👑Nineteen~

Durdhara woke up with a start, disoriented by the sound of Hardik's outraged tone. He was pacing back and forth in the room, his phone pressed to his ear.

"What? That's impossible!" Hardik exclaimed, his voice rising in anger. "How can they do this to him?"

Durdhara sat up, clutching the blanket near her chest. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to make sense of the conversation while he came and sat beside her, on the bed, and she rested her other hand on Hardik's back.

He turned towards her, his eyes blazing with anger, and took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.

"Jaan, we have to head back home,"he said, his voice still laced with urgency. "A crisis has happened."

Durdhara's eyes widened with concern. "What's the matter?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hardik's expression turned grim. "Dadabhai is marrying a girl from the Kulsagara village. And it's against his will."

Durdhara's eyes went wide with shock. "What? That's ridiculous!"she exclaimed.

"If I was there, I would have shot those people dead by now, but Dad is saying that political matters are also involved in this as the girl is the daughter of the village head. If Kulsagara goes against us then the adjacent villages might do the same."

"That's so...poor Dadabhai,"Durdhara said. "We should be home to support him at least."

Hardik gave a nod and kissed her hand, saying,"I am so sorry, Jaan. We have to end our honeymoon so abruptly."

"Harry, we have made enough memories already and am sure we will make more. Don't apologise. It was a lovely trip,"she said. "Home is the first priority, hmm."

Hardik nodded and kissed her forehead, murmuring,"How did I get so lucky?" He sighed and said,"You get ready. I'll book the first flight possible. It just takes eight to nine hours from here. We'll reach home before night."

Durdhara gave a nod while thinking,"God knows who's that unlucky girl. Dadabhai seems to be in love with only one lady for years."

Rishabh was hurrying out of the palace when Suryavardhan called him.

"Kaha jaa rahe hain aap?"he asked and Rishabh turned back, replying,"Dadabhai ke paas."

"No you won't."

"Dad?"

"Rishi! It's more of a political marriage. If we join the wedding then people will think that we wanted this wedding to take place. We can't let that happen. Let people think that Virat is highly generous towards that girl. That will uplift his image as a king too."

"What? What are you saying? Dad! None of us will be with him in such an important day?"

"No we won't be. My son didn't marry for so many years, and now he's marrying a common girl, that too because of the girl herself. She should understand how much unwanted she is, in our family. Let her come to Chandraprayag, I'll make sure that Kulsagara suffers too because of what they have done with my son."

"Dad, I don't care about what you'll do and what you won't. I don't want Dadabhai to be alone there,"Rishabh protested.

"Me too!"Shubman said while running downstairs. "Dad! I am going with Bro."

"You you aren't. You have a competition going on. Focus on that. Go upstairs,"Suryavardhan commanded.

"But Dad!"

"Maan Singh! It's a command."

"Do hell with your command,"Rishabh said when Meenakshi came there.

"Rishi! Why the hell are you being so stubborn. Go to your room. Didn't you hear what your Dad said?"

"But Mom..."

"Go to your room. Both of you,"she said sternly and the duo went away, disappointed.

Snehanvi stared at the wedding altar, feeling nervous and scared. However, she knew she won't be beaten up or stopped from pursuing a career anymore, but she also knew how loveless this marriage will be, and the insults she was supposed to face at the royal palace.

She stared at her bridal attire and jewellery which Virat had brought the previous night itself. Of course, she had already harmed his privacy, now if she would go with him not in royal attire, then people would say things behind their back.

Virat had handed over the attire and jewellery to her, glaring at her, and had talked to her in a rough manner too for the first time. Maybe he was thinking her as a traitor, and that was hurting her internally.

She held the bridal pack, and sighed while Sudha entered the room with a bowl of turmeric and curd paste.

"Yuvraj ne rasam ke naam pe bass teeka hi lagwaney diyo haldi ka. Phirbi, rasam toh ho gayo. Chal chhori, haldi ka rasam poori kar leve hain,"she said to Snehanvi.(The crown prince has allowed only to put a teeka in the name of ritual, but at least the ritual will he completed. Come, let's complete the ritual)

Snehanvi went with them while one of the ladies asked her to smile as she was getting married to the man she wanted to, but she sighed.

No doubt she was getting married to the man she wanted to, but that man doesn't want to marry her. She knew that things would take a wrong turn ahead of her, and she was preparing herself for that.

When Hardik and Durdhara returned home, the family was sitting at the livingroom, discussing about the uneventful situation Virat was in.

