AUTHOR'S POV

Five months.

Five quiet, healing, ordinary months-

the kind that don’t announce themselves,

the kind that stitch broken hearts back together without anyone noticing.

And today…

today was Arisha’s birthday.

She didn’t know that.

Because nobody was allowed to remind her.

Not a single wish.

Not a single cake.

Not a single hint.

Yugant Singh Raghuvanshi’s strict order.

It was already 11 a.m.

Sunlight filtered lazily through the massive windows of the royal bedroom, painting golden streaks across silk curtains, carved furniture, and-

-the Queen of Rajasthan, curled up in bed like a stubborn kitten.

She was wrapped in Yugant’s shirt, sleeves too long, collar slipping off one shoulder, arms locked tightly around him as if he were a life-saving pillow.

Royal?

Hardly.

Majestic?

Not even close.

Adorable?

Dangerously.

“Jaan,” Yugant said patiently for the third time, brushing her hair back. “Get up.”

“No.”

Her voice was muffled against his chest.

“We’re getting late.”

She tightened her grip instead.

“I don’t care.”

Yugant sighed, looking down at the woman who ruled an entire kingdom…

yet refused to leave bed before noon.

“You’re the Queen,” he reminded her softly.

She lifted her head just enough to glare at him.

“Then as Queen, I declare today a national sleeping holiday.”

He almost laughed.

Almost.

Instead, he leaned down, pressing a kiss to her hair. “You can sleep later. Get ready.”

She shook her head like a child.

“I just want to stay here,” she murmured, nuzzling into his chest. “In your shirt. With you. No meetings. No people. No duties.”

Her fingers curled into the fabric possessively.

Yugant’s jaw tightened - not in irritation, but in restraint.

Because if he let her stay like this…

He wouldn’t be able to stop himself.

“It’s already eleven,” he said carefully.

“And?” she asked, eyes closed, completely unbothered.

“The sun knows where it belongs. Why don’t you?”

He groaned softly.

This woman.

11 months ago, she had walked into his life like a storm.

Today, she ruled it-

barefoot, sleepy, and clinging to him in his shirt.

Anything but royal.

And yet-

Yugant looked at her with an expression only walls had seen.

“Get ready,” he said again, quieter this time. “Please.”

She peeked at him suspiciously.

“Why are you being so insistent?”

He smiled.

The kind of smile that hides secrets.

“Because,” he said smoothly, brushing his thumb across her cheek,

“today… I don’t want you to miss anything.”

She yawned.

Unaware.

Unprepared.

Completely clueless-

-that the entire day was about her.

Yugant realised something very important in that moment.

You don’t order Arisha Rawal Raghuvanshi to do anything.

You outsmart her.

He glanced at the clock again.

11:07 a.m.

Still no movement.

She was tucked into him, warm, sleepy, stubborn - her cheek pressed against his chest like it belonged there.

Fine.

Plan B.

He shifted slightly, loosening his hold.

Arisha’s eyes flew open instantly.

“Where are you going?” she asked, alarmed, tightening her grip again.

He raised an eyebrow. “So you’re awake.”

“That’s not the point,” she muttered. “Stay.”

Yugant sighed dramatically. “I can’t.”

“Why?” Her pout was instant.

“Because,” he said casually, “if you don’t get ready in the next fifteen minutes, I’ll have to attend that meeting alone.”

She blinked. “…meeting?”

“Yes,” he replied smoothly. “The one where everyone keeps asking me where my wife is.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What meeting?”

“The boring one,” he shrugged. “With boring people. Who talk a lot.”

She considered this.

Then - very suspiciously-

“You’re lying.”

He placed a hand on his chest. “I would never lie to my queen.”

She stared at him for a long moment.

Then she yawned again.

“Cancel it.”

Yugant smiled faintly. “Can’t.”

“Postpone.”

“Already postponed twice.”

She groaned, burying her face back into his chest. “I hate responsibilities.”

He chuckled softly, stroking her hair. “I know.”

Silence followed.

Then - very quietly-

“Will you at least help me get ready?” she mumbled.

Hook.

He hid his smile perfectly.

“Of course,” he said gently. “I’ll even pick your outfit.”

