Rudransh

Inside the luxurious car, Rudransh sat with his laptop open, fingers moving swiftly over the keyboard. His face remained calm, but his piercing blue eyes reflected deep calculation.

"Sir, why are you doing this deal with Thakur? If you want, you can purchase that land directly from the government. And everyone knows how cunning he is. He must have planned something to extract benefits from you," Avyan, his secretary, said while driving.

Rudransh didn’t even glance up. Instead, he calmly shut his laptop and leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes.

"We’ll discuss this later," he said in a low yet firm voice.

Avyan knew better than to push further. He simply nodded and continued driving.

For the next five hours, silence filled the car as they made their way toward Thakur’s mansion.

Ganga

The entire mansion had been in chaos since morning. Everyone was rushing around, making sure that everything was perfect—because today, a king was arriving.

Ganga was busy supervising in the kitchen when Sheela walked in.

"Ganga, leave this now. Hukum Sa will be here any minute. Go check his room once more—make sure everything is in place."

Nodding, she stepped out and quickly inspected his room. Once satisfied, she walked toward the garden.

As she watered the small plants, she hummed softly, getting lost in her own world. The gentle breeze played with the loose strands of her hair, and for a moment, she forgot about the frenzy inside.

Suddenly, a small puppy, Kishu, ran toward her, tugging at the edge of her sari with his tiny paws.

Ganga giggled, lifting him into her arms.

Just then, a ten-year-old boy, Rishabh, came running toward her.

"Didi, look! This little devil came to you after getting me scolded by my mother!" he huffed.

Ganga chuckled, shifting Kishu in her arms. In a playful voice, she cooed, "Oh, baby, did you trouble your Rishabh brother, huh?"

Kishu wagged his tail, barking excitedly as if responding.

Rishabh suddenly grabbed a water pipe, his eyes gleaming mischievously. Before Ganga could react, a strong stream of water hit her, drenching her in seconds.

"Rishabh!" she gasped, completely soaked.

The little boy burst into laughter, but Ganga wasn’t one to back down. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed the pipe from his hands and turned it toward him.

Now it was her turn to laugh as he shrieked, trying to dodge the water.

The two were too caught up in their game to notice a figure watching them.

Lost in laughter, Ganga suddenly slipped on the wet ground. Her hands flailed, trying to grab onto something—anything—to steady herself.

But instead of hitting the ground, she landed in someone’s arms.

Her breath hitched.

A strong hand had gripped her waist, holding her firmly in place. Her eyes, still shut in anticipation of pain, slowly fluttered open.

And then—she saw him.

Piercing blue eyes. Cold, unreadable expression. A presence so powerful that it sent a shiver down her spine.

Rudransh.

The world around them seemed to still. The sound of the water, Rishabh’s laughter—everything faded into the background.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke.

Then—Kishu barked.

The spell broke.

Realizing how close they were, Ganga quickly tried to stand up, placing a hand on Rudransh’s chest for support. But the moment she did, her foot slipped again—and this time, she fell forward.

Her forehead brushed against his lips.

Both of them froze.

An unfamiliar warmth spread through Rudransh’s chest as his arms instinctively tightened around her. But the moment realization hit, he released her, stepping back with a sharp gaze.

Ganga’s face burned with embarrassment. She quickly straightened up, avoiding his intense stare. Then she noticed—his clothes were completely ruined with mud and water.

She bit her lip, guilt creeping in.

"I... I didn’t see you. But you should have been watching where you were going, too! How could you just..." She stopped abruptly as footsteps approached.

Rudransh took two slow steps forward, towering over her. His voice was deep, laced with quiet authority.

"Girl, do you even know who I am?"

For a moment, Ganga couldn’t look away from his gaze—intense, almost hypnotic. She gulped, her heart racing, and slowly shook her head.

As Rudransh stepped inside the grand haveli, the air shifted. The weight of his presence alone was enough to make the atmosphere thick with tension.

Dev, Sheela, and Daksh welcomed him with deep respect.

