Aishwarya POV

I was in the palanquin. I couldn't get the thought of his touch from my mind. His kiss on my cheek , my heart was beating so fast. Why? ...why do i feel like this?.. no! This is wrong ! Very wrong.

I have to go back, I can't get attached to someone in this world. No... I have keep my distance from him. Yes.. I'll ignore him until i go back.

After a while , i slide the cloth to look outside and my sight fell on a weird palace like thing but not actually a palace. It was covered with a dark aura , so eerie and scary. But I don't know why it draws me to it. There was a red glow on it's top ..that was so weird.

I asked one of the servants " what's that?'

She looked at it then lower her head.. " you shouldn't look at it princess... it is called as Shaapit Vatika. It's not a good place. It's forbidden. Whoever goes there never comes back. "

I thin my eyebrows..why do i feel a connection to it? What is it that draws me there? I was deep in thoughts .. so many thoughts running through my mind.

Then there was a chaos as we reached Subhangarh. The palanquin stopped. I stepped out with the help of servants with a veil on my head covering my face walking in my maroon heavy lehenga and heavy jewellery. I can never get used to it.

I saw Ranjeet standing waiting for me. I lowered my head reminding myself to ignore him. We started walking to the huge gate of Subhangarh where servants were ready to welcome us. But to my surprise there were no Royal family present.

I mean he was the prince so why?... I had no time to think of all that. After the welcome... I don't know where Ranjeet went but the servants took me to his chambers now...our chamber in the palace.

It was like that Jodha Akbar movie types chamber with five different parts divided in a circle like structure. There was bedroom, library , restroom, meeting room , bathroom. It was huge and beautiful. Carved rocks and all.

Subhangarh was quite vast compared to Ratangarh. Huge palace walls , extravagant, powerful , rich and all . But , Ratangarh holds it's own power.

I finally got some time alone. I collapsed on the bed after all the servants left. The heavy outfit and jewellery... i hated it.i remove my veil . The dupataa hanging loose on my shoulder as i turned my back to lay comfortably and in no time i fell asleep.

The weird thing was when i woke up in the evening.. there were no servants around. But it was okay as i had Tripti to help me. It was so weird that evetyobody were so hostile to me .

I haven't seen Ranjeet from that day. It's been two days since i came to Subhangarh. And it's lonely here to be true. Everyone seems so rude to me for no reason. And i have met no royal family.

I missed my family even more after coming here. I was so lonely here. They made Tripti work extra so , she couldn't accompany me.

I decided to just roam around in the palace by myself. It was almost dark.. as i was roaming in the hallway , i saw a servant bend over a wooden table and beaten by wooden sticks mercilessly.

My eyes widened.. the scene was so horrible ..she was covered in blood begging to stop. But they were counting while beating her. My heart beats raised ...i felt like crying. I have never seen such cruel scene except Maan Singh's death.i still get nightmares of that.

The servants were whispering looking at her.." she deserves it for spilling the tea on the Queen's shoe"

My eyes widened even more... Beaten like this for just spilling tea?!!!... I look at that girl ..she fainted and noone was trying to help her. How ruthless... No ..noo

I ran to her..my anklets breaking the silence. " Hey... Hey ..please wake up ..are you okay?" I asked her.. my hands covered in blood.

She layed lifeless there and everyone started whispering but noone was helping... Whyyy.... " Get me some water!!! Take her to the doctor!!" I yell to the guards but they just lowered their heads

" Are you deaf!!!! " I yell in anger

But then a women in her 60s or 70s came with a few servants following her. I didn't like her aura at all. I looked at her panting from hurt , anger and alot more.

She smirked wickedly looking at me " so you are Ranjeet's wife huh!" She cane closer and held my chin so tight ... It hurted. She turned my head left and right forcibly checking me out like some product.

I clenched my fists controlling my emotions. My eyebrows thinned. She came closer to my ear and spoke those scary words that shiver me down to my core. " If you want to live... Leave right now or you just saw that girl. I'll make sure to make it worse for you"

She pull back planting a smile on her face like she just didn't threaten my life. She looked at the girl in a disgust then ordered the guards " Get rid of her!"

I look at her then the guards " what do you mean? Get rid? What are you-"

Suddenly came and held my arm shaking her head stopping me from speaking. I bite my lower lip controlling my anger , hurt all those emotions.

I started walking hurriedly to my chamber.my steps fast and purposeful. I hate it here... I wanna go back ..please god .. please .. i miss my family.. these people are so cruel. Please... I don't like it here... I wanna go backk... Goddd...

Tears started falling my eyes , my fists clenched as i entered my chamber and shut the door closing my eyes leaning my back on the door.

" What are you doing?" I heard that familiar cold and firm voice

I opened my eyes and i saw Ranjeet standing near the bed holding his overcoat maybe removing it. I felt like my heart , my emotions were thumming my chest to come out as soon as i saw him. .. tears started falling even more and i couldn't think anything..

I ran to him and hugged him tightly hiding my face in his chest. I felt his body tense under my arms. The room fell silent for a bit. Just me clinging to him for his warmth and comfort.

