I’ve always believed this world is nothing but a hunter’s web — one designed to trap, strangle, and consume you slowly. Everyone here walks around with a mask — smiling, soft-spoken, polished — but beneath that charm lies a wolf in human disguise.
They may not carry weapons, their hands might not be stained in blood but make no mistake — they are all killers.
They murder spirits, crush dreams, and drown souls in their damn fake sympathy.
F*cking hell.
And me?
I never claimed to be a saint.
I walk through the dark.
I bleed in silence.
And yes, my hands are tainted. Every f**king day. Someone bleeds, someone begs, and someone pays — because the world only listens to the sound of power.
Words are for those who still believe in kindness.
Me? I believe in results. And sometimes… that means becoming the nightmare they fear.
"Lato ke bhoot baaton se nahi mante."
But in my case—
"Main laaton ke bhoot ko utarta bhi hoon... aur thikane bhi lagata hoon."
Yet for her — for my Sunshine — I want to be nothing like this world.
I want her to know me differently — not as the beast I am, but the man she deserves.
I’ve never cared for distractions. Never had a fling, not even a one-night mistake. Nothing.
I’ve always considered love to be a laughable illusion — something that made people weak.
Thousands tried to break through — money-hungry eyes, lust-drenched offers, shallow promises — all of them crawling with fake affection.
But nothing ever pierced through me.
Until she came along.
Until She happened.
And the worst part?
I didn’t even know when it happened.
Maybe it was that one fleeting glance… maybe the innocence in her voice… maybe the pain buried deep in her smile.
Whatever it was, it made a crack in this stone-cold soul.
And now, standing here, seeing her in that soft yellow Anarkali, her hair flowing like midnight silk, her gaze dropped in shy nervousness… I swear to God—
My breath halted.
She looked like she didn’t belong to this world.
She looked like the only reason this dark world still had a sun.
She didn’t even raise her eyes — yet I was trembling.
A man who has taken lives without flinching, was now shaken by a single girl standing silently.
“My Sunshine…”
God. This girl is going to make me insane.
I was so lost in her presence that I didn’t even notice my surroundings fading until—
Ahem.
Someone cleared their throat.
I blinked and snapped out of it. Slowly turned my head…
There they were.
My family.
Staring at me.
With that goddamn teasing look.
My mother’s smirk.
Ruhi’s barely contained giggle.
And Shivank… well—
"Bhai, sharam nahi aati? Ladki tarte hue. Waise bhi, ab to aapki hi hai."
Shivank’s voice oozed mockery.
I clenched my jaw.
“Do you want to spend the night in the accounts basement with no fan and a broken chair?”
I said it without even looking at him.
Silence.
Yeah, that shut him up.
I’m not in the mood for jokes. Not today. Not when she is standing in front of me like a dream I never deserved.
Still... I know what they’re all thinking.
This isn’t me.
This—this desperation, the way I lost control for even a moment—it’s not who I am.
But how do I explain this?
How do I tell them that for the first time in my damn life, someone’s presence is enough to calm my storm?
She isn’t just a girl.
She’s my sanity...
...and my madness.
“Misthi beta, aap khadi kyun hain? Aaiye, hamare paas baithiye,” Dadi said to Misthi in a calm, affectionate tone.
As soon as Dadi spoke, Misthi slowly raised her head and looked at her with widened, fearful eyes.
There was visible shock and hesitation in her gaze as she stammered, “Pa...r kyun...? Hu...mse kuch... ga...lti h..ui h..ai k....ya?”
“Nahi beta ji, Aap dar kyu rahi hai. Hum sirf aapse kuch baat karna chahte hai.” Maa added politely, trying to make her comfortable.
"Please"
Did you hear guys!
Sumitra Singh Rathore. Former Queen.
Who doesn't even say please even in worst situation.
Saying Please.
Waoh. That's Impressive.
Though hesitant, Misthi nodded gently and took the seat between Maa and Dadi.
Sumitra then leaned in and gently asked, “Beta, kya aap hume pehchan rahi hain?”
Misthi looked at her face, confused. Trying to Remember. Noticing her puzzled expression, Sumitra smiled and said the last with sad pout, and everyone chuckled
“Aapko yaad hai, ek baar aapne hume humara accident hone se bachaya tha... aur daanta bhi tha?”
Misthi began to recall something. And then it clicked. A big smile lit up her face as she nodded.
Sumitra's face also mirrored her happiness with a warm smile.
"Uske bohot dhanyawad betaji."
"Jii wo mera farz tha hukum rani sa" Misthi spoke in her sweet honey voice with innocent smile.
Oh God. Her Smile.
Him, sitting quietly, felt a somersault in his heart just watching her smile — something stirred deeply within him.
Then Sumitra spoke, this time a little hesitantly, "Betaji... hum yahan aapse ek zaroori baat karne aaye hain.”
Misthi nodded with a slightly frowning yet innocent expression.
“Beta, hum aapka haath maangne aaye hain... apne bete Ekaksh ke liye,” Dadi sa said with gentle clarity.
