''May I come in?'' Ranvijay smiled hearing the familiar calm voice of his mother, she stood at door of his cabin in Grand Palace, a smile stretched on her face. Ranvijay pushed his chair back, walked to the door to greet his mother, ''What brings you here mom.''

''Wanted to see you. Hope I am not disturbing you.'' He smiled, looped his arm around her shoulder walking her to the plush couch. ''You have never visited me at work, there must be something important for you to come here.''

Shivangi took a deep breath, ''yes its is, this is about Rolli. I don't know if you have noticed or not but she has changed a lot and I am not liking this change. Our girl was fire, and what I see is dull girl without any spark.''

Ranvijay smiled, ''Do you think I haven't noticed? I have been noticing everything, Veer's extra care and his ways of keeping Rolli involved and busy.  I have seen all of it, I know there is something my girl is hurting about but not willing to accept, and everyone is trying their best that I should not know of it. I know mom.''

''Then do something.''

''I will, for now I have to fix Sonakshi and Vikram.''

''Dipika won't be very happy, and I don't blame her.''

''She will come around Mom but I won't let love die so soon.'' There was a silence and then Shivangi added ''they married too young, the girl is yet to complete her last year of graduation.''

''I know mom, they both need a lot of growing up and I am planning to punish them after getting them together.'' Shivangi understood what her son was upto.

***

Ranvijay was being updated about Sonakshi's family still being in Suryagarh, he commanded Veer to be ready as they were leaving in the evening.

''Have you made arrangements for that lioness. I want her shifted to the zoo as soon as possible.'' He said while checking his small bag.

Veer huffed, ''Yes, Rani will be shifted in a week.''

''What made you pet a lioness.''

''Dipika did.''

''You knew about it yet you allowed.''

''Can you stop Ananya?'' There was a silence, Veer smiled, ''Exactly my point.'' Dipika walked in and handed Ranvijay the transfer papers, ''Bhai, hand these to Dev. I am happy to get rid of Suryagarh.''

Ranvijay nodded, ''Do you have any objection to my decision of bringing Sonakshi back.'' He asked. Dipika took a moment, though she didn't wanted the girl back for various reasons, one being keeping Dev off Rolli's life. She didn't trust him, he was after all Netra's son but there was no way she could ever go against or object to the man who got her acceptance in the family.

''No Bhai, I am fine.'' He smiled , the reply was a breather.  

They left the same evening, planning to check on Netra's well being and also meet Sonakshi's father.

***

Sona sat at the window staring at the space. her mind processing and reprocessing the previous days. She blamed herself for not giving a chance to Vikram and his family, she recalled how Dipika once told her that Rathores could never harm innocent. 

She had seen with her eyes the way they treated the people working for them. The estate they owned was prosperous. How did she turned blind to the fact that people worshiped them , which was unlikely in case they had been harsh.

Sona knew she had been offered a chance to mingle with the family, Ananya and Dipika made her feel welcomed. She knew the panic that she had when she got a guard assigned was just driven by her pre-notions wherein the family was just trying to make her feel safe.

A knock took her attention and she found her father standing at the door. Sona came to her feet and greeted him with a smile. Adhavan walked in and took a chair opposite to his daughter, he rubbed his palms not sure where to begin with.

''Sona, I know I m at fault too. Though, I loved your mother, I wasn't around during her last days. I am not going to give an excuse but I was too scared to let her go. I couldn't watch her leaving me and to escape my pain , I got involved with Netra.''

Sona watched her father for long. She had no doubt on his love but there were few questions she always wanted him to answer, ''Were you aware she was mean to me and Sagar.''

''Yes...I was.''

Sona smiled, ''that ends the discussion then. I wanted to apologise for marrying without your consent but now there is just one person who deserves my apology and that's Dev Anna,he wasn't my own, yet he took all the pain she directed at me when you decided to be blind.''

Adhavan smiled, ''I know and this is why, he would be involved in all decisions regarding you.'' Sona wanted to request her father to leave her alone but the message which came in turned her cold. Ranvijay and Veer's arrival was a shock for the whole family. 

Adhavan stared at his nervous daughter and then his eyes moved to Dev. ''Let's meet them Appa.'' He smiled, Dev's presence gave him lot of confidence and calmness.

Dev couldn't hold the gaze when Ranvijay's eyes pierced into his. The man had an aura which could make anyone go week on knees. Ranvijay's larger than life persona was filling up the whole space making everyone feel invisible. He stepped aside giving his father enough space to lead. Adhavan welcomed the Rathore brothers as a good host but the live tension made difficult to start a conversation. Ranvijay looked at all faces, ''Can I see my daughter in law?''

Adhavan and Dev looked at each other, Dev nodded and got up to get Sona.

''No Anna, I can't face them.''

''You are not alone, we are here.'' Dev comforted his sister's shivering form. She was scared reluctant to go and face the people she had been so bad with. Dev wrapped an arm around her shoulder , held her one palm in his walking her into the room. Sona kept her eyes to earth, too nervous to look up.

