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Paridhi slowly opened her eyes, feeling confused about where she was. She couldn’t remember how she got there or what had happened.

Sunlight poured through large windows with heavy silk curtains pushed back. The room felt cozy and bright.

Carefully, she sat up and touched a soft silk blanket she didn’t recognize. It hadn’t been there when she went to sleep.

The bed was huge, with four tall pillars and fabric hanging from the top that swayed gently in the morning air.

As she became more alert, memories from the previous day flooded back like a strong wave.

The wedding ceremony, the endless rituals, and then finally ending up in this room with...

“The wedding!” Paridhi gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

Her cheeks flushed as she recalled their conversation from the night before. She had been so nervous.

He had noticed her trembling and had been kind and patient. He promised not to rush her and to let her take her time adjusting to her new life.

“Rana sa?” she whispered, scanning the large room.

“Are you here?”

No one answered.

Only the soft sounds of birds outside the window replied.

Paridhi swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, stretching her arms above her head.

Her muscles were a bit sore from the long ceremonies the day before.

She walked across the room, her bare feet sinking into the thick, soft carpet.

As she looked around, she noticed Abhimaan was not there.

“Kahan gaye honge?” she said aloud.

[Where could he have gone?]

“Shayad subah jaldi uth jaate hain,”

[Maybe he gets up early.]

She shook off her curiosity and decided to start her day. She walked to the bathroom, still amazed by how fancy it was.

It was bigger than her entire bedroom back home.

The marble counter sparkled in the morning light, and the large mirror reflected a slightly messy version of her.

“Hey Bhagwan,” she laughed, running her fingers through her tousled hair.

[Oh my god!]

“Main toh aandhi mein phas gayi thi kya?”

[Did I end up in a storm or something?]

Her hair was everywhere, her eyes still puffy from sleep, and there was a faint line on her cheek from the pillow.

She didn’t look like the beautiful bride she had been the day before, all dressed up in jewelry and makeup.

Paridhi turned on the shower and waited for the water to warm up as she took off her night clothes. The warm water felt amazing on her skin.

As she washed her hair with scented shampoo, Paridhi began to hum softly, feeling a bit better with each passing moment.

“This isn't so bad,” she told herself, letting the water run down her back.

Yesterday, she had felt really scared. She had just married Abhimaan Singh Rathore, the king of Rajasthan.

A man known for being strict and demanding attention. But last night, he had shown her a different side. He was patient, considerate, and even kind.

“Maybe married life won’t be as scary as I thought,” she said quietly, a small smile appearing on her face.

After rinsing off completely, Paridhi stepped out of the shower and wrapped a soft white towel around herself.

It was big enough to cover her from chest to knees, but she still felt exposed.

Water droplets clung to her skin, and her long hair dripped as she stood in front of the mirror, clearing the steam away with her hand.

Her reflection showed big brown eyes, red cheeks, and full lips.

“Ab kapde,” she said, turning towards the door.

[Now, for some clothes.]

But as she reached for the handle, she froze. In her rush to shower, she had forgotten to bring a clean set of clothes with her.

“Oh no, I didn’t bring anything with me!” she said, biting her lip nervously.

Her heart raced.

She could wait in the bathroom until Abhimaan returned, whenever that would be. Or she could quickly dash to the closet and hope he wasn’t in the room.

“Come on, Paridhi,” she told herself, taking a deep breath.

“It’s your room too. You can do this.”

She took another deep breath to calm herself, then cracked the bathroom door open and peeked out.

The bedroom looked empty, just as she had left it.

She held the towel tightly around her and opened the door fully, stepping into the bedroom.

A cool breeze sent shivers across her skin as she rushed toward the big walk-in closet.

Water continued to drip from her hair, leaving small wet spots on the carpet behind her.

But things were not going as planned!

Just as she reached the middle of the room, the bedroom door suddenly swung open.

She froze, her eyes wide as Abhimaan walked in. He was fully dressed, and his hair was slightly damp, as if he had just showered too.

For a moment, he didn’t notice her, focused instead on some papers in his hand. Then he looked up, and their eyes met from across the room.

Paridhi’s heart raced as she tightened the towel around her, acutely aware of every droplet of water on her skin and the dampness in her hair.

She felt exposed, caught in an unexpected moment she wasn't ready for.

Time seemed to stop as their eyes locked.

Abhimaan stood still in the doorway, his gaze slowly moving from her wet hair down to her bare shoulders.

He lingered there for a moment before looking down to her bare feet. His jaw tightened, and a muscle in his cheek twitched.

The papers in his hand crumpled as he squeezed them tighter.

“Rani Sa,” he said, his voice low but firm.

“Why are you walking around like that?”

Paridhi's face flushed with embarrassment. She wished she could vanish. But there was nowhere to hide.

“I... I just got out of the shower,” she stammered, too nervous to meet his gaze.

Her voice was barely a whisper.

“I forgot to bring clothes.”

Abhimaan stepped further into the room and closed the door behind him with a firm click that echoed in the air.

He approached Paridhi, filling the space around her, making the room feel smaller.

“Do you know how risky this is?” he said, his voice tense.

“Anyone could have walked in. You should have at least locked the door.”

He wasn’t shouting, but his sharp tone made Paridhi take a step back. There was something in his words that felt more than concern.

A possessiveness that quickened her heartbeat.

Paridhi’s eyes widened as she realized what was happening.

“I... I’m sorry,” she said softly, her voice shaky.

“I didn’t mean...”

He took another step closer, now just an arm's length away from her.

“Rani sa,” he said, his voice low and serious.

