👑Fifty Five~

"Harry! Chandraprayag needs a king,"Meenakshi said, resting her hand upon Hardik's shoulder.

"I can't! Tell Rishi or Maan. I can't take that crown,"Hardik said.

"You have to, beta. After Veer, you're the most suitable choice. Baat maaniye, please,"Meenakshi said cupping his face. "Humare liye."

Hardik sighed and said,"Chaar din nahi huye Dadabhai ko gaye huye, Bro is missing, Akay is missing. Mom, Dhara! My Dhara is not with me. How can I sit on the throne?"

"For doing your duty. Veer always taught you to do your duty no matter what. Didn't he?"

Hardik looked down, nodding.

"Then? Just because he's not there, you'll forget his teachings?"Meenakshi pressed on and he sighed.

"Thik hain,"he said in a low tone and she kissed his forehead and said,"Shabash! I knew you'll understand. Dhara Bahurani zaroor milengi, Harry. Hum dhund laayenge unhey. Aap bass apna raj dharm nibhaiye."

Hardik gave a nod and rested his head upon her shoulder, while she thought,"Finally! Finally my wish has come true."

The next morning, the royal throne had been set up again for another coronation ceremony within the span of a few months. For Meenakshi, it was a moment of triumph. The culmination of years of meticulous planning was finally at hand. She watched with sparkling eyes as her beloved son was prepared for his coronation, her dream of seeing him crowned king about to become a reality.

But beneath the veneer of celebration, a chilling undercurrent ran deep. Hardik himself was a shadow of his former self. The warmth that once lit his eyes was replaced by a hollow emptiness. As he was bathed and adorned, a profound sorrow clung to him like a shroud. The recent death of Virat tormented him internally and then there was Durdhara, whose mysterious disappearance weighed heavily on his heart.

Yet, amidst this personal turmoil, Hardik knew he had a duty to his kingdom. He had to perform his royal obligations, even with a heart full of grief and uncertainty.

The grand hall buzzed with dignitaries, nobles, and loyal subjects, all eager to witness the event. Suryavardhan, his face etched with a weariness that belied his age and the grief of Virat's death, stepped forward. He presented the royal sword to Hardik, a symbol of power and responsibility.

Receiving it from his father, Hardik sighed, and with heavy steps, he approached the throne, his every movement betraying his inner struggle. He sat, the weight of grief pressing down on his spirit.

Suryavardhan raised the glittering crown, poised to place it upon Hardik's head, signifying his official ascension to the throne. The moment hung heavy in the air, filled with expectation and unspoken anxieties. This was it. The future of Chandraprayag was about to be sealed, thought Meenakshi, as she came ahead and stood beside Suryavardhan to bless her son.

But just as the crown descended, a single, piercing voice shattered the solemn silence.

"Stop it!"

Every head in the hall snapped towards the source of the interruption. Disbelief washed over the faces of the gathered crowd while a smile of hope appeared on Hardik's face as Durdhara stood defiantly at the entrance, carrying Akay in her arms, despite her condition.

The coronation, meticulously planned by Meenakshi, was thrown into chaos. Questions hung unanswered in the air, thick with suspense while Hardik left the throne and ran towards her, forgetting his royal protocols and failing Meenakshi's attempts to stop him.

He hugged Durdhara, along with Akay, crying in relief.

"Where have you been? You don't know what..."

"I know everything Ranaji. Don't cry. Sab thik ho jayega,"she said, caressing his face and he rested his forehead against her's.

"Yeh kya ho raha hain? Bahurani? Where have you been?"Suryavardhan asked in a relaxed yet confused tone.

Durdhara put Akay down and walked ahead, holding his hand. "Batate hain Dad. But as a matter of fact, the next king in line is here."

"Durdhara!"Meenakshi yelled coming forward, losing her calm at once. "The rituals have been done. Prince Hardik is the new king now."

"He hasn't been crowned yet, Mom. Besides, as I said, the next king in line is Prince Akay since his father was the last king,"Durdhara argued.

"Arrghhhhhhhh! How did you escape from the haveli?"Meenakshi yelled in anger and then went quiet, realising the blunder.

"Mom?"Rishabh furrowed his brow, taking a step ahead.

"You knew where she was?"Hardik asked, his demeanor changing slowly.

"I...I mean..."

