Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya

Part II: The Haunting Begins

Chapter 9: The King's Dismissal

The morning sun filtered through the curtains of the royal chambers, casting a golden light across the room. Raja Vikram sat at his desk, reviewing the daily reports from the kingdom’s ministers. His mind, however, was only half-focused on the work before him. He had noticed Maya’s unease over the past few days. She had grown quieter, her eyes often darting toward shadows, and she seemed restless during the nights. Despite her concerns about strange happenings in the palace, he couldn’t bring himself to believe in such superstitions.

As he set aside the reports, the door creaked open, and Maya entered the room, her face pale and drawn.

“Vikram,” she began, her voice soft yet urgent, “we need to talk.”

Raja Vikram looked up, concern flickering in his eyes. “Maya, you look exhausted. What’s troubling you?”

Maya hesitated for a moment, then sat down across from him, wringing her hands. “It’s happening again, Vikram. Last night, I heard the whispers. And I saw something… or someone.”

Vikram’s brow furrowed as he listened. “You saw someone?”

“Yes.” Maya’s voice trembled. “I think it was Rani Aranya.”

There was a moment of silence before Vikram leaned back in his chair, a sigh escaping his lips. “Maya,” he began gently, “I understand you’ve been under a lot of stress since the wedding. Adjusting to life in the palace isn’t easy, and with all the responsibilities, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed.”

Maya shook her head, frustration building inside her. “This isn’t about adjusting to royal life, Vikram. I’ve felt watched ever since I came here. I hear whispers in the night, and things move on their own. And last night… I saw her. I saw Aranya standing in the doorway.”

Vikram stood up and walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Maya, you’re tired. You’re imagining things because of the stress. Spirits don’t linger like that, and Aranya is at peace. You need to rest.”

Maya pulled away from him, her voice rising. “I’m not imagining this, Vikram! I know what I saw! Why won’t you believe me?”

The tension between them hung thick in the air. Vikram’s face softened, and he reached for her again, but Maya took a step back, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and desperation.

“Maya,” Vikram said softly, “I love you. But you have to understand, this palace is old, and sometimes these things happen in old places. The creaking walls, the cold drafts—they’re all just part of the building’s nature. And as for seeing Aranya, perhaps you’ve been thinking about her more than you realize.”

Maya shook her head vehemently. “No, it wasn’t just a trick of the mind. She was there, Vikram. I could feel her presence. The servants have felt it too.”

Vikram rubbed the back of his neck, his patience beginning to wear thin. “The servants? Maya, they love to gossip. If one of them so much as hears the wind blow through the halls at night, they’ll spin a tale of spirits and hauntings. You’re letting these stories get to you.”

“But it’s not just the stories,” Maya insisted, her voice strained. “Rani Aranya’s belongings disappear and reappear, objects move, footsteps echo in the night. I’m not the only one who’s noticed.”

Vikram sighed, moving to stand in front of her again. He cupped her face in his hands, looking into her eyes. “Maya, please. You need to trust me. Aranya is gone. Her spirit isn’t haunting us. You’re the queen now, and this is your home. Don’t let fear take that away from you.”

Maya’s eyes filled with tears as she pulled away from his grasp. “It’s not fear, Vikram. It’s something else. Something dark.”

Vikram took a deep breath, his tone growing firmer. “You need to let this go, Maya. We can’t live in the shadow of the past forever. Aranya’s death was tragic, but it’s time to move forward.”

Maya clenched her fists at her sides, feeling a wave of helplessness wash over her. “I want to move forward, but how can I when I feel like something is pulling me back? Something that doesn’t want me here.”

Vikram turned away, pacing the room as frustration gnawed at him. “Do you want me to summon the Rajguru? Have him perform some sort of ritual to cleanse the palace of spirits? Is that what it will take for you to feel safe?”

Maya wiped her tears, her voice barely a whisper. “I just want you to believe me.”

Vikram paused, his back to her, and closed his eyes. He took a moment before turning around to face her again. “I do believe that you’re scared, Maya. I see it in your eyes, I hear it in your voice. But what you’re afraid of isn’t real. It’s just the stress of everything—becoming queen, managing the court, living in this vast palace. It’s overwhelming, I understand that. But you have to trust that everything will be alright.”

Maya looked at him, her heart aching. She could see that he wasn’t going to understand. He wasn’t going to believe her. And that realization cut deeper than any fear she had felt.

“Alright,” she whispered, her voice hollow. “Maybe you’re right.”

Vikram approached her, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I just want you to be happy here, Maya. We’ll get through this, together.”

Maya nodded numbly, but the sense of isolation only deepened within her. As Vikram left the room, she stood by the window, staring out at the palace grounds. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the landscape.

She could still feel the weight of unseen eyes upon her.

That night, Maya lay awake again, the whispers returning to her like a haunting melody. She pressed her palms over her ears, trying to block out the sound, but it seeped through, chilling her to the bone.

And once again, in the corner of her room, she saw the shadowy figure of a woman watching her—silent, unmoving, and full of cold, unspoken intent.

Maya’s heart pounded as she shut her eyes tightly, but she knew. Whether Raja believed her or not, she was not alone in the palace. Something—someone—was there, lurking in the darkness. And it wouldn’t be ignored forever.