"Shaatranj Ki Rani "

Scene: Rajmata's Private Chamber Midnight

The dim light of the antique chandelier glinted off the ivory and ebony chessboard set on a marble table. Rajmata sat tall, regal in her posture, her eyes fixed on the board. A soft rustle announced the presence of her loyal aide, Dayaniji.

Rajmata slowly moved the white bishop.

Rajmata (murmuring): "Wazir abhi bhi surakshit hai... par agar rani hi maidan se hat jaaye toh baazi palat sakti hai."

Dayaniji (softly): "Maharani ji, aap Aarohi ji ke bare mein... chintit hai?"

Rajmata didn't respond immediately. Her slender fingers hovered over the chess queen piece.

Rajmata: "Woh ladki... chup chaap rehkar bhi zyada jaankari le leti hai. Tumne dekha na? Tahkhana tak chali gayi thi. Aur woh patra... woh purane grant... sab kuch padh rahi hai."

She captured the opposing knight.

Rajmata: "Shaatranj mein sabse zyada khatarnak rani hoti hai... jise sab kam samajhte hain. Par agar woh kisi aur ke rajya mein rakh di jaaye... toh?"

Dayaniji nodded slowly.

Dayaniji: "Toh wahaan ki raja bhi usse pehchaan nahi pata."

Rajmata's gaze hardened.

Rajmata: "Mujhe dikh gaya hai. Woh Rani banne ka sapna dekhti hai. Par uske sapne mere khel mein rukaawat ban rahe hain. Aur yeh mein hone nahi doongi."

She flicked her queen across the board with an intentional clack

Rajmata: "Agar us rani ko turant nahi hataya gaya, toh woh sach samajh jaayegi. Aur sach... ek aisa zeher hai jo meri saari saazish ko khatm kar dega."

Dayaniji (concerned): "Toh agla kadam kya hoga, Rajmata ji?"

Rajmata: "Wahi jo har maharani karti hai jab uski gaddi khatre mein ho... chhupi chaal. Woh chaal jise samajhne mein dusre ghode, oont aur wazir ulajh jaate hain."

She stood up slowly, her eyes glowing with dark intent.

Rajmata: "Main uske aaspaas aise logon ko lagaoongi jo uska har kadam note karein.

Uska vishwas todenge, uske iraade chhote karenge. Aur jab samay aayega... main usse usi rajya mein paraaya mehsoos kara doongi."

Dayaniji: "Sophie ji aur unki maa is khel mein madad karengi. Unke paas logon ki humdardi hai."

Rajmata smiled faintly.

Rajmata: "Sophie uski ghanti banegi. Aarohi ghanti bajti rahegi aur sab usse dekhte rahenge. Par main... main unki aankhon ke peeche apna raasta banaungi."

Dayaniji: "Aarohi ji ko shak hoga toh?"

Rajmata (with venom): "Woh toh pehle hi tooti si bhanwar mein hai. Sirf ek dhakka chahiye... aur woh khud gir jaayegi."

She sat back and concluded the game, checkmating the opposing king.

Rajmata: "Raja se pehle agar rani mar jaaye... toh jeet asaan ho jaati hai. Iss baar, main Aarohi ko uski hi masoomiyat se haarne doongi."

"Sannata - A Moment Between Storms"

Scene: Night, Royal Garden Courtyard

The cool night breeze whispered through the palace gardens. Soft rustling of trees and distant bells from the temple gave the night a sacred stillness. Aviraj stood alone under the royal neem tree, his thoughts louder than the silence around.

He hadn't spoken to Aarohi since he brought her back from the ancient tahkhana. The image of her-dust-covered, trembling, yet fiercely resolute-still haunted his mind.

Aviraj (murmuring to himself): "Main fir se us

par chillaya... jab woh sirf samajhna chah rahi thi... mera sach... meri maa ka sach."

He pressed his thumb against his forehead, eyes closing tightly.

Aviraj's Inner Voice: Kya main sach mein usse protect kar raha hoon... ya khud ke gusse ka bojh us par nikal raha hoon?

Across the courtyard, Aarohi walked slowly toward the fountain, a shawl draped over her shoulders. Her eyes were tired, yet peaceful in a strange way. She spotted Aviraj and hesitated.

Aarohi (softly): "Main bas thodi der ke liye bahar aayi thi... shanti chahiye thi."

Aviraj turned, his expression unreadable. He stepped closer, his tone quieter than she expected.

