👑Eleven~

Devangini was writing something in a kite while loud music was being played around as Hardik's mehendi ceremony was going on and Shubman was pulling him to the place on the other side, forcing him to put mehendi.

Rishabh was walking around, watching the royal ladies put on mehendi, and was praising them falsely before he noticed Devangini and came up to her, saying,"I heard that this decoration idea was yours and Daadi Sa had asked the decorators to add up their idea with it?"

"Yeah. So?"she asked and said,"tabhi sochu itna ghatiya decoration kiyu huya hain!"

Devangini glared at him and said,"then you go ahead and decorate everything. Why do you end up eating my head always?"

"Maza aata hain humein. Your head is delicious. So I eat it."

"I wish you were some common guy."

"Why? You would have proposed me then right? Ehhhhh! Hehe! You have a crush on me."

"Not at all. Please don't harvest such false ideas. Had you been a common guy then I would have beaten you up with my sandals,"Devangini said while standing up and then went away while he said from behind, in an irritated tone,"oh Mittirani! I wouldn't have let you beat me up. Okay? Itna asaan nahi hain! Huh! Badi aayi."

Devangini flew the kite up while making her wish and said,"keep everyone healthy and happy, God."

The kite flew away while Rishabh thought,"mentally retarded lady."

"Come on this is excellent design,"Siraj said while showing a design and Hardik said,"I will not put that on. No way."

"Bhai! Come on. For Bhabi. She wants you to put mehendi,"Shubman said.

"Haan toh I'll write her name. But not an entire design. Noooo,"Hardik protested.

"Okay, make bholenath and maa parvati in his hand and Bhabi's name. That's it. Okay Bhai? Done? Only this much,"Shubman said and he said,"okay fine."

"I only believe in mehendi artist, only she can make this tattoo design on my wrist with mehendi,"Siraj said making both of them frown and Hardik said,"Rishu's friend is just like Rishu."

In the meantime, Rishabh checked the food while congratulating the cooks,"excellent! Exceptional! Very good."

"Thank you Baujiraj,"they said happily, while a staff member presented a plate of food to him.

He tasted the food while walking around, and Devangini almost dashed into him, while making a video of the decorations.

"Oh my goodness! Watch and walk. My food would have been wasted now,"he said while frowning and she said,"how come you eat so much and don't burst like a balloon?"

"Now who is bodyshaming haan? And by the way, I am not bursting like a balloon because I maintain myself. Like I already said before,"Rishabh said fixing his collar, keeping the plate on a table and Devangini quickly added salt in his food while saying,"revenge for eating my tiffin while I was hungry."

"What...what the...WAIT! You,"Rishabh said and chased her and she started running away while giggling on her win.

"Rish, which design should I put on?"Meghatri said while coming between them and stopping him, but his eyes remained fixated on Devangini who was escaping from him, so he said,"any! Any design. Excuse me Megha."

"But Rish..."Meghatri couldn't complete as he ran away already, and she looked on with jealous eyes as he chased Devangini and caught her at a distance away from everyone's view, and started tugging her bracelet to tear it.

"Pagal wagal hain kya aap, Baujiraj?"she shouted while he said,"ehhhh! Pagal hogi tum. Hum nahi hain. Why did you spoil my food? Now I'll tear your bracelet."

"Noooo! This is very special. Move move...go away,"she said beating his hand, while they took rounds.

"Megh Kanwar! Humara Rishu kaafi bhola hain. By the way, he seems to ignore you nowadays. Nahi?"Shalakha asked Meghatri in the meantime, on finding her staring at Rishabh and Devangini.

"Who is that girl, Bua Sa? I had noticed her on Kunwar Hardik's engagement day too."

"She's Maa Sa's Physical Therapist. Dr.Devangini Maheshwari."

"I see."

"Why is this bracelet special? Who gave you this?"Rishabh asked Devangini while pulling the bracelet.

"Why do you want to know?"she asked and then huffed and said,"a few kids from the orphanage across the river, made this for me."

Rishabh left the bracelet at once while saying,"oh!"which actually surprised her as she had considered him as insensitive enough to tear the bracelet anyways.

