The Path To Kuldevi Temple

The night stretched endlessly ahead of them.

After the chaos… after the blood… after the silence that followed—none of them truly spoke. The air had changed. It carried not just danger anymore, but something far more fragile.

Unspoken emotions.

Unrealized bonds.

And a journey that had only just begun.

The path to the Kuldevi temple no longer belonged to the lively parts of Mewar. It led them away from the warmth of lanterns and human voices… into something quieter. Something sacred.

A narrow stone trail curved upward through dense trees, their shadows swaying gently under the pale moonlight. Silver light filtered through the leaves, falling like broken patterns on the ground.

Rudrani walked carefully.

Her injured arm still throbbed faintly, but she refused to slow down. Behind her, Adhiraj and Neela followed—unusually quiet, their usual chatter softened into murmurs.

Ahead, Veer remained alert, his sharp eyes scanning every corner.

And beside her—

Rudra.

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

Yet their steps matched.

Same pace.

Same rhythm.

As if, without realizing, they had already begun walking together.

Rudra’s gaze shifted slightly toward her.

He noticed everything.

The stiffness in her arm. The way she winced ever so slightly… then hid it. The way she refused to show weakness.

“Aap dheere chal sakti hain,” he said quietly.

Rudrani didn’t look at him. “Main theek hoon.”

“Aap theek nahi hain,” he replied, calm but firm.

She exhaled sharply. “Aap hamesha itne hi ziddi rehte ho?”

Rudra paused for a moment before answering.

“Jab baat zimmedari ki ho… toh haan.”

That made her look at him.

And for a brief second—

Something softened.

The path turned uneven.

A loose stone slipped beneath Rudrani’s foot.

Before she could fall—

A hand caught her wrist.

Firm.

Steady.

Warm.

Rudra.

Their eyes met.

Time slowed.

The world around them faded into silence.

“Aap sambhal kar…” he said softly, his grip still secure.

Rudrani nodded.

But neither of them pulled away immediately.

Not until—

“Hum disturb toh nahi kar rahe?” Adhiraj’s teasing voice broke the moment.

Rudrani quickly pulled her hand back. “Shut up, Adii.”

Rudra looked away, his expression returning to its usual calm.

But inside—

Something had shifted.

Rudra’s Thoughts

Yeh nikatata… uchit nahi hai…

He repeated it to himself.

Again and again.

Yeh stree yahan ki nahi hai… yeh kal chali jayegi…

And yet—

His steps slowed, just enough to match hers again.

Phir bhi… kyun lagta hai ki yeh pal ruk jaye…?

He didn’t understand it.

And perhaps—

Didn’t want to.

Neela & Veer

A little ahead—

Neela walked beside Veer.

Or rather—

Too close beside him.

“Veer jii…” she sang softly, her voice playful.

Veer sighed faintly. “Aap phir se…?”

“Main rukne wali lagti hoon?” she grinned.

Without warning, she twirled lightly in front of him, her dupatta brushing against his arm.

“Tainu shararat sikhawan…

Jadon nainaan ladawan…”

Veer stopped walking altogether.

“Aapko kisi ne mana nahi kiya kabhi?” he asked, genuinely puzzled.

Neela leaned closer, her eyes mischievous.

“Sab ne kiya hai… par maine kab suna?”

Veer had no answer.

He simply looked away.

Which only encouraged her more.

“Achha batao…” she said, now walking backwards in front of him. “Aap hamesha itne seedhe ho ya sirf mere saamne?”

“Hum… aise hi hain,” he replied, slightly flustered.

Neela smiled like she had just accepted a challenge.

“Challenge accepted.”

“Ka… kya?” Veer blinked.

“Main aapko badal ke rahungi.”

For the first time—

Veer nearly stumbled.

The path began to rise.

Soft temple bells echoed faintly through the night air.

They were close.

A calm, divine energy surrounded the place now.

Rudrani slowed slightly.

Something about this place felt… different.

Peaceful.

Grounding.

Rudra noticed.

Without a word, he moved a little closer.

Not touching.

Just… there.

A sudden cold breeze passed through.

Rudrani shivered faintly.

Before she could react—

Rudra removed his shawl and gently placed it around her shoulders.

She blinked in surprise.

“Rudra… main—”

“Raat thandi hai,” he said simply.

