𝗛𝗶 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 ♡

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀｡❀

𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚘𝚝𝚎, 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎.

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The night was eerily quiet. The roads lay deserted.

Streetlights stretched long golden shadows across the empty streets, as though trying to keep the city alive despite the silence surrounding it.

It was one in the morning.

Suddenly...

Three cars tore through the empty roads at breathtaking speed.

They moved so fast that even the air around them seemed to shift in their wake.

Inside the sedan in the middle sat the man...

The King of Rajasthan.

Shaurya Singh Suryavanshi.

Looking as composed as ever, no amount of work or responsibility could steal the quiet charm he naturally carried around him.

His jaw was clenched. His sharp eyes remained fixed on the file resting in his hands.

CONFIDENTIAL.

Written in bold dark red letters across the cover.

"Kab bheja hai yeh?"

(When was this sent?)

His deep, authoritative voice settled heavily inside the moving car.

Beside him sat another man.

Fair-complexioned, neatly combed hair, dressed in an impeccable professional suit.

Josh.

One of his closest friends... Also one of his most trusted business partners.

Compared to the King, he appeared considerably less intimidating, though the seriousness in his expression hadn't disappeared entirely.

"Shaam ko..."

(This evening...)

Shaurya lightly tapped his fingers against the confidential file.

His face remained unreadable.

His eyes... Empty. Void of every visible emotion.

"Rehaan abhi bhi Delhi mein hi hai. Investigation chal rahi hai."

(Rehaan is still in Delhi. The investigation is ongoing.)

Josh finished in a low, controlled voice.

Shaurya merely gave a small nod.

"Next week..."

His words trailed off as he slowly turned his head toward Josh.

"Next week underworld meeting arrange karo. Hum ab iss mamle mein zyada intezar nahi kar sakte."

(Arrange an underworld meeting next week. I can't afford to wait any longer in this matter.)

Josh nodded without another question.

The seriousness in Shaurya's voice had already given him every answer he needed.

Slowly... Shaurya placed the confidential file beside him.

For the time being... The King of Rajasthan had finished his duties.

But... The King of the Indian Underworld... Hadn't.

Perhaps... The luxury of taking time off simply wasn't destined to knock on his doors.

Gradually, the convoy slowed.

The wheels finally came to a halt before the magnificent palace.

Both men stepped out of the car with effortless grace.

Walking with measured, deliberate steps, they entered the dimly lit palace.

The grand staircase stood only a few steps away from the entrance.

Their footsteps echoed through the silent hallways.

Upon reaching the second floor, Josh came to a stop.

"Kal subah main Karnataka ke liye nikal jaunga, toh shayad tumse mil nahi paunga."

(I'll be leaving for Karnataka tomorrow morning, so I probably won't get a chance to see you.)

His voice was calm. Gentle.

Shaurya simply nodded.

With that, Josh turned on his heels and walked toward one of the guest rooms.

Whereas... The King continued climbing the stairs until he reached the third floor.

A floor reserved exclusively for him.

No one stepped onto it without his permission.

And if someone dared to do so... A careless mistake would never be accepted as an excuse.

The moment Shaurya pushed open the bedroom door...

A muscular American Pit Bull Terrier hurried toward him, his tail wagging with unmistakable excitement.

"Neon."

The sternness in Shaurya's features softened ever so slightly.

Crouching down, he gently ran his hand over the dog's back.

Neon happily licked his free hand in return.

A rare smile almost appeared on Shaurya's face... Almost.

After spending a few quiet moments with him, Shaurya walked toward the walk-in wardrobe situated on the right side of the room door.

The bathroom stood directly opposite it, divided by a thick wall from the room.

Picking out a comfortable T-shirt and a pair of loose trousers, he silently walked inside.

He turned on the shower. Standing tall beneath the stream of warm water.

Countless droplets rolled over his broad shoulders before disappearing down his muscular frame.

Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he ran a hand through his damp hair.

