carved jharokhas of guest chamber.
Avani sat by the vanity, carefully trying to style her hair, but her hands trembled slightly. The memory of last night, of Agnijeet ignoring everyone, and walking off with his war bride, was still burning raw in her mind.
Sumitra stood near the archway, her face etched with grave concern as she watched her daughter through the mirror.
"Avani," Sumitra spoke, her voice laced with authority and maternal caution. "Hum is vivah ke prastav ko yahin rok rahe hain. Yeh sambandh tumhare hit me nahi hai."
(Avani, stop. We are halting this marriage proposal right here. This alliance is not for your well-being.)
Avani's hand froze mid-air. She turned around on her stool, her eyes widening in utter disbelief.
"Maa sa? Yeh aap kya keh rahi hain?Aapne hi toh kaha tha ki Rana sa hind ke sabse shaktishali Raj purush hain. Unse yogy var mujhe nahi milega. Phir aap itna vichalit kyon ho rahi hain? Aap mujhe batayiye, kaun aisa prabhavshali rajvanshi hoga jiske ek se zyada vivah na hue hon?"
(Maa sa? What are you saying? You were the one who said Rana sa is the most powerful Royal of Hind. I won't find a more worthy groom than him. Then why are you so disturbed? Tell me, which influential royal would there be who hasn't had more than one marriage?)
Sumitra let out a heavy sigh and stepped closer to her daughter. She placed her hands on Avani's shoulders.
"Raj purush vivah rajneetik sandhiyon ke liye karte hain... lekin us ladki, Naaz, aur doosri rajkumariyon mein bahut antar hai."
(You don't understand, Avani. Royal man marry for political alliances... but bbetween that girl, Naaz, and other princesses, there is a world of difference.)
Sumitra paused as she recalled Agnijeet's face the previous night.
"Wo ek dushman hai. Ek kaniz ki beti. Fir bhi, Kal raat... Uske prati Rana sa ka aakarshan sadharan nahi hai."
(She is an enemy... a maidservant's daughter. Even so last night... Rana sa's attraction toward her is not ordinary.)
A confident smile touched Avani's lips. She stood up, her eyes flashing with royal pride.
"Aap wahin galti kar rahi hain, Maa sa. Wo keval ek aakarshan hai. Ek sundar chehra... isse zyada wo aur kya hai? Aur aisi aag kitni der tikti hai? Sharirik aakarshan jitni tezi se bhadakta hai, utni hi tezi se thanda bhi ho jata hai."
(You are making a mistake right there, Maa sa. That is merely a attraction. A pretty face... And how long does such a fire last? Physical attraction cools down just as quickly as it flares up.)
Avani took a step toward her mother, her head held high.
"Main Suryakot ke ki rajkumari hoon. Rana sa ko kal ko jab apne liye ek patni chahiye hogi, jab rajneetik nirnay lene honge, tab unhe meri zaroorat padegi."
(I am the princess of Suryakot. Tomorrow, when Rana sa sa needs a wife, when political decisions need to be made, he will need me.)
She looked into her mother's hesitant eyes and smiled reassuringly.
"Wo aakarshan kal khatam ho jayega, Maa sa. Isliye aap yeh vivah mat rokiye. Un par raj karne ka raasta mujhe acche se pata hai."
(That attraction will die down tomorrow, Maa sa. Therefore, do not stop this marriage. I know very well how to rule over him.)
Sumitra stared at her daughter for a long moment. Though the sharp edge of worry still lingered in her chest, the pride and calculation in Avani's eyes silenced any further objection.
Avani turned back toward the mirror, her confidence fully restored. She picked up her jewel-encrusted comb and resumed styling her hair, her lips curved into a subtle smirk.
•
The golden light of dusk spilled through the carved arches, bathing the chamber in a warm amber glow.
Dilshana sat near the window, her fingers absently tracing the intricate woodwork. From outside, the faint laughter of children and the chiming of anklets drifted into the room.
Behind her, Kumud and the chamber maids were busy lighting the oil lamps for the evening, speaking in hushed whispers among themselves.
Suddenly, a guard's resounding voice echoed from outside the doors.
