The tension could be cut with a knife.

Sitara's sharp reply still hung in the air when Abhay took a step forward, his gaze steady, voice calm yet commanding.

“Next time, guards sath mein hone chahiye, Mrs. Sitara Abhay Singh Rathore.”

Kavya’s eyes widened in pure shock.

“Wait… Abhay Rathore?” she whispered, as her jaw dropped.

Sitara didn't flinch. Instead, she crossed her arms and looked Abhay straight in the eyes.

“Abhi bani nahi hoon Mrs. Abhay Singh Rathore, so please… zameen par hi rahiye.” Her voice was firm, her expression fierce.

He opened his mouth to respond—but before a single word escaped his lips—

VROOOOMMM!

A car came out of nowhere, speeding down the narrow market road.

In a flash, Abhay reached out and yanked Sitara back, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her tightly against his chest.

Sitara’s eyes shut tightly from the shock, her breath caught.

Abhay leaned in, voice husky, brushing her ear with his words.

“Pehle aap zameen par sahi jagah khadi ho jaaiye…”

A heartbeat passed.

Then he whispered —

“Rani Sahiba…”

Sitara froze.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

She couldn't speak. Couldn't move.

In that moment, she wasn’t just a princess — she was a girl completely caught in a storm she hadn’t expected.

Her hand loosened, and the silver jhumkas slipped from her fingers, landing with a soft clink on the ground.

Abhay bent down, picked them up without a word, and glanced at the stunned shopkeeper.

He pulled out a bundle of notes from his pocket and threw it onto the counter.

“Hamari hone waali biwi ko yeh pasand aa gaye hain… toh uski keemat.”

He then gently placed the packet of jhumkas in Sitara’s hand, his fingers brushing hers just enough to make her jolt.

Sitara stared at him, confused, speechless — her mind reeling.

And then, just like that, he turned to leave.

With a final glance over his shoulder, Abhay smirked.

“See you… at your place tonight.”

Kavya stood beside Sitara, wide-eyed, open-mouthed, and completely enjoying the drama.

“Oh. My. God. Yeh toh full-on Raja-Rani ka maha episode tha… Sitara, yeh banda… uff!”

Sitara said nothing.

She simply stared at the jhumkas in her hand… her mind filled with a name that was quickly becoming her biggest storm.

Abhay Singh Rathore.

Scene Cut – Outside the Market

Aryan was still sitting inside the car, confused and very annoyed.

He looked around and muttered to himself, pulling out his phone.

“Bhai… Tu mujhe kyun chhod ke chala gaya yahan pe?”

He huffed and shook his head.

“Main kya koi driver hoon jo bas car sambhalta rahoon? Mujhe bhi toh dekhna tha Sitara ji ka full drama!”

He peeked through the windshield, trying to see what was going on.

Then he spotted Abhay walking back to the car with his usual calm, smug expression.

Aryan rolled down the window and called out—

“Oye Raja Sahab! Pyaar ho gaya kya? Ya aaj koi aur heroic scene shoot karni thi?”

Abhay opened the car door without responding.

Aryan kept going.

“Aur bhai, mujhe toh milne hi nahi diya hone waali bhabhi se! Pehli baar mila, wo bhi tu uska jhumka leke hero ban gaya… kya timing thi, boss!”

Abhay finally looked at him with narrowed eyes.

“Zyada bol raha hai tu, Aryan.”

Aryan grinned wide.

“Bhai... bolna toh padega! Sitara Rajvanshi ka naam toh dil mein likh ke aaya hai tu. Accept kar le, tujhe pyaar ho gaya hai!”

Abhay didn’t answer.

He just looked out the window, thoughtful and quiet, holding onto a moment that had just changed something deep inside him.

And Aryan?

Still munching on chips he found in the glovebox.

“Aur mujhe chor gaya tha... badla lunga bhai, Sitara bhabhi ki taraf se!” he mumbled with a wink.