Vikrant wiped his face,his mother's words filling him with hot anger.He did not hate Atharva before.They were brothers, played as kids together but now he dislike him a lot because of his mother.His Father,the king, was to blame too.

His father never praised Vikrant's work.No thanks for his loyalty, nothing.

"No more talk, Mother," Vikrant said, standing tall with tight fists. "I will make a plan.

I'll talk to my friends in court quietly.Atharva can't have it the throne is mine."

Mandira smiled, holding his hand. "Good, son.Go slow. Make Father see you.Make Atharva look weak."

Vikrant nodded, anger pushing him hard and he left from there,steps hard on the floor as he left to start his plans.

Mandira watched the door close, her face turning cold.She did not trust his anger fully

though her son was brave but still can't be that cruel to his brother.

"He says it, but will he do it?" she said to herself. No, she must act too.

Mandira sat up straight after Vikrant left, her mind racing. She did not trust his anger alone.

"Call Veera, her trusted man,"she told her maid sharply. "Bring him here now. No one else."

The maid bowed and hurried out.Soon,Veera entered the bedroom, tall and loyal, his face serious."What do you need, Queen?"

"Take this message to my brother(her brother is the rich merchant and he is also a very close friend of the southern state's King),"

Her brother is a very cunning man and he only thinks about profit but he loves his sister Mandira.

Mandira said, handing him a sealed letter."Tell him to come fast with gold and men.Say nothing to anyone."

Veera nodded,tucking the letter safe."Done, my Queen. He will ride tonight."

He left through a side door into the dark night, horse ready and fast.The road wound quiet past villages asleep under stars.By morning,he reached the big house in Tulsinagar,where Mandira's brother ruled trade with spices and gold.

Veera gave the note straight to him.The merchant read it quick,face hard."Tell her I'll come soon after arranging everything here."

In the king's private studyroom at Rajgarh Palace,

evening lamps burned low as he sat alone, scrolls forgotten on the table. His mind wandered back years, to the war where fate brought him Ragini his true love, second wife, and the mother of Atharva.

Young and wounded in battle,blood soaking his armor,his General rushed him to a nearby town clinic run by herbalists,Ragini's parents.Her father treated him with roots and pastes, and soon the king noticed her gentle hands helping patients,her voice like honey.

One fine morning,Ragini sang softly while grinding medicines,her beauty and song mesmerizing him completely.

When he healed, he told her father straight, "I want your daughter as my wife."

They married, though she did not like him at first saw him as a rough warrior.But after the wedding,she warmed to him,her laughter filling his days. Before she entered the palace, he built Ragini Mahal just for her, a small haven near the main palace.

Mandira,his first queen, got upset deep inside but hid it with smiles.

Mandira plotted quietly against her, teaming with Giriraaj Singhal,the general(Shaurya's father).

She spent time with Ragini, acting friendly, but whispered lies to the king behind her back.

Ragini was so beautiful and polite,kind to everyone ,she did not know queen customs,treated servants like friends.

Mandira used this, feeding the king bad stories.

Mandira even planted her man as Ragini's guard.

One day, Ragini felt bored in her palace, so she called Mandira to play Chaupar.They startedbut Mandira said soon, "I have some important work right now I'll back soon so why find you just play with Yatendra,the gaurd,for me a few minutes."Ragini agreed.

Yatendra and she played as he already took the money from Mandira to act accordingly.

Without knowing anything about the conspiracy behind that game Ragini was laughing and enjoying as the game got fun.

Meanwhile,Mandira sent the words through an unknown source to the king somehow,

"Your second queen has an affair with a man dressed as guard."

The king rushed to Ragini Mahal,and the scene in front of him was heart breaking.He saw her giggle with the "guard," and he lost control.

"Capture that dog now!" he roared.

Guards dragged the man away.Later, he was hanged, but the damage stuck Ragini's name tarnished forever.

She begged, "It was just a game, my lord.

Mandira didi left, he played in her place!"she repeated the same words thousands of time But the king would not listen, anger already blinded his senses.

Atharva was four then. After that, the king never looked at Ragini with love.She shut herself in Ragini Mahal, stopped singing, stopped living free.

