8

"You may not be mine yet, but the thought of someone else having you makes me want to fight for you even harder. Because, deep down, I know you're meant to be mine."

Avanthika sat in her room, lost in thought. The soft knock on the door pulled her out, and the maid stepped in with a polite bow.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Kashmir, Ishaan Mirzadi, has arrived. He wishes to see you. Shall I call him here?" the maid asked.

Avanthika straightened her posture and replied. "No, I will go to meet him."

The maid nodded and exited the room, leaving Avanthika alone with her thoughts. She stood up, her expression turning cold. "He has no right to enter my room," she muttered under her breath before adjusting her dress and heading out.

As she entered the hall, her eyes fell on Ishaan for the first time. He was handsome, with a regal demeanor and a confident smile. But her heart felt nothing. "He's good-looking, but not better than my man" she muttered to herself.

Ishaan's eyes lit up as he saw her approaching. He stepped forward, bowing slightly in respect. "Your Highness, it's a great honor to finally meet you."

Avanthika offered a polite nod.

Ishaan smiled brightly, clearly eager to impress. "You are even more stunning than I imagined. When I saw your portrait, I couldn't believe my luck. And now, seeing you in person, I feel like the luckiest man alive. I can't wait for our wedding. It feels like a dream."

His words spilled out in an excited rush, but Avanthika wasn't listening. Her mind wandered elsewhere, and her smile remained stiff and distant.

Finally, she interrupted, her tone polite but firm. "Thank you, Ishaan. Your compliments are kind. Shall we sit?"

Ishaan looked momentarily surprised by her abruptness but quickly recovered, nodding enthusiastically. "Of course, Your Highness."

Just then a maid came there. "Your Highness, your parents sent tea for you to serve to Ishan Sir."

Avanthika nodded and took the tray from her. Why should I serve him tea? she thought, feeling irritated. She walked up to Ishan and, on purpose, dropped the tea onto his clothes. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Ishan! I didn't see," she said, acting surprised.

Ishan quickly looked down at his stained shirt, trying to stay calm. "It's okay, it's okay," he said cleaning his shirt.

Avanthika turned away feeling a small sense of satisfaction.

After drinking tea they sat, Avanthika mentally braced herself for what felt like an endless conversation with a man she barely knew and one she had no interest in marrying.

Ishaan kept on talking endlessly, jumping from one topic to another, clearly eager to impress. Avanthika, who had been silently nodding along, suddenly interrupted.

"Do you watch cricket?" she asked, her tone casual but firm.

"What?" Ishaan looked momentarily startled, caught off guard by the question.

"Do you watch cricket?" she repeated.

"Uh, yeah... sometimes," he replied, still a bit confused.

"Good," she said, standing up abruptly. "There's a match today. Let's watch it."

Ishaan blinked, then quickly stood as well, trying to keep up with her sudden change in demeanor. "Sure."

They walked back into the lounge, where a large screen had already been set up. Avanthika's mood shifted entirely as she settled into her seat, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

As the match began, Avanthika scanned the screen eagerly, waiting to see her Abhimanyu. But as the playing eleven were announced, her smile faltered. His name wasn't there.

"What?" she muttered under her breath, her excitement quickly turning into confusion. She pulled out her phone and searched for news about him. Within seconds, a headline caught her attention:

"Abhimanyu Raichand Out of Today's Match Due to Leg Injury."

"Leg injury?" she whispered, her brows furrowing. "He doesn't have any leg injury."

Her mind raced as she stared at the news, disbelief clouding her thoughts. Slowly, the realization dawned on her. This wasn't an accident. This was a move by the selectors to sideline him.

Her chest tightened, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. But she quickly blinked them away, refusing to let Ishaan or anyone else see her distress.

"Everything okay?" Ishaan asked, noticing her sudden silence.

"Yeah," she said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.

But her focus wasn't on the match anymore. Her thoughts lingered on Abhimanyu. She clenched her fists, vowing to find out the truth and do whatever it took to set things right.

It was the drinks break during the match, and Abhimanyu walked onto the field carrying bottles of water for his teammates. Even though he wasn't playing today, the sight of him on the field made the fans go wild. They started cheering loudly, chanting his name with so much excitement that it felt like the whole stadium was shaking.

