AUTHOUR POV

RATHORE PALACE

Rana Rudraksh Singh Rathore was here.

Everyone's conversation came to an abrupt halt.

Every pair of eyes remained fixed on the grand entrance of the dining hall, waiting.

The silence stretched until hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.

A palace maid rushed inside, stopping a few steps away from Dada Sa. Bowing respectfully, she lowered her gaze.

"Bade Dada Sa," she said, slightly out of breath, "Rana Sa has arrived."

A ripple of surprise swept across the table.

"He actually came?" Reyansh whispered, extending both hands toward Kabir and Dhwani. "Someone pinch me."

Without hesitation, both of them pinched him.

"Oww!"

Reyansh yelped, rubbing his hands dramatically before shooting them an accusing glare. They merely shrugged with innocent expressions.

The next second, he felt several sharp stares aimed at him.

Slowly lifting his head, he found the entire family glaring in his direction.

"...Sorry," he mumbled, immediately lowering his eyes.

Before anyone could respond, the rhythmic sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall.

Each step was calm...

Measured...

Unhurried...

Yet every footfall carried enough authority to silence the entire palace.

And then...

He appeared.

Rana Rudraksh Singh Rathore.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black shirt and trousers, he walked with effortless confidence. His expression remained unreadable, while his dark, piercing eyes stayed locked on Dada Sa from the very moment he entered.

No one dared speak.

No one dared move.

Without sparing anyone else a glance, Rudraksh walked toward the chair placed directly opposite the head of the table.

He stopped beside it.

But he didn't sit.

His gaze never left Dada Sa.

The two Rathores stared at one another in complete silence.

The air between them grew heavier with every passing second.

Rudraksh's jaw tightened.

His fingers curled into a fist.

Neither man looked away.

Leaning slightly toward Kabir and Dhwani, Reyansh whispered, barely moving his lips,

"Why are these two admiring each other?"

Kabir bit the inside of his cheek.

Dhwani quickly pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing.

Unfortunately...

Viransh heard him.

He slowly turned his head and shot the three of them a warning glare sharp enough to freeze them on the spot.

All three immediately straightened in their seats.

The suffocating silence lingered...

Until a tiny, excited voice shattered it.

"Yayyy! Bade Papa is back!"

Little Anaya clapped her tiny hands, her sparkling eyes filled with excitement.

Completely unaware of the tension surrounding the table, she jumped off Viransh's lap and ran toward Rudraksh with all the enthusiasm only a child could possess.

For the first time since entering the hall...

Rudraksh looked away from Dada Sa.

His cold gaze softened ever so slightly as it landed on the little girl racing toward him.

Reaching him, Anaya stretched out both her tiny arms.

Without a word...

Rudraksh bent down.

And gently lifted her into his arms.

"yaaayyyy" Anaya shouted and clap again with her sparkling eyes.

"bale papa anaya ne apk bht yaad kia" she said while hugging him with her small arms, anaya was too small for rudraksh.

"bale papa apne anaya ko miss kia" asked while looking at him with her innocent puppu eyes .

Rudraksh didn't understand what to say so just simply nodded.

"yayyy bale papa ne bhi anaya ko miss kia" anaya clapped exitedly again.

"bale papa aaj anaya ko apke hath se dinner krna h" anaya said while looking at rudraksh with her puppy eyes .

before rudraksh could say something viransh intrupted "princess bade papa abhi aaye h thake hue honge aap aauo apk mai khila dunga" Viransh said while looking at anaya .

Anaya looked at Viransh then again looked at rudraksh with her puppy as she was pleasing him to stop her .

Then looking at anaya's face rudraksh spoke with his deep and velvety voice "mai khila dunga "

That's it , no said any furthur word, no one objected, no one even dared.

"yyaayyy" Anaya clapped exitedly again.

With slow movements rudraskh pulled the chair slightly and sit on it and make anaya sit on his lap.

Watching the exchange unfold, Reyansh could no longer hold himself back.

"Acha hua anaya ne inka dhyan bhatkaya varna dono to aaj ek dusre ko akhiyo se hi goli mar dete"

The moment the words left his mouth, Dhwani and Kabir bit the insides of their cheeks, desperately trying to suppress their laughter.

Unfortunately for Viransh, he had just taken a sip of water after swallowing a morsel.

"Cough... cough... cough..."

He erupted into a fit of coughing, spraying the water in front of him.

The three instantly understood the reason behind his condition. Straightening their expressions, they lowered their heads and resumed eating with the innocence of well-behaved children, as though nothing had happened.

