𝐀𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚 : 𝐸𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠

~🥀 Veil and Vows 🥀~

💗

The royal car glided smoothly over the stone-paved roads of Patliputr, its polished windows casting back the gazes of the curious crowd that had gathered. Every corner they turned, people stood in quiet anticipation—some with folded hands, others craning their necks to catch a glimpse. The air buzzed with whispers.

"Woh aa rahi hai..."
"Hamari rani sa..."

Haseena shifted uncomfortably, her dupatta pulled over her head in a modest veil. She sat by the window, but not too close. Just enough to watch, not to be watched.

Her fingers clutched the edge of her dress as her gaze flickered to the streets. People lined both sides of the road, their eyes wide with reverence, their faces lit with silent awe.

And yet all she could feel was a pit churning in her stomach.

She had never liked attention. Never wanted to be seen as more than what she was a daughter, a student, a simple girl with quiet dreams. But now, they saw her as something else entirely.

A queen.

Her gaze drifted to the massive iron gates that had begun to appear in the distance -Garh ka dwar.She felt her throat tighten.

From the front seat, her Ammi let out a long breath, this time not of worry—but peace. There was a calmness in her mother’s eyes now, a kind of resigned comfort she hadn’t seen in months.

All thanks to Sadhna Yadav, who sat beside her, adorned in a graceful saree, speaking in soft tones.

"Humein yakin hai, Noor ," Sadhna smiled gently, "Raj gharane ke sadasya Haseena ka dhyan rakhenge. Ye Yaduvansh sirf naam ka nahi hai, unka dil bhi rajaon jaisa hai. Aapki beti yahan sirf bahu nahi, beti ban kar rahegi."

Her Ammi nodded with a small smile, "Humein ab lagta hai sab theek ho jaayega..."

But Haseena’s heart disagreed.

Everything inside her screamed otherwise.

She didn’t say a word. She just stared outside the window, watching as the villagers folded their hands, women scattered petals along the roadside, children shouted in joy. All for her.

Their to-be queen.

A title she never asked for.

A life she never imagined.

She looked down at her own hands, pressed against her lap, still trembling faintly. The echo of Anubhav’s voice from that locked classroom,the weight of his words,still lingered like a bruise on her soul.

And yet here she was.

Sitting in the car arranged by that very man.

Heading to his palace.

To become his bride.

The palace gates loomed closer now, massive and ancient, their edges carved with symbols of power and legacy. The guards saluted as the royal fleet rolled through.

Anuradha, sitting across from her, leaned in with an excited whisper, “Bas thodi der aur, Haseena... hamara mahal aa gaya!”

Haseena offered a small smile in return, one that didn’t reach her eyes.

She shifted slightly, pulling her veil lower. Not out of modesty ,but to hide the fear flickering in her gaze.

As the car rolled forward, her eyes locked on the towering silhouette of Garh Aryawrat .

Stone by stone, it rose like a monument of legacy and control. Regal. Intimidating.

And soon... her prison