"Kunwar Vishwajeet Ji padhar rahe hain!"
(Prince Vishwajeet Ji approaches!)
Kumud stepped forward hastily, pulling back the door and bowing her head.
Vishwajeet stood at the doorway. Beside him were Sunaina's two young children, a little girl and her slightly older brother, holding their uncle's hand and peeking inside with curious eyes.
Dilshana turned around. The moment her eyes fell on the children, a soft spark lit up her gaze. She slowly stood up from her seat.
She looked at Kumud, then at Vishwajeet, before her eyes settled completely on the two innocent faces.
"Devar sa... kya hum inke sath khel sakte hain?"
(Can I play with them?)
Vishwajeet smiled gently. He nudged the children forward slightly, "Aap hi se milwane laye hain, Bhabhi Sa."
(I brought them specifically to meet you, Bhabhi Sa.)
Dilshana swallowed her hesitation. She stepped forward and sat down on the floor, bringing herself to the children's eye level.
The little ones stared at her striking yet melancholic eyes for a second, but seeing the soft smile on her lips, their initial shyness melted away. Within minutes, the quiet chamber echoed with their soft giggles.
Dilshana sat on the rug, tickling them, while kissing their cheeks again and again.
As they played, Dilshana glanced up at Vishwajeet, who stood a short distance away, watching them with a smile.
Dilshana thought for a fleeting second. No one in this palace acknowledges her presence as a bride. She don't acknowledge herself. Agnijeet is about to marry someone else, yet this bond?
A tender smile touched her lips. She ventured further, asking softly, "Aap Sunaina ji se bade hain?"
(Are you older than Sunaina ji?)
Vishwajeet shook his head gently. "Nahi, main unse chhota hoon. Wo Agnijeet Bhai Sa se chhoti hain, aur mujhse badi."
(No, I am younger than her. She is younger than Agnijeet Bhai Sa, but older than me.)
Dilshana paused, reflecting for a second, before asking quietly, "Aap log... kitne bhai-behan hain?"
(How many... brothers and sisters are you?)
The moment the question left her lips, the smile vanished from Vishwajeet’s face. He seemed to stiffen. He lowered his eyes, a painful shadow floating across his gaze.
Avoiding her eyes, he took a moment to catch his breath before speaking in a low murmur. "Chaar the... ab teen hain."
(We were four... now three.)
A heavy silence descended over the room. Dilshana understood instantly. Three: Agnijeet, Sunaina, and Vishwajeet.
And the eldest, Kesar's late husband, who must had fallen in battle.
Dilshana did not push the painful memory further. To gently shift the topic away from his grief, she prepared to turn the focus onto herself.
Before she could speak, Vishwajeet looked up, his eyes still carrying a faint sadness as he asked, "Aapke... aapke koi bhai-behan hain?"
(Do you... do you have any siblings?)
His question struck Dilshana like a sudden weight on her heart. Instantly, the serene face of her younger brother flashed before her eyes.
A lump formed in her throat. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to force them back. Her little brother, who knew what state he was in without her?
"Haan..." Dilshana's voice trembled softly. "Ek chhota bhai hai humara..."
(Yes... I have a younger brother...)
Vishwajeet caught the raw grief and helpless longing in her cracking voice.
He took a step closer, his tone dripping with protective respect. "Aap chahein toh... mujhe apna bhai samajh lijiye."
(If you wish... you may consider me your brother.)
Dilshana pushed back the tears gathering in her eyes, a familiar glint returning to her gaze.
"Lekin... aap toh us Iblis ke bhai hain."
(But... you are the brother of that devil.)
Vishwajeet let out a chuckle. He tilted his head slightly.
"Haan... kintu wo rishta alag hain, Bhabhi Sa... aur ye alag."
(Yes... but he is different, Bhabhi Sa... and I am different.)
Dilshana’s smile deepened, turning edgy as she idly smoothed the hair of the little girl in her lap. "Aur agar kisi roz... aapko humari hifaazat ke liye unse ladna pad gaya toh?"
(And what if one day... you have to struggle against him just to protect me?)
Vishwajeet shook his head dramatically. "Toh phir... aap hume us ladai mein paraajit hokar kat-ta hua bhi nahi dekh payengi, Bhabhi Sa."
