Scene 1: Royal Orphanage Charity Event -The Unraveling Begins

Rajgarh Palace had arranged a grand social event at the royal orphanage-a place close to Aarohi's heart. Draped in elegant off-white silk, adorned with Rajgarh's signature emerald jewels, Aarohi arrived by Aviraj's side. The crowd included nobles, media, international dignitaries, and royals.

But today's event wasn't about charity.

Rajmata sat at the high table, her expression cold. Sophie stood near her mother, Lady Isadora, who had a deceptively sweet smile curling at her lips. Aviraj was attending another formal meeting, expected to arrive later.

As Aarohi interacted with children and media took pictures, Rajmata's voice echoed through the decorated courtyard.

Rajmata (firmly into the mic): "Yeh aaj ka din humarey liye khaas hai, kyunki hum un bachchon ko samman de rahe hain jinke paas na vansh hai, na kul. Par woh apne bal pe jeene wale hain. Bilkul un logon jaise, jo bina parichay ke is mahal mein aagaye."

The crowd murmured. Aarohi paused mid-sentence.

Reporter (whispers to another): "Kya Rajmata ka ishara Maharani Aarohi ki taraf hai?"

Lady Isadora stepped in with false concern.

Isadora: "Main to hairan hoon... Rajmata ne kitni udarta dikhayi. Mujhe toh ab tak lagta tha ke Rajghar ka sambandh sirf unse hota hai jo vansh mein paida hote hain. Par shayad main galat thi. Aarohi ji ke kul, vansh, aur mata-pita ke baare mein toh ab tak kisi ko kuch pata hi nahi."

The media buzzed.

Aarohi's face paled. Her breath caught.

Media Reporter: "Maharani ji, kya aap bata sakti hain ki aapke maata-pita kaun hain? Kya yeh sach hai ki aap apne ghar se bhaag kar aayi thi?"

Another reporter: "Aap raj gharane ki nahi hain... toh shaadi ka sach kya hai? Kya yeh ek PR stunt tha?"

Aarohi's hands shook. The orphanage children, who adored her, were confused. Cameras flashed. People whispered.

Rajmata (coldly): "Aaj sabke saamne ek sach rakhna chahungi... Aarohi ka Rajgarh se na toh rakt sambandh hai, na parivaarik maryada. Woh ek aisi ladki hai jo apne aap mahal mein aayi, aur chhavi banaayi. Par chhavi aur asli rani banne mein antar hota hai."

Sophie (pretending concern): "Aarohi... I didn't know this would come out like this. Tum theek ho?"

Lady Isadora (to a lady nearby): "Shaayad yeh rajya kisi anya desh ki beti ko chahiye tha, na ke ek awaara ladki ko."

The words hit Aarohi like daggers. Her eyes welled up but she held her ground. Her mind swirled with memories

Flashback:

The night she ran from her house. Rain pouring. Footsteps echoing on broken pavement. Her parents' angry voices, their harsh rules, her muffled sobs. She had wandered, alone, broken and found herself outside a small temple in Rajgarh. That was the night Aviraj had seen her for the first time alone, shivering, and lost. He had offered her shelter and destiny began there.

Present

Aarohi (softly, holding the mic): "Main kaun hoon, yeh jaan ne ki koshish main bachpan se karti rahi. Par main yeh zarur jaanti hoon main kisi ko dard nahi dena chahti thi. Yeh rajya... yeh log... mujhe apna lagne lage the. Shayad meri galti yeh thi ki maine socha main bhi is sab ka hissa ho sakti hoon."

Lady Isadora (mockingly): "Aur jab vansh ka naam hi nahi... toh samman kahaan se milega?"

Rajmata (final tone): "Aaj se tum sirf Rajmahal ki guest ho, Maharani ka darja tab tak nahi milega jab tak tumhare vansh ka sach sabit na ho. Rajya ke liye Maryada pehle aati hai, jazbaat baad mein."

Reporter: "Maharani... I mean... Aarohi ji, aap kuch kehna chahegi?"

But Aarohi couldn't speak anymore.

The taunts of chhoti soch waali mahilaayein, the whispers of royal ladies, the glare of lights - it was too much. She felt exposed, raw, and shattered. She turned away, rushing out of the hall as a child called after her.

Child: "Rani Didi...?"

Scene 2: Hidden Eyes

From a corner, Veer watched. His lips curled into a victorious grin.

