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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'I'm Sorry.'

Those two words echoed in my mind throughout the entire journey back to Rajasthan.

And on top of that... There was this idiot, Rehaan.

The whole flight back, he did nothing except tease me, question me, and come up with the most ridiculous theories imaginable.

"Bhai, tune drugs lena chalu kab se kiya?"
(Brother, since when did you start taking drugs?)

"Kisi ne tujhpe kaala jaadu toh nahi kiya?"
(Did someone cast black magic on you?)

"Tu kahin girke sar pe chot toh nahi laga li?"
(Did you fall somewhere and hit your head?)

And countless more stupid things that I honestly don't even remember anymore.

The worst part?

Those words had left my mouth without my permission.

I hadn't intended to apologise.

On top of that... She had mocked me as well.

As our flight landed, I pushed those thoughts aside.

There were far more important matters demanding my attention.

"Hum Riddhi aur Medh ko ghar chhodkar care centre mein milte hain. Nau baje tak."
(We'll drop Riddhi and Medh home and meet at the care centre by nine.)

I said while looking at Dhruv and Rehaan.

Both of them nodded before getting into another vehicle, while the three of us settled into ours.

It was already evening.

After what had felt like an unusually peaceful day...

My real duties were about to begin.

"Dekho Medh, humari photo tumse zyada achhi lag rahi hai Ms Nandini ke saath."
(Look, Medh. My picture with Ms Nandini looks much better than yours.)

Riddhi's voice pulled me away from my thoughts.

I shifted my gaze toward the two of them sitting in front of me.

"Chashma lagaya karo tum. Main itna handsome lag raha hoon."
(You should start wearing glasses. I look far more handsome.)

Saying that, Medh casually brushed his fingers through his hair.

Riddhi immediately scrunched up her face.

"Bhai Sa, aap hi batayiye kiski photo zyada achhi lag rahi hai?"
(Bhai Sa, you tell us. Whose picture looks better?)

She turned her phone toward me.

Honestly... I had no desire to become a part of this debate.

But it seemed I no longer had a choice.

My eyes shifted toward the phone screen... And immediately stopped at Nandini's face.

Unlike the smile she had worn throughout the workshop...

This one looked genuine. Natural. Warm.

"Hmm... achha lag raha hai."
(Hmm... it looks nice.)

"Tch!"

Riddhi clicked her tongue the very second the words left my lips.

I looked at her.

She looked utterly disappointed.

"Kiska photo? Woh toh batayiye, Bhai Sa."
(Whose picture? At least tell us that, Bhai Sa.)

She said dramatically, waving one hand through the air.

"Sabka."
(Everyone's.)

There was no way I was taking either side.

If I did... These two would argue all evening.

Both of them exchanged a brief glance.

Then...

"HOPELESS!"

They said in perfect unison. I stared at them in disbelief.

...What?

Perhaps I should stop allowing Josh and Rehaan to spend so much time at the palace.

Those two were clearly responsible for turning these siblings into this.

Between their endless chatter and my own thoughts...

The car eventually came to a stop outside the palace.

"Bhai Sa... aap?"
(Bhai Sa... aren't you coming?)

Medh asked while stepping out of the car.

"Humein thoda kaam hai. Tum dono jao."
(I have some work. You two go ahead.)

He nodded before walking inside alongside Riddhi.

Driver Kaka looked at me through the rear-view mirror.

"Care centre."

He gave a respectful nod.

Within moments...

The car was back on the road.

Dhruv was already waiting outside the building.

The moment the car stopped, he stepped forward and opened the door.

Together, we entered the care centre. Josh and Rehaan were already there.

The member responsible for supplying drugs and maintaining connections with the American underworld had finally been captured.

That had been the entire reason behind Josh's sudden trip to Karnataka.

As for Rehaan... His investigation in Delhi had merely been a distraction.

A carefully laid trap.

Both of them stood outside the interrogation room, completely absorbed in their discussion.

As my footsteps echoed through the corridor...

They both turned toward me.

"Kuch bola usne?"
(Did he say anything?)

I asked, stopping a few steps away.

Both of them shook their heads.

Disappointment was evident on both their faces.

"Bohot maar liya... par ek lafz nahi nikla uske muh se."
(We've beaten him enough... but he hasn't uttered a single word.)

Josh sighed.