"You too visit them?"he asked and she narrowed her eyes and asked,"what do you mean by I too visti them or not?"

"Because I used to,"he said and started walking away but she followed up asking,"for charity works and all right? Of course! You're from the royal family, a royal person. You have to do these works right?"

Rishabh passed her a look and said,"huh! I used to go there since childhood, with Dadaji. He was fond of kids, so am I. I used to play with other kids when I was younger. Then after Dadaji's demise, I continued going there alone. Phir toh baahar chaley gaye hum parhai ke liye. Baahar bhi orphanages mein jaaya karte hain hum."

"That's why your behaviour is also like a kid,"Devangini murmured.

"Kya kaha?"

"Kuch nahi."

"That girl is no match for my Rishabh,"Meghatri said while walking away, while Shalakha smirked and left to dry the henna designs on her hands.

The expensive lights lit the Oswal Mansion’s grand living room, painted the room in warm, golden hues. Chandrika, perched elegantly on a plush velvet chaise lounge, was idly flipping through a magazine. The silence was punctuated only by the gentle hum of the air conditioning and the occasional rustle of paper.

Her father, Chirag Oswal, a man whose presence always commanded attention, entered the room. He was a person in polished power, his salt-and-pepper hair perfectly coiffed, his tailored suit impeccable. He sat on the opposite sofa, his eyes glued to his tablet, a frown etched on his forehead. He seemed lost in the world of numbers and deadlines.

Chandrika,finally broke the silence. “Dad,”she began, her voice soft but firm,“I received an invitation a while ago.”

Chirag didn’t immediately look up. “Hmm? What for?” he asked, his fingers still tapping across the screen.

“It’s Hardik Shekhawat’s wedding,” she said. "He’s marrying princess Durdhara Rathore of Ratnagiri."

Chirag’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. He took the invitation basket towards which Chandrika pointed immediately, and his face portrayed a mask of barely contained displeasure. “The Shekhawats…” he muttered, his voice thick with disdain. “Those vultures. Always trying to outdo us.”

Chandrika sighed inwardly. She knew this reaction was inevitable. The Oswals and Shekhawats were like two sides of a coin, forever locked in a silent, yet fierce, rivalry that had stretched back generations. It wasn’t just about business; it was personal, ingrained in the family’s DNA.

“Dad, it’s just a wedding,”she said, trying to sound reasonable. “I don’t see why it has to be a battlefield.”

Chirag scoffed,"Everything is a battlefield, Chandrika, especially with the Shekhawats. Remember, they’re always looking for an opportunity to gain an advantage. You don't treat them as peers or friends, ever. They are and always will be our rivals.” He kept his tab aside, his gaze intense. “And you haven’t even mentioned who invited you.”

Chandrika hesitated. “Actually, it was Shubman.”

Chirag’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Shubman? Their youngest?” He paused, his expression hardening. “That guy is your rival. Isn't he?”

“Yes, Dad. We have been training together. He has invited the entire gurukul. He is also giving me special training because Guruji has asked him to. He isn't a bad person, Dad,” Chandrika added, hoping to paint a clearer picture of their relationship.

Chirag leaned back in his seat, his eyes filled with a strange mix of calculation and animosity. "So, he's trying to get under our skin through you now, is he? Very clever, the Shekhawats learn from older folks very well," he said, his voice laced with suspicion. “Don’t you forget who we are, Chandrika. He may seem amiable, but he's still a Shekhawat. He's trying to use that commonality to get closer. He's trying to get information, perhaps, or trying to create a bond that will exploit you in the future. It doesn’t matter if he has a liking towards music or not, that doesn't make him any less of a rival. Never forget that.”.

“I understand, Dad. I guess you're right. I shouldn't trust him easily and let my guards down,” she said.

"Exactly! Remember, you have to overtake him in every terms, don't consider him as a friend. He will remain your rival forever."

Chandrika gave a nod and he said,"attend the event, but be careful. Alright?"

"Yes Dad."

Chirag, satisfied that he had made his point, returned to his tablet. The air in the grand living room grew heavy again.

