Chapter 27
The vision around Veeransh and Aariv sharpened.
The royal palace of Subhaan Singh rose like a shadow walls tall, rooms silent, air heavy with authority and cruelty.Servants moved quietly.
Women whispered behind veils.
A tension lived in every corner.
A corridor appeared long, dim, cold.
At the very end was a tiny wooden door.So small it didn’t look like a room for a human.
It opened with a creak.
And inside…
Aaryan
A boy of five years.
Small.
Fragile.
Dressed in plain white cotton clothing that hung loose on his thin frame.
His hair fell softly over his forehead.
His skin was pale like moonlight.
Eyes large, doe-like, terrified even in silence.
His beauty was not normal.
It was… breathtaking.
Unsettling.
Soft like a dream, fragile like a flower.
But
A strip of old cloth covered half his face, tied behind his head.
He sat cross-legged on the floor, stitching clothes.
Barefoot.Hands tremble slightly with each movement.
A bruise peeked out from under his sleeve old and blue.Another bruise darkened his ankle.
Aaryan flinched at the faintest sound outside his door.
He worked faster.
Suddenly..
BAM!
The door swung open with force.
Aaryan jolted violently, needle pricking his finger.A thin drop of blood splattered on the cloth.
Standing at the door was a storm.
Saanvi Singh
Eight years old as well.
Dressed in a red embroidered lehenga.
Gold jewelry.
Kohl-lined eyes.
Pretty but hard.
Sharp.
Used to authority.
She sneered immediately.
Saanvi:Kya kar raha hai tu?
Aaryan lowered his head instantly.
Aaryan: rajkumari… mai… woh… kapde...”
Before he could finish
SLAP.
The back of her hand struck his cheek.He fell sideways on the floor.
Aaryan didn’t cry.
Not even once.
He inhaled shakily and sat up, bowing his head.
Aaryan:Maafi… maafi de dijiye…
Saanvi:Tera chehra phir se dikha mujhe.
Her hand shot forward and yanked his face cloth tightly.
“Kitni baar bola hai CHEHRA chhupa kar rakho!"
Aaryan:Ji…
Saanvi’s voice dropped into bitterness.
Saanvi:Meri saari saheliyan tumhe dekh kar kehti hain ki…
tu mujhse khoobsurat hai.”
Her eyes blazed.
Saanvi: teri aukaat nhi hai itni samjha tu? Kon hai tu bhul gya?
Aaryan whispered.
“Main… kuchh nahi hoon, koi n.. nhi hu"
Saanvi:Haan. Kuchh nahi hai tu
Bas mere pita ji ka najayaz baccha.
Sharm ka daag.
Aaryan’s lashes trembled; his lips quivered.But he didn’t speak.
He couldn’t.
He wasn’t allowed.
Saanvi shoved him away and pointed.
Saanvi:Chal. Kapde lekar aa.
Nahi toh maa tumhari khal utaar degi.
Aaryan got up instantly, limbs shaking.He lifted the cloth bundles and followed her.The way he walked tiny, hesitant steps broke .
At the doorway, Saanvi paused and snapped.
Saanvi:Khamosh chalna.
Aur haan....
Muh dhak ke rakhna.Mujhe nahi chahiye koi tumhare darshan kare.
Aaryan nodded quickly and shut the door behind him.He walked behind her, head lowered, face covered, holding heavy bundles that were too big for his thin arms.
Every movement said.
“I am not allowed to exist.”
...........................
Year: 1902
SAANVI SINGH
Twenty-one now.
Beautiful like a perfectly carved statue.Smart. Calculated. Manipulative.
Raised as the future queen.
She walked like she owned the world.
Spoke like everyone existed beneath her feet.She was praised.
Feared.
And inside her heart a volcano of stubborn obsession waited.
.......
AARYAN
His fingers worked gracefully despite the bruises on his knuckles.
A soft hum left his lips the only moment he allowed himself to feel alive.
Suddenly...
SLAM.
The door flew open.
Saanvi entered, her anklets ringing sharply, followed by Veena.
Aaryan immediately stood and bowed his head.
Aaryan :Rajkumari…
Saanvi :Kapde poore hue?
Aaryan nodded quickly and presented the dupatta with both trembling hands.Saanvi snatched it and inspected the embroidery.
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Aaryan’s throat tightened.
He knew that look.
Veena:Kya hua, Saanvi?
Saanvi:Iski silayi seedhi nahi hai.”
Veena clicked her tongue.
Aaryan’s heart dropped.
Aaryan :Maafi… main...”
The slap came before he finished.
So hard that his face turned sideways, cloth shifting slightly, revealing the flawless pale skin underneath.
Veena saw the glimpse and her expression tightened with resentment.
She grabbed his chin harshly and pulled the cloth back over his face.
Veena : apna ye badsurat chehra chhupa ke rkha kar samjha n.
Aaryan lowered his gaze.Words stuck in his throat.
Saanvi :Tumhari wajah se humara naam badnam ho sakta hai.log khenge ye humare khandaan ka hoke kitna badsurat hai?
Tum samajhte ho na Aaryan?”
Aaryan’s voice shook.
Aaryan:Ji… samajhta hoon…
Veena: Zor se!
Aaryan swallowed.
Tears strained behind his eyes but never fell.
He forced his voice louder.
Aaryan:Ji. Samajhta hoon.
Saanvi smiled falsely satisfied and she walked away from there.
Veena stopped at the door, turned, and whispered
Veena:Zinda rehna mat bhoolna, Aaryan. Maroge toh log samajhenge humne tumhara khoon kiya. Tumhare wajah se ek aur badnami nhi chahiye Hume
She smirked and left.
The door shut.
Silence returned.
Aaryan sank slowly to the floor.
Placed a hand on his chest.
Closed his eyes.
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