Scene 1: Aarohi and Aviraj — Healing Moments

The golden rays of morning filtered through the grand windows of Rajgarh Palace, casting a soft glow across the silken sheets where Maharani Aarohi lay half-awake. Her eyes fluttered open to the gentle rustle of movement beside her.

Aviraj was seated on the divan, already dressed in his morning regalia — a crisp white kurta with light embroidery. His eyes, however, remained fixed on her face, silently watching.

Aarohi (softly): "Aap itni der se dekh rahe the mujhe?"

Aviraj (smiling faintly): "Har roz dekhna chahunga, jab tak tum ho. Kal ke baad... main tumse ek pal bhi door rehna nahi chahta."

Aarohi sat up slowly, her hand brushing her hair back. The pain of the previous days still hovered around her heart, but the warmth in Aviraj’s eyes slowly melted away a layer of the cold.

Aarohi (hesitant): "Main ab bhi thoda… ghabra jaati hoon, jab aap gussa hote ho."

Aviraj (walking to her): "Main vaada karta hoon, tum par kabhi apna gussa nahi utarunga. Main tumhara sahara banna chahta hoon, bojh nahi."

She gave him a soft smile, nodding slowly. There was still hurt, but also a flicker of healing.

Scene 2: Aarohi Meets Sophie

Later that afternoon, the royal gardens bloomed in their peak. Fragrant mogra and rajnigandha filled the air. Aarohi, dressed in a soft peach saree, walked along the marble path, flanked by a maid. Her thoughts were interrupted by a lilting voice.

Sophie (cheerfully): "Maharani Aarohi, kya main aapka thoda waqt le sakti hoon?"

Aarohi turned. The princess from Suryagarh — Sophie, or Suryamukhi, as they called her — stood with a gentle smile, wearing a floral chiffon gown that flowed like poetry.

Aarohi (politely): "Ji, zaroor."

They sat on the stone bench beside the lotus pond.

Sophie: "Mujhe aapse milkar bahut khushi hui. Aapke baare mein itna suna hai... aur sach kahoon toh aap usse bhi zyada khoobsurat hain."

Aarohi (smiling faintly): "Aapka shukriya. Suna hai aap Aviraj ke bahut kareeb rahi hain."

Sophie (laughing gently): "Bachpan se. Humne saath khelna, ladna, hansna sab kiya hai. Par waqt badal jaata hai. Aur rishton ka matlab bhi."

Her eyes moistened slightly.

Sophie: "Main samajh sakti hoon, raja banna kitna mushkil hota hai. Aur rani banna usse bhi zyada. Kabhi kabhi, ek shabd bhi dil tod deta hai."

Aarohi nodded slowly, sensing Sophie’s calm wisdom.

Aarohi: "Kabhi kabhi, ek muskaan bhi jod sakti hai dil ke tukde. Shayad isi umeed mein jee rahi hoon."

As they conversed, some of the older royal ladies passed by, stopping to greet Sophie enthusiastically.

Chhoti Rajmata: "Suryamukhi, tum toh sach mein suraj ki tarah roshan ho. Kitni susheel, kitni samajhdar. Aarohi, tumhare liye achhi saheli sabit hogi yeh."

Aarohi only smiled. The subtle comparisons were not lost on her.

Scene 3: Veer’s Next Pawn — Virat’s Mother

In a darker corridor of the palace, away from the scent of flowers and smiles, Veer paced with his signature grace and venom.

Veer (to himself): "Aviraj aur Aarohi fir se paas aa rahe hain... aur yeh Sophie bhi rajniti mein kadam rakh chuki hai. Samay aa gaya hai ek aur chaal chalne ka."

He heard a shuffle. Turning, he saw Dadisa — Virat’s mother — enter quietly.

Dadisa: "Tumhe bulaya tha, Veer?"

Veer: "Haan. Tumhara beta beizzat ho gaya, lekin tumhari izzat abhi bhi tumhare haath mein hai. Tumhare paas ab bhi rasoi, parampara aur rajmata ke nazdiki hai."