Her only hope was Atharva and she started living just for her son.

Years passed.

On Atharva's 10th birthday, Ragini Mahal shone with decorations and guests.Mandira came with Vikrant.Atharava's grandmother Rageshwari devi had come but his father didn't.Everyone waited for the king to start fun.

But when he didn't come Ragini,With Rageshwari's help,began celebrations anyway.

After the celebration ended and the guests left Ragini went to the Palace to have a conversation with the king.

Her voice was shaking due to anger.

"Why did you not come for our son's day? Guests waited,Atharva's eyes searched for you!Do I mean nothing?"

King exploded,Mandira's venom fueling him weeks of whispers questioning Atharva's birth. "You dare question me? After your dirty games with guards? I question if Atharva is even my blood your betrayal taints him too! Stay in your limits, Ragini!"

Ragini's eyes filled with tears.Without a word,she turned and left for her palace.That broke her last hope.She went silent, spoke only to Atharva.

A week later,she attempted suicide leaving a letter to the king.

My dearest King,

I write this with a heavy heart, my love, as my days come to an end. Do you remember Father's clinic? You lay hurt from the war, your eyes weak but strong. I sang while mixing herbs and helping patients. You saw me then and asked Father for my hand.

At first, I feared the warrior king and did not like you. But after our wedding, in our quiet days together, I fell deep in love.Your laughs, your touches, and your strong arms made you my whole world.

The lies and poison words cut me like knives every day.That guard and Chaupar game broke my soul.It was just a game, nothing more! Mandira didi left me alone that day.I don't know why she asked the guard to take her place and later she denied.We only laughed as friends, pure and simple.No betrayal, no sin. I don't know who poured venom in your ears and you became distant and raged blind.

You hanged an innocent man,stained my honor forever, and shut me out like dirt.I begged on my knees, heart shattering, but you would not hear.

Many nights I wept alone, love turning to endless pain.Our Atharva is your son and my light. I lived only for him after your anger.Now I'm going far away from you so that you can trust me.

I forgive you for all the pain and doubts.Just promise me to protect Atharva and my death is the proof that he is your son just Save him from palace conspiracy.Let him grow strong and free. He doesn't need to be king,I care only that he is treated well and happy.

Do this, and my soul will rest happy.

With all my love, always yours,

Ragini.

A year after Ragini's death, the king returned from the border wars treason had sparked chaos there, pulling him away in grief and duty.

He entered Ragini Mahal for the first time since,dust from roads on his boots, heart heavy.Servants bowed low,one handing him a sealed letter from her side,hidden till now.

He broke the seal alone in her quiet room,reading her words under fading lamplight.Heartbreak hit like thunder sobs tore from him, knees buckling as he sank to the floor.

"Ragini... my love, forgive this fool king," he gasped, tears soaking the page.

Her pure confession,the Chaupar truth,her selfless plea for Atharva it crushed him fresh,guilt endless without proof against Mandira.

From that night in Ragini Mahal a year after her death the king made a secret plan.In public he acted cold to Atharva.He looked like a shadow prince with no love or praise.People whispered that the king did not care for him.

Behind the curtain the king cared deeply for Atharva.He never showed his affection towards Atharva even personally.He sent hidden guards to watch over him.No one saw his true heart.Mandira knew nothing even her spies saw only hate.Her bad plans slowed fron then on.

The king hid everything to protect Atharva from her anger and also he didn't know who else was involved in this conspiracy.

He called her his dear queen but kept his thoughts secret.He followed Ragini's wish without proof to fight.

In the hush of his chamber the king battled fierce inner storms.Vikrant shines capable and generous.He aids the poor with open hands and governs with steady grace.

Yet the king's heart burns for Atharva on the throne.Atharva endured cruel suffering.His childhood drowned in shadows from the king's own grave failures.To forge him unbreakable the king thrust him into the brutal military camp.He wanted him to be strong enough to rule.

Hey beautiful Ladies ❤️

So wht do you think Atharva will do when he'll know the real reason of her mother's death??

Let me know in the comments section.

Love_Qiana❤️