Two weeks passed after the unsettling Durga Puja festival, but Tanvi's mind never found peace. The encounter with Prince Ajay still haunted her. She tried to bury herself in her work, focusing on her growing business, attending noble gatherings, and caring for Mira, who was slowly recovering from her illness. But the weight of Prince Ajay's presence was always lurking in the back of her mind, an unspoken threat.
It was early afternoon when the door to her shop opened. The familiar figure of Prince Ajay stepped inside, his face calm but with a distinct glint of determination in his eyes. Tanvi froze the moment she saw him.
"Your Highness," she greeted stiffly, forcing a polite smile. "What brings you here?"
Ajay didn't return the smile. Instead, he walked closer, his steps deliberate and heavy with meaning. "We need to talk, Tanvi."
Her stomach twisted into a knot. Something about his tone made her uneasy, but she nodded, gesturing for him to sit. He declined and remained standing, his piercing gaze locked on hers.
"I've been doing some research," he began, his voice low but firm. "You've told the king and his court a very elaborate story about your origins—how you and Mira are the daughters of sea merchants, the only survivors of a shipwreck. You've built quite a reputation with that tale."
Tanvi's heart skipped a beat. She remained silent, waiting for him to continue, even as her palms began to sweat.
"But," Ajay said, stepping closer to her, "I found out that there's no such family. No coastal merchants who claim you or Mira. No records of such an incident." He tilted his head slightly, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "In other words, Tanvi, your story is a lie."
Her breath caught in her throat. The world seemed to tilt, but she forced herself to stay composed, though her mind raced in panic. He knows. He knows the truth—or at least, part of it.
Tanvi swallowed hard. "Your Highness," she began cautiously, "I can explain—"
"You will," he interrupted, his voice sharp as steel. "But before you try, know this: I could take this information straight to the king right now. With evidence in hand, I could ruin everything you've built here. Your entire life, your reputation, everything you've worked for."
Tanvi's chest tightened. She wasn't just scared for herself—Mira's life, her business, everything they had created in this strange new world would crumble if the truth came out. But she couldn't tell him the whole truth, not without risking even more.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice strained but steady.
Ajay's eyes glinted with triumph. "Simple," he said, moving even closer. "I want you to marry me."
Tanvi blinked, her breath catching again. It felt like the walls were closing in around her. "Marry you?" she echoed, her mind scrambling for a way out. "Why me?"
Ajay chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in the sound. "You've already proven yourself bold and clever. You're different from the others, Tanvi. I don't want a wife who simply follows orders—I want someone with fire, someone who can stand by my side and not flinch." His gaze darkened. "And let's not forget, you owe me. After all, I did save your friend from a terrible fate, didn't I?"
Tanvi clenched her fists at her sides. "I'm grateful for what you did for Mira," she said carefully, "but I can't marry you, Your Highness."
Ajay's smile faded, replaced with a cold, calculating look. "Can't, or won't?" he asked. "Think very carefully about your answer, Tanvi. Because if you refuse me, I will go straight to the king with what I've found. And then, you'll have nothing."
She hesitated, feeling the pressure bearing down on her from all sides. She couldn't marry him—he was dangerous, possessive, and she didn't love him. But if she refused, everything she had worked for would be destroyed. *Think, Tanvi. There has to be a way out of this.*
"I... I'm willing to negotiate," she said slowly, trying to buy time. "Maybe we can come to some other arrangement."
Ajay raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "I'm listening."
Tanvi took a deep breath. "You want a bold woman by your side, someone strong. But marriage... marriage is a huge step. Let me prove myself to you first. Let me show you that I can be an asset in other ways. If, after a few months, you still want me as your wife, we can discuss it again."
Ajay's eyes narrowed, clearly intrigued but skeptical. "And how do you propose to prove yourself?"
"I have a plan," Tanvi said, quickly thinking on her feet. "There's a lot happening in this kingdom, a lot of potential threats that the court isn't seeing. Let me handle some of those situations. If I succeed, it will show you that I'm not just some woman hiding behind a false story. If I fail... then I'll accept whatever consequence you deem fit."
There was a long silence as Ajay studied her, weighing her words. Tanvi held her breath, praying he would take the bait.
Finally, Ajay's lips curved into a smile—a dangerous, knowing smile. "You've always been an interesting one, Tanvi," he said. "Very well. I'll give you time. Prove your worth to me, and we'll talk again."
Relief flooded through Tanvi, but it was short-lived. She knew this was only a temporary reprieve. Ajay wouldn't forget, and he wouldn't let go. The clock was ticking.
As Ajay turned to leave, he paused at the door. "One more thing," he said, glancing back at her. "Don't think you can keep hiding your real identity forever. I'll find out who you really are, and when I do, there will be no more negotiations."
