Happy Dhanteras to all my readers ❤️
May Maa Lakshmi bless every home with happiness, prosperity, and endless love.
The Rathore Palace woke before sunrise.
The sound of temple bells echoed through the grand corridors while servants hurried around with baskets full of marigolds and roses. Diyas waited patiently to be lit, lined across the marble railings like tiny promises.
The entire haveli seemed alive.
Laughter drifted from one corridor to another.
Instructions were shouted.
Children ran around.
The scent of sandalwood incense mixed with the aroma of freshly prepared sweets.
And right in the middle of this beautiful chaos...
was Aaradhana.
Draped in a soft coral saree, she moved gracefully from one corner of the palace to another.
"Aaradhana beta!" Maa Sa called.
"Ji Maa Sa?"
"Yeh mithai ki trays check kar lo."
"Abhi karti hoon."
"Aur rangoli ke colours?"
"Woh bhi ready hain."
"And flowers?"
"Already arranged."
Maa Sa blinked.
Then looked at Dadi Sa.
Then back at Aaradhana.
"Beta... tum insaan ho ya management company?"
The women burst into laughter.
Aaradhana laughed too.
"Dono ka thoda thoda combination."
"Bilkul nahi," Dadi Sa interrupted dramatically.
"Yeh ladki insaan nahi hai."
Aaradhana looked surprised.
"Toh?"
"Yeh Lakshmi ji ki personal representative hai."
The entire room erupted with laughter.
"Maa!" Maa Sa protested.
"What? Main sach bol rahi hoon."
Aaradhana shook her head helplessly.
"Dadi Sa..."
"Arre humari baat chhodo."
Dadi Sa suddenly leaned forward.
"Hume yeh batao."
"Kya?"
"Tumhara pati subah se tumhe hi kyun dekh raha hai?"
Aaradhana almost dropped the flower basket.
"Maa!"
"Main jhooth bol rahi hoon?"
Dadi Sa pointed toward the entrance.
Instinctively, Aaradhana looked.
And froze.
Yuvraj stood near the doorway.
Dressed casually.
Coffee in hand.
Looking directly at her.
The moment their eyes met...
he looked away.
As if caught.
Unfortunately for him—
the entire family had already noticed.
Abhinav grinned.
"Oho..."
Yuvraj narrowed his eyes.
"Kya?"
"Nothing, Rana Sa."
"Then stop smiling."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because this is entertaining."
Yuvraj sighed.
Abhinav continued.
"Aapko pata hai aap pichle ten minutes mein kitni baar bhabhi sa ko dekh chuke ho?"
"Abhinav."
"Twenty three."
"Abhinav."
"Twenty four."
"ABHINAV."
The younger man immediately ran away laughing.
---
By afternoon, the courtyard looked magical.
The women prepared pooja thalis.
The children arranged diyas.
The men pretended to help while mostly getting in everyone's way.
"Yeh diya yahan rakho."
"Nahi."
"Kyun?"
"Because I already kept it there."
"Par main bhi wahi rakhna chahta tha."
"Toh doosra rakho."
"Par mujhe wahi wala pasand tha."
Aaradhana looked between the two cousins arguing over a diya.
Then burst out laughing.
"You both own companies."
"Yes."
"And you're fighting over a diya?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Principle."
She laughed harder.
At that exact moment—
her foot caught on the edge of a decorative cloth.
Everything happened too quickly.
She stumbled forward.
A gasp escaped her lips.
Before she could hit the floor—
an arm wrapped firmly around her waist.
The world stopped.
Aaradhana's eyes widened.
Yuvraj.
His hand remained around her waist.
Steady.
Protective.
Close.
Too close.
For a second neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Neither breathed.
"Aaradhana?"
His voice came out lower than usual.
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
Then realized how close they were standing.
Instantly her cheeks turned pink.
"I..."
"You?"
"I can stand now."
A corner of his mouth lifted.
"Oh."
But he still didn't let go.
From somewhere behind them—
Abhinav shouted,
"RANA SA!"
Yuvraj immediately stepped back.
The entire family was staring.
Smiling.
Grinning.
Trying not to laugh.
Dadi Sa folded her arms.
"Haan toh?"
Yuvraj cleared his throat.
"She slipped."
"Hmm."
"I caught her."
"Hmm."
"That's all."
"HMM."
The old woman's smile widened.
Aaradhana wanted the floor to swallow her.
Immediately.
---
Evening arrived.
And with it—
magic.
When Aaradhana stepped down the staircase wearing the deep red saree...
the hall fell silent.
Not completely.
Just enough.
Enough for everyone to notice.
Enough for Yuvraj to forget what he was saying.
Enough for his breath to stop.
She looked beautiful.
Not because of the jewellery.
Not because of the saree.
Not because of the makeup.
But because she looked happy.
And somehow...
that made her impossible to look away from.
Abhinav followed his gaze.
Then smirked.
Then looked at Yuvraj.
Then looked at Aaradhana.
Then looked back at Yuvraj.
"Dangerous."
