17. POWER SHIFTED

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Naksha lay in his hospital bed, the sterile environment around him feeling strangely suffocating. The soft beep of the heart monitor was the only sound that kept him grounded in the present. His mind, however, kept drifting back to the same thing-the girl. The girl who had saved him.

He didn't know her name. He didn't even really remember what she looked like, just that yellow suit and the sensation of her hands pressing against his chest. He could still feel the pressure of her grip as he fought for breath. The taste of air he didn't know he was desperate for. Was he supposed to feel grateful? Yes, but there was something else. Something more.

Why was he still thinking about her?

He should've forgotten. After all, she was just a girl. She'd helped him. She didn't know who he was, didn't even seem to care. He had barely seen her face, just the blur of yellow. But her presence, that quiet determination, lingered in his thoughts, tugging at him in a way he couldn't explain.

What was it about her?

The question nagged at him, gnawing at the edges of his calm demeanor. He tried to push it away, but it clung to him like a shadow, following him everywhere. She saved me, that's it, right? Then why couldn't he stop thinking about it?

Kaden entered the room, his footsteps soft against the polished floor. He paused, noticing the distant look in Naksh eyes as he stared at nothing in particular.

Kaden had come to meet Naksh, he sat for a while and then started talking about some important things related to business, he did not say anything related to the accident so that Naksh's condition does not worsen again, he was comfortably taking suggestions from Naksh without putting any pressure on him, then Kaden noticed that Naksh was not paying attention to anything else he was saying!

He asked Nalsh "Sir? Are you okay? If you don't feel like it then I will put all these tasks on pending, you don't need to think too much"

Naksh looked outside and said, "Do you remember I told you yesterday that a girl saved me?"

Kaden thought in his mind and then again the topic of accident came up and he replied "Yes Sir, do you remember what happened?"

Naksh "Hmmm.. I want to find her.. I need her information. The nurse already said that she didn't leave after giving her information."

Kaden "Why do you need to look for the head?"

Naksh took a long breath "Once there was an accident and my friend died in my place... and once again I was saved because of someone else... I want to meet her once... anyway till now there was no woman in my life nor did i give the right to anyone to touch me either... but in my last moments I was in that girl's arms"

Kaden felt that maybe Naksh will find that girl and punish her in future? Because Naksh had already done this, but Naksh said something like this which shocked Kaden, Naksh said further " I did not even know that night if anyone would help me or not, but she came, I did not know why she said this ( you cannot die here, you have to breathe .. please breathe for me ) after saying this when she took me in her arms, I felt as if I could die peacefully in her arms... I had felt something..."

Kaden could not believe that his boss could ever think like this. Actually Kaden likes Naksh for his cruel nature but now he also wanted to know that who knows this girl might change Naksh's life or else it is just a thought of his. "So.. do you remember anything about her? How does she look?"

Naksh said while thinking " I don't know her face, I only remember her voice.. and there is nothing else that I remember! SHe was wearing a silver pendant on her neck in which a butterfly was made, not simple but in a different design, it was so dark on the road that I couldn't even see her face much And even i can't remember properly the scene only things i remember this only "

After hearing this, Kaden started looking at Naksh closely and then said in irritation, " Pendant? Seriously? How will i find a girl from a pendant? I have to find a girl, not a little pendant..." Then he rubbed his forehead and said suddenly, " yesa tho nhi ki vo...."

Kaden was staring at Naksh with his eyes closed Naksh asked curiously "vo kya..?

Then suddenly the kaden went near Naksh's ear and said "kahi vo ladki bhoot ya aatma tho nhi thi ...

Naksh shouted on him with scared tone "whatt nonsense "

Kaden now was in full mood to scare him " hnn..varna akeli vahi kyu thi vaha koi nhi tha sivay uske tabhi tho apna naam vagera nhi bta ke gyi ...yahi hoga pakka "

naksh rolled his eyes and then said "Quiet! Quietly find that girl..." kaden shook his head and was getting up from there naksh asked himself "sach me ... bhootni thi kya vo ..."

