Chapter 37
Randhir rose from the floor suddenly.
The movement was sharp, unsteady shock still coursing through him.
Randhir (hoarse, stunned): Maa
Rani Kalyani lifted her hand.
Just that.A silent command.
Randhir stopped mid-breath, words dying in his throat.
Her eyes stayed in Aaryan.
Rani Kalyani (firm, gentle):
“Bolo, Aaryan.Karoge Randhir se shaadi?”
The question fell into the room like a stone into still water.Randhir stood behind her now rigid, helpless, watching.Aaryan slowly lifted his eyes.For a moment, they met Randhir’s gaze.
Aaryan’s lips trembled.
He lowered his eyes again.
And nodded.
Aaryan (barely audible): Mai… karunga.
The air left Randhir’s lungs.
He closed his eyes tightly, as if the words had struck him physically.
Aaryan wiped his tears with trembling fingers and spoke again clearer this time.
Aaryan: Mai vivah karunga…Rajkumar se.”
The words settled.
Rani Kalyani’s lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile.She stepped forward and embraced Aaryan, holding him firmly, protectively.
“Hum wada karte hain.... bhavishya mein tumhe koi takleef nahi hone denge.”
She glanced briefly toward Randhir.
“Aur agar humare bete ne bhi kabhi tumhe takleef dene ki sochi…”
Her tone turned deadly calm.
“toh iska sar bhi dhad se alag kar denge.”
Randhir stiffened.
Rani Kalyani: Ab aise rona band karo. She rested her palm against his back.
“Humare baad… tumhe hi sab sambhalna hai. Apne haq ke liye ladna sikho bacche”
Aaryan cried quietly into her shoulder.
Rani Kalyani slowly stepped back from the embrace.The space between them is filled with silence.
Now Randhir and Aaryan stood face to face.
Aaryan’s face was still hidden behind the red dupatta, his fingers clenched tightly into his clothes, knuckles white. Randhir stood opposite him still, unreadable his gaze fixed on Aaryan with an intensity that made Aaryan’s breath hitch.
Rani Kalyani noticed it.The way Randhir was looking.The way Aaryan was shrinking inward.
She cleared her throat sharply.
Rani Kalyani: Chalo… humare saath.
She took Aaryan’s hand soft, but firm and turned toward the corridor.
Aaryan followed, steps hesitant, struggling to keep pace. Sensing it, Rani Kalyani slowed slightly, her grip never loosening.
Randhir walked a little behind them.
They entered the sabha, where murmurs were already rising.
Rani Kalyani stepped into her place and spoke her voice cutting through everything.
Rani Kalyani (loud and commanding voice): Apne-apne sthaan par maun ho jaiye.
Silence fell instantly.Not a breath was heard.
Rani Kalyani: jo bhi hua hai vo kyu hua hai uski teh to hum jaake rahenge .
Her sharp gaze slid toward Veena.
Veena stiffened.
Rani Kalyani’s hand never left Aaryan’s for even a moment. Aaryan kept his eyes lowered, trembling. Randhir stood beside him now close, but not touching.
Rani Kalyani: Jo hua hai… usmein Aaryan ki koi galti nahi hai.
A ripple of shock passed through the sabha.
“Jo galti hui hai,” she continued firmly,
“wo Rajkumar Randhir se hui hai.”
Her voice didn’t waver.
“Toh saza bhi unhi ko milni chahiye.”
The sabha erupted at once.
Saanvi stepped forward, furious.
Saanvi: Ye aap kya keh rahi hain? Is do-kaudi ke ladke ke liye aap...
Rani Kalyani: MAUN!
The word struck like lightning.
Pin-drop silence followed.
Rani Kalyani: Kya ek Rajkumar par daag lagane ki himmat nahi hai aap logon mein?
She paused deliberately.
“Hogi bhi kaise…”
A breath.
“Khair…”
She turned toward Rajveer.
Rani Kalyani: Maharaj, humein kshama kariyega. Humne ek faisla aapse bina vichaar-vimarsh ke kar liya hai.
Rajveer looked at her.
A proud smile touched his lips.
Inside, he thought quietly
Kab humari aap par chalti hai, Rani sa…
Rani Kalyani straightened.
Rani Kalyani: Humne faisla kiya hai ki kal....
The sabha leaned in.
“Rajkumar Randhir aur Aaryan ka vivaah hoga.”
Silence crashed down.Aaryan trembled visibly.Randhir didn’t look away from him even once.
Then......
Saanvi (screaming): Nahi! Ye nahi ho sakta!Randhir sirf humara hai!
She pointed accusingly.
“Aap is najayaz se Randhir ki shaadi nahi karwa sakti! Ye nainsaafi hai!”
Main ye hone nahi doongi!”
A sob echoed through the sabha.
Randhir’s jaw clenched hard at the sound.
Before anyone else could react, a cold voice cut through the hall.