Poor Viransh could only stare at them helplessly before shaking his head in defeat.

As the night deepened, silver moonlight draped itself over the majestic city of Udaipur. The palace, bustling with life only moments ago, gradually surrendered to silence. Dinner had ended, the servants retired to their quarters, and every member of the Rathore family disappeared into their luxurious rooms.

Everyone slept...

Everyone except one.

Inside his private chamber, Dada Sa sat in thoughtful silence. The lines on his weathered face revealed a storm he refused to voice.

Seated opposite him, Avyaan waited patiently, though his eyes reflected the same unease.

The silence was broken by the soft creak of the door.

Both men looked up.

Rudraksh stood at the entrance.

Dressed in black, his commanding presence seemed to consume the room before he even stepped inside. His expression remained unreadable as he walked forward with slow, measured strides.

Stopping before Dada Sa, he spoke in his signature cold yet velvety voice.

"Why did you call me?"

"Sit, Rudraksh." Dada Sa gestured toward the single-seater opposite him. "Or have I lost the right to call my own grandson without a reason?"

For the briefest moment, Rudraksh's jaw tightened.

His eyes shifted from Dada Sa's outstretched hand to Avyaan, who was already watching him intently.

After a long breath, he finally took the seat, resting both forearms on the armrests.

"Now tell me... why am I here?"

"My answer remains the same," Dada Sa replied calmly. "Can't a grandfather simply wish to see his grandson?"

A faint, mocking smile tugged at Rudraksh's lips.

"If you wanted to meet your grandson, you would've called your grandson."

His gaze hardened.

"You don't summon a son by using his mother's name."

The room instantly grew heavier.

Dada Sa's jaw clenched.

Before he could respond, Avyaan's patience snapped.

"Mind your language, Rudraksh."

Rudraksh didn't even spare him a glance.

"I wasn't talking to you... Mr. Rathore."

The icy reply landed like a slap.

Avyaan rose from his seat, anger flashing across his face.

Before another word could be exchanged, Dada Sa's stern voice echoed through the room.

"Enough! Both of you."

Silence followed.

But Avyaan had already reached his limit.

"Whatever you wish to discuss with him, do it yourself. I refuse to tolerate this ill-mannered behavior for even a second longer."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and strode out of the room.

The door closed behind him.

Silence settled over the chamber once again, heavier than before.

"Vo apke pita h rudraksh aap osse aise bt nhi kr skte."

Dada Sa said, his brows knitting together in disapproval.

"Apne mujhe q bulaya h ye apne abhi tak nhi btaya h or agr mera yaha koi kaam nhi h to mai jaa rha hu."

Rudraksh replied as he rose from his seat.

Watching him stand, Dada Sa's jaw tightened. He, too, got to his feet and raised his voice.

"haa thik a chale jau par fir mujhe mat kehna ki aakhir maine tmhare maa ke sapne ka ghar or school q tora."

The moment those words left Dada Sa's mouth, the atmosphere inside the room turned suffocatingly cold.

Rudraksh froze.

His jaw clenched, his fists tightened at his sides, and fury burned in his dark eyes as they remained locked on Dada Sa.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally, taking a deep breath, Rudraksh asked,

"kya chahiye apko."

A victorious smile slowly spread across Dada Sa's face.

"Aa gye had me Rana Rudhrakh singh Rathore bhut achi bt h, to ab agar had yaad aa hi gyi ho to ye baat dubara mt bhuliyega hum apke baap ke bhi baap h."

Rudraksh remained silent.

His piercing gaze alone was enough to convey the storm raging inside him.

Completely ignoring his glare, Dada Sa continued,

"ab meri bt kaan khol ke sun lijiye hmne apka rista taye kar dia h Rajvansh pariwar ki beti ke sath."

"or apne ye soch bhi...."

Before Rudraksh could finish, Dada Sa cut him off.

"apki maa ke wills ke according bina shadi ke apko ek kch bhi nasib nhi hone wala h."

The words struck him like a blow.

Rudraksh's eyes turned bloodshot with rage. The veins on his neck stood out, and every muscle in his body tensed.

Without uttering another word, he turned and strode toward the door.

Just as his hand reached for the doorknob, Dada Sa spoke again.

"or shadi se phle bhi apko hame jaban deni hogi ki aap pure 1 saal tak Rathore palace me rhege aap rathore mahal me rhege yha ke rana sa bankar."

