Next morning, Rajawat Haveli.

The air was thick with the fragrance of fresh flowers. The courtyard buzzed with activity as workers draped marigold garlands over the grand arches.

At the center, in front of the temple, Rishank stood with a deep reverence, performing the aarti of Lord Shiva. The brass lamp flickered in his hands, casting a golden glow on his face.

The house was coming alive-music, murmurs, and hurried footsteps-all in preparation for the much-awaited arrival of Nandani.

After everyone attended the arti and took the blessings -they went to the dining table.

"Sab kuch bilkul behtareen hona chahiye," Rashmika murmured to the maid beside her which wasn't ignored by Rishank.
(Everything must be perfect.)

"Maa, sab ekdum behtareen hi hai"
Rishank said while taking shubhi from Niharika who just came for breakfast.
(Maa, everything is already perfect.)

An Hour Later

The sound of a car engine hummed at the haveli gates. Two luxury sedans pulled up, their polished surfaces catching the sunlight. Footmen rushed forward, opening the gates wide.

From the first car, Nandani stepped out, and for a moment, the courtyard seemed to hold its breath. Draped in a shimmery dark blue saree. Her long earrings brushed her jawline, and a simple bindi graced her forehead.

Even Niharika, standing at the top of the steps, felt her heart still for a second. She had always been told she was the jewel of the haveli, but today, seeing Nandani's elegance and grace, she couldn't deny her elder sister's beauty.

Rashmika stepped forward first, her eyes moist, cupping Nandani's face in her hands. "Meri Nandani aakhir ghar aa hi gayi," she whispered before pulling her into a warm embrace.

One by one, family members and staff came forward, offering garlands, aarti plates, and blessings. Laughter, greetings, and the rustle of silk filled the air as the haveli finally felt whole again.

Nandani, who had just got freshened up and finished her paratha from her mother who forcefully fed her up with her own hands, when her phone, placed face down beside her plate, buzzed softly. She glanced at it out of habit-just a fleeting look-but in that single moment, something in her expression shifted.

Her lips curved into a faint smile, the kind that wasn't meant for everyone at the table to notice.

But Niharika did.

From across the table, she caught the slight spark in her sister's eyes, the way her fingers lingered on the phone before she quickly slid it back, screen down again. She smiled seeing her sister smiling.

"Kaun tha?" Rashmika asked casually, reaching for the kesar jalebi.
(Who was that?)

"Bas... Delhi se ek purana dost," Nandani replied smoothly, picking up her glass of saffron milk again as if nothing happened.
(Just an old friend from delhi.)

The day unfolded in a whirl of warmth and conversation. Nandani spoke for hours with her family-catching up with Rashmika about relatives, laughing with Rishank over old childhood memories, and even stealing a quiet moment with Niharika to talk about little things they had missed in each other's lives. The haveli felt alive in a way it hadn't in years, every corner echoing with voices and laughter.

As evening turned to night, the festivities slowed. The corridors quietened, and the flickering oil lamps cast long shadows across the marble floors.

___

Later That Night
Rashmika & Anirudh's Room

Nandani stood at the threshold of her parents' room, her dark blue saree now replaced by a simple silk night suit. Her fingers twisted the edge of her dupatta-rare for someone usually so composed.

"Maa... Pita ji... kuch baat karni thi" she began softly.

Rashmika looked up from her silver jewellery box, and her father, placed aside the papers he was reading. "Bolo, Beta."
(Yes, beta)

Nandani took a slow breath, stepping forward until she stood in front of them. "Main... aapse ek zaruri baat share karna chahti hoon."
(I want to talk about something important)

She paused, eyes flickering between their faces. "Main Shadi karna chahti hu, pichle 7-8 mahino se main ek ladke se pyaar karti hu"
(I want to marry, from the past 2 years I have been in love with a man)

The room fell silent.

Rashmika's brows lifted slightly. "7-8 mahine?"
(7-8 months)

Nandani nodded. "Hanji Maa. Hum ek dusre ko Delhi mein mile the... aur tab se... we've been together. He's... respectful, kind, aur aapko pasand aayega-" She got cut off by her dad
(Yes maa. We both met in Delhi and after that we've been together)

"Kon hain vo ladka? Uska khandaan? Uski caste?" Nandani looked at the sharp eyes of his dad and then lowered her gaze.

"Pita ji, vo Niskarsh hain" his dad's expression changed.
(Dad, he's Niskarsh)

"Vahi Niskarsh jo jodhpur ke Maharaja Ranvijay Singh Rathore ke bade bete hain" she continued
(That one who's the son of Jhodhpur's Maharaja Ranvijay Singh Rathore)

"Aur... woh kal yahan aa raha hai... rishte ke liye."
(And he's coming Tomorrow with a marriage proposal)

He leaned back, studying his daughter with that deep, unreadable gaze he was known for. "Kal?" His voice was calm, but the weight in it was unmistakable.

"Hanji" she replied firmly this time. "Main usse bahut pyaar karti hoon... aur main chahti hoon ki humari shaadi ho."

Nandani already knew her father will never deny her, she already planned about marriage because Anirudh always does what please her elder daughter. And as expected he agreed this time too.