She lifted her head immediately. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Too late,” he replied, already sliding out of bed. “I’ve decided.”

She watched him suspiciously as he walked toward the wardrobe.

“Yugant,” she warned. “If you make me wear something uncomfortable-”

He turned back with an innocent expression.

“Would I ever do that?”

“Yes,” she said instantly.

He laughed, opening the wardrobe anyway.

Moments later, he turned back holding a neatly folded outfit.

“Wear this,” he said.

She eyed it carefully.

“…This looks normal.”

He nodded. “Because it is.”

She frowned. “Why does that make me uncomfortable?”

Because the Queen of Rajasthan had no idea-

-that this was just the beginning.

And Yugant Singh Raghuvanshi?

He was enjoying every second of deceiving her.

The moment Arisha stepped out of the room, something… felt wrong.

Not bad.

Not dangerous.

Just - different.

The palace, which was usually alive with soft chaos, felt unusually… composed.

Too composed.

She slowed her steps unconsciously, her eyes scanning the living room.

Amrita was smiling - but not fussing.

Meenakshi wasn’t arguing with Pranay about laddoos.

Mahika - MAHIKA - was sitting calmly, eating without a single complaint.

That alone was suspicious.

Arisha leaned closer to Yugant and whispered, “Why is everyone behaving?”

He didn’t even look at her.

“Behaving how?”

“Like… well-adjusted adults,” she said seriously.

Yugant coughed to hide his smile.

She looked around again.

Mihir waved cheerfully. “Bhabhi, drive safe!”

No drama.

No teasing.

No extra comments.

Arisha blinked.

“…Okay. That’s unsettling.”

She shrugged it off quickly - because overthinking was not on today’s agenda.

She walked up to Amrita first, hugging her tight.

“Bye, ma. Don’t wait for lunch. I’ll probably sleep.”

Amrita laughed softly. “Of course, beta.”

She hugged Meenakshi next, then Pratap, then Pranay, then Prabhakar - who blessed her with a fond smile that lingered a second longer than usual.

Mahika hugged her tightly.

“Bye, bhabhi.”

“That’s it?” Arisha asked. “No tantrum? No complaint about breakfast?”

Mahika smiled sweetly. “I’m evolving.”

Arisha narrowed her eyes. “I don’t trust this.”

Everyone laughed.

She turned toward Yugant with a dramatic sigh.

“I told you. It’s second Saturday. I wanted to sleep.”

He held out his hand. “And I told you - no excuses.”

She took his hand anyway, grumbling,

“You are a very unreasonable king.”

He leaned in slightly. “And you’re a very spoiled queen.”

She smiled despite herself.

As she followed him toward the car, one last thought crossed her mind-

No one scolded her for leaving late.

No one reminded her of schedules.

No one even told her to eat properly.

Strange.

Very strange.

She settled into the car, buckling her seatbelt lazily.

“Yugant,” she said casually, staring out the window, “if this is some kind of prank-”

He glanced at her, calm as ever.

“It’s not.”

She hummed. “Good. Because I’m too sleepy to react properly.”

The car started moving.

And behind her-

An entire palace held its breath.

Because the Queen of Rajasthan was about to realise-

Nothing was ‘usual’ today.

The car slowed to a halt.

Yugant glanced sideways - and sighed.

Of course.

She was asleep again.

Curled toward the window, cheek pressed against the glass, lips parted slightly, completely unaware of the world. 11 months married, and this habit of hers still amazed him.

“Oh God,” he muttered under his breath. “She slept again.”

He reached out and tapped her cheek a little too firmly.

“Arisha. Wake up.”

She groaned. “Yug… five more minutes.”

“No,” he said, already opening the door. “Now.”

She blinked, disoriented, hair messy, eyes half-open. “Did we reach office already?”

He didn’t answer. Just held her hand and gently - but firmly - pulled her out.

She followed him like a sleepy child, yawning, rubbing her eyes, too lost to notice anything around her.

Not the decorated gate.

Not the familiar building.

Not the suppressed excitement in Yugant’s eyes.

The moment they stepped inside-

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DI!!!”

The shout echoed.

Arisha froze.

Her sleep vanished in a second.

She stared ahead in absolute shock.