No explanation.

No eye contact.

Just care.

She held the shawl closer.

It carried a faint scent of sandalwood.

And something else.

Something that made her feel—

Safe.

Rudrani’s Thoughts

Yeh aadmi… itna alag kyun hai…?

She had met powerful men.

Rich men.

Influential men.

But none like him.

Yeh care karta hai… bina kahe… bina dikhaye…

And that—

Was dangerous.

Because she wasn’t supposed to feel anything.

Not here.

Not now.

Not when her life… her future… waited somewhere else.

Kuldevi Temple

Finally—

They reached.

The temple stood tall, carved in ancient stone, glowing softly under the moonlight. Diyas flickered at the entrance, their flames dancing gently in the night air.

Peace.

Power.

Divinity.

Rudra stepped forward instinctively.

Then turned slightly toward her.

“Chaliye… Rani saa.”

Without realizing—

He extended his hand.

Not as a king.

But as someone asking her to walk beside him.

Rudrani looked at his hand.

Then at him.

And slowly—

Placed her hand in his.

The Lake Before the Temple

But just as they were about to enter—

Rudra stopped.

“Mandir mein pravesh se pehle… shuddhi avashyak hai,” he said.

Rudrani followed his gaze.

A small lake shimmered nearby, reflecting the moon like liquid silver.

They walked toward it.

The night felt quieter here.

Sacred.

Still.

Veer checked the surroundings. “Sthal surakshit hai, bhai saa.”

Rudra nodded.

Rudrani dipped her fingers into the cold water.

A soft shiver passed through her.

Before she could pull away—

Rudra’s hand appeared beside hers.

“Dhyan se,” he murmured.

“Main bachchi nahi hoon.”

“Par aaj raat aapne bachchon jaisi hi harkat ki hai.”

She rolled her eyes.

But didn’t argue.

That Silent Closeness

They bent near the water.

Side by side.

In silence.

Rudrani splashed water on her face and closed her eyes.

When she opened them—

Rudra was already looking at her.

Quietly.

She blinked.

He looked away.

Yet neither stepped back.

Nearby—

Neela flicked water at Veer.

“Aapne… hum par paani phenka?” he asked, shocked.

“Haan… aur kya karoge?” she grinned.

Adhiraj laughed loudly. “Modern flirting, bhai!”

Neela circled Veer again, humming softly—

“Tainu shararat sikhawan…”

Veer stepped back, completely defeated.

“Yeh uchit nahi hai…”

“Dil ke mamle mein kuch bhi uchit nahi hota, Veer jii…”

For once—

Veer had no answer.

After cleansing, they entered the temple.

A deep calm surrounded them instantly.

The idol of Maa Kaali stood fierce and divine, illuminated by flickering lamps. The scent of incense filled the air.

“Swagat hai, Rana saa,” the pandit greeted.

“Puja aarambh kijiye,” Rudra said.

They sat together.

Side by side.

The rituals began.

Mantras echoed.

The fire between them flickered.

And unknowingly—

Rudra guided her.

A slight gesture.

A quiet word.

They moved together in perfect sync.

When the aarti began, Rudra held the thaal.

Then, after a pause—

He extended it toward her.

Without words.

She held it with him.

Together, they circled the flame before Maa Kaali.

Their hands almost touched.

And something else—

Moved between them.

The Moment

“Rana saa… ab aap apni rani ke maang mein kumkum bhariye,” the pandit said.

Time froze.

Rudrani stilled.

Rudra’s hand didn’t move.

“Yeh avashyak nahi hai,” he said quietly.

“Parantu—”

“Hum jaante hain kya avashyak hai.”

Rudrani lowered her gaze.

Something inside her… sank.

And then—

A sudden gust of wind filled the temple.

The diyas flickered wildly.

The bells rang loudly.

The kumkum thaal trembled—

And fell.

The vermilion scattered—

Filling Rudrani’s hairline perfectly.

Silence.

Stillness.

The pandit whispered, “Maa ka aashirwad hai…”

Rudra stood frozen.

His gaze locked on her.

Rudrani touched her maang slowly.

Her breath trembled.

Neither spoke.

But everything had changed.

They hadn’t chosen this.

They hadn’t accepted it.

And yet—

Fate had marked it.

Quietly.