I folded my arms across my chest. My eyes remained fixed ahead.

My mind, however... Was already thinking several moves ahead.

Silence settled between the four of us.

Heavy. Unbroken.

"Kya karna hai ab?"
(What do we do now?)

Rehaan finally asked.

"Intezar... aur interrogation."
(Wait... and interrogate.)

The three of them looked at one another.

Confusion instantly appeared across their faces.

Josh frowned.

"Kya bolna chah raha hai? Itne mahino se dhoond rahe the aur ab jab mila toh wait karenge? Kiska?"

(What are you trying to say? We've been searching for him for months, and now that we've finally caught him, you want to wait? For what?)

I drew in a slow breath.

"Use marne ka dar nahi hai..."
(He isn't afraid of dying...)

Their attention shifted completely toward me.

I deliberately paused.

"Khauf hai toh jeene ka. Zinda rakho... aur uski aankhon ke saamne uska poora karobar barbaad hota hua dikhao. Khud sab ugal dega."
(What he fears is living. Keep him alive... and make him watch his entire empire collapse before his eyes. He'll confess everything himself.)

Understanding immediately dawned across all three faces.

Not every battle required violence.

Sometimes... Silence itself became the most terrifying weapon.

Without another word, we entered the room.

The man sat tied to the chair. His beard had grown wildly. His long hair covered part of his face.

Yet... He was smiling. Almost proudly.

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips.

Such confidence... From a man who had already lost.

"Chalo, guys. Jaldi maar do mujhe. Aur kitna intezar karwaoge?"
(Come on, guys. Kill me already. How much longer are you going to keep me waiting?)

Stupid.

Josh and Rehaan exchanged a glance before looking at me.

"Marne se toh sab khatam ho jayega."
(Death would end everything.)

I spoke without taking my eyes off him.

He raised one eyebrow.

A mocking laugh escaped him.

"Pehle apno ki barbaadi toh dekhlo."
(First... watch your own people be destroyed.)

His laughter disappeared instantly. His eyes widened. 

He had taken the bait.

Exactly as I had expected.

"Kya bolna chah rahe ho?"
(What are you trying to say?)

His voice carried the first trace of panic.

I didn't answer.

Instead... I simply turned around and began walking toward the exit.

"Aye, Suryavanshi! Bol... teri baaton ka kya matlab tha?"
(Hey, Suryavanshi! Tell me... what did you mean?)

My eyes darkened. Now I was certain.

Someone inside India itself... Someone connected to the underworld...

Had been helping him all along.

I left him alone with his thoughts.

Sometimes... Fear worked better than torture.

"Investigation karte raho. Koi aur bhi hai uske saath."
(Keep investigating. There's definitely someone else working with him.)

Josh and Rehaan nodded.

Just then... Something crossed my mind.

My footsteps came to a halt.

"Woh mysterious man ka kuch pata chala?"
(Any information about that mysterious man?)

Dhruv shook his head.

That mysterious man...

He had been anonymously sending us information about criminals for the past three years.

This drug dealer was merely the latest. Every single tip had been accurate.

And every single time... He disappeared without leaving behind even the slightest trace.

"Usne yeh information bhejne ke saath ek note bhi bheja tha..."
(He sent a note along with this information...)

Dhruv continued.

"Likha tha ki usko dhoondna bekaar hai... toh hum koshish chhod dein."
(It said that trying to find him was pointless... and that we should stop looking.)

My jaw tightened.

He wasn't committing crimes. He was helping us.

But that still didn't change one thing... He wasn't listening.

If one man could openly ignore my orders... Others might someday find the courage to do the same.

"Dhoondte raho..."
(Keep looking.)

I looked ahead.

"Kabhi na kabhi toh mil hi jaayega."
(Sooner or later... we'll find him.)

With that, I walked away.

By the time I stepped outside... It was already half past eleven.

My kingdom slept peacefully beneath the quiet night sky.

The roads stood almost deserted as the convoy sped through the darkness.

Tomorrow was Sunday.

One of the rare days when I allowed myself a few hours of peace.

Thinking that... I leaned back against the seat...

Closed my eyes... And for the first time since morning... Allowed myself to breathe.

After getting out of the venue, the very first thing I did was call Bhai.

I hadn't been able to call him yesterday, and by the time evening arrived today, work had kept me occupied every single minute.

He picked up on the very first ring.