He moved even nearer, his presence filling the space around her. He was tall, his broad shoulders blocking her way out.

Paridhi stepped back instinctively, her breath hitching.

A drop of water fell from her hair, sliding down her collarbone and disappearing under her towel. Abhimaan watched closely, his expression growing darker.

Though Abhimaan's face softened a bit at her distress, his eyes remained intense.

"Aapko sochna chahiye tha, Rani sa," he said, his voice a bit rough.

[You should have thought about this, Rani sa.]

Paridhi felt a shiver run down her spine at the intensity of his voice and the dark look in his eyes.

"Ham nahi chahte ki hamare alawa kisi aur ki nazar aap par pade," he continued, his voice lowering to almost a whisper.

"I don't want anyone else's eyes on you except me, no matter who it is."

His possessive words should have frightened her, but they instead filled her with warmth.

He spoke not as if he were threatening her, but rather like he was making a promise, which made her heart race.

Tears welled in Paridhi's eyes. She hadn't meant to hurt him or put herself in a difficult position.

Everything felt new and overwhelming, the marriage, the palace, the duties, and now this. A small sob slipped out before she could stifle it.

Abhimaan's expression changed immediately. His eyes widened with concern, and he rushed toward her, his anger shifting to worry.

"Shh, mera bachcha," he said softly, his hands hovering near her shoulders, not quite touching.

"Hamara aapko darane ka irada nahi tha."

[Shh! My baby. I didn't mean to scare you.]

His voice was gentle now, all anger gone and replaced by warmth that made Paridhi's heart ache.

The swift change in his mood left her speechless.

Paridhi looked up at him, a tear rolling down her cheek. She was never good at hiding her feelings, and right then, they showed clearly. 

Abhimaan gently wiped away the tear with his thumb, his touch so light it felt almost like a feather.

This was the first time he had touched her like that, and the moment sent chills down her spine.

His hand lingered on her cheek, his eyes searching hers as if he wanted to read her mind.

"Aap hamari hain, Pari," he said.

"Sirf hamari."

[You are mine, Pari. Only mine.]

It was as if he was revealing a part of himself that he usually kept hidden.

Paridhi's breath caught when she heard him speak. As he kept his hand on her face, she leaned into his touch, drawn to his warmth.

"Rana sa," she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper.

She didn't know what else to say, no words seemed fitting for the turmoil inside her.

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if trying to find his strength.

When he opened them again, something profound flickered in his gaze, leaving Paridhi puzzled.

"Aapko kapde pehen lene chahiye," he said.

"Ham bahar intezaar karenge."

[You should get dressed. I'll wait outside.]

But even as he said this, he didn't move. They stood there, frozen in the moment, both too scared to shatter the silence.

Paridhi felt his warmth, catching the faint scent of his perfume.

His thumb brushed her cheekbone, a soft caress that sent warmth flooding through her. She shut her eyes, lost in the sensation of his hand on her face.

When she opened them again, Abhimaan was watching her with a gaze that stole her breath.

His eyes flicked to her lips for an instant then back to her eyes, as if he was asking for something.

Paridhi leaned in slightly. Abhimaan's hand moved from her cheek to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her wet hair.

For a moment, she thought he might kiss her. His face was so close she could feel his breath and count the lashes around his dark eyes.

But Abhimaan stepped back, letting his hand drop from her face. Paridhi immediately missed his warmth and the comfort of his touch.

"Jaldi kijiye," he said softly.

[Hurry up.]

"Breakfast is waiting."

Paridhi shivered and nodded, too stunned to respond, her heart still racing from the near kiss.

Abhimaan turned and walked toward the door. But he paused before opening it, his hand resting on the knob.

He looked back at her, his eyes filled with intensity, taking in her flushed face, her damp hair, and how she clutched the towel around her body.

"Pari," he said.

"Aage se dhyaan rakhiyega. Aap ab is mahal ki rani hain, aur ham...ham bahut protective hain apni cheezon ke liye. Ham nahi chahte ki koi aur aapko aise dekhe."

[And Pari, be careful from now on. You are the queen of this palace now, and I... I am very protective of what matters to me. I don't want anyone else to see you like this.]

There was something in his tone when he said "protective" that made Paridhi's heart skip a beat.

Before she could reply, Abhimaan bridged the distance between them in two strides. Paridhi's eyes widened in surprise as he reached for her.

He placed his hands on her shoulders, the warmth of his palms seeping through the damp towel.

For a heartbeat, their eyes locked, a silent connection flowing between them.

Then, slowly, as if giving her time to back away, Abhimaan leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead in a soft, tender kiss.

His lips lingered there, warm against her skin.

Paridhi's eyes fluttered closed, her heart pounding so fast she felt certain he could hear it. The gentle touch of his lips on her forehead felt like a blessing, a promise.

When he drew back, his eyes were soft, the storm within them quieted.

He brushed a strand of wet hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear gently.

"Meet me for breakfast when you're ready," he said softly.

"Take your time."

With that, he turned and left the room, closing the door gently behind him.

Paridhi stood there for a long moment, her fingers grazing the spot on her forehead where his lips had been, her heart still racing.

She felt as if something had changed between them, some boundary crossed that couldn’t be uncrossed.

She moved to get dressed, choosing a dress, feeling as if she had just seen a side of Abhimaan that fascinated her.

She was no longer just Paridhi. She was Rani Sa, the Queen of Rajasthan, and her King had made it clear he sees her as precious, someone to protect and cherish.

That realization sent a warm glow through her chest.

________________________

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