✨11. Love?

Shweta placed a gentle hand on Niharika's shoulder, her voice soft with concern. “Beta, you must be tired after all that’s happened. Go to your room and take some rest. You’ve had a long day, and you need your energy for tomorrow.”

Niharika hesitated for a moment, unsure if resting now would be appropriate, but the warmth in Shweta’s tone left no room for refusal. She nodded politely. “Ji, Maa Sa. I’ll go.”

Shweta smiled, her motherly gaze following Niharika as she turned to leave. “Good girl. And remember, don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”

As Niharika walked toward her room, her thoughts swirled with everything that had happened—the whirlwind of traditions, the responsibilities looming ahead, and the cold distance from Shivaay. Despite the palace's grandeur and the family’s warmth, she still felt like a stranger trying to find her place in an unfamiliar world.

In his grand, sprawling office, adorned with the elegance befitting the future king, Shivaay sat behind his massive oak desk. Papers and files lay scattered before him, but his pen hovered idly over a blank page. He leaned back in his chair, tapping the pen against his palm, his mind far from the numbers and reports he was supposed to review.

The anticipation of tomorrow weighed heavily on him. The moment he had been waiting for—being officially crowned the heir, inheriting the throne, and assuming the responsibilities of the kingdom—was finally within reach. It was the culmination of years of hard work, discipline, and sacrifices.

But at what cost?

His jaw tightened as thoughts of Niharika flickered in his mind. The unwanted marriage, her presence in his life, and the compromises he had to make for this to happen were unsettling. He had worked so hard to shape his life, his destiny, only for it to be reshaped by someone else's decision—his father's.

“Everything I wanted… but not like this,” he muttered under his breath, frustration lacing his tone.

He thought of her face from the morning, her shy but determined demeanor, her nervous attempts to settle into the family. She seemed genuine, but he dismissed it. Must be an act, he told himself bitterly. The image of his father handing that suitcase of money to Vishal resurfaced, fueling his anger.

Slamming his pen down, Shivaay got up and walked to the window, staring out at the city he would soon rule. The view was majestic, but it did little to soothe his turmoil. His mind echoed the resolve he had formed earlier.

I’ll fulfill my duties as a king, but I won’t let her or anyone else manipulate me. She’s no different—just another pawn in this game.

With that thought, he took a deep breath and returned to his desk, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand, though the shadow of tomorrow loomed ever larger in his mind.

Shivaay leaned back in his chair, trying to push away the unsettling thoughts that continued to intrude upon his mind. He ran a hand through his hair, attempting to refocus. The papers before him were filled with important decisions, but it felt like he was doing everything on autopilot. His mind kept drifting back to the upcoming ceremony, the expectations, and his growing sense of resentment.

He glanced at the clock on the wall—it was late afternoon, and the office was beginning to quiet down as his staff wrapped up for the day. Even in the solitude, he couldn't shake the weight of tomorrow.

He tapped the edge of his desk, his eyes narrowing. Why does everything feel like it’s slipping out of my control?

Trying to block out the chaos swirling in his mind, he picked up a file and opened it, reviewing it with a sharp eye. But despite his efforts, the tension in his chest wouldn’t release. The crown, the throne, and Niharika—all of it was playing in a loop.

He sighed, leaning back further into his chair, his fingers resting on his temple as he tried to force his mind to quiet. But instead, he only grew more frustrated.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

A phone call came in from "Love 💕," and Niharika immediately picked up the phone, recognizing the name of her best friend, Kanika. Her heart fluttered as she answered, eager to hear from her.

"Hello?" Niharika said, trying to mask her nerves.

"Nihu! What did I just see on the news?!" Kanika's voice was filled with excitement and shock. "What’s going on? Everyone’s talking about you! Are you really married?"

Niharika's breath caught in her throat. She was not prepared for this conversation. She hesitated before responding.

"Yes, Kanika," she said softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I... I got married."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Kanika, shocked, tried to process the information.

