Enjoy Reading....

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👑 Nair Kingdom

The entire palace had become unrecognizable.

Servants moved through corridors carrying silks and jewelry boxes. Fresh flowers decorated every corner while distant music echoed softly through the palace walls.

Preparations had officially begun.

For the wedding.

For Rajkumari Lakshita Nair.

Outside—

Everything looked beautiful.

Inside Lakshita's chamber?

Not so much.

Because Lakshita sat near the balcony quietly while Aarika sat beside her

For once—

no sarcasm.

No teasing.

No drama.

Just silence.

The soft wind moved the curtains while wedding fabrics lay spread across the room.

Lakshita looked toward them.

Then sighed.

Silence.

Aarika looked at her.

Then calmly asked:

"Nervous?"

Lakshita looked away.

"...bohot obvious hai kya?"

Silence.

Aarika stared at her for a second.

Then:

"Haan."

Pause.

"Thoda."

Lakshita looked offended.

"Bas thoda??"

Aarika nodded seriously.

"Haan."

Another pause.

"Baki toh tum andar se panic kar rahi ho."

Lakshita gasped.

"Traitor."

Silence.

Then both laughed softly.

Tiny.

Just a little.

Then suddenly—

BANGGGGG

The chamber doors opened dramatically.

Actually dramatically.

Both froze.

Absolute silence.

Aarika muttered under her breath

"Aagyi , ab shuru hogyi nautanki"

Krittika entered.

Silence.

Lakshita had barely turned around when-

"AARIKAAAAAAA!!!! LAKSHITAAAAAA "

Before anyone could react—

Krittika literally ran toward them.

Arms spread dramatically.

Like some movie reunion scene.

"KAHA THE YAAR TUM LOGGGGG KITNI YAAD AAYI MUJHEEEE!!!I MISSED YOU BOTH SO MUCHHHHH!!!!!"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Aarika stared.

Lakshita blinked.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Then Aarika calmly folded her hands.

"Accha?"

Pause.

"Par mujhe toh nahi aayi."

Silence.

Krittika froze.

Actually, froze.

Mock gasp.

Hand over heart.

Eyes widened.

"KYUUUU???? ESA MAINE KYA KIYAAA"

Aarika looked thoughtful.

Very thoughtful.

"Hm..."

Pause.

"Accha tha na."

Another pause.

"Teri ye overacting se dur thi."

Silence.

Krittika blinked.

Aarika continued:

"Vo band kamra?"

Pause.

"Mast tha."

Absolute silence.

Krittika gasped so loudly Lakshita almost got scared.

"KYAAA!!???? "

"YE KYA BOL RHI HAI TUUU???"

Pause.

"MERA DIL TOD DIYAAAA!"

Aarika stared.

Expression?

Absolutely done.

"Mai kya teri girlfriend hu jo dil tod dungi?"

Silence.

Lakshita looked away immediately.

Nope.

Not entering this battlefield.

Too late.

Because Krittika slowly turned.

Narrowed her eyes.

Then flipped her hair dramatically.

"Toh kya?"

Pause.

"Girlfriend se kam hai kya?"

Wink.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Aarika stared.

Actually stared.

Lakshita covered her mouth.

Because no.

No.

She was NOT laughing.

Not at all.

Aarika pointed toward Krittika.

Slowly.

"Ye..."

Pause.

"Ye ladki..."

Pause.

"Ek din mujhe jail bhejegi."

Krittika immediately looked offended.

"HAWWWW."

Pause.

"Mere pyar ki kadar hi nahi hai."

"Mujhe shaanti ki kadar hai."

Silence.

Krittika clutched imaginary pearls.

"LAKSHITA DEKH "

"DEKH YE KYA BOL RHI HAI"

Immediately turning dramatically:

"LAKSHUUUU MERIII JAAANNNNNN 😭😭🫂 KAHA THI TUUUU!!!!!"

Lakshita immediately opened arms.

Because unfortunately—

She matched energy.

"TERE DILLLLLL MAI AAJA GALE LAG JAAA"

And both hugged dramatically.

Actually spun once.

FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.

Meanwhile Aarika stared.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Then quietly:

"...mujhe lagta hai swap mein galat log aa gaye the."

Silence.

Krittika stopped.

Slowly turned.

"Matlab?"

Aarika folded her hands.

"Tum dono ko circus mein hona chahiye tha."

Absolute silence.

Then:

"AYEEEE "

And pillow directly thrown at Aarika's face 💀🔥

Because Krittika was still hugging Lakshita dramatically.

"TUJHE PATA HAI MAI KITNI AKELI HOGYI THI "

"MAI MENTALLY TRAUMATIZED THI "

Pause.

"ISNE MUJHE TANG KIYA "

And immediately pointed toward Aarika.

Absolute silence.

Lakshita slowly looked toward Aarika.

Aarika looked offended.

"KYA MATLAB MAINE?"

"KYA KYA MATLAB???"

Krittika looked betrayed.