"What?"
"You're gone."
Yuvraj frowned.
"What nonsense."
"Sure."
"Abhinav."
"Sure."
"Stop."
"Can't."
"Why?"
"Because you're looking at her like she's the only person in this room."
Yuvraj immediately looked away.
Unfortunately...
not before Aaradhana noticed.
And smiled.
Just a little.
---
The Lakshmi Pooja began.
Priest chants echoed through the hall.
The family gathered together.
Aaradhana and Yuvraj sat side by side.
For the first time since their marriage...
everything felt natural.
Comfortable.
Right.
The priest handed them the aarti thaal together.
Their fingers brushed.
Both paused.
Neither moved away.
The flame danced between them.
Soft.
Golden.
Warm.
Much like the feeling neither was ready to name.
---
After pooja, everyone gathered in the courtyard.
Fireworks lit the night sky.
Children laughed.
Music played.
And happiness surrounded every corner.
Then came the drama.
Because every family celebration required some.
One of the distant relatives smiled at Aaradhana.
Then spoke.
"Aaradhana beta."
"Ji?"
"College aur palace responsibilities ek saath manage karna difficult hota hoga."
"A little."
"Hmm."
The woman smiled.
"But eventually you'll have to choose."
The courtyard fell silent.
Aaradhana blinked.
"Choose?"
"Of course."
The relative laughed lightly.
"Royal bahus don't spend forever studying."
The smile disappeared from Aaradhana's face.
Before she could respond—
another voice spoke.
Cold.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
"And who decided that?"
Everyone turned.
Yuvraj.
The relative looked uncomfortable.
"I was only saying—"
"No."
He interrupted.
"You were judging."
Silence.
Yuvraj stepped forward.
His eyes never left the woman.
"My wife will study."
Silence.
"My wife will work if she wants."
Silence.
"My wife will achieve every dream she has."
The relative shifted uncomfortably.
"And if anyone has a problem with that..."
His jaw tightened.
"They can discuss it with me."
Dead silence.
Aaradhana stared.
Completely stunned.
Yuvraj looked toward her.
And instantly his expression softened.
"Did I say anything wrong?"
She shook her head.
Unable to speak.
For the first time...
someone had chosen her dreams.
Not tolerated them.
Not allowed them.
Chosen them.
---
Later that night—
the celebrations slowly faded.
Most of the family retired.
The palace grew quieter.
Softer.
Calmer.
Aaradhana stood alone on the balcony.
Watching hundreds of diyas flicker below.
The cool breeze played with her hair.
For once...
her heart felt full.
"Yahan ho tum."
She turned.
Yuvraj.
Holding two sparklers.
One extended toward her.
"For you."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"And yours?"
He lifted the second one.
"This."
She took hers.
Their fingers brushed.
Neither pulled away immediately.
Yuvraj lit his sparkler first.
Then leaned closer.
Very close.
The golden light reflected in his eyes.
Slowly—
he used his sparkler to light hers.
The distance between them vanished.
For one suspended moment—
it felt like the entire world had disappeared.
Just him.
Just her.
Just this.
Aaradhana's heartbeat became impossible to ignore.
"Yuvraj Sa..."
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask something?"
"Anything."
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
He stared at her.
Genuinely confused.
"Nice?"
"Yes."
"You make it sound like a crime."
She laughed softly.
"No."
"Then?"
Aaradhana looked down.
"You care too much."
His expression changed.
Something deeper flashed through his eyes.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No."
"Then?"
She swallowed.
Unable to answer.
Yuvraj took a step closer.
"Aaradhana."
"Hmm?"
"I don't know what's happening to me."
Her breath caught.
He continued quietly.
"But when you're upset..."
Silence.
"I feel restless."
Another silence.
"When you smile..."
His voice softened.
"My day becomes better."
Aaradhana forgot how to breathe.
"And when someone hurts you..."
His jaw tightened.
"I genuinely want to fight them."
A small laugh escaped her.
Then tears unexpectedly filled her eyes.
Not sad tears.
Happy ones.
"You really are impossible."
Yuvraj smiled.
"Only for you."
Their eyes met.
And neither looked away.
Not this time.
Not immediately.
Not when everything felt so right.
Somewhere below—
another firework exploded.
The sky filled with gold.
But neither noticed.
Because for them—
the brightest thing in the world was standing right in front of them.
And neither was ready to lose sight of it.
---
That night, as Aaradhana sat beside her window, one thought repeated endlessly inside her heart.
Maybe this wasn't friendship.
Maybe this wasn't comfort.
Maybe this wasn't companionship.
Maybe...
it was love.
And on the terrace above—
Yuvraj looked toward the moonlit sky.
A small velvet box rested in his pocket.
His fingers tightened around it.
"Tomorrow."
A smile appeared on his face.
"Tomorrow, Aaradhana."
And for the first time—
the mighty Yuvraj Singh Rathore looked nervous.
Because tomorrow...
he intended to tell her what his heart had been screaming for months.
To be continued... ❤️
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