Ch19The Curse and the Queen-to-Be #2
“Stop this drama. You can leave now. I’ll take Rivanya back myself. There was no need for you to come.”
Turning away, I began to walk back toward the house. That was when Pratap Raj Vardhan’s voice stopped me, echoing behind me
“Rudraksh… Guruji and Gurumaa have arrived. They want to meet Rivanya.”
In shock, I turned back toward him.
“What?” I asked sharply. “But why?”
Pratap Vardhan’s expression turned serious.
“Yes. They have seen Rivanya’s kundali. They didn’t say much only that they wish to meet her. They want to see for themselves what kind of queen she will become in the future.”
Frustration rose within me, and I said sharply,
“But you know it yourself, Mr. Vardhan. Rivanya is a normal girl. She isn’t even a Rajput. And on top of that, Guru Maa’s questions are never easy. How will she handle all this?”
Pratap Vardhan replied calmly,
“I thought about all this even before you did, Rudraksh. But they are elders we cannot refuse them. Moreover, the curse of our lineage has already begun to show its effects. The deadly attack on Rivanya today is proof of that.”
Anger flared inside me.
“I respect Guruji and Gurumaa deeply,” I said, “but don’t bring this curse nonsense to me. You know very well that I don’t believe in such things. The person who attacked Rivanya was my rival nothing more.”
Pratap Vardhan looked straight ahead and said firmly,
“Whether you believe it or not, this happened because of the curse. Rivanya carries a heavy responsibility. First, she must cut through the shadow of death that hangs over your life. Second, she must protect herself. You are the hundredth generation of the Vardhan lineage, Rudraksh. With you,
this curse will end. But the fear remains that every time your life is saved, Rivanya will face danger danger of untimely death.”
I stepped closer to him, my voice steady yet fierce.
“I may not believe in all of this, but if we are speaking of death, then don’t forget my faith lies in Mahakal, the destroyer of death itself. If Mahadev stands with me, then even death will be forced to bow its head.”
Pratap Vardhan let out a deep breath.
“All I wish,” he said quietly, “is that your faith proves true and that neither you nor Rivanya comes to any harm.”
After a moment, I asked,
“When will Guruji and Gurumaa meet Rivanya?”
“They are staying at another spiritual leader’s ashram. They will arrive tomorrow morning, and Rivanya will be the first person they meet.”
I nodded slowly.
“Fine. I will speak to Rivanya. But make one thing very clear to them questions may be asked, but no one has the right to disrespect my wife. And I will not tolerate it.”
With that, I turned and walked back inside.
---
Flashback Ends
The car sped forward relentlessly, its tires cutting through the silent roads, but my unease grew heavier with every passing second.
My thoughts refused to settle. Guruji and Gurumaa what exactly did they intend to ask Rivanya?
Gurumaa’s questions were never simple, never kind to those who were unprepared.
They were rooted in traditions far removed from the thinking of this generation.
Rivanya was still so young, unaware of the rigid Rajput codes, unfamiliar with royal discipline, customs, and expectations.
One wrong word, one misplaced answer, and Gurumaa would not hesitate to voice her disappointment.
That kind of harshness would wound Rivanya deeply, and I would not allow anyone to hurt her no matter who they were.
I turned slightly and looked at her, asleep beside me, her head resting against my shoulder, completely unaware of the storm brewing around her.
There was something achingly innocent about the way she slept like a child who trusted the world enough to close her eyes without fear.
At just twenty-three, she had already shown a maturity that many never developed in a lifetime.
She had stood up for my character in front of everyone, fought her own people for me, and defended me without hesitation.
That alone was enough to tell me how strong she truly was.
Yet strength did not mean burden. Just because Rivanya understood the weight of situations did not mean I would place the weight of responsibilities on her shoulders.
She had dreams clear, honest dreams of becoming a lawyer—and I intended to protect those dreams at all costs.
Rivanya would stand on her own feet, not as someone forced into a role, not as a sacrifice to legacy or curses, but as a woman who chose her own path.
My thoughts were interrupted when the car suddenly slowed and came to a stop. I looked ahead in surprise and questioned the driver, who calmly informed me that we had arrived at the pond Rivanya had mentioned earlier.
I turned back to her and leaned closer, lowering my voice instinctively. “Sugarplum, wake up,” I said gently. “Look… the place you were talking about we’re here.”