"She means to say that her plan has failed. Yes Ranaji, she was the one who had kidnapped me, Big Bro and Akay. That's why it was easy for the intruders to get into the palace and leave without getting noticed. Queen Meenakshi had led them in through the secret passage,"Durdhara said.

"What proof do you have? How dare you accuse me?"Meenakshi shouted.

"We are the proof,"Virat and Andrew's voice echoed around the place and everyone looked around to find them standing at the entryway.

"Dadabhai! Big Bro!"Hardik exclaimed in utmost happiness, followed by Rishabh and Shubman and the trio ran up to their elder brothers at once and they shared a hug.

"Hum abhi Snehanvi Bhabi ko bula laatey hain,"Devangini said happily and went to bring Snehanvi who was about to undergo a ritual meant for the widows, accepting a life of penance forever as she had lost her will to live a normal life.

The priest was about to tie the sacred thread around the wrist when Devangini came and held her hand, stopping the priest, saying,"Yeh vidhi nahi hogi."

"Devi! Leave me. Let me do this,"Snehanvi said.

"Widows do this ritual, Badi Bhabi Sa, not someone whose husband is alive,"Devangini said and Snehanvi felt a jolt.

"Wha...what?"she asked, all her hope getting alive at once and Devangini passed her a smile and said with a nod,"Dadabhai is alive. He has come."

"Kya? Maharaj? Kaha hain voh? Where's he?"Snehanvi asked, standing up at once.

"Darbar mein...Bhabi wait..."Devangini couldn't finish as Snehanvi had already sprinted away, so she followed up hurriedly.

"Yeh sab kaisey huya?"Suryavardhan asked, giving a hug to both Virat and Andrew.

"Baba Sa, this woman whom I had considered as my mother, she betrayed me. She has betrayed all of us. She had planned to get me killed. The last attack was caused by her. We have caught the man who had pulled the shot,"Virat said, glaring at Meenakshi who took a step back in shock.

"Mom!"Hardik hissed at her, the pain of betrayal evident in his tone. "How could you? How could you Mom?"he yelled.

"Not only this, Kaka Sa,"Andrew said. "She's a cold-blooded killer. She had killed three people already."

Everyone looked at him with shocked expression and the people in the darbar too murmured among themselves in absolute shock while Rishabh asked,"Who are those people?"

"Queen Manikarnika, Queen Agnes and Queen Anushka,"Mahendra said, coming there with the police. "We had been collecting evidence since long after the attack on King Virat. Durdhara was the first one to knock us, alongside Prince Andrew."

"It was obvious that someone from within Amber Taj was responsible for the attack as breaching the tight security wasn't possible. Moreover, Bua Sa is in hospital. She too was held captive by this woman as she had got to know about her involvement with the attack. She has the video too which she had recorded of her meeting with the man and talking to him,"Andrew said.

"Yes! She had luckily dropped the phone when Mom's goons were chasing her, and we retrieved that from a passer-by who had picked it up and submitted to the police, seeing Bua Ji's picture in the wallpaper,"Durdhara said.

The lady constables held Meenakshi, and she yelled hysterically,"Chhoro humein. How dare you lay hands on me?" She glared at Virat and said bitterly,"How did you escape haan? How?"

Snehanvi and Devangini, who had heard everything, came ahead. The former came up to Virat and he held her in his embrace while she said,"I heard everything."

Devangini stood beside Rishabh, holding his hand, understanding his state of mind as he stared at his mother in disbelief.

"I was saved due to love. Love is the most powerful weapon, not hatred and greed,"Virat replied to Meenakshi, embracing Snehanvi's shoulders.

"Stop your nonsense! Aisey hi patti parhai hain aap ne humare beto ko. And what about this guy? How did he survive? Marte kaisey nahi ho tumlog?"Meenakshi asked glaring at Andrew.

"Oh it was a little act. You're not the only one good at it. Besides, I am a certified swimmer,"Andrew said with a smirk and told them what had happened exactly so far.

FLASHBACK SCENE:-

"Won't we return home ever?"Akay asked Durdhara who fed him and ate a bit herself, for the baby.

"We will. Give me some time. I have to think, beta,"she replied looking around. "If not me, at least you have to escape somehow."

Just then the door opened and Andrew walked in.

"Goodness!"Durdhara exclaimed standing up. "How did you get here?"

