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- Former Viceroy's House, Delhi -
- August 31, 1936 -
After greeting Aryan, the Nepali entourage dispersed, the royal family gravitated toward the influential figures of Bharat. The king and queens engaged in conversation with Aryan's parents, Surya and Anjali Rajvanshi, exchanging pleasantries and discussing the future of relations between their nations. Nearby, leaders like Bose, Patel, and Nehru listened intently, their expressions betraying the weight of the discussions taking place. Diplomacy was in motion, and each word carried significance.
Amidst the shifting tides of political discourse, one figure stood apart—Nalini, the youngest princess of the Shah royal family. Unlike her elders, who navigated the intricate web of alliances, she had been entrusted with a different task: forging a connection with Aryan and his circle. She was of a similar age, and though the true intent was left unspoken, she understood what her family hoped for—a potential union between her and Aryan.
Of course, they were well aware of Shakti. Aryan's fiancée was no ordinary woman. A princess of the Natore royal family, she had a legacy of her own, not to mention the recent revelation of her immense power. As 'Devi,' she stood beside 'Maheshvara'—Aryan's heroic persona—cementing her place not just in Bharat's future but on the world stage. The Shah family's aspirations were ambitious, but they were not foolish. They knew what they were up against.
Nalini, however, had little time to dwell on these thoughts before her attendant and closest friend, Mira, nudged her playfully. "You barely spoke to him," she teased, her voice laced with mischief. "I thought you were supposed to build connections. That was more of a passing hello."
Nalini felt her cheeks warm, shooting Mira a half-hearted glare. "It wasn't the time or place," she countered, though her voice lacked conviction.
Mira laughed. "Oh, please. You admire him, don't you?"
Nalini hesitated. She had known of Maheshvara long before their brief meeting at Kamar-Taj, where she didn't know Aryan's true identity. Back then, he had been a mystery—a young man with great power, very much like her, but unlike her who didn't have much freedom, he wielded his power for good and responsibility, a trait she greatly began to admire as she listened to more and more of his feats. She had respected him then, but now… now she knew his real identity. Aryan Rajvanshi. He was the one she had admired from afar. The one who had reshaped Bharat with sheer will and power. The one who stood at the center of history itself.
And he was handsome…and quite mature for his age. That much was undeniable.
She sighed, her thoughts betraying her as she looked down. "He's… different," she admitted softly.
Mira smirked. "Different enough for you to actually hope your family follows through with their idea?"
Nalini gave her a sharp look, but the truth was impossible to deny. The idea of marriage had always been an obligation, a duty expected of her as a princess. But for the first time, she felt something different—hope. If it had to be someone, she would rather it be him.
Before Mira could tease her further, Nalini's gaze shifted across the room, catching sight of Shakti. The woman who already stood beside Aryan. The one she would inevitably have to meet.
Steeling herself, Nalini made her decision. "I should introduce myself," she murmured.
Mira raised an eyebrow. "To Aryan?"
"No," Nalini said, straightening her posture. "To Shakti."
With measured steps, she moved toward her, her heart beating just a little faster.
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As the banquet continued, Shakti stood a short distance from Aryan, greeting the steady stream of guests who sought her out. As his fiancée, she held a position of power and influence in her own right, not just as a princess of the Natore royal family but as Devi—the one who fought alongside Maheshvara. Everyone wanted to make a good impression, to secure good relations with her and, by extension, the Natore royals.
She understood her role, the weight of responsibility that came with standing beside Aryan. The future empress of Bharat. It was a challenge she had long accepted, but understanding it and feeling the exhaustion of it were two different things. She had been raised in this world, trained to navigate these formalities since childhood, yet even she found herself drained by the sheer number of people approaching her.
As she continued, her gaze shifted, drawn to a figure approaching with her attendant. A young woman, possibly the most gorgeous among the many gathered, moved with measured grace toward her. Recognition came swiftly—Nepal's youngest princess.
But it wasn't just recognition that made Shakti take notice. Ever since she had embraced her powers, using the Power Cosmic for so long, she had developed a sense for the energy around her. And this girl—Nalini—felt different. There was an undeniable closeness to nature about her, an affinity so deep that it wasn't just harmony, but control. Shakti had felt this before, in Aryan's words when he had told her about mutants like her. This girl was one of them.
