It was past midnight when Sitara finally made her way to the royal library — a grand, quiet space filled with towering bookshelves, ancient scrolls, and the scent of leather-bound wisdom. She needed answers, and she knew that the only place to find them was in this place of silence.

Her heart raced as she approached her parents’ study. The conversation had been gnawing at her all evening — Kavya's words echoing in her mind.

"Toh phir Abhay Rathore ka kya?"

Sitara had always trusted her family, but tonight, something felt off. The mysterious alliance her parents never mentioned had to be addressed.

She knocked once before entering. Her father, Maharaja Raghvendra, was sitting behind his massive desk, going through royal documents, while her mother, Maharani Meenakshi, sat across, a concerned look on her face.

The tension in the air thickened as Sitara stepped inside.

"Sitara, beta... aaj raat ko tumhe kyun chhupke aana pada?" her father asked, looking up from his papers. There was a calm in his voice, but a hidden weight behind his words.

Sitara took a deep breath and walked closer. "Papa, maa... mujhe baat karni hai."

Her mother nodded gently, her warm gaze reassuring her. But Sitara wasn’t convinced.

"Kya baat hai, beta?"

Sitara couldn’t hold back any longer. "Mujhe jo pata chala hai, wo sab sach hai na?"

Her father’s expression shifted slightly, but he didn't speak immediately. Sitara looked between him and her mother.

"Abhay Rathore... Mere aur uske beech jo shadi ka alliance hai, wo sach hai?"

Silence. Then her father set his papers down and leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

"Beta, humne yeh sab tumhare achhe ke liye kiya hai. Tum dono ki shaadi ek purani yojna ka hissa thi."

"Par papa!" Sitara’s voice cracked with frustration. "Mujhe kabhi yeh nahi bataya gaya. aap dono ne... aap  dono ne yeh faisla meri bina poochhe kiya!"

Maharani Meenakshi stood up, her calm face now tinged with worry. "Sitara, samajh... hum tumhe kabhi zyada baatein nahi batate, lekin yeh sab ek mahatvapurn rishta tha. Humare raja-maharani ke beech. Tum dono ke beech... yeh ek zaroori decision tha."

Sitara clenched her fists, trying to suppress the storm inside her. "Lekin yeh meri zindagi hai. Mera faisla kis ke saath jeene ka hai. Main tumhare decisions ka palan nahi kar sakti!"

Her father stood up, walking toward her, his towering presence filling the room. "Beta, yeh faisla humare raja-garh ki izzat aur mahanata ke liye hai. Abhay Rathore ek royal parivar ka hissa hai, aur uska rishta humare liye mahatvapurn hai."

"Aur meri izzat kya hai?" Sitara’s voice quivered. "Kya main sirf ek pawn hoon iss game mein?"

Her mother stepped forward, taking Sitara’s hands in hers. "Tum kabhi pawn nahi thi, beta. Tum meri raani ho. Humne tumhara bhala socha."

Sitara stepped back, shaking her head, her eyes now filled with unshed tears. "Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha hai, maa. Main apni life ko kaise aise jee sakti hoon?"

The room grew silent again, and for the first time, Sitara saw the strain in her parents’ faces — a reflection of the weight of the world they had carried for her.

"Tumhe samajhna hoga, beta," her father said quietly, "Kabhi kabhi humare liye jo sahi hota hai, wo tumhe samajhna mushkil hota hai. Tumhari shaadi aur yeh rishta, wo hamare parivar aur raj gharana ke liye zaroori hai."

Sitara didn’t know what to say. She was lost — caught between her desire to follow her own heart and the burden of family loyalty.

Next chapter is waiting for uhh🤭😅