The Lost Crown.

Chapter 1: The First step into fate.

Chapter 1: The First Step into Fate

The rhythmic sound of drums echoed through the sprawling courtyard, reverberating in Ishaani Rao’s chest as she stood by the window of her ancestral home. Outside, the colorful chaos of the pre-wedding festivities swirled like a storm—a whirlwind of red and gold fabrics, tinkling anklets, and contagious laughter. But within her heart, there was only silence. A suffocating, still silence that none of the festivities could reach.

"Ishaani? Are you ready?"

Her mother’s voice floated into the room like a gentle knock on the door, but Ishaani didn’t turn around. Her fingers toyed with the edge of the pale blue dupatta draped loosely over her shoulders. It felt heavy—heavier than it should. The weight of tradition, of expectation, clung to her like a second skin, refusing to let go.

"Almost, Ma," she murmured, her voice low but steady.

Her mother, Rekha, entered the room, her soft eyes searching Ishaani’s face. "I know this is overwhelming, beta. But you will learn to love Arnav. These things… they happen in time. He’s a good man."

Ishaani nodded absently, though her thoughts were miles away. She wasn’t afraid of Arnav Kapoor, her charming, enigmatic fiancé. In fact, it was quite the opposite—he intrigued her in ways she didn’t want to admit. But the idea of marrying him under the weight of her family’s expectations made her feel like a bird trapped in a gilded cage.

Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door interrupted the quiet moment. Ishaani turned, and there stood Veer, her elder brother, with his usual carefree smirk. "So, our princess still hiding away, huh?"

Ishaani managed a weak smile. "Not hiding. Just thinking."

"Don’t think too much," Veer said, stepping inside, his tone light but laced with a deeper concern. "It’s your big day. Everyone’s waiting for you downstairs. And trust me, Arnav's just as nervous."

Ishaani raised an eyebrow. "Arnav? Nervous? I doubt that."

Veer chuckled. "Believe me, Ishaani, he’s not the cool, confident guy he pretends to be around you. He’s asking about you every ten minutes."

Her stomach fluttered unexpectedly at the thought of Arnav waiting for her downstairs, surrounded by the vibrant energy of the celebration. But it wasn’t just anticipation; it was also the feeling of being drawn into something far bigger than herself. The kind of pull that might change her forever.

Before she could respond, the sudden crackle of firecrackers outside shattered the air, followed by distant, joyous cheers. Ishaani flinched, her heart pounding faster.

Veer’s grin faded, replaced by a concerned frown. "Something’s happening outside. Let’s go."

As they rushed toward the grand hall, the once-exhilarating sounds of the celebration morphed into an undercurrent of tension. Ishaani’s pulse quickened, her mind racing with a thousand possibilities. Was something wrong?

The second she stepped into the bustling courtyard, she felt the shift in the atmosphere. The festive lights flickered uneasily, casting long, eerie shadows over the assembled guests. In the center, Arnav stood tall, his face set in an unreadable expression as he conversed in hushed tones with a man Ishaani didn’t recognize. The stranger was cloaked in black, his presence unsettling.

She stepped closer, catching a fragment of the conversation.

"It’s all in place," the stranger muttered, his voice cold and calculated. "Tonight, everything changes."

Arnav’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flickered briefly to Ishaani before he turned away, as if to shield her from something dark.

Her heart skipped a beat. What was going on? What secret was Arnav hiding?

The feeling of safety that had once surrounded her like a warm embrace now felt like a distant memory.