In the stands, Rao sat quietly, watching the scene unfold. He clenched his fists tightly, his jaw tightening as he observed the fans' reaction to Abhimanyu. He knew how crazy people were about him, and it made something churn inside him envy, frustration, or maybe both.

Meanwhile, Avanthika, who was watching the match on the big screen, caught sight of Abhimanyu walking towards the players. Her heart skipped a beat. "He's walking just fine," she whispered to herself, her chest tightening.

"Why did they say he had a leg injury?" she thought, her mind racing. She replayed all the times she'd worried about him, all the nights she spent thinking he was in pain. But here he was, walking confidently, without a single sign of discomfort.

"That's Abhimanyu Raichand, right? He was captain before why is he carrying drinks now?" Ishan said. "You know, Avanthika, Abhimanyu is a once-in-a-lifetime player. Players like him are very rare."

"I know," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.

But the realization hit her like a storm. Had he lied to her? Had someone else? Her thoughts spiraled, and before she knew it, her eyes began to sting with tears. She couldn't sit there any longer.

"I can't do this," she muttered under her breath and stood up abruptly. Leaving her seat, she quickly made her way out of the viewing area. The noise of the crowd, the cheers for Abhimanyu, followed her as she walked away, but she couldn't bear to look back.

As Avanthika walked away, her emotions were all over the place. She couldn't stop the tears threatening to spill, and the last thing she wanted was for anyone to see her like this. She quickened her pace, heading straight to her room.

Ishan noticed her leaving and got up from his seat. His brows furrowed with concern as he followed her. "Avanthika!" he called out , trying not to draw attention. But she didn't stop.

By the time he caught up to her, she was already inside her room. The door shut with a loud thud before he could say anything more. Ishan sighed, standing outside for a moment. He raised his hand to knock but stopped halfway, unsure of what to do.

There was no response. He waited for a few seconds, hoping she'd say something, but all he heard was silence.

Ishan ran a hand through his hair, frustrated but also worried. He knew better than to push her when she needed space, but it wasn't easy to just walk away. He stood there for a while longer, debating whether to leave or try again.

Still, there was no reply. With a heavy heart, Ishan turned and walked away, leaving her to her thoughts.

■

After hours of thinking, Avanthika finally made up her mind. She couldn't keep living a lie, and she knew it was time to speak her truth. Gathering her courage, she stepped out of her room, walking through the palace corridors until she spotted her parents seated in the grand hall.

"Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you," she said, her voice steady but her hands trembling slightly.

Her mother looked up from the papers she was reading. "What is it, Avanthika?"

Avanthika took a deep breath. "I've decided...I don't want to get married."

Her mother narrowed her eyes. "You mean you don't want to get married at all? Or you don't want to marry Ishan?"

"To Ishan," Avanthika admitted. She looked at both of them, her heart racing. "Because I love someone else. And I want to marry him."

Her father leaned forward, his expression hard. "Who is this person? Is he from a royal family too?"

Avanthika swallowed the lump in her throat. "No," she said quietly. "He's an outsider."

The room fell silent for a moment, and then her mother's hand struck her across the face. Avanthika gasped in shock, her cheek stinging from the slap.

"How dare you even think of such a thing!" her mother shouted. "You're a royal! You have a duty to this family and this kingdom. You cannot disgrace us like this by choosing an outsider!"

"But I love him!" Avanthika cried, her eyes filling with tears.

Her father stood up, his voice cold and commanding. "Enough, Avanthika. I have given you enough freedom sending you out. From this moment on, you will not step outside the palace until your wedding. You are not to see or speak to this boy ever again. You will marry Ishan, and that's final."

"Please, listen to me " Avanthika began, but her father cut her off.

"Guards!" he called out. The guards appeared almost immediately, bowing their heads in respect.

"Increase security around the palace," her father ordered. "And post guards outside Avanthika's room. She is not to leave her chambers, and no one is to meet her without permission. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the guards replied in unison.

"Dad, please!" Avanthika begged, tears streaming down her face. But the guards didn't listen. They grabbed her arms gently but firmly and began escorting her back to her room.

Her mother turned away, her face a mask of anger and disappointment. Her father didn't even look at her as he dismissed the guards.

