A ray of warm morning sunlight slipped through the bedroom window, gently caressing my face. Its warmth lingered for a few precious seconds before I squeezed my eyes shut, unwilling to leave the comfort of sleep. With a soft stretch, I finally opened my eyes.

A small smile curved my lips.

Almost instinctively, my hand reached toward the nightstand. My fingers wrapped around a wooden photo frame. The moment my eyes fell upon the familiar faces inside it, my smile widened ever so slightly.

"Good morning, Mom... Dad," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

I missed them every single day.

And somewhere deep inside, I believed I was the reason they were gone.

My mother died while giving birth to me. The moment the heartbreaking news reached my father, grief consumed him completely. He loved her more than his own life. That very night, unable to bear the pain, he drove away... and met with a fatal accident.

My father was the Rana Sa of Jaipur.

Which made me the princess of Jaipur.

But not the princess people adored.

I was the one they whispered about.

but cursed princess.

Was it really my fault?

Maybe...

Maybe if I had never been born, they would still be alive.

Why did I have to exist?

Did I really kill them?

The familiar questions echoed inside my mind like a never-ending storm. Tears blurred my vision before one escaped, rolling down my cheek and landing on the glass of the frame.

I quickly wiped it away and carefully placed the photograph back on the nightstand.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up. The icy marble floor sent a chill through my bare feet as I walked toward the bathroom.

After brushing my teeth, I stepped beneath the shower. Cold water cascaded over my body, washing away sleep but never the heaviness inside my heart.

A few minutes later, I walked out wearing a simple pink kurti that hugged my figure perfectly. After tying my hair neatly, I made my way toward the dining hall.

The moment I entered, everyone was already seated around the long dining table.

"Why are you so late today, Tara?" Dadi asked. Her displeased tone left no room for doubt.

"You missed the morning puja... and you didn't even prepare breakfast today."

"I'm... sorry, Dadi. My alarm didn't ring on time," I replied softly, lowering my eyes.

Even as I spoke, I mentally prepared myself for the taunts that were bound to follow.

"Maa, these are just excuses to avoid work," Chachi muttered with obvious irritation.

Nothing about this was new.

For the past twenty-three years, this had been my everyday life.

"Enough, Siya."

Chachu's stern voice instantly silenced her.

Although she said nothing further, the glare she threw in my direction promised that this conversation wasn't over.

"Tara, come and have your breakfast," Dadi instructed.

I quietly walked to my seat beside Bhai's chair.

Not everyone in this family hated me.

Chachu had always treated me like his own daughter. Bhai and my sisters had never made me feel unwanted either.

The moment I sat down, Bhai smiled warmly.

"Good morning, Tara."

"Good morning, Bhai," I replied, returning his smile.

As I ate, I could still feel Dadi's and Chachi's eyes fixed on me. Something felt... different today.

Perhaps it was because I had missed the morning puja.

Or because I hadn't prepared breakfast.

Even though we had enough servants to cook for everyone, Dadi always insisted,

"Food prepared by the women of the house carries love that no servant can offer."

Lost in my thoughts, I almost didn't notice Dada Ji speaking.

"Our children are all grown up now," he said thoughtfully. "I believe it's time they settled down. What do you say, Rajveer?"

"As you think is best, Dad," Chachu answered respectfully.

Of course he wouldn't disagree.

But... marriage?

Whose marriage were they talking about?

Bhai Sa?

Or Katha Di?

The question lingered in my mind throughout the rest of breakfast.

Once I finished eating, I quietly slipped out into the palace garden.

The morning sun painted everything in shades of gold. Flowers swayed gracefully with the gentle breeze, filling the air with their sweet fragrance.

I stopped beside a blooming flower.

As my fingertips brushed against its velvet-soft petals, a soothing warmth spread through me, easing my restless heart.

A faint smile appeared on my lips.

Leaving the flower behind, I continued walking until I reached my favorite place in the entire palace—

the lotus pond.

I slowly approached its edge.

The crystal-clear water shimmered beneath the morning sunlight, its gentle ripples dancing with the wind. Pink lotus flowers bloomed proudly across the pond, their delicate petals glowing like little pieces of dawn.

Graceful white swans glided peacefully through the water, creating tiny ripples that spread across the surface.

Whenever the world became too heavy...

This place reminded me that peace still existed.

Slowly, I lowered myself onto the stone edge of the pond. My fingertips grazed the soft petals of a blooming lotus, and its delicate warmth seemed to seep into my skin.

A gentle breeze swept across the garden, carrying the sweet fragrance of flowers. Loose strands of my hair danced across my cheeks as I sat there in silence, watching a pair of swans glide gracefully through the crystal-clear water.

For a few fleeting moments...

Everything felt peaceful.

"Tara."

The sharp voice shattered the silence.

The smile on my face disappeared instantly.

I slowly turned around.

Chachi stood a few feet away, her arms crossed over her chest. Her expression was filled with nothing but contempt.

