Page 43

Ifollowed Ranvijay into the meeting hall, where a group of officials stood waiting.

Their worried, helpless expressions told me everything.

Fear hung heavy in the room.

“Ranaji,”

One of them stepped forward, his voice trembling.

“Everything is finished now, Ranaji.”

I looked at his eyes, glistening with tears.

With a heavy heart, I walked closer.

“Calm down,”

I tried to soothe him.

My eyes shifted to Ranvijay and Agastya.

“What is the situation now?” I asked.

Ranvijay met my gaze.

“They’ve crossed the borders,”

I nodded gravely, then turned to Agastya.

“We don’t have the resources for a war, do we?”

He shook his head dejectedly.

“No, Bhaisa.

It’s only been a month… we can’t afford to lose the few soldiers we have left,”

I drew in a slow breath, trying to steady myself.

Abhinandan Mahabalesh… he had become our greatest enemy.

His transformation in less than two months still shocked me.

Once gentle, kind, and thoughtful, he now stood ruthless, cold, and merciless.

And to make matters worse, the old king, Surgami Dev Singh, had allied with him.

That alliance alone had tilted the scale.

I had known about their union even before I left for Mahabaleshgarh during Holi.

I told myself I was going to the festival, but truthfully, I went to see if his family knew.

If they were aware of what their son had become.

To my surprise, they weren’t.

They had no idea.

Not even the slightest suspicion.

They knew nothing, but while I was there, I learned something far more devastating—a truth about myself.

Strangely, I was thankful because that truth helped me make the most important decision of my life.

To lose a war.

Because that loss… was my redemption.

I had done terrible things, not just to Nandani and Abhinandan, but to their entire family.

People who welcomed me, trusted me, and loved me despite knowing I was the son of their enemy.

They let me into their homes and allowed me to befriend their children.

And what did I do?

I made their daughter fall in love with me… only to use her later for my narcissistic intentions.

I earned the trust of their son, only to betray him when it suited me.

The guilt drowned me.

It tore through every corner of my heart, and the pain of what I had done was unbearable.

But now… no more.

I wouldn’t survive unless I let go or paid for what I had done.

My redemption would be a loss.

A loss that had already been written into the lines of my fate.

And if that was the price of my forgiveness, I was ready to pay it.

I had to do it for Nandani and Abhinandan.

“What should be our strategy, Bhaisa?”

Ranvijay’s voice suddenly pulled me out of my thoughts.

I turned toward him, blinking slowly.

“Our strategy?”

I repeated quietly.

“Ji,”

he nodded, eyes full of urgency.

“Nothing,”

I stated flatly.

“What?”

“What? Why?”

“We have to do something!”

Their voices rose around me, echoing in the tense air.

“No,”

I said, looking at each of them calmly.

“We’ll not do anything.

Let them come closer.

Then we’ll request a meeting to express our intent.

Mahabaleshgarh is our ally now. Raja Rajvardhan Mahabalesh is still the king, and Abhinandan is his son. If we retaliate now, we break the peace treaty. Do not worry about Surgami Dev Singh. He is already on his last breath… I will deal with him myself.”

Agastya furrowed his brows.

“But Bhaisa, at least let us prepare the army,”

I shook my head.

“No, Prince Agastya.

This conflict is personal.

Using the Kingdom’s resources would only escalate it into something far more dangerous.

This is my war, and I must resolve it on my own,”

I spelt it out clearly.

They exchanged glances, but eventually nodded.

The truth was, I wanted to lose this war with Abhinandan.

I knew him, perhaps too well now.

And I had wronged him in more ways than I could justify.

One of those wrongs was deceiving both him and his sister.

That would have devastated me, too, if someone had done it to my sister.

I couldn’t even bring myself to tell Nandani.

That, too, was part of the reason I had relinquished my celibacy.

I, undeniably, loved Nandani, no doubt about that.

But I also wanted her to be happy.

