''She will be fine son. She has all of us.'' Aadhavan squeeze Dev shoulder taking the seat next to his step son. The moment he heard of the all, he decided to be on Dev's side. When Sagar reached his home, he told his father that he was on a trip for which just 4 students were selcted and were not allowed to use phones. Aadhavan realised that Rathores very cleverly initiated the plan of Sagar's kidnapping, because when he checked with the college, his son was missing. He understood, the institute too was being pushed to agree to the terms

''You shouldn't have come, you need rest.'' Dev replied after a long pause

''Aadhavan smiled, ''No parents can rest with their kids in pain.'' Dev stared at the man he took care of him since he was a kid yet, he could never address him as a father due to the hatred fed by his mother. Dev broke down, he hugged his step father poring the pain that gripped his heart. Aadhavan rubbed his back, ''Cry it out son! I am here to hear all.''

''I am sorry! My madness costed Sona her marriage.''

''No, Sona and her husband is blamed for the failure of this marriage. Love dies in absence of communication. Plus, did she bother to ask or inform us about getting married. No! she made a decision now she should be ready to handle the repercussions.'' Aadhavan sounded angry. He couldn't forgive his daughter for marrying like this. He had always given his kids all the freedom but Sona's little act had left him fleeing betrayed. 

''I am sorry Appa and I want to go home.'' Aadhavan couldn't take more, he hugged Dev tight. Since he had known Dev, he had always been little aloof but a behaved boy. With moving time, Aadhavan had taken the boy as his own but never saw the same affection from Dev. Now, when Dev addressed him as a father, he wanted to be one now when his son was miserable.

''You should learn to take care of this estate as well.''

 ''Once she is fine, I will give all to her. She bought me up so that she could have all this, and I go back to have the life I missed.'' He sounded bitter and Aadhavan decided to let it be. He decided o talk it out once Dev was ready to talk.

***

''You shot your own wife?'' Ranvijay glared at Vikram waiting for his nephew's explanation. 

''he did what was necessary then, he had no intention to kill her.'' Ananya intervened, Ranvijay ignored, ''Answer me Vikramjeet Singh Rathore. ''

''I did, her brother shot you and she tried to escape. I had to something to make him comeback.'' Vikram reasoned his eyes on the floor. Ranvijay took a step and Vikram stepped back, Ananya tried to intervene but warning came from the king.

''Have you ever wondered why you even had to take that step?'' Vikram was about to answer but Ananya shook her head. Vikram lowered her eyes, on receiving no answer Ranvijay added ,'' Because you both never spoke to each other like a husband wife should. Did you ever ask her the reason why she kept herself scheduled or was she disturbed about something?  Neither you nor Sonakshi thought it was important to speak out your minds. '' Ranvijay racked his fingers through his hair, ''When she is coming back?''

Ananya slapped her forehead, they both had no answer to that question and if Ranvijay got to know that Dipika warned Saonakhi against stepping in Jaigarh , he would take her class as well. She knew she had to salvage the situation now or it will be late. ''She is taking care of her mother.''

''Netra can never be a mother to a girl like Sona. You and I both know that. Sona is innocent and this is why this Vicky of yours could trap her.'' Vikram stared a Ananya , pleading to save him.

 ''Vicky, go take a breather and Ranvijay you need rest.'' She gestured Vikram to leave who stood frozen, with a nod he ran off as Ranvijay screamed behind him, ''you still have to answer me young man.''

''Stop terrorizing him, he did all for you.''

''Sona loves him. The moment his lifted his gun to shoot her, he killed a part of her . You need to be in her shoes for once, she just believed her brother which is not wrong . Rolli would so the same, about the communication gap, they both are equally blame and in my eyes, Vikram is the biggest culprit. I know there is one of you behind her absence but I will not let anyone wrong her.''

''Love needs trust, and they lack it Ranvijay.''

''So did we, yet you did stood up for me when required. You shot the man who was going to shoot me and this lad, he shot his own wife.'' It took Ananya very long to calm Ranvijay, she finally was able to divert his attention about the special dinner family had kept on his recovery.

***

After many days, Rathore household had smile on all the faces. Ranvijay's parents and rest felt as if someone just gave them a second life , he was their strength and much more. 

''I made you this.'' Chitra rolled in the trolley serving Ranvijay a special dish made by her. He smiled, the girl still had her arm and forehead bandaged but her enthusiasm to make something for him was on the top.

''You just made that for Dad? What about us?'' Vansh teased, she hadn't given him a look since the drama was over and he was dying to have sometime with her.

''Hukum missed so much, you didn't. He deserves it.'' Her reply made others scoff. Vansh stared at all and then at Chitra with a warning, she just rolled her eyes, her focus back on Ranvijay.

''Did you like it?''

''I did! You are my favourite girl.'' She beamed , he warned her against straining herself and she left with a promise to recover soon.

