The morning sun had barely hit the gold-painted roofs of the Prajapati Estate before the royal kitchen turned into a complete disaster. The palace was usually as quiet as a church, with five-star royal chefs moving around silently in clean white uniforms. But today, that peace was totally broken by the loud scraping of a cheap iron spatula and a giant cloud of burning red chili smoke.
"Hatiye, hatiye! Yeh makkhan apne paas rakhiye! Chhaya Nagar ke paranthe bina dher saare asli ghee ke nahi bante!" Suhani yelled, physically pushing the head chef out of his own cooking station with her hip. (Move, move! Keep this butter with you! Chhaya Nagar's paranthas are not made without lots of real ghee!)
The head chef looked completely white, holding his silver mixing bowls like shields. Next to him, Khushi Prajapati was sitting on a marble counter, covered in white flour from head to toe, laughing so hard she was clapping her hands.
"Bhabhi! Dekho, maine roti ko bilkul Bharat ka naksha bana diya!" Khushi cheered, holding up a wildly shaped, weird piece of dough with pure, childish excitement. (Bhabhi! Look, I made the roti look exactly like the map of India!)
Virajita stood near the massive stove, her cheeks bright red from the heat and pure frustration. She was forcefully rolling out dough, her simple yellow kurta sleeves pulled up past her elbows. After the failed midnight escape and the embarrassing lemonade stand incident, she had decided that if she was being kept in a golden cage, she was going to make life living hell for the palace staff.
"Khushi ji, kripya mujhe uss naam se mat pukariye," Virajita said, slamming the heavy wooden rolling pin down like a hammer. "Aur aap roti par dhyan dijiye, varna aapke bhai ise bhi koi vyaparik sauda samajh kar radd kar denge!" (Khushi ji, please do not call me by that name. And you focus on the roti, otherwise your brother will think of this as a business deal and reject it!)
Suddenly, the kitchen doors swung open with a heavy, slow creak. Shaurya walked into the room. He looked incredibly neat and powerful in a dark blue tailored suit. Behind him stood Swayam, holding a black leather folder, his face looking like a frozen stone statue without any batteries.
The two men stopped dead in their tracks as the thick, spicy smoke of burning red chilies hit their lungs. Swayam let out a single, very stiff, controlled cough, immediately fixing his tie to keep his balance. Shaurya didn't move an inch. He just folded his large arms across his broad chest, his dark eyes instantly fixing on Virajita's flustered, flour-dusted face.
"Yeh... yeh kya ho raha hai yahan?" Shaurya asked, his deep, rich voice dropping into a low tone that vibrated through the smoky kitchen. (What... what is happening here?)
"Hum yahan nashta bana rahe hain, Kunwar Sa!" Suhani answered proudly, waving a hot, greasy spatula right in front of Swayam's nose. "Aapke is shehar ke khane mein bilkul swad nahi hai. Kal raat ka woh hara ras peekar toh mera pet hi kharab ho gaya!" (We are making breakfast here, Kunwar Sa! This city food of yours has absolutely no taste. My stomach got ruined just drinking that green juice from last night!)
Swayam stepped back quickly to avoid the greasy utensil, his shuddh Hindi coming out completely rigid and robotic. "Suhani ji, vah swasthya ke liye uttam aushadhiya peya tha. Aapka ye vyavahar rasoi ke niyamon ke viruddh hai." (Suhani ji, that was a healthy medicinal drink. This behavior of yours is against the rules of the kitchen.)
"Niyam apne paas rakho, Malhotra ji! Chalo, chupchap ye thali uthao aur mez par lagao!" Suhani snapped, shoving a heavy silver tray full of extra-spicy paranthas straight into Swayam's hands. (Keep your rules to yourself, Malhotra ji! Come on, quietly pick up this plate and set it on the table!)
Swayam froze, staring down at the oily tray in his hands as if it were a bomb. He looked at Shaurya, waiting for a command to arrest her, but Shaurya wasn't even looking at the food. Shaurya walked forward slowly, his large frame completely closing the distance between him and Virajita.
He stopped right across the counter from her. The sheer height difference forced Virajita to tilt her chin upward, her amber eyes burning with anger. She could smell his clean sandalwood scent mixing with the hot chili smoke.