And no sister could truly rejoice in her husband’s victory if it came at her brother’s cost.

She could accept seeing me lose, even smile through it, but watching her brother fall? Not to me.

Never to me.

I was wrong.

Deeply wrong.

And this was the moment I had to face it, not as a prince, not as a ruler, but as a man seeking redemption.

How could I have continued my celibacy and reinforced my power, knowing all along that I had built part of it on betrayal?

I even spoke to my Guruji about it.

When I stood at the river’s edge, ready to throw myself into its depths, I realised something.

My life wasn’t mine alone.

It belonged first to my people.

Then to Nandani.

Then to my family… and finally, to my Guru and those who believed in me.

Even though it tore me apart to shift my path, I did.

I went to Guruji and collapsed before him, broken.

I told him everything, the truth, the betrayal, and my wish.

I wish not to continue this anymore.

To stop this sin that was coated in selfishness, self-centred goals, and everything that served only me, and no one else.

When I confessed it to Guruji, he said something that stayed with me.

He said he was proud to see that the stubbornness I once wore like armour had finally faded.

That I had grown into a warrior who was no longer fighting for gain, but ready to face the consequences of my own actions.

That I had stopped battling fate, and instead, was learning to accept what was meant for me.

For more than half of my life, I struggled, fought, and punished myself just to chase what I believed I wanted.

For ten long years, I burned in my fire, shaping myself into someone who could twist fate to his will.

But what would I have truly gained? A kingdom? A victory in war? And what if, after all of it, I was still not happy?

What would be the point, then?

If I had continued being celibate, I would’ve undoubtedly defeated Abhinandan.

But by doing so, I would’ve lost the one person who brought me peace—Nandani.

Maybe she would’ve stayed by my side...

but the thought of her being unhappy, of her being silently torn from within, it shook me.

I knew Abhinandan was preparing for war, alone in Pratapgarh.

And he had every reason to.

Someone who had betrayed his trust, turned his family against him, deceived his sister, stolen his pride, and degraded his parents deserved punishment.

And now that I knew I was wrong, how could I even think of defeating him? I didn’t even have the strength to meet his eyes.

“Ranaji…”

A voice pulled me from my thoughts.

Her voice.

The voice that echoed through my soul.

I looked up and saw her ambling down the stairs toward us.

She looked effortlessly radiant, wrapped in green and yellow attire.

Her wrists were bejewelled with bangles, a choker gently covered the marks of last night, dark kohl traced her eyes, a delicate nath45 adorned her nose, and the soft jingling of her anklets filled the air.

“Pranam, Ranisa.”

“Pranam, Bhabhisa.”

The greetings followed her like a gentle wave.

As she stood before me, I couldn't look away.

Without thinking, I asked, “Are you okay?”

My voice was low, almost a whisper.

Her cheeks immediately flushed, and she looked down nervously, glancing at the surrounding others.

A chill ran through me as I suddenly remembered that we weren’t alone.

“Ji,”

she murmured softly, then met my gaze.

“What happened, Prince Ranvijay? Is everything alright?”

she asked, turning to him.

Ranvijay glanced at me, unsure if he should respond.

I gave him a subtle look, and he turned back to her, hesitant.

“Nothing, Bhabhisa, just something happened in the village,”

she heard him say, and silence filled the air for a moment as she looked between us.

She took a deep breath and spoke slowly, “Hum Ranaji se ekaant mein baat karna chaahte hain,”

(I want to talk to Ranaji in private), she clarified.

I looked at her, and soon, everyone began leaving.

As the last of them exited, she gently took my hand, guiding me toward the couch.

She lightly pushed me to sit, then settled beside me, holding my hand and meeting my gaze.

Staring into her eyes, I felt as though the entire world had contracted, narrowing to just the depth in her eyes.

“What is it?”

she asked softly, her voice tender.

I took a deep breath, my eyes blinking as the internal battle waged in my mind—whether or not to tell her.

But in the end, I realised she deserved to know.