Aviraj: "Tumhe chot toh nahi lagi thi tahkhane mein...?"

Aarohi (gently): "Chot... sirf lafzon se lagi thi. Par ab dard nahi hota, Aviraj. Bas jawab chahiye."

They stood there in silence. The weight between them heavier than before, but less volatile.

Aviraj (after a pause): "Main jaanta hoon maine hadh paar ki... par tumhara uss tahkhane mein hona... woh darwaza... maa ke raaz... yeh sab... ek din mein samajhna asaan nahi hai, Aarohi."

Aarohi: "Main samajhne ki koshish kar rahi hoon. Main sirf tumhare saath hoon... tumhare khilaaf nahi."

Aviraj looked down, guilt flickering in his eyes.

Aviraj (softly): "Aur main tumhare saath kab khada tha...? Shayad kabhi nahi."

A breeze blew between them again. The moment was still, not quite reconciliation-but no longer a battlefield

Aarohi (quietly): "Kabhi kabhi... shabd se zyada khamoshi samjha deti hai. Shayad hum dono ko thoda waqt chahiye."

Aviraj nodded slowly, unable to argue.

Aviraj: "Waqt... aur himmat. Dono chahiye. Tumhari bhi, meri bhi."

The stars blinked silently above them, watching a storm soften-not vanish, but pause.

"Web of Illusions"

Scene: Rajmahal - Rajmata's Private Chambers

Rajmata stood near the large jharokha, looking out at the evening sun that washed the palace domes in a golden hue. Her lips curled into a slight smirk.

Rajmata (to herself): "Rani Suryalekha... jitni chatur thi tu... utni hi kamzor nikli teri yeh chhoti si virasat. Aarohi... ek naam, ek mohra... aur ab woh mohar mere haathon mein hai."

Just then, Virat and Sophia entered.

Sophia: "Rajmata, Aarohi library mein kuch purane grants aur diaries dhoondh rahi thi

Shayad usse kuch pata chal gaya ho..."

Virat: "Par humne use wahaan se hata diya. Main usse baat karunga, use kuch aur hi kahani sunani padegi. Ek aisi kahani jisme sach sirf dikhawa ho."

Rajmata turned toward them with an approving nod.

Rajmata: "Bohot achha. Aarohi jaisi emotional ladkiyon ke liye sach wohi hota hai jo unki aankhon se dikhai de. Unke dil se nahi, unki soch se khelo."

wali hoon. Ek jhooti diary... Rani Suryalekha ki. Isme aise saboot honge jo usse yeh yakin dilayenge ki Suryalekha ne riyasat se vishwasghaat kiya tha."

Virat: "Aur main usse bataunga ki Aviraj bhi iss baat se sehmat hai. Ki woh maa ko kabhi maaf nahi kar sakta. Uski maa ne rajya ke saath hi nahi, uske pita ke saath bhi vishwasghaat kiya tha."

Rajmata: "Iss safar ka agla padaav Aarohi ki dharnaon ka tootna hai. Jab woh tootegi, tab hi woh meri banegi."

Scene: Aarohi's Chamber - Later That Night

Aarohi sat with an old leather-bound diary in her lap. Sophia had handed it to her earlier, calling it "Ek sach jise kisi ne kabhi nahi padha."

Aarohi (reading aloud): "Maine kiya apraadha... Raj ko chhod diya... ek vyakti ke liye... jo mujhe kabhi apna bana nahi saka. Aviraj mere laayak nahi tha... na main uske laayak. Main sirf Rajmata banna chahti thi, Raj ki samraat nahi..."

Tears welled up in her eyes. Her fingers trembled as she turned the pages.

Aarohi (thinking): "Kya yeh sach hai? Kya unhone apne hi pati ko... aur apne rajya ko dhoka diya? Kya isiliye Aviraj unse itni nafrat karta hai? Shayad... shaayad main hi galat thi..."

She closed the diary slowly, her heart pounding with conflict.

Aarohi (softly): "Purani baaton mein kuch nahi rakha. Suryalekha Rani thi, par woh galtiyon se bhari hui Rani thi. Shayad... woh yeh sab deserve karti thi."

Just then, a servant came.

Servant: "Rajkumari Aarohi, Rajmata aapko

Servant: "Rajkumari Aarohi, Rajmata aapko turant bulawa bhej rahi hain."

She took a deep breath and followed, unaware that each step was drawing her deeper into Rajmata's maze of illusions.

End of chapter