HOUSE OF LIES

3

Nandini stepped off the plane, holding her phone to her ear. "Ji Maa, I've got all my things. Don't worry, I'm not a child anymore," she said, smiling softly as she reassured her mother.

The air felt different in Suryagarh. As she headed towards the exit of the small airport, Nandini noticed the crowd gathered around. "There are so many people here... maybe they're here to mourn the late king," she whispered to herself, her thoughts wandering.

Suddenly, a voice broke through her thoughts. "Madam Sa."

She turned to see a man standing behind her, dressed in simple clothes, but there was something commanding about him. "I'm here to pick you up on behalf of the royal family."

Nandini nodded, following him to the car. As she walked behind him, she couldn't help but notice how different he looked from a usual driver. "He doesn't look like a driver at all... just look at his muscles..." she thought to herself before mentally shaking herself. "Stop drooling over a man, Nandini. You already have a boyfriend."

Once they were seated in the car, Nandini in the back seat, she started scrolling through her phone. But soon, she felt a strong, intense gaze on her. It made her uncomfortable."Hey, are you staring at me?" she asked, her voice sharp.

"Ji, Madam Sa. Because you are very beautiful," the man replied smoothly, his voice deep.Nandini's heart skipped a beat, but not out of flattery—out of fear. "What? Stop the car!" she ordered.

The driver's voice grew colder. "No, Madam. This car will stop only once we reach the right destination."Nandini's pulse quickened. "Who are you? Stop the car, or I'll jump out!"

The man pulled the car to a halt, but instead of letting her go, he got out and approached the back seat. His eyes darkened as he looked at her. "Chup chap baitho, varna zabarzasti bhi kar sakte hain," he said in a threatening tone.

Nandini's heart raced. "Who are you? Where are you taking me?" she demanded.The man looked at her with a sinister smile. "We are going to get married."

Nandini's eyes widened in disbelief. "What nonsense! Listen, I have a boyfriend! And you don't know who I am! I'm best friends with the kingdom's princess. If you don't stop this right now, they'll kill you!"

The man's smile grew colder. "I am the future king of this kingdom. So you better stay quiet and cooperate."

Nandini's mind whirled with confusion and fear. "You're lying. Let me go!" she shouted, panic filling her voice. But before she could do anything else, the man moved quickly, tying her hands with a rope and covering her mouth with tape.

"I thought talking kindly would work, but it seems you only understand force," the man said, his voice chilling. He got back into the driver's seat, and they sped away.
After what felt like an eternity, the car stopped in front of an old Shiv temple. Nandini's heart sank. What was happening?

The man got out and opened the door. Without a word, he picked her up and carried her over his shoulder, climbing the steps of the temple. She struggled, but it was useless—he was too strong.Inside the temple, everything was prepared. The priest stood ready, though he seemed nervous, sensing something was terribly wrong.

Nandini was placed beside the man, her hands still bound, her eyes wild with panic. She tried to resist, but the man pulled out a gun, pointing it at the priest's head."I won't kill you," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "but if you resist again, I might shoot him."

Nandini stopped struggling, her mind racing. She shook her head, signalling that she would comply. She had no choice.

The priest, trembling, began the rituals. "Ab Vadhu ki maang mein sindoor bhariye," he said, his voice shaky.

The man took a pinch of sindoor and filled Nandini's hairline with the vermillion, marking her as his wife.

The priest looked at them and spoke the final words. "Aaj se aap pati patni hue."

The man leaned close to Nandini, his breath warm against her ear. "Congratulations, Mrs. Nandini Rajveer Rajvanshi," he said with a smirk. "Now, you're my wife."

Nandini's heart felt like it had stopped. This couldn't be happening.