The next day, the festival was over, so the heavy decorations were being removed from the palace of Surajgarh.

Diya woke up at 5 a.m. because she couldn't stop thinking about Rudra and whatever had happened in these two days — their talks, his behaviour, their moments, him looking at her, her shyness — everything. It was a new and different feeling.

She got out of the bed, freshened up, and walked out of the room to feel some fresh air and sit peacefully somewhere to understand all this.

She was walking in the palace corridor, a little confused about the paths, but somehow she reached the garden. There, Diya saw Rudra jogging, and he also saw her.

He said, "Good morning, Diya."

She said, "Good morning. You are here so early?"

He replied, "It's not early. I do jogging every day at this time."

Then he asked, "But why are you here so early?"

She said, "I woke up early today, so I came to get some fresh air."

She looked at his arm and said, "But you should have taken rest. Why are you jogging? It will hurt your arm."

He said, "No, I am fine. Jogging is my routine and habit. I can't change it. I also feel good by doing jogging and exercise."

She said, "Oh, so you are not going to listen to me?"

He smiled and said, "Hum aapki nahi sunenge toh kiski sunenge?"

She looked confused. "Hmm? What do you mean?"

He quickly said, "Nothing. I mean I am listening to you, so I will not jog for now. Now happy?"

She smiled and said, "Yes, now fine."

He pointed to the sitting area in the garden and said, "Come, let's sit there."

They sat there, and he called the attendant.

He asked, "What would you like to have?"

She said, "Green tea."

He told the attendant, "Bring one green tea and one black tea."

After the attendant left, he looked at her seriously and said, "Diya, I want to say something to you. I know it may be a little too early, but please listen to me first."

She said, "What happened? Say it."

He looked into her eyes and said, "Diya, you know our families want us to be together. I mean they want us to get married. I came to your palace to make political relations, but we both know they also wanted to create family relations. And here we are, trying to know each other better and taking some time to understand."

He paused for a second.

"But Diya... I don't want more time to say that I want you to be my life partner. I want to spend my whole life with you. You are exactly the person I imagined spending my life with. I know you might be a little shocked because we have met only three or four times. But Diya, I believe that to know some people, we don't need much time. Sometimes we understand them in seconds. And if someone is not meant for us, we don't understand them even in many years."

He continued, "So in these three or four meetings, I understood that you are the only person I want to marry and live with. So, Princess Diya Singh Rathore of Devgarh, will you become the future queen of Surajgarh?"

Diya just listened to his words and got lost in them. She felt shy, surprised, and happy at the same time. She was shocked at how beautifully he confessed his feelings because she thought he was not the kind of person who expressed his feelings so openly. But she was happy to know this.

While he was confessing, she was just looking into his eyes.

He said, "One thing, Diya. It is not like you have to answer right now. You can take your time. And even if you don't want to marry me, don't worry. You can say it freely. I will understand you. I just wanted to confess my feelings because I couldn't keep them inside my heart anymore. So just take your time."

Diya was confused. She was feeling happy, and somewhere she also wanted this. But she also felt that everything was happening so fast.

She couldn't believe it. She thought maybe she was dreaming. Who proposes at 5:30 in the morning?

Then she came back to her senses and thought she didn't want to take any decision in a rush that would impact her whole life.

She said softly, "I want some time to process what just happened. I don't know what to say right now. So please give me some time to figure it out."

Rudra said, "No problem. Just take your time. And remember, whatever your decision is, I will respect it."

Then she got up and went straight to her room. She sat on the bed, and everything that happened a few minutes ago replayed in her mind. She was just lost in those thoughts.

After some time, she stopped herself from thinking too much and went to get ready. Then she went straight to her parents' room. She shared everything with them and asked what she should do.

They were also surprised.

Her father said, "Diya, I like Rudra very much. He is sensible, respectful, kind, and responsible. His family is also very well-behaved. But remember, this is your life. You should decide what you want. I am with you in every decision, my princess."

She said, "Thank you, Papa. I know you will be with me in every decision. But this decision is quite tough for me. It's not like I have doubts about Rudra, but I don't know why my heart feels that everything is happening so fast. It feels different... I can't explain what this feeling is, but I can't decide now."

Her father said, "Then don't decide right now. Take your time. And always remember, I am with you in every decision. If you don't like him, there is no problem. You are my daughter. You can tell me clearly. I am not forcing you for this marriage just to build political relations."

Her mother, who was listening, said, "Yes, Diya. Your father is right. You have to spend your life with him, so it will be your decision. If you agree, we will agree."

She said, "I know, Maa and Papa. I will take my decision very carefully."

Her mother said, "Okay, now let's go. Everyone will be waiting for us at breakfast, and then we also have to leave for Devgarh."

They agreed and went to the breakfast hall.

Rudra was not at the dining table. Diya's eyes were searching for him.

Her father asked Rudra's father why Rudra was not there.

He said, "His arm pain has returned, so he is taking some rest. His breakfast has been sent to his room."

Diya felt a little tense. He was fine when she met him in the morning. What happened suddenly?

She had her breakfast, but her mind was stuck on Rudra. She was just eating quickly so she could go and check on him. She was worried about him because he got hurt while saving her. Her heart knew she liked him, but she still hadn't fully accepted it.

When she finished, she got up and made an excuse to leave.

She started searching for his room because she had never seen it before. He always came to take her. She searched in different corridors and then asked an attendant, who guided her to Rudra's room.

She knocked on the door.

Rudra said from inside, "Yes, come in."

She opened the door. The room was huge, royal, beautifully decorated with antiques and paintings. There was a large framed photo of Rudra on the wall.

He saw her. He was lying on the bed but immediately sat up when he saw her.

"Diya... you? I thought it was some attendant."

She was still standing near the door.

He said softly, "Please come inside."

She walked in.

"I came here to see if your arm is hurting more. Your father said it was hurting again."

He said, "Yes, it was hurting a little. The doctor checked it again and gave me medicine. He told me to rest. I didn't want to rest because I have many meetings lined up. But Mom forced me to rest. You know how moms are — they become so worried over small pain. I couldn't deny her, so I am just resting. And thank you for coming to check on me. It means a lot."

She said, "There is no need to thank me. It happened because of me. I feel guilty. Because of me, you have to bear the pain and got hurt. I am really sorry."

He said, "Diya, what are you saying? It was not your mistake. It was just a coincidence. And also, it happened because of me. It was my responsibility to make sure the arrangements were perfect. So it's not your fault."

She said, "No, Rudra. The arrangements were done very well. You have fulfilled your responsibility in best way. "

He smiled and said, "Okay then. Don't feel guilty. Let's stop this matter here."

She smiled and said, "Yes, okay. Fine. I will not."

Suddenly his phone rang. It was on the dressing table. He was about to stand up from the bed, but Diya stopped him.

"I will get it. Don't move. It will put pressure on your arm."

She walked toward the dressing table.

Near it, there was a glass shelf full of different watches. Her eyes stopped on one watch. It had a gold band, small white diamonds on the bezel, and a blue diamond dial.

Something clicked in her mind.

She remembered something.

But suddenly Rudra's voice came, "Diya..."

Everything happened within a minute.

She came back to her senses, picked up the phone, handed it to Rudra, and said nothing.

He picked up the call and started talking.

But Diya was lost again in the thought of that watch.

Author's Note:

First of all very sorry i know it's so late i have posted but next time i will be regular. 🤗🤗

Btw thank you for reading and please vote and do comments about your opinions. 🥰

And what do you think why Diya was lost in thought of watch. What is the connection with that. Any guesses?? 💙