Author's POV
The aeroplane door opened, and Nitya felt the warm air of Hyderabad hit her like a reminder of everything she had left behind.
Five years had passed since her family sent her away to London, with no explanation or concern for her wishes. Now she was back, standing in the same place, heart pounding.
Last night, when her brother, Aditya had called her and told her about their dadi's serious condition, she couldn't ignore it.
The bond with her dadi and Aditya was the only thing pulling her back to the palace after all these years.
Yet as soon as she landed, an unsettling feeling returned—the same feeling she’d had since last night when that unknown man tried to invade her personal space.
She felt like someone was watching her, lurking in the shadows. But whenever she turned around, there was no one there.
Nitya shook the thought away as she approached the line of black cars waiting for her.
A sleek palace car stood at the front, surrounded by a convoy of security vehicles.
She hated that part of her life—the attention, the royal treatment. It was the reason she had stayed in London, far away from her family and their overbearing lifestyle.
She sat into the car, keeping her face turned away from the palace guards and the curious eyes around her.
The drive to the palace was short, and soon, the grand, towering building came into view.
The palace looked the same—too large, too luxurious, and far too extravagant for her liking.
When the car stopped, her parents, Aaradhya and Rajveer, were waiting at the entrance. As soon as they saw her, tears fell from their eyes, and they rushed toward her.
“Nitya!” her mother called out, her voice filled with emotion. “Won’t you even look at us?”
For a brief moment, Nitya’s heart softened. She had missed them, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
But then, the memories of the past hit her—what they had done, how they had betrayed her. She straightened her back and looked them in the eye.
“I’m here for dadi,” she said coldly. “Nothing more.”
The next moment her father stepped forward, his voice breaking, “Nitya, princess, you are our only daughter—”
Before he could finish, a man dressed in palace attire interrupted them. “The future king of Rajasthan has arrived,” he announced with urgency.
Rajveer stiffened, exchanging a tense glance with Aaradhya. “We’ll talk later,” her mother whispered, trying to hold on to hope.
Nitya let out a bitter laugh. “Later? That’s what you always say.” Without waiting for their response, she walked past them, heading straight to her room.
Two Hours Later
Hours passed. Nitya was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her stomach growling with hunger.
She hadn’t eaten since her flight, but the tension of being back at the palace had drained her appetite.
Where was Aditya? Did he even know she was back? Or was he avoiding her, like the rest of the family had done for so many years?
Unable to take the hunger anymore, she decided to leave her room and find something to eat.
She wandered through the palace’s familiar hallways, her footsteps echoing against the marble floors.
The lavish surroundings felt suffocating now, a far cry from the freedom and peace she had found in London.
As she walked, deep in thought, she didn’t notice the figure approaching her from behind.
Suddenly, she collided with something solid. While rubbing her forehead, she muttered, “When did they build a wall here?”
But it wasn’t a wall.
A deep voice, smooth and commanding, spoke from behind her, sending chills down her spine. “You can’t stay away from me, can you?”
Nitya’s body froze. Her heart raced as she slowly turned around to face the man who stood before her.
His dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. He was tall, with broad shoulders and an aura of power that demanded attention.
The dim light of the hallway cast shadows across his sharp features, making him look even more menacing.
Before she could react, he reached out, his strong hand wrapping around her wrist. He pulled her toward him with ease, trapping her against the wall behind her.
Nitya’s heart pounded in her chest as fear washed over her.
“Let go of me!” she mumbled, trying to yank her arm free. But his grip tightened, pulling her even closer.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he whispered, his voice low and threatening. His breath brushed against her skin, hot and steady.
Nitya’s stomach twisted in fear, her body betraying her with the sudden rush of nervousness.
His fingers grazed her cheek, tracing the path of her tears. His touch was soft, yet the weight of his presence felt suffocating.
He leaned in, his lips brushing the corner of her eye where a tear had fallen. Nitya shivered at the contact, her entire body trembling.
“Stop…” she whispered, her voice shaking.
But he ignored her, pressing his lips gently against her cheek, trailing them slowly down toward her jaw.
The warmth of his breath fanned across her skin, sending a wave of heat through her body. Nitya’s mind screamed at her to push him away, but her body refused to move.
His lips traced her neck, brushing over her sensitive skin with a maddening slowness. Nitya gasped, her hands instinctively pushing against his chest, but he didn’t budge.
His grip on her wrist tightened, and he pulled her even closer, his body pressing firmly against hers. She could feel his breath on her skin, warm and unsettling.
“Do you even know who I am?” she asked through gritted teeth, trying to keep her voice steady.
He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes boring into hers. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he leaned closer to her ear.
“Do you know who I am?” he whispered, his breath tickling her skin.
Nitya’s heart raced. She could feel the heat of his body pressing into her, and the closeness made it impossible to think straight. She had never felt such a mix of fear and confusion before.
She didn't know from where she got that strength, she stomped down hard on his foot. He winced, loosening his grip just enough for her to pull away.
She pushed him back and glared at him with all the courage she could muster.
“I don’t care who you are,” she spat, her voice shaky but firm. She turned to walk away, desperate to escape his presence.
But before she could take another step, his voice rang out again, colder this time. "Rudransh Singh Rathore.”
Nitya froze. Slowly, she turned to face him, her blood running cold at the sound of his name.
She had heard stories of the Singh Rathore family—known for their ruthlessness, their power. And now she was standing before the man who embodied all of it.
He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. His voice was soft, but it carried the weight of a promise.“Your destiny.”
Nitya froze in place, her blood running cold as his words echoed in her mind.
Destiny?
To be continued....
So what do you think about this update?
Are you excited for Rudransh making a move or Nitya retaliating back?
Comment, if you want faster updates. As they are my moral boaster.
If you want to have early spoiler, follow me on Instagram
User ID: @purvi_nrang
With love XOXOXO
Purva Narang
(Your author)
Write a comment ...