18. Good Morning🎈

I know just a sorry is nothing for what you guys are giving to me this whole time .... Sincerely love you all 😘

Enjoy reading and also a small chapter will be uploaded soon tonight with the most lovable scenes...

Read the previous chapter for better understanding ☺️

SIYA POV

His replies these days are a whirlwind of emotions for me, leaving me restless and numb. Each word, each phrase, feels like a riddle I can’t solve, a maze I’m lost in.

I try to make sense of it all, but I can’t understand why he goes out of his way for me—or even for others. There’s this quiet mystery about him, an enigma he never allows me to unravel. He keeps so much to himself, never explaining, never sharing his reasons.

Maybe it’s my own actions that have painted a picture he can see clearly. Maybe my gestures, my stolen glances, the way I soften around him, are saying everything I’ve been too afraid to voice.

And perhaps... deep down, I already know the truth.

Yes, I am interested in him. There’s no use denying it anymore.

When I’m around him, I feel something I’ve never felt before—safe. Truly safe. His presence is like a shield, a cocoon where nothing in the world can touch me. It’s as if he’s become the anchor I didn’t know I needed. And I don’t want to leave his side, not now, not ever.

But that’s all there is to it. Nothing more. My heart holds no space for false hopes, no place for promises I can’t fulfill. I know my limits, and I know I can’t offer him what he deserves.

He’s not just kind; he’s mature and understanding in ways I can only admire. “Rishtey banana mushkil nahi hota, kai baar todna mushkil ban jata hai,” (Building relationships isn’t always hard; sometimes, breaking them is what tears you apart) I remind myself, the weight of those words pressing heavily on my heart.

But what about this? Wasn’t this just a mistake? A fleeting moment, a misunderstanding that spiraled into something more?

Yet, even as I try to convince myself, a part of me whispers otherwise.

I glance around the space that has become my refuge, my sanctuary. I know the truth—if I leave here, there might not be anywhere else for me to go.

But what choice do I have? My circumstances leave me no room for alternatives. “Majboori hai,” (It’s helplessness) I tell myself, even as my heart refuses to accept it.

This place... it feels like home. Not just a house or a shelter, but a true home. A place where my heart feels at peace, where my soul feels understood.

My home.

My chest tightens at the thought of leaving it behind. The very idea sends waves of pain through me, as if I’m being torn from the one place where I’ve ever truly belonged.

"Shaayad mujhe nahi jaana chahiye," (Maybe I shouldn’t leave,) I think, the words echoing in my mind like a quiet prayer.

I close my eyes and lift my gaze to the heavens.

"Ram ji, yahin ruk jaungi. Sambhaal loge na aage?" (Lord Ram, I’ll stay here. You’ll take care of what’s ahead, won’t you?)

The words escape my lips in a whisper, barely audible, but carrying the weight of everything I feel. My hands clench at my sides as I try to ground myself, to hold onto the fleeting comfort of this moment.

I want to stay. I want to belong. But life has a way of forcing you to make the hardest choices when all you want is to hold on.

And so, I stand here, torn between the home I’ve found and the path I must take.

AUTHORS pov

The next morning, at precisely 9 AM, the palace seemed unusually quiet, except for the faint sound of footsteps echoing in its vast corridors. Raghav was still asleep, his late-night restlessness keeping him in bed longer than usual. Breakfast time for Siya had already passed—her prescribed time was 8 AM, but her meal had been delayed, much to Veer’s concern.

Veer, knowing Raghav’s sleeping habits, hesitated to disturb him. He recalled seeing him awake at 5 AM, lost in his thoughts. It wasn’t unusual for Raghav to keep things to himself, but Veer suspected something was weighing on him. Respecting his need for rest, Veer decided not to knock anymore and instead focused on Siya. Her routine, especially taking her pills with her meal, was vital, and the time had already slipped by.

With no other servants allowed in this private wing of the palace, Veer took matters into his own hands. He carefully arranged a tray with her breakfast and carried it to her room.

When Siya first saw Veer entering her chamber with the tray, her brows furrowed in confusion.

Her overthinking nature took over immediately. Maybe Raghav didn’t come because of what happened yesterday. Maybe he’s angry. Or worse, he doesn’t even want to see my face anymore. A whirlwind of imagined scenarios filled her mind, each more dramatic than the last.

Veer, unfazed by her visible confusion, approached her bed and presented the tray. “Rani-sa, aapka naashta (Your breakfast),” he said politely.

She blinked, then smiled faintly. “Why didn’t you eat? Join me,” she insisted.

But Veer, ever the loyal servant, shook his head. “Rani-sa, hum baad mein kha lenge. Abhi aap kha lijiye.” (Rani-sa, I’ll eat later. Please eat now.)

Siya, being Siya, wasn’t one to let it go. She insisted again, her tone soft yet firm. When Veer still refused, her patience wore thin. Her voice took on a commanding edge as she said, “Ab aur bahas mat kijiye, Veer. Abhi yahin baithiye aur khana khaiye.” (No more arguments, Veer. Sit here and eat right now.)

Veer knew better than to disobey a direct order from her. Silently, he took a plate, his demeanor humble, though a hint of reluctance lingered.

A small, satisfied smile tugged at Siya’s lips as she watched him.

