CHAPTER 5: Riyasat Ka Khoya Noor

Kabira mann jaa... tu ab laut aa...

Ae ri sakhi, mori baabul se naina...

Kaise tujhko dikhaun yahaan, ke dil ye kya kehta hai...

Manwa laage re, yeh kya hua re...

Jaise koi kinaara, deta ho sahaara...

Tu chaahiye, tu chaahiye...

Mann mast magan, bas tera naam dohraaye...

Kabira tu itna pareshaan na ho...

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It has been ten long years since she left me and I... I didn't even stop loving her for a second. She is my first love and my last love, my muse.

She didn't just leave; she even took my cheerful spirit with her and left me empty and only breathing.

"Before she left me, the last day we met..." I mumbled before diving back to old memories.

Flashback Begins

"Raj, you know I love you so muchhh!" Aaranya said while sitting beside me as we were on the top of the Ferris wheel at the Royal fair.

I smiled and hugged her tightly. Just then, the wheel began moving suddenly, and she was taken aback as she gasped.

A chuckle escaped my mouth as I pinched her cheeks, and she giggled.

"Anya aap kya kehti hai, kaisi engagement ring chahiye aapko?" I asked her as our engagement was announced a few weeks back. To mark the start of the relation.

(Anya, what do you say, how do you want the engagement ring to be?)

"Hmm... Apki choice toh achi hi Hoti hai, jaise ki mai." She said with a proud voice while pointing towards herself.

(Hmm... Your choice is nice, like me.)

"Of course", I kissed her forehead, and we both stepped out of the wheel and went to explore the fair.

Flashback ends

We were supposed to be engaged then and maybe married by now, ruling the kingdom together.

But it's not all roses, life didn't plan it the simpler way for us.

Thinking about all that, I parked my car near the place and went into the garden. Rudra, Aaryan, and Shivika were fighting and bickering as usual.

All the elders were also sitting in the garden, clearly amused by their usual banter. As they saw me approaching them, their conversations came to a halt.

Maa sa rushed towards me, "Yuvraj bataiye aaj aapka din kaisa tha."

(Yuvraj, How was your day?)

"Accha tha maa, bas thoda thak gaya hu" I sat down beside her, and she started caressing my hair, making me sigh in relief.

(It was good, Mom, I'm just a bit tired.)

"Yuvraj hame aapse kuch baat karni hai", Dada sa said, getting my attention as I straightened my back, ready to listen to whatever he had to say.

(Yuvraj, we want to talk to you.)

"Beta, we want you to get married." His words made something inside me hurt. How can I marry someone when my heart, mind and body already belong to someone else?

"Maaf kijiye Dada sa. Ham nahi kar sakte." I said in a No-nonsense firm tone and turned back to leave, while I heard Dadi sa say, "Bhool jao, Yuvraj ab usse. Woh nahi aayegi, par aapko toh apni zindagi mai aage badhna padega na."

(Sorry, Grandpa. I can't do it.)

(Forget her, Yuvraj. She will not come back now, and you have to move on.)

I ignored her words and kept walking, but my heart was shattered at her words. I know that she won't come back, but a small part of me still wants to wait for her.

As I reached my room after having my dinner, I drowned in her thoughts and pictures again.

It has become my daily routine to I will once see through the album of our memories before sleeping.

As I closed the album and went to settle on the bed, calling it a night.

A phone call made me come out of slumber. 

It was Lakshay. 

Her brother and my best friend.

I picked up the call, and his next words made me freeze in my tracks.

"We found her"

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Veer and Devansh had coordinated and started top journalism companies all over the country.

"Dev, I just so knew it. That my baby sis is going to join the company." Veer looked up from his laptop, eyes glistening, looking at the job letter from a girl named Miss Aaranya, and it was none other than Aaranya, the princess they had lost.

"Ji Bhai sa, now we know where she is." Dev sighed and sat down beside his elder brother. They had always known it was their baby sister's dream to start her own journalism company and become and top-listed journalist. So, they had started this company, ASR Press.

"Bhai sa I informed Yuvraj." Lakshay came after informing Yuvraj about the appearance of their beloved sister and his love.

"Oh my gosh, I can't wait to meet Aaruu." Aditya squealed, a huge grin resting on his face.

They all went towards their father's bedroom. Rajendra, the former king, had handed all his work and position to his eldest son, Veer, due to his deteriorating health.

"Baba saa", Aditya shouted while barging into their father's room with a happy grin.

(Father)

After almost ten years, he is back to his usual self, cheerful and full of joy, just by the news of Aaranya being found.

His brothers followed him and entered the room.

Their dad also got up from the bed with the help of the caretaker with him.

Veer gestured for the caretaker to leave, and Lakshay went to help their dad balance.

"Baba sa hamare pas aapke liye khushkhabari hai." Devansh said with a small smile, and he nodded, signalling him to explain it.

(Father, we have good news for you.)

"Aapki Rajkumari mil gayi", Veer said, and their father's eyes widened, and a smile quickly took over his face. "Sacchi?" He asked to confirm, and Veer nodded.

(Your princess is found)(True?)

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The spoilers for this chapter and the next chapter are uploaded on my Instagram handle 'khushiiwrts'.

THIS CHAPTER IS ALSO UPLOADED ON WATTPAD AND INKITT UNDER THE SAME ID'S.