The morning after the stormy confrontation with the Malhotras, peace seemed to have returned to Rathore Palace. The sunlight streamed into the wide courtyards, glistening against the white marble. Ishika was arranging flowers in the temple when she heard hurried footsteps and murmurs echo through the corridor.
And then she appeared.
Anchal.
This time, not in her usual fierce black, but in a deep maroon saree with minimal jewelry — radiating both grace and authority. But what shook everyone more was what she carried: a silver thaal decorated with shagun — sweets, coconuts, and red chunri.
The entire palace seemed to pause.
⚡ The Proposal
Abhimaan was already in the royal lounge with Ekansh, Yuvraj, Aditya, and Ishika when Anchal walked in. Her heels clicked with confidence, her chin held high. Without hesitation, she placed the shagun thaal before Abhimaan.
Her voice was calm but commanding.
“hukum sa,” she said, meeting his eyes, “I have come to ask for Ishika’s hand for you.”
The silence was deafening.
Ishika gasped, dropping the flower basket. “Anchu!” Her cheeks flushed, her heart racing. “What… what are you saying?”
Yuvraj’s mouth fell open. Ekansh’s eyes widened in disbelief. And Abhimaan… he froze, his normally unshakable expression momentarily slipping into shock.
The only one who didn’t seem surprised was Aditya. He leaned against the pillar, arms crossed, lips curved into a knowing smirk.
🌸 Ishika’s Confusion
Ishika rushed to her cousin, clutching her arm. “Anchu, stop this! Why would you bring shagun like this? Without telling me? Without asking me?”
Anchal’s eyes softened as she touched Ishika’s cheek. “Ishi Di… this is the only way. Yesterday showed us that Amit, Palak, and Tarun will never stop. They will keep using your parents’ name, keep emotionally blackmailing you, until you break. But if you are tied to hukum sa in front of the world — no one will dare touch you again.”
Her words hit like thunder.
Abhimaan’s eyes narrowed as he studied her — this ruthless yet fragile girl who fought like a lioness for Ishika. He could see the truth in her reasoning.
“I…” Ishika’s lips trembled. “But Anchu… marriage… is not a shield. It’s a bond. How can you decide for me?”
Anchal held her firmly. “I am not deciding, Di. I am protecting. And I know you. You won’t agree unless forced. But your safety is my priority, not your hesitation. ( Slowly to only ishika)And i know you like hukum sa”
🦁 Abhimaan’s Decision
For a long moment, Abhimaan said nothing. His dark eyes remained locked on Anchal’s — as if he were weighing her soul. Then, slowly, he rose to his feet.
“Fine,” he said, his deep voice steady. “Yes.”
The word struck everyone like lightning.
“Bhai sa!” Yuvraj exclaimed.
Ekansh stiffened, his chest tightening.
Ishika shook her head in disbelief. “No… this… this can’t…”
But Abhimaan’s expression was final. His decision had been made.
🌹 The Shagun Twist
Yuvraj stepped forward quickly, his young voice trembling. “But… bhai sa… we haven’t even prepared any shagun for didi sa! We didn’t know about this…”
Before the awkwardness could thicken, Aditya pushed himself off the pillar with a sly smile. “Actually… we have.”
Everyone’s eyes snapped to him.
“What?” Ekansh growled.
Aditya casually pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and placed it on the table. Inside gleamed a simple but royal engagement ring.
“Shagun,” he said smoothly. “Ready.”
Abhimaan raised a brow. Yuvraj blinked. Ishika stared at the ring, speechless.
Ekansh’s jaw tightened, suspicion burning in his eyes. “How… how did you know?”
Aditya’s smirk deepened. “Because, dear brother… Anchal and I planned this last night. Over the phone.”
The words dropped like bombs in the royal lounge.
⚡ Ekansh’s Jealousy
Anchal didn’t flinch. She stood tall, her face unreadable, while Aditya enjoyed the storm he had unleashed.
Ekansh, however, snapped. He took a step toward her, his voice sharp, demanding. “You called him? You planned with him? Not me?”
Anchal met his eyes coldly. “Yes. I called him. He was the right person for the plan.”
Her calmness only enraged him further. “The right person?” His fists clenched, his voice dropping dangerously low. “So I wasn’t worthy? You trusted Aditya but not me?”
Yuvraj shifted uncomfortably. Abhimaan’s sharp eyes studied every flicker of Ekansh’s expression. Ishika, though stunned, noticed the raw storm brewing in Ekansh’s eyes — a storm she had never seen before.
Aditya smirked wider, fanning the flames. “Don’t be jealous, Ekansh. It was just strategy.”
“Shut up.” Ekansh’s voice was ice.
He turned back to Anchal, stepping dangerously close, his possessiveness laid bare in his eyes. “Next time, Anchal Malhotra, you tell me first. Do you understand?”
The tension was so thick it felt suffocating. Ishika reached out nervously. “Anchu… Ekansh… please…”
But Abhimaan broke the silence with a commanding tone.
🦁 Abhimaan the Peacemaker
“Enough.”
His single word sliced through the chaos. Everyone froze.
He looked at Anchal, then at Ekansh. His voice softened slightly when he spoke again. “This isn’t about who she trusted or didn’t. This is about Ishika’s safety. And Anchal did what she thought was right.”
Turning to Anchal, his expression shifted — almost brotherly. “Bacha… your fire is needed. But don’t carry it all alone. If Ishika is to be ours, then so are you. You don’t need to fight alone anymore.”
The word “bacha” stunned Anchal. No one had ever called her that before. For a moment, her cold mask cracked, revealing the lonely child within. She quickly looked away, blinking fast.
Ishika’s eyes softened with tears. Yuvraj gave a small smile. Even Aditya’s smirk faltered into something gentler.
But Ekansh? His storm only grew stronger. He hated how easily Abhimaan had reached her in a way he hadn’t.
🌙 Closing Moments
The shagun was placed formally, marking the bond between Ishika and Abhimaan. Though Ishika remained shaken, she stayed silent, knowing this step would shield her from the Malhotras.
Later that night, as everyone dispersed, Ekansh stood by his balcony, restless. His heart thundered with jealousy and rage.
Why him? Why Aditya? Why does she let everyone in but me?
Meanwhile, in her chamber, Anchal sat alone, staring at the stars. Her fingers brushed the edge of her phone. She could still hear Ekansh’s voice, raw with possessiveness.
“Next time, you tell me first.”
For the first time in years, her carefully built walls felt fragile.
And across the palace, Abhimaan’s words echoed in her mind.
“Bacha… you don’t need to fight alone anymore.”
The storm had only just begun.
YOU ARE READING
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.