Kaden was leaving from there while controlling his laughter, he felt that due to the head injury his boss did not know what had happened, he went away from there smiling.

After sometime it was going to be evening The hospital room felt quieter than usual as the door creaked open. The familiar figure of Udai Singh Rajput, Naksha's grandfather, entered with steady, purposeful steps. His presence, though softened by age, still held the same undeniable authority that had governed Jaipur for decades. Despite his frail health, there was an aura of wisdom and power around him.

Naksha, who had been lying back against the pillows, immediately straightened up at the sight of his grandfather. His eyes narrowed as he sized up the man who had always been the head of their family-the ruler of their legacy.

Grandfather took a step closer, his face unreadable. " are you okk beta ?

Naksh " yes .. I just want to take discharge "

" no beta not now first recover your wounds then " naksh didn't reokied well the Without wasting a moment, he spoke. " naksh there is something I want to say to you i know you are not in condition but i can't delay to tell you "

Naksh was listening his words but he doesn't remember anything " about what ? "

His grandfather speaked " I have declared officially that the power has been shifter to you "

Naksh" what ? You are here...

He intrupted " yes I know I am here but i also know that I don't have much time i can sense it beta .. and its reality for too long i waited for you to come india and now you came from many times i have decided that you will only handel the power after me "

He continued " when you will be fine fully then we all will do your rajyabhishek this is imp ritual in our family Whether you wanted it or not, Naksh, The title, the power... it's all part of the bloodline. It's your duty." "

Naksh "You talk about bloodlines and legacy, but I've got a question for you. Why me? Why not your own son? Why have you chosen me to carry on the title of king? The one in line?"

The room fell silent for a moment. Udai Singh, who had been preparing for this moment for years, didn't flinch. He had expected this question.

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Grandfather: "You think it should go to Aviraaj,?" Udai took a deep breath, the weight of his years evident in the way he slowly exhaled. His gaze softened as he looked at Naksha, and for a moment, it seemed like he was searching for the right words.

Udai Singh: "Aviraaj... Aviraaj is my blood. But he's not the man who can lead this kingdom. He's not the one who understands the true power of our legacy, the responsibility that comes with it."

Naksha felt a flicker of surprise. His eyes searched his grandfather's face, looking for any sign of weakness or regret in his words. But all he saw was clarity-clarity in the old man's unwavering decision.

His grandfather expression grew somber. He walked closer to Naksha, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Naksh smirked " really you know na what it mean for making me a king there are people who do not want it ?"

Grandfather: "i know that's why I am giving you and From when aviraaj send to canada without letting someone know I set my mind that what i have to do and the thing he told us of all on that I hate him to say him my son he don't deserve to be hold the property "

Naksha let the words settle in. There was no bitterness in his grandfather's voice, only the truth, harsh as it was. He had never known Aviraaj to be weak, but perhaps there was something deeper his grandfather saw that he hadn't.

Naksh "So, you're saying I've got what it takes to rule... even though I never asked for it?"

Udai Singh: "Power doesn't need to be begged for. It's taken by those who can carry it without being consumed by it. I don't need someone who's hungry for the throne. I need someone who can respect the weight of it, carry it with honor. You may not want this, but I know you will make the right decisions."

Naksh noded and said " don't worry after this no one will forget who I am "

After that nurse came in the room and for check up and his grandfather also gone.

Third day in jaipur ...

The golden hue of the setting sun bathed Jaipur's bustling market in a warm glow. The air buzzed with vendors calling out to customers, the aroma of freshly fried kachoris mixing with the scent of marigold garlands. But Arvika hardly noticed any of it.

Her pulse was erratic.

That uneasy feeling hadn't left her.

She adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, forcing herself to blend in with the crowd. It had been two days since she last saw him-since the last time she felt his suffocating presence lurking in the background.