Divinely.

Because some bonds are not created by humans.

They are written by destiny.

Rudrani’s POV

For a second—

She didn’t understand what had just happened.

The wind had come out of nowhere… strong, sudden… almost alive.

The bells had started ringing on their own.

The flame had trembled.

And then—

Something warm brushed against her forehead.

Soft.

Powdered.

Sacred.

Her breath hitched.

Slowly… almost fearfully… her fingers lifted to her hairline.

They touched it.

Red.

Kumkum.

Her heartbeat stopped.

No… not stopped—

It rose.

Loud.

Wild.

Uncontrollable.

Her fingers trembled as she looked down at them, stained in vermilion.

Yeh… kaise…?

She hadn’t even realized when her gaze lifted.

It found him.

Rudra.

Standing right in front of her.

Frozen.

Looking at her as if the world had just shifted beneath his feet.

And in that moment—

She forgot everything.

The 21st century.

Her life.

Her upcoming wedding.

Everything.

Because right now—

All she could feel was that strange, unknown weight settling deep inside her chest.

Yeh sirf ek rasam nahi hai…

She knew that.

Even if she didn’t belong to this century…

Even if she didn’t believe in half of these customs—

This one…

This meant something.

Maang ka kumkum…

A symbol.

A bond.

A claim.

And the most terrifying part?

It didn’t feel wrong.

Her hand slowly dropped from her forehead.

Her throat felt dry.

Yeh nahi hona chahiye tha…

But her heart—

It didn’t agree.

Because somewhere, very quietly…

It whispered—

Phir bhi… kyun lag raha hai jaise yeh galat nahi hai…?

Her eyes didn’t leave his.

Not even for a second.

Rudra’s POV

He had seen battles.

Bloodshed.

Death.

Betrayal.

Nothing had ever shaken him.

Nothing.

But this—

This one moment—

Left him completely still.

The wind.

The bells.

The falling kumkum.

And then—

Her.

Standing before him.

Marked.

As his.

His breath felt heavy.

His chest tightened.

Yeh kya ho gaya…?

His mind refused to accept it.

Because he knew the truth.

Yeh meri patni nahi hai…

She didn’t belong here.

She didn’t belong to him.

And yet—

The sight in front of him said otherwise.

Her maang…

Filled.

Not by his hand.

But by fate itself.

His jaw tightened.

Yeh sirf ek sanyog hai…

He tried to reason.

Tried to dismiss it.

Tried to ignore the strange pull in his chest.

But his eyes betrayed him.

They didn’t move away from her.

Couldn’t.

Because something inside him…

Shifted.

Yeh theek nahi hai…

He repeated it again.

And again.

Woh chali jayegi… yeh sab bas kuch dino ka saath hai…

And yet—

Why did it feel like something had just been taken from him…

Or worse—

Given to him… without his consent?

His fingers curled slightly.

Unconsciously.

As if resisting the urge to reach out.

To wipe it away.

Or maybe—

To protect it.

He didn’t know.

And that confused him more than anything.

Because for the first time—

Rana Rudra Pratap Singh had no control over what he was feeling.

His gaze softened for just a fraction of a second.

Barely noticeable.

But real.

Yeh bandhan… humne nahi chuna…

And yet—

He couldn’t deny it.

Par kya hum ise tod paayenge…?

That Silent Exchange

No words were spoken.

None were needed.

Because in that moment—

Standing under Maa Kaali’s gaze—

Two people who didn’t belong to each other…

Were bound by something neither of them understood.

And neither of them—

Was ready to accept.

Yet.

The silence after the kumkum moment lingered.

Heavy.

Unspoken.

Unavoidable.

Even the air inside the temple felt different now—charged with something neither of them could name… yet both could feel.

Rudrani slowly lowered her gaze, her fingers still faintly stained red.

Rudra turned away first.

Not because he wanted to.

But because he had to.

The pandit stepped forward, folding his hands respectfully.

“Rana saa… raat ka samay adhik ho chuka hai. Is samay jungle ke raaste surakshit nahi hote. Aap sab yahin vishraam kar lein toh uchit hoga.”

Rudra remained silent for a moment, his mind calculating, weighing every possibility.

Veer stepped closer. “Bhai saa, pandit jii sahi keh rahe hain. Raat mein yahan se nikalna theek nahi hoga.”