Almost as though... He had been waiting for this one call all along.

"You were waiting for my call?"

The moment I asked, a soft laugh escaped him.

Hearing it made a smile naturally appear on my own lips.

Ranjiv opened the car door for me. Looking at him, I whispered softly,

"Thank you."

He simply nodded with his usual warm smile before closing the door.

"Did you eat, Princess?"

There it was...

Another lecture was about to begin.

"No, Bhai... just coffee."

Silence.

Then...

I heard him let out a long, disappointed sigh.

"You know drinking coffee doesn't fill your stomach. Instead, it kills your appetite."

No wonder he chose to become a scientist.

Honestly... I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd become a teacher instead.

Most of the time he behaved like an English teacher...

And every now and then... He transformed into a Maths teacher.

"Bhai, we're going to eat now. If you don't believe me, ask Ranjiv."

Before he could continue his lecture, I stretched my hand toward Ranjiv.

With pleading eyes... I silently begged him to rescue me this time.

Although... 

Both of us already knew this definitely wouldn't be the last lecture and rescue.

Letting out a helpless sigh, Ranjiv shook his head before taking the phone from my hand.

Soon, he was giving Bhai every single detail that had happened since yesterday.

I leaned back comfortably against the seat.

Bhai had become a little too overprotective ever since the assassination attempt in Gujarat.

A small smile touched my lips. The memory surfaced vividly.

He had practically turned me around in circles, checking me properly to make sure I wasn't injured.

The entire hospital had remained on high alert for almost an entire day.

He hadn't allowed anyone to breathe peacefully until every single medical report had arrived.

"Sabko cheen liya... phir Bhai ko bhej diya meri zindagi mein sabki responsibility poori karne ke liye."
(Life took everyone away from me... and then sent Bhai into my life to fulfil everyone's responsibilities.)

My voice was a whisper only for my ears to hear.

Somehow...

He had become my mother. My father. And the elder brother I never even knew I needed.

Thinking about all of that...

I drifted far away into my own thoughts.

So deeply... That I didn't even realise when the car came to a halt.

Only when Ranjiv opened the door did his voice pull me back.

"Princess... hum villa pahunch gaye."
(Princess... we've reached the villa.)

I looked up before giving him a small nod and stepping outside.

My villa in Delhi.

Since I visited the city frequently, staying in hotels had eventually become exhausting.

So instead... I built a house here.

The moment I stepped inside, the rich aroma of freshly made jeera rice and shahi paneer filled the air.

Ranjiv had already informed the kaki about our arrival.

"Namaste, bitiya!"

Kaki walked toward me with her familiar warm smile.

A woman in her late forties...

A year ago, I had asked her and her daughter to stay here permanently.

This way they could live comfortably while looking after the villa whenever I was away.

Of course... I paid them properly.

They came from a small village, and I never wanted her to wander from place to place searching for work again.

"Kaisi hain aap? Anu kahan hai?"
(How are you? Where is Anu?)

I asked politely.

Drying her hands on the edge of her saree, she smiled.

"Wahi bitiya... kamre mein hai."
(She's in her room, dear.)

Anushri... 

Or simply Anu... Was autistic. Because of that...

Kaki's husband had brutally beaten both mother and daughter before throwing them out of the house.

Thankfully... Someone kind had brought them to one of my NGOs in Gujarat.

From there... I brought both of them to Delhi, where they could finally live safely.

I nodded.

"Main khana laga doon?"
(Shall I serve lunch?)

She pointed toward the dining table.

"Ji, Kaki."

She smiled happily before disappearing into the kitchen.

Ranjiv and I washed our hands before taking our seats.

The very first bite made me smile.

"Bohot achha bana hai khana, Kaki."
(The food is delicious, Kaki.)

Her face immediately brightened.

Soon... Even Ranjiv complimented her cooking.

The rest of lunch passed peacefully. 

After finishing, I looked toward her.

"Aap dono ne khana kha liya?"
(Have both of you eaten?)

She nodded.

Satisfied... I returned upstairs.

The first thing I did was change into something comfortable before opening my hair.

The tight bun had started giving me a headache.

The moment my back touched the mattress... My phone rang. 

Ramesh Kaka.

"Hello."

"Ram Ram, beta."
(Greetings, dear.)

He replied cheerfully.

He worked alongside his son at the school I had built in Delhi.