And yet, somehow... she knew.

She wasn't alone.

A slow, dreadful chill crawled up her spine as she turned a corner-only to come face to face with Vardhan Roy.

The air in her lungs froze.

He stood there, dressed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up, as if he had all the time in the world. A slow, smug smile tugged at his lips as he watched her reaction-like a predator who had finally caught his prey.

Vardhan: "Finally."

Arvika's fingers curled into fists at her sides. She should have known he wouldn't let her go that easily.

Arvika (voice steady): "What do you want?"

Vardhan took a leisurely step forward, tilting his head as if amused by her question.

Vardhan: "That's a dangerous question, Arvika. Do you really want to know the answer?"

Her jaw clenched. She knew his games. Knew his obsession with control.

Arvika: "I don't have time for this."

She turned on her heel, ready to push past him-but his voice stopped her cold.

Vardhan: "Do you really think you can run from me?"

She froze.

Vardhan (lowers his voice, stepping closer): "You've done this before. Tried to disappear. But you always end up back in my sight, don't you?"

Arvika's breath hitched.

His voice was calm, almost lazy, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.

Arvika: "You don't own me."

Vardhan exhaled a quiet chuckle. "That's cute."

Her hands trembled at her sides, but she didn't let it show.

Vardhan: "You don't belong out here. Not in this crowd, not in this city. You belong with me."

Arvika's stomach twisted.

She had to get away. Now.

Arvika (firmly): "Not this time."

She turned away, shoving past the crowd without looking back.

But something made her stop.

Her mind screamed at her to run-but her heart was done being chased.

She turned around, staring straight into his unreadable gaze.

And then, in a voice stronger than she expected, she asked:

Arvika: "Why are you after me, Vardhan? Do you really like me? Or do you just want to use me? What do you want from me?"

The question hung between them, thick with unspoken truths.

For the first time, Vardhan's smirk faltered-just a fraction.

He took his time, rolling the question over in his mind. Then, with a sharp, knowing look, he leaned in slightly and whispered,

Vardhan: "The real question is, Arvika... why do you want to know?"

A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes.

Vardhan (lowers his voice): "If you truly didn't care, you wouldn't be asking."

She felt her stomach tighten. She hated how easily he turned things around.

Arvika (steely voice): "Don't twist my words. Just answer me."

Vardhan exhaled through his nose, as if amused. Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he said-

Vardhan: "You intrigue me, Arvika."

Her brows furrowed.

Vardhan: "You're different atlease no one dare me to say mawali . I don't know if I like that or if it bothers me... but I do know one thing."

His gaze darkened, the teasing tone dropping for a fraction of a second.

Vardhan: "I know how to take the things what i want ."

Arvika felt her heartbeat quicken.

She opened her mouth to reply-but before she could, a voice interrupted them.

Rushali: "Arvika!"

Her head snapped to the side just as Rushali and Navya came rushing towards her, their expressions shifting between concern and curiosity.

Navya (frowning): "What's going on here?"

Vardhan's smirk returned instantly, as if he had been caught in the middle of something amusing.

Vardhan (casual): "Just a conversation."

Rushali's eyes darted between the two of them, picking up on the tension.

Rushali (narrowing her eyes): "Didn't seem like a normal conversation to me."

Navya stepped beside Arvika, subtly positioning herself between them.

Navya (firmly, to Vardhan): "I think you should leave."

Vardhan didn't move right away. He simply looked at Arvika one last time, his smirk deepening.

Vardhan: "I'll see you soon, Arvika."

And with that, he turned and walked away-this time, by choice.

As soon as he disappeared into the crowd, Rushali grabbed Arvika's arm.

Rushali (urgent whisper): "What the hell was that?"

Arvika didn't answer right away.

Because, for the first time...

She wasn't sure if she had been more afraid of his words... or her own reaction to them.

All for today sorry for late chapter I will try to post next chapter tomorrow only with some interest

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