As if in a blink, the wheel of time turned ten times. Those stormy days of the Junagarh palace are now a gray past. The old banyan trees of the palace have spread their branches further, but much has changed. Aditya's parents, the affectionate Maharaja and Rajmata, are no longer in this mortal world; may God keep them in peace. Now, the entire responsibility of the throne and the household rests on the shoulders of Aditya and Arohi. Arohi is now a much more grave and compassionate Rajmata, and Aditya is a righteous Emperor.
Prafulla and Snigdha are now twenty-five, and little Prabhasha is a charming young woman of twenty. Prafulla has become skilled in state affairs, but everyone's concern now lies with Snigdha. She is twenty-five, yet whenever marriage is mentioned, she somehow evades the topic. Arohi and Aditya have started searching for a suitable groom, but they do not know that someone else resides in the inner sanctum of their princess's heart.
In Snigdha's mind, there is only one image now—Rupanjan. A boy from a very ordinary household, yet Rupanjan's fire and nature were superior even to a prince. Rupanjan is only ten months older than Snigdha, but his gravity was profound. Every day, when Snigdha went out to check on the subjects, she would cross paths with him. Rupanjan used to chat and laugh with his friends, but as soon as he saw Snigdha approaching from a distance, he would become as silent as a stone statue. His head would bow in respect, and lowering his eyes, he would walk past her with steady steps.
Initially, Snigdha thought Rupanjan was ignoring her. She would feel annoyed, thinking, "What a strange boy! Everyone treats me with such regard, and this boy ignores me and walks past with his head down? Why so much ego?" But Snigdha did not know that behind Rupanjan's bowed head lay immense respect and a sky full of love. Rupanjan was afraid that the thirst in his eyes might somehow disrespect the princess.
Three months passed this way. The silent pull toward each other continued to grow. One evening, Snigdha was standing alone by the riverbank. The sun was about to set, and the sky was as red as vermilion. Suddenly, Rupanjan came and stood there. Today, he did not walk past with a bowed head. Gathering all the courage in his heart, Rupanjan stood before Snigdha. His voice trembled slightly as he said, "Princess, I know I am very ordinary. But God knows, every day as I pass you by, my heart feels like it will burst. Because I respect you, I couldn't say anything. But if I don't speak today, I might just die. I... I love you very much."
Snigdha was stunned. Her angry face instantly turned red with shyness. Looking into Rupanjan's eyes, she realized that even a royal crown is trivial compared to the magic and respect in those eyes. Snigdha smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "I thought you had so much attitude! But today I realize that as tough as you are, you are even more loyal. It was your way of walking with a bowed head that made me fall in love with you, Rupanjan."
That was the beginning. Hidden from the Junagarh palace, a paradise of pure love bloomed by the riverbank. Rupanjan and Snigdha now meet often. Sitting on that old rock by the river, they talk for hours, holding hands. Rupanjan gently takes Snigdha's hand in his and says, "I cannot give you a palace, Snigdha, but I will hold this hand like this for the rest of my life." Snigdha rests her head on Rupanjan's shoulder and closes her eyes in peace. Their pure love and loyalty are as sacred as a forest deer. They are each other's first love, with no past for either. But in between stands the wall of royal nobility. Will Arohi and Aditya accept this ordinary Rupanjan? Or is Snigdha's secret love a forecast of a new storm in Junagarh?