Scene: Palace Corridor – Sunset Hours

Aarohi stood near the carved stone balustrade of the palace corridor, her eyes red from silent tears. The sunset painted the skies in crimson and gold, but her heart felt cold.

She turned as she heard heavy footsteps. It was Aviraj. His brows were still furrowed, his jaw clenched in the same fury that had humiliated her earlier.

Aarohi (softly): "Aviraj... kya main pooch sakti hoon maine aisa kya kaha jo aap itna..."

Aviraj (cutting her off): "Tumne meri maa ka naam us jagah liya jahan uski koi jagah hi nahi thi! Tumhare paas na samay hai, na samajh, na haq ke tum itihas ke gehre dard par bol sako!"

Aarohi (trying to explain): "Main toh bas usi grant ke anusar keh rahi thi jo mujhe library mein mila... mujhe laga woh sach tha..."

Aviraj (harshly): "Sach? Tum kya jaanti ho sach ke baare mein? Tum sochti ho tum ek din mein Rajgarh ke 1000 saal purane gathbandhan aur rajnaitik ran-niti ko samajh sakti ho? Tumhare yeh sochne ka adhikar bhi nahi hai."

Aarohi stepped back as his voice echoed across the corridor. Her eyes glistened again.

Aarohi (hesitantly): "Par woh aapki maa thi... toh kya unka zikar bhi..."

Aviraj (roaring): "Woh maa nahi thi, ek chhal-kaari rani thi! Cunning. Manipulative. Rajgarh ki sabse badi galti thi woh! Aur tum... tum uska naam lekar mere saamne uski izzat ki baat kar rahi ho?"

Aarohi (voice breaking): "Main toh bas... sach keh rahi thi... agar woh galti thi bhi... toh kya ek maa ke liye itna nafrat..."

Aviraj (pointing finger angrily): "Main warn karta hoon, Aarohi. Zindagi mein dobara mere saamne us aurat ka naam bhi mat lena. Usne meri parvarish se lekar mere pita ke antim sanskaar tak sab kuch barbad kiya tha. Tum jaanti ho kya hua tha un dino mein? Nahi. Toh chup raho."

Aarohi turned away, holding back her sobs.

Aarohi (whispering): "Aapko toh mujhse sach kehne ka bhi mauka nahi diya..."

Aviraj (coldly): "Kya mauka doon tumhe? Tum toh bas presentation mein chamak dikhana chahti thi na? Yeh politics hai, Aarohi — yeh tumhare gharelu sanskaar nahi jahan sab kuch bhavnaon se chalta hai."

There was silence between them. Aarohi looked into his eyes once more — only rage stared back.

Aviraj (turning away): "Mujhe hawa mein thoda waqt chahiye. Sophia ke saath ek walk par jaa raha hoon. At least she understands protocol."

He walked away, cape flaring behind him. A few seconds later, Sophie joined him, flashing a triumphant smile toward Aarohi. She gently held Aviraj’s arm as they walked down the grand palace steps.

Sophie (softly): "Aap bahut zyada stress le rahe ho, Aviraj. Aap jaise leader ko samajhna chahiye ki kab aur kis par bharosa karna chahiye. Kuch log... bas is layak nahi hote."

Aviraj (sighing): "Shayad tum sahi ho, Sophie. Shayad main hi galat logon mein kuch dekhne ki koshish karta hoon jo unme hota hi nahi."

Sophie’s smile widened as they disappeared into the palace gardens.

Aarohi stood frozen — abandoned, shattered, and unheard — in the golden light that no longer felt warm.

Scene: Durga Mandap Tahkhana – Midnight Hours

Aarohi’s dupatta dragged over the ancient stone floor as she stepped cautiously inside the hidden tahkhana beneath the Durga Mandap. The air was thick with the scent of time – of agarbatti, dust, and silence that had not been disturbed in years.

She had come in search of truth. Something within her refused to accept that Aviraj’s mother was the cold-hearted queen the palace whispered about.

Her fingers traced over an old brass diya stand, her eyes darting to the edge of a small locked chest – its surface bearing the symbol of Rajgarh's old dynasty.

Aarohi (softly to herself): "Agar woh sach mein aisi thi jaise sab kehte hain, toh itne varshon tak yeh jagah kyun chhupi rahi? Iss tahkhane mein sirf andhera nahi, koi kahani bhi chhupi hai... jo sabko sunani chahiye."

She opened an old scroll – brittle with age, but words still visible.

Aarohi (reading slowly): "‘Rani Suryalekha ne swayam Durga maa ke samaksh kasam khai thi ki woh rajya ke bhalai ke liye apne pati ke virodh mein bhi khadi hongi...’”

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Yeh toh... yeh toh kisi deshbhakt rani ki tarah likha gaya hai. Phir itni nafrat kyun?"

Just then, she heard rushed footsteps echoing behind her.

Aviraj (urgently): "Aarohi! Tum yahan ho? Tum... iss waqt... yeh jagah... kyun?"

She turned, startled. Her eyes were glassy, her hands holding the old scroll.

Aarohi (choked voice): "Main bas... main bas kuch samajhna chahti thi. Aapki maa... unka sach. Mujhe laga main galat hoon... par yeh sab padkar... main aur confused ho gayi hoon."

Aviraj stepped closer, guilt heavy in his eyes. He saw her trembling frame and the pain in her voice tore at him.

Aviraj (softly): "Tumhare aankhon mein dar hai... tum mujhse darr rahi ho? Aarohi, mujhe maaf kar do... maine jo kaha, jo kiya... woh gusse mein tha. Lekin sach yeh hai... main khud bhi nahi jaanta pura sach."

Aarohi (looking down): "Toh fir kyun mujhpar itna bhadak gaye? Aap toh mere apne ho... agar main bhi sawaal nahi kar sakti toh kis se karoon?"

Aviraj clenched his fists.

Aviraj: "Main tumse nahi, khud se bhadka tha. Maa ke saath jo kuch bhi hua... unki chhavi, unke rishte mere pita ke saath... woh sab ek jala hua patra hai mere dil mein. Par... shayad main kabhi usse padh hi nahi paaya."

He looked around the chamber. Memories he had buried stirred within him.

Aviraj (softly): "Mujhe yaad hai... chhoti si baat thi... maa ne mujhe Durga mandap mein le jaane se mana kiya tha. Keh rahi thi yeh jagah sabke liye nahi. Tab socha tha bas ek bahana hai. Shayad... yeh jagah sach ke kareeb thi."

Aarohi gently touched his arm.

Aarohi: "Shayad woh aapko isse bachana chahti thi. Ya phir... kisi aur ke jhoot se."

Aviraj looked into her eyes — there was pain, but also faith.

He exhaled deeply and extended his hand.

Aviraj (softly): "Chalo, yahan se chalte hain. Tum yahan akeli nahi rahogi. Aur main bhi... main bhi sach jaanne se nahi darta. Ab nahi."

Aarohi nodded, placing the scroll inside her dupatta.

As they walked out of the tahkhana, the corridor lights flickered gently — as though the palace itself had exhaled.

In the silence of the night, the first crack in the royal lie had formed.

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End of chapter