"Aapne hume qaid kiya hai, Kunwar Sa, toh ab hamare haath ka banaya hua teekha khana bhi khaiye," Virajita said sharply, pouting as she slapped a hot, steaming parantha onto a silver plate and shoved it toward his chest. "Dekhte hain aapka ye shahi ghamand is mirchi ko bardaasht kar paata hai ya nahi!" (You have imprisoned us, Kunwar Sa, so now eat this spicy food made by my hands too. Let's see if this royal pride of yours can tolerate this chili or not!)
Shaurya looked down at the heavily spiced food, and then straight into her beautiful, angry face. Instead of getting upset or throwing a fit, a low, deep chuckle left his throat. He completely laughed it out, his dark eyes swirling with pure amusement.
"Humne aapse pehle bhi kaha tha, Virajita... hume har cheez ka karz chukana aata hai," Shaurya murmured, leaning down slightly over the counter so only she could hear him. "Aur aapke haath se toh hum vish bhi swikar kar lete. Par ye khana hum tabhi khayenge jab aap ise swayam hamare mez par parosengi. Chaliye." (We told you before, Virajita... we know how to repay every single debt. And from your hand, we would even accept poison. But we will eat this food only when you personally serve it at our table. Come.)
Virajita's face turned completely hot, a massive blush spreading across her cheeks as she stomped her foot in frustration, grabbing the plates and marching toward the grand dining hall while muttering to herself.
An hour after the chaotic breakfast, where Shaurya had casually eaten the extra-spicy food without a single tear, completely shocking Virajita, the second phase of the morning began.
Two luxury delivery vans drove up to the west wing. Ten professional designers walked into the grand sitting room, carrying long racks of expensive silk sarees and jewelry boxes for an upcoming royal charity event.
Virajita stood in the center of the room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, staring at the glittering clothes with flat, wide eyes.
"Main yeh sab nahi pehnungi," Virajita stated loudly, keeping her chin high. "Main kisi ghamandi arabpati ki khairat ka kapda chhooungi bhi nahi! Mere paas mere Chhaya Nagar ke kapde hain, main unhi mein theek hoon." (I will not wear all this. I will not even touch the charity fabric of some arrogant billionaire! I have my Chhaya Nagar clothes, I am fine in those.)
The head designer looked completely panicked, turning around as the heavy doors opened. Shaurya walked in, his suit jacket now removed, his white shirt sleeves neatly rolled up to his forearms.
"Aap sab baahar jaiye," Shaurya ordered the staff smoothly, his deep voice leaving no room for argument. "Swayam, mukhya dwar par rahein." (All of you go outside. Swayam, stay at the main gate.)
"Ji, Kunwar Sa," Swayam bowed rigidly, clearing the room in five seconds flat.
The heavy wooden doors shut, leaving Virajita entirely alone with Shaurya. The room instantly felt incredibly small and hot. Virajita took a step back, her back hitting the cold glass of a large wardrobe mirror.
"Kunwar Sa, aap kya kar rahe hain? Baahar jaiye!" Virajita demanded, her voice shaking slightly as he walked closer and closer, his tall, massive frame completely trapping her against the mirror. (Kunwar Sa, what are you doing? Go outside!)
"Jab tak aap niyam ke anusar is veshbhoosha ko nahi chuntee, tab tak na hum yahan se jayenge... aur na hi aapko jaane denge, Virajita," Shaurya whispered, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an intense, quiet heat. He reached onto the side table and picked up a long, golden measuring tape. (Until you choose this dress according to the rules, neither will we leave from here... nor will we let you go, Virajita.)
"Aap... aap mujhe sparsh mat kijiye!" Virajita choked out, her heart doing a wild, frantic sprint against her ribs as Shaurya stepped straight into her personal space. He was so close that his broad chest was almost pressing against her shoulders. (You... you don't touch me!)
Shaurya did not listen. Slowly, deliberately, he raised his large hands. His long fingers brushed with agonizing slowness against the bare skin of her neck as he wrapped the measuring tape around her shoulders. The physical contact felt like pure electric fire, sending a violent shiver straight down Virajita's spine. Her face turned completely bright red, her breath locking in her throat.
