~~~

Next Day

Bani woke up with her eyes being heavy. She had dozed off to sleep in a sitting position near Meera at the hospital.This morning was a gloomy morning.

Even the sunshine's warmth felt cold on her skin.

She got up and looked at herself in the mirror. Things had changed within a day. It wasn't about her physical appearance rather her inner self.

Her heart was broken. And she couldn't even find the number of pieces it was broken into. The most brutal betrayal comes from loved ones and it was the case here.

Meera - Di..!

Meera called her from outside.

Bani washed her face and got out. She was also a little guilty. Here Meera was in the hospital and she stressed her out with her own problems.

Bani came out.

Bani - Meera.. Woke up so early?

Meera - Are you okay Di?

Bani - I am fine! What will happen to me.

Meera - Di please you don't have to act not in front of me.

Bani - It's hurting Meera but it is not capable of breaking me.. Take care of yourself and don't worry much about me.. Life has always taught me to swim, drowning is not an option..

She said cupping Meera's cheek with a melancholic smile.

Meera - I Love you Di!

She said in a concerned voice.

Bani - Love you more meri Jaan..

Bani left for her flat.

As she reached, she went to the shower. She stood below the shower and closed her eyes , trying to forget everything happening around. But her heart also betrayed her. As she closed her eyes, the only person's image forming in her mind was of him.

The very him who she wanted to forget about .Whose existence she wanted to forget about. She came out of the shower .

Bani - You have got this Bani! You are not weak and you will not break.

She said looking at the mirror with her moist eyes.

~~~

Veer 's room

Here was Veer, his eyebrows lowered and pulled together. Eye lids loose, lip corners pulled down in disdain. His tear stained face was puffy and swollen with grief.

He didn't sleep last night. Knowing that she was in so much pain, how could he even blink his eyes?

But what he also knew was that he could not give up of them.

He will handle her anger and hatred but he will not lose her. Never.

He had to fight back and get his queen back.

He called an attendee.

Veer - Call Tapish..

The attendee nodded.

Meanwhile Veer went to the shower . As the water droplets hit his face and he closed his eyes. He could only see the smiling face of his sweetheart.

The way she would tease him, pamper him, care for him and love him.

A smile formed on his face but it soon vanished as her crying face came into his mind.

Her eyes full of pain and the feeling of betrayal.

Everything around him reminded him of her.

He came out of the shower and changed.

That's when Tapish entered.

Tapish - Veer.. Tu thik hein?

Veer - Sansein chal rahi hein..

He said with a placid expression.

Veer - Anyways Tapish, I have to talk about something important.

Tapish - Say Veer..

Veer - This new boy..Hriday.. Something is wrong with him.. He is here with some motive..

Tapish - Why do you think so?

Veer - Since day one I am skeptical about him and yesterday after that attack on Bani, I really feel. Somethings really wrong.

Tapish - What do you mean exactly?

Veer - Yesterday that python, it was not planted their to kill anybody..

Tapish - Then why would somebody do that?

Veer - I don't know but pythons doesn't kill it's prey by biting, it strangles it's prey but yesterday it was just planted to scare them.. And then Hriday popping up out of nowhere..

Tapish - But he saved her..

Veer - I know that's why I am little confused.. But he is hiding something. Did you get to know about the family of witches who used to make the holy water .

Tapish - It was the witches of Holy Trinity. They were really powerful, capable of killing strong Vampires with their abilities too. And of course capable of taking down even elder vampires with holy water .

Veer - But they were wiped away?

Tapish - Yes, your father, Late King Balwant Singhania, himself ordered the death of these witches. In fact he himself killed few families. Even children.

Even children? Veer thought feeling uncomfortable. Was it necessary to kill children. Maybe they would have bought them up and then maybe the children would have sided with the vampires.

Veer - What if some children survived?

Tapish - That is a possibility. But if that's the case he wouldn't harm Bani.

Veer - Maybe he is trying to target me through Bani.

Tapish - Maybe...

Veer - We need to find more about him and this Holy Trinity group. What happened to them was wrong but if they are back for revenge then as the future King I will fight back !

Attendee - Prince! Aakesh Sir is calling you.

The attendee went .

Tapish - How are you planning to get out of this whole marriage fiasco?

Veer - I don't know how but I will come out of it.

Jaal kitna bhi mushkil kyun na ho, nek irraade wale usse nikal hi jate hein.

Tapish smiled a little.

Veer - Fine, I am leaving . Time to face the devil.

~~~

In Hall

Aakesh - Veer.. My Brother.. Look whose here..

Veer - I am not interested in meeting anyone...

Mayuri - Ohh but I am darling..

Veer turned and looked at Mayuri.

Mayuri - It's being a long time Veer.. You are as charming as you were..

Mayuri said coming near Veer.

Veer - We were five when we last met Mayuri

Mayuri - Whatever.. What matters is that we have met again..

Aakesh - You lovebirds talk.. I will take leave.. Anyways I have to prepare for an announcement..

Veer - I don't want to talk..

Aakesh - But our Queen to be wants to..

He leaves.

Mayuri - Why are you being like this Veer?

Veer - Mayuri, I am not happy with this political marriage.

Mayuri - But why Veer? We both are royal people, we are meant to be with each other and rule the empire.

Veer - For two people to be together it is important that they rule each other's heart before and my heart already has a Queen.

Mayuri gets shocked with Veer's revelation.

Aakesh - Haha.. Nice joke Veer..

He said with threatening eyes at Veer.

Mayuri - You scared me Veer..

Veer just walks out of the room in
.
Aakesh - Don't give up on him Mayuri. You can win his heart.

Mayuri - I have loved him since childhood. I have always dreamt of marrying him and becoming his Queen. I will never give up Aakesh Bhai.

Aakesh smiles and leaves.

Mayuri - What's mine remains mine forever.

She smiles confidently.