(Then... you won't be able to bear watching me get defeated and cut down in that duel either, Bhabhi Sa.)
A melodic laugh escaped Dilshana’s throat, a sound she had not made in months. The selfless conviction in his voice touched a raw nerve inside her wounded heart.
Since her childhood, Dilshana had never experienced what it felt like to have a man, whether a father or a brother, stand as a protective shield for a girl.
She never knew the comfort of a brother's warmth, the absolute trust that his shadow alone was enough to keep her safe. That feeling had always been nothing more than a myth to her.
And today, thousands of miles away from her motherland, standing inside an enemy's fortress, a man had offered her that selfless protective warmth.
An aching pain rose in Dilshana’s heart.
If only she had a brother like this, her entire life would not have been a brutal war.
•
A cool breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees, carrying the sweet fragrance of ripe fruits.
The family had gathered under the shade of the grand stone pavilion that overlooked the garden beds. Low wooden platforms draped in were arranged in a comfortable semicircle.
Silk bolsters were scattered across the floor, where Kesar, Sunaina, Trishani, and the other royal womens were seated. The cheerful laughter of Sunaina’s young children echoed across the courtyard as they ran around the grass.
Platters piled with fresh seasonal mangoes were placed on low tables. Servants moved silently around the circle, serving slices on silver plates.
Sitting beside her mother, Avani looked breathtaking. She was dressed with exquisite care, wearing a rich orange attire adorned with gold work. Fine polki jewelry glinted at her neck and wrists, and her dark hair was neatly styled, resting in soft curls over her shoulder.
Every movement she made was graceful, and full of royal poise.
Dilshana, on the other hand, sat far away from the royal circle, near the edge of a raised stone planter. She wore a simple, silk lehnga, free of any heavy jewels.
She was leaning over the earth, her fingers buried in the soil as she carefully adjusted the roots of a drooping flowering plant.
Kumud stood beside her, looking deeply anxious as she glanced back toward the royal platform.
"Kuwrani sa... aap rehne dijiye. Koi dekhega toh kya kahega?"
(Please leave it. What will someone say if they see you?)
Dilshana didn't stop. She continued smoothing the soil around the base of the stem, her voice quiet.
"Are hum bas ye jade thik kar rahe hai."
Suddenly, the hushed conversations under the pavilion dulled as measured footsteps sounded along the pathway.
Agnijeet was crossing the garden, walking alongside Vijaydev. He was dressed in his royal attire, looking as formidable and stoic as ever.
He was listening attentively to Vijaydev, who was briefing him on military matters.
As they approached the garden, Agnijeet’s gaze swept over the gathering under the pavilion. He saw the family enjoying the fruit, his eyes briefly passing over Avani, who immediately straightened her posture.
His focus shifted to the far corner of the garden, locking onto the solitary figure crouching in the dirt.
He changed his direction and walked straight toward the stone planter where Dilshana was working. He stopped beside her, his shadow blocking the sunlight over her.
Dilshana looked up slowly, her eyes meeting his impenetrable gaze. The weight of his presence pressed down on her. She hated the instant awareness she felt the moment he stood close, hated how her pulse betrayed her.
Agnijeet stared down at her, his gaze remained fixed on her with an intensity that seemed to erase the rest of the world around them.
He caught a smear of damp mud on her cheek and wiped the dirt off. Her eyes widened slightly, locked in a silent stare with his.
He reached for the edge of her veil, which had slipped loose over her shoulder. He pulled up the fabric and draped it back properly over her shoulder, his action devoid of any gentleness, yet declaring an absolute ownership that made her blood run hot.
He murmured. "Hath dho lo."
(Wash your hands.)
Her heartbeats raced under his stare. She broke eye contact and walked toward the nearby water fountain to wash her hands.
Across the garden, Avani felt as if a cold bucket of water had been poured over her. To see Agnijeet completely ignore her presence, despite all her efforts to dress up, just to walk over, touch his war bride's face, and fix the clothes of someone working in dirt was a humiliation she had never imagined.
Sunaina, sitting on the platform and picking up a slice of mango, broke the silence by calling out toward him.