"Hum aapko asurakshit sparsh nahi kar rahe hain, priye... hum toh bas naap le rahe hain," Shaurya murmured, his voice dropping into a low, teasing whisper right against her ear. He leaned down so close his lips almost touched her earlobe, his large hands lingering on her arms to hold the tape steady. "Aapka ye krodh aapke dimaag ko bhramit kar raha hai. Aapka dimag kehta hai ki aap humse door bhaag sakti hain, par aapka ye hriday... ye toh kuch aur hi keh raha hai." (I am not touching you unsafely, darling... I'm just taking measurements. This anger of yours is confusing your mind. Your brain says you can run away from me, but this heart of yours... it is saying something else entirely.)
"Aap sach mein ek number ke khadoos aur bad-tameez insaan hain!" Virajita yelled, her voice squeaking as she tried to push his hard, muscular chest away with both hands. Her palms felt the intense warmth of his body through his white shirt, making her blush even harder. "Aapka ye shuddh Hindi waala radio chalana band kijiye! Mujhe chhodiye!" (You are truly a first-class arrogant and rude person! Stop running this pure Hindi radio of yours! Leave me!)
Shaurya let out that same low, rich chuckle right against her skin, his eyes swirling with absolute possessiveness at how completely flustered she was.
Outside the heavy wooden door, Suhani was currently bent down at a 90 degree angle, her ear pressed tightly against the keyhole, still holding her iron frying pan like a weapon.
"Kya chal raha hai andar? Kuch saaf sunai nahi de raha... yeh Kunwar Sa pakka meri behen ko koi naya kathin shabd bol kar dara rahe hain," Suhani muttered to herself, squinting as she tried to look through the brass keyhole. (What is going on inside? Nothing is clearly audible... this Kunwar Sa is definitely scaring my sister by saying some new difficult word.)
Suddenly, a massive, dark shadow fell over her. Suhani froze, slowly looking up. Standing right behind her, looking down with a completely judgmental, rigid expression, was Swayam.
"Suhani ji, yadi aapka ye gopniya nirikshan samapt ho gaya ho, toh kya hum nirdeshit karya par charcha kar sakte hain?" Swayam asked, his voice sounding like a robotic automated recording. (Suhani ji, if this confidential observation of yours is finished, then can we discuss the assigned task?)
"Ofo! Malhotra ji! Tum har baar kisi sarkaari bhoot ki tarah piche khade ho jaate ho! Tumhare kapdon mein pakka koi automatic sensor laga hai!" Suhani jumped back in a panic, waving her frying pan wildly. (Ofo! Malhotra ji! You stand behind me like a government ghost every single time! There is definitely an automatic sensor fitted inside your clothes!)
Swayam didn't flinch. He adjusted his sleeves cleanly. "Kunwar Sa ke aadesh ke anusar, aapki is asurakshit mansikta ko niyantrit karne ke liye, aapko hamare nirdesh mein ek suraksha shiksharthi banaya gaya hai. Kripya apna ye gharelu patra... mera taatparya is bartan se hai, ise surakshit sthan par rakhein." (According to Kunwar Sa's order, to control this unsafe mindset of yours, you have been made a security intern under our direction. Please keep this domestic vessel... I mean this pan, in a safe place.)
"Shiksharthi?!" Suhani's jaw dropped to the floor. "Main? Chhaya Nagar ki Suhani Chauhan tumhari cheli banungi?! Malhotra ji, tumhara dimaag kharab ho gaya hai! Chalo, rasta dikhao, dekhte hain tumhara ye boring karyalaya kaisa dikhta hai!" (Intern?! I? Chhaya Nagar's Suhani Chauhan will become your student?! Malhotra ji, your mind has gone bad! Come on, show the way, let's see how this boring office of yours looks!)
Virajita's POV
By afternoon, I realized that locked bedroom doors wouldn't give me my freedom. I owed this man four crores, and my pride refused to live on his charity. I needed a real plan to earn that money back.
I marched straight into his corporate office wing without even knocking, slamming an empty white pad right onto his massive desk. Kunwar Sa was sitting in his high leather chair, looking at business graphs. He looked up, a patient, highly amused smile lighting up his face.
"Mujhe ek naukri chahiye, Kunwar Sa," I stated firmly, crossing my arms over my yellow kurta. "Main aapke is ehsan ke neeche nahi rahungi. Main aapki samiti mein kaam karungi, paise kamaungi, aur aapke ye char crore poore ke poore chukta karungi! Mujhe abhi isi vakt karyabhar dijiye!" (I want a job, Kunwar Sa. I will not live under this favor of yours. I will work in your company, earn money, and repay these four crores of yours completely! Give me a job right this very moment!)