Within minutes... Steam slowly filled the glass-enclosed shower.

After a while, the water stopped running.

Wrapping a towel securely around his waist, he stepped out.

Standing before the large mirror, he first dried his hair with a towel before switching on the hair dryer.

Only after his hair was completely dry did he change into the comfortable T-shirt and trousers he had picked earlier.

Walking back into the bedroom, he let his eyes wander around the familiar space.

A king-sized bed rested against the dark grey wall.

The room itself was decorated almost entirely in shades of black, blue, charcoal, and grey.

In fact... The entire floor carried the same colour palette.

It reflected its owner's personality perfectly.

Minimal. Disciplined. Dark.

Just like the wardrobe he wore every single day.

Slowly, the mattress dipped beneath his weight as he lay down.

Adjusting the room temperature to twenty degrees, he pulled the blanket over himself before switching off the lights.

Without waiting for an invitation... Neon jumped onto the bed.

Curling up comfortably beside his owner.

Shaurya gently placed a hand over the dog's head before softly pressing a kiss against it.

"Good night, Neon."

Within moments...

The exhaustion of another endless day finally claimed him.

And the King surrendered himself to sleep.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

The moon finally surrendered the sky to the rising sun.

Quietly... Morning took over the world.

Inside the palace, workers had already begun running their daily errands.

The silence of the night had long disappeared, replaced by the faint sounds of footsteps, utensils, and conversations echoing through the grand corridors.

At the far end of the ground floor stood a spacious home gym.

Equipped with every machine one could possibly need.

Three familiar figures occupied the room.

Shaurya. Udaivir. Sumedh.

One was relentlessly punching the heavy boxing bag.

Another was in the middle of an intense set of push-ups.

And last but certainly not least...

Sumedh was extremely busy walking on the treadmill...

At the astonishing speed of four. His eyelids still drooped with sleep.

It was only 7:45 in the morning.

"Udai Bhai Sa, humse aur nahi hoga. Isse pehle humari aatma nikal jaye, please jaane dijiye mujhe."

(Udai Bhai Sa, I can't do this anymore. Please let me go before my soul leaves my body.)

Sumedh complained in a sluggish, sleepy voice.

Udaivir paused halfway through his push-ups.

Sitting down on the floor, he looked at his younger brother with complete disbelief.

"Aadha ghanta bhi nahi hua aate huye. Ek boond pasine ka nahi gira aur tum thak bhi gaye."

(It's not even been half an hour since you came here. You haven't even broken a single drop of sweat, and you're already tired.)

Sumedh nodded vigorously as though agreeing with every accusation.

Seeing that, Udaivir simply shook his head in utter helplessness.

By then... Shaurya had also finished his workout.

Unwrapping the boxing hand wraps from around his fists, he walked toward them.

"Jaldi uthne ki thodi aadat daal liya karo."

(You should get used to waking up early.)

Sumedh immediately turned toward him.

Udaivir stood up, grabbed the towel lying nearby, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Daal lunga aadat, Bhai Sa... bas aaj mujhse nahi hoga."

(I'll get used to it, Bhai Sa... just not today.)

Shaurya looked at his sleepy younger brother for a brief moment before quietly shaking his head.

Without saying another word... He walked out of the gym.

Within the next thirty minutes, he was completely ready for the day.

Ready to fulfil the responsibilities of both...

A doctor. And a king.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt beneath a perfectly tailored navy-blue suit, he walked downstairs.

As expected... Everyone was already seated at the dining table.

Waiting for him. After greeting every elder respectfully, Shaurya took his seat.

"Maa Sa, aap sabko kitni baar bola hai humare liye intezar mat kiya karein. Dada ki dawai ka waqt hota hai."

(Maa Sa, how many times have I told everyone not to wait for me? It's time for Dada's medicines.)

His mother looked at him for a brief moment before calmly serving food onto his plate.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Aapke Dada ko hi samjha dijiye phir yeh baat."

(Then you should explain that to your Dada instead.)

