Avni
đź“ŤÂ Royal Palace
Lucknow,
India.
"Kahat Kabir suno bhai saadhu,
Baat kahu mai khari,
Avni ki privacy toh gyi gyi,"
Atharv sang mockingly, flailing his arms in a playful dance while lounging on my bed like he owned it.
( What Kabir says, listen brother.
Avni's privacy is gone now)
He was making fun of my new reality-having a personal bodyguard following me everywhere.
I rolled my eyes and threw a pillow straight at his face.
"Avni yaar!" he whined, rubbing his nose with a pout.
This is Atharv Oberoi, my annoying male best friend. I can't remember which cursed moment in my life I decided to make him my best friend, but here we are.
"Aur bol le!," Ritvika chuckled from her spot on the couch, curled up with a smile.
(Keep saying.)
Ritvika Roy, my female best friend, practically my sister from another mother. We call her 'Vikku.' Both of them come from ridiculously successful business families.
The three of us? We've been inseparable for 17 years, through thick and thin.
Yes, they annoy the living daylights out of me, but I love them. Even if right now, Atharv is pushing all my buttons.
"Apart from the jokes-" Atharv began, shifting to a more serious tone.
"Said the joker himself," I mumbled, crossing my arms.
Ritvika burst out laughing. "Atharv, she's right. You're the last person who should start talking seriously."
Athrav waved her off. "But seriously, Avni, what are you going to do now? You've never been one for having bodyguards."
"Exactly," Ritvika added. "It's like they think you need a babysitter."
"I don't know," I admitted, leaning back against the bedpost.
"What? The great Avni Raghuvanshi doesn't know what to do? For the first time in her life?" Athrav gasped dramatically. "Vikku, write it down. This is history in the making!"
I grabbed another pillow, ready to launch it at his face again. I swear, sometimes I wonder why I haven't thrown him out of the palace yet.
Ritvika was laughing uncontrollably, trying to hide it behind her hand. "You're lucky she hasn't killed you yet, Atharv."
I ignored him, still thinking about the bodyguard situation. "All I know is that I'm not going to make it easy for him."
"Now that's more like our Avni Raghuvanshi," they both chimed in unison.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. I turned to see Rudra standing there, his usual stern expression intact.
"Prince Aksh is calling all of you," he said, his voice low and calm, yet commanding.
"All of us?!" Ritvika raised an eyebrow, exchanging a look with Kabir.
Rudra nodded without offering any more explanation.
I pulled out my phone, typing a quick message to Aksh Bhai.
"Calling three people to you? Can't you just come here?! Abhi Raja bane nahi ho aap!"
(You're not king yet!)
Within minutes, Aksh Bhai arrived, walking into my room with a smirk. It never gets old how he listens to me, even though he's older.
"You called for us?" Athrav asked, clearly amused by the whole situation.
Aksh Bhai shrugged. "What can I say? Avni here is a queen in the making. Can't ignore her orders." He winked at me, and I rolled my eyes playfully.
"But what's up with this bodyguard thing?" Athrav asked, gesturing toward Rudra. "Is it really necessary? Avni can handle herself!"
Rudra's expression didn't change, but I noticed his eyes flicker briefly toward me before looking away. Aksh Bhai crossed his arms, his tone becoming more serious.
"Given the recent threats, it's for her safety. We can't afford to take any risks."
Atharv and Ritvika exchanged a look, and I knew what they were thinking. They didn't like this any more than I did. But I understood that the situation had changed after the attack.
Still, I wasn't going to make things easy for Rudra Singhaniya. He'd have to learn that the hard way.
Ritvika nudged me. "What's the plan now, Avni?"
I smirked. "Let's just say... he'll have to keep up."
Rudra's eyes met mine for a brief second, but I could see the flicker of a challenge in them. This was going to be interesting.
Well, if he thought being my bodyguard was going to be easy, he was in for a surprise.
Aksh Bhai suddenly grinned, glancing at the clock on the wall.
"Aren't your MBA results being announced today?"
For a second, everyone froze.
The weight of Aksh Bhai's words fell on the room like a heavy blanket, covering the laughter and teasing in a layer of nervous anticipation.
"Oh no..." I muttered.