He looked at the empty pad, then leaned back in his chair. His dark eyes danced with pure mischief.
"Aap hamari samiti mein karya karna chahti hain? Atyant uttam," Shaurya said smoothly, his shuddh Hindi sounding hilariously proper. "Niyam ke anusar, hume ek vyaktigat sahayak... yaani ek niji sahayika ki avashyakta hai. Aapka ye pad abhi se nirdharit kiya jata hai. Aapka pratham karya hamari aaj ki vyaparik baithak ko vyavasthit karna hai." (You want to work in our company? Extremely good. According to the rules, we need a personal assistant... meaning a Personal Assistant. This position of yours is assigned right now. Your first task is to organize our business meeting for today.)
"Theek hai! Main dikhati hoon ki kaam kaise hota hai!" I pouted, aggressively grabbing his heavy folders to organize them with loud energy. (Alright! I will show you how work is done!)
Ten minutes later, three multi-millionaire corporate clients walked into the study for a major meeting. They sat across the table, looking incredibly serious, presenting a complex chart about a business deal. I stood right next to Kunwar Sa's chair, holding his heavy leather notebook, trying my absolute best to look professional.
But because they kept using these heavy corporate English terms, I couldn't understand a single thing. My brain was completely frying, and I kept rolling my eyes and whispering under my breath in irritation.
"Yeh log itni tedhi bhasha kyun bol rahe hain... seedhe-seedhe bolte toh baat samajh aati," I muttered quietly, making a frustrated face. (Why are these people speaking such crooked language... if they spoke directly, the matter would make sense.)
I thought Kunwar Sa was paying attention to the presentation, but when I glanced down, my heart stopped. He wasn't even looking at the screen! He was completely turned sideways in his chair, his dark eyes fixed entirely on my face. He was literally ignoring a massive business deal just to watch me roll my eyes and pout, his lips curved into a slow, incredibly proud smile.
The lead client stopped talking, looking completely confused. "Uh... Kunwar Sa? Is there an issue with the third quarter profit margins? You seem... distracted."
Shaurya didn't even look at the man. He just kept staring up at my burning red face, his voice deep and smooth.
"Nahi, laabh bilkul uchit hain. Hum toh bas... apni sahayika ke dhyan ka nirikshan kar rahe hain. Aap apna karya jaari rakhein." (No, the profits are completely appropriate. We are just... observing our assistant's focus. You continue your work.)
My entire neck went hot. I glare-stared down at him, gripping the book tightly against my chest. This man was literally using a major corporate meeting just to make me blush!
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Meanwhile, out in the long glass corridor of the office wing, Suhani was currently causing a complete security disaster. She was marching down the hallway, wearing a high-security badge over her black kurta, still holding her iron frying pan in her right hand like a sword. Malhotra ji walked exactly two paces behind her, his posture perfectly stiff.
"Malhotra ji! Yeh tumhare suraksha karyalaya mein itne saare button kyun hain?! Aur ye guards sab kapdo ko istri karke robot bankar kyun ghumte hain?!" Suhani asked loudly, turning around. (Malhotra ji! Why are there so many buttons in this security office of yours?! And why do these guards walk around like robots with pressed clothes?!)
"Suhani ji, suraksha ek gabhir sankalp hai," Malhotra ji said with deadpan delivery, looking at his tablet. "Is chalit-yantra... mera taatparya is yantra se hai, ismein haveli ke pratyek kone ka chitran hai. Aapka ye gharelu utpadan suraksha niyamon ke sarvatha viruddh hai. Kripya ise mujhe saup dein." (Suhani ji, security is a serious determination. This mobile device... I mean this device, contains the view of every corner of the mansion. This domestic product of yours is completely against security rules. Please hand it over to me.)
"Main nahi dungi, Malhotra ji! Yeh meri suraksha ka niyam hai!" Suhani laughed, tapping the iron pan against his stiff shoulder badge. "Aur ek baat batao, tum sote vakt bhi ye tight suit pehente ho kya? Tumhara chehra kabhi hilta kyun nahi? Mujhe toh lag raha tha ki tumhare dimaag mein koi sarkaari niyam download hai!" (I won't give you, Malhotra ji! This is my security rule! And tell me one thing, do you wear this tight suit even while sleeping? Why does your face never move? I thought some government rules were downloaded inside your brain!)