As the doors to her room slammed shut and locked behind her, Avanthika sank to the floor, her sobs echoing in the silence.

Her heart ached, not for the slap or the harsh words, but for the man she loved.

"I will find a way," she whispered to herself through her tears. "I won't give up on us."

Avanthika paced around her room, feeling trapped and suffocated. She couldn't stop thinking about Abhimanyu. He was her everything, her safe place in the chaos of her life. Every time she felt overwhelmed, she'd go to her window and steal a glance at him, waiting patiently somewhere nearby.

But tonight was different. The palace security had been tightened to an extreme. Guards were everywhere, and the window that once brought her hope now seemed like a barrier. She walked over to it, her heart racing with anticipation, praying she'd see him somehow.

When she reached the window, she tried to peek outside, but the guards had been positioned in such a way that she couldn't even lean forward without being spotted. The courtyard that usually felt so free now felt like a prison.

Frustrated and heartbroken, she stepped back and sat down against the wall, her back hitting the cold surface as her legs gave way. She hugged her knees and buried her face in them, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Abhi," she whispered softly, her voice cracking with emotion. "Please come to me. I don't know how much longer I can do this without you. Without you... I feel like I'm dying inside."

Her hand clutched her chest as if trying to ease the pain in her heart. Her tears fell harder as her thoughts spiraled. "But more than that, I know you need me right now. And it kills me that I can't be there for you. We can't meet... not now... not like this."

She leaned her head back against the wall, staring at the ceiling as her tears blurred her vision. "Why does loving you have to be so hard?" she whispered. "Why can't they understand that I'm happiest when I'm with you?"

Her sobs echoed in the empty room as the weight of her situation settled over her. She had never felt so powerless, so isolated from the one person who gave her strength.

The room fell silent except for her quiet cries, and as the hours passed, she stayed there against the wall, holding on to the hope that somehow, some way, they'd be together again.

■

After the match, Abhimanyu still sat in the ground. He didn't want to leave; the weight of everything happening in his life felt heavier than ever.

As he sat there, lost in thought, he heard footsteps approaching. He didn't need to look up to know who it was. Rao, the man who had turned his life upside down, walked up with his usual smug expression.

"Look at you," Rao said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Once a captain, now just a water boy. Isn't it amazing how easily I can change someone's life? How easily I made whole country think you have leg injury but you actually didn't."

Abhimanyu's jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists. He stood up slowly, glaring at Rao. Without a second thought, Abhimanyu marched over, grabbed Rao by the collar, and slammed him against the nearest wall.

"You've messed with the wrong person, Mr. Rao," Abhimanyu said. "You think you're powerful, but you have no idea who you're dealing with. All the dirty, unjustified things you've been doing for this team I know about them. And when the truth comes out, you won't just lose your position; you'll end up in jail. Mark my words, that day isn't far away. And on that day, you'll realize just how good of a player I am."

Rao struggled against Abhimanyu's grip, his face flushed with anger. "How dare you lay a hand on me?" he snarled. "Do you have any idea who I am? I'll ruin you! I'll make sure this is the end of your career. I'll snatch everything from you your respect, your reputation, everything!"

Abhimanyu let go of Rao and took a step back, staring at him with cold determination. "Snatch everything from me?" he said with a bitter laugh. "What do I even have left for you to take? I've already lost it all, thanks to you. So go ahead do whatever you want. But remember this, Rao, your time is running out. The truth always comes out, and when it does, you'll be the one left with nothing."

Without waiting for a reply, Abhimanyu turned and walked away, his steps firm and unshaken. Rao stood frozen, his smugness replaced with anger and a flicker of uncertainty.

As Abhimanyu walked off the field, he felt a strange sense of peace. He knew he had nothing left to lose, and that made him stronger than ever. Rao might have the power now, but Abhimanyu was determined to fight back and he knew the truth was on his side.

Abhimanyu walked to his car after his confrontation with Rao, his mind clouded with emotions. He opened the door, sat inside, and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady himself. But the weight of everything came crashing down all at once, and before he could stop them, tears began streaming down his face.

"I've lost everything," he whispered to himself, his own words echoing painfully in his mind.

He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. But the thoughts kept coming, relentless and heavy.