"Bhai sa! Aaiye, mausam ke aam hain. Sab sath mein kha rahe hain."
(Bhai sa! Come, these are seasonal mangoes. Everyone is eating together.)
Dilshana, who was washing the mud off her hands, turned around slowly. She looked at the yellow fruit on the silver platters under the pavilion.
Her eyes drifted back toward Agnijeet. He hadn't turned toward his family, quietly watching her every move.
She looked at him and asked curiously.
"Kaun sa phal hai yeh?"
(Which fruit is this?)
Agnijeet simply turned his head toward a servant standing near the garden archway.
"Ek thaal yahan lekar aao."
(Bring a platter here.)
The servant hurried, picking up a platter of mangoes and rushing it over to where Agnijeet and Dilshana stood.
Agnijeet walked toward a bench tucked behind the sprawling trunk of a banyan tree, slightly away from the main pavilion. Dilshana followed him, her anklets chiming softly with every step.
When they sat down, their backs were turned toward the gathering. The thick tree trunk and leafy branches carved out a sanctuary for them, shielding from the eager eyes of everyone
Agnijeet picked up a knife from the platter, along with a ripe mango as he sliced the mango. "Yeh aam hai. Khatta sa, mitha sa hota hai."
(This is a mango. It is a bit sour, a bit sweet.)
He carved out a thick slice and began to eat it. Dilshana stared at him, her lips parting slightly in sheer disbelief. She gave him the look, the kind of reserved for a man of unabashed shamelessness. He sat, enjoying the fruit entirely by himself without even a gesture of courtesy.
Dilshana reached into the platter and picked up a mango herself. She held out her hand for the knife.
"Humein bhi dijiye."
(Give it to me as well.)
Agnijeet handed her the knife. As she brought the blade on the fruit, Agnijeet tilted his head toward her, his eyes fixing on her hands. "Pehle se chetavni de rahe hain. 'Aam' vivahit streeyo ko apne pati ki god mein bethkar khana padta hai... warna aawaz chali jati hai."
(Giving you an advance warning. Married women have to sit in their husband's lap to eat a mango... otherwise they lose their voice.)
Dilshana’s hand froze instantly mid-slice. Her eyes widened in shock before flashing with fury. She glared at him, then quickly darted her gaze across the garden. Over there, every women was eating their mango without a care in the world.
She looked back at Agnijeet, her jaw clenched tight. "Jhoothe jallad..."
(Lying executioner...)
Agnijeet stared back at her annoyed face. He added calmly, his voice serious.
"Pehli baar kha rahi ho tab ki baat hai.
Baad mein nahi. Is bar vastav me gungi ho jaogi."
(It is only about the first time you eat it. Not afterwards. You will actually become mute this time.)
Dilshana sat entirely confused, her brow furrowing deeply. She looked down at the juicy slice of mango in her hands. It smelled divine, rich, and sweet, tempting her to take a bite.
Yet, his absurd warning hung in the air, leaving her baffled by whether this man was being serious or merely playing with her mind.
Dilshana looked up into his stone-like face and asked him, gesturing towards the gathering.
"Yahan sab ke samne kese?"
(How so here?)
Agnijeet merely looked at her.
"To kaksh me chalo."
(How would I know?)
Dilshana glared at him as Agnijeet continued eating without looking at her.
The golden juice glistened faintly at his lips, dripping slowly down.
Driven by instinct, Dilshana wiped the stray drop of juice from his lips.
As her delicate fingers touched her lips, Agnijeet’s eyes darkened. He deliberately picked up another slice of mango. Looking right into her eyes, he took an intentionally messy, unhurried bite, letting the golden nectar run down his mouth.
He set the half-eaten slice back down onto the platter, taking his time.
Before Dilshana could process, his free hand shot out. He grabbed her waist, pulling her flush in his side, while his other hand came down over her upper thigh.
Dilshana’s breath caught violently in her throat. She went completely rigid as his fingers pressed into her flesh through the fabric.
A cold fear seized her. What if the thumping of her chest was so loud that the family could hear it across the courtyard?
"Kha nahi sakti..." Agnijeet rasped, his eyes dropping to her mouth, "...par ras toh chakh sakti ho."
