55. Kanika and Ishaan

As the goons approached, Ishaan stepped in front of Kanika, shielding her with his tall frame. His eyes narrowed, and his voice was firm.

"Back off," he warned the men, his tone cold and unyielding.

The goons laughed mockingly, one of them stepping closer. "And what will you do if we don't?"

Without wasting a second, Ishaan struck the nearest one with a powerful punch, sending him staggering back. The others lunged forward, but Ishaan skillfully dodged their attacks, landing blows that left them groaning on the ground.

Kanika watched in awe, clutching her purse tightly as Ishaan single-handedly handled the situation.

After a few minutes, the goons scrambled to their feet and fled, cursing under their breath. Ishaan turned to Kanika, his breathing steady despite the fight. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, her voice soft. "Thank you... I don’t know what I would have done without you."

Ishaan gave a small smile. "You're safe now. Let’s get you somewhere secure."

Kanika adjusted her posture and said, "No, actually, I was going to the palace. My friend Niharika is married to King Shivaay Singh Ranawat. He called me to surprise her since tomorrow is her birthday. I was about to book a cab, but those goons appeared out of nowhere."

Ishaan’s brows lifted in recognition as he replied, "You know what? I am Ishaan Singh Ranawat."

Kanika’s eyes widened in surprise. "You’re Shivaay’s brother?"

Ishaan nodded with a small smile.

She extended her hand with a polite smile. "Oh, hi! I’m Kanika. It’s nice to meet you."

Ishaan shook her hand and said, "The pleasure’s mine. Come on, I’ll make sure you reach the palace safely."

Kanika nodded gratefully as they walked to his car.

Ishaan turned to the driver, his voice calm but firm. “Is the tire fixed now?”

The driver, wiping his hands on a cloth, nodded with a small bow of his head. “Yes, sir. Everything is in place. The car is ready to go.”

Kanika’s phone buzzed in her hand just as she was about to respond. Glancing at the screen, she saw Shivaay’s name flashing. She quickly picked up the call, her voice slightly breathless from the earlier encounter. “Hello?”

On the other end of the line, Shivaay’s familiar deep voice greeted her with a hint of concern. “Kanika, where are you? The driver is waiting for you at the airport. I told him to make sure you get here safely.”

Kanika let out a soft sigh, glancing around the dimly lit street. “No, Shivaay, I’m not at the airport anymore. I had some work, so I came to MI Road instead. I was about to book a cab when things took a turn. Some goons started following me—they wanted my money and the small gold jewelry I was wearing. It was terrifying. I ran as fast as I could, clutching my luggage, but then…” She paused, catching her breath and glancing at Ishaan, who stood a short distance away, observing her conversation. “I bumped into your brother, Ishaan. He saved me from those men. He fought them off, and now he’s taking me to the palace himself.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, as if Shivaay was processing her words. When he finally spoke, his tone was softer but still commanding. “Ishaan’s with you? That’s good. He’ll ensure nothing else happens. You’re safe with him. Let me know as soon as you arrive at the palace, alright?”

Kanika managed a small smile, the tension of the situation slowly easing. “I will, Shivaay. Thanks for checking in.”

She ended the call and turned toward Ishaan, who was leaning casually against the car, his arms crossed, waiting patiently. “Shivaay was worried, but I told him you’re taking care of everything,” she said with a faint smile.

Ishaan pushed himself off the car with a nod. “You don’t need to worry about anything now. Come on, let’s get going.” His voice was steady, and there was an ease in the way he spoke, but Kanika could sense a protective undertone.

As she walked toward the car, clutching her bag, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of gratitude and comfort. She wasn’t used to someone stepping in for her like this, especially not someone like Ishaan Singh Ranawat, whose reputation preceded him.

Once inside the car, Ishaan glanced at her briefly before starting the engine. The car hummed to life, and the tires began rolling on the smooth road leading to the grand palace. Kanika stared out the window, her thoughts lingering on the unexpected turn of events. For a moment, she stole a glance at Ishaan, who was focused on the road ahead, his jaw set and his expression unreadable.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice breaking the quiet atmosphere.

He glanced at her for a split second, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “It’s nothing. Just doing what anyone would.”

Kanika shook her head slightly. “No, not anyone would. You didn’t hesitate even for a moment back there.”

Ishaan didn’t respond immediately, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor, a quiet acknowledgment of her words. For the rest of the drive, the car was filled with a calm silence, each lost in their thoughts. The grandeur of the palace began to loom in the distance, its towering structure bathed in golden light, a stark contrast to the chaos Kanika had faced earlier.

As they neared the gates, Kanika finally felt a sense of relief wash over her. She hadn’t just found safety; she had also encountered someone she knew she could trust, even in the most unpredictable circumstances.

As the car came to a stop at the grand palace gates, a servant hurried forward, bowing respectfully as Ishaan stepped out and gestured toward Kanika’s luggage. “Take these inside,” Ishaan instructed, his voice calm yet authoritative.

Kanika followed the servant into the sprawling palace, her eyes sweeping over its opulence and grandeur. Her gaze soon landed on Shivaay, who stood near the entrance, exuding his usual regal presence. He extended a hand toward her in greeting, his sharp eyes assessing her quietly. She shook his hand firmly, offering him a small, thankful smile.

Shivaay gave a faint nod and then, with a subtle motion of his hand, pointed toward the kitchen. His expression held an unspoken message, and Kanika instantly understood. Giving him a playful shush gesture, she made her way toward the kitchen, her steps light with excitement.

