''Did you find what you have been looking for so many days?''Sona yelped hearing the voice behind her. She had been on a mission to find the secret passage but scrutinising eyes made it difficult to look around. It had been almost a week since Dev arrived in Jaigarh and she still couldn't find a way out alone. How much ever she tried to behave normal, there were a pair of eyes that held doubt for her, Vansh.

''You didn't answer me sister.'' Vansh asked again 

''I don't see the need to answer you.'' Sona replied, trying her best to look confident

He smiled, ''This region of Palace is closed for everyone, and that includes you. So would you mind enlighten me what are you doing here?''

''I lost my way. This place is too big and confusing.'' She replied confident

Vansh smirked, ''You have been losing your way almost daily during the late hours, and miraculously you find your way back again. Quite a coincidence. ''

There was a silence, Vansh waited for SOna to respond. She just walked off but her legs froze hearing his words, ''This is Jaigarh and this is why I am just questioning you. If anyone here gets harmed and because of you, trust me there will be no more questions, there would just be execution.''

Vansh turned away. ''Why do you doubt me ?'' She asked frustrated at his continuous probing. Vansh smile, he had been waiting for her to ask that question.

''Answer this, why are yo so distant when everyone is trying to warm up to you? Why do you and Vicky live in separate rooms ? It was a love match, you willingly married him because Vikram can never force a girl.'' She stayed quite , Vansh waited to give her a minute and then added, ''There is something which you are hiding from us or there is something you really don't know about us. I don't care what it is, I just know that I will not spare any one who would bring any kind of danger upon us.'' Vansh walked away, his jaw clenched and fingers curled into a fist. His instincts knew she was hiding something and he hoped it wasn't something which would harm his family.

***

''Hey there soldier, how have you been.'' Rolli spoke into the phone answering Siddhant's call.

''I am good, wanted to check if you are available to meet up for a coffee?'' He asked a little hesitant.

''Let me think, did the pampered princess Raina turned you down?'' She teased

There was a silence, she heard Siddhant taking a deep breath. ''Princess Aahana Rathod, how many times do I have to tell you that please don't mention Raina. I feel nothing for her.''

''She loves you Siddhant. I know she is little childish but her love is true and no one should refuse the true love.''

Rolli could hear Siddhant smiling on the other side, ''Same goes with you. I have been in love with for years. May be it wasn't true enough to win your heart.''

''I didn't mean to hurt you.'' She was quick to apologise

''Rolli, I don't expect you to accept my feelings but don't play the match making game with me.'' He requested, his voice held the pain of unattainable love. Rolli shut her eyes tight. She had always known of his feelings and of Raina too. But she didn't wanted to hurt her cousin or her friend. It was all supposed to be a healthy teasing but Rolli knew she took it little far. 

''Pick me up in half an hour. lets have some fun.'' He agreed disconcerting the call. Rolli walked to the window looking out over the Palace gardens . It could have been easy to reincorporate Siddhant feelings, and have a life with him. He was sweet and had been her friend for long, they knew each other very well. Rolli huffed, may be this was the reason that she never fell for him. She craved for mystery, a little action. Too sweet wasn't her thing. She enjoyed action , danger, it gave her blood some kind of rush. 

Dev's face flashed in her memories, she smiled. There was something about him that always was hidden. A certain darkness around him attracted her, she knew she was stepping into a dangerous circle when she accepted his feelings but that danger made her feel complete.

She shook her head, the things were in past and she had to move forward but never with Siddhant. She could never hurt her little cousin Raima, after all family always came first. Rolli decided to get ready when her eyes went on 2 moving figures near the stable. Her nostrils flared, it was Vansh who had held a very reluctant Chitra in his arms. She picked her phone and dialled her brother, ''Let her go or you re in trouble.''

Vansh looked up, he did let Chitra go but his eyes followed her and then they turned up, ''Stay out of it.''

''I will not. Behave or I will let Dad know about all this.'' Vansh disconnected. Though, it was difficult to read his expressions, Rolli knew he was snarling at her. She just walked away not caring about it.

***

''How long will it take you Sona?''

''Anna, I don't know how to step out of this place. I feel all eyes here are trying to see through me. I feel so scared.''

Dev closed his eyes tight, ''Listen to me. Think of an excuse and step out. You will have to do this.''

''Fine, I will try. Rolli is going out for coffee with her friend. I will try and tag along.''

''Where you said she was going?'' Dev asked curious

''I guess to one of their properties, grand Palace. Her friend had joined us for the lunch. He is taking her out for coffee or may be a dinner.''

Dev felt rage building up in his nerves hearing the word 'he', he shut his eyes to control the unbearable pain and she opened hers behind his closed ones. Her smiles echoed his silence and his heart picked up. He loved her , more than anything . He had made a decision to let her go but now he knew he couldn't just lose her. She was his everything, his mere reason to live.

''Anna are you there?''

''Yes! Now do as I say.'' Dev guided Sona and she decided to act accordingly.

Sona waited for Rolli to step out , she followed her the moment Rolli made her way to the elevator, ''Can I have a word with you?''

''Be quick.'''

''Can you please drop me to Grand Palace. I need to see Vikram.''

''You can ask anyone to take you there and what's the need of going there when he will be back by evening.''

Sona huffed, she took a moment and then lifted her tear filled eyes, ''he is avoiding me, for what Anna did to you. I can't live with his hate. I just want some time alone with him so we could sought this out. This is going to be my last try.''