"I've lost everything, my form, my captaincy... everything that mattered to me. Did I lose Avanthika too?" he wondered aloud, his voice trembling.

He leaned back in his seat, staring blankly ahead as memories of the previous day flooded his mind. He had spoken to her in anger, letting his frustration get the better of him. The thought of it made his chest tighten.

"No," he murmured, shaking his head. "She's not like that. I know Avanthika. She'll fight for me. She won't marry someone else. Deep down, I know she loves me, and she'll wait for me."

His voice softened as his thoughts turned hopeful, even amidst the chaos in his life. "After this captaincy mess is sorted out, I'll talk to her. I'll make everything right. But until then..." He paused, wiping the tears from his face. "Until then, I can't risk saying something in anger again. What if I say something that hurts her, something she takes to heart? No... I can't let that happen."

He took a deep breath, his hands slowly loosening their grip on the wheel. A faint smile tugged at his lips, though his eyes were still filled with sadness. "She's my baby," he thought. "She'll understand me. She always does."

Abhimanyu sat there for a while, letting the silence of the car envelop him. Despite the uncertainty of his future, one thing gave him strength the belief that Avanthika's love for him would never waver.

■

Avanthika sat alone in her room, the silence pressing down on her. She hadn't stepped out all day not to eat, not to speak to anyone. Her heart felt heavy, and her eyes were sore from crying, but the pain didn't seem to subside.

Wiping the fresh tears from her cheeks, her fingers brushed against her lips. She closed her eyes, and in that moment, the memory of their kiss came flooding back. She could still feel it soft and lingering, like a touch that refused to fade. It was as if his warmth was still with her, even though he wasn't.

His voice echoed in her mind, the way he called her name, the way he spoke to her with so much care and love. His touch, gentle yet firm, filled her thoughts, making her ache for his presence.

Unable to sit still, she stood and walked towards her cupboard. She opened it slowly and reached for something she hadn't touched in a long time a jacket. It was the one he had given her on a cold night during one of their outings. She remembered how he had wrapped it around her shoulders, teasing her about how she always forgot to carry one for herself.

Holding the jacket close, she brought it up to her face and sniffled softly. It still carried a faint hint of his scent, a mix of comfort and familiarity that brought fresh tears to her eyes. Hugging the jacket tightly, she clung to it as though it could somehow bring him back to her.

"I miss you," she whispered, her voice breaking. Her lips brushed against the fabric as she pressed a kiss to it, hoping that somehow, in some way, he could feel how much she needed him.

Sinking to the floor, Avanthika held the jacket close, closing her eyes as memories of him consumed her. Every moment they had shared, every word, every touch it all played in her mind like a beautiful yet heartbreaking dream.

"The way you call my name still gives me goosebumps, Abhimanyu," Avanthika whispered, her voice trembling as she held the jacket close to her chest. She closed her eyes, letting the memories of him wash over her.

A soft smile tugged at her lips, even as tears threatened to fall again. "Everything about you, every little thing you do, it stays with me," she murmured. "The way you look at me as if I'm the only one in the world. The way you laugh at my silly jokes, even when they're not funny. The way you always know exactly what to say to make me feel better."

She sniffled, brushing away a stray tear. "And the way you take care of me like that time you made sure I ate because I was too busy sulking. Or how you gave me this jacket when I was cold. It wasn't just about keeping me warm; it was about making sure I felt safe, like I was wrapped in your love."

Her fingers traced the fabric of the jacket, her heart aching with every word. "You don't even realize, do you? How every small thing you do, every little detail, makes me fall for you all over again. The way you ruffle your hair when you're nervous. The way you can't hide your smile when you're proud of me. Even the way you scold me when I forget to take care of myself it's all so... you."

She let out a soft, shaky laugh, her tears falling freely now. "You're not just a part of my life, Abhi. You are my life. And even if the world tries to tear us apart, they'll never take away the way you make me feel."

Avanthika hugged the jacket tightly and closed her eyes, whispering his name like a prayer. "Abhimanyu."

"If I don't get you I can even die, but not marry some other".

To be continued

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Ok, the engagement is shifted to next chapter. Now it seems like avanthik has no option but to stay at home and marry Ishan.

Target for next chapter: 350+ likes and 70+ comments