"Hukum Sa, please come," Dev said, extending his hand.

Rudransh gave a slight nod, ignoring the formalities, and walked straight ahead. Dev led him to his office room, his steps slightly hesitant.

Without wasting a second, Rudransh leaned against the chair, his sharp gaze fixed on Dev.

"Mr. Dev, tomorrow itself, I will begin work on that land. I hope all the paperwork is in order because I don’t have time to waste—nor do I have the patience for excuses," he stated coldly.

Dev’s hands clenched slightly. The man before him was not someone he could fool easily. Clearing his throat, he forced a smile.

"Yes, yes… I’ve reviewed all the paperwork. Everything is legal," he replied, though there was a flicker of unease in his voice.

Rudransh didn’t react, but his silence spoke volumes.

"You should rest now, Hukum Sa. Tomorrow, I will personally hand over all the documents," Dev added quickly, eager to shift the topic.

As Rudransh and Avyan left the office, Avyan finally spoke, his voice low but firm.

"Something’s off. Dev is hiding something. I don’t think he has the legal papers. He doesn’t have enough money to afford such a huge land, yet he’s giving it away. And all for his son’s election?"

Rudransh smirked slightly, his eyes dark with amusement.

"I know. And I want to see just how far he’s willing to go."

Meanwhile, in Dev’s room, a tense conversation was unfolding.

"Papa, what do we do now?" Daksh asked, his voice laced with urgency. "We only have time till tonight. We need the villagers' signatures."

Dev’s jaw tightened. He had come too far to let things slip.

"Tell them we are coming to talk. Bring them to the old haveli," he instructed.

Daksh didn’t waste a second, immediately setting the plan into motion.

By 11 p.m., the villagers—despite their usual custom of staying indoors after dark—gathered at the abandoned haveli. The sudden call had unsettled them, but their loyalty to Thakur Dev outweighed their doubts.

Standing before the crowd, Dev’s voice carried a calculated warmth.

"My dear villagers, I apologize for calling you at this hour. But it is for something that concerns your children’s future. Starting tomorrow, I want to build a college in this village, so that our children won’t have to leave for higher education. I need your support for this dream."

A murmur spread among the villagers—some excited, some skeptical.

A man stepped forward. "Thakur Sa, my children already study outside. There’s no one left in my family to benefit from this college. What do we get in return?"

Dev’s patience thinned, but his expression remained calm.

"Girish, you’re right. But tell me, are the daughters of this village not your daughters too? Shouldn’t every child here have a bright future? A future where they don’t have to leave their home?"

His voice carried the perfect mix of authority and persuasion. The hesitation in the crowd began to dissolve, and one by one, the villagers signed the papers.

By dawn, Dev had what he wanted.

5 A.M.

Back at the haveli, Sheela and Ganga were already busy preparing breakfast when Daksh and Dev returned home.

Sheela frowned at their unusual timing. "Where are you both coming from so early in the morning?"

Daksh, still exhausted, ran a hand through his hair. "Maa, I had some urgent work at night. I’m tired. Just send coffee to my room." Without waiting for a reply, he walked off.

Dev followed suit, silently disappearing into his room.

Sheela’s unease deepened. "What is it that he’s not telling me?" she murmured to herself.

Turning to Ganga, she instructed, "Take coffee to Daksh’s room. Then finish the breakfast preparations."

Ganga nodded, carefully balancing the tray as she approached Daksh’s room. The door was slightly ajar. Taking a deep breath, she knocked hesitantly before stepping inside.

The room was empty.

Relieved, she placed the tray on the table, eager to leave before he returned. But just as she turned—

The door slammed shut.

A startled gasp left her lips as she felt herself being pushed back. Before she could react, a hand pressed against the door beside her, caging her in.

Her heart pounded wildly.

She looked up—straight into Daksh’s intense gaze.

A smirk played on his lips.

"Going somewhere, Ganga?" he drawled.

Her fingers curled into fists, her breathing uneven.

And just like that, the night’s silence shattered.