Gesturing to the royal sofa across the room, Siya offered him a seat. “Wahan baith jaaiye,” (Sit there) she said, indicating the plush seating a comfortable distance from her bed.

As Veer ate, Siya, ever curious and chatty, began asking him questions. Her topics ranged from the history of Rajasthan to the best places to visit. She carefully avoided any mention of Raghav, knowing the mere thought of him would make her heart flutter—or worse, ache.

Their conversation flowed easily, punctuated by Veer’s respectful answers and Siya’s animated curiosity. But just as the atmosphere began to lighten, the door swung open, revealing the man who had been the cause of all her overthinking—Raghav Rajput.

He stood tall, his towering 6-foot frame commanding the room with an effortless presence. His disheveled hair fell across his forehead, his eyes heavy with sleep. He wore a loose, casual kurta, and a small, endearing bandage wrapped around his hand caught her attention. The bandage looked out of place on someone as imposing as him, giving him an almost childlike charm.

Siya’s breath hitched. Despite his messy look—or perhaps because of it—he looked undeniably attractive. There was something utterly adorable about the way he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, resembling a grumpy yet lovable child who had just woken up.

Veer froze, his plate in hand, silently thankful that no nurses were present to witness this scene. He knew better than to speak, his eyes darting nervously between Raghav and Siya.

And Siya? She couldn’t take her eyes off Raghav. Her mind raced again, but this time, she wasn’t overthinking. She was simply lost in the sight of him.

Raghav, oblivious to the tension his arrival had caused, yawned lazily. “Kya ho raha hai yahan?” (What’s going on here?) he asked, his voice deep and groggy.

Siya quickly composed herself, though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her. “Nothing... just breakfast,” she mumbled, her voice softer than she intended.

The room fell silent for a moment, the air heavy with unspoken emotions, as the great Raghav Rajput stood there, looking every bit the sleepy yet captivating enigma he was.

The air in the room shifted abruptly as Veer, still in shock from seeing Raghav, scrambled to react. His mouth was full, and in his haste to compose himself, the spoon he was holding slipped from his lips, clattering loudly against the plate. The sound echoed in the otherwise silent room, instantly breaking the intense eye contact between Raghav and Siya. Both flinched slightly, startled.

Siya, utterly confused, blinked at Veer’s awkward state. Her thoughts spiraled. What just happened? We’re just having breakfast—nothing criminal here.

She glanced between Raghav and Veer, sensing the tension rising in the room. The weight of unspoken emotions seemed to pull the air tight. Raghav’s gaze bore into Veer, his eyes a storm of emotions and unvoiced questions that Siya couldn’t decipher. Meanwhile, Veer stared fixedly at the floor, his body stiff with apprehension.

Siya, trying to ease the awkwardness, spoke softly to Raghav, her voice calm and composed. “Hukum-sa, jaise pehle fresh hoke aayiye.” (Hukum-sa, why don’t you freshen up first, as usual?)

Raghav turned his gaze toward her, but his expression was unreadable—a cool, detached look that seemed to say, I don’t care. The warmth she had seen moments ago was gone, replaced by a cold indifference.

Without acknowledging her suggestion, he turned back to Veer and asked, his tone sharp, “Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain? Apne kaam pe dhyan dijiye. Hum inhe nashta khud karva denge.” (What are you doing here? Focus on your work. I’ll handle her breakfast myself.)

The words cut through the room like a blade. Veer swallowed hard, nodding silently but refusing to meet Raghav’s piercing gaze.

Siya, sensing the tension escalate further, quickly interjected in the softest tone she could muster. “Hukum-sa, medicine ka vakt ho gaya tha na? Aap aaye nahi isiliye humne Veer se kaha tha...” (Hukum-sa, it was time for the medicine, and you didn’t come, so I asked Veer...)

She kept her voice light and added a slight playful tilt, trying to shift his focus. To appear less affected, she even picked at her salad—a dish she clearly didn’t enjoy—and took a tiny bite, her expression feigning enthusiasm.

Her words seemed to pull Raghav out of his laser focus on Veer. He glanced at the clock, exhaling sharply before replying. “Oh, okay. Give me five minutes, I’ll be there.”

His tone softened slightly, and he turned back to Veer with an air of authority. “Finish your breakfast and come to my room.”

Veer nodded hurriedly, still looking sheepish.

As Raghav began to leave, he stopped briefly by Siya, his gaze softening for a fleeting moment. He glanced at her, his usual intense eyes replaced by something gentler, almost fond. It wasn’t much—a subtle shift, a fleeting exchange—but it was enough to leave Siya’s heart fluttering.

And then, just as quickly as he had entered, Raghav walked out, leaving behind an air of unresolved tension.

Veer exhaled deeply, finally daring to glance at Siya, who was still processing the whirlwind of emotions in the room. In the back of her mind, she wondered, Why did that small moment feel so significant?

Meanwhile, Veer hurriedly returned to his plate, mentally preparing for whatever awaited him in Raghav’s room.

And Siya, though she resumed eating her unlovable salad, couldn’t quite shake the image of Raghav’s gentle gaze before he left.

SUkriya ji 😌

Love you 😘

Your patience means the world to me 🙏

Sorry for any kind of mistakes.