The entire hall of Angel’s Home was lit up - fairy lights, balloons, flowers. The girls she had once saved, once protected, once given a second life to - stood there smiling, clapping, some with tears in their eyes.

A banner hung behind them:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARISHA DI

Her breath hitched.

“What…?” she whispered.

Someone rushed forward and hugged her tight.

Then another.

And another.

“Happy birthday, di!”

“We missed you so much!”

“You didn’t come for so long!”

She looked around, stunned.

This place.

This place.

The one closest to her heart.

Slowly, she turned back.

Yugant stood there with his hands in his pockets, watching her - not like a king, not like a husband-

But like a man who had just given the world to the woman he loved.

She stared at him, eyes wide.

“My… birthday?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You really forgot?”

Her lips trembled. “You - everyone - no one said anything…”

He stepped closer, voice low and warm.

“Because I told them not to.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“So I could remind you,” he said softly,

“that before you became Queen of Rajasthan…

you were their angel.”

Her eyes filled instantly.

She turned back to the girls, to the home, to the place that had once defined her entire existence - and then broke down, tears spilling freely.

Yugant caught her before her knees could give way.

She clutched his shirt, crying openly.

“I- this -Yug…”

He held her tightly, one hand cradling her head.

“Happy Birthday, jaan.”

And in that moment-

Arisha Yugant Singh Raghuvanshi realised something profound.

She hadn’t lost herself after marriage.

She had been found.

Someone cleared their throat loudly.

“Di…” a tiny voice said, barely able to contain excitement, “cake…?”

That single word broke the spell.

Arisha wiped her tears hurriedly, laughing through them. “Of course. Cake comes first. Always.”

Cheers erupted.

A huge chocolate cake - her favourite - was brought forward, decorated clumsily but lovingly. There were uneven letters, extra cream on one side, and tiny handmade paper flowers stuck all around it.

It was perfect.

Yugant guided her hands to the knife. “Do the honours, birthday girl.”

She looked at him, eyes still glossy. “You planned this.”

He shrugged casually. “I just followed orders from a very dangerous group of girls.”

“Liar,” she muttered, smiling.

She cut the cake.

The moment the knife went through-

Chaos.

Someone smeared cream on her cheek.

Someone else clapped too loudly.

A girl tripped while trying to take photos.

And before Arisha could react, cake landed straight on Yugant’s sleeve.

The entire hall went silent.

Someone gasped.

Someone whispered, “Rana sa-”

Yugant looked down at his sleeve slowly.

Then up.

Everyone held their breath.

Arisha froze. “I- Yugant, I swear it wasn’t-”

He dipped his finger into the cake.

And calmly smeared it across her nose.

The hall exploded.

Laughter, screams, claps.

Arisha stared at him in disbelief - then burst out laughing and did the unthinkable.

She grabbed a handful of cake and smeared it right across his cheek.

“Queen’s privilege,” she declared proudly.

Yugant laughed - actually laughed - a sound so rare that even the girls paused just to hear it.

“Bad move,” he warned softly.

Next thing anyone knew, the King and Queen of Rajasthan were chasing each other around Angel’s Home, dodging girls, laughing like children, covered in cake and cream.

No crowns.

No rules.

No walls.

Just joy.

Finally, Yugant caught her, pulling her close amid claps and whistles.

Breathless, Arisha rested her forehead against his chest.

“This,” she whispered, “is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”

He brushed cake from her cheek with his thumb, eyes softer than ever.

“That’s because,” he said quietly, “this year… you’re not celebrating alone.”

She looked up at him.

Yugant kissed her forehead gently.

His voice dropped - low, warm, meant only for her.

“Do you know what makes this place special, jaan?”

She looked around, still smiling.

“The girls? The memories?”

He shook his head slightly and leaned in, his forehead resting against hers.

“This is where everything began,” he said quietly.

“Our story.”

Her breath hitched.

The noise faded.

The world blurred.

She finally understood.

Angel’s Home wasn’t just a place that saved lives.

It was the place that had brought them together.

Arisha smiled through fresh tears, her fingers curling into his shirt.

“And this time,” she whispered, “we’re writing it together.”

Yugant kissed her forehead once more.

Right where destiny had first taken its breath.

To be Continued...