Sometimes destiny doesn't wait.

Sometimes... it starts pulling people together.

————————————————————————

DESHMUKH PALACE

Late Night

The palace looked different at night.

Quieter.

Darker.

Almost like it had another face hidden beneath the daylight.

The corridors that felt grand in the morning now felt endless. Torches flickered against the stone walls, creating shadows that moved with every passing wind. The silence wasn't peaceful tonight.

It felt watchful.

Like the palace itself knew something.

And was waiting.

****************************************************

✨ Krittika's POV

Sleep refused to come.

Again.

Krittika turned toward the other side of the bed for what felt like the hundredth time before finally sitting up in frustration.

Nothing made sense anymore.

The book.

The swap.

Lakshita's wedding.

One week.

Just one week.

Her eyes shifted toward the wedding invitation lying near the table.

For a few seconds she simply stared at it.

The royal seal.

Golden design.

Beautiful.

But now whenever she looked at it...

it no longer looked like a wedding card.

It looked like a countdown.

Her heartbeat suddenly felt heavier.

Ek week... sirf ek week... agar humne kuch nhi kiya toh? Agar sach mein vo log humari duniya mein hai...? Aur hum yaha? Kya hogaaa??? Yaar kuch to sochna hogaaa.....

The thought itself made her chest tighten.

Krittika stood up and started pacing around the room.

Slowly at first.

Then faster.

Her mind had started doing what it always did when she panicked—

thinking.

Overthinking.

Creating theories.

Destroying theories.

Then creating new ones.

She closed her eyes tightly.

Think Krittika... think... Dudeeee.... Yaar ye dimaag jab kaam karna hota hai tabhi kaam kyu nhi karta...

Suddenly—

her movements stopped.

Book.

Her eyes widened slightly.

That book reacted.

Not randomly.

Not normally.

There was something about it.

Something hidden.

And if answers existed...

they were there.

Inside Raj Granthagaar.

She looked toward the door.

Then outside the window.

Then back at the door.

For a whole minute—

silence.

Yeh bohot stupid idea hai.

Pause.

Par mere paas aur option bhi kya hai...? Haana bhaii kasam bachalooo

Another pause.

"...great."

Five minutes later—

Krittika was secretly walking through the palace corridors wrapped in a dark shawl.

The cold night air brushed against her face as she moved carefully.

Slowly.

Quietly.

Trying not to make a sound.

Every tiny noise suddenly felt ten times louder.

Her footsteps.

The wind.

The torches.

Even her own heartbeat.

Bas... koi dekhna mat please...

She carefully turned around one corner—

then immediately stopped.

Two guards.

Shit.

She quickly stepped backward before they noticed her.

Her breathing stopped.

For a second...

two seconds...

three—

The guards walked past.

Krittika closed her eyes.

Bhagwan kasam se agar bach gayi na toh kabhi detective banne ka sochungi bhi nhi.

She continued walking.

And after what felt like forever—

she finally stood outside it.

Raj Granthagaar.

But then—

something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

The giant doors were slightly open.

Krittika froze.

Because last time—

they were closed.

Completely closed.

Slowly...

very slowly...

she looked inside.

Darkness.

Silence.

Nothing unusual.

Yet—

her heartbeat quickened.

Because somewhere deep inside...

she knew.

Someone was already there.

And this time... it wasn't Vihaan.

————————————————————————

✨ Aarika's POV

Morning arrived at Chauhan Palace.

But unlike the peaceful mornings people imagined in stories—

royal mornings were never quiet.

Servants moved through corridors carrying trays and scrolls. Guards changed positions. Ministers walked in groups discussing matters in hushed voices. Somewhere distant, temple bells echoed softly through the palace walls.

Everything looked normal.

Yet Aarika noticed something strange.

People were watching more today.

Not openly.

Not directly.

But enough.

Enough for her to notice.

And Aarika noticed everything.

She sat near the large windows of her chamber, absentmindedly turning the pages of a book resting in her lap. To anyone entering, she looked calm.

Relaxed.

Unbothered.

But her attention wasn't in the words.

It was outside.

Observing.

Studying.

Thinking.

Because since last night—

one thought hadn't left her mind.

