MOHABBAT-E-DIWAANGI ( Book 1)

51 . " Beaware she is his queen "

As the silence of the haveli hung heavy post-pooja, Avantika walked through the long corridor, her saree brushing softly against the marble floor. Just as she turned towards her room, a distant commotion from the main entrance caught her attention. It wasn't just ordinary noise-there was urgency in the tone, a rising pitch of a female voice screaming at the top of her lungs. Her steps halted for a second, instincts kicking in. Something wasn't right.

Without wasting a moment, she moved swiftly towards the source, her presence calm but commanding. As she neared the grand doorway, she spotted a cluster of nearly 10 to 15 guards forming a barrier around a young girl who seemed on the verge of collapse from shouting. Her voice cracked with rage, fear, or both-it was hard to tell.

The moment Avantika stepped into view, one of the guards noticed her. His eyes dropped instantly, head bowing in respect and guilt. He stepped in front of her path and said with urgency but deference, "Rani Sa... humein maaf karein, magar aapka iske aage jaana surakshit nahi hai. Humne iske baare mein Raja Sa aur Rajgharane mein khabar de di hai. Woh bas aate hi honge."
("Your Highness, forgive us, but it's not safe for you to go beyond this point. We've already informed Raja Sa and the royal family. They should be here shortly.")

Avantika didn't flinch. Her gaze remained steady, her voice calm yet laced with quiet authority. "Koi baat nahi... humein kuch nahi hoga. Hum bas yeh jaanna chahte hain... kaun hai yeh?"
("It's alright... nothing will happen to me. I just want to know-who is she?")

Without waiting for an answer, Avantika gently stepped past the guard. Her graceful but determined stride made even the most rigid soldiers shuffle aside, their heads bowing once again out of respect. The corridor parted like the sea before her, and as she walked into the eye of the storm, every eye followed her-not just out of duty, but in awe.

There she stood now-calm amidst chaos, eyes narrowing slightly as she came face to face with the girl whose presence had shaken the tranquility of the Rajawat Haveli.

Avantika's voice cut through the chaos like a blade, calm but firm.
"Aap kaun?" (Who are you?) she asked, her gaze fixed on the girl standing-no, swaying-near the doorway.

The sight before her was nothing short of shocking.

The girl, dressed in a skin-tight bodycon dress that clashed with the regal austerity of the haveli, held a nearly-empty bottle of whiskey in one hand. Her eyes were glazed, her movements unsteady, and the strong scent of alcohol wafted through the hallway. She looked completely out of control-like a storm in stilettos.

"Maaaiii teriii... meri maa!" the girl screamed, bursting into a drunken giggle. "Aadish ko bula naa yaar... kabse yeh log rok-tok kar rahe hain. Batao inko kiski beti hoon main!"
(Call Aadish, yaaaar... these people have been stopping me forever! Tell them whose daughter I am!)

She twirled around dramatically, nearly tripping on her own heels.

Avantika's jaw clenched.

Every word the girl spoke was like adding fuel to a fire that was already flickering dangerously inside her. Her family-the sacred peace of the Rajawat household-had just started breathing again. And this? This madness at her doorstep?

She stepped forward, her calm now laced with steel.

"Riya... right? Miss Riya Kapoor? CM ki laadli?" (The Chief Minister's little mermaid?) Avantika's voice was sharp. Controlled. Deadly. "I hope you have no intention of self-destruction. Let me be very clear-"
She took a cold breath in.
"Get. Out. Of. My. House. Now."

The guards tensed, ready for action. Avantika didn't need to raise her voice-her presence alone made the air heavier.

Riya's words had crossed a line. And in doing so, she had triggered the wrath of a woman who could handle kingdoms-but would never tolerate disrespect in her home.