Chapter - 30
Buaji stood there, her face twisted in anger, her eyes burning red with fury.
"Dancing in a college function?" Her voice was loud and sharp, making me flinch."A Rathore daughter-in-law staying with commoners and dancing like some cheap stage performer? Have you forgotten your place, Siya?"
I felt my hands tremble, my mind going blank for a moment.
Buaji then turned to Maa with a disgusted expression. "Neelam! I told you to keep your daughter-in-law away from Meera! She knows nothing about being a royal! And if she stays close to her, then—"
She suddenly stopped and looked at Chachi. Her lips curled into a cruel smirk before she spat out, "Your daughter-in-law will also become like her—careless! Someone who has no idea how to behave as a royal!"
I saw Chachi lower her gaze, her eyes filled with unshed tears. She didn't say anything, just stood there in silence, her hands clenched into fists.
Maa tried to speak, "Jiji..."
But before she could say anything, Buaji turned her attention back to me.
"And you, Siya! What was that? Tell me! Does it befit the Queen of Rajasthan to behave like this?"
My heart skipped a beat. Queen of Rajasthan? My lips parted in confusion.
"Answer me!" she demanded, her voice even louder this time.
I gulped, my throat dry. "Q... Queen of Rajasthan?" I whispered. "Who... Who is she?"
Buaji gave me a look of utter disbelief, as if I had spoken the most absurd thing in the world.
"You don't know who she is?" she asked mockingly.
I shook my head, my mind clouded with confusion.
She let out a humorless laugh and turned toward Maa. "Neelam, how could Maa choose this girl for our family? She doesn't even know her own identity! And you expect her to take responsibility for this family's name?"
Maa opened her mouth to explain, "Jiji, actually—"
But Buaji cut her off, refusing to listen. She turned back to me, her sharp eyes piercing into mine.
"Tell me, Siya," she said, her voice laced with venom. "Are you from a royal family?"
I shook my head again, feeling my heart pound faster.
Buaji let out another laugh, this time more bitter. "How could Maa make such a mistake? Choosing a girl who dances in front of people, without any shame. You have no sense of family, no regard for our reputation. But why would you? After all, this is what your parents must have taught you, right?"
Her words pierced through me like a sharp knife.
"They must have taught you how to trap a rich family, how to get into their house, but not how to behave with dignity!"
Tears burned in my eyes, but I bit my lip, holding them back. What could I even say? How could I defend myself when I didn't even understand what was happening?
Maa's voice rose, filled with anger and pain. "Jiji, what are you saying?! How can you—"
But Buaji didn't let her finish.
"I am saying the truth!" she snapped. "How could all of you be so foolish as to choose her for Aarav? She doesn't deserve him!"
I sucked in a sharp breath at her words.
"My Aarav is the King of Rajasthan! And his wife should be someone worthy of that position!" she continued, her voice shaking with fury. "But this girl? She doesn't deserve my Aarav, nor does she deserve the position of Queen!"
Her words cut through me like a knife.
Then, before I could even process what was happening, she grabbed my wrist harshly. "I won't let you stay here!" she declared.
Maa quickly stepped forward. "Jiji, what are you doing? Leave her hand!"
But Buaji didn't listen. Her grip tightened around my wrist as she started dragging me.
"Buaji... please... you're hurting me..." I pleaded, trying to pull my hand away.
But she didn't stop. She kept dragging me with force, her grip so tight that I could feel my skin burning.
I felt helpless. Tears spilled from my eyes. Why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong?
Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, a deep, furious voice echoed through the room.
"Leave my wife's hand!"
Everything stopped.
My breath hitched. My heart pounded in my chest.
I turned my head slowly.
There he was. Aarav.
Standing tall, his eyes dark with rage, his jaw clenched. The entire room fell into silence as his furious gaze locked onto Buaji.
After watching Siya's performance, I left for my office. There was an important meeting I had to attend. I thought once the meeting was over, I would go home, and by then, she would also be back. I would talk to her.
But just as I was about to leave, Rohan came rushing in, telling me about an issue with a file. I got busy resolving it, and by the time everything was sorted, I checked the time—it was already evening.
I didn't know why, but something felt off. A strange restlessness settled in my chest. I pulled out my phone and called Siya.
Switched off.
My grip on the phone tightened. She never switches off her phone. Maybe she forgot to charge it?
A strange uneasiness crept into me. Without wasting another second, I told my driver, "Drive fast. I need to reach home immediately."
The discomfort in my chest only grew. I wasn't feeling well, but maybe... maybe after seeing her, I would.
As soon as I reached Rathore Palace, I walked inside, straight into the living room.
And the sight before me made my blood boil.
Buaji was gripping Siya's wrist tightly, dragging her while Siya struggled, tears in her eyes.
Something inside me snapped.
Buaji froze. Everyone did.
My eyes locked onto Siya. Her tear-streaked face made my chest tighten painfully—an unfamiliar, unwelcome feeling.
I stepped closer, my gaze never leaving hers.
In a calm voice, I said, "Siya, go to your room."
Buaji opened her mouth to speak, "But Aarav—"
I shot her a look, and she immediately fell silent. No one dared to go againstme.
Yet Siya didn't move. She just stood there, her eyes searching mine, unsure.
I took another step, my voice softer this time. "Siya, go to your room."
After a moment, she lowered her gaze and walked away without another word.
I clenched my jaw, my patience wearing thin. I turned to Buaji—no, she didn't deserve that respect anymore.
