Scene: Sitara’s chamber, late night

Sitara sat by the window, the jhumkas still in her hand—the same ones Abhay had given her earlier. Her thoughts were in chaos. The way he protected her… the way he looked at her… it was messing with her mind. She didn’t want to feel anything for him, but…

A soft knock at the door broke her thoughts.

“Aarha hoon,” she said softly.

It was Rudraksh, her elder brother, her protector, her best friend. He walked in with a glass of warm milk and a soft expression on his face.

Rudraksh: “Tere chehre pe itni khamoshi kyun hai, Rajkumari?”

Sitara looked up at him with a faint smile.

Sitara: “Kuch nahi bhaiya, bas... soch rahi thi.”

He placed the glass on the table and sat beside her.

Rudraksh: “Mujhe bata, kya soch rahi hai? Abhay Rathore ke baare mein?”

Her eyes widened.

Sitara: “Bhaiya…”

Rudraksh (gentle tone): “Main tera bhai hoon Sitara, tere chehre se teri halat padh sakta hoon. Bata na mujhe. Sab thik hai?”

She hesitated, then finally broke her silence.

Sitara: “Woh mujhe gussa dilata hai... par jab aas-paas hota hai toh lagta hai sab thik ho jayega. Mujhe us par bharosa nahi karna chahiye... par dil...”

Rudraksh: (smiling softly) “Dil kabhi kabhi dimaag se zyada samajhdaar hota hai, Sitara.”

She rested her head on his shoulder.

Sitara: “Par yeh sab zabardasti ho raha hai bhaiya. Shaadi… itne raaz… itna tension. Mujhe darr lagta hai ki kahin main khud ko kho na doon.”

He held her hand tightly.

Rudraksh: “Jab tak tera bhai zinda hai, tu khud ko kabhi nahi khoyegi. Aur agar Abhay tujhe hurt kare... usse pehle main uska gala ghota doonga.”

She laughed through her tears.

Sitara: “I love you bhaiya.”

Rudraksh: “I love you more, meri Rajkumari. Tu sirf meri chhoti behen nahi, mere dil ka hissa hai.”

She smiled. For a moment, the storm inside her settled.

But neither of them knew… the real storm was just beginning.