Malhotra ji's jaw tightened, his dark eyes throwing a quiet, sharp look into her laughing face. "Mera mool niyam keval Kunwar Sa ke nirdeshon par aadharit hai, Suhani ji. Aur hamari suraksha pranali mein vyavdhan utpann karna... iski anumati hum kisi ko nahi dete." (My main rule is only based on Kunwar Sa's instructions, Suhani ji. And creating a disturbance in our security system... we do not give permission for this to anyone.)
"Acha?! Toh phir ye dekhna zara!" Suhani giggled mischievously.
Before he could stop her, she reached out and randomly smashed a giant red emergency button on the wall panel just for fun. Instantly, a loud, blaring siren started ringing through the walls:
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Malhotra ji's eyes went wide. He instantly grabbed Suhani's wrist to pull her away, his large hand anchoring tightly around her skin, his grip full of sudden, protective warmth.
"Suhani ji! Aapne aapatkalin pranalika ko prachalit kar diya hai!" he shouted over the loud alarm, holding her flush against his chest to protect her as the heavy, automated security shutters started dropping from the ceiling.(Suhani ji! You have activated the emergency system!)
"Arre! Mujhe kya pata tha ye button sach mein kaam karta hai! Malhotra ji, bachaoooo!" Suhani laughed loudly, holding onto his tight coat as the steel shutters slammed closed, trapping them together in the tiny corridor space. (Arre! How did I know this button actually works! Malhotra ji, save me!)
Back inside the private study, the loud siren echoed violently through the walls. The automated security lockdown had triggered, and heavy, thick steel shutters suddenly rolled down over the door and windows with a massive THUD, completely locking Shaurya and Virajita inside the room in total pitch darkness.
The corporate clients had already run out into the lobby seconds before the doors shut.
As the lights cut out, a wave of panic hit the room. It was pitch black, with only a tiny red emergency light blinking on the ceiling, turning the whole office into a deep, heavy crimson color. Virajita gasped, stepping backward blindly, but her foot caught on the thick edge of the rug.
She didn't hit the floor.
Two massive, powerful arms shot out from the darkness, catching her cleanly by her waist and pulling her body flush against his hard, towering frame. Shaurya held her tightly against his side, his broad chest absorbing the impact, his large hands anchoring firmly around her hips to keep her steady.
The closeness was completely dizzying. Virajita's chest was pressing directly against his, her hands instinctively clutching the fabric of his white shirt. She could feel the rapid, heavy thumping of his heart beating straight against her palms, mixing with her own wild pulse. The scent of sandalwood and rain wrapped around her completely.
"Hum yahan hain, Virajita... aap surakshit hain," Shaurya murmured, his voice incredibly deep, rich, and vibrating directly against her hot cheek. He didn't let go; instead, his fingers tightened with a slow, heavy possessiveness, holding her so close that she could barely breathe. (We are here, Virajita... you are safe.)
Virajita's breath caught completely in her throat. In the dim red light, she looked up into his dark, swirling eye, a look so full of intense heat and a silent promise that it made her knees go weak. Her entire face burned with a massive blush. She wanted to step back, she wanted to complain about his rules, but her independent mind went completely blank under his gaze.
"Kunwar Sa... aap... aap itne paas kyun khade hain?" Virajita whispered, her voice trembling as she looked up at him, her lips just millimeters from his. "Darwaza kholiye... mujhe baahar jaana hai." (Kunwar Sa... why are you standing so close? Open the door... I want to go outside.)
He let out that same low, rich chuckle, the warm vibration of his chest sending a violent shiver straight down her spine. He slowly leaned down, his lips brushing with agonizing slowness against her temple, his voice a possessive, dark whisper in the crimson light.
"Humne aapse pehle bhi kaha tha, priye... hamari haveli ke niyam bohot sakht hain. Aur is aapatkaal mein... hamari anumati ke bina aap is kaksh se ek qadam bhi bahar nahi rakh sakti hain. Ab bataiye, aapka ye ghamand hamare is sankalp ko tod payega?" (I told you before, darling... the rules of our mansion are very strict. And in this emergency... without our permission, you cannot step a single foot out of this room. Now tell me, will this pride of yours be able to break this determination of ours?)
Virajita stared up at him, her amber eyes wide, completely trapped in his arms as that unexplainable sense of absolute safety washed over her with terrifying force. The slow burn of their hearts had officially turned into a raging fire, and she had absolutely no way out.
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