Inside, Niharika was busy preparing something, her back turned toward the doorway. Completely unaware of Kanika’s presence, she hummed a tune softly as she worked. Kanika tiptoed closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Gently, she reached out and covered Niharika’s eyes with her hands.

In a singsong voice, Kanika recited:

“Chhupi si raah pe chhod aaye the hum baatein,

Kya tumhe yaad hai woh din, woh raat ke saayein?”

Niharika froze for a moment before a wide smile spread across her face. Recognizing the voice, she spun around in excitement, pulling Kanika into a tight hug. “Kanika!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy and disbelief.

Kanika laughed, hugging her back just as tightly. “Surprise!” she whispered, her eyes shining with happiness.

Niharika stepped back slightly, holding Kanika by the shoulders as she took in her friend’s presence. “I can’t believe you’re here! And of all ways to surprise me, you chose to sneak into the kitchen and spout poetry?”

Kanika grinned. “Well, it worked, didn’t it? And tomorrow’s your birthday—I couldn’t miss it for the world.”

Niharika’s eyes softened, her voice turning tender. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

The two friends stood there, lost in their moment of reunion, as laughter and warmth filled the kitchen—a brief yet beautiful respite from the storms outside their lives.

As Niharika stepped back from the warm embrace, Kanika playfully flicked her hair and said, “All thanks to your husband, though. Shivaay planned the whole thing—he called me and made sure I got here to surprise you.”

Niharika’s eyes widened in surprise. “Shivaay? Really?” she asked, disbelief laced with amusement.

Kanika nodded with a smirk. “Oh, yes. The great king himself. He even kept track of my whereabouts and sent a car for me. Though, of course, I ended up meeting your brother-in-law, Ishaan, thanks to a little…adventure with some goons.”

Niharika gasped. “What? Goons? Are you okay?”

Kanika waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, nothing I couldn’t handle—with Ishaan’s help, of course. But seriously, you should thank Shivaay for this. He made sure everything was perfect.”

Niharika glanced toward the doorway, her expression softening. “He does have his moments, doesn’t he?”

Kanika chuckled. “Don’t let him hear that, or he’ll make me call him a genius next.”

The two friends burst into laughter, their bond rekindling instantly, as Niharika silently made a note to thank Shivaay later in her own way.

After their hearty laughter in the kitchen, Niharika grabbed Kanika’s hand. “Come on! You have to meet everyone,” she said excitedly, pulling her toward the living room.

Kanika looked slightly hesitant. “Uh, are you sure? I mean, I didn’t even dress up properly after the whole ordeal with the goons.”

Niharika rolled her eyes playfully. “Kanika, you look perfect. Trust me, they’re going to love you. Now, come on!”

As they entered the grand living room, the Ranawat family was seated, enjoying their evening tea and casual conversation. Niharika cleared her throat to catch their attention.

“Everyone, this is my best friend, Kanika,” she announced with a proud smile. “She’s here to celebrate my birthday and surprise me.”

Kanika smiled nervously and gave a small wave. “Hello, everyone. It’s lovely to meet you all.”

Shweta, the matriarch, was the first to step forward. Her warm smile instantly put Kanika at ease. “Welcome, beta. Any friend of Niharika’s is like family here. Please make yourself at home.”

Kanika folded her hands politely. “Thank you, aunty. That means a lot.”

Indra Singh Ranawat, sitting in his usual regal posture, gave a small nod. “Welcome to the Ranawat palace, Kanika. We’re glad to have you here.”

Next, Riya approached her, grinning. “Hi! I’m Riya, Niharika’s sister-in-law. It’s so good to finally meet you. She’s always talking about you!”

Kanika laughed lightly. “Hopefully only good things!”

Ishaan, who had just returned from parking the car, chimed in, “Well, I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting her under quite…interesting circumstances.”

The family looked at him curiously, and Kanika quickly added, “Yes, Ishaan saved me from some trouble earlier. I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

“Just doing my duty,” Ishaan replied with a smirk.

Anita, sitting with Shweta, smiled at Kanika. “It’s always nice to see someone who makes Niharika so happy. Stay as long as you like.”

Kanika’s heart swelled with warmth. “Thank you, everyone. You’re all so welcoming.”

Niharika grinned, linking her arm with Kanika’s. “See? I told you they’d love you!”

As they settled into the room, Kanika realized why Niharika cherished this family so much. For the first time in a while, she felt like she was among people who truly cared.

Ishaan watched Kanika as she entered the room with Niharika. He couldn't help but notice her graceful presence, her confident yet approachable demeanor, and the way she smiled warmly at everyone. There was something captivating about her—something that made him think, Isn’t she beautiful?

As the introductions were made, Kanika greeted each family member with politeness and warmth. Niharika beamed proudly, happy to have her friend meet the family. Ishaan, still somewhat lost in his thoughts, found himself studying Kanika as she laughed at a joke from his mother, Anita. Her laughter was soft yet infectious, making everyone around her feel at ease.

Ishaan couldn't shake the feeling that there was something special about Kanika, something that intrigued him. He quickly dismissed the thought, but the flicker of curiosity remained, lingering in his mind as he observed her interacting with his family.

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"Dear readers, I wanted to let you all know that this story is going to be a long one. I don’t want to rush through it and risk messing up the plot, so I’m taking my time to develop it properly. If you're okay with it, I plan to release episodes that are 5000+ words long, ensuring I give you the best experience with each chapter. Your patience and support mean a lot to me! I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I enjoy writing it."