(You cannot eat it... But you can taste the nectar.)
The double meaning hung heavily between them, charged with a suffocating temptation.
Panic shot through Dilshana’s veins. She darted her eyes frantically behind her. Everyone was just a few feet away. If anyone turned around, the humiliation would destroy her.
She kicked his leg and spat out in a hasty whisper, trying to pull away. "Hume nahi chakhna! Chhodiyen hume..."
(I don't want to taste it! Release me...)
Agnijeet didn't budge. His thumb stroked her upper thigh with a slow pressure, driving her pulse into a frenzy.
He tilted his face closer, his mouth hovering barely a millimeter from hers. A glistening drop of yellow nectar still lingered on his lower lip. Those naturally crimson lips that had quietly caught her attention from the day she unveiled her face before him.
Their hot breaths mingled in the space between them, her chest heaving as the sheer proximity overwhelmed her.
She whispered hastily in a high-pitched panic, trying to pull away from his grip.
"Hume chhodiye... Rajkumari Avani aur baaki sab yahin hain, sab dekh rahe hain!"
(Release me... Rajkumari Avani and everyone else are right here, watching us!)
His hand tightened over her thigh. "To?"
(So?)
Dilshana shuddered, her eyes wide with horror and overwhelming heat. Trapped between the terrifying risk of getting caught and the unbearable sensation of his hand, she held up a finger in a warning. "Sirf ek baar..."
(Only once...)
Agnijeet’s eyes narrowed slightly, agreeing in a gravelly hum. "Keval ek baar." (Only once.)
Dilshana squeezed her eyes shut tight. She swiftly raised her hand and placed her palm over his eyes, blindfolding his gaze.
She leaned in slowly. Her warm tongue darted out, lightly dragging across his lower lip to lick the juice off his mouth in a breathless, slow stroke.
The electric shock of her tongue on his lips made Agnijeet froze for a second, his grip on her thigh tightening enough to leave a bruise.
He hovered over her flushed face, his breathing rough as his gaze tracked the frantic rise and fall of her chest, his voice thick with a satisfied amusement.
"Kaisa hai?"
(How is it?)
Dilshana refused to look up at him. She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes while her cheeks burned with a violent blush. He gently traced the curve of her cheek to tilt her head up.
Dilshana pulled back slightly, her voice shaking in a whispered sting. "Zahar jaisa... kadwa. Ab aap jaiye yahan se!"
(Like poison... bitter. Now go away from here!)
Agnijeet took her odhni, wiping his hands. He stood up from the bench, and walked away toward the palace corridors, his heavy stride completely unhurried.
Dilshana sat motionless on the bench, watching him retreat into the shadows. She was left sitting alone with a half-cut mango in her lap.
From a distance, the pavilion remained completely silent, their eyes glued to the stone bench. Maharani Sumitra, Avani, and the rest of the family watched from afar.
Dilshana wiped her hands, and stood before walking off toward her own side of the palace.
Under the pavilion, the atmosphere remained uncomfortably heavy.
Avani sat stiffly on her silk bolster, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her eyes still fixated on the tree.
Kesar decided to speak with complete honesty, her eyes turning toward Avani and Maharani Sumitra. "Aap itni chintit kyon dikh rahi hain, Avani?"
(Why are you looking so worried, Princess Avani?)
Avani pulled herself together, offering a polite yet hesitant response.
"Chinta ki koi baat nahi hai, Bhabhi sa. Main bas... yahan ke niyam ko samajhne ki koshish kar rahi hu."
(There is nothing to worry about, Bhabhi sa. I am merely... trying to understand the rules here.)
Kesar let out a measured breath. She looked at Avani with a gaze that held absolute frankness.
"Agar aap Naaz ko lekar apna mann chhota kar rahi hain, toh mat kijiye. Usne swayam is vivah ko, is rishte ko aswikar kar diya hai."
(If you are disheartening yourself over Naaz, then do not. She herself has flatly refused to accept this marriage, this relationship.)
Avani turned her head, looking at Kesar, her curiosity sparked. "Usne nakar diya? Toh phir... Rana sa ka unki taraf yeh dhyan... yeh sab kya hai?"