~~~

In Academy

Bani walked in and once again the academy was filled with whispers.

"Poor girl! I feel sad for her. "

"Come on, did you really think, Prince would stay with her? "

"Do you know Princess is here? "

Princess? Which princess were they talking about? Bani thought

"I heard the new boy is still admitted in the medical room. Do you think she cheated Prince with this new boy? "

Bani care about these baseless allegations but they did say that Hriday was still admitted.

She had to visit him. He saved her life after all.

Bani went to the medical centre.

Bani - Hriday..

Hriday - Bani! You are here..

He tries getting up.

Bani - Hriday.. Stay there.. Are you better now?

Hriday - Are you okay?

Bani - Hriday I am fine, you were bitten. So tell me now?

Hriday - Tum aa gayi ho na, abb thik hu.
And I am going to get discharged soon. The nurse is on the way.

He smiled.

Bani - That's good to hear.

Bani lowers her gaze not knowing what to say further.

Hriday - Bani I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I shouldn't have judged Veer, so soon.

Bani - No, it's alright. Maybe you were right..

She said with a placid expression.

Hriday - What do you mean? Did he hurt you?

He said as his gaze darkened.

Bani - No I brought it upon myself.. Sometimes we think we are in love when we are really just in pain..

Hriday - Bani.. Please tell me what's wrong.. I know we are not that close yet but still please do tell me.. I might help you..

Bani - I got into a mess myself and only I can save myself.. Anyways Hriday Take care.. I will go for the class now..

Hriday - It's fine Bani, you can take your time. Just know that I am here.

Bani nods and leaves.

~~~

She came near the entrance when an announcement was heard.

ALL THE STUDENTS NEED TO ASSEMBLE!

Bani - What can this be about?

She wondered and went at the spot where everybody were gathering.
That's when people gathered near to the balcony.

And that's when she saw him again. It pained.. It really pained to see him again. He was like that wound which one would never heal.

Kuch dard khatam nahi bas kam ho pate hein. Koi dushman ki maut ho toh bhi insaano ko thoda afsos ho hi jata hein aur yahan toh Bani ki mohhabat ki maut huyi thi, dard ko toh kam hone main waqt lagna hi tha.

Veer also saw her as his eyes moistened. He could not just see but feel her pain.

The broken pieces of her heart was piercing his soul. He knew what was going to happen next was even more dreadful. Something which would break her more but he didn't have a choice.

Bani also saw Aakesh standing their along with another old person.

And then her eyes landed on a girl. She had sharp eyes and an accomplished smile spread across her face. Who was she Bani wondered.

Aakesh - I know you all are wondering why you have being called here. Well that's because I have a special guest gere today and a very special announcement to make.

Everybody started whispering.

Aakesh - Today we have King Andy here! King Andy's family and our Singhania Family have been allies since a long time and today we are going to strengthen this bond.

Bani frowned.

Aakesh - Prince And Your King to be Veer Singhania is going to get engaged with Princess Mayuri , the daughter of King Andy tomorrow night!!!

He said and Bani felt numb. She felt like she couldn't breathe, like her heart wasn't beating anymore. Like everything was over. Sometimes the pain surpasses such a limit that we don't even feel it anymore.

Veer looked at her and he felt scared. He was terrified because she didn't react at all. She stood looking at them blankly. Neither her eyes was moist nor she was angry. She had given up.

Bani somewhere hoped that everything happening around was a nightmare but this nightmare just turned into reality.

He used her. Played with her. She got fooled.

The only thoughts in her brain.

Aakesh - All of you can join us tomorrow at the Royal Palace in pairs for a grand party.

He smiled. He felt like now Veer would be a great ruler with a Compatible partner. Not realising that he had himself killed a part of his brother.

Bani!

Somebody called her but she didn't hear.

Baaani!

She was still lost in her thoughts facing her inner turmoil.

BANI!

The person said loudly and Bani saw Hriday there. He was discharged and was limping a little.

Hriday - Bani.. You are okay.. I just heard that..

He was about to finish his sentence when he stumbled and Bani held his hand to prevent him from falling.

Hriday looked at their intertwined hands.

Hriday - You kept your promise..

He smiled.

Bani - What..?

Hriday - Nothing

But there was also someone else who had seen it. Someone whose eyes we're fixed on her since the very first moment she entered. Veer was looking at their intertwined hands. He felt a prick in his heart.

He had promised to protect her always but he couldn't keep his promise. He had promised to not make her cry but her heart was bleeding.

Hriday stood as Bani looked at the balcony again.

That's when Mayuri held Veer 's hand and smiled at the crowd. Veer was so engaged in his own pain that he didn't even realise when Mayuri held his hand but Bani saw it.

Their they both stood, two people immensely in love with each other looking at their love's hand in another's.

Had their love really crestfallen?

~~~

Hey guys!

How was the chapter?

Sorry agar boring laga ho but it was necessary. But I guarantee the last four chapters of the season that is the next four chapters will be high on drama and of course.... Romance!!

Aakesh is really irritating at this point. Isn't ? 😫

What do you guys think about Hriday after this chapter ?

What about Mayuri?

Can't see my babies like this😭

Next Chapter : The night of engagement.

Stay tuned!

Love you guys ♡