Aishwarya's pov

I closed my eyes and the executioner was ordered to drop the sharp edge in my neck. I really wasn't scared or anything. I was tired of all this now. I wanted all this to just end.

Suddenly, my heart started beating fast as i heard that familiar voice but I didn't open my eyes as i thought it was my mind playing games on me.

" Ruko!!"

I heard someone yell from a distance. Footsteps moving closer and there was a chaos and murmur all around. I opened my eyes to see what was happening.

I sit up on my knees and i felt like my heart will jump out of my chest. I felt so suffocated, my mind going blank.. tears started flowing my eyes and voice seem to stuck in my throat when i saw Ranjeet walking towards me with a few soldiers.

He was... alive?... He..am i hallucinating?..what is happening? .. my head was a mess and heart a greater mess.

" Ranjeet..."

My voice barely came above a whisper

He came closer and in an instant he draws out his sword and cuts the chains in my hands and legs. I was sitting their completely blank not being able to process whatever was happening.

He picked me up with my shoulders to make me stand up. As soon as i felt his touch , i came back to my senses. I knew he was alive , standing in front of me. All of this was real , he was real...

I broke into loud cries and hugged him tightly. I felt like i was holding my whole world. I felt like i got my soul back. I felt like..... He was all i got.

" Ohh god.... I thought...i thought i lost you..i ...i..."

I couldn't speak..i just couldn't express the flood of emotions i was feeling inside me in just a few words.

" Please... Oh god.. i thought I'll never see you again."

" Hume lga... Humne aapko khoo diya..hum aapse bhot pyar krte h Ranjeet. Hum aapke bina nhi jee payenge.."

"I thought...i lost you .. i love you Ranjeet.. I can't live without you.."

He hugged me tightly wrapping his arms around me . I could feel him sigh in relief as he nuzzled his face in the crook of my neck.

" Aishwarya...."

" Tum jaan ho humari..Agr aaj tumhe kuch ho jata to hum khudko kbhi maaf nhi kar pate.."

" Aishwarya... You are my heart and soul.. if anything happened to you today. I would've never been able to forgive myself"

I cried in his arms for a few minutes until i was pulled back to reality by his grandmother's voice.

" Ranjeet!!! She tried to kill you. Why are you saving her!!?"

She yelled from her royal throne in anger

I felt Ranjeet pulling me to his side holding me by my waist facing his grandmother. We were in the middle of the arena which was a bit lower than all the people of the empire sitting around it at a height.

" She didn't try to kill me , Dadisa. She would never do something like that "

His one statement made an uproar to rise in the whole arena. All the people started murmuring and discussing it.

" What do you mean by that?! There were proofs!"

His grandmother retaliated...but he cut her off by walking a few steps ahead. I tried to stand stably as i was dizzy and my body felt really weak.

" It wasn't Aishwarya who tried to kill me. It was Tripti , her maid. "

He ordered a few soldiers and the next moment i saw Tripti being dragged into the arena. She was injured maybe beaten up .

" Tell everyone the truth... or you know the consequences!"

He spoke in that intimating tone of his. He was calm from outside but i knew his eyes were filled with anger and something I can't really define.

Tripti accepted all her crimes and told everyone about it.i don't know how he made her say all this. But i was just relieved that he was alive .. my body was losing it's energy every single moment.

Just when i thought everything ended ... Ranjeet started speaking..

" She couldn't have done all of this alone without any internal help from the royal palace. Someone else helped her in this and that someone is..."

My eyes widened when he draws his sword and put it on Dhruv's neck making everyone gasp in surprise and shock.

He looked dead in Dhruv's eyes his sword piercing his skin on his neck . Ranjeet's eyes were filled with anger , the feeling of betrayal , revenge and that fire to burn the whole world in that moment.

" You traitor!! I gave you everything for you to betray me like this!"

At first Dhruv tried to defend himself but he knew better Ranjeet had all the proofs to not believe any word he was saying.

Dhruv started laughing like a maniac..

" Impressive as always , mere dost ~"

He said those last words as a mockery to their friendship which eventually hit a nerve for Ranjeet.

" What did you expect from me after you killed my father? Huhh?!!!"

Dhruv yelled in anger showing his true colours now.

" Did you think I'll forgive you for that!! I was always waiting for an opportunity to make you pay for all your sins!! Friendship?! Huh!! My foot!!"

Ranjeet takes his sword away from his neck sighing in defeat and something else I can't describe in words.

" I never killed your father. He was a corrupt official. He tried to kill me that day. He slipped and hit his head which killed him eventually. "

I could see shock and hurt on Dhruv's face... " What- ...liar!!! No- that can't be.. you are lying!"

Ranjeet sighs...

" You can ask your little brother.. he was there when all of this happened.. "

Ranjeet look up at Dhruv .. sincerity in his eyes

" You could've just asked me Dhruv.. i trusted you and my friendship wasn't fake.."

Ranjeet turned his back and started walking to me

" Take him away and lock him up. He'll pay for all his crimes"

The soldiers took Dhruv to the dungeon. Dhruv was in a trance. Regret and hurt was visible on his face.

As i saw Ranjeet approaching me.. i could see tears in his eyes. He was hurt... Dhruv was the only person he ever trusted in his painful world. And to get betrayed by someone so close to you.. i know that feeling.

I held his gaze as he stood in front of me..for a few seconds. Then he picked me up in his arms

" Let's go , my Queen. You have endured enough"

My eyes felt heavy and my body just gave in as soon as he picked me up. I don't know when i fell asleep in his arms while he walked to our chambers.

Finally... Everything was normal...

I think.....