"Married?! To who?!" she asked, her voice rising in disbelief. "Wait, is it really Shivaay Singh Ranawat? The mafia king? I saw something on the news... Nihu, this is insane! How did this happen?"

Niharika closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. She felt a lump in her throat as she explained, "It all happened so fast, Kanika. I didn’t expect any of this. I didn’t even have a say in it. Everything just... changed. Now, I’m married to someone I barely know."

Kanika’s tone softened, sensing the pain in her friend's voice. "Nihu, I don’t understand. Are you okay? You can talk to me about anything, you know that, right?"

Niharika took a shaky breath, feeling the weight of her emotions. "I don’t even know, Kanika. I’m trying to adjust, but it’s so overwhelming. I never thought I’d be in a situation like this."

Kanika, always protective of her best friend, reassured her. "Nihu, I’m here for you. You don’t have to go through this alone. You’ll figure it out. But promise me you’ll keep me updated. Please, I’m worried about you."

Niharika smiled weakly, grateful for Kanika’s support. "Thank you, Kanika. I promise. I’ll need all the strength I can get."

Kanika was stunned by what Niharika had shared. "Nihu, how did this even happen? I mean, how did you end up in this situation?" she asked, trying to piece together the events.

Niharika took a deep breath, the memories rushing back. "It all started when I was working at the hospital. One day, a staff member of Indra had a sudden heart attack. The senior doctor wasn’t available at that time, and no one else could help. I was the only one who could step in, even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to."

She paused, her voice a little shaky. "I broke the rules, Kanika. But I couldn’t just let someone die, not when I could help. I saved that man's life, but I also put myself in a risky position. That’s when Indra’s family took notice of me."

Kanika was silent for a moment, trying to process the information. "So that’s how they found you?" she asked, her tone laced with disbelief. "But Nihu, that doesn’t make sense. You did nothing wrong."

Niharika nodded slowly, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I know, but that’s not how it works in their world. After the incident, my parents were approached. They... they saw an opportunity, Kanika. They didn’t care that I had saved a life. They only cared about the power, the influence, the wealth that could come from this marriage."

Her voice cracked. "They sold me, Kanika. They sold me into this marriage with Shivaay. It was like my opinion didn’t even matter. They made the decision for me. And now... here I am."

Kanika’s voice trembled with anger and disbelief. "But Nihu, this is... this is insane! Your parents—your own parents—did this to you? They just handed you over to someone like that? And Shivaay, what about him? He didn’t have a choice either?"

Niharika’s heart sank. "He didn’t want me, Kanika. He was forced into this too, but for different reasons. And even now, he sees me as nothing more than an obligation. To him, I’m just someone he has to tolerate, someone he has to marry for the sake of his family and this kingdom. But I’m not really... his."

Tears welled up in Niharika's eyes as she tried to explain. "I don’t even know how to feel anymore. It’s like my life was decided for me in a way I could never control."

Kanika was silent for a moment, processing the heartbreak and pain her friend was enduring. "Nihu, this is unfair. You deserve so much better. You deserve to be happy, to make your own choices. This is not your fault."

Niharika wiped her tears, forcing a smile. "I know, Kanika. But for now, I don’t have a choice. I just have to survive."

Kanika's voice softened with concern. "Don't worry about anything, okay? I'll call you regularly, and we'll talk through this. You're not alone in this, Nihu. We'll figure it out together."

Niharika felt a small sense of comfort wash over her, even though the circumstances were far from ideal. "Thank you, Kanika. I really need someone right now."

"I've got your back, always," Kanika replied, her voice full of determination. "No matter what happens, we're in this together."

Niharika smiled weakly. "I’m lucky to have you, Kanika."

"You don’t have to thank me. Now, you take care of yourself, and I’ll be here if you need me," Kanika said before hanging up, leaving Niharika with a glimmer of hope amidst the storm.