"I have been captivated too. I heard your and Akay's voice. I had knocked down the goon who had the key. Now let's go. Hurry up,"he said.

"No!"

"What?"

"Listen AV, we don't have much time. Hum jo bolenge dhyan se suniye,"Durdhara said after taking a look around the place from the tower. "We three cannot escape together without getting noticed by the goons. I would have taken the risk had it been other time, but in this condition I won't be able to run and that will get three of us caught. I was thinking to send off Akay somehow but was sceptical about it too, but now that you're here, the plan is on you."

"What is it?"Andrew asked looking outside once.

"Run! Run through that terrace. If the goons follow you, let them. Look over there, that part of the terrace doesn't have a railing. And the gorge isn't deep there, rather, there's the river that flows just below it. But the thing is....can you swim? Oh right! I didn't think about it,"Durdhara said, her expression getting dull, thinking that the plan won't work.

"Lucky for you Queen. I am a certified swimmer. I had swam in sea as well,"Andrew said, bringing her enthusiasm back.

"Excellent! That proves God is on our side. So you'll go over there and jump. Or pretend to fall, rather. It will be good if you are able to make them believe that you're dead."

"Fine! Easy thing. Then?"

"Then you have to swim out to a safe zone and contact Dadabhai first. I think he is in danger. The attacker is a lady. And..."

"Wait wait wait! What? How do you know?"

"I have heard Mom's voice while they were kidnapping me and here too they were talking to some madam a while ago through the phone."

"Are you sure?"Andrew asked as both of their expressions turned more serious while Akay looked on confusedly.

"Yes! Tell Dadabhai not to return home tonight and send someone else in his place, in his car. If there's an attack on the road, then we can be sure, and he'll also be saved. Also, ask him to go to Rudragiri immediately and contact my Dadabhai. He has found something about Bua Sa. He had texted me last night. You too be under cover for sometime. We need to see what happens in Chandraprayag till then. If Ranaji is declared as the next king then it's surely Mom who's behind everything. We have to appoint someone trusted to keep an eye upon her too."

"Whom? Charan Kaka?"

"Better! Best option. After meeting Dadabhai, take me and Akay from here,"Durdhara said.

"Alright!"Andrew said and started leaving and she gave him a scarf, saying,"Take this. Wrap it around your head like a turban and cover your face."

"Okay,"he said. "Take care, Queen."

"I will. You too take care. All the best AV,"Durdhara said and they shared a quick hug before he patted on Akay's head and ran out of the room.

The goons noticed him at once and followed up while Durdhara shut the door quickly so as to avoid suspicion for the time being.

Andrew made a jump before the bullet could hit him, and he fell into the river, swimming underneath the water, against the current, effortlessly, due to his practice.

"God! Please protect him,"Durdhara prayed, not understanding whether he could make it or not.

When Andrew had come out of the water, he walked up to the road, holding the wet scarf. He squeezed out the water and was about to tie the turban when a car stopped beside him.

"Andrew!"Meghatri said, stepping out of the car, startling him.

"Oh God! Why are you here in this state?!How are you? I mean...I was going to the palace because I heard..."

"Princess! Princess! Listen to me. We don't have much time,"Andrew said, stopping her and sighed before asking,"Can I trust you?"

She gave a nod saying,"Yeah, I guess so. Get inside the car."

"Take me to Rudragiri immediately and lend me your phone please,"he said as soon as they got inside the car and she gave her phone immediately.

Virat was walking towards his car when he received a call.

"Yes Megh Kanwar?"

"Veer, it's me. Andrew. You please don't go in your car. Rather, come to Rudragiri right now without informing anyone about it."

"Rudragiri? Now? But where are you,Bro? Is Dhara and..."

"Veer, don't think so much. I'll tell you everything. You just trust me and do as I said,"Andrew said. "Your life is in danger, as per Durdhara's prediction. And even I think the same. Send someone else in your car."

"Okay,"Virat said before disconnecting the call and then a thought crossed his mind. He called his driver and said him to do something.

"But Maharaj..."