Shaurya shifted his gaze toward his grandfather.

The old man merely shrugged before continuing his breakfast as though nothing had happened.

Letting out a quiet sigh... Shaurya also began eating.

Soon, the dining hall filled only with the soft clinking of cutlery against porcelain plates.

"Bhai Sa..."

Breaking the comfortable silence, Samriddhi finally spoke.

Shaurya paused midway through eating and looked at her.

"Humne last week aapko Delhi workshop ke baare mein bataya tha na... woh kal hai. Toh kya hum dono jaa sakte hain?"

(We told you about the Delhi workshop last week, remember? It's tomorrow. So... can both of us go?)

She asked carefully. Almost hesitantly. She knew her eldest brother.

When it came to family... He was protective beyond reason. 

No one questioned his decisions. Not because they were afraid.

But because everyone knew... If Shaurya made a decision... There was always a reason behind it.

Shaurya remained silent for a few moments.

Then he calmly replied,

"Humein bhi thoda kaam hai Delhi mein. Toh hum hi le chalenge tum dono ko."

(I have some work in Delhi as well. So I'll take both of you there myself.)

The excitement on both Sumedh's and Samriddhi's faces became impossible to hide.

They had been waiting for this opportunity for weeks.

Trying to suppress her excitement, Samriddhi quickly added,

"Barah baje workshop shuru hoga. Toh usse pehle humein pahunchna hoga."

(The workshop starts at twelve o'clock, so we'll have to reach before then.)

Shaurya simply nodded once before continuing his breakfast.

He had never relied much on words.

One nod. One glance. One expression.

That alone completed ninety percent of his conversations.

Soon... Breakfast came to an end.

Shaurya made his way toward the palace entrance.

His car was already waiting.

"Good morning, Rana Sa."

The driver greeted him warmly.

As always... Shaurya responded with a small nod accompanied by the faintest smile.

The driver had served the royal family faithfully for many years.

Trust. Respect. Loyalty. Those things mattered greatly to Shaurya.

The moment he settled into the back seat...

The car smoothly rolled forward. Usually, he spent every journey working.

Today... Was no different.

Only... The work itself was.

Instead of hospital files or business reports...

He opened the details regarding tomorrow's workshop in Delhi.

His eyes carefully skimmed over the screen.

The venue. The guest speakers.

And then... His gaze stopped on a single name.

"Nandini."

The name escaped his lips in nothing more than a whisper.

For a brief moment... His eyes remained fixed on it.

Before slowly scrolling further down through the details.

"Pehle bahut baar naam toh suna tha... ab jaakar shayad mil bhi lein CEO Nandini se."

(I've heard her name countless times before... perhaps now I'll finally get to meet CEO Nandini.)

The title... CEO... Rolled off his tongue just a little longer than the rest.

Almost as though he was quietly testing how it sounded.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Far away from Rajasthan...

Inside a luxurious hotel suite overlooking the heart of Paris... Nandini was fast asleep.

After an entire week of Paris Fashion Week, exhaustion had finally caught up with her.

She truly lived up to the titles she had earned—

Investor. Fashion Designer.

Every achievement had come through relentless work rather than luck.

Sleeping until eleven in the morning was anything but normal for her.

Her mornings usually began before sunrise.

But perhaps...

Today, the exhaustion of the past week had finally overpowered her disciplined routine.

The room remained peacefully silent.

Until... The faint ringing of a phone disturbed the stillness.

Somewhere beneath the tangled blanket, her phone continued vibrating.

Without opening her eyes, she lazily moved her hand across the mattress, searching for it.

After fumbling around for a few moments... Her fingers finally found it.

Without bothering to check the caller ID, she answered the call.

"Hello..."

Her voice came out soft.

Sleepy. Barely above a whisper. Her eyes remained gently closed.

A quiet chuckle reached her ears from the other side of the call.

"Princess."

The familiar voice instantly erased the remaining traces of sleep.

Her elder brother.