"Don't tell me you forgot!" Aksh Bhai said, raising his eyebrows.
"Let's check the results first, shall we? Then I'll set the house vibe according to how well you all do." He smirked. "Might save you if it's bad."
I sat up, my stomach flipping at the mention of the results. It was happening now-right now.
Atharv's usual carefree expression tightened ever so slightly, and Ritvika, who was normally unshakable, shifted uneasily on the couch.
As for me? My heart skipped a beat.
Athrav, always the quickest to act, jumped up and rushed to his phone.
"Let's check already! I've been trying not to think about it all day."
The air buzzed with nervous energy as we all gathered around.
Atharv checked his result first, his eyes darting across the screen.
He was already pulling up his result on his phone, a smile spreading across his face. "93%! Passed, baby!"
Ritvika rolled her eyes but smiled, clearly relieved for him.
"Your turn, Vikku," I nudged her, sensing the tiny flicker of nerves that she was trying so hard to hide.
Ritvika pulled her phone closer, her usually steady hands trembling just slightly. She let out a sigh of relief.
"95%! Ah, thank God." Her voice was calm, but I could see the tension drain from her body as she shared a victorious smile with us.
"Okay, Avni, you're up!" Athrav teased, nudging my laptop toward me.
I clicked open the result portal, but of course, my Wi-Fi decided this was the perfect moment to betray me.
The loading circle spun on the screen like some cruel joke. A pit of anxiety formed in my stomach, growing heavier with each passing second.
I tapped my fingers anxiously on the keyboard, my patience running thin.
"Why isn't it loading?" I muttered under my breath, my hands suddenly clammy. I clicked refresh again. And again.
I could feel everyone's eyes on me, and it made the pressure worse.
Athrav leaned over, still in teasing mode but with a softness in his tone. "Don't worry, Avni. You've got this."
Ritvika smiled reassuringly, though I could see the hint of concern in her eyes.
"You always ace things. No way you didn't pass."
Aksh Bhai moved closer, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Relax. Whatever the result, we'll deal with it together. Just breathe."
His words calmed me down, but there was still that lingering fear. I glanced at Rudra, who had been standing quietly near the door. His expression hadn't changed, but I caught him observing everything with those intense eyes of his-taking in every movement, every reaction.
There was something unreadable in his gaze, as though he was silently assessing me, trying to gauge what kind of person I was under pressure.
Finally, the page refreshed.
Everyone crowded closer as my result loaded.
98%.
For a moment, I stared at the screen, unable to process it.
"You-" Athrav began, his voice filled with disbelief.
"-Topped?!" Ritvika finished, her eyes wide with amazement.
Aksh chuckled, squeezing my shoulder in pride. "Look at that. You're the topper!"
I blinked, still stunned. And then, all at once, the reality of it hit me.
"I topped?" My voice came out barely louder than a whisper, and suddenly, the tension that had been suffocating me for the past few minutes evaporated into pure joy.
"Avni Raghuvanshi, 98%!" Athrav practically shouted, throwing his arms around me in a bear hug. "Our girl did it!"
Ritvika joined in, pulling me into another tight hug, her eyes shining with pride. "We knew it! I knew you'd do it!"
Even Aksh bhai's usual calm demeanour cracked, and he gave me a proud grin. "Looks like I don't need to set the house vibe after all. You just set it with that result."
Aksh Bhai grinned, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "See, I knew you had nothing to worry about. Topper of toppers."
I couldn't help but laugh, the tension in my chest finally dissolving. I had done it. Despite everything, despite the attacks, the stress, and the bodyguard situation, I had topped my MBA exams.
I glanced at Rudra, half expecting him to still be stone-faced. But for the briefest moment, I saw something flicker across his expression-something like approval, or maybe even a little surprise.
The moment the realization hit, it felt like time stopped for a second. I had topped. 98%. I had topped.
The joy surged through my veins like a current, and before I knew it, I was bouncing up and down on the bed, the mattress sinking beneath my weight.
My heart was soaring. It was as if all the stress and tension I'd been holding onto dissolved in an instant, replaced with pure, unfiltered happiness.
"I topped!!" I screamed, my voice echoing in the room as I jumped one more time before leaping off the bed.
