The grand Rathore Palace was quiet in the evening. The chandeliers glimmered like thousands of stars, casting a warm glow over the polished marble floors. Outside, the fountains shimmered under the moonlight, their waters dancing gracefully, while the gardens exuded a delicate fragrance of jasmine and roses.
Inside, the dining hall had been prepared for dinner. A large, golden table was set with fine cutlery, crystal glasses, and plates gleaming under the warm light. The air was filled with the subtle aroma of herbs and spices—Ishika’s food.
🌸 Ishika Prepares
In the grand palace kitchen, Ishika moved carefully. Her hands, trained from years of cooking for her small family back home, worked with precision. She had cooked dal, sabzi, roti, and a lightly spiced chicken curry, all with a focus on health and taste. She stirred the curry slowly, tasting it again and again, making sure the flavors were balanced.
Her heart pounded as she thought of the Rathore brothers and Hukum Sa.
“Will they like it? It’s simple… but it’s made with care… with love.”
Yuvraj, standing timidly near the kitchen door, watched her. He had followed her to help, unsure why he felt drawn to her. Her gentle movements, her soft humming, the way she carefully arranged every plate—it was unlike anyone he had ever seen.
“She… she’s so different,” Yuvraj whispered to himself, a strange warmth filling his chest.
🍽️ The Dinner Begins
Finally, Ishika carried the trays to the dining hall. She placed the food carefully in front of Abhimaan and his brothers.
Abhimaan’s sharp eyes scanned the dishes, his usual guarded expression unchanging. But as he lifted the first spoon of dal to his lips and tasted it, his eyes flickered — a subtle but unmistakable approval.
“This… is good,” he murmured. “Simple… yet perfect.”
Ekansh took a bite of the sabzi and nodded, a small smile forming on his face.
“Very flavorful… and healthy. You’ve balanced the spices well.”
Yuvraj hesitated at first, but when he tasted the chicken curry, his eyes lit up.
“Wow… Ishika di… it’s… amazing. Tastes… homey, but better.”
Ishika blushed, lowering her gaze.
“Th-Thank you, Hukum Sa.”
Abhimaan glanced at her, raising an eyebrow.
“You’re not used to being addressed formally, are you?”
“I… I try, hukum sa,” Ishika murmured, fidgeting slightly.
Her humility and sincerity were disarming. Abhimaan felt his chest tighten slightly—a sensation he rarely experienced.
💫 Caring for Yuvraj
As the meal continued, Ishika noticed Yuvraj picking at his food hesitantly. His posture was slightly hunched, a subtle trace of sadness in his eyes. She couldn’t help herself.
“chote hukum sa… why aren’t you eating properly? You’ll get weak,” she said softly, her tone gentle but firm.
“I’m fine… really,” he replied, avoiding her gaze.
Ishika reached out subtly, placing a piece of roti and a small portion of curry on his plate.
“Here… try this. You need energy. You’ve been quiet all day.”
Yuvraj glanced at her, startled by the care in her tone. For a fleeting moment, he felt safe, understood, and comforted.
Ekansh noticed the interaction and smiled faintly.
“She really… cares,” he whispered to himself. “There’s something in her… like a calm center in this chaotic palace.”
🌑 Subtle Observations
Abhimaan, who had been observing silently, noted Ishika’s behavior with interest. She did not flaunt her skill. She did not seek attention. She cooked with thoughtfulness, served with care, and noticed the smallest things — like Yuvraj’s lack of appetite.
He leaned slightly forward. “Ishika… you’re very attentive. Most people here would just serve the food and leave.”
Ishika lowered her gaze. “I… I just want everyone to eat properly, Hukum Sa. You and your brothers… you must be healthy to… to be strong.”
Her words, simple as they were, struck a chord deep within Abhimaan. He had never heard anyone speak so genuinely to him. Not his employees, not the sycophants, not even friends like Aditya.
🌸 A Moment of Connection
Dinner continued in a quiet, comfortable rhythm. Yuvraj ate with more confidence, encouraged by Ishika’s subtle guidance. Ekansh occasionally glanced at her, noticing the careful way she ensured everyone had enough.
Abhimaan, who usually ate quickly and without emotion, ate slowly, observing her with a piercing curiosity. He didn’t want to admit it yet, but something about her presence was different. She had entered his palace, a simple, kind-hearted girl, and already her aura was changing the atmosphere.
Yuvraj, after finishing his plate, looked up at Ishika. “Ishika didi sa… you really made this?”
She nodded, cheeks slightly pink. “Yes… I… I just wanted to make it… good.”
He smiled faintly, the first genuine smile of the day. “It is… really good. Thank you.”
🍃 Evening Calm
After the meal, Ishika began clearing her own plate, instinctively reaching to wash her hands, though no one had asked her to. In the palace, servants were ready to handle everything — but she was so accustomed to caring for others, she could not stop herself.
Abhimaan noticed. He stood silently, then spoke, calm but commanding:
“Stop. Sit. You’ve done enough for today.”
Ishika hesitated, but obeyed. She realized, for the first time, that here, people actually cared for her well-being, rather than exploiting her.
Yuvraj watched her quietly, a soft warmth spreading inside him. Ekansh remained calm, but he too felt a strange sense of peace in her presence.
🌌 Closing Scene of Chapter 5
Later that night, Ishika sat by the window in her room, the palace lights glowing softly outside. Her thoughts wandered.
“This palace… it’s strange. They treat me so well… and yet I feel like I belong. I have no idea why. But I want to care for them… for Yuvraj hukum sa, Ekansh hukum sa, and… even hukum Sa.”
Little did she know, Abhimaan, standing in the corridor outside her door, watched silently. His sharp gaze softened as he saw her gentle movements.
“She doesn’t even know it yet… but she’s already changing everything,” he thought.
And in the quiet palace, for the first time, three brothers and a king felt a warmth they had never expected, all because of a simple, kind-hearted girl named Ishika Malhotra.
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The Royal love ( Rewriting)
FanfictionThis story is about a royal man named Abhimaan Singh Rathore and a sweet middle class girl whose parents died when she was a kid and her uncle's aunty and cousins abused her. let's see how they both meet and fall in love.
