Chapter 35
The corridor was dim, lit only by scattered lamps.
Aaryan was walking quickly toward his room, a red dupatta pulled tightly around his face, heart still unsettled from the dawat. His steps slowed Because he felt it.
That gaze. He looked up and froze.
Randhir stood at the other end of the corridor. His eyes were dark too dark. Unfocused and Burning.
Nothing like the controlled, sharp Rajkumar from before.Something was wrong.
Aaryan’s breath caught in his throat.
“R–Rajkumar…?” he whispered.
Randhir didn’t answer.He started walking toward him.
Unsteady and Legs wobbling.
Breath uneven.
Aaryan’s fear spiked instantly.
Ye… ye theek nahi lag rahe…
He stepped back.
Then Turned ready to run.
But before he could take more than one step...
Randhir’s hand shot out and caught his wrist.
“Ah....!”
Aaryan gasped.Before he could understand anything, the world tilted
Randhir lifted him up, one arm locked around his body, strength fueled by something unnatural.
Aaryan cried out, panicking.
“Chhodiye... ! R... Rajkumar....!”
He struggled, small hands pushing weakly against Randhir’s chest, tears spilling freely.
“… mujhe jaane dijiye…”
But Randhir wasn’t himself.His jaw was clenched.His grip is unrelenting.
His mind lost somewhere dangerous.
He turned and started walking straight toward his own chamber.
Aaryan’s sobs grew louder.
“Ko.... koi hai…?” he cried, voice breaking.
Footsteps rushed.Two servants turned the corner and froze in horror at the sight.
“Rajkumar... !” one of them gasped.
Randhir didn’t stop.He reached his chamber, kicked the door open and stepped inside.The door slammed shut.
........
Rani Kalyani Devi was midway through the corridor when....
“Maharani sa!”
She turned sharply.
“Kya hua?”
The servant was trembling.
“M.... maharani sa… Rajkumar....”
“Rajkumar kisi anjaan vyakti ke saath…”
His voice faltered.
“…apne kaksh mein gaye hain.”
For half a second Absolute stillness.
Then Rani Kalyani’s expression hardened.
“Kaun vyakti?” she demanded.
“Chehra dhaka hua tha, Maharani sa… aur Rajkumar… vo theek nahi lag rahe the…”
That was all she needed.
She knows the other person also.
Rani Kalyani didn’t walk.
She ran towards his chamber.
The words spread faster than fire. Through corridors.Through servant wings.Through whispering guards.
“Rajkumar kisi anjaan vyakti ke saath apne kamre mein gaye hain.”
Doors opened.
Footsteps hurried.
Lanterns were lifted.
Eyes widened with shock.
Speculation ignited.
Saanvi heard it.
Her head snapped up.
“Kya?”
Veena’s lips are slowly curved not in fear, but calculation.
“Chalo,” Veena said calmly.
“Dekhte hain.”
Saanvi gathered her lehenga and moved quickly, fury and anticipation tangled together. Nobles, guards, and curious courtiers followed by scandal, by power, by hunger for spectacle.
The corridor outside Randhir’s chamber filled rapidly.Whispers overlapped.
“Kaun hai vo? Rajkumar kiske sath hai itni raat ko. Shaadi se inkaar aur ab ye...?”
.
............
Randhir staggered a step, breath uneven, head spinning violently.
Still somehow he was careful. His arms tightened instinctively as he placed Aaryan softly on the bed, as if afraid even the mattress might hurt him.
Aaryan scrambled backward immediately, fear overtaking him.
He pulled his knees to his chest, arms wrapped around himself, shaking.
Tears streamed down his face.
Randhir stood there, chest rising and falling rapidly, vision blurring at the edges.
Randhir (hoarse, broken):
“Titli…”
He swallowed hard, pressing his palm to his forehead.
“Pata nahi hume kya ho gaya hai…Hum… hum khud ko sambhaal nahi paa rahe…”
Aaryan’s sobs grew louder.
He shook his head desperately, pressing himself further into the corner of the bed.