My feet barely touched the ground as I ran to Aksh Bhai, my big brother, the person who always had my back. I could see his amused expression as I stumbled over myself in excitement, but I didn't care.
"Aksh Bhai!" I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. But just as I did, I felt my feet tangle with something.
Oh no.
My laptop.
In my excitement, I had knocked it off the bed. The loud crash filled the room as the laptop hit the floor, the screen shattering into pieces.
I froze.
The room went dead silent for a second. Everyone-Athrav, Ritvika, Aksh Bhai, and even Rudra-stared at the broken laptop. Then they all turned to look at me, wide-eyed, waiting for my reaction.
For a heartbeat, I stood there in shock, staring at the mess I had made. But then... I couldn't help it. The laugh bubbled up inside me, breaking free as I looked at the broken laptop and then back at my brother.
They all burst into laughter with me.
Atharv was laughing so hard that he had to sit down, clutching his stomach.
Ritvika wiped a tear from her eye as she tried to catch her breath,
while Aksh Bhai shook his head at me, chuckling softly.
Even Rudra, who had been silently observing from the door, allowed the smallest of smiles to tug at his lips.
"I topped!" I grinned, hugging Aksh Bhai again, squeezing him tightly. I could feel his warmth, his pride for me in the way he held me back. He ruffled my hair gently, something he knew I both loved and hated at the same time.
"Of course you did, Aayu," he said, his voice full of affection.
After the hug, I couldn't contain myself any longer. The excitement was bursting out of me in waves. I let go of Aksh Bhai and started bouncing around the room, jumping from the bed to the floor, then to the couch, giggling like a child. I knew it was silly, but I didn't care. In that moment, I was free-completely and utterly happy.
It wasn't often that I allowed myself to act like this, to let go of all the burdens of being a princess and just... be Avni.
Just a girl who was over the moon about her achievement, surrounded by the people she loved most.
I could hear Atharv laughing in the background, cheering me on. "Yeh hui na baat! That's the spirit, Avni!"
Ritvika joined in, clapping her hands. "Our very own topper!"
Their voices fueled my energy even more, and I jumped higher and higher. But then, as I was leaping from the couch, I miscalculated my landing. My foot slipped, and I felt myself tilting forward.
The room blurred as I lost my balance.
Before I could hit the floor, strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me up. My breath caught in my throat as I was lifted into the air.
Rudra.
He was holding me, his hands firm but gentle, his face just inches away from mine.
The world seemed to slow down around us as our eyes met. His dark, intense gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, everything else faded away-the laughter, the broken laptop, the celebrations.
All that existed in that moment was the way he held me, steady and unwavering.
"Congrats, princess," he said, his voice low and smooth, sending a strange shiver down my spine.
I felt my cheeks flush, heat rising to my face as his words sank in. There was something in the way he said it, something almost... possessive? But not in a bad way. More like... protective.
Before I could say anything, Ritvika's voice broke the spell.
"Top karne ki itni khushi hai ki girti padti ja rahi ho!"Â she teased, her tone filled with laughter.
(You're so happy to have reached the top that you keep stumbling!)
Atharv and Ritvika burst into another fit of laughter, and even Aksh Bhai chuckled softly, shaking his head at my clumsiness.
Rudra didn't laugh, though. He kept his eyes on mine, his hands still holding me firmly. He carefully set me back down on the ground, his movements deliberate and controlled.
"Be careful," he said softly, his voice just loud enough for me to hear. "Can't have my princess falling here and there."
The words hung in the air between us, and I felt my heart skip a beat. My princess.
The way he said it, with such calm certainty, made something flutter inside me-something I wasn't sure how to deal with.
But before I could react, Atharv threw an arm around me, pulling me back into the chaos of the celebration.
"Come on, Avni! Enough with the falling! We need to throw you a party!"
I laughed, shaking off the momentary dizziness, trying to ignore the way Rudra's words still echoed in my mind.
My princess.
For now, though, I was just going to enjoy this rare, beautiful moment of happiness. Surrounded by my friends, my brother, and... well, Rudra, too.
It was a rare sight indeed, to see me so carefree, acting like a child, but I didn't care.
Because today... today, I was on top of the world.
(✧｡✿｡✧)