(She refused? Then... Rana sa's attention toward her... what is all this?)
Kesar did not mince her words.
"Yeh koi prem ya vishwas nahi hai, Avani. Devar sa bas apni zid poori kar rahe hain, aur wo apni zidd par adee hai. Lekin ye kathor satya hai ki wo ek dushman hai."
(This is neither love nor trust, Avani. There is no such thing between those two. Devar sa is merely fulfilling his stubbornness, and she is standing firm on her own pride. But a harsh truth is that she is an enemy.)
Kesar paused, her gaze steady as she looked at Avani.
"Humare kul ko devar sa ke liye ek aisi vadhu ki avshykta hai jo parja ke parti apne uttardayitv ko samjhe. Aur jis par hum sab ankhe mund kar vishwas kar sake."
(Our linege need a daughter-in-law who understands the responsibility.)
Avani listened, Kesar's words settling her restless mind. There was no deceit or games in Kesar's advice. It was only the firm voice of an elder daughter-in-law standing fiercely by the duty and honor of her family.
Later that evening, Avani waited near the quiet archway leading toward Agnijeet's private wing. She had carefully noted which maidservant was assigned to care for the Commander's chamber, a young girl carrying a linen.
Avani cut off the maid's path.
The maidservant gasped in surprise, bowing her head in respect.
"Do you need something?"
Avani did not waste time with pleasantries, she slid a intricately carved ring off her index finger and held it out, pressing it firmly into the maid's palm.
The maid stared at the glistening gold in sheer shock, her breathing turning shallow. "This... I cannot take this..."
"You can, and you will," Avani interrupted smoothly. "I only require a honest answer to a simple question. And what is spoken here remains strictly between us."
The maid swallowed hard, tightly clutching the gold in her hand. "Hmmm."
Avani stepped a fraction closer, her eyes searching the maid's face.
"Tell me about the dynamic inside the Commander's chamber. What is the true nature of their relationship? Do they shared... an intimate physical bond?"
The maids froze for a second, looking around nervously before lowering her head even further. She took a quiet breath, gathering her thoughts based on everything she had observed while tending to the private quarters.
"No, Rajkumari. There is no such relationship between them."
Avani's eyes flared with a sudden, intense flicker of hope. "Are you certain? How can you be so sure?"
"I clean their bedchamber every single morning," the maid explained softly, keeping her voice barely above a breath. "The Commander spends most of his days and nights away from the palace, staying out for days on end. And on the nights he does return... there are clear signs."
Avani listened intently, a victorious smile slowly spreading across her lips. The confirmation brought relief to her chest.
"Return to your work, and speak of this to no one."
"Yes," the maid replied hastily, bowing low before hurrying down the corridor.
Avani stood alone in the dim corridor, watching the maid vanish. The picture was completely clear to her now. There was no affection, no trust, and no marital intimacy between Agnijeet and Dilshana.
•
Next evening, Kesar, Trishani, and Sunaina were seated together on silk bolsters, unwinding after the day's routine. Avani sat among them.
Sangram and Vishwajeet walked into the lounge together, deeply immersed in a discussion. Vijaydev followed a few paces behind them, his sharp gaze taking in the atmosphere of the room.
Avani called out to them with a welcoming smile. She gestured to a maid entering nearby with a tray bearing a decanter. "We have bought our special wine from Suryakot."
Sangram paused, glancing at Vishwajeet, who gestured toward the seating.
"Suryakot ki madiran? Tab toh iska swad zaroor lena chahiye. Aaiye."
(Suryakot's wine? Then we must certainly taste it. Come.)
Before they can take sit, Avani looked around the room. She leaned forward.
"Senapati toh yahan aane se rahe," Avani suggested. "Kyon na hum sab unke kaksh mein chalein? Is bahane unse thodi charcha bhi ho jayegi aur hum sab wahan Chaupar bhi khelenge."
(The Commander is unlikely to come here. Why don't we all go to his chamber? That way we can chat with him for a bit and play Chaupar together there.)
Avani turned her attention to the Sunaina, pressing her idea further. "Come on."
