CHAPTER 49 : SHATTERED ARROGANCE: THE QUEEN'S PROTECTORS

Hello everyone 🤗

Your author is finally back with a new chapter after suffering from a terrible case of writer's block. I'm so sorry you all had to wait so long for this update, but I just wasn't in the right zone to write. Half of this chapter was written long ago, but for some unknown reason, I just couldn't bring myself to complete it. However, reading your sweet comments and feeling your constant support truly helped me push through this block, and I can't thank you enough for that. So, here it is the long-awaited new chapter. Okay, enough talking now please enjoy!❤️

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As the grand reception continued, the hall buzzed with a symphony of loud murmurs and excited whispers, all eyes fixed on the newlyweds. Chandeliers sparkled above, casting a warm glow on the regal couple who seemed to radiate an aura of timeless elegance. The grandeur of the event the opulent decorations, the intricate floral arrangements, the orchestral music, all paled in comparison to the magnetic presence of Kashi and Vishwanath.

Standing beside Vishwanath, Kashi could feel the curious gazes of the guests on her, their silent judgments whispering through the room like an unspoken conversation. Despite the grandeur surrounding her, an odd sense of unease crept in. She wasn't used to this world, the dazzling gowns, the effortless poise, the refined sophistication. And though Vishwanath stood beside her, radiating dominance and power, silently reassuring her that he is always there for her she just couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place.

"Veer ji, I will be right back," she whispered softly, looking up at him.

He frowned slightly, his sharp eyes studying her. "Where are you going?"

"Just to the washroom," she replied with a small, reassuring smile, though the truth was, she needed a moment to breathe.

Vishwanath's protective gaze didn't waver. "Alright, but don't take too long."

She nodded and turned away, walking down the quieter corridor leading to the restrooms. The noise of the celebration gradually faded behind her, leaving only the soft sound of her block heels clicking against the marble floor. The silence was a welcome relief, until a familiar voice broke it.

"Well, look who it is."

Kashi stopped in her tracks, her breath catching as she turned. Standing in front of her was Maya Mittal, her perfectly manicured hands crossed over her chest, flanked by her usual two sycophantic friends. Their faces were painted with amusement, their eyes gleaming with malice.

Maya smirked, crossing her arms as she eyed Kashi with amusement. "Well, well, look who we have here? The Queen of Bundelkhand or you can say the cupcake stall girl, isn't it?" Maya said, her tone dripping with disdain.

Kashi's heart sank. She recognized Maya from their earlier interactions. as someone who had taken an instant dislike to her. There was a sharp edge to Maya's tone, laced with mockery, as if she found it amusing to remind Kashi of her place.

"Excuse me? What do you mean?" Kashi asked, her voice barely above a whisper, uncertainty creeping into her eyes.

"Don't play dumb," Maya said, stepping closer, her heels clicking menacingly against the marble. "You were the girl running that pathetic little stall that day, weren't you? Tell us, what magic trick did you use to trap Vishwanath Rai Singhania? It must be one hell of a scam to make him fall for.....someone like you."

A round of laughter erupted from her friends.

Kashi's throat tightened, but she took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm. She looked at Maya, her eyes filled with quiet resolve. "I didn't do anything," she said softly but firmly. "I don't know why you think that way, but Vishwanath ji isn't someone who can be fooled so easily. If you really believe I tricked him, then maybe....you don't know him at all."

The laughter around them faded slightly, and for a brief moment, Maya's smirk faltered. Kashi lowered her gaze, clutching the fabric of her gown tightly. A part of her just wanted to turn and walk away, to escape from the eyes filled with judgment. But the only reason she found the courage to respond at all was the quiet reassurance in her heart, her Veer ji was always with her. And as long as he was, she didn't need to prove herself to anyone.

Maya quickly recovered from the surprise. She hadn't expected Kashi to answer back so confidently. Letting out a mocking gasp, she sneered, "Ohh, of course, you didn't! You are just a small-town, lower-class, bhenji-style girl who somehow landed herself in a royal palace. What could a man like Vishwanath possibly see in you?" She tilted her head, pretending to ponder. Oh wait, he will realize soon enough. Maybe he will just divorce you when he sees the real you and then, he will find someone who actually deserves him. Someone like me."

The words pierced Kashi's already fragile confidence. She took a step back, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Stop it," she whispered.

Maya, seeing her chance to dominate, smirked cruelly "What's wrong, Kashi? Can't handle the truth?"

"You should see yourself, Kashi," another girl from Maya's group chimed in, eyeing her dress with distaste. "Wearing those expensive clothes that you can't even afford by yourself, walking around like you belong here, won't make you one of us."

"Right," Maya sneered. "Look at yourself, you have no class, no sophistication, no high-profile background. Adding these expensive dresses and jewellery won't make you one of us. We are class apart. How long do you think you can keep pretending to fit in?"

Another girl giggled. "Maybe he keeps her around for entertainment. The innocent little fool who doesn't even know which fork to use at dinner."

