Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya

Part II: The Haunting Begins

Chapter 14: The Shadows of Doubt

Maya lay in bed, her body drenched in sweat, her heart racing as she woke up with a start. The nightmares were getting worse—more vivid, more real. Every night, it was the same: flashes of Rani Aranya’s face, her piercing eyes filled with accusation, her voice echoing in Maya’s mind. But this time, the dream had been different. She had seen something new, something that had unsettled her to her very core. It wasn’t just the sight of the late queen—it was the moment of her death.

Maya had always been told that Rani had fallen mysteriously ill, a sickness that no physician could cure. But in the dream, it hadn’t seemed like an illness at all. She had seen Rani clutching her chest, her lips moving in silent desperation, reaching out for help. And there, in the background, had been a shadow—a figure standing in the doorway, watching her suffer.

Maya could still feel the icy grip of fear as she sat up in bed, trembling. Vikram stirred beside her, sensing her movement. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, concerned by the pale look on her face.

“Maya, what’s wrong?” His voice was thick with sleep, but the worry in his tone was unmistakable.

She shook her head, still trying to process what she had seen. “It’s the nightmares, Vikram. They’re getting worse. I... I keep seeing Rani, but tonight, I saw more. I saw her... dying.”

Vikram’s face tightened. He reached out to take her hand, his grip firm but gentle. “Maya, it’s just your mind playing tricks on you. The hauntings have been weighing heavily on all of us.”

Maya pulled her hand away, shaking her head again, this time more urgently. “No, Vikram. This wasn’t just a dream. It felt too real, too vivid. I think...” Her voice caught in her throat as she forced herself to say the words. “I think Rani didn’t die from illness. I think someone was there, someone who wanted her dead.”

Vikram stiffened, his brows knitting together in disbelief. “Maya, that’s impossible. Rani was loved by all. She became ill, and we did everything we could to save her.”

Maya’s breath came in shallow gasps as she tried to convey the weight of what she had seen. “But what if it wasn’t just an illness? What if she was... poisoned?”

Vikram stood up from the bed, pacing the floor of their chamber. His expression darkened as he tried to process Maya’s words. “Poison? Who would dare do such a thing? Rani was a queen, revered by the people.”

Maya watched him, her own fear growing as she saw the storm of emotions crossing his face. “I don’t know, Vikram. But these hauntings, these nightmares—they’re not just random. Rani is trying to tell us something. She’s trying to show me what happened.”

Vikram turned to face her, his eyes hard with skepticism. “Maya, you’re under a lot of stress. The palace has been in turmoil ever since the hauntings began. It’s no wonder you’re having these visions. But you can’t seriously believe that someone in this palace murdered Rani.”

Maya stood, wrapping her arms around herself as a chill passed through the room. “I don’t want to believe it, but I can’t ignore what I’ve seen. What if Rani’s spirit won’t rest because there was foul play? What if that’s why she’s haunting us—because justice was never done?”

Vikram’s eyes softened slightly, but he remained firm. “We’ve done everything we can, Maya. We’ve performed rituals, we’ve consulted Rajguru, but nothing seems to work. What you’re suggesting... it’s dangerous. It could stir up suspicion, distrust among our people.”

Maya’s voice quivered with emotion as she took a step toward him. “But what if I’m right, Vikram? What if someone in this palace knows the truth? What if that person is still here, watching us, waiting?”

Vikram frowned, rubbing a hand over his face in frustration. “I can’t entertain this, Maya. The kingdom is already on edge. If word got out that the queen was murdered, it would create chaos.”

Maya’s shoulders sagged as the weight of her suspicions pressed down on her. “I don’t know what to do. The dreams are so real, Vikram. I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

He closed the distance between them, taking her face in his hands and looking deeply into her eyes. “You’re not losing your mind, Maya. But we need to approach this carefully. If there’s any truth to what you’re saying, we need to find evidence—not dreams, not whispers. Until then, we can’t jump to conclusions.”

Maya bit her lip, her heart heavy with doubt. “I know... but I can’t shake the feeling that Rani is trying to tell me something important.”

Vikram sighed, his thumb brushing her cheek in a soothing gesture. “We’ll find out the truth, Maya. But for now, you need to rest. This is all becoming too much for you.”

Maya nodded reluctantly, though her mind still churned with questions. She allowed Vikram to lead her back to bed, but sleep did not come easily. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Rani’s face, the shadow in the doorway, the sense of betrayal and fear.

---

The next morning, as the sun rose over the palace, the atmosphere was tense. The servants moved about with wary glances, as if they too felt the weight of the unknown pressing down on them. Maya sat at the breakfast table with Vikram, pushing food around her plate without much appetite.

General Bhanu approached them, his expression grim. “Your Majesty, I’ve doubled the guard as you requested. There’s been talk among the servants... some say the hauntings are getting worse.”

Vikram nodded, though he seemed distracted. “Thank you, General. Keep a close watch, especially at night.”

Maya barely heard their conversation, her mind consumed with the dream she’d had. She glanced around the grand dining hall, her eyes falling on the portraits of past queens that lined the walls. Her gaze lingered on Rani Aranya’s portrait—her serene expression, her graceful poise. But now, all Maya could see was the anguish she had witnessed in her nightmare.

Suddenly, a cold draft swept through the room, causing the candles to flicker. Maya’s body tensed, her hand clutching her fork tightly. She could feel it—the same presence that had haunted her dreams, the same icy chill that followed her everywhere.

Vikram noticed her discomfort and reached for her hand. “Are you all right?”

Maya swallowed hard, nodding slightly. “I just... I feel like she’s here.”

Vikram’s face hardened, and he turned to General Bhanu. “We need to get to the bottom of this. I won’t have my wife living in fear.”

Bhanu gave a sharp nod. “I’ll speak with Rajguru again. There must be something more we can do.”

As the general left, Maya looked at Vikram, her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. “What if we can’t stop this, Vikram? What if Rani’s death wasn’t natural? What if she won’t rest until the truth is revealed?”

Vikram’s jaw clenched. “Then we’ll find the truth, no matter the cost. But we need to be careful, Maya. If there’s something hidden in this palace, we’ll uncover it. But we must tread carefully.”

Maya nodded, but deep down, she knew that the road ahead was fraught with danger. The more she uncovered, the more she suspected that Rani’s death had been far from ordinary—and that someone in the palace might not want the truth to be revealed.