Sangram immediately shook his head, looking deeply uncomfortable at the mere thought of invading Agnijeet's personal space.
"Nahi, nahi. Unke niji kaksh mein bina uski aagya ke jana ucchit nahi hoga. Wo krodhit ho sakte hai."
(No, no. Entering his private room without his permission will not be right. He might get angry.)
Vishwajeet chuckled lightly. "Arey Sangram, isme darna kaisa? Hum sab parivaar hi toh hain."
(Oh Sangram, why fear? We are all family after all.)
Kesar’s gaze locked onto Avani for a fleeting moment.
There was something hidden deep within Avani’s words... something tiny, meticulously disguised... but not tiny enough to slip past Kesar's watchful eyes.
"Jab unhein apna ekant priy hai, toh wahan yeh bheed kyon?"
(When he values his solitude, why create a crowd there?)
Before Avani could respond, Vishwajeet stepped in smoothly.
"Arey Bhabhi sa, wo parivaar ke sath thoda samay bitayenge toh unka krodh bhi kam hoga."
(Oh Bhabhi sa, if he spends some time with the family, his anger will soften as well.)
Kesar shifted her gaze onto Vishwajeet. Her eyes narrowed into a firm glare that clearly communicated: 'Brat, I see right through you and I know exactly what you are trying to do.'
She turned her attention back toward the room, her voice dropping into a dignified, cautionary note.
"Devar sa ki baat toh alag hai... par Naaz ko asahajta ka anubhav ho sakta hai."
(Devar sa's matter aside... Naaz might feel uncomfortable.)
Vijaydev smiled, a spark in his eyes.
"Kshama kijiye, Hukum... par wo hum nahi chalne denge. Kunwarani sa ko parivaar ke sath ghulna-milna toh padega na?"
(Pardon me, Hukum... but we cannot allow that. Kunwarani sa will have to mingle with the family, after all.)
Kesar let out a huff at Vijaydev’s veiled manipulation.
"Jo uchit lagta hai, kijiye."
(Do as you see fit.)
Kesar offered a formal nod and walked out of the lounge, leaving the uninvited group to their own devices.
Seeing Vijaydev take the lead, the remaining hesitation melted away. Sangram reluctantly agreed.
The group walked down the torch-lit corridor leading toward Agnijeet's private wing. When they reached the doors of his chamber, the guards stationed outside bowed low and announced their arrival.
Inside, the spacious chamber was dimly lit and quiet.
Dilshana was sitting alone near the far window, completely lost in her thoughts.
She turned her head, her eyes widening in shock as the group walked into the room.
Dilshana stood up slowly, her voice laced with confusion. "Aap sab yahan?"
(All of you here?)
Vijaydev stepped forward smoothly, a slight smile playing on his lips as he glanced around the room.
"Hum toh yahan Senapati se milne aaye the, Kunwarani sa. Socha unke sath thoda samay vyateet kar lein. Vaise... kahan hain wo?"
(We came here to meet Commander, Kunwarani sa. Thought we would spend some time with him. By the way... where is the he?)
Dilshana swallowed her irritation, keeping her gaze steady. "Aate hi honge..."
(He must be arriving soon...)
Within minutes, servants hurried into the room, spreading a carpets. They placed a carved wooden Chaupar board in the middle along with platters of snacks and goblets of the Suryakot wine.
The group settled down around the board, and the game began amidst light chatter and the clinking of wine goblets.
A short while later, the doors swung open. Agnijeet stepped into the bedchamber.
The moment he saw the crowd gathered, a wave of intense irritation and hardness swept across his face. His jaw clenched tight.
Vijaydev met his eyes and gave him a brief, almost imperceptible nod. That nod had carried them through ambushes, retreats, and battlefields where there had been no time for explanations.
It meant one thing : Trust me and move.
Agnijeet exhaled hard, visibly displeased, but said nothing.
He sat down near the board, flanked by Vishwajeet on one side and Sunaina on the other.
Glancing at Vishwajeet, Agnijeet spoke roughly. "Move a bit further."
Vishwajeet shifted aside, creating a clear space next to Agnijeet.
Agnijeet turned his head toward the corner where Dilshana was standing. He patted the cleared spot beside
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