"TU MUJHE HAR TEEN MINUTE BAAD JUDGE KARTI THI "

Aarika folded her hands.

"Haan toh galat kaha kya?"

Silence.

Krittika gasped.

Actually gasped.

Pause.

Then narrowed eyes.

"Ek minute."

Silence.

Slowly looked around.

Then at Lakshita.

Then at Aarika.

Then:

"Tum dono pehle se mil liye???? Vo bhi mere bina? "

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Eyes narrowed further.

"MATLAB MUJHE BINA BULAYE FRIENDSHIP CHAL RAHI THI??? "

Aarika stared.

Lakshita stared.

Then Aarika:

"... Hey Bhagwan."

Pause.

"Ab jealousy bhi shuru."

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

A few minutes later—

Lakshita's chamber had finally become peaceful again.

Well...

almost peaceful.

Because one pillow was on the floor.

Another somehow had reached near the curtains.

Krittika's dupatta had disappeared mysteriously.

And nobody knew where.

Not even Krittika.

Meanwhile—

all three sat on Lakshita's enormous bed.

Or more specifically—

Lakshita and Aarika sat properly.

Like civilized people.

Unlike Krittika.

Because Krittika had somehow managed to lie diagonally across half the bed.

One leg hanging.

Hair everywhere.

Zero manners.

Absolute comfort.

Silence filled the room.

Soft wind moved the curtains while distant sounds of wedding preparations echoed through the palace.

Servants passed outside.

Someone laughed somewhere.

Music played faintly.

For a moment—

Everything felt normal.

Peaceful.

And honestly?

After everything—

they needed this.

Silence.

One second.

Two.

Then:

"Vese..."

Pause.

"Khaane ko kya hai?"

Absolute silence.

Aarika slowly looked toward Krittika.

Lakshita blinked.

Krittika blinked back innocently.

"...kya?"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Aarika folded her hands.

"Hum yaha mystery solve karne , shaadi rokne aaye hai."

Pause.

"Aur Ye madam khaane pe aa gayi."

Krittika immediately sat up dramatically.

"HELLO?"

"Stress eating naam ki bhi koi cheez hoti hai."

Lakshita quietly opened a small tray beside her.

Dry fruits.

Sweets.

Some fruits.

Silence.

Krittika's eyes widened.

Actually, widened.

"LAKSHITAAAAAA "

Before anyone reacted—

she immediately grabbed sweets.

Lakshita stared.

Aarika stared.

Three seconds.

Five seconds.

Then:

"Permission ya puchne ka bhi koi tarika hota hai?."

Krittika looked offended.

"Maine aankho se permission le li thi, aur vese bhi ye apni hi to hai."

Absolute silence.

Aarika slowly looked toward Lakshita.

"Samjhi?"

Pause.

"Isi liye mai isse ignore karti hu."

"KYA MATLAB IGNORE?"

Krittika gasped.

Again.

"LAKSHITA DEKH."

"YE FIR SHURU HOGYI."

Lakshita looked between both.

Then sighed dramatically.

"Hey Bhagwan."

Pause.

"Mujhe do minute ki shaanti dede."

Silence.

Three seconds.

Then suddenly—

Krittika froze.

Mid-bite.

Absolute silence.

Aarika narrowed eyes.

Because that expression?

Danger.

Very dangerous.

Slowly—

very slowly—

Krittika looked up.

"Guys."

Silence.

Nobody replied.

"Guys."

Pause.

"GUYSS."

Aarika sighed.

"Ab kya hai?"

Krittika sat properly.

Actually properly.

No jokes.

No drama.

Nothing.

And immediately—

both noticed.

Because, Krittika becoming serious?

Rare.

Very rare.

Slowly—

She looked at both.

"Letters."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Lakshita slowly lowered her hands.

Aarika frowned.

Because suddenly—

The room felt quieter.

Heavier.

Krittika looked down slightly.

"The warning letters."

Pause.

"The symbol."

Another pause.

"The book."

Silence.

"Ye sab normal nahi ho sakta."

Nobody replied.

Because deep down—

they already knew.

It wasn't normal.

Lakshita's expression slowly changed.

She looked toward the floor.

Then quietly spoke:

"Mujhe jo letter mila tha..."

Silence.

"Usme sirf ek line thi."

Pause.

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

Absolute silence.

Krittika looked up immediately.

Aarika too.

Silence.

Then:

"...truth?" Krittika whispered.

Nobody spoke.

Because suddenly—

that one word felt important.

Very important.

Lakshita looked confused.

"Par kaunsa truth?"

"Hum toh khud kuch nahi jaante aur kya hi dhundege truth."

Silence.

The wind moved softly through the room.

And then Aarika spoke.

Calmly.

As usual.

"Ek baat strange hai."

Both immediately looked toward her.

Aarika frowned slightly.

Thinking.

Observing.

Connecting.

Always connecting.

"The letters alag jagah mile."

Pause.

"Alag time pe."

Another pause.

"Par symbol same tha."

Silence.

Krittika blinked.

Lakshita blinked.

Then together:

"...haan?"