Veer (to himself): "Ek baar raja aur praja ke beech se Rani gayi... toh rajya kamzor pad jaata hai. Aviraj, iss waqt tum kahaan ho? Tumhare sapne bikhar rahe hain."

Scene 1: The Breakdown

Aarohi sat alone in the dim corridor of the Rajgarh palace's west wing-forgotten by the hustle of the royal world, buried under the weight of truths she never wanted to face. Her back pressed against the cold marble wall, her hands clenched around a faded dupatta-a memory she'd held onto from her childhood.

Tears rolled freely down her cheeks, the humiliation from the orphanage event echoing in her ears like cruel laughter.

Aarohi (broken whisper): "Main kaun hoon...? Kyun main kabhi kisi ki apni nahi ban sakti...?"

Her mind began pulling her backward-to a time long before Rajgarh, before Aviraj, before crowns and accusations.

Scene 2: The Past - A House of Love and Lies

Aarohi had always believed she was the shehzadi beti of her home.

In their cozy joint family Bungalow in Neelgarh, she'd grown up like a doll in a glass case-her big brother, Aditya bhai, never letting anyone raise their voice at her. Her chhoti maasi made her favorite kachoris. Her dadu read her bedtime stories and called her "shehzadi Aarohi."

She used to run around the courtyard, her soft payals tinkling.

Aarohi (flashback, laughing): "Bhai! Mujhe gira diya!"

Aaditya (picking her up): "Arey meri chhoti si jaan, tujhe kuch nahi hone dunga. Tu toh meri Princess hai."

They had festivals filled with color, stories, and warmth. Raksha Bandhan was her favorite because he would tie three rakhis on her wrist.

Aditya: "Ek meri raksha ke liye, ek duniya ke bure logon se bachane ke liye, aur ek... mere liye, kyunki tu meri jaan hai."

Those were golden days.

Until one night the world shattered.

She had been barely twelve, playing hide and seek with cousins, when she heard the hushed conversation in the living room.

Chhoti Maasi (shocked): "Bhabhi, ab toh keh do usse... yeh baat chhupayi nahi jaa sakti... woh humari beti nahi hai."

Mother (trembling): "Woh Durga mandap mein mili thi... mujhe laga bhagwan ne bheji hai... par ab uski umar ho gayi hai. Woh poochegi toh main kya kahungi?"

Dadu: "Sach toh kabhi na kabhi bahar aayega. Tum usse bojh banne ka ehsaas mat dilao."

Aarohi had frozen. The floor beneath her seemed to vanish.

She wasn't their daughter. Not even blood. Not even adopted officially. Just found... in a mandap. Abandoned.

She had run away that very night, the storm outside matching the hurricane inside her.

Aarohi (now, whispering to herself): "Main unki beti nahi thi... toh itna pyaar kyun diya? Aur fir... sach chhupakar... mujhe bojh kyun bana diya?"

She remembered her final night vividly. Rain falling heavily. She had looked at her sleeping brother with tearful eyes, left a small note, and disappeared into the darkness.

That's when she found herself in Rajgarh.

At Durga Mandap again.

A circle completed.

Scene 3: Present Day Alone Again

She sobbed uncontrollably now.

Aarohi: "Main kab tak kisi ke liye bas ek wajah banti rahoongi...? Kab tak har sach mujhe todta rahega...?"

She felt raw. Rejected.

From one family who gave her love but never truth... to another who gave her status but not acceptance.

The walls of Rajgarh felt colder today.

No Aviraj. No one.

Just a truth she wished she never knew.

She clutched a small keychain in her palm-one Aniket had once gifted her. A tiny crown.

Aarohi (to herself, crying): "Bhai, mujhe toh laga tha main rani hoon... par shayad main toh sirf ek bhool hoon... ek gumnaam kissa... jiska kisi ko farq nahi padta."

She looked at the sky beyond the jharokha.

Just a truth she wished she never knew.

She clutched a small keychain in her palm-one Aniket had once gifted her. A tiny crown.

Aarohi (to herself, crying): "Bhai, mujhe toh laga tha main rani hoon... par shayad main toh sirf ek bhool hoon... ek gumnaam kissa... jiska kisi ko farq nahi padta."

She looked at the sky beyond the jharokha.

Aarohi: "Agar main kabhi sach mein kisi ki apni ban sakti hoon... toh kyun har jagah mujhe paraya banaya jaata hai?"

End of chapter