After Gauri left, Viddhi stood frozen in the center of her chamber, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. The silence was deafening, broken only by the frantic rhythm of her own pulse. The information was a seismic shock, rearranging the very foundations of her mission.
'Bhaiya is alive! He's breathing, somewhere within this very palace. Perhaps hidden in a forgotten corner, or locked away in a secret dungeon.'
A torrent of emotions threatened to overwhelm her—a wild, soaring hope so potent it was painful, immediately tempered by a chilling fear for his safety. She pressed her cold fingers to her temples, forcing her mind to think, to plan, to strategize. The grieving sister had to step aside; the calculating queen had to take charge.
'I must search the secret passages, the forgotten tunnels, the old dungeons that even Vidhaan might not know about. I need to be careful, systematic. Girls like Gauri... they are the key. I must gain their trust, piece together more information, bit by bit.'
A cold, sharp smile touched her lips, a stark contrast to the turmoil in her eyes. She walked to the window, looking out at the palace she now saw not just as a symbol of her loss, but as a complex puzzle box containing her brother.
'Vidhaan... you must have thought your secret was buried forever, hidden beneath layers of power and fear. But you forgot that every secret has a way of clawing its way back into the light. And today... the queen sitting in your very palace, the woman you call your wife, has begun to unearth your first and most damning secret.'
Viddhi finally had the thread she had been desperately searching for. The journey to follow it to its source, to the hidden prison of her brother, had now truly begun.
Coincidence or Destiny?
A little while later, needing to clear her head and start her reconnaissance, Viddhi left her chamber. As she stepped into the corridor, a twist of fate—or perhaps a carefully orchestrated move—placed Raja Vidhaan directly in her path, emerging from an adjoining hallway. Seeing him, Viddhi instinctively bowed her head in a gesture of wifely deference and made to move past him, hoping to avoid any interaction.
But then, it happened. As she took a step, her foot seemingly caught on an uneven edge of the ornate carpet. It was a perfect, convincing stumble. A small, startled gasp escaped her lips. "Ah!"
Before she could collide with the hard, cold marble floor, Vidhaan moved with a predator's swiftness. He surged forward, his strong arms encircling her, catching her effortlessly. For a single, suspended moment, she was cradled against his chest, her form fitting against his as seamlessly as a bird settles into its nest. The world narrowed to the solid strength of his hold and the faint, masculine scent of sandalwood that clung to his clothes.
Their eyes met. His were wide with genuine concern, but beneath that, something else flickered—something deeper, more possessive. Hers reflected sheer surprise, which was instantly veiled by a wall of caution.
"Maharani! Are you alright?" Vidhaan's voice was laced with an unmistakable, authentic worry that, for a split second, felt disarmingly real.
Viddhi quickly gathered her composure, placing her hands on his arms and pushing herself away from him, breaking the contact as if his touch were a searing brand. "Yes... yes, Maharaj. I am fine. Thank you," she stammered, her voice hurried and laced with a flustered unease that was only partly an act. Without waiting for another word, she turned and walked away, her steps quick and purposeful, not daring to look back.
Vidhaan remained standing there, a slow, unknowing smile gracing his lips. He watched her retreating form, completely misinterpreting her haste and discomfort. 'She is so shy... this fluster, this avoidance... it must be a sign. A sign of her growing attraction towards me.' He was captivated by the illusion she had so skillfully crafted.
Two Separate Worlds
Back in the sanctuary of her chamber, Viddhi closed the door and leaned against it, her heart still pounding. 'Was that truly an accident? Or was it his ploy? A way to get close?' She replayed the moment in her mind. 'The care in his eyes... the concern... it looked so real. But I know it's all a mask. A mask hiding the monster within who slaughtered my family.'
Meanwhile, Vidhaan was still in the corridor, his smile deepening. 'She is so timid... yet there's a fire in her. One day, she will come to me willingly.' He was building a castle of hope on the foundation of her deception.
: The Royal Family Dinner
Just then, a soft knock announced a maidservant. "Maharani, dinner is served. Maharaj has summoned everyone to the dining hall."
Viddhi took a deep, steadying breath, smoothing down her sari. "Alright. You may go, I will be there shortly."
A little later, Viddhi entered the grand dining hall. Seated at the long, ornate table were Raja Vidhaan, Chacha Veervar Singh, and his son Arjun. The scene was one of domestic normalcy that felt utterly surreal to her.
"Come, beti, come!" Chacha called out affectionately, his face breaking into a warm smile. "Sit, sit. We were waiting for you."
Viddhi offered a respectful namaste to the elders. "Chachaji, you could have started. You needn't have waited for me."
"Arre no, beti! What kind of dinner is it without the Maharani?" Chacha laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
The meal began. The clinking of silverware against fine china filled the comfortable silence. After a while, Chacha looked towards Viddhi. "Maharani, how are your parents from Chandragarh? I hope everything is well?"
"Yes, Chachaji," Viddhi replied with a practiced smile. "They are both in good health and spirits. They sent their warmest regards and blessings for all of you."
A little later, the observant Chacha noticed that Viddhi was merely pushing food around her plate. "Arre, Maharani! You are barely eating. This is not good. It is very important to take care of your health."
Vidhaan also smiled, adding his voice to the concern. "Chacha is right, Maharani. Please, you must eat a little more."
Viddhi kept her eyes fixed on her plate. "Yes, Maharaj, I am eating," she said softly. She forced down a few more morsels under their watchful, seemingly caring gazes. Vidhaan watched this, a quiet satisfaction blooming in his chest. He saw it as her being swayed by their collective concern, a sign that she was softening towards this fabricated family life.
The Play Continues
After the meal, as everyone rose, Viddhi bowed to Chacha and Vidhaan and made her way towards her chamber.
As she walked through the silent, torch-lit corridors, her mind was a whirlwind. 'Such sweet tones... such concern... as if this were a real family. But I will not forget that this man is the murderer of my real family.'
'The game may be long, Vidhaan... but the end will be what destiny has decreed. And this time... I am the one who has come as your destiny.'
The drama between Viddhi and Vidhaan had now transformed into a complex emotional war, where every moment presented a new challenge, and every glance held a hidden meaning.
: Reaching her chamber door, Viddhi froze. It was slightly ajar, a sliver of darkness peeking out. She distinctly remembered closing it firmly. Her heart leaped into her throat. Pushing it open slowly, her eyes scanned the moonlit room. Nothing seemed out of place. But then, her gaze fell upon her vanity. Placed squarely in the center of the dresser, where no item had been before, was a single, wilted black rose.