''Thanks Advay.'' Ranvijay thanked his nephew who took the responsibility of home Palace in absence of him as Ananya planned her final game. Vansh being still younger and not that trained as his older siblings was being kept out of everything despite his protest

''I did nothing, I was safe here, wish I could punch few for you.'' Advay replied. After a minute he added, ''I would like to take leave from here. Mom is desparate to meet you and she needs someone to watch over Raina.''

Rolli stiffened, Raina had severed all ties  with Rolli the day she got to  know of her engagement with Siddhant. Vikram looped his arm around her sister offering the support.

 Ranvijay nodded, ''Fine Advay, but visit me soon with my bratty niece.''

''Chose Mamu, its me or her. That made all laugh.

''Bhai, I would like Rolli to join my project.'' Rolli blinked at Veer's words. She knew why he was doing it, he wanted her to forget her past and the man she loved so deep. She was mad at him for hurting her father but that didn't kill her feelings.

Ranvijay thought, then nodded, ''She can once we are back from our trip.''

''What trip?''

''You are coming with me to see Sonakshi's father...and no one opposes my decision. This is final, we leave in a day.'' Passing the order, the king gorged on food as if all was normal. He knew and was aware about the stir he caused but he cared less. It was time to undo the damage

***

''Hey! Why are you sitting alone here.'' Vikram asked his sister who had turned awfully quiet, being the talkative one she had the habit of bugging all till her listeners begged her to stop

''Just like that. I have nothing to do so thought of coming here and enjoying the solace.''

''I think you should get engaged with Siddhant for real.'' Their conversation was being interrupted by Vansh

''No one asked for your opinion Vansh!'' Vikram warned  

''I know, but it seemed good one to give.'' He replied his eyes on his sister who sat immobile, not being affected at all. She turned her eyes to Vikram, ''Mom once told me that Chachu used to be very possessive about me. He would panic about assigning guards who would protect me, it was then Chachi told mom that I would have world's best guard in form of you. I am happy to have you Vicky .'' He smiled down at her pulling her in an embrace.

''He is the next king, stop comparing him to a guard.'' Vansh interjected. Before Vikram could warn him, Rolli was on her feet. She grabbed him arm twisted it around his back , kneed his back making him kneel. He tried, but she had years of experience and training to fight which he lacked.

''Exactly, I am the first born of the current king so start respecting me before I decide to forget that we were born to same parents. And since when have you started differentiating between us and the staff?'' She mocked his words from the day of her engagement. Vansh tried to get free but she knew how to keep him locked in her grip. Taking a deep breath, she pushed him on the earth, ''I am in my room Vicky. Call me if you need something.''

Vansh cursed under his breath, ''you should have helped me.''

''You deserved it.'' Vikram replied Locking his gaze with Vansh he warned, ''All the tiff between you two was like a regular sibling thing for me till date but you keep on proving me wrong. Take this as as advice or warning, you hurt her once more. You face me.''

''You all just love her.'' He accused 

Vikram halted, ''Seriously! Now you are talking like a 6 year old. We both were not even here for years and you got the love of all. I haven't seen  anyone discriminating among us. Where did you get all this crap from? '' Vansh didn't respond. Vikram shook his head. He walked off, halted and then added, ''Its an advice, pursue Chitra once you are mature enough because she is more mature than you'' That froze Vansh. Vikram walked away a little miffed, he could never understand the reason for being rude to his own sister but this time he decided to bring his brother on the right track.

***

''Did you eat?'' Dev's sudden voice made Sona jump. She quickly wiped her cheeks and stood up facing him. She smiled wide, trying to hide her pain, ''I did Anna, did you?''

He watched her for long, ''Liar! Get a plate and we both will have together.'' She obliged. Dev extended a spoon fool of rice towards her but she stayed lost, ''I am sorry Sona! I am your culprit.''

She shook her head, ''You are just my brother whom I love beyond all. Lets just forget everything and move forward.''

''Can you?''

''I will.'' She sounded determined. She quickly gulped a little food, ''Sagar wanted to explore your Palace.''

''Fine, I will send a vehicle to get him.'' There was a silence. ''Did you speak to Vikram.''

''No point! he won't betray his mother.'' She replied recalling Dipika's last words.

''You still should call him.''

''No. There is nothing left and please don't talk about him anymore.'' She pleaded. Dev lifted her eyes up, ''You love him so much that you are hurting. Why do you have to endure the pain because of me. I will go and beg them, they will have to take you back.''

''You will not beg anyone. Promise me!'' She sounded firm

Dev groaned, ''Sona, relationships matter. Had my grandmother and mother once thought of the pain my aunt endured, things would have been different. We wouldn't have come this far and she wouldn't be lying in that room like a corpse. Talk it out before its late''

''I wanted to but his mother warned me against it. I don't think anyone wants me there. It was his uncle who greeted me like a family. Its over Anna, and this time forever.''

Dev held his sister who screamed her pain out. He felt bad about being the reason for the same. He decided, if not Rathores he would beg for his sister's happiness, and that might give him a chance to see his love as well.

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next- Ranvijay declares grand wedding for Sona-Vikram