In the heart of kingdom torn between desire and tradition .
The journey of Shivani singh shekhawat and Jayavardhan singh Ranawat, two souls bound by the chain of obligation and thrust into a loveless marriage against their will.....
The first light of dawn crept through the heavy curtains of the bridal chamber, casting a faint, golden glow across the room. Shivani stirred from her restless sleep, her head pounding from the emotional turbulence of the previous night. As she slowly woke, she found herself in an unfamiliar room. The grandness of the palace and the cold demeanor of her new husband weighed heavily on her mind. She sat up, wincing at the ache in her temples, and took in her surroundings.
Her heart sank as she remembered her situation: married to Jayavardhan, a man who had made it clear he would not love her. The coldness of the room mirrored her husband's indifference. Shivani glanced at the other side of the bed, but it was empty. A frown settled on her face as she wondered where Jayavardhan could be. It was early morning, and given his physique, she guessed he might be in the gym.
Despite the hurt she felt from last night, Shivani pushed her emotions aside. She didn't want to be late on her first day in her new home. Determined to make a good impression, she rose from the bed and walked over to the closet. She rummaged through her suitcase, grabbing a beautiful yellow poshak. she had planned to arrange her clothes in closet after sometime.
She went to the bathroom for a much-needed bath, hoping the warm water would soothe her aching head and calm her frazzled nerves. After a long soak, she emerged feeling somewhat refreshed. Clad in her lehenga and a matching kurti, she approached the mirror. She uses a towel to dry her long hair because she hates using a hairdryer.
The task of applying makeup followed-simple mascara and lipstick. The real challenge lay ahead: putting on her jewelry. She struggled with her rakhdi and nath, feeling frustrated as she attempted to pin them in place. The nath, in particular, was a problem; her nose was still swollen from removing it the previous night. As she tried to insert it, pain shot through her, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Resigning herself to a small silver bindi instead of the nath, she applied it, thinking it would pass for a nosering. A small smile crossed her face as she patted herself on the back for the clever trick. The rakhdi, however, remained a struggle. The dori kept slipping, making it impossible to tie securely.
Eventually, she decided to forgot the rakhdi and instead adorned herself with heavy payals that chimed softly with her every movement. She adored the sound of the payals and loved their rhythmic jingles. As she bounced slightly on the spot, the payals made a pleasant noise that filled her with a sense of joy.
Her happiness was short-lived, though, as a throat-clearing sound startled her. She froze, her heart racing as she turned towards the closet door. Jayavardhan stood there, arms folded, a serious expression on his face. He was dressed only in sweatpants, his body glistening with sweat from a workout. Shivani's eyes widened in surprise as she took in his well-defined physique.
Her cheeks flushed a deep red as their eyes met. She could see the hint of an amused smirk on his face. The sight of him made her stomach churn with a mix of embarrassment and intrigue. Jayavardhan's husky voice broke the silence. "Like what you see, Rani Sa?"
The term "Rani Sa" sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt a surge of butterflies in her stomach. Stammering, she tried to find her words. "V...voo... nahi... mera mat... matlab haaa... nahi."
Jayavardhan's smirk widened slightly, his eyes lingering on her. She felt a deep pang of self-consciousness as she realized she must look like a fool jumping around. "Aap... aapko ku...ch chahiye... tha ...hukum ...sa?" she asked, her voice quivering.
Jayavardhan shook his head slightly. "No, nothing. I was just passing by."
With that, he headed into the bathroom. Shivani breathed a sigh of relief and went back to the mirror, her hands once again fumbling with the rakhdi. She struggled for what felt like an eternity, her frustration mounting. Just as she was about to give up, Jayavardhan's voice echoed from the bathroom. "Utarne me bhi madad chahiye or pehne me bhi, Rani Sa?"
Her gaze shifted to the mirror, where Jayavardhan's reflection showed him in a sharp black tuxedo. He looked impeccable, and Shivani's heart skipped a beat. She mentally scolded herself for being so easily swayed by his appearance. "Shivani, kya soch rahi ho? Bhool gayi inhone kitna kuch bola tumhe raat ko aur tum inhe hot aur handsome keh rahi ho? Shame on you," her inner voice reprimanded.
Pulling herself together, she replied in a soft voice, "Aap pehna dege kya, hukum sa?"
Jayavardhan stepped out of the bathroom, his demeanor still aloof but slightly less intimidating. He came to stand behind Shivani and took the rakhdi from her. His touch was surprisingly gentle as he helped her fasten it. Once it was in place, he took a step back and nodded approvingly.
Shivani adjusted her odhani and took a long veil. Jayavardhan glanced at her and said, "Let's go. Everyone is waiting."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Shivani nodded, and they descended the grand staircase together. As they walked, Shivani's mind raced with the events of the previous night. She felt a mix of anxiety and hope for the day ahead. The warmth of Jayavardhan's family was a stark contrast to his coldness, and she hoped to find her place within this new world.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, the bustling activity of the palace was evident. The servants and staff moved with purpose, preparing for the day's events. Shivani took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She could feel Jayavardhan's presence beside her, his calm yet distant aura a constant reminder of the complex relationship they shared.
As they continued down the hall, Shivani couldn't help but feel a mixture of hope and trepidation. The palace was a world of its own, filled with both warmth and coldness, and she was determined to find her way through it, one step at a time.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Hello readers,
I'm excited to share that I've just updated a new chapter for all my wonderful readers who have been voting, commenting, and following. I hope you all enjoy it!
Your support means the world to me. For those of you who are enjoying the chapters but haven't voted yet, please take a moment to hit that vote button.
Your votes, comments, and follows really motivate me and help my story reach more readers. Thank you all for your amazing support!