Aarika slowly looked toward them.

Eyes narrowed.

"Matlab ya toh..."

Pause.

"Koi hume help kar raha hai."

Silence.

"Ya..."

Long pause.

"...koi hume pehle se dekh raha hai."

Absolute silence.

Nothing.

No sound.

No jokes.

Nothing.

Slowly—

very slowly—

Krittika pulled Lakshita's blanket over herself till only her eyes showed.

Silence.

"Mummy..."

Pause.

"...mujhe ghar jaana hai."

Absolute silence.

Lakshita stared.

Aarika stared.

Then:

"TU GHAR PE HI HAI."

"KYA PATA NAHI HU "

And somehow—

despite fear—

all three started laughing.

Because maybe—

just maybe

things felt less scary when they faced them together.

But somewhere—

far away—

someone had already made the first move.

And none of them knew.

Not yet.

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

Then quietly—

she asked:

"Guys..."

Pause.

"Ek baat batao."

Lakshita looked up.

Aarika frowned slightly.

"Kya?"

Krittika looked down at her hands.

Thinking.

Actually thinking.

Silence.

"If the real Lakshita princess ne warning bheji thi..."

Absolute silence.

"...toh unhe pehle se kaise pata tha?"

Nothing.

Not one sound.

Lakshita blinked.

Aarika's expression slowly changed.

Because suddenly—

That question felt important.

Very important.

Silence.

Krittika frowned.

Thinking harder.

"Aur agar unhe pata tha..."

Pause.

"...toh unhone khud ko bachaya kyu nahi?"

Absolute silence.

Nobody moved.

Because suddenly—

Everything felt heavier.

Lakshita slowly looked down.

Aarika leaned backward.

Thinking.

Observing.

Connecting.

Always connecting.

Then slowly—

Aarika spoke:

"Ya toh..."

Pause.

"Unke paas time nahi tha."

Silence.

"Ya to...."

Long pause.

"...bahut der ho chuki thi."

Nothing.

Krittika stared.

Lakshita stared.

Absolute silence.

Then suddenly—

Krittika's eyes widened.

No.

No no.

Because everyone knew THAT expression.

Overthinking expression.

Danger.

Immediate danger.

Aarika narrowed eyes.

"No."

Silence.

Krittika looked at her.

"No?"

"NO."

"PAR SUN TO-"

"NAHI."

"EK THEORY HAI."

"NAHI."

"AREE PAR-"

"NAHI."

Absolute silence.

Krittika looked betrayed.

Again.

Very dramatically.

Then:

"...hum timeline ke pehle victims toh nahi hai na?"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Lakshita blinked.

Twice.

Aarika slowly closed eyes.

Slowly looked toward the ceiling.

"Bhagwan..."

Pause.

"Mai roz test kyun de rahi hu."

Krittika immediately defended herself.

"AREE POSSIBLE HAI!"

"SOCH."

"Humse pehle bhi log aaye."

"Phir phass gaye."

"Phir warning bhejne ki koshish ki-"

"BAS."

Aarika raised hand.

"No."

Pause.

"Bilkul nahi."

Krittika stared.

"Tu meri imagination ko support bhi nahi karti."

"Kyuki teri imagination Netflix ki horror movie ban jaati hai."

"KYA MATLAB?!"

"KYA MATLAB NAHI?!"

Lakshita looked between both.

Then sighed.

Deeply.

"Guys..."

No response.

"Guys..."

Still nothing.

"GUYSSS."

Silence.

Both turned.

Lakshita looked serious.

Actually serious.

And softly said:

"Jokes aside "

Pause.

"Mujhe darr lag raha hai."

Silence.

Everything stopped.

Because Lakshita rarely said things like that.

Very rarely.

Silence filled the room.

No sarcasm.

No drama.

Nothing.

Then quietly—

Krittika moved closer.

Held her hand.

No jokes.

No teasing.

Nothing.

And softly whispered:

"Hum hai na."

Silence.

Lakshita looked up.

Krittika smiled slightly.

Tiny.

Soft.

"Is baar kuch bhi hua..."

Pause.

"Saath me phasse the."

Another pause.

"Saath me hi niklenge. "

Absolute silence.

And for one second—

Everything felt okay.

Until—

THAK.

All three jumped.

Actually, jumped.

Absolute silence.

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

Slowly—

very slowly—

They looked toward the window.

Silence.

And near it—

lay a folded parchment.

Absolute silence.

Krittika stared.

Lakshita stared.

Aarika stared.

Five seconds.

Ten.

Then Krittika slowly pointed:

"Nope."

Pause.

"Bilkul nope."

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I know this chapter was a little lighter compared to the chaos before 😭✨ But I really wanted to give these three some breathing space... and show their friendship the way I always imagined it 💕 mai bhi khud padhte waqt haas rahi t

Because trust me...

peace never lasts for long 👀

And that last parchment...? Yeah. Things are about to get interesting.

Please keep supporting me

I know , I am trying my best to keep up your hopes

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Lots of love 💕 ✨