Ranvijay narrowed his eyes towards the nervous girl taking shivering steps into the room. He shook his head. Sona needed to learn a lot, she was after all a Rathore

''How are you Sona?'' A soothing voice made her look up. Ranvijay smiled making her break down. His eyes went to Veer, who sat unaffected . Ranvijay got up, held Sona's hand , walked her to the couch and made her sit, ''Look at me Sonakshi.'' She did, he wiped her tears, ''I am not mad and you or anyone here. I am here to correct what went wrong and I am going to start with you. Sona, you will have to ansgetwer me honestly without caring about who thinks what. I only want to know what do you want?'' She nodded. ''would you like to come back, to your home, back to Jaigarh.''

Sona stared at Ranvijay in shock, she wanted to as she still loved Vikram. She wanted to prove that she wasn't like Netra but words failed her. Ranvijay patiently waited, ''tell me child.''

''Vikram won't take me back.''

''You don't just belong to Vikram, you belong to the family which never opposes my decision.'' Ranvijay turned to Veer, who just gave a nod. Placing his palm on Sona's head he softly spoke, '' Its my decision to bring you back, he married you and he will stay married to you unless you want it out.'' Her silence gave her answer.

Patting her cheek, he diverted his focus back to Adhavan, ''We are yet to get acquainted properly, but since our kids have bonded us , I would like your permission on taking my daughter in law back.''

Adhavan stayed silent, his eyes studying Sona as they slowly moved to Dev. Ranvijay understood that Dev mattered to them. His thoughts about him being mislead were now confirmed. 

Dev gave his father a nod with a smile, too ecstatic about his sister getting a second chance. Adhavan smiled, ''I have a request.'' Ranvijay nodded with a smile.

***

Veer decided to hand over the papers himself and privately, he wanted to give Dev a word of caution regarding his niece. ''Suryagarh estate now belongs to you. Make sure you take a very good care of it, Dipika almost sacrificed her life and endangered Vikram to bring light to this estate. The front half of the Palace is a resort, specially for the tourist coming into visit the forest reserve and here is the expansion plan. '' Dev kept his eyes on the table, he made no attempt to touch the documents. Veer noticed his silence, after a minute he added, ''If ever this place suffers like it had in the reign of your Grandfather, have no doubt that you will again face us.'' Dev chose to be silent. 

Veer stood up roughly, his movement shook the table hard. turning away he walked to the door and halted, ''Accepting Sona shouldn't be taken as a signal as your acceptance in my niece's life. You don't deserve her, you never did and you never will be good enough for her.'' Throwing those words at Dev Veer left the room. Dev still sat in the same position, his eyes glued to the table, the only difference was that they had turned glassy. He knew , his deed was unacceptable and no girl would forgive a man who harmed her father but that didn't stop his heart from beating her name. 

***

The Rathore family waited anxiously for Ranvijay's return. They were expecting him to bring Sona along but when he arrived without her, the doubts started creeping in.

''I knew she would refuse.'' Dipika looked miffed . Ranvijay smiled, ''She didn't refuse, rather I had a reason for not getting her along'' He studied their face, aware that each of them had derived their own conclusions.

''Vikramjeet Singh Rathore and Sonakshi will get married with lot of pomp and show. And this wedding will take place at Sonakshi's home, in a month.''

After a moment of shock, Dipika asked, ''What was the need of another wedding.''

''You are becoming second Ananya, I would be happy to have Dipika back.'' Ranvijay teased and added, ''This is because I and all of us had dreams regarding Vikram's wedding. Above all, think about Sona's father. She is his only daughter who vanished suddenly, he wants to celebrate her happiness and we will join them. Am I clear.'' His eyes met with his mother, who gave her son a smile. Shivangi Rathore knew, out of all her three kids it was just Ranvijay who knew to get things done.

''I want people to remember this wedding, and its the responsibility of Ananya and Dipika.'' Ananya just rolled her eyes , Dipika only could nod. Though, she wasn't happy but she trusted Ranvijay's decision over everything. She still doubted Sona being able to accept them but she decided to comply.

''Why do you look disturbed?'' Ananya asked when two of them were alone

''I don't want Dev back in Rolli's life. I am not saying he is bad, but he is Netra's son. What if he uses her against us again.

''Nothing of that sought will happen, you need to calm down. Above all, Rolli isn't made of roses. '' Dipika just nodded, Ananya pulled her cheek, ''Now, lets follow the orders or he will ship us both to the same zoo as that of Rani.''

***

Chitra beamed when she was being applauded for the good performance in the semester. The teacher patted her head and she hopped back to her place delighted  to show her parents her achievements. Her friends demanded a treat and she agreed to give one after the classes.

Vansh waited for Chitra to arrive near his car, Ranvijay had no issues with the two accompany each other and Sitara had to give up. He frowned when he noticed her walking out with a group taking another direction. He honked making her turn, her friends giggled. Chitra excused herself for a minute knowing it wouldn't be great to piss him.

''I am going out with friends.''

''You promised the evening to me.'' He reminded

''I should go, they are waiting.'' Vansh gripped her wrist before she could walk away, ''How can you just forget our time.''

''I am not forgetting anything, I am just trying to make some friends.''

''You don't need any. You have me.'' He reasoned making her angry.

She stared into his eyes, ''You stopped being my friend the day you fell in love with me. You just want to own me.''

''What's wrong in that?''

''Everything. Let me go.'' He did as he didn't wanted to make a scene but he didn't like that she gave their time to someone else.

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done :)