✦ Rathore Mansion – 8:00 PM ✦
The living room echoed with laughter. The golden chandelier cast a soft warmth over the regal interiors of Rathore Mansion, where, for once, everyone seemed to have forgotten their burdens. The walls that had witnessed power and politics were now soaking in shared memories and genuine smiles.
Among those present were three towering pillars of the Rathore legacy —
Abhimanyu Singh Rathore, the former King of Rajasthan whose aura still demanded quiet reverence,
Avantika Singh Rathore, the Dadi sa — gentle in tone, fierce in values,
and Mahendra Singh Rathore, the calmest of all — until someone dared to touch his family.
It was rare, this kind of harmony.
But it shattered the moment Ekaksh Singh Rathore walked in.
Tall, brooding, dressed in black — his silence stormed louder than thunder.
“Bhai—” Shivank called from behind.
“Not now, Shiv.”
His voice was clipped. Cold. Distant.
He didn’t stop. Didn’t turn. Just disappeared down the hallway, leaving everyone frozen mid-laughter.
A pause followed.
Then, as if processing a warning, Shivank smirked. “Kisi ne Bhai ko chhed diya lagta hai... Logon ko apni jaan pyaari hi nahi hai aajkal.”
No one laughed.
Because they all knew—something had gone terribly wrong.
✺ ✻ ✼ ✽ ✾ ✿
A dimly lit space.
Just the rhythmic thud of fists smashing into leather.
Ekaksh was at war.
His bloodied knuckles slammed into the punching bag again and again. Sweat soaked his body, muscles tensed, veins visible. His jaw was clenched, his eyes bloodshot — rage burning inside him.
He didn’t hear the door open.
He only stopped when her voice whispered through the heavy air.
“Ekaksh...”
He turned.
Sumitra. His mother. His calm. His compass.
Her eyes locked with his—hers held silent strength. His... chaos.
She walked closer, measured and calm, and stood before him.
No words passed.
Just eyes speaking volumes.
Then, finally, she exhaled, “Beta ji… yeh kya haal bana rakha hai apna?”
He didn’t let her finish.
“Aapko sab pata tha, Mom?” he asked, his voice cracking beneath its control.
She met his stare.
“Haan.”
A beat passed.
Then her voice softened, and with it, the truth spilled:
“Ekaksh, you know everyone in this world has two faces. One is the one who tries hard to snatch your smile with his fake smile and the other is the one who spreads that smile with his true smile."
He didn’t flinch. But his jaw tightened.
She continued, her gaze unwavering.
“Mishti. you know Ekaksh, When I met her for the first time, a smile appeared on my face as soon as I saw her. she was absolutely innocent child. She was always cheerful, smiling and chirping. She used to be happy on small things. She was happy in other's happiness and sad in others' sadness. She always thought about others before herself. Infact, you know, when she saved me from an accident, she scolded me rightly and even in her scolding I felt her love and affection for me. She may have grown up, but she was still a child at heart. Par sayad es duniya ko uska muskurata chehra pasand na tha."
She once saved me from an accident and scolded me for being careless. But even in her scolding… there was love.”
A tear slipped down Sumitra’s cheek.
" es so-called duniya ke logo ko kisi ki khushi jaldi raas kaha aati hai. Sab kuch chin liya us bacchi se. Uski wo masoomiyat , uski wo muskurahat, uska wo bachpana, uski izzat sab kuch. Itne se dil nahi bhara to uske maa baap ko beech chaurahe par itna pita ki unhone apni saasein hi chor di. Uske pass sirf bach gaye to bs logo ke taane. Wo bas apne bhai ke liye es zindagi ko jee Rahi hai ekaksh. Agr wo na hota sayad ye usse bhi kab ka maar dalte."
Her voice broke.
And so did Ekaksh.
His fists unclenched, but his heart twisted violently. He could see her—Mishti. That face. Those tears. That quiet pain behind her smile.
He closed his eyes.
All he wanted at that moment… was to hold her. Shield her. Take her pain away.
But he couldn’t explain why.
He opened his eyes to find his mother still staring at him.
“Mom…”
But she stopped him with a gentle hand.
“I know you have questions. And I have answers. But not now. This rishta… I didn’t choose it out of pity. I chose it because I know—she’s right for you. And you, Ekaksh… you’re the one who can give her back what this world snatched from her.”
A silence stretched.
Sumitra sighed and turned to leave, disheartened.
But then—
“Tomorrow.”
She stopped mid-step.
Slowly, she turned.
Ekaksh stood tall now, wiping his bloodied hands with a towel. A faint, unreadable smile curled at his lips.
“Kal meri sita apne ram se milegi. Us ram se jo unki ek ansu par sirf ek sehar nahi puri duniya tabah kar dega. ”
Her eyes widened.
And then… she smiled.
That mother’s smile.
The one that knew—her son had made his choice.
✺ ✻ ✼ ✽ ✾ ✿
A 20 yrs old girl was screaming, tears streaming down her face.
She was begging for her parents for leave them, but no one paid any attention to her, as if everyone had suddenly lost their hearing.
and suddenly,
BOOM.
An explosion.
“NO!!”
Mishti’s eyes snapped open.
Sweat clung to her forehead. Her heart raced. Her lungs begged for breath.
The clock read 5:00 AM.
Another nightmare.
She sat up, wiped her face, and walked slowly to freshen up.
By 6, she was already doing chores — folding clothes, making tea, setting the kitchen. The house had just begun to wake up.
A soft voice pulled her from her thoughts.
“Didu…”
She turned. “Haan, baccha?” she replied, hands busy.
Akshu stood fidgeting, head bowed. “Mujhe… kuch paise chahiye the. Second-hand kitabein… kuch 4000 ka kharcha aa gaya.”
She stopped.
Then looked at him.
“Bas itne? Don’t worry. I’ll manage. You just study hard, hmm?”
He smiled. “Okay, Didu.”
As he ran off to get ready, her smile faded.
She turned, walked to her purse, and pulled something out — a small envelope.
She stared at it.
“Filhaal... yahi ek rasta bacha hai.”
She whispered, placing it back and locking the purse.
Both siblings stepped out, ready to leave.
But—
“Ruko.”
The voice froze them mid-step.
Taiji.
As venomous as ever.
“Lo ho gaya mera din kharaab. Ek din bhi chain nahi milta. Bhagwaan, kab khali jagah dekhkar inhe upar bulaoge?”
Her words stung. Mishti’s fists clenched, but she gently signaled Akshu to keep calm.
“Ji Taiji?” she said politely.
Taiji didn’t even look up from applying her nail paint.
“Tu kahin nahi jaayegi aaj.”
Mishti blinked. “Kya? Par... kyun?”
Taiji snapped, glaring. "Jada muh mat chala, ghar mai bohot kaam hai eslia rok rahi hu tujhe.”
She looked at Akshu and mouthed, “Go.”
He nodded and left reluctantly.
Taiji smirked thinking something evil.
As Akshat left, she turned towards Misthi to say something just then.
Ding dong.
Nobody moved.
Ding dong.
Hearing doorbell, she turned towards Misthi and said her to go to her room. " Abhi ke liye uper ja."
"Jii" Misthi nodded and went away.
Again.
Ding dong.
“Aa rahi hoon! Subah-subah ghanti pe ghanti! Shanti se rehne bhi nahi dete!” Taiji cursed as she stormed to the door.
She flung it open.
And froze.
Her breath hitched. Her nail paint dropped.
Eyes widened.
And all she could whisper was—
“Rathore's.”
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