Adhiraj immediately agreed, “Bilkul! Waise bhi mujhe toh already horror movie vibes aa rahi hain.”

Neela elbowed him. “Drama band kar.”

Rudra finally spoke, his voice steady but quieter than before.

“Thik hai… aaj ki raat hum yahin thaharte hain.”

The temple wasn’t grand in luxury, but it carried a peaceful simplicity.

The pandit and a few helpers quickly arranged resting spaces inside a side hall of the temple. Soft mats were laid on the floor, with thin blankets placed neatly.

A few diyas lit the space, casting warm golden light on the stone walls.

It felt… calm.

Too calm.

Unsettled Silence

Rudrani sat quietly near one of the pillars.

Her fingers unconsciously touched her maang again.

The kumkum was still there.

Real.

Not a dream.

Her heartbeat quickened slightly.

Yeh sab bhool ja… Rudrani…

She told herself.

Yeh sirf ek haadsa tha… bas itna hi…

But her thoughts betrayed her.

Because every time she tried to ignore it—

Her mind replayed his expression.

The way he had looked at her.

That stillness.

That intensity.

Across the hall—

Rudra stood near the entrance, looking outside into the darkness.

But he wasn’t seeing the night.

He was seeing her.

That moment.

That kumkum.

His jaw tightened.

Yeh galat hai…

He reminded himself again.

Yeh sirf ek sthiti ka natija hai… isse zyada kuch nahi…

But then—

Why did it feel like something had changed forever.

“Rudra…” her voice came softly.

He turned.

For a brief second, their eyes met again.

And once again—

That silence returned.

Uncomfortable.

Yet… strangely comforting.

“Hum… yahin ruk rahe hain?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.

“Jee,” he replied. “Subah hone par wapas chalenge.”

A pause.

Neither moved.

Neither spoke.

Then—

“Raat thandi hogi,” he added quietly. “Aap andar vishraam kar lijiye.”

She nodded.

But didn’t move immediately.

As if waiting for something.

Something neither of them understood.

On the other side—

Neela had absolutely no intention of letting the mood stay serious.

“Veer jii…” she whispered dramatically.

Veer closed his eyes for a second.

“Ab kya hai?”

“Dar lag raha hai…”

He turned instantly. “Kis baat se?”

Neela pointed vaguely into the darkness. “Wahan…”

Veer looked.

There was nothing.

When he turned back—

She was already smiling.

“Mujhe aapke paas baithna hai.”

Veer blinked. “Yeh… dar ke kaaran hai?”

“Bilkul,” she nodded with fake innocence.

Adhiraj snorted from the side. “Oscar level acting.”

Neela ignored him and sat right next to Veer.

Very close.

Veer straightened immediately, clearly unsure what to do.

“Thoda door baithiye,” he said stiffly.

“Thoda paas baithne mein kya problem hai?” she countered.

He had no answer.

Again.

Night Falls Deeper

One by one, everyone settled down.

Adhiraj lay down almost instantly.

“Good night, losers,” he muttered before turning away.

Neela stayed awake a little longer… talking softly… teasing Veer until he finally stopped responding.

Even she smiled and lay down.

Slowly—

Silence filled the temple.

Rudrani lay on her side, staring at the dim flame of a diya.

Sleep didn’t come.

Her mind refused to quiet down.

The kumkum.

The temple.

Him.

Everything blurred together.

She turned slightly—

And her gaze fell on him.

Rudra.

He wasn’t sleeping.

He sat near the entrance, back resting against a pillar, eyes open.

Guarding.

Watching.

Always alert.

But tonight—

There was something else in his eyes.

Something softer.

Something… conflicted.

He sensed her gaze.

Of course he did.

Without turning, he spoke quietly—

“Aap soyiye… hum yahin hain.”

She didn’t respond.

Just kept looking.

And after a moment—

He finally turned.

Their eyes met again.

No barriers this time.

No distractions.

Just silence.

And something growing quietly between them.

Unwanted.

Unplanned.

Unavoidable.

The temple slept under the watch of the divine.

But not all hearts rested.

Because sometimes—

The most restless battles…

Are the ones no one can see.

And tonight—

Two souls stood on the edge of something neither of them was ready to name.

Yet.

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