She never missed an opportunity to remind me that I didn't belong.

I quickly stood up, lowering my gaze as she walked toward me.

She stopped just a few steps away.

"S-Sorry... Choti Maa..." I stammered nervously.

"Don't you dare call me 'Choti Maa' again!" she snapped, her voice slicing through the air. "How many times have I told you? I am not your mother."

Every word landed like a slap across my face.

"Ek maa ko toh janam lete hi kha gayi... ab mujhe bhi maa bolkar marna hai kya?"

My heart clenched painfully.

My vision blurred as tears welled up, but I refused to let them fall.

"Aur agar ye magarmach ke aansu bahaye na... toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga. Jaa... Maaji ne bulaya hai tujhe. Aur in bechare parindon par toh taras kha. Inhone toh tujhe paida karne ka gunah bhi nahi kiya. Kam se kam inki kismat se apni manhoosiyat door rakh."

This time, I couldn't stop them.

A single tear slipped down my cheek.

Without waiting to hear another cruel word, I turned around and hurried inside the palace.

My heart pounded against my chest as I walked through the long marble corridors.

Why is Dadi calling me?

What mistake have I made this time?

The questions refused to leave my mind.

Soon, I stopped outside Dadi's room.

Taking a slow, trembling breath, I gathered whatever courage I had left.

Taunts...

That was all I expected.

Raising my hand, I knocked softly.

"Come in."

Just two simple words...

Yet they were enough to make my heartbeat quicken.

I slowly pushed the door open.

The cool air of the room greeted me.

Dadi sat gracefully on the single-seater sofa, as though she had been waiting for my arrival.

Her eyes lifted to meet mine.

"D-Dadi... you called me?" I asked quietly.

"Haan," she replied. "A marriage proposal has come from the Rathore family."

For a second, I simply blinked.

Why was she telling me this?

I knew very well the proposal wasn't for me.

Who would willingly accept a cursed princess as their daughter-in-law?

"Zyada khush mat ho. Ye rishta tumhare liye nahi hai."

The taunt wasn't unexpected.

I remained silent.

"Ye rishta Katha ke liye hai. Ladke wale parso use dekhne aa rahe hain."

I simply nodded.

There was something more.

I could sense it.

"Aur tum bhi jaanti ho tumhare kadam kitne manhoos maane jaate hain. Rajvansh parivaar ki iss generation ka ye pehla rishta hai. Hum nahi chahte tumhari wajah se koi apshagun ho. Isliye parso kisi bahaane se ghar se bahar chali jaana. Waise toh ye baat tumhe khud samajhni chahiye thi."

Each sentence pierced my heart.

Every word reminded me of the burden I had become in everyone's eyes.

"Tumhare Chote Papa aur Bhai ki wajah se hum tumhe shaadi se door nahi rakh sakte... lekin uss din tum yahan nahi rahogi. Samjhi?"

My body went numb.

"J-Ji... Dadi," I whispered.

Before another word could leave my lips, the door opened.

Chachi walked inside.

"Maa Ji, ise sab samjha diya na parso ke liye?"

"Haan, Bahu," Dadi answered. "Ye koi na koi bahaana bana hi legi."

I stood there silently, clutching the edge of my dupatta so tightly that my knuckles had turned white.

"Na jaane kaunsa kala jaadu kiya hai isne mere pati aur bete par. Bade Papa aur apne maa-baap ko khone ke baad bhi dono is manhoos par jaan chhidakte hain."

I didn't respond.

I never did.

Standing there with lowered eyes had become second nature to me.

"Tujhe shayad pata bhi nahi hai parso kitna bada din hai. Rathore... ye koi chhota-mota naam nahi hai. Poore Rajasthan mein unka sikka chalta hai."

She suddenly grabbed my arm tightly.

"Aur sabse badi baat... ye rishta Rathore parivaar ke sabse bade bete ka hai. Jaanti hai kaun?"

I slowly shook my head.

How could I possibly know?

A mocking smile spread across her lips.

"Nahi na? Teri aukaat se bahut bada aadmi hai woh."

She leaned closer.

"Rudraksh Singh Rathore."

The name echoed inside my mind.

Rudraksh Singh Rathore.

"Sirf uska naam hi kaafi hai logon ko kaanpne par majboor karne ke liye. Aur main itna bada rishta teri wajah se tootne nahi dungi. Isliye chup-chaap kahin chali jaana. Samjhi?"

"...Ji," I whispered.

"Toh ab nikal yahan se. Jaakar koi bahaana soch."

With that, she shoved me toward the door.

I stumbled, barely managing to keep myself from falling.

Without looking back, I walked out of the room.

The palace corridor stretched endlessly before me.

My vision blurred with unshed tears.

Yet I kept walking...

because crying had never changed my fate.

Hey Guys, this the very first chapther and dont worry you will see your hero very soon.😁😁😁