Usse kitna pata hai...? Ye idhar ek din bhi tamashe ke bina jaata nhi hai? Aur aj subhe itna shaanti?

Vihaan.

She remembered every word from yesterday.

Every expression.

Every pause.

Every look.

Because with him—

words weren't dangerous.

Silence was.

And that made things worse.

Much worse.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

Before she could answer—

the door opened.

A maid entered and bowed slightly.

“Rajkumari, Maharani sahiba ne aapko Rajsabha mein bulaya hai.”

Aarika looked up.

“Abhi?”

The maid nodded.

“Ji.”

For a moment Aarika remained still.

Rajsabha...?

That wasn't normal.

Not for this.

Not for guests.

Not for princesses.

Something felt off.

Very off.

******************************************************

A few minutes later—

Aarika walked through the grand corridors of Chauhan Palace.

Sunlight entered through the enormous windows, falling across marble floors and golden pillars. Servants immediately moved aside seeing her approach.

But today—

that strange feeling still remained.

Eyes.

Too many eyes.

Watching.

Whispers stopped when she walked past.

Conversations paused.

People looked away quickly.

And suddenly—

a thought crossed her mind.

Kya hua hai...?

As she entered Rajsabha—

her steps slowed.

Ministers.

Royal advisors.

Generals.

Too many people.

The hall felt heavier today.

And standing near the throne—

hands behind his back—

looking completely calm—

stood Yuvraj Vihaan Chauhan.

Of course.

Aarika mentally sighed.

Subah subah bhi chain nhi hai isse kyu hi hogyi? Bhai Jo hai mera....

As if sensing her presence—

he looked toward her.

And that faint unreadable expression appeared again.

Not a smile.

Not exactly.

Worse.

Because with Vihaan—

you never knew.

That itself was dangerous.

For a few seconds—

their eyes met.

Neither looked away.

Then slowly—

very slowly—

Vihaan spoke.

“Rajkumari.”

Silence.

“Aaj aap der se aayi.”

Aarika stared at him.

Then calmly replied—

“Humne suna nhi tha ki humare aane ka samay bhi nirdharit kiya jaane laga hai.”

For one second—

absolute silence.

Then suddenly—

someone coughed.

A minister looked down.

Another looked away.

Because everyone knew—

she answered back.

And for the first time—

Aarika noticed something strange.

Vihaan smiled.

Actually smiled.

Tiny.

Almost invisible.

But there....weird.

Then he stepped closer.

Too casually.

Too normally.

Which immediately made Aarika suspicious.

“Dilchasp,” he said quietly.

His eyes briefly met hers.

“Lagta hai aap dheere dheere yahan ki aadat bana rahi hai.”

Something in his tone felt wrong.

Not dangerous.

Testing.

Again.

Always testing.

Aarika folded her hands calmly.

“Ya phir humne logon ko observe karna seekh liya.”

Silence.

Then—

for one second—

something changed in Vihaan's expression.

Very small.

Very quick.

But Aarika saw it.

Because suddenly—

his gaze shifted.

Not toward her.

Toward something behind her.

Someone.

And before she could turn—

a servant accidentally collided near the table beside them.

Scrolls fell.

Papers scattered.

People reacted immediately.

Normal.

Except—

one folded paper slipped near Aarika's feet.

Nobody noticed.

Nobody.

Except her.

And Vihaan.

For one second—

their eyes met again.

Then slowly—

very slowly—

his gaze moved toward the paper.

And away.

As if he hadn't seen anything.

As if he was giving her a choice.

Aarika's heartbeat slowed.

No...No no no...Yeh coincidence nhi ho sakta. Ye nhi hogaaa ....Ye kyaa haiiii???? Damnnn jaldi kuch karna hogaaa ye vihaan ki to-

Because written on the corner of that paper—

was the same symbol.

The exact same symbol.

The one from the book.

The one from the letters.

The one that shouldn't exist.

And suddenly—

for the first time—

Aarika felt something she almost never felt.

Fear.

———————————————————————

✨ Lakshita's POV

Nair Kingdom had changed.

Or maybe—

Lakshita had.

Because the same palace that once felt like home now felt unfamiliar.