She shifted slightly, a soft frown appearing on her face as she mumbled in her sleep, her words slurring together. “Mami… just a little more sleep… I won’t go to college today…”
I couldn’t help it I rolled my eyes, a faint smirk tugging at my lips. She truly believed she was in her bedroom. Completely unaware. Completely foolish. Completely Rivanya.
I shook her shoulder lightly, just enough to bring her back to reality. “Mrs. Vardhan,” I said, my voice firmer now but still laced with amusement, “wake up. This is not your bedroom. Get up.”
Finally, Rivanya woke up, stretching her arms as she let out a slow yawn. Her movements were lazy, unhurried, as if she had forgotten where she was. Rubbing her eyes, she asked softly, still half asleep, “Where are we?”
I replied calmly, “We’ve reached the place you asked the car to stop at the pond you were talking about.”
For a second, she simply blinked. Then realization struck her.
In an instant, all traces of sleep vanished from her face.
A bright smile spread across her lips as she pushed the car door open and jumped out with sudden excitement.
Her speed was so reckless that my heart clenched in fear.
I instinctively tensed, worried she might trip or fall at any moment.
This girl truly had no sense of caution.
Watching over her felt less like being with a grown woman and more like keeping an eye on a child.
Shaking my head at my own thoughts, I stepped out of the car after her.
The place was genuinely beautiful. Tall trees stood all around, their leaves whispering softly in the morning breeze.
Ahead of us lay a wide, tranquil pond, its surface dotted with blooming lotus flowers in shades of pink and white.
The sight was calm, almost sacred. Rivanya walked straight toward the water and sat down on a stone near the edge, completely absorbed by the view.
I followed her and stood behind her, silently guarding her presence.
She caught my reflection in the water and spoke without turning around, her voice filled with wonder. “It’s so beautiful, isn’t it? Especially those lotus flowers.” Then, after a brief pause, she added in a softer, disappointed tone, “The only problem is… they’re so far away. I can’t reach them.”
I remained quiet for a while, simply watching her. There was something deeply innocent in the way she looked at those flowers, as if they meant more to her than just beauty.
After a moment, she spoke again, almost to herself. “If only I could get one of those flowers… it would be so nice.”
I exhaled slowly and said, “Alright, drama queen, enough. Wait here I’ll ask one of the guards to go get them.”
At once, she stood up and turned toward me. Her expression changed, and she shook her head firmly. “No,” she said. “If a guard brings them, then they won’t be special anymore.”
With that, she turned away and started walking back toward the car. But the moment she reached it, the voices of the guards caught her attention. She turned around and froze.
I had already stepped into the pond.
The cold water seeped through instantly as I moved forward, carefully navigating through the mud to reach the lotus flowers.
Rivanya’s eyes widened in shock. She ran back toward the edge of the pond, panic evident in her voice.
“What are you doing?” she cried out. “Please come out! The water is freezing and it’s muddy too!”
Her concern echoed clearly, and for a brief moment, it was impossible to miss how deeply she cared.
Ignoring her protests, I continued moving forward, carefully but steadily, until I reached the cluster of lotus flowers she had been admiring from afar.
The cold water numbed my legs, the mud clinging stubbornly with every step, but none of that mattered anymore.
All I could think about was the quiet longing in her voice when she had said she wished she could have one.
I stopped near a fully bloomed lotus soft pink petals resting gracefully above the water, untouched and serene.
Reaching out, I gently plucked it, making sure not to damage a single petal.
For a moment, I simply held it in my hand, watching the water ripple around me.
Strange, how something so simple could suddenly feel so significant.
When I turned back, Rivanya was still standing at the edge, visibly anxious. Her hands were clasped tightly together, and her brows were drawn in worry. The moment she saw the flower in my hand, her expression shifted shock melting into disbelief.
I stepped out of the pond, water dripping from my clothes, and walked toward her. She rushed forward instinctively. “You’re completely impossible,” she scolded, her voice trembling despite herself. “You could have slipped. You didn’t need to do this.”
I stopped in front of her and held out the lotus without a word.
She froze.
Her eyes slowly traveled from my face to the flower in my hand. For a second, she didn’t react at all. Then her lips parted slightly, and her gaze softened in a way I hadn’t seen before. Carefully, almost reverently, she took the flower from me.
“This…” she whispered, “this is for me?”
I nodded. “You wanted it,” I replied simply.