A long pause stretched in the room. Finally, he exhaled slowly. "Theek hai. Kal dekhenge."

Nandani's shoulders relaxed, and a relieved smile spread across her face. "Shukriya, aapka" She bowed her head slightly before stepping back, her heart pounding but lighter than before.

Outside, the haveli slept under the silver glow of the Jaipur moon, but tomorrow, new footsteps would cross its gates-footsteps that might change the course of the Rajawat family forever.

Next Morning
Rajawat Haveli

The first rays of the Jaipur sun streamed through the windows of Niharika's room, casting delicate lattice patterns across the white marble floor. She stirred awake slowly, the faint echo of temple bells and the distant chatter of maids drifting into her ears. Stretching under her soft silk blanket, she felt the gentle pull of a new day-a day that, unknown to her, would leave an imprint she'd never forget.

Pushing the blanket aside, niharika padded barefoot toward the balcony. From there, she could see the haveli courtyard already buzzing with unusual energy. Servants rushed in and out, carrying garlands, polishing silver trays, and arranging fresh bouquets of roses and lilies along the veranda. It looked as though a festival had suddenly descended on Rajawat Haveli.

Curious, she stepped back into her room and saw her personal care taker on gate Niharika nodded allowing her to enter.

"Subah khair, rajkumari sa" the maid said cheerfully. "Aaj toh poora mahal jaise jagmagaa raha hai."
(Good morning, princess)
(The whole place is lighting today)

Niharika tilted her head. "Aur kyun? Aisa kya hai aaj?"
(And why? What's today?)

Before she could answer, another of her attendants, entered carrying a tray of saffron milk and fresh fruit. She exchanged a mischievous glance with the previous maid before placing the tray on Niharika's dressing table.

"Rajkumari sa," she began with a teasing smile, "aapko pata nahi? Aaj koi khaas mehmaan aane wale hain... rishta leke."
(Princess, you know some special is coming for a proposal)

Niharika blinked and asked in confusion "Rishta? Kis ke liye?"
(Proposal? For whom)

The maid giggled, leaning in as if sharing a great secret. "Hamari haveli ki rajkumari ke liye, aur kaun? Aur kaun hai yahan rajkumari, aap ke alawa?"
(For the Princess of our palace and who's the princess here except you?)

Another one added, "Suna hai Jodhpur ke raja aa rahe hain apne beta ke saath... Niskarsh Singh Rathore. Poora shahi rivaaz ke saath aane wale hain."
(I heard that the king of Jodhpur is coming with his son... Niskarsh Singh Rathore. He is coming with the entire royal customs.)

Niharika froze, mid-step toward her dressing table. "Jodhpur ke... raja?"
(King of jhodhpur?)

"Haan," they continued, now fully enjoying the sparkle of gossip. "Aur unka beta... Rajkumar Niskarsh. Sunne mein aaya hai ki bahut hi shandar hai-teekha chehra, rajsi adaa, aur Delhi, Mumbai dono mein apna ek alag hi pehchaan hai."
("And his son... Rajkumar Niskarsh. I have heard that he is very handsome - a slim face, royal manners, and he has a unique identity in both Delhi and Mumbai.)

Niharika tried to keep her composure, but inside, her mind was a whirl. She had never heard anything about her marriage being arranged-not seriously, at least. Yet the way everyone in the haveli was behaving, it seemed as if this was already decided.

But who was Niskarsh to her? She hasn't seen him yet her marriage is being fixed?

"Aapne toh unko dekha hi hoga" the maid said only to get a no from Niharika.

Then the maid pulled out a folded newspaper from the table. "Aaj toh uski tasveer akhbaar me bhi chahpi hai maine subha hi dekha tha"
(Today his picture is also in the newspaper, I saw it in the morning only)

She opened the newspaper and on the first page it was his pictures randomly taken by the camera men

"Dekho... yeh hai Rajkumar Niskarsh ka tasveer. Kal ka Delhi Times hai, unka ek cultural summit ka photo"
(Look... this is Rajkumar Niskarsh's picture. This is yesterday's Delhi Times, his photo from a cultural summit)

Niharika gaze fell on the newspaper as the maid took it infront of her. Then her eyes fell on the photograph-and in that instant, the world around her seemed to still.

There he was.

Her breath hitched.

It was him.

The man from that day.

The man whose car she had nearly collided with in the bustling Jaipur street days ago. The man whose voice had been low and steady when he told her to be careful, whose presence had made her strangely aware of her own heartbeat.

She had brushed off that memory, thinking it was nothing but a fleeting encounter with a stranger. Yet here he was-not just anyone, but Rajkumar Niskarsh Singh Rathore of Jodhpur.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she folded the newspaper, pressing it to her chest for a moment as if that might calm the chaos inside her. But it didn't. Instead, her thoughts began to race, weaving an impossible dream:
He's coming here... with a marriage proposal... for me.

A warmth spread through her chest, the kind that felt like both excitement and a strange ache. She had never truly believed in love at first sight, yet something about seeing his face again stirred the memory of that brief encounter so vividly that her pulse quickened.

Was it real?

He's really coming?

For me?