Chaotic Relations

Chapter 38

Hi Guys!

The new chapter is here!

Chapters 39-45 are already uploaded on Scrollstack. If you want, you can check them out. The link is on my profile.

Enjoy Reading!

The massive doors at the far end of the ballroom swung open, and Ruhanika's eyes widened in disbelief. Five familiar figures stepped into view—Aadrika, Shivam, Sameeksha, Mridul, and to her complete shock, Anirudh. They stood there, looking slightly uncomfortable yet determined in their formal attire, scanning the crowd until their gazes landed on her.

"Mere dost," Ruhanika whispered, tears welling in her eyes. My friends.

For a moment, she stood frozen, unable to comprehend that her friends from her old life were actually here, in the grandest ballroom in Jodhpur, surrounded by royalty and business tycoons. Then, propriety forgotten, she gathered her lehenga in her hands and ran across the polished marble floor, uncaring of the hundreds of eyes following her every move.

"Kaise ho tum log yahan?" she exclaimed, throwing herself into their collective embrace. How are you all here?

Shivam laughed, steadying her as she nearly toppled them all over in her enthusiasm. "Easy there, Ruhi! You'll ruin that fancy crown of yours."

"Tiara," Aadrika corrected him automatically, her eyes taking in Ruhanika's transformed appearance with undisguised awe. "And look at you! You're actually a princess. When Amrit told us, we thought he was pulling our leg."

Amrit stepped forward from where he had been standing near the entrance, a satisfied smile on his face. "Told you guys I wasn't making it up."

Ruhanika turned to him, understanding dawning. "You... you arranged this?"

"Not just me," Amrit replied, gesturing toward the Agnihotri family who were watching the reunion with varying expressions of indulgence and curiosity. "Your family wanted to surprise you. They tracked down all of us through me."

Anant approached the group, his regal presence causing Ruhanika's friends to straighten instinctively. "You all meant the world to my daughter when she was away from us," he said, his voice gentle yet commanding. "For that, the Agnihotri family is eternally grateful."

Mridul, always the most composed of the group, bowed slightly. "It's an honor to meet you, sir. Ruhi—I mean, Princess Ruhanika has always been special to all of us."

"Princess nothing," Ruhanika insisted, clutching Sameeksha's hand tightly as if afraid her friends might disappear if she let go. "I'm still just Ruhi to you guys."

"Bilkul nahi," Sameeksha retorted with a smile. Absolutely not. "You were always a queen bee to us, and now it turns out you actually have royal blood. Some things are just meant to be."

Anirudh, who had been quietly observing, finally stepped forward. Unlike the others who seemed somewhat awed by their surroundings, he carried himself with natural ease—a reminder of his own royal heritage that Ruhanika had only recently discovered during her conversations with Amrit.

"Maharaj" he said, nodding to Anant with unexpected familiarity before turning to Ruhanika. "It seems we had more in common than either of us realized."

"You knew?" Ruhanika asked, astonished.

"Not until I returned to Jaipur," he admitted. "My father recognized your name when I mentioned you as a friend from Lucknow. The Rajvansh and Agnihotri families have been allies for generations."