Aaryan (crying):
“J...jaane dijiye…”
The sound of his voice cut through Randhir like a blade.
Randhir took an unsteady step back immediately.
“Nhi..,” he said quickly, shaking his head as if arguing with himself.
“Nahi....”
He forced his hands into fists, digging his nails into his palms.
Randhir: Daro mat.
His voice cracked.
“Hum tumhe kuchh nahi karenge.Kasam se…”
Aaryan cried harder, unable to trust words anymore. Randhir sank down onto the edge of the bed not touching him keeping distance despite every nerve screaming otherwise.
Randhir (pleading, struggling): Chale jaana…Bas…”
He lifted his eyes against those eyes that were dark, unfocused and burning.
“Bas thodi der… Hum tumhari in aankhon ko dekhna chahte hain.”
He shook his head sharply, ashamed of himself.
“Hum wada karte hain… Kuchh bhi nahi karenge.”
Heat flooded his body again unbearable and suffocating.Randhir groaned softly and pulled off his upper anga vastra, tossing it aside, trying to breathe.
Aaryan did not look.He turned his face away, eyes squeezed shut, his body trembling violently.
Randhir noticed and it hurts. It grounded him just a little. He stayed where he was.
Didn’t reach out.
Didn’t move closer.
Just watched.
Watched those shoulders shake.
watched tears soak into the pillow.
Watched fear he had never wanted to cause.
Randhir (barely audible):
“…ye sab galat hai…”
The room was thick with tension, fear, and restraint When suddenly
A loud knock echoed against the door.
..............
The corridor outside Randhir’s chamber was no longer quiet.
Lanterns trembled in servants’ hands.
Guards stood stiff, unsure. Whispers crawled along the walls like poison.
Then....
Rani Kalyani Devi arrived.
She moved through the gathered crowd like a storm.
Saanvi.
Veena.
Nobles.
Servants.
She ignored them all.
Her eyes were fixed on one door.
She reached it and knocked hard.
“Randhir.”
No answer.
Only a low groan from inside.
And then...
A muffled sound of crying.
The air shifted.
Raja Rajveer reached out instinctively and caught Kalyani’s arm.
“rani sa....”
She jerked free instantly.
Her eyes flashed.She raised her hand again and banged on the door, harder this time.
Rani Kalyani (loud, commanding):
“Randhir!Darwaza kholiye!”
Her voice cracked for the first time.
“Randhir… Randhir!”
Another groan.Another broken sob.
The murmurs outside grew louder.
“Ye kya ho raha hai…”
“Koi hai andar…”
“Rajkumar .....”
Suddenly....
Veena stepped forward.
A slow, mocking smile curled her lips.
She placed a hand on the door frame casually, as if enjoying the spectacle.
Veena (taunting): Toh isliye…
She tilted her head, eyes glittering with malice.
“…meri beti ko thukraya tha, Rajkumar ne?”
Her words cut through the corridor.
Whispers exploded.
Saanvi stood beside her, eyes burning not with shame, but fury.
Rani Kalyani turned slowly.
Very slowly.Her gaze landed on Veena and the corridor fell silent.
The air felt heavy like something was about to break.
Rani Kalyani (dangerously calm): Ek aur shabd nhi
Veena chuckled softly.
“Kya?” she shrugged.
“Sach hi toh bol rahe hain, Maharani sa.”
Before she could say another word...
A crash came from inside the chamber.Something knocked over.
A sharp, broken sound.Rani Kalyani spun back to the door, fury and fear colliding in her eyes.She raised her hand once more.
This time.....
She didn’t knock but she ordered.
Rani Kalyani: Darwaza todo.
Guards immediately stepped forward.
Raja Rajveer straightened, authority thunderous.
“Abhi.”
Swords were lowered.Shoulders braced.The palace held its breath.
Because whatever lies behind that door.......
The Queen was done waiting.
The door shattered open.
Wood splintered.Guards stepped back and what lay inside the chamber froze everyone.On the far corner of the bed , A boy in a red dress, face still covered, knees pulled to his chest, sat crying silently.
His shoulders shook with every breath.