"Do as I said. No questions,"Virat said and he gave a nod.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"My driver is alive. He had placed two dead bodies inside the car, which I had asked the inspector to put. He drove the car through the outskirts of the city and when there wasn't any attack, he jumped off the car, leaving it to go through the gorge and the car had burst suddenly. That's when we understood that a time bomb was fit under it. Had I been on my way back home, it would have burst. Being a king I couldn't let the innocent take the risk of his life for me. So I did my own game in between,"Virat said. "We then rescued Dhara and Akay and we were in Rudragiri."

"And Charan Kaaka gave us the details about whatever Mom had been doing out here,"Durdhara added.

"Take this woman away! Dadabhai, please make sure she gets death sentence,"Hardik said, shocking Meenakshi.

"Harry! Humnein yeh sab kuch aapke liye kiya tha beta. Aur aap aisa bol rahe hain?"she asked, her eyes filling up with actual tears this time.

"Nahi! Aap ne yeh sab apne liye kiya hain. To satisfy your ego,"Hardik yelled at her.

"What did you think? We will worship you after knowing such a huge truth? Aarti utaarenge aapki? You're a murderer, a criminal,"Rishabh shouted, pointing his finger at her.

"Haan! Right! I am a criminal for wanting to secure your future. Idiots! Sab kuch aap dono ka hota. Even Maan would have lived happily. Lekin nahi! Mom ka saath kiyu deh? Aap dono ko toh apne iss bade bhai ki parih hain? Sautele bhai ki. Jisey humesha se sab kuch milta aaya hain, bina maange hi. Bilkul iskey maa ki tarha,"Meenakshi said, hatred dripping out of her voice.

"MEENAKSHI!"Suryavardhan yelled, slapping her.

"Baba Sa! Log dekh rahe hain,"Virat exclaimed while people gasped.

"Nahi Veer. Dekhne dijiye logon ko. Sometimes it's better to break the royal protocols to punish criminals like her. Officer, inhey aaj hi court mein pesh kiya jaaye. Max to max kal tak ka wakt denge hum. She should get death sentence. Call our lawyer immediately, Veer,"Suryavardhan commanded.

"Harry! Rishi! Galti kar rahe hain aap dono,"Meenakshi said.

"Galti kar rahe theh aapko Mom bulake. Aaj se, abhi se, humare saath aapka koi rishta nahi raha. You're nobody to us,"Hardik said.

Meenakshi stared at him and then at Rishabh who looked away. She jerked away the hands of the constables and came ahead. Holding their hands she pleaded,"Humari baat sunn lijiye bete. Humara hain hi kaun aap dono ke ilawa?"

"Yeh parivaar aapka tha Mom. Dadabhai ne humesha apne maa ke equal pyaar aur respect diya hain aapko. But you? What did you do? You betrayed him. Everyone loved you. Everyone had kept you adorned on their head. But your greed didn't let you see that,"Rishabh said.

"Jaiye! Dur ho jaiye humare nazron ke saamney se,"Hardik said, jerking away her hand and she stumbled back as Rishabh too left her.

The officers held her this time, locking  handcuffs around her hands and dragged her away as she kept looking at them before being taken away from there.

"Hum soch nahi saktey ki we have trusted a snake till now,"Kadambari said while coming up to Virat and Vamika hugged him.

"At least my kids are safe, Maa Sa,"Suryavardhan said with a sigh, holding Andrew's shoulder for support and he held his hand in return.

"I am sorry again, Kaka Sa. I thought wrong about you,"he said.

"Nahi bete. It's not your fault,"Suryavardhan said.

"Now, Dadabhai, take your rightful place,"Hardik said, taking the crown from the tray which Charan Singh was holding.

He kept the crown upon Virat's head and Suryavardhan said to Charan Singh,"Aapke jaisa wafadaar saathi bhagwan sabko deh, Charan Singh."

"Hukum! It was my duty,"he said with a bow.

"I think we should thank someone else too,"Durdhara said and then looked at Meghatri who was standing behind Mahendra. She went ahead and brought her to the front.

"Thank you so much Megha,"Rishabh said, holding her hands first.

"I am glad I could help out in some way,"Meghatri added. "This family is mine too. I grew up with you all."

Andrew came ahead to her while others got busy with the police and formalities.

"Thanks,"he said.

"You have said that hundred times by now,"Meghatri added and both of them chuckled.

"I was thinking..."he started..."would you like to be a permanent member of this family?"

"Haan? What?"Meghatri asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Permanent member, Megha, will you be?"he asked and she looked down, and then gave a nod.

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