"Mrs. Thakur." My voice was cold, sharp as ice. "Now, tell me... what the hell is going on?"
She lifted her chin defiantly. "Siya danced in front of people."
I narrowed my eyes. "So?"
Her face twisted in anger, disbelief painting her features. "So? How can she dance like that? She is your wife, and she—"
I cut her off, my voice steady and calm, yet laced with fury. "Right. She is my wife. And she can dance freely. If she finds joy in it, then no one—absolutely no one—has the right to judge her for it."
Her lips parted, shock rippling through her. "How can she, Aarav? This is not—"
"Mr. Rathore. Or Rana sa."
She blinked, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What?"
"From now on, you will address me as Mr. Rathore or Rana sa."
She opened her mouth to protest, but I silenced her with a single glare.
"Do you even realize what you did today, Mrs. Thakur?
" My voice was like ice. "If you had insulted me, maybe I could have let it go.
But you disrespected my wife, speaking to her in a way I would never even dream of.
Insults aimed at me might be forgivable, but if anyone dares to insult my wife—then that person is dead to me. "
I stepped closer, my tone sharp enough to cut through the tension. "From today, you mean nothing to me. You will never set foot in this palace again. If you wish to meet anyone from this family, do so outside. But never—and I mean never—show your face to me or my wife again."
Her eyes widened in disbelief, but I felt no remorse as she took a step forward. "Aarav, listen—"
"How many times do I have to tell you?" My voice rose, thunderous and unyielding. "I am only Mr. Rathore or Rana sa for you."
The betrayal in her gaze was palpable, yet I felt no sympathy.
"You're raising your voice at me for a girl who doesn't even know that you're the King of Rajasthan?" she scoffed, her disdain cutting deep. "She—"
My eyes blazed with fury as I roared, "Don't. Don't say a word against her."
She flinched, stepping back as if struck.
"She doesn't know because I didn't want her to know. I told everyone to keep it from her. And I don't owe you any explanations." My voice was pure steel.
I took a deep breath, my anger barely restrained.
"You have ten minutes. Pack your bags and get out of my house."
Without sparing her another glance, I turned and walked away.
I reached my room and sank to the floor near the sofa, feeling like the weight of the world was pressing down on me. My heart felt heavy, and tears streamed down my cheeks. Buaji's harsh words echoed in my mind, each one like a sharp knife.
"This is what your parents must have taught you, right? They taught you how to trap a rich family, how to get into their house, but not how to behave with dignity!"
I could almost hear Buaji's voice, dripping with disdain. It made everything seem so easy for her, so simple to judge me.
"Choosing a girl who dances in front of people, without any shame."
A wave of self-doubt washed over me. Did I really deserve Aarav?
How can I deserve him? I whispered to myself, my voice trembling. Buaji was right; I was never his choice. I was a replacement. How could I belong in this house or in his life?
The truth hit me like a cold gust of wind. "He... he is the King of Rajasthan."
I wrapped my arms around my knees, my breath coming in shallow gasps. I didn't deserve him. No, I was useless—like Taiji always said.
"I should have died with my parents. Why, Shivji? Why did you save me?" I sobbed quietly. "If I had died in that accident, maybe..."
Suddenly, the door creaked open, but I didn't look up. I heard footsteps approaching, but I was too lost in my thoughts to care. Then I heard his voice.
"Siya..."
It was Aarav. My heart raced, but I couldn't face him. I couldn't look into his eyes. I wasn't worthy of him now.
He sat beside me and reached for my hand, but I instinctively pulled away. "Don't," I said, my voice shaky. "I'm not worthy for you. Stay away from me."
I was crying, my heart aching. I didn't want him to see me like this, to know how broken I felt. But before I could say anything else, he wrapped his arms around me in a warm hug.
I squirmed, still saying, "Stay away... stay away from me. I don't deserve you... I'm useless. I'm not your choice... I was a replacement for you."
He broke the hug, and I saw the hurt in his eyes. I knew he would leave me just like my parents did, just like everyone else in my life. I was all alone in this world.
Aarav cupped my face gently, his thumb brushing away my tears. "I'm sorry, Siya," he said softly. "I'm not worthy for you. I failed to protect you in your own house. I'm sorry that you..."
"Don't say sorry," I interrupted, my voice choked with emotion. "Buaji was right."
But before I could finish, he pressed his finger to my lips. "Don't say that, please."
His eyes held mine, intense and filled with sincerity.
"Only you are worthy for me. Listen to me carefully.
It's not that you don't deserve me; it's that I don't deserve you.
I failed to protect you. I failed to keep you happy.
I'm sorry, please forgive me this time. I promise I will never let you face this again. "
"But you are the King of Rajasthan," I said through my tears. "And I'm just nothing. How can you..."
He interrupted again, his voice firm yet gentle. "Never say that you are nothing to me. You are everything for me."
I felt a warmth in his words, but the weight in my chest grew heavier. "I know you're saying that so I don't feel hurt, but I know I'm not worthy of..."
Before I could finish, the room began to spin. My breathing quickened, panic rising like a tidal wave. "Aarav... I can't..." I gasped, my chest tightening. "I can't breathe!"
I felt lightheaded, the world around me fading. His eyes widened with concern as he held me tighter, but it felt like too much. "Siya, just breathe. I'm here. Focus on me."
But I couldn't focus. I felt trapped in my own mind, every breath a struggle. "Aarav... I'm... I can't..." I whimpered, the room going dark as everything slipped away from me.
And then, everything went black.