Dadisa (suspicious): "Tum chaahte kya ho?"

Veer (leaning in): "Aarohi ko tor do. Uski jagah is darbar mein Sophie ko dikhao. Rajmata usse pasand karti hain, praja bhi. Tum bas itna karo — sabke saamne Aarohi ki bhool dikhana shuru karo. Kisi ne uske viruddh khul kar baat nahi ki... tum shuruaat karo."

Dadisa (gritting): "Agar mere bete ki beizzati ka badla mujhe milta hai... toh main is khel ka hissa banti hoon."

Veer smirked.

Veer: "Shatranj ki chaal chuki gayi hai. Ab rani ko ghira jaayega."

Scene 4: Whisper Campaign Begins

Over the next few days, Aarohi noticed a strange shift. Servants grew colder. Some of the elder women glanced, then whispered. In the darbar hall, even courtiers seemed to murmur behind her back.

Jethani no.2 (loudly during lunch): "Ek nayi Maharani toh aayi, par unki maryada ka kya? Na toh vishwas bana, na hi samman."

Sophie, sitting beside Aarohi, squeezed her hand gently.

Sophie (whispering): "Unke bolne se aapki asliyat nahi badlegi, Aarohi. Main hoon aapke saath."

Aarohi felt conflicted. She was grateful. Yet a voice inside whispered: "Sympathy bhi ek saazish ho sakti hai."

Scene 5: Aviraj's Unaware Joy

While all this brewed, Aviraj remained unaware. He busied himself with preparations for the Rajtilak. He often stole moments with Aarohi, trying to be the husband she needed.

One evening, he came to her chamber holding a velvet box.

Aviraj: "Tumhare liye kuch laya hoon."

Inside was an ancient Rajputi necklace — with emeralds that glowed like dewdrops.

Aarohi (surprised): "Yeh... toh Rajmata ka haar hai."

Aviraj: "Ab se tum meri rani nahi, Rajgarh ki bhi rani ho. Tumhare gale mein yeh zyada achha lagega."

She took it, touched deeply. Yet in her eyes, a flicker of storm remained. Something didn’t feel right.

A storm was coming.

And Aarohi... was at the eye of it.

Scene : Veer’s Strategy Unfolds

Veer stood beside the marble pillar in the inner corridor of the palace, his arms folded across his chest, eyes sharp with anticipation. His face bore the smugness of a predator who had laid a perfect trap. Just ahead, he could see one of the palace maids quietly slipping a silk scarf into a silver thaal meant for Rajmata’s evening pooja.

Veer (softly to himself): "Chhoti galtiyan... rani banne layak nahi hoti woh, jo inhe bhi sambhal na paaye. Aarohi, tum iss mahilay mein bas mehmaan ho. Aur mehmaan kabhi rani nahi bante."

Scene : First Mistake — Rajmata’s Pooja Thaal

In the main darbar hall, all the royal women gathered for the evening rituals. Aarohi, dressed in a subtle red silk saree, was helping the servants prepare the pooja.

Rajmata walked in gracefully, her eyes scanning the arrangements. Just as the pooja began, she noticed something strange.

Rajmata (sharply): "Yeh kya hai? Pooja ke thaal mein rumaal kisne rakha? Yeh ashuddh hai!"

Gasps echoed.

Jethani No. 1: "Yeh toh Maharani Aarohi ne tayyar karvaya tha na!"

Rajmata (sternly): "Aarohi, pooja mein iss tarah ki chook? Yeh toh shuddhi ka samay hota hai, tumne dekha bhi nahi?"

Aarohi (nervously): "Main... maine sab kuch khud check kiya tha Rajmata ji. Shayad... kisi sevika ne—"

Rajmata (cutting): "Zimmedaari lene ka arth yeh nahi ki doosron pe ilzaam thopa jaye. Rani ke roop mein yeh tumhari zimmedaari thi."

Aarohi bent her head, tears threatening to spill, but she kept her composure.