A mutant, a princess, someone who understood the burden of standing in the shadows of great expectations. Shakti found herself hoping, for once, that she might gain a friend. Her circle was small—only Aryan and Karna truly understood her. The rest either saw her as superior or entitled, never quite as an equal.
Perhaps, this time, things could be different.
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Nalini approached with a poised smile, her attendant trailing behind with a knowing glint in her eyes. As they came to a stop before Shakti, Nalini performed a graceful traditional greeting, hands folded.
"Princess Shakti, it is an honor to finally meet you. I have heard much about you," she said warmly.
Shakti, despite the weight of formality in the air, smiled back. "The honor is mine, Princess Nalini. Welcome."
The pleasantries exchanged, a moment of silence lingered, neither quite sure how to transition from the expected formalities to something more natural. It was Nalini's attendant who nudged things forward with a lighthearted comment, her voice teasing.
"It's quite funny, really. The two of you standing together—beauty, power, royalty… I bet half the hall is either in awe or in fear."
Nalini gave her a look, part amused, part exasperated. "You're exaggerating," she muttered before turning back to Shakti. "Please ignore her. She enjoys embarrassing me."
Shakti chuckled, some of the stiffness in her posture easing. "I think I like her already."
Nalini sighed dramatically, but her eyes glowed with amusement. "Then I'm doomed."
The casual shift in tone made them both relax, and soon, the conversation flowed more naturally. They talked about the banquet, the overwhelming number of guests, and the expectations placed upon them. But it didn't take long before the conversation found its way to Aryan.
"I must admit," Nalini said, twirling the stem of her wine glass between her fingers, "I didn't realize Maheshvara and Aryan were the same person until recently. It was quite the revelation."
Shakti smirked. "You're not the first. It's amusing watching people make the connection. Though, considering how much you seem to admire him, I'm surprised you didn't see it sooner."
Nalini's eyes widened slightly before narrowing at her attendant, who was barely holding back laughter. "You can tell?"
"Honestly, it is quite obvious Princess, with your occasional glaces at him," the attendant replied mischievously while holding her laughter.
Shakti raised an eyebrow. "Admiration, huh?"
Nalini groaned, covering her face with one hand. "I was just a fan of Maheshvara before I knew he was Aryan. That's all."
Shakti grinned. "I see. Well, I can't blame you. He does have a habit of leaving an impression."
Nalini gave her a wary look, then, after a moment, laughed. "I feel like I walked into a trap."
"Welcome to my world," Shakti said with a smirk.
They shared a look, a mutual understanding passing between them. Both had spent their lives under the weight of expectation, both had few people they could truly be themselves around. But in this moment, standing together, it felt less like a duty and more like something natural.
Perhaps, just perhaps, they were already friends.
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Aryan stood with composed authority as he faced the Tibetan delegation, exchanging formal pleasantries before steering the conversation toward the matter at hand.
"The British left behind more than just abandoned offices and empty promises," he said in a measured tone. "The border situation must be resolved soon—before outside forces try to take advantage of the instability."
The Tibetan representatives nodded, understanding the weight of his words. There were unspoken concerns on both sides, but this was neither the time nor place for a full discussion. They assured him that talks would continue, and with respectful bows, they parted ways.
As they moved on, Aryan exhaled quietly, allowing himself a brief pause. His gaze drifted across the hall, scanning the sea of dignitaries and rulers engaged in their own discussions, before settling on a sight that made his brow raise slightly—Shakti and Nalini, deep in conversation.
It wasn't just polite small talk. The way they laughed, the ease with which they interacted—it was as if they had known each other for years rather than mere minutes. He had expected them to be cordial, but this? They looked like long-lost friends.
A flicker of curiosity passed through him. What were they talking about?
Knowing Shakti, she wouldn't hesitate to say whatever was on her mind, and Nalini… well, he barely knew her beyond their brief meeting at Kamar-Taj. But from what little he did remember, she was sharp-witted and confident, with an energy that made people gravitate toward her.
Still, he didn't have time to dwell on it. Another group of guests was approaching, waiting for his attention. Shaking off his thoughts, Aryan turned back to them, slipping seamlessly back into his role as Samrat.
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