Chandrika’s gaze drifted towards the invitation card, resting in the invitation box sent by the Shekhawats. The intricate designs seemed to mock her. The laughter and joy of a wedding felt distant, overshadowed by the weight of her family’s legacy of rivalry. She knew she would attend the wedding, not for the sake of celebration, but as a representative of the Oswals, keeping a close eye on the Shekhawats, just as her father had instructed. But a small part of her, the part that harmonized with Shubman's voice during their music sessions, couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the forced animosity. She knew, deep down, that life, like a melody, deserved more than just dissonance.

The scent of marigolds, thick and sweet, snaked its way under Snehanvi’s door, a vibrant contrast to the quiet ache in her chest. Outside, her family was a flurry of brightly coloured activity. Laughing voices, the clinking of glass bangles, the rhythmic thud of the dhol – all the familiar sounds of a wedding, her wedding. Yet, inside her small room, a different melody played, a melancholic tune composed of memory and longing.

She was supposed to be excited, brimming with the anticipation of a new chapter. But all she could feel was the weight of a different story, one that had ended too soon. Virat. His name, a whispered sigh, lingered on her lips.

The preparations outside seemed to mock her grief. The vibrant hues of the silk saris felt garish against the backdrop of her grey mood. The celebratory music grated against the silence of her heart. She was marrying Baldev, the guy she hated the most.

She internally hoped for a miracle to happen. She wanted Virat to come and stop her wedding somehow, but she knew that it was too much to ask for.

She closed her eyes, a single tear escaping and tracing a path down her cheek. She could almost hear Virat's voice,"show this coin and they'll let you meet me."

"I have to escape from here. Aaj na sahi toh kal hi sahi. Kal na sahi toh shaadi wali din hi sahi. Anyhow I have go away from here. I have to meet Yuvraj and tell him everything. I know he will help me out,"she thought.

A soft knock on the door startled her. Her mother’s voice, laced with a gentle urgency, called out, “Snehanvi! Aakar dekh Baldev ne bheje huye saree aur geheney."(Come and see the jewellery and sarees sent by Baldev)

"Mhaara tabiyat thik na se. Aap logan dekh leyo,"(I am not well. You all see)

Her mother walked away getting irritated due to her low response, while she thought about a way of escape, but failed to find one at the moment.

"Kya karu? I can't send message through someone. Firstly, nobody will take my message to Yuvraj, secondly, if they get caught then I'll lose my hope of escape forever. I cannot give up. I have to escape on my own. Yeh shaadi main nahi karungi. Not at any cost,"she said to herself while pacing around the room.

"

How can you do like this with me? You're sending me the pics of mehendi and decorations and all, but not a single pic of yours,"Hardik send a voice note.

Durdhara laughed and replied,"I had personally clicked a pic of myself for you. Exclusively for you."

"Really? Where is it? Why am I not getting it yet then?"he said impatiently.

Durdhara chuckled and sent a picture of hers, saying,"here it goes."

Hardik checked out her picture and replied,"hmmmm! Looks very hot. A close up view please."

"Stop it please!"

"Send it please!"

Durdhara frowned and sent another, replying,"I knew you would ask for one. But issey zyaada nahi milega aapko. Hmm? And I want you to focus on my hands. ONLY."

"Now which idiot would focus ONLY on the hands?"

"Your princely protocols are fluctuating."

Hardik laughed and said,"even your princessly protocols are fluctuating, my love. Exposing yourself so much to a man like this? Very bad."

"That man is my husband, for your kind information. We are legally wedded."

"Hmm! Then you should show a bit more than that."

"Hah! Back to square one again. Very ribald of you as usual."

"One has to be ribald in a relationship, mohotarma."

"Oh is it so, Mr.Hardik?"

"Oh yes Mrs.Hardik."

"Listen, I have to change now and get a good night sleep. Can't afford to look aweful and tired on my big day tomorrow. You too go to sleep."

"Shall I come to Ratnagiri and help you with the changing thing?"

"Not today. You'll be getting that chance everyday from tomorrow,"Durdhara said and chuckled as he laid back on the bed, stating,"hayeeee!"

************************************Here goes the update. Keep Reading and Keep Vommenting Guys.😘❤️