As soon as the words left Dadi’s mouth, both Misthi and Akshat froze.
Shock was written all over their faces — they couldn't believe what they had just heard.
“Aaj lagta hai neend puri nahi hui... tabhi khade khade sapne dekh raha hoon,” Akshat mumbled under his breath — loud enough to be heard.
Then turning to Ekaksh, he said playfully, “Hukum sa, zara mujhe pinch karna.”
Everyone turned to look at him, stunned. Did he just casually talk like that to the king of Rajasthan?!
Fear rose in the room — most expected Ekaksh to scold him harshly for his tone. His anger was no secret.
But to everyone’s surprise, Ekaksh remained calm. No trace of anger, only soft amusement flickered in his eyes.
He walked forward, smiling, and said, “Sure, saale sahab,” and gave him a small, deliberate pinch.
“Ouch!” Akshat winced, rubbing his arm. “Yeh toh sach hai re baba! Mujhe toh laga mazaak ho raha hai... par yeh toh—”
Suddenly, realization hit him. He blinked, stunned, then gasped dramatically.
“Matlab... aap mere Didu ke husband banoge... mere Jiju?! Matlab aap mujhe es jalad Taiji se bhi bachaoge?! Wah! Aaj kisiki shakal dekhi thi maine… of course, Didu ki!”
He kept rambling excitedly until he noticed the intense glare Misthi gave him. He stopped immediately.
“S...sorry Hukum sa...” he muttered nervously.
“Koi baat nahi, Bhabhi ke bhai. Hota hai,” Shivank said with a chuckle, easing the atmosphere.
Akshat breathed a sigh of relief. But amidst the chuckles and teasing, one person remained completely still, lost in her own storm — Misthi.
Her mind had gone blank. She was still trying to process what she had just heard.
Marriage? Me? How?
King of Rajasthan wants to marry a girl like me? But why?
Does he even know... I’m not some pure, perfect girl... I carry so many scars...
She slowly looked at Ekaksh and found him looking straight at her — his gaze calm, but unwavering.
As if reading her thoughts, he said softly, “I know, Misthi... what you’re thinking right now. I know everything about you. And still, I’m here. Not out of pity — but out of love. You are not tainted. You are not less. Whatever happened to you, was never your fault. Never doubt that, baby.”
His voice grew firmer. “And the ones who wronged you... they will pay. I promise you that.”
His jaw tightened with the last line.
Then he turned to Sumitra, “Mom, I’d like to talk to Misthi alone — only if she’s comfortable.”
Sumitra looked at Misthi with a soft gaze.
“Beta, will you?”
Misthi hesitated, her breath caught in her chest, but she eventually nodded and stood up. She turned slightly toward Ekaksh, gesturing him to follow.
Ekaksh gave a single nod and quietly followed her out to the garden.
✩⋆｡˚ ⋆｡°✩
Once outside, Misthi stopped at some distance near a flowering tree.
An awkward silence stretched between them.
Misthi stood still, her back slightly turned. Her mind was restless. She wanted to say something, but words wouldn’t come.
Meanwhile, Ekaksh simply watched her. He was not impatient. He just... waited — quietly reading her every emotion.
Finally, gathering all her courage, Misthi turned to him slowly. With her eyes lowered, voice barely above a whisper, she said:
“Hukum sa... a...ap bura na maane... to... ek baat poochh sakti hoon?”
Ekaksh’s voice was gentle but held weight.
"First I would like you to look into my eyes, be confident and ask"
Misthi took a breath. Her lashes fluttered as she slowly raised her gaze to meet his eyes.
“Hukum sa, hum aapse ek sawal poochhna chahte hain...” she said softly.
“Poochhiye,” Ekaksh replied, his tone calm, steady.
Misthi swallowed the lump in her throat. Her voice trembled as she spoke:
“Aap... hamare jaise ladki se shaadi kyun karna chahte hain? Hum mein... bohot daag hain. Hum... Apki biwi banne layak nahi hain...”
Tears welled up in her eyes. Her lips trembled as she finished.
Ekaksh’s heart clenched. It shattered him to see her talk about herself this way.
He stepped closer, gently wiped her tears with his thumb, and spoke in a firm but soft voice:
“Sabse pehle — hume yeh bilkul pasand nahi ki aap apne baare mein kuch bhi galat kahe. Yeh haq hum kisi ko nahi denge... khud aapko bhi nahi.”
“Aur rahi baat ‘daag’ aur ‘deserving’ ki... toh Misthi, aapse behtar humari ardhangini aur Rajasthan ki Rani sa koi ho hi nahi sakta.”
His voice lowered, eyes intense.
“Chand mein bhi daag hote hain, par log usse phir bhi sabse khoobsurat mante hain.”
“Vaise hi — aap mere liye Ganga ki tarah pavitra ho.”
He held her gaze as he said,
“Aap mere liye devi ka roop ho, jise hum zindagi bhar poojna chahte hain. Hume bas aap chahiye — na aapse zyada, na aapse kam.
Sirf aap.”
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