Scene : Sophie’s Subtle Needling

Later that evening, in the angoor baari courtyard, Sophie joined Aarohi for a walk.

Sophie (softly): "Sab theek hai, Aarohi? Aaj sab kuch... bahut kathin tha na?"

Aarohi (sighing): "Mujhe samajh nahi aata Sophie. Main poori koshish karti hoon, fir bhi galti ho jaati hai. Shayad main iss mahal ke layak nahi hoon."

Sophie (in a careful tone): "Main yeh nahi kehna chahti... par kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki aap zyada bhaavuk ho jaati hain. Rajmata ke niyam kathor hain, aur raj gharane mein... bhaavnaayein dikhana kamzori maani jaati hai. Shayad aapko thoda aur... samajhna padega."

Her voice was sympathetic but her eyes held quiet satisfaction.

Aarohi (faintly): "Shukriya. Aapka saath hona bahut maayne rakhta hai."

Sophie smiled and nodded, hiding the glint in her eyes.

Scene : Second Mistake — Royal Kitchen Supervision

The next day was a royal lunch where Aarohi was to oversee the traditional dishes. She had personally handed over the menu to the royal chefs and stayed with them for hours.

Yet, during the lunch, a small mistake exploded.

Chhoti Rajmata (angrily): "Yeh daal mein lahsun kaun daal gaya? Aaj amavasya hai! Rajgharana mein iss din lahsun mana hota hai!"

Dadi Saas: "Hamare zamane mein toh ek galat patta bhi hojaaye toh rani se jawaab manga jaata tha. Yeh toh poora niyam tod diya gaya hai."

All heads turned to Aarohi.

Aarohi (stammering): "Main toh chef se keh kar gayi thi... woh toh—"

Jethani No. 2: "Kya Maharani ka kaam sirf kehna hai? Nigrani rakhna bhi toh zimmedaari hai."

Sophie (softly): "Aarohi, main chahti hoon sab tumhe samjhein, par yeh... tumhare viruddh jaa raha hai. Tum itne bade parivaar ki rani ho. Tumhe sab kuch swayam dekhna hoga."

Scene : Aarohi Avoiding Aviraj

In her private chamber that evening, Aarohi sat staring at the mirror. Her eyes were dull, fingers trembling slightly.

Aviraj entered, removed his watch and walked towards her.

Aviraj: "Tum aaj pura din nazar nahi aayi. Kya baat hai Aarohi? Tumhare chehre par ek muskaan bhi nahi hai."

Aarohi (faking a smile): "Sab theek hai. Bas thoda thak gayi hoon."

Aviraj (concerned): "Aarohi, mujhe mat chhupao. Kya koi kuch keh gaya?"

Aarohi (shaking her head): "Main nahi chahti ki aap har baar meri wajah se kisi se ladte rahen. Aap kaafi kuch sambhal rahe hain. Yeh chhoti baatein main khud... theek kar lungi."

He sat beside her and held her hand.

Aviraj: "Main tumhara saathi hoon. Tumhare sukh dukh mein shaamil hone ka adhikaar chahta hoon, bojh nahi."

She kissed his hand gently, but remained silent. Deep inside, she was drowning, and didn’t want to pull Aviraj down with her.

Scene 6: Veer Watches — The Trap Tightens

From the shadows of the upper balcony, Veer watched the tension building.

Veer (coldly): "Bohot achhi tarah se tumhien is shatranj mein rakh diya gaya hai, Aarohi. Tum akeli ho... aur ab har taraf tumse sawal honge."

Sophie (entering silently): "Main tumhari baat samajhti hoon, Veer. Par yaad rakho, main tumhari chaal ka hissa hoon, tumhari mohabbat ka nahi."

Veer (smirking): "Jab tak tumhaari chaal mere saath hai, baaki sab mohabbat bekaar hai."

They stood watching the moon rise, knowing that the night would only get darker.

Aarohi was caught in a web she never wove… and her silence was slowly tying the final knot.

End of chapter

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