The moment she heard him... Her eyes flew open.

A warm smile naturally appeared on her lips.

"Good morning, Bhai."

He smiled from the other side as well.

"Good morning, Princess."

Slowly, she sat upright against the headboard before wrapping the blanket around herself.

"You must be tired... but you should eat something. It's already late."

Hearing that, her brows furrowed in confusion.

Pulling the phone slightly away from her ear, she glanced at the time displayed on the screen.

11:03 AM.

Her eyes widened.

"What the hell!"

Her sleepy voice rose almost into a shout.

A soft laugh echoed through the phone.

"It's okay, Princess. Taking rest isn't a sin... or a crime."

His reassuring words immediately eased the frustration on her face.

She let out a dramatic huff.

"What are you doing, Bhai?"

She asked curiously.

From there... The conversation continued for almost another thirty minutes.

Neither of them noticed how quickly time slipped away.

A gentle knock sounded at the door. It immediately drew her attention.

Looking toward the entrance, she smiled softly.

"Bhai, I'll call you later."

"Alright, Princess. Take care."

"I will."

The call ended.

Throwing the blanket aside, she stepped out of bed and walked toward the door.

The moment she opened it...

Her PA stood outside with his usual cheerful smile.

A breakfast tray rested comfortably in his hands.

"Good morning, Princess."

Nandini returned a small smile before stepping aside, giving him enough room to enter.

He walked inside comfortably. Placing the breakfast tray on the coffee table, he settled onto the sofa.

Without wasting any time... He got straight to business.

"Humein Germany ka deal mil gaya."

(We secured the Germany deal.)

His tone remained professional. Serious.

A faint smirk slowly appeared on Nandini's lips.

She calmly took her seat on the single-seater sofa, elegantly crossing one leg over the other.

"Toh Johnson ne aakhir haar maan hi li."

(So Johnson finally accepted defeat.)

Her PA nodded.

A quiet sense of satisfaction flickered across her face.

For just a brief moment...

A proud smile appeared. And disappeared just as quickly.

Her expression returned to its usual composed neutrality.

"Humein laga tha ki thode aur din chalega uska yeh zid ka khel..."

(I thought he'd continue this stubborn game for a few more days...)

She paused.

Leaning back comfortably against the sofa.

"Achha competitor tha... afsos jaldi haar maan liya."

(He was a good competitor... it's a pity he gave up so soon.)

Her PA couldn't help but chuckle.

Only Nandini could sound disappointed after winning such a massive international deal.

Drawing in a slow breath, she finally stood up.

"Main fresh hoke aati hoon."

(I'll freshen up and come back.)

Seeing that, he also rose from his seat.

"Main bhi chalta hoon. Pending kaam khatam kar leta hoon."

(I'll head out too. I'll finish the remaining work.)

She nodded once.

Without another word, he quietly left the suite, gently closing the door behind him.

Nandini walked toward the bathroom.

She brushed her teeth before splashing cold water across her face.

The refreshing chill instantly washed away the last traces of sleep lingering in her eyes.

A few minutes later... She returned to the living area.

Walking toward the large glass windows, she pulled the curtains apart.

Bright Parisian sunlight immediately flooded the room.

The city stretched endlessly before her.

Taking her breakfast plate, she settled onto the sofa.

As she quietly ate...

Her iPad rested comfortably on her lap.

One hand held the spoon. The other effortlessly sketched across the digital canvas.

Designing had never been just another profession for her.

It had always been her passion. Something she genuinely loved.

Although she was mostly known for designing couture clothing...

This Fashion Week had marked a completely new milestone.

For the very first time... She had launched her own jewellery collection.

And judging by the response... It had exceeded every expectation.

A soft hum escaped her lips as she continued sketching another design.

Outside... Paris moved at its usual breathtaking pace.

Inside... For the first time in days...

Nandini allowed herself to enjoy a rare moment of peace before work claimed her once again.

Little did she know that someone in India was watching her movements and waiting for her to be there.

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