Chapter 36
Rani Kalyani slowly loosened her arms from around Aaryan.
He remained standing exactly where she left him head bowed, shoulders trembling, tears still slipping down silently.
She studied him for a moment.
Rani Kalyani (quiet, firm):
“Ro kyun rahe ho?”
Aaryan shook his head weakly, lips trembling, unable to answer.
Her voice softened just a little.
Rani Kalyani: Chup raho, beta. Ro kyu rhe ho
But Aaryan couldn’t. His breath hitched, sobs breaking out again despite his effort to stop. Rani Kalyani’s jaw tightened.
She stepped closer, lowering herself slightly to his level.
Rani Kalyani: Kahin… chhua isne tumhe?
Aaryan froze. Then immediately he shook his head.Hard desperately like he wanted to prove something so pure.
“nhi.”
Rani Kalyani exhaled slowly.
Her gaze shifted back to Randhir sitting far away on the bed, drenched in confusion, head hanging low.
Rani Kalyani: Toh phir ro kyun rahe ho?
Aaryan cried harder at that like the question itself had pierced something too deep to explain. Rani Kalyani closed her eyes briefly.
Then turned away.She walked to the table, picked up the jug filled with water, came back to the bed and without hesitation she poured it entirely over Randhir.
Cold water crashed over him.
Randhir gasped sharply, jerking upright.He sucked in air, blinking rapidly as awareness rushed back in pieces.
Randhir (hoarse): Maa…?
Before he could say anything else.....
SLAP.
The sound echoed brutally.Randhir staggered back, shock rippling through his body.Aaryan gasped, a broken sound escaping him.
Randhir: Maa!
This time He was conscious.
Rani Kalyani stood before him, eyes blazing..
Rani Kalyani: Ekdam chup.
Her voice allowed no argument.
“Tumhe pata hai na tum kaun ho?Is rajya ke bhavishya ke raja.”
She took a step closer.
“Phir itni laparwahi kaise kar sakte ho?”
Randhir swallowed, throat dry.
“Kisi ne tumhare khane ya peene mein kuchh mila diya aur tumne bina soche samjhe use le liya?”
Randhir’s breath hitched.
Randhir (confused, shaken): Humne…?
Her eyes flashed.
Rani Kalyani (thundering): BAAT ABHI POORI NAHI HUI HAI.
The room went deathly still.
She turned slightly and pointed toward Aaryan.
Rani Kalyani: Tumhari himmat kaise hui...... Aaryan ko yahan laane ki?
The name struck Randhir like lightning.His head snapped up.
“Aaryan…?”
His eyes finally truly saw him.
The red clothes. The trembling little body. The tear stained eyes that wouldn’t look up.Memory slammed into place.
The corridor.
The pull.
The crying.
Randhir’s face drained of colour.
“N..hi…”
His hands began to shake.
“Ye… ye humne kya kar diya…”
He looked down at himself, horror flooding in.Rani Kalyani didn’t interrupt.She let it sink and Aaryan
Still crying silently Stood between them like a fragile truth neither of them could escape.
Randhir took a step toward Aaryan.
Just one.That was enough.Aaryan flinched violently.He backed away in pure instinct, body curling inward, hands shaking as fear took over him again.
Randhir froze mid-step.The sight hit harder than any slap.Before Randhir could say anything, Rani Kalyani stepped forward, deliberately placing herself between them an unbreakable wall.
Her voice was calm , too calm.
Rani Kalyani: Ab kya karenge aap, Randhir?
She looked straight into her son’s eyes.
“Kaise sabke saamne Aaryan ke charitra par lage daag ko saaf karenge?Boliye.”
Silence and Aaryan’s quiet sob echoed in the room.
Randhir lowered his gaze, shame flooding his face.
Randhir (hoarse): Maa… ismein iski koi galti nahi hai.
He clenched his fists.
“Jo saza aap dena chahein… hume manzoor hai. Par ise chhod dijiye.”
Rani Kalyani didn’t soften.
Her voice carried the truth like a blade.