"Beta, aap kab aa rahe ho?"
(Dear, when are you coming?)

The moment he asked... Everything came rushing back.

His son's wedding... Tomorrow.

"...Fuck."

I muttered under my breath. 

How could I forget? He had told me almost two months ago.

With everything happening recently... It had completely slipped my mind.

"Kaka, kal subah tak pahunch jayenge hum. Delhi mein kuch kaam tha, toh ruk gaye."
(Kaka, we'll reach by tomorrow morning. We had some work in Delhi, so we stayed back.)

"Theek hai beta. Dhyan se aana."
(Alright, dear. Travel safely.)

"Ji, Kaka."
(Yes, Kaka.)

The call disconnected. I rubbed my forehead.

How had I forgotten something so important?

I hadn't even bought a wedding gift.

Sitting upright, I immediately texted Ranjiv.

There wasn't enough time to go shopping because I had another meeting scheduled.

So I simply asked him to call a jeweller over.

Within seconds... A thumbs-up emoji appeared on my screen.

I couldn't help chuckling.

There was a time when he used to call emojis childish.

Now... He used them every chance he got.

Time slipped away remarkably quickly.

Two back-to-back meetings kept me occupied throughout the afternoon.

Ranjiv remained beside me inside the study the entire time.

Every now and then...

Little Anu would quietly peek through the doorway before disappearing again.

"Bitiya... koi aaya hai neeche."
(Dear... someone has come downstairs.)

Kaki informed me softly from the doorway.

I nodded. The jeweller, most likely.

The meeting had almost concluded anyway. Asking Ranjiv to take over, I quietly headed downstairs.

Halfway down the staircase... Anu suddenly stopped running.

The moment she noticed me... Her entire face lit up.

"Didi!"

The instant I stepped onto the floor... She ran straight toward me.

She was only six years old.

Although she struggled to speak... She always tried her very best.

I crouched down to her height.

"Kaisi ho?"
(How are you?)

She giggled before nodding enthusiastically.

Unable to stop myself...

I gently kissed her cheek before standing again.

"Chalo... dekhte hain kaun aaya hai."
(Come... let's see who's here.)

Her smile instantly faded.

She didn't like going near strangers.

Looking down, she began fidgeting with the hem of her T-shirt. I knew her well.

So instead of saying anything... I gently ruffled her hair.

Immediately... She looked up, giggling once again.

Patience... That was all anyone really needed with her.

Eventually... She wrapped her tiny fingers around two of mine before nodding.

Together... We walked into the living room.

The jeweller immediately stood upon seeing us.

"Namaste, Madam."

I acknowledged him with a polite nod.

The same neutral expression... The one the world had grown accustomed to.

By the time I finished selecting the jewellery...

I noticed Anu standing silently beside me.

She was absentmindedly clutching my trousers while staring at a delicate silver anklet.

"Aapko pasand aaya yeh?"
(Do you like this one?)

I asked, pointing toward the anklet.

She lowered her eyes before giving the tiniest nod.

Before anything else could happen...

Kaki hurriedly interrupted.

"Nahi, bitiya... use samajh nahi aata in sab cheezon ka. Tum dhyan mat do."
(No, dear... she doesn't understand these things. Please don't pay attention.)

I knew exactly where that fear came from.

Without saying a word... I quietly added the anklet to the rest of the jewellery.

Once the payment was completed... Ranjiv escorted the jeweller outside.

Meanwhile... I carefully knelt before Anu.

Supporting her tiny foot with one hand... I gently fastened the anklets around both ankles.

She tightly clutched my T-shirt for balance.

The moment I finished... She happily ran around the living room.

The tiny bells chimed sweetly with every excited step she took.

"Bitiya... phir is mahine ke paison mein se kaat lena uske paise."
(Dear... then deduct the cost of the anklets from this month's salary.)

Kaki said hesitantly.

Still watching Anu...

I slowly stood before placing a reassuring hand on Kaki's shoulder.

"Kaki... humne pyaar se diya hai yeh payal usko."
(Kaki... I gave these anklets to her with love.)

I smiled softly.

"Aur paise aapko isliye dete hain... kyunki aap unki haqdar hain."
(And I pay you because you truly deserve them.)

Tears quietly welled up in her eyes.

I awkwardly looked away for a second before speaking again.