And several feet away from him
Randhir sat on the edge of the bed.
Not touching him.
Not near him.
Just staring.
Eyes dark, unfocused, lost like a man trapped inside his own body.
For a heartbeat No one spoke.
Then.....
Saanvi (whispering, horrified):Aaryan?
The name echoed like a curse.
Aaryan flinched. Slowly terrified he lifted his tear-soaked eyes.
They darted across the room.
Faces.
Judgement.
Hatred.
Then....
He saw Rani Kalyani.That was all it took. Aaryan broke. He slid off the bed and ran, sobbing uncontrollably, straight into her arms burying his face in her chest, clutching her clothes like a lifeline.
Trying to hide.Trying to disappear.
Rani Kalyani wrapped her arms around him instantly, holding him tightly, shielding him with her body.
Behind them....
Rishav rushed to Randhir.
Rishav panicked and asked
“Bhaiya... kya hua aapko?Aap aise kyun...”
Randhir groaned, clutching his head.
Randhir (slurred, broken): titli…Kahan ho tum…?
His body swayed.Rishav held him firmly, eyes widening in horror.
“Maa… bhaiya theek nahi hain…”
Rani Kalyani saw everything.
Every detail.
The distance.
The fear.The state of her son.
Her jaw tightened.
She knew something was wrong with him.
Then....
A sharp force. Saanvi grabbed Aaryan’s arm and yanked him away.
Before anyone could stop her...
SLAP.
The sound cracked through the room.
Aaryan cried out, collapsing inward, shaking violently.For one terrifying second.
Silence.
Then.....
Rani Kalyani moved. She snatched Aaryan back, pulling him into her arms, one hand cradling his head, the other gripping him protectively.
Her eyes turned black.
Rani Kalyani (deadly): Tumhari himmat kaise hui……isko chhoone ki?
Saanvi laughed sharply, clapping mockingly.
Saanvi: Wah, Rani sa, wah! Kisko bacha rahi hain aap?
She pointed at Aaryan.
“Ye naukar! Isne mere Randhir ko mujhse chheena hai! Main ise nahi chhodungi!”
Veena stepped forward, venom dripping from every word.
Veena: Iske khoon mein hi ye sab hai. Najayaz hai apna rang toh dikhayega hi.
She turned toward Randhir.
“Par Rajkumar ka kya, Rani sa?Aapki parvarish itni galat kaise ho gayi?”
Saanvi snapped.
Saanvi: Mere Randhir ki koi galti nahi hai, maa! Ye sab is gandi paidaish ne kiya hai!
She screamed at Aaryan.
“Mardon ko fasana iske khoon mein hi hai! Mere Randhir ko bhi fasa liya! Bol! Kya kiya tune? Mere Randhir ne tujhe chhua .... Kaha chhua bol n chup kyu hai bol kaha kaha chhua tujhe unhone..."
Aaryan broke completely. He sobbed uncontrollably, clutching Rani Kalyani, unable to speak, body shaking violently. Randhir groaned again, pressing his palms to his head, confused, and destroyed.
Rishav held him tightly, tears in his own eyes.
And then Rani Kalyani shouted.
Her voice thundered.
Rani Kalyani: BAS. BOHOT HUA.
The room stopped breathing.
She held Aaryan firmly with one arm and turned, eyes blazing like judgment itself.
Rani Kalyani: Hum hukm dete hain. Abhi ke abhi sab ke sab is kaksh se bahar nikal jaayein.
Saanvi screamed....
Saanvi: Aap aisa nahi kar sakti! Jab tak aap is najayaz ko saza nahi deti....
Rani Kalyani took one step forward.
Her presence crushed the air.
Rani Kalyani (cold, final): Ab tum hume bataogi…hum kya kar sakte hain aur kya nahi?
She raised her hand slightly.
“Abhi. Ke. Abhi.”
“Bahar.”
No one dared argue not even the king.
now only Randhir, sitting on the bed, shaking, not in his senses.
Aaryan, standing and crying, broken.
And Rani Kalyani, standing between them.
She tightened her hold on Aaryan.
.
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