It had been a month since Sakshi had returned home. Life finally felt peaceful again — no haunting memories, no strange encounters. That evening, she laughed freely for the first time in weeks, helping her mother set the dinner table while her father talked over the phone in the living room.
But as they sat for dinner, her father cleared his throat and said calmly,
> "Sakshi… we've fixed your marriage."
The spoon slipped from her hand, clattering against the plate.
She blinked, thinking she had misheard.
> "Papa, what?" she whispered.
He didn't meet her eyes.
> "The Rathores have chosen you. The alliance is a great opportunity for our family. You'll meet them tomorrow."
Her heart sank. Rathores? She'd heard that name before — Rajasthan's royal family, known for their wealth and power. But she couldn't protest. The tone in her father's voice told her it wasn't a discussion.
That night, she sat on her bed in silence. Her mother came in, eyes soft but voice serious.
> "Beta, they are the most powerful people in Rajasthan. Saying no to them… would be a mistake. Sometimes we have to accept what fate decides."
Sakshi didn't sleep that night. Her mind was a whirl of questions and quiet fear.
---
The Next Morning
The next day, she wore her pastel anarkali — simple yet graceful — and came downstairs. Two guests were already seated in the living room. Their presence alone filled the air; everything about them screamed old money — poise, elegance, control.
They were Rajveer Singh Rathore and his wife Samriti Rathore — the heads of the royal family.
Sakshi hesitated, then bent to touch their feet, but before she could, Samriti gently pulled her up and embraced her.
> "You're our daughter now, not just our daughter-in-law," she said warmly.
Sakshi smiled nervously and sat beside her on the sofa. The atmosphere was calm — until the sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase.
He entered.
Riyansh Singh Rathore.
Tall, composed, his sharp gaze fixed right on her. His lips curved into that devilish smirk — the same one that sent shivers down her spine months ago.
Sakshi froze. It was him. The same man.
Riyansh greeted her parents with a charming smile, touched their feet, and then took a seat beside her — his presence burning through the air between them.
Leaning slightly toward her, he whispered,
> " You're looking gorgeous Mrs.Rathore"
He chuckled lowly, eyes glinting with dark amusement, as if he was savoring her discomfort.
Vidhan, shy but curious, came forward and greeted Riyansh. To everyone's surprise, Riyansh picked him up and placed him on his lap.
> "Hey, what should I call you?" Vidhan asked innocently.
Riyansh smirked.
> "You should ask your sister that," he teased, glancing sideways at Sakshi.
Vidhan giggled and started telling Riyansh everything about his sister — how she annoyed him, her weird habits, how she stole his chocolates — while Sakshi sat there, heart pounding, eyes desperately searching for an escape.
Riyansh listened intently, eyes never leaving her face.
Every smile of his felt like a silent promise — or a warning.
And Sakshi realized…
her life was about to change forever.