"Bas... ab royiye mat."
(Please... don't cry.)

A faint smile appeared.

"Aap khana laga dijiye."
(Please serve dinner.)

I paused.

"Aaj humein thoda jaldi sona hai."
(I have to sleep a little early today.)

She nodded with teary eyes before quietly leaving the living room.

I watched her go.

There were many things I knew how to do.

Negotiate billion-dollar deals. Lead Meeting. Make impossible decisions. Change thousands of lives.

But... I still didn't know how to comfort someone who was crying.

Perhaps... Because I couldn't even remember... The last time I had cried myself.

Sunday... A day that was supposed to be filled with relaxation and laughter.

Instead... It had turned into complete chaos.

Or, more accurately... A chaotic evening.

Servants hurried through the palace corridors while members of the royal family moved from one room to another, trying to get ready on time.

The reason?

A last-minute reminder from Dada Sa that they all had to attend the wedding of Riddhi's best friend's brother.

And perhaps...

The most difficult task of the entire evening had been convincing Shaurya to accompany them.

He had never been particularly fond of social gatherings or lavish celebrations.

But... Dada being Dada...

Once he made up his mind, there was hardly anyone capable of changing it.

"Jaldi chaliye, humein der ho raha hai."
(Hurry up, we're getting late.)

Adhiraj's voice echoed through the palace as he looked around at everyone.

"Haan, ho gaya... bas ab Riddhi aa jaye toh..."
(Yes, we're ready... now we're just waiting for Riddhi.)

Ishwari replied while glancing toward the grand staircase.

Meanwhile...

Outside the palace, Shaurya stood beside one of the cars.

Standing comfortably, while on the bonnet was his four-and-a-half-year-old nephew, was sitting.

Aryan.

A little boy who possessed an endless supply of curiosity and an even greater talent for asking questions.

"Mama Cha..."

He called out in his adorable baby voice while happily swinging his tiny legs back and forth.

A fruit juice box rested securely in his little hands.

Shaurya looked at him with quiet amusement.

"Kahan ja lahe hain hum?"
(Where are we going?)

Aryan asked innocently before taking another sip of his juice.

"Shaadi mein."
(To a wedding.)

Shaurya replied, gently wiping away the few drops of juice that had trickled down the little boy's kurta.

"Kiski chadi?"
(Whose wedding?)

Aryan asked immediately, still unable to pronounce certain words properly.

Looking at his innocent face...

Shaurya couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Humare."
(Mine.)

He answered casually, doing nothing more than teasing the little boy.

Aryan fell silent.

His tiny brows furrowed as he processed the answer with complete seriousness.

"Mami Cha ko laane?"
(To bring Mami?)

The question caught Shaurya completely off guard.

His eyes widened almost imperceptibly.

"Yeh kisne bola?"
(Who told you that?)

He asked, already having a suspicious feeling about the answer.

Aryan smiled brightly.

"Lehaan Mama Cha."
(Rehaan Mama Sa.)

The moment the name left Aryan's lips...

Shaurya closed his eyes for a brief second before letting out an almost inaudible sigh.

Of course. Once again...

Another member of the royal family had become a victim of Rehaan's endless mischief.

"Mami Cha kaisi dikhti hai?"
(What does Mami look like?)

Aryan asked curiously, looking at him with wide, expectant eyes.

For a moment... Shaurya simply stared at him.

Only then did he realise what a terrible mistake he had made by joking about his own wedding.

He should have known better.

Once Aryan became curious about something... There was no escaping his endless stream of questions.

Still... Without giving it much thought, Shaurya answered anyway.

"Sabse khoobsurat."
(The most beautiful of all.)

Aryan nodded with complete satisfaction, as though that single answer had explained everything.

Seeing that, Shaurya quietly exhaled in relief.

Finally... The interrogation seemed to be over...Or so he believed.

Little did he know...

That one thoughtless answer was about to create far more chaos than he could possibly imagine.

A short while later...

The royal convoy arrived at the wedding venue, accompanied by an adequate security detail appropriate for a public appearance.

Aryan happily walked beside Shaurya at the front.

Just behind them walked Dada Sa.

One by one, the remaining members of the royal family followed.

The moment they entered... Several guests respectfully folded their hands in greeting.

"Ram Ram, Rana Sa."

Ramesh greeted respectfully while looking toward Shaurya.

As always...