Rani Kalyani: Haan.Ye hume pata hai ki ismein Aaryan ki koi galti nahi.
She gestured subtly toward the door.
“Par sabke saamne use shabit kaise karoge?”
She paused.
“Kaun maanega uski baat?”
Her eyes hardened.
“Tum Rajkumar ho. Tum par koi ungli nahi uthayega.”
She turned slightly, gazing on Aaryan.
“Par iska kya?”
Her words cut deeper now.
“Zindagi bhar ka daag…Kaise mitayega ye?”
Randhir’s chest tightened painfully.
Rani Kalyani continued, voice quieter but heavier.
“Aur hum kaun hote hain saza dene wale?Jab galat Aaryan ke saath hua hai…toh faisla dene ka adhikaar bhi usi ka hai.”
Randhir looked at Aaryan.
Something inside him broke.
Without another word, Randhir walked forward and knelt down.
Right there. The sudden movement shocked Aaryan. He gasped and backed away again, eyes wide.
Rani Kalyani watched silently.
A knowing glint flickered in her eyes.
Randhir bowed his head low.
Randhir (broken, sincere): Hum jaante hain… Humse bohot badi galti ho gayi hai.
His voice trembled.
“Par hum par vishwas karo, Titli. Humne ye sab jaanbujh kar nahi kiya.”
He inhaled shakily.
“Tum jo saza dena chaho…Hum manzoor karte hain.”
Slowly, with deliberate respect, and surrender Randhir removed his sword from his waist.He placed it gently at Aaryan’s feet.Then lowered his head again.
Total surrender.....Aaryan stared at the sword and at Randhir.At the bowed head of the Rajkumar.He didn’t understand.Fear overwhelmed everything.
Suddenly He turned and ran to Rani Kalyani, slipping behind her, clutching her sleeve, hiding his face peeking out only slightly at Randhir.
Like a frightened child seeking shelter. Rani Kalyani looked down at Aaryan. Then at her son and for the first time that night She allowed herself a small, knowing smirk.
Because the path ahead was cruel, complex, and unavoidable. But the truth had finally taken shape.
And now The decision would no longer be hers alone.
Rani Kalyani slowly turned toward Aaryan.Her voice softened completely no command, no authority, only care.
Rani Kalyani: Beta… tum kya chahte ho?
Aaryan stood behind her, fingers clutching her sleeve like an anchor.
He shook his head weakly.
Aaryan (broken whisper): M.... mujhe… nahi pata…
Rani Kalyani closed her eyes briefly and sighed not in disappointment, but in understanding.She turned fully toward him, lowering herself slightly so her voice wouldn’t frighten him.
Rani Kalyani: Kitne varsh ke ho, baccha?
Aaryan sniffed, and wiped his tears with the edge of his sleeve.
Aaryan: A... atharah varsh…
Rani Kalyani studied him closely.
Then said honestly...
Rani Kalyani: Hmm. Dekhne mein toh kaafi chhote lagte ho.
Aaryan panicked immediately.
Aaryan: S.... sach mein… main 18 ka hoon…
Rani Kalyani chuckled softly despite herself fondly.
She then grew serious again.
Rani Kalyani: Aaryan…
Her tone turned steady, protective.
“Hum tumhare baare mein sab jaante hain.Aur ye bhi jaante hain…”
She paused.
“…ki Saanvi ab tumhe jeene nahi degi.”
Aaryan’s body stiffened in fear.
Rani Kalyani placed a gentle hand on his arm.
Rani Kalyani: Isliye hum jo puchhne ja rahe hain… Uska jawab soch-samajh kar dena.
She met his eyes.
“Agar tumhe manzoor nahi hoga....
toh bhi hum kisi ko tumhare saath kuchh galat nahi karne denge.”
Aaryan swallowed hard.
Aaryan: J.... ji…”
Rani Kalyani turned her gaze toward Randhir still kneeling, head bowed then back to Aaryan.
Her next words fell like thunder.
Rani Kalyani: Vivaah karoge… …mere bete se?
The question hung in the air.Randhir’s head snapped up.Shock ripped through him.He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
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