With that final, chilling remark, he left, leaving Tanvi standing there, her heart pounding in her chest. She had bought herself time, 'how long could I keep up the lie?' She asked herself.
One day, Mira, who had been resting after another long day of work, turned to Tanvi with a playful grin. "You know, Tanvi," she teased, "your life has turned into one of those romance fantasies I used to dream about. A mysterious prince, secret identities, grand parties... it's like a story from one of my books."
Tanvi chuckled softly, though her thoughts were far more serious than Mira's jest. "If only it were as easy as the stories," she replied, looking out the window. Her mind wandered back to the promise she had made to Prince Ajay. She had bought herself time, but now she had to deliver. And in her heart, she knew she couldn't risk Mira getting tangled up in this dangerous web any longer.
The next day, as they worked together in their shop, Tanvi made a difficult decision. "Mira," she began carefully, "I need to talk to you about something important."
Mira looked up from the fabric she was inspecting, her expression instantly concerned. "What's wrong?"
Tanvi hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I need you to leave. I've arranged everything for you to start your own business somewhere quiet, away from here. You can live a peaceful life, like we always dreamed of. But it's not safe for you to stay with me anymore."
Mira's eyes widened. "What? Leave? Tanvi, no! I'm not going anywhere without you. We've been through too much together!"
"I know," Tanvi said softly, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "But I'm in too deep now. Prince Ajay is watching me, and I've made promises to uncover the truth behind the threats to the kingdom. I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
Mira shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "But we're in this together! How can I just leave you to face all of this alone?"
"Because I need you to be safe," Tanvi replied, her voice firm. "Please, Mira. You're like a sister to me. I can't bear the thought of something happening to you. Go, start your new life, and don't worry about me. I'll handle this."
Mira wiped her tears, understanding the gravity of Tanvi's request. Reluctantly, she nodded. "If this is what you really want, then I'll go. But promise me, Tanvi, that you'll be careful."
"I promise," Tanvi whispered, pulling Mira into a tight hug.
After Mira's quiet departure, Tanvi turned her full attention to the task at hand—fulfilling the promise she made to Prince Ajay. She knew she had to uncover the political threat looming over the kingdom, and her investigation would take her deep into dangerous territory.
Days turned into weeks as Tanvi quietly worked in the shadows, gathering information from merchants, nobles, and even some of the palace staff. She followed every lead, no matter how small, and the more she uncovered, the more dangerous her mission became.
Late one night, Tanvi found herself in a dimly lit alley, waiting for one of her informants. Suddenly, a group of masked men appeared from the shadows, surrounding her. Their leader stepped forward, sneering at her.
"So, you're the one snooping around," he hissed, pulling out a dagger. "You should have stayed out of this, girl."
Tanvi's heart raced, but she steadied herself, knowing there was no turning back. She quickly sized up her opponents. With no other choice, she prepared for a fight.
The men lunged at her, and Tanvi expertly dodged their attacks, her reflexes sharp from the months of training she had undergone since the prince's ultimatum. She fought back with everything she had—ducking, kicking, and disarming her attackers. After a long, grueling fight, she stood victorious, bruised but unbroken. The leader, now on the ground, glared up at her.
"You don't know what you're getting into," he spat. "There are people inside the palace—people with power—who will crush you if you keep digging."
Tanvi's eyes narrowed. "Who are they?" she demanded, pressing the point of the dagger she had taken from him against his throat.
"You'll never stop them," he sneered. "They've been controlling things from the shadows for years. Even the king doesn't know."
Tanvi's heart pounded. This was it—the lead she had been looking for. "Tell me who they are," she insisted.
The man smirked, but before he could say anything more, a sudden sharp whistle echoed through the alley, and the man collapsed, a poisoned dart lodged in his neck. Tanvi spun around, but whoever had shot it was already gone, disappearing into the night.
She knelt beside the dying man, shaking him. "Who are they?" she repeated desperately, but it was too late. He was gone.
Tanvi cursed under her breath. Someone inside the palace didn't want her finding out the truth. But she had learned enough to know that the danger wasn't just from outside forces—it was from within the palace itself. She had to act fast before they could silence her, too.
Back at her shop, she sat in the dark, her mind racing. The palace itself was compromised. Prince Ajay would want answers, but what would he do with the information she had gathered? Could she trust him, or was he part of the very plot she was trying to expose?
As she sat there, exhausted but determined, she knew one thing: she was in deeper than ever. But she wasn't about to back down. Not now. Not when the future of the kingdom—and her own life—was at stake.
"Tanvi, who are you?" Prince asked in his dark room sitting alone, thinking about her.
"So different that even that I can't stop thinking about you." He laughed.