Shaurya acknowledged the greeting with nothing more than a small nod.

Ramesh then turned toward the elderly man standing beside him.

"Ram Ram, Dada Sa."

"Ram Ram, beta."

Dada Sa replied warmly with a gentle smile.

"Humein bahut achha laga ki aap sab log aaye."
(I'm truly happy that all of you could come.)

Ramesh said sincerely, joining his hands together.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries...

He politely gestured toward the beautifully decorated seating area.

The wedding venue radiated warmth and celebration. Soft shehnai music floated gracefully through the air.

The fragrance of fresh flowers blended beautifully with the aroma of delicious food.

Guests chatted cheerfully while children ran around laughing without a care in the world.

The wedding rituals soon began.

And almost immediately... Aryan resumed what he did best.

Questioning every single member of the royal family... One after another.

Just then, another team of security personnel entered the venue.

The sudden movement near the entrance immediately drew everyone's attention.

Conversations paused mid-sentence as guests instinctively turned toward the doorway.

Even the royal family shifted their gaze in the same direction.

Who could possibly require security almost equal to that of the royal family?

Within moments... The answer revealed itself.

Nandini. And Augustus.

A collective gasp echoed across the venue. 

No one had expected Nandini to attend. Let alone her brother.

"Yeh kaun hain?"
(Who are they?)

Ishwari asked, genuine curiosity evident in her voice.

Before anyone else could answer, Riddhi spoke up excitedly.

"Delhi mein jiske workshop mein gaye the, woh yehi hain."
(They're the ones whose workshop we attended in Delhi.)

Understanding slowly dawned on Ishwari's face as she looked from her daughter back to the elegantly dressed siblings.

Meanwhile...

Ramesh walked toward them with a bright, welcoming smile.

"Aap dono ki raah dekh raha tha main."
(I was waiting for both of you.)

Both Augustus and Nandini smiled politely.

"We had to come... and we're sorry for being a little late."

Augustus replied in his deep, composed voice.

Although Hindi wasn't a language he could speak fluently, he understood enough to carry simple conversations.

His rich baritone immediately attracted the attention of several young women nearby.

More than one head turned in his direction.

Ramesh merely smiled and gently shook his head.

"Koi baat nahi."
(It's alright.)

He then guided them toward the seating area.

Coincidentally... Their seats were directly opposite the royal family.

There was a pathway between them... Neither Augustus nor Nandini had noticed them.

Augustus settled comfortably onto the sofa while Nandini took the seat beside him.

Standing quietly behind them were two familiar figures.

Ranjiv.

And another man... Alex. Augustus' PA.

Curiosity sparkled in Alex's eyes as he glanced around the lavishly decorated venue.

"Princess... I didn't know Indian weddings had this many people."

His remark earned small smiles from all three of them.

Just then... Alex noticed something else.

The royal family was still looking toward them.

His expression remained completely blank.

But after a few seconds... He leaned slightly closer to Ranjiv.

"Why are these people looking at us like we came from another planet?"

He whispered just loudly enough for Ranjiv to hear.

Ranjiv subtly glanced toward the royal family.

The moment their eyes met... He respectfully lowered his head in greeting.

Alex frowned.

"Why did you bow?"

He asked, completely puzzled.

"They're the royal family of Rajasthan."

Ranjiv answered quietly.

"And the King is sitting there."

Hearing that... Alex looked back toward them.

This time... He stared for noticeably longer than necessary.

Ranjiv immediately nudged him with his elbow.

"Stop staring."

He muttered.

"They're not going to kill you."

Alex finally looked away.

"What if they attack Princess?"

He asked with complete seriousness.

Ranjiv rolled his eyes dramatically.

"...Stop blabbering."

He muttered before looking elsewhere.

Alex immediately protested.

"Hey! I'm dead serious!"

Unfortunately... That came out a little louder than intended.

Loud enough for Augustus and Nandini to hear. Both siblings turned toward the bickering duo.

Without missing a beat... Ranjiv shot back.

"You'd better either be dead or serious..."

He paused deliberately.

"...because being both isn't your cup of tea."

Alex looked deeply offended.

"I'll pretend I understood whatever insult that was."

He muttered under his breath. The argument threatened to grow even further.

Until—

"Enough."

Augustus spoke in a calm yet commanding tone.

"Both of you... shut up."

