Beyond Destiny ~ A Saga Of Timeless Love

37 ~ The Charade

"You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I ever read."

Ruhanika

"I apologize, but I wasn’t sure about this myself, and I didn’t know how you would react. Please, say something," I said nervously, fidgeting with my fingers.

This morning, we had returned from watching the sunrise together—a memory so beautiful it felt unreal. But what surprised me more was what happened after. When I woke up, he handed me my clean, dried clothes. It wasn’t me who had dried them. He had washed and dried them while I was sleeping. Can you believe it? A prince, who probably never washed his own clothes, doing something so thoughtful for me.

He is the man of my dreams—loyal, intelligent, sharp, capable of fighting for me, caring, loving, and, most importantly, respectful. And, to top it all off, stunningly attractive. I would give my life for this man—my man. Ahhhhh, even just thinking about it makes my heart flutter. My man. It sounds so perfect.

But focus, Ruhanika. Focus.

Everything was fine until Maya noticed the ring on my finger. Her sharp eyes didn’t miss a thing. Before I knew it, she had dragged me out to the garden, bringing along Janki Amma and Arjun Bhaisa. Their expressions made my heart sink, but I had no choice but to admit the truth about my relationship with Dev. I wanted to tell them about my time travel too, but the way they reacted scared me. Now they were all just staring at me, too stunned to speak.

"You mean Dev asked you to marry him?" Arjun Bhaisa finally broke the silence, his voice sharp and controlled.

"That is what I said," I remarked sarcastically, unable to hide my irritation.

"I do not approve," he stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Excuse me, come again?" I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. What does he think of himself?

"I said, I do not approve of this relationship," he repeated, this time more deliberate, making my temper rise.

"Who do you think you are?" I snapped, taking a step forward. "Did I ask for your approval? I was enlightening everyone, not seeking permission. Mind your own damn business," I said coldly, knowing I’d likely hurt him, but unable to hold back.

"Ruhanika, this is not a game!" he shot back, his voice loud and cutting. "Do you even realize the gravity of this situation? He is a prince, and you are... you are an attendee! Do you think the people will agree? Do you think the king and queen will consent? They won’t. Ruhanika, stop living in a fantasy world. I’m not trying to hurt you, but you have to face the truth. You’re my sister, and I care for you. Dev may be my best friend, and I know he’s an incredible man, but the king is not. If he even suspects this, he will kill you without a second thought. He will never let the Crown Prince of Magadh marry a commoner, let alone someone like you." His words stung, and my eyes welled up, tears threatening to fall.

"Yes, dear," Janki Amma chimed in, her voice calm yet heavy with concern. "I’m not questioning the prince’s character, but royal men can be unpredictable. Are you absolutely certain he isn’t just toying with you?"

Her words broke me. I trusted Dev with every fiber of my being, but hearing their doubts... it wasn’t me I felt bad for—it was Dev. They didn’t know him the way I did.

"If you have any questions, ask me directly," a deep, familiar voice interrupted. My heart raced as I turned to see Dev walking toward us, his expression stormy. "I am the one who should answer them." His commanding tone silenced everyone.

When our eyes met, tears spilled over my cheeks. His jaw tightened as he noticed, and I quickly wiped them away, knowing how much he hated seeing me cry. But before I could say anything, he was already in front of me, gently brushing away the remaining tears with his thumb. He kissed my forehead softly, lingering for a moment. The warmth of his touch made my heart ache.