“Surgami Dev Singh,”

I managed to say, the words heavy on my tongue.

She shook her head gently, her expression confused.

“, now your wish has been fulfilled… now tell me, what is the matter?”

I nodded and brought her hand close to my lips, kissing it gently before I spoke again.

“Abhinandan,”

She knitted her brows together, and her eyes immediately filled with concern.

“Abhinandan? What happened to him?”

I shook my head slowly.

“Nothing’s happened yet, but he is preparing for war against us,”

At that, she dropped to her knees before me, her voice trembling.

“Please, , don’t do anything to him.

He’s my brother, my half-soul.

I know he’s confused and misguided right now, but he’s not in the wrong, please…”

I immediately reached for her shoulders, pulling her up to sit beside me, my hand cupping her cheek softly.

“Are you mad?”

I whispered, making her look at me.

“Trust me, nothing will happen to him.

I’ll protect him—no harm will come to him, not even a scratch.

I’ll do whatever it takes,”

She just stared at me, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears.

“So, this is why you wanted to end your controlling period...

because you knew Abhinandan was preparing for war?”

she asked.

And I shook my head lightly.

“No, it’s not just that,”

“Then what?”

she pressed, her curiosity and concern growing.

I took another deep breath, preparing to tell her everything.

“There’s a prophecy...

about me.”

“What is it?”

she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

“What prophecy?”

she frowned.

“That I’d become a great king… but lose a significant war,”

I replied slowly.

“And to prevent that, Guruji had suggested I make sacrifices and please the gods to secure victory.

That was the main purpose I started the controlling period.

But now, I’m the king, and the war with Abhinandan… I believe that is the war the prophecy was referring to.

But, I don’t want to win it,”

Her brows creased tightly.

“Wh-What?”

I nodded gently.

“Yes, Abhinandan has always been a loyal friend to me.

What I did to him was wrong.

I wronged you, too, but what’s between us is love.

And what existed between me and Abhinandan… was also a kind of love. A bond I lost. I don’t want to win and lose him forever. I want to fix what broke between us. Not just because he’s your brother, but because he matters to me. I am the reason his life turned upside down, and I can’t sit back, praying for mercy.”

I took a trembling breath and looked into her eyes.

“My Guruji once told me something beautiful.

He said, ‘Life would be a thousand times more beautiful if those who wrong others out of pain or emotion simply apologised and tried to make things right, instead of drowning in guilt and sorrow.’ I want to apologise to him, Nandani.

No matter the cost.

Even if I lose everything, I cannot live knowing I caused someone so much pain.

I’m sorry... I can’t be at peace until then.”

Tears fell from my eyes, and she hugged me tightly.

“I trust you,”

she whispered.

“And you will succeed.

I know you will,”

I pulled back slightly and looked at her.

“But you must promise me something,” I said.

“What is it?”

she asked.

I kissed her hand softly and spoke, “You won’t interfere between me and him.

Our love is just two years old, but your love for him… it began in the womb.

He’s your twin.

And if the moment ever comes where you have to choose between the two of us… Promise me you’ll choose him,”

Her face tensed.

“But why are you saying—”

“Just promise me,”

I cut in gently.

She looked into my eyes and slowly nodded.

“I promise.

I want things to be mended between you and him, too.

And if my interference complicates it, I’ll stay out of it.

Not just because you asked me to, but because he is right. And you have wronged him. You’ve won back my heart, … but now, you must win back his trust as well,”

I nodded, pulling her into a quiet embrace.

One of the things I cherished most about her was her unwavering honesty.

No matter how deeply she loved me, she never hesitated to call out my mistakes.

“Now, I have many things to discuss with the officials.

You should rest and get some sleep,”

I said, kissing her forehead.

She smiled timidly and asked, “Did you tell Guruji?”

I nodded.

“He was proud.

He said he’s happy that I’m not becoming a king obsessed with victory, but one who values relationships and is compassionate.”

***