Immediately... Silence.

Alex and Ranjiv exchanged one final murderous glare before looking away like two stubborn children refusing to admit defeat.

Neither would ever confess it aloud.

But internally... Both firmly believed only one person was truly qualified to protect Nandini.

And neither intended to surrender that title.

Before either of them could restart Round Two... A tiny figure suddenly came running toward them.

Aryan.

Without the slightest hesitation... He wrapped both his little arms tightly around Nandini.

Looking up at her with sparkling eyes, he asked,

"Aap meli Mami Cha ho na?"
(You're my Mami Sa, aren't you?)

Ranjiv nearly choked on his own breath.

Meanwhile... Augustus and Alex exchanged utterly confused looks.

Neither of them had the slightest idea what Mami Sa meant.

Alex leaned closer to Ranjiv.

"Oye..."

He whispered.

"What did that kid just call Princess?"

Trying very hard not to die out of shock...

Ranjiv leaned toward Alex's ear and quietly explained the meaning.

The effect was immediate.

"OhmyGod, Princess, whydidn'tyouinvitemetoyourwedding?!"

The words came flying out so quickly they merged into one long sentence without a single pause.

Augustus blinked. Confused.

Nandini, who had been entirely focused on Aryan until now, slowly lifted her head and looked at Alex.

"I didn't get married..."

She spoke gently.

"...who told you I got married?"

Alex innocently pointed toward Ranjiv.

Poor Ranjiv.

For the second time in only a few minutes...

He nearly choked on air.

Both Augustus and Nandini slowly turned toward him.

Their expressions alone were enough to make him panic.

"I swear to God..."

He raised both hands in surrender.

"I never said Princess got married. I only explained what Mami Sa means."

One innocent word... Had somehow created complete chaos.

The only person thoroughly enjoying the situation... Was Aryan.

He stood there giggling happily without understanding why all the adults looked so shocked.

Nandini crouched down until she was almost at his eye level before gently holding both his tiny hands.

"Kisne bola aapko yeh?"
(Who told you that?)

"Mele Mama Cha ne."
(My Mama Sa did.)

Aryan answered proudly while absentmindedly playing with the bangles on Nandini's wrist.

Nandini frowned ever so slightly.

"Mama Cha ne bola ki humali Mami Cha chabche khubchurat hai."
(Mama Sa said my Mami Sa is the most beautiful.)

Ranjiv's hand immediately flew over his mouth.

He could physically feel another disaster approaching.

Meanwhile... Augustus had reached his limit.

"Would anyone..."

He looked at all three of them one by one.

"...like to tell me what exactly Mami Sa means?"

Not a single person volunteered.

As if on cue...

Ishwari hurried toward them.

"Aryan! Hum kabse tumhe dhoond rahe hain."
(Aryan! We've been looking for you everywhere.)

Because the security personnel had been standing around the siblings...

Aryan's tiny frame had remained completely hidden from the other side.

The moment he saw Ishwari...

His face lit up.

"Hum toh Mami Cha ke paas the."
(I was with Mami Sa.)

This time...

It was Ishwari who almost choked.

Her eyes widened in complete horror.

"Ye... yeh kya bol rahe ho, Aryan? Aise nahi bolte."

(Wh... what are you saying, Aryan? You shouldn't say things like that.)

She gently lifted him into her arms before turning apologetically toward the four people sitting before her.

Her eyes finally settled on Nandini.

"Maaf karna, beta. Baccha hai... abhi samajhta nahi."
(I'm sorry, dear. He's just a child. He doesn't understand.)

Nandini simply smiled and shook her head reassuringly.

"Koi baat nahi."
(It's alright.)

The apology was unnecessary.

Unfortunately... Aryan misunderstood the entire situation.

As Ishwari started carrying him away... His tiny face crumpled.

His eyes immediately filled with tears.

Watching him... Nandini, Ranjiv, and Alex... all sighed at the exact same moment.

Augustus, however... Still remained completely stuck on one question.

Once Ishwari had walked away... He looked at the three of them again.

"Now..."

He deliberately paused.

"Would somebody finally explain what Mami Sa means?"

This time... Alex took the responsibility upon himself.

After listening to the explanation... Augustus' eyes widened dramatically.

His gaze slowly shifted toward Nandini.

She merely shrugged as though saying—

I have absolutely no idea how this happened either.

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