"I had already said a no. Hadn't I?"Suryavardhan asked Rishabh, who was trying to pacify him to let him and Shubman go to bring the newlyweds home, at least.

"You have said no about what, Dad?"Hardik's voice startled them and Meenakshi asked,"Harry! You both came back? Your trip was yet to..."

"Mom! How can I sit there and enjoy a trip when Dadabhai is in a crisis out here?"Hardik asked.

Suryavardhan stood up and blessed Durdhara, who took his and Meenakshi's blessings, while Hardik said to his brothers,"Chal! We will go and stop the wedding."

He took their hands and started taking them along when their father called from behind, in a strict and stretched tone.

"Hardik!"

Hardik continued walking before Suryavardhan commanded loudly,"None of you are going anywhere."

Hardik stopped and turned back, and so did Rishabh and Shubman.

"Why? Do you want your son to get married to a girl against his choice?"Hardik questioned.

"Yes! Unfortunately he has to. It's politics, Hardik. If he backs out of the wedding then that wil..."

"That will effect our political power and control on the villages around? Nooo Dad! That's wrong. You're slaughtering your son's peace for the sake of your kingdom? What kind of a father are you?"Hardik yelled.

"Bhai! Shaant ho jaiye. Dadabhai has himself taken the decision to..."Shubman started saying, holding his hand.

"Dadabhai will take such actions, Maan. He has always been selfless. But this man didn't even try to stop him? Arey we could have gotten the girl married to some other nice guy. Why Dadabhai has to marry her haan?"

"Because the situation demands so, Hardik."

"Do hell with the situation!"

"Harry, shaant ho jao bete. We will eventually find out a way. Calm down. It won't be good for you all to go there and stop the wedding abruptly now. Even I am against this marriage, but we can't help it now,"Meenakshi pacified him, holding his hands.

"But Mom..."

"Calm down."

Durdhara stared at Hardik's disappointed face and turned towards Suryavardhan, asking him,"Dad, can't we tell the villagers that the wedding will take place here and bring Dadabhai and the girl, away from there? We will figure out something after that. At least the marriage won't take place that way."

"It's too late, Durdhara. They have already started the wedding rituals by now."

"Yah! And all credit goes to you. Dad you're simply...Whatever!"Hardik yelled before walking away angrily.

"Durdhara, jaiye aap. You should be with Harry instead of being here,"Meenakshi said and Durdhara gave a nod and walked away.

"Dad! You really disappointed us today,"Rishabh said before going away to his room, and Shubman followed up after looking at their father once.

"All the kids are unhappy. I told you not to allow this wedding to take place,"Meenakshi said.

"Meena, at times, we have to take certain decisions for greater benefits,"Suryavardhan said.

Snehanvi sat beside Virat, performing the rituals. Virat was zoned out, displeased and irritated, and she could feel that very well.

She looked at him once, staring at his handsome face, which looked devoid of any expression at the moment, as he stared at the holy fire in front of them.

Snehanvi sighed and looked away, finding her family happy that they were getting their daughter married to a royal groom. And in that moment she felt hatred for them for the first time in her life so far.

She had endured all the biasness, all the insults from her brother, all the beatings from her mother, and every such thing so far, due to her love for them. But the thing they did to her was beyond forgiveness. They had destroyed the friendly bond between her and Virat, making her a villain in his eyes.

She was fine with never getting his love, but at least she had his trust. But now, because of her own family and villagers, she lost that as well, and will get only hatred from him, which will be unbearable for her.

The wedding rituals went on, and she felt a heavy rock getting settled upon her heart, which would crush her to death soon.

Durdhara was combing her hair, sitting in the dressing room of her and Hardik's bedroom suite, staring at him through the mirror, as he paced to and fro behind her, looking down and murmuring things.

"Aap shaant ho jaiye Hardik. It's not possible to do anything now. Besides, think about that girl too. Maybe..."she started saying but he came towards her, interrupting,"Think about that girl? No way Dhara. I'll think about my elder brother first. I am sure he'll be so unhappy in this marriage."

Durdhara held his hand and turned towards him, saying,"What if he starts liking her eventually?"

"In that case, Dhara, I'll definitely accept her as my sister-in-law. But not before that. Not until Dadabhai accepts her."

Durdhara sighed and gave a nod and stood up while he said,"Thank God I got you, Dhara. Kya pata aisey log kahi kisidin humein bhi zabardasti apni kisi beti se baandh dete! God was merciful towards me to tie me with you."

