Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya

Part III: The Unraveling Truth

Chapter 21: Rajguru's Warning

The air in the palace had grown cold, a palpable chill that seeped through the walls, making even the grand halls feel oppressive. Maya sat in the dimly lit chamber, staring into the flickering flame of a candle, her thoughts clouded with fear. Ever since the confrontation with Vikram, the hauntings had only intensified. Whispers echoed in the corridors, and shadows stretched unnaturally long into the night. It felt as though the very walls were alive with a malevolent force.

Rajguru had requested a meeting, his tone unusually grave. Maya knew something was coming. She feared what the ancient priest might say, but she needed answers-anything to make sense of the growing terror that surrounded her.

The door creaked open, and Rajguru entered, his frail form cloaked in his ceremonial robes. His deep-set eyes, full of ancient wisdom, met hers with a grim intensity. He walked with a deliberate, slow pace, as though each step carried the weight of the palace's dark secrets.

"Rajguru," Maya greeted him, her voice thin, almost pleading. "You asked to speak with me."

He nodded and motioned for her to sit. She lowered herself onto a cushion, her heart heavy with dread.

"I have consulted the ancient texts, child," Rajguru began, his voice low, as though the walls themselves might be listening. "What we are dealing with is no ordinary haunting. Rani Aranya's spirit is restless, driven by something far stronger than love. It is obsession, a desire to possess what was once hers."

Maya swallowed hard, her throat tightening. "But she's gone, Rajguru. She's dead. How can she still have such power over this place... over us?"

Rajguru's gaze darkened, and he leaned forward. "Spirits that are bound by dark magic do not pass on peacefully. Rani was not just any queen-she dabbled in forces she should never have touched. Her love for Raja Vikram twisted into something dark, something unnatural. She performed forbidden rituals, binding her soul to this palace and to him."

Maya's heart pounded in her chest. She had suspected as much after reading the diary, but hearing it confirmed from Rajguru sent a shiver down her spine.

"I've read her diary, Rajguru," Maya whispered. "She was obsessed with Vikram. She loved him so much that she couldn't let go. But... can't we help her find peace? Can't we put an end to this?"

Rajguru's eyes closed for a brief moment, as if weighing his words carefully. "There may be a way to release her spirit, but it will not be easy. Her attachment to Raja Vikram is stronger than any bond I have ever seen. As long as she believes he belongs to her, she will never rest."

Maya felt a wave of despair wash over her. "So, what do we do? How do we stop her?"

The old priest's face grew even more solemn. "Maya, the truth is harsh. As long as you remain in this palace, her spirit will continue to torment you. She sees you as the one who has taken her place. And she will not stop until you are gone-either from the palace, or from this world."

Maya's blood ran cold at his words. She had known the danger, but hearing it spoken so plainly shook her to her core. "Are you saying... I should leave?"

Rajguru sighed, his frail hands resting on his knees. "It is the only way to save your life, child. Rani's spirit grows stronger each day. She draws power from the palace, from the memories that bind her here. She cannot harm Raja Vikram-her magic won't allow it. But you... you are the one standing between her and what she desires most."

Maya's chest tightened as fear and helplessness clashed within her. "But if I leave... what will happen to Vikram? Will she stop?"

Rajguru's expression remained grave. "Rani's spirit will no longer have a reason to target you, but her obsession with Raja Vikram will remain. She will continue to linger, seeking ways to bind him to her even in death. You are her immediate threat, Maya. She views you as her rival."

Tears pricked at Maya's eyes, the weight of Rajguru's words sinking in. "So... I'm to abandon him? To leave him to face this alone?"

Rajguru shook his head gently. "No, not abandon him. But you must understand, if you stay here, Rani's wrath will consume you. And once she has succeeded in eliminating you, she may turn her attention to more dangerous pursuits-rituals that could trap Vikram's soul alongside hers."

Maya's breath hitched. "Trap his soul?"

Rajguru nodded solemnly. "If she performs the right ritual, she can pull his spirit to the afterlife, forcing him to remain with her for eternity. The bond she created was not just one of life, but one of death as well."

Maya sat in stunned silence, her mind reeling from the enormity of the danger they faced. She had thought Rani's haunting was about jealousy or anger, but it was something far more terrifying-something that could claim Vikram's very soul.

"But what about the purification rituals? You've tried to cleanse the palace," Maya said, her voice trembling. "Can't you break the bond?"

Rajguru's gaze fell, his voice heavy with sorrow. "I have done all I can. The dark magic Rani used is too deeply woven into the fabric of this place. It cannot be undone by simple rituals. Only by severing the emotional ties between her and Raja Vikram can we hope to weaken her."

Maya's heart ached as she realized what Rajguru was saying. The bond between Vikram and Rani, no matter how twisted, still lingered. As long as Vikram held onto his memories of her, as long as he refused to let go of his love, Rani would never truly leave.

"And Vikram... will he ever be able to let her go?" Maya asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Rajguru's eyes softened, filled with compassion. "That, my child, is the question only he can answer. He must come to terms with the truth of what Rani became. Until he does, her spirit will hold a powerful sway over him."

Maya clenched her fists, feeling a surge of helplessness. "I can't leave him, Rajguru. Not like this. I love him. I can't just walk away."

Rajguru's expression was full of sorrow, but he spoke with conviction. "If you stay, Maya, you will not survive. Rani's spirit is growing more aggressive by the day. The palace is crumbling under her influence. You must leave, if only to give Raja Vikram the time he needs to face this battle alone."

Tears slipped down Maya's cheeks as she realized the truth. Staying would only put her life at risk, and in doing so, she would prevent Vikram from confronting the full extent of Rani's obsession.

"I will speak to him," Maya said, her voice shaking but resolute. "But I won't leave without saying goodbye."

Rajguru nodded, rising slowly to his feet. "Be careful, Maya. The path ahead is dangerous, but you must trust that Raja Vikram will find the strength to do what is right."

As Rajguru left the room, Maya stood alone, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. She would speak to Vikram. She would make him see the truth. But leaving the man she loved, even to save her life, felt like the hardest thing she had ever faced.

The echoes of Rani's haunting filled the palace, growing louder by the moment. Time was running out, and Maya knew that soon, a choice would have to be made-one that could either save them all, or doom them forever.