♡ HAPPY READING ♡

Ruhi's POV

As daylight filtered through the curtains, casting a bright square on the window, I stirred awake. Stretching tentatively, I remembered—it’s my birthday today. While birthdays usually come with a buzz of excitement, for me, it felt like just another day. And you might be wondering why it's just a normal day in my life. Well, just wait a bit, and you'll find out.

No one in this family knew it’s my birthday today- only three people remember to wish me each year.

Lingering in bed a bit longer won’t be wise for me—I’m well aware of the consequences. So, I headed to freshen up.

I'm Ruhi Sharma, a 24-year-old pursuing a career in design and a-.....wait a bit you will get to know it. Despite the routine of my daily life, there's a lot more to my story that you'll soon discover.

Standing in front of the wall adorned with their photos, I smiled softly. "Maa and papa, as my birthday approaches, I find myself longing for the warmth of your love and support. Please shower me with your blessings wherever you are, and may you both find eternal happiness. I miss you..."

The words lingered in the air. With a heavy heart, I closed my eyes, feeling their presence. I lingered a moment longer before continuing with my day, carrying their love and memories with me every step of the way.

My mother passed away when I was only three years old—cancer took her, and my dad couldn’t afford the treatment she needed. Then, when I was eight, my father left me too. How? Well, let’s leave that untold for now... you’ll find out soon enough.

And now, I have no one left to call my family. Just an orphan…

I turned to see Leela aunty, the elderly caretaker, standing in the doorway with a small smile on his weathered face.

"Good morning, Ruhi beta," Leela ji greeted me, her voice carrying a warmth that felt rare in this Royal Palace.

"Good morning, aunty," I replied.

She studied me with concern. "What happened? Why do you look so sad?"

I hesitated for a moment before admitting, "I miss my parents."

She reached out, gently caressing my hair. "Don't worry. Wherever they are, they’re sending you love and blessings. Besides, today isn’t a day to be sad."

Before I could respond, she handed me a small package wrapped in brown paper, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Happy birthday, Ruhi."

My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel tears forming in my eyes. "Thank you... you remembered."

"Of course, how could I forget?" she said, smiling warmly. "Go on, open it."

With trembling fingers, I unwrapped the package to reveal a simple silver pendant shaped like a lotus flower. The delicate design left me speechless, and I ran my fingers over it, overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness.

"It’s beautiful," I whispered, my voice shaking with emotion.

She gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder. "You deserve it, beta. Now, hurry up and get ready. There's still a lot to do today."

But I just stood there for a moment, holding the pendant, unable to shake the feeling that somehow, this small gift made me feel less alone.

As I nodded, tucking the pendant safely into my pocket, Leela ji turned to leave, but not before casting a meaningful glance at the door. "And remember, Ruhi, sometimes the most unexpected gifts come from the most unexpected places. Come downstairs we have so many works to do”

I nodded but confused by her cryptic words, I watched her go before turning back to the mirror to finish getting ready.

She’s the only one in this house—oh, sorry, I mean royal palace—who loves me like her own child.

I know you’re probably wondering how I ended up living in a royal palace, right?

And yeah work that's what we do.

Well, let's see what are the remaining gifts I have for today-

As I stepped into the grand living room, I heard Rajmata’s strict voice call out to me, demanding that I come fast. She gathered all of us servants together, her presence commanding attention.

"Listen to me very carefully, with ears wide open!" Her voice rang out, sharp and clear. There was no mistaking the authority in her tone. "Tonight, we have special guests arriving from Australia, and I expect everything to be arranged perfectly. No mistakes, no incompetence that could tarnish our reputation."

Her eyes swept over the room, making sure her message sank in. "Naina, you'll be responsible for cleaning the guests’ rooms. Atul, the private bar setup of ours is in your hands, and follows my instructions exactly. Samaira and Ruhi," her gaze landed on me, "you two will prepare special Rajasthani dishes together. The food must be perfect—delicious. I won't tolerate mistakes."

She paused, and then her eyes fixed on me, making my heart skip a beat. "And Ruhi, I have another special task for you. I've prepared a list of groceries and vegetables that need to be purchased. You'll go to the market and get everything on the list."

Her voice dropped to a warning tone as she finished, "Remember, everyone, our reputation is on the line tonight. I expect nothing short of perfection." With that, she dismissed us, her expectations heavy in the air as I tried to shake off the weight of the tasks ahead.

Extra work on my birthday too—can I complain about it? A big no.

That’s what being a maid is all about, right? Yes, I work here as a maid.

"I’m feeling scared… How do I even approach Rajmata to ask her for money to buy groceries from the market? What if she gets angry? Approaching her is the hardest thing for me, at least. One deadly stare from her, and I’m done for.

ok...1...2...3…

*Knock knock*

I gently knocked on the door, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Rajmata, may I come in?” I asked, trying to keep the nervousness out of my voice.