Maya smirked at the visible tremble in Kashi's hands. "Or maybe you're just a temporary amusement. A phase. Men like Vishwanath don't settle for women like you, Kashi. He will get bored. And when he does...." She let out a cruel laugh. "You will be nothing but a forgotten mistake."

The words cut deeper than Kashi wanted to admit. She had always known she was different from them she wasn't born into wealth or status, and no matter how much she tried, she could never erase where she came from. But hearing it spoken so cruelly, made her feel exposed.

Her fingers trembled, suddenly feeling like an imposter in the very clothes she was wearing. They weren't hers, Vishwanath ji and his family had bought them for her. The jewellery adorning her wasn't earned by her own means, it all belonged to him. Every whispered doubt she had buried inside her came rushing back. Her vision blurred with unshed tears as Maya's words dug into her deepest fears.

Did she really belong here? Was she truly nothing more than just a passing fascination to Vishwanath ji? Would he eventually realize that she wasn't good enough for him?

Her heart pounded as she tried to steady her breathing, but the confidence she had tried to hold onto slipped through her fingers like sand. The room suddenly felt suffocating, the weight of their mocking gazes pressing down on her. She wanted to speak, to defend herself, but the words wouldn't come. Because deep down a part of her feared they were right.

Maya, sensing victory, raised her hand as if to shove Kashi. "What's wrong, Kashi? Aww, poor thing. Can't handle the reality?"

Before Maya could say anything more, a sharp voice echoed through the corridor.

"Enough."

Maya turned, startled, to find Raghavendra Rai Singhania, Vishwanath's younger brother, striding towards them. His tall frame radiated authority, and his piercing eyes were fixed on Maya.

"Raghavendra" Maya faltered, trying to smile sweetly.

Whereas Raghavendra's eyes fell on Kashi. She stood there, trembling, her hands clenched into fists as if that was the only thing keeping her together. Tears shimmered in her eyes, threatening to spill, but she bit her lip, trying to hold them back.

His jaw clenched. He had heard enough. He had arrived during the last part of the conversation, and it was more than enough to set his blood boiling.

"What's going on here?" His deep voice rang through the room, laced with authority.

Maya stiffened at the interruption but quickly recovered, pasting on a fake smile. "Nothing!" she said, her tone sickly sweet. "We were just having a little chat with your bhabi."

"A chat?" Raghavendra's eyes darkened as he turned fully towards her. His gaze then flickered back to Kashi, who refused to meet his eyes. "Bhabhi, are you okay?" His voice softened slightly. "What else did they say to you?"

Kashi quickly shook her head, her fingers trembling. She didn't want to be the cause of any conflict. "It's nothing, Raghav bhaiya," she whispered. "Let it go."

Maya scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, stop being so dramatic, Raghavendra. She is just oversensitive......"

"Enough!"

Raghavendra's voice cracked like thunder, silencing the room. The girls flinched, and Maya's smirk vanished instantly.

"You think humiliating someone makes you better than them?" His sharp gaze pinned Maya in place. "You don't even deserve to say her name."

Maya swallowed, but he wasn't done.

"She is the Queen of Bundelkhand," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerously low tone. "The Singhania Bahu, and above all, she is family. And yet, you dared to humiliate her?" He took a slow step forward, towering over Maya. " Mocking someone who did nothing to you? Does it satisfy your pathetic need to feel superior?"

Maya's face turned red, but she still tried to maintain her composure. "I was just stating facts. She...."

"No," Raghavendra cut her off coldly. "What you were doing was trying to break someone who has more strength in her than you have in your entire existence."

The other girls stood frozen, watching as Raghavendra's fury burned through the air.

He let out a scoff, shaking his head. "Your so-called 'class',this arrogance you wear like a crown, it means nothing. True class isn't in wealth, background or designer dresses, Maya. It's in dignity. It's in knowing when to speak and when to shut up. And right now? You should definitely shut up."

Maya's lips parted, but no words came out.

Raghavendra's voice hardened further. "If I ever hear you or your friends speaking to my bhabhi like this again, you won't just be answering to me." His lips curled into a smirk, but there was no humor in it. "You will be answering Vishwanath Bhaiya"

Maya, who had been standing confidently until now, visibly stiffened. Her smirk faltered, and for the first time, uncertainty flickered in her eyes. She opened her mouth to retort but hesitated, as if weighing the consequences. A nervous glance passed between her and her friends, their earlier arrogance now tinged with unease.

And as if on cue, Vishwanath appeared, followed closely by his younger brother, Rudra.

"What's going on here?" Vishwanath's voice was calm, but his dark eyes glimmered with fury as they landed on Kashi's distressed face.

Maya, sensing the shift in power, straightened, forcing a smile. "Oh, Vishwanath, we were just......"

"Save it." Vishwanath cut her off, his tone icy. His towering presence alone was enough to make Maya shrink back. He stepped towards Kashi, placing a protective arm around her shoulders. "Are you alright, Kashi?"

She nodded weakly, leaning into his comforting presence, but vishwanath saw the way her fingers trembled.