Rolli took a deep breath cursing Vikram in her mind. She felt disappointed about him for punishing innocent Sona for Dev's fault. She controlled her temper, ''Fine, I will drop you.'' With that Rolli walked off and Sona grinned wide at thought of finally being free. Dev had instructed her against bringing any luggage as it might spark the doubts. She quickly messaged him and followed Rolli out with a hand bag. 

***

Chitra danced opposite to the mirror happy the way dress fitted her young curves. This was her first time for a night party and she was so looking forward to it.

She had grown up under watchful eyes of her mother and followed the rules laid by her. Not that she complained but for once she too wanted to break apart all those rules and touch the sky as a free bird. 

Her calf length pink gown was made of a soft fine material with a satin base. The boat neck made her long neck look beautiful. She blushed staring at her own reflection. How would vansh react if he saw her now, she thought. 

''Are you ready ?'' Baljit called her out. he smiled when she walked out with her eyes low. Baljit cupped her face, ''You look beautiful my girl. Now enjoy your evening and call me once you are ready to leave.'' Chitra nodded. As she followed her father to his vehicle, she felt eyes on her and turned around but there was no one.

Chitra quickly got into the car driving off.

Vansh stepped out from behind the wall with a smile, 'There is no way you should be left alone looking like that.'Grinning wide he made a call before moving to his car. It was time to surprise her. 

Vansh entered the party area, his friends waved at him walking towards him, ''All set?'' He asked

''yes! The dean like your idea about seniors across the course giving a combined party to all the juniors in the campus. The old man was happy that he didn't had to make arrangements for the party, DJ or caterer.''

''Good ! Where is the BHM first year?''

''There!'' His friend pointed towards the direction where the group enjoyed among themselves. Vansh smiled, ''Go and announce the dance and the lottery process about choosing the partner. Not to forget, you know who my partner should be.'' His friend smirked walking way. 

After the announcement , the crowd cheered every time any girl interested in dance picked a chit from the bowl.  Few decided not to participate but Chitra was excited about the new found freedom and Vansh knew she wouldn't leave the chance that easily. He winked at his friend and lights flicked , the glass container having the names of students she had to chose her partner from. Only if she knew the lot she had just put her hand into just had Vansh's name all the pieces of papers. He smiled watching her excitement as she extended her slip to the host. 

It was the first dance of her life and Vansh wanted it to be with him. He made his way slowly towards the dance floor . he gave a single nod and his over dramatic friend announced his name with all the Royal titles. There were gasps, whispers and groans. The girls were jealous that someone as simple as Chitra got lucky to join the Royal Prince.

Chitra fidgeted as Vansh approached her. He extended his palm and she locked hers together not sure if go ahead or not. The jealous whispers around were making her more nervous, she stared at his plam and then lifted her doe like eyes to lock with his. He smiled at her with all the love and she accepted it as if being under a spell. Vansh guided her to the floor and pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her tiny waist. She kept staring into his eyes as if mesmerized by him, she knew she wasn't supposed to be doing this. He was out of her league, it was crime to even dream about him, yet she wanted to.

''WHy are you doing this Hukum? End of the day it would me who would be hurt.'' She asked lowering her eyes. Vansh held her chin delicately between her fingers, ''Do you think so low of me? Do I look like someone who would just play with you?''

''You and me are never meant to be.'' She said

''I don't understand the word never Chitra. You have been my best friend and my love for years. I will fight all for you.''

''Its not that easy. You are a Prince and I am your staff.'' Her words pulled the wall of reality between them. Vansh wrapped both his arms around her pulling her to chest, not caring about the people around, ''Hear my heart and you will know it doesn't belong to a Prince, it belongs to Vansh...your Vansh.'' 

Chitra took a deep breath and moved back pushing him away, ''No hukum! I can't betray my parents.'' With that she walked away from him with tears in her eyes, not aware that each step she took away from vansh made him take 10 more to her.

***

Netra wanted to scream, but her vocal chords seemed to have disappeared suddenly. Her clothes were soaked in blood so were her hands. She shivered scared of unknown when her eyes went to the limp figure lying in her lap. It was the body of two year Dev soaked in blood, lying dead in her lap. She shook him, screamed his name and then came a laughter.

Netra looked up to lock her eyes with the light ones of Sitara, the eyes which had scared her for years. ''What did you think ? If Hukum left your son alive then he was safe? How could you forget me , the one who slashed the throat of your husband.''

''You can't do this.'' Netra replied

''Can't? i already did.'' the place echoed with her laughter and Netra covered her ears to escape it.

Netra jerked up from the nightmare, she was sweating badly. He took a deep breath realising it was a dream but what if turned into a reality. She shook her head, she knew Rathores were dangerous. They could just scratch but Rathores would tear them apart. She decided to see her mother in law the next day and put and end to it

''I don't want anything, just call Dev back.'' Netra pleaded.

''Stop whining, we can't back out after coming this far.'' Vasudha warned

''I am not having a good feeling about this.''

''I hell care about your feeling. Suryagarh belongs to us. To Dev and I am going to take it back.'' 

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I wanted to write more about the shock part but couldn't. Next time it would there for sure and don't kill me. Things will get complicated between all the couples here. Prologue after 2-3 updates.

About the cast for Chitra and Sitara. Well, I  don't find any actress suitable for the image in my mind. Hence, I won't be casting anyone. Readers are free to imagine the ones they like.