Those final words were enough to push Rudraksh's anger to its limit.

Without looking back, he yanked the door open and walked out.

Bang!

The heavy wooden door slammed shut behind him, the sound echoing through the silent chamber long after he had left.

RAJVANSH PALACE

The first rays of the morning sun bathed Rajvansh Palace in a golden glow, illuminating every carved pillar and ancient brick. Inside, the palace had already come to life. Servants hurried through the long corridors, each performing their assigned duties with practiced precision.

In the palace kitchen, Tara stood quietly before the stove, completely engrossed in preparing kheer for the morning puja.

Although Rajvansh Palace had more than enough servants, the family still clung to deeply rooted patriarchal traditions. According to them, meals for the family members could never be prepared by servants—it was considered the responsibility of the women of the house.

Just then, Siya entered the kitchen.

The moment her eyes landed on Tara, irritation flashed across her face. Without wasting a second, she strode towards her and roughly grabbed Tara's forearm, forcing her to turn around.

"Ye kya kar rahi hai tu?" she demanded, tightening her grip.

"M-main kheer bana rahi hoon, Choti Maa," Tara replied softly, trying to free her arm.

Instead of loosening her hold, Siya gripped her even harder.

"Kheer bana rahi hai... ya kal ghar mein rukne ka bahana dhoond rahi hai?"

"Ahh..."

A painful gasp escaped Tara's lips as her grip tightened further.

"Ek baat kaan kholkar sun le—"

"Maa!"

Dharv's voice echoed through the kitchen before Siya could finish.

He hurried inside, immediately noticing Tara's tear-filled eyes and the bruises forming on her wrist.

Without hesitation, he gently pulled Tara away from Siya.

"Ye aap kya kar rahi thi, Maa?" he asked, his voice filled with restrained anger while his eyes remained fixed on Tara's reddening forearm.

"Tu yahan kya kar raha hai? Tujhe nahi pata ladke kitchen mein nahi aate?"

For a brief moment, Dharv simply stared at his mother.

He had been witnessing these outdated beliefs since childhood. Twenty-seven years had passed, yet he hadn't been able to change a single mindset within his family.

Arguing now would only worsen the situation.

Taking a deep breath, he silently held Tara's hand and walked out of the kitchen, ignoring Siya's angry voice calling after them.

They made their way to Tara's room.

As soon as they entered, Dharv helped her sit on the bed.

The moment she sat down, Tara could no longer hold herself together.

She burst into tears and threw her arms around her brother, seeking comfort in the safest place she had known since childhood.

"Shh... Tara, baccha... don't cry," Dharv whispered gently, stroking her hair. "Look at me."

"B-Bhai... I didn't do anything... I was just m-making kheer for the puja..."

"I know, baccha," he said softly, wiping away her tears. "You don't have to explain yourself. I know you... and I trust you."

His words were enough to calm the storm raging inside her.

Once she had settled down, Dharv carefully applied antiseptic cream to the bruises on her forearm, his touch as gentle as if she were made of glass.

After a while, Tara finally stopped crying.

Dharv stood up to leave, but a hesitant voice stopped him.

"Bhai Sa..."

He turned around with a soft smile.

"Haan, bolo Tara."

She nervously played with her fingers.

"Woh..."

Noticing her hesitation, Dharv walked back to her, cupped her cheeks affectionately, and smiled.

"Baccha, don't hesitate."

Taking a deep breath, Tara finally spoke.

"Bhai Sa... aaj shaam... kya aap mujhe Aadhya ke ghar chhod denge? Hum dono ne nightout ka plan banaya hai. Maine sabse permission bhi le li hai."

Dharv raised an eyebrow.

"Lekin kal Rathore parivaar katha ke liye aa raha hai. Agar tum Aadhya ke ghar hogi, toh unse nahi mil paogi."

Tara lowered her gaze.

"Bhai Sa... woh..."

"Theek hai."

Before she could explain further, Dharv agreed.

He knew his family.

Perhaps spending one evening away from the palace would be better for her than staying back to face their judgment.

"Sacchi?" Tara asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Haan," he chuckled.

"Lekin shaam ko pehle hum kahin aur chalenge."

"Kahan?"

A mischievous smile appeared on Dharv's face.

"Surprise."

With that, he walked out of the room after receiving an important phone call.

Just before disappearing through the doorway, he looked back and called out—

"Five o'clock. Be ready."

A bright smile spread across Tara's face.

"Okay, Bhai Sa."

That's for today guyssss...

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