Bhaiya," Raghavendra spoke up, stepping forward. His voice was tight with restrained anger. "I found Maya and her friends trying to humiliate bhabi. They insulted her, mocked her past, and tried to belittled her." His eyes flashed as he turned towards Maya. "They acted like their so-called 'class' gives them the right to trample over someone else's dignity. And if that wasn't enough, she even dared to question Bhabhi's place asking if she even deserves you."

Raghavendra's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides as he turned fully towards Vishwanath. His voice was edged with controlled fury as he filled him in on everything that had just taken place.

Kashi stood there, still, trying to hold herself together, her fingers gripping the fabric of Vishwanath's coat sleeve as if anchoring herself. The sting of their words lingered in her heart, pressing down on her like a weight, but she refused to let them see her break. She swallowed hard, her breath unsteady, yet she stayed close to him, drawing silent strength from his presence.

Vishwanath's expression darkened further, his jaw tightening as he turned his full attention to Maya. He looked every inch of the king walking towards a subject about to be condemned.

"You tried to disrespect my wife?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.

Maya's bravado cracked. "Vishwanath It's not what it looks like," she said quickly.

Vishwanath let out a sharp, humorless chuckle. " I think it's exactly what it looks like." His eyes bore into hers like daggers. "You thought you could disrespect her, humiliate her, and get away with it? Let me make one thing clear, Maya, Kashi is mine. And she is the Queen of Bundelkhand. But you? You are nothing but a bitter, jealous woman who will never have what she has."

Maya's eyes filled with tears of frustration. "Vishwanath, I......"

He took another step forward, making her instinctively step back.

"Feeling bad, Maya?" he said, his smirk cold. "Getting a taste of your own medicine doesn't feel so good, does it?"

His voice turned sharp, every word cutting deep. "You dared to insult my Kashi? You, who have never known what it means to truly matter to someone, have the audacity to question her place in my life?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "Kashi is not just my wife, she is the heart of this home, the light in my life, and the one person who makes everything worthwhile. She stands here today because she earned her place, not with manipulation or pretense, but with her honesty, kindness, and strength, qualities you wouldn't recognize even if they stared you in the face."

Maya's face turned crimson with humiliation, but Vishwanath wasn't done.

You talk about who 'deserves' me?" he continued, his voice a quiet storm. "Let me be very clear, you are not even worthy to speak Kashi's name, let alone compare yourself to her. While you waste your time scheming and pretending to be something you are not, Kashi stands tall with grace, despite everything people like you have thrown at her."

His next words were pure steel. "Kashi belongs here, beside me, as my queen."

Maya clenched her fists, her confidence in shambles, but then Vishwanath delivered the final blow.

"And you Maya?" He narrowed his eyes. "You will never have a place in my life. The only reason I'm letting this go today is because you are my father's best friend's daughter. But don't mistake my patience for weakness." His gaze turned lethal. "If you ever try to hurt my Kashi again, Maya, I won't hesitate to make you regret it."

Maya's lips quivered. Vishwanath's presence was suffocating, his words stripping away every last ounce of her pride.

"Now get out of my sight before I lose the little patience I have left."

Maya turned on her heel and stormed off, her entourage trailing behind her like shadows of her lost arrogance.

As soon as she was gone, Vishwanath turned back to Kashi, cupping her face gently. "Kashi" His voice was no longer cold but filled with warmth and concern.

She blinked up at him, the weight of the moment finally crashing down on her. Without another word, he pulled her into his embrace, shielding her from the world.

"No one will ever hurt you again," he murmured against her hair, his promise unshakable.

After a moment of silence,Vishwanath's voice broke through the quiet. "Are you okay, Kashi?" His voice was gentle but carried an ache, as if it pained him that she had to endure all this alone, that he hadn't been there for her.

Kashi lowered her gaze, her lashes trembling as tears finally slipped down her cheeks. She nodded hesitantly, but her voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm fine, Veer ji."

Vishwanath exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening as he cupped her face in his hands, tilting her head up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. His thumbs brushed away her tears, his touch reverent, as if she were something fragile yet infinitely precious.

"Please don't cry, Kashi. I hate seeing you like this," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You are my heart, my peace, my everything. Never let anyone make you feel like you don't belong here. You are the moon that brightens my darkest nights, the fire that warms my coldest days. And most importantly, you are mine, Kashi. Only mine. Just as I am yours. Only yours."

His words, spoken with quiet intensity, shattered the last of her restraint. A soft sob escaped her as she gripped his wrists, anchoring herself to him as if afraid he would slip away like a dream.

From the side, Raghavendra and Rudra watched in silence, a small smile playing on their lips. Seeing their Bhaiya and Bhabhi like this, so lost in each other, bound by a love so deep warmed their hearts. Their expressions held an unspoken vow of protection. In that moment, they were no longer just Kashi's devars (brothers-in-law) they had become something more. They were not just Vishwanath's brothers anymore, they had become her brothers too. Maybe not by blood, but by the unbreakable bonds of love and loyalty.

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