Randhir: Tum rok logi?
He stepped forward.
“Tum rok logi.... hume?”
Saanvi froze.
Saanvi (shaken): Ra.... Randhir...
Randhir (roaring):
“CHUP!”
Aaryan flinched violently at the volume.Randhir noticed.He lowered his tone but not his authority.
Randhir: Humne kabhi nahi kaha ki hum tumse shaadi karenge.Tumhe itni si baat samajh nahi aati?
He looked straight at Saanvi.
“Aaj ke baad agar iske baare mein...”
He stopped himself.Then continued, voice lethal.
“…kuchh bhi bola...toh humse bura koi nahi hoga.”
He turned slightly, signaling finality.
“Shaadi kal hi hogi.Chahe kisi ko manzoor ho ya na ho. Baat khatam.”
He reached out and held Aaryan’s hand, firm yet careful, and pulled him forward placing him clearly, unmistakably, at his side.
Randhir tightened his hold on Aaryan’s hand. Aaryan gasped softly, shock freezing him in place but Randhir didn’t slow down.
He turned sharply, pulling Aaryan along with him.Before leaving, Randhir glared at everyone in the sabha one slow, lethal sweep of his eyes.
Aaryan stumbled slightly, trying to keep up, heart racing, face still hidden under the red dupatta. Every gaze in the hall burned into his back as Randhir dragged him out of the sabha, past nobles, past whispers, past judgment.
No one dared stop them.
At the throne, Rani Kalyani watched them go. Her lips curved into a small, satisfied smirk as her eyes followed their joined hands disappearing beyond the doors.
Rani Kalyani rose slowly from her throne. Her bangles chimed softly but the sound carried authority.
She looked at the stunned sabha and spoke, voice dripping with sass and finality.
Rani Kalyani: Sab jaaiye. Aur kal ki taiyariyaan shuru kijiye.
A pause.
“Humare bete ka vivaah hai kal.”
No one moved.Eyes darted. Whispers stalled.Rani Kalyani arched a brow, unimpressed...
Rani Kalyani: Jaaiye. Tamasha khatam ho gaya.
That did it. People began leaving slowly at first, then faster one by one, heads bowed, curiosity swallowed by fear.
Soon, only a few remained.
Saanvi stood rooted to the spot.
Her face was red, tears streaking down, jaw clenched in stubborn fury.
She took a shaky step forward.
Saanvi: Ye… ye sahi nahi kiya aapne.”
Rani Kalyani turned to her.
Rani Kalyani: Tum jaa sakti ho.
Saanvi stared for a moment then turned away.
She walked out of the sabha like a defeated shadow, fists clenched, tears burning Rage simmering quietly inside her.
Rani Kalyani watched her go.
........
.............
His grip on Aaryan’s wrist was firm as he pulled him through the long corridor, footsteps echoing sharply against the stone floor.
Aaryan struggled to keep up, breath uneven.
Aaryan (panicked): K...kahan le jaa rahe hain… C.... chhodiye mujhe…
Randhir suddenly stopped.
The abrupt halt made Aaryan stumble forward.Randhir turned around slowly.
His expression unreadable.
Without a word, he released Aaryan’s wrist.
For a split second, Aaryan felt relief
Until Randhir started walking toward him instead.
Aaryan’s eyes widened.He blinked rapidly and began backing away instinctively.
“R....Rajkumar...”
Randhir didn’t stop. A faint smile curved his lips not cruel, not kind just a dangerously calm.
Aaryan backed up until His back hit the cold stone wall. Nowhere left to go.Before Aaryan could move, Randhir placed both his palms against the wall, one on each side of Aaryan’s shoulders caging him without touching him.
The space between them shrank.
Too close.Randhir looked at him intently, eyes dark and searching.
Aaryan’s body trembled.His breath came shallow.
Aaryan : R.... Rajkumar… aap
Randhir leaned down slightly, lowering himself to Aaryan’s height. His voice dropped to a whisper near Aaryan’s face.
Randhir: Shaadi ke baad bhi…
A pause.
“…itna hi daroge humse?”
His eyes softened just a fraction.
“Huh… bolo, Titli?”
Aaryan’s heart pounded painfully.
Instinctively, he lifted his hand and placed it against Randhir’s chest, trying to create distance to his touch light and unsure.
The moment he touched him
Randhir closed his eyes sharply.
A low, restrained growl escaped his throat not of threat, but of struggle.
He inhaled deeply.
Then.....
He pushed himself back immediately, breaking the cage.Randhir turned his face away, jaw clenched, fists curling at his sides.
Randhir: Hum tumhe nuksaan nahi pahunch ayenge.
“Par haan…”
His gaze lingered steady, intense, honest.
“Humse bhaagna band karna seekhna padega.”
The corridor fell silent again.
Aaryan stood pressed to the wall, shaking but breathing.
And Randhir stepped aside, giving him space.
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