Durdhara chuckled and said,"You're an innocent child, you know that?"

Hardik frowned and said,"I am worried and you're teasing me?"

"It's true. You're too innocent at times, Hardik. And listen, don't be so worried. Dadabhai is mature and I am sure there's nothing that we all can't handle together. Hmm?"

Hardik gave a nod and she kissed his forehead, comforting him.

************************************

Snehanvi peeped out of the Roll Royce Sedan's window, as the car entered the Amber Taj Palace of Chandraprayag.

Staring at the gigantic palace, she gasped in awe. This was where she was supposed to live? This was her new home? The premises of the palace seemed to be the size of her village. Her village, and the village dwellers, because of whom she had to marry a man who was not only twelve years older than her and a widower, but also had two children from his first marriage. Though she had feelings for him, she never wanted to force him into a relationship with her, but unfortunately, situations made her do so.

The royal palace was getting robbed off the wedding decorations of Hardik and Durdhara.

"How huge the palace is that it is taking so much time for the decorators to undo all their creative works!"Snehanvi thought before the car was pulled at a halt in front of a huge entrance door, which had ivory carvings and expensive wooden and metal works on it.

A steward opened the door for her husband, the crown prince, his majesty Virat Singh Shekhawat, which was unbelievable for her, even at the moment.

The door on her side was opened in the meantime, and she stepped out timidly, looking around in an unsure manner, while Virat came and stood beside her, with a straight emotionless face.

"I don't think you need an invitation to walk ahead alongside me?"he said in a tone which sent a chill down her spine, and she gave a nod, looking down, and then followed up as he started moving ahead.

Staff of the palace and other workers gathered around to catch a glimpse of their new would-be queen, as the newlywed pair stood at the threshold of the Amber Taj.

"My goodness! By seeing your attire nobody's gonna think that this was a forced wedding,"Shalakha taunted.

"Shalakha! Khamosh!"Suryavardhan's serious command made her go silent, while he added looking at Meenakshi,"Jaiye, swagat kijiye inka, and yes, yeh baat ghar mein hi reheni chahiye. I don't want anyone to discuss this matter, further, got it?"

Everyone gave a nod while Meenakshi came ahead and her attendee brought the aarti's thaali.

"Nayi bahu ko bulaya jaaye,"Suryavardhan's mother, Rajmaata Kadambari Devi stated.

"Koi zaroorat nahi hain Maa Sa. Iss ladki ke swagat ke liye Rani Durdhara ko bulane ki koi zaroorat nahi hain,"(No need to call Queen Durdhara for the purpose)Meenakshi said while doing Virat's aarti and blessed him while adding,"jaiye bete, araam kijiye. Yeh sab chhoriye. Apne kamrein mein jaiye."(Go son, go to your room and take rest. Leave all these.)

Virat gave a nod and walked away while Snehanvi stood confusedly, holding their wedlock drapes, as Virat had already flung it away.

"Charu, jao jaakar inhey inka kamra dikha doh. Jab tak Virat inhey dil se apnane ke liye taiyaar nahi ho jaatey, tab tak yeh wahi rahengi,"Kadambari said before retreating to her bedroom, followed by others, while the attendee escorted Snehanvi to the room she was supposed to spend the rest of her life in.

Walking into the palace she looked around at the grandeur, and understood why the people out here didn't prefer her at all. She was no match against these opulence. Coming up to the first floor she found another grand stairway.

Looking up she found a tall figure standing near a pillar, and beside him, a beautiful young lady, who can be older than her or can be of her age too. Her pretty face made it difficult for Snehanvi to guess it.

Durdhara, who was intending to come to her was stopped by Hardik, as he held her back, in a way forcibly, and pulled her away from there, while Shubman and Rishabh watched Snehanvi walk away, and the former asked,"Shall we go and greet her?"

"Not now. We'll do that tomorrow,"Rishabh said.

The attendee urged Snehanvi to follow up quickly and Snehanvi did so, though the jewellery and the heavy clothes made it difficult for her to walk properly.

"Wear these. Shekhawats doesn't take their brides home, dressed like a miser,"Virat had said while pointing at the wedding outfit and the jewellery, which he had managed in a short time, from Udaipur. He's a royal afterall! There's nothing he couldn't manage within the blink of an eye.

Snehanvi managed to carry the weight somehow before entering the room and closing the door. Falling on the lavish bed, she cried her heart out, as she was trapped in a never-ending labyrinth of loneliness and insults.

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