Distant.

Like somewhere she no longer belonged.

Outside her chamber, preparations had already begun this morning. Servants moved through the corridors carrying fabrics, jewelry boxes and decorations. Excited voices echoed from every direction.

The palace was celebrating.

But somehow—

she felt like the only person mourning.

Lakshita stood near the balcony silently, watching the kingdom below.

From here everything looked beautiful.

The gardens.

The fountains.

The decorations.

People smiling.

Children running.

Life moving normally.

As if nothing had changed.

As if her world wasn't slowly falling apart.

A soft breeze touched her face, making loose strands of hair move gently.

For a moment she closed her eyes.

Trying to breathe.

Trying not to think.

But thoughts were cruel.

Because they always return.

Ek hafte baad...

One week.

Only one week.

The words repeated again and again inside her head.

Louder.

Heavier.

Unbearable.

She opened her eyes slowly.

And looked down.

Her fingers still held the wedding invitation.

She didn't even remember picking it up.

Silently—

she stared at her own name.

Then his.

Yuvraj Arjun Aryavansh.

A name everyone spoke with respect.

A prince every kingdom admired.

A perfect alliance.

A perfect future.

Perfect.

Perfect.

Perfect.

Then why did everything feel so wrong?

Her grip tightened unconsciously.

Kaash sab itna simple hota... Kaash hum isme nhi phaste...

Suddenly—

a knock interrupted her thoughts.

Before she could answer—

three maids entered together carrying jewelry boxes.

Behind them walked Maharani Devyani.

Lakshita immediately straightened.

"Ma…”

Maharani smiled softly and touched her cheek.

“Sab tayariyaan shuru ho chuki hai.”

Lakshita remained silent.

Maharani slowly looked around the room.

Then at her.

“Tum khush nhi ho.”

Not a question.

A statement.

For a second—

Lakshita forgot how to breathe.

Because for the first time—

someone noticed.

Actually noticed.

Her eyes lifted slowly.

Hope appeared.

Tiny.

Fragile.

Dangerous.

But then—

Maharani looked away.

And quietly continued—

“Par kabhi kabhi rajkumariyon ke paas chune ka adhikar nhi hota.”

Silence.

Just silence.

And somehow—

that hurts more.

Because hope was cruel.

It came only to disappear.

Again.

Lakshita lowered her eyes.

“Oh.”

Bas ek shabd.

But even that felt difficult.

Maharani looked at her for a moment.

As if wanting to say something.

Then didn't.

Because queens carried responsibilities too.

And responsibilities often won.

A few minutes later—

everyone left.

And silence returned.

Again.

Lakshita sat near the mirror slowly.

Tired.

Empty.

For several minutes—

nothing happened.

Then suddenly—

her eyes narrowed slightly.

Something felt strange.

Very strange.

Because beneath the mirror—

something was visible.

A small folded parchment.

She frowned.

Slowly leaned forward.

And picked it up.

Confused.

Because she was sure—

that wasn't there before.

Her heartbeat quickened slightly.

The paper felt old.

Very old.

Her fingers slowly unfolded it.

One line.

Only one.

Written hurriedly.

"If you remember the truth... do not let the wedding happen."

Silence.

Lakshita froze.

For a second—

her mind stopped.

Then immediately—

her eyes moved downward.

Toward the bottom corner.

And the moment she saw it—

the parchment almost slipped from her hand.

Because there—

drawn carefully—

was the same symbol.

The exact same symbol.

Her breathing turned uneven.

“No…”

she whispered.

“No no no…”

Because there was only one question now.

One terrifying question.

Who knew?

And more importantly—

who was trying to help them?

*****************************************************

Somewhere far away...

inside Raj Granthagaar...

an old book resting silently on the shelf—

opened by itself.

Its pages turned.

Slowly.

On their own.

And for the first time in centuries—

three names appeared.

Krittika

Aarika

Lakshita

And beneath them—

one line.

Time remembers what people forget.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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😭🔥 OK THIS CHAPTER GOT JUICY.

I know it's too intense but

Things are getting interesting

Do comment how they will break this loop and go back in the present.. and guess who is helping them

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