My mind was reeling all the memories of my family , me coming here , that girl , blood , death threats , the risk of my life , no hope of going back and alot more. But weirdly ...his warmth was silencing it slowly.

" Please... Just lemme hold you for a bit.. " i whispered almost begging

I felt his arms around my back... Other hand on my head holding me gently to his chest. He hummed in his throaty voice and my mind started to relax instantly.

We stayed like this for a while . He didn't ask me anything and i was thankful he didn't because i didn't know what to say or explain to him. After i calmed down . I pull back slowly lowering my head.

" I'm sorry ..i just-" i felt his hand holding my chin making me look up at him

I saw his eyes so closely for the first time. " Are you okay?" He asked in a husky voice

I nod softly... then stepped back composing myself. " But why are you here?"

He smirked crossing his arms over his chest making his muscles pump up as he leaned against the bed pole looking down at me.

" Feisty again ...are we? This is my chamber, princess" he spoke in that cheeky voice tinged with sarcasm

" I know it's your ... But you didn't come for the past two days so ... I thought .. " i played with my fingers feeling nervous.

He stayed silent for a bit looking at me .. then pushed off the pole and walked to the couch and the table lying in front of the bed at a distance and sat down on it in his white kurta ... Looking majestic.

" We can't have rumours spread about us .. so don't worry.. I'll just work here" he didn't look up at me and started working on his documents.

I looked at him for a bit .. then sat on the edge of the bed. Deep in thoughts... " Ranjeet..." I spoke softly looking at him

He hummed without looking up..

" Can i ask you something?" .. i spoke softly. The room dimly lit by the candles.. the moonlight coming from the small windows flr air ventilation.

He hummed again..

" Why did noone came to welcome us two days back .. i mean the royal family?"

He paused his hand as he was writing.. but didn't look up . " Curiosity kills the cat , Aishwarya"

He paused for a bit then spoke in a firm tone. " You shouldn't worry yourself over trivial matters. Now. Sleep"

I thin my eyebrows looking at him. He's so annoying... " And... What is Shaapit Vatika?" I asked again adjusting myself on the bed.

" Where do you get all these nonsense question?" He spoke looking at me

" Can't you answer simply? Is that so hard! " I say getting irritated

" No I can't" he looks back at his documents ignoring me..

I ask again persisting to get answers.. " And why is there so less servants in this area of palace?" .. this area in which Ranjeet's chambers were ... Was very isolated and with very less facilities.

He ignored me completely like I didn't even exist. I thin my eyesbrows in irritation. I got off the bed walking to stand beside him. My anklets breaking the silence of the dimly lit room.

" Ranjeet! " I spoke irritatingly

But he again ignored me writing on his damn documents. I was so angry right now. i cup his face making him look at me. " I'm asking you something!' i say irritatingly

His eyes darkened to a darker and more dangerous one. He pulled me by my arm with one swift move and made me sit on his lap wraping his arm around my waist holding me in place. Then held my jaw tightly making me look in his eyes. I never saw that look on his face before.

He spoke in his deep , strained and husky voice looking intensely in my eyes

" I told you not to test me Aishwarya!" His words sent a shiver down my spine.

He look at my lips pulling my lower lip with his thumb , his veins on his hand and neck popped up and the look in his eyes was of a hungry predator making ne feel so small and weak for him.

He tangled his hands in ny hairs on the back of my head then pulled me with one swift move capturing my lips in a harsh kiss.

My eyes widened.. my whole body felt like it was on fire. I try to push him away but he didn't even budge. Our strength was incomparable.

My eyes shut when he pulled me close by my waist deepening the kiss .

" Mmmm...."

My eyebrows thinned and body going weak with the intensity of his kiss. He wasn't kissing me..he was ravishing me , eating me , devouring me whole. Like a srarving predator.

My whole body shivered when i felt him push his tongue in my mouth .. my fists tightened grabbing the fabric of his kurta.

" Ah...mmmm"

He held me in place by fisting my hairs gently but firmly .. then moved his tonguebin my mouth exploring every single place in my mouth , tangling his tongue with mine senselessly until i couldn't breath anymore...

I try to push him so i could breath.. but it felt like he was lost .. i managed to speak between the kisses..

" Ranjeet..." My voice came out as a plea rather than a protest...

I felt his grip loosening on my waist and hair as he pulled back .. both of us breathing heavily . My chest heaving rapidly, throat going dry and my heart was going crazy. That was my first kiss and ... It was insane.

I stood up to walk away ..but before i could he pulled me by my waist back to his chest. My back crashing in his chest.

" Ahhh..." I winces a bit with the sudden action Before i could protest, i felt him sucking on my neck.

My head fell back and eyes closed immediately " ahhh... Ran-"

He put his finger on my lips " shhh....not today.." he whispered over my neck

Then i felt him trailing a path of kisses from my neck to my ear , sucking harshly on my earlobe..

My head tilted to the side with the effect.. " Ahhhh... Ranjeet..."

" Don't call my name like that Aishwarya... I'll not be able to stop myself from devouring you whole ,baby " he whispered huskily in my ear ... his grip tightening on my stomach , his fingers digging in my flesh