“Come in,” she replied coldly, her tone as distant as ever.

I stepped inside, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I... I needed money, Rajmata... umm, for buying groceries from the market,” I said hesitantly, unsure of how she'd react.

Without a word, she reached into her drawer. “Oh, wait. I’ll give it to you,” she said, handing me the money.

“Here you go,” she added, her voice firm. “And don’t buy anything for yourself. This money is for groceries—remember that! If there’s any left over, bring it straight back to me... And don’t steal it,” she warned, her eyes narrowing.

Steal? The word hit me hard, and I could feel the sting of her distrust. After all these years working and living in this house, hasn’t she trusted me even a little? I murmured to myself, trying to hide how much her words hurt.

Time skip-

As I stepped into the grand kitchen, Samaira, towering over me with her usual stern expression, wasted no time putting me to work. "Ruhi, you know we have important guests tonight. Everything must be perfect. I need you to prepare the main course and make sure every dish is flawless," she ordered.

I nodded, already bracing myself for the long hours ahead. I knew all too well that even the smallest mistake tonight could have serious consequences, especially with such high expectations looming over us.

As the evening crept closer, the air grew thick with tension. The royal palace was buzzing with activity, servants rushing back and forth, making sure that every last detail was in place.

"Is everything perfectly ready? Remember, there should be no mistakes!" Rajmata’s voice cut through the commotion as she addressed all the servants gathered in the grand living room, her tone leaving no room for error.

"Yes, Rajmata, we’ve completed all our tasks perfectly. There haven’t been any mistakes," we all responded in unison, our voices respectful but tense.

"Alright then, go and change now, all of you," she added, her sharp eyes scanning us. "I don’t want any smell of sweat coming from your clothes during serving time. Freshen up—our guests will be arriving shortly."

So, yeah, those were the "gifts" I was talking about.

Finally, all the work was done perfectly, but I missed college because of it. I reassured myself that no one goes to college on their birthday anyway.

Still, my inner voice mocked me, "But no one works on their birthday, right?" I scolded myself, "Shh, enough of that! No more negative thoughts. It’s time to get ready quickly."

I picked out an outfit to wear. After getting ready I descended to the living room. A few foreigners had arrived, including a couple and their children. Something about the son unsettled me, but I pushed the feeling aside as Rajmata gave me a stern look and instructed me to bring snacks and drinks.

In the kitchen, Leela ji prepared cold drinks and remarked how it wasn’t fair for me to work on my birthday. I tried to brush off her concern, explaining that it was normal for me.

Hm Normal day since 16 years-

When serving drinks, I felt uncomfortable as the son’s gaze lingered on me with a strange smile. As I handed him his drink, he touched my hand oddly before smirking, which left me deeply unsettled. I retreated to the dining table, my heartbeat racing.

I had this strong urge to scratch out his eyeballs and break his fingers, but realistically, could I actually do it? Absolutely not! Plus, even if I did, would anyone understand why? Also I can't tell this to anyone.

Amidst all the chaos, disaster struck. In my rush to please Rajmata and the esteemed guests, I accidentally spilled a bowl of curry on one of the guests' expensive suits. Panic surged through me as I watched the vibrant fabric darken with stains.

Rajmata’s voice cut through the chaos, accusing me of incompetence and announcing that I would spend the next week cleaning the entire palace as punishment. I felt overwhelmed with fear and shame.

Leela aunty approached me with homemade sweets, offering comfort. "Here, beta. I know it’s been a tough day, but remember, sweetness finds its way back to those who deserve it." Her gesture touched me deeply.

Later, Rana sa asked me to come to his office. When I arrived, he brought out a small cake box and encouraged me to make a wish and cut the cake. Tears filled my eyes as I did so.

"Did you remember my birthday? I thought you might have forgotten," I asked, surprised.

"How could I forget? Here’s another gift for you," he said, handing me a simple gold anklet. "It’s nothing compared to what you deserve."

I protested, saying it was too expensive and that his blessings were enough. He gave me a fatherly hug and assured me, "You’ll attend college tomorrow, and someone else will handle the housework. I’ve paid your last semester’s fees, so focus on your exams. Forget today’s troubles and get some rest."

"Thank you. You’ve never made me feel the absence of my father," I said sincerely before heading back to my room.

“And I will never let you feel that” he replied back.

And that's how my Birth ’day’ went.

───༻❁༺───

I hope you all enjoy this second chapter! It's my first book, so please forgive any little slips and share your thoughts below. Oh, and don't forget to give it a little love with your votes-

Bye bye

Nia <3