Writer's POV:-
The morning arrived soon for some, but for others, it felt like the longest night they had ever seen. Every night usually felt like a year, but this specific one felt even longer—maybe because the one he breathes for is finally near, yet still feels so far away and this distance even when being close is killing him every second. Every heartbeat is pushing him to run to him and cage him never him away for even a split second.
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"Tiffin is packed! Come on, you three, come eat!" Rajni's voice echoed through the hall. She set three boxes on the table and rushed back to the kitchen to finish her chores.
Arun walked down the stairs in his white Khadi uniform, a smile on his face as he watched the daily chaos. This mess brought him the kind of peace that left him feeling restful.
"Raji, my tea," he said, entering the kitchen for his usual morning cup. Rajni smiled silently, pointing at the cup with the spatula in her hand. He smiled back, picked up the cup, and walked out to his seat on the couch, enjoying the "daily drama"—his favorite part of the morning
"Shiva, those are my socks!" Aditi shouted at the top of her lungs, trying to snatch them off Shiva's feet. Shiva just planted his hand on her forehead, pushing her back while she struggled to reach him. She was already in her uniform, ready except for the socks, while he sat there trying to shove his shoes on before she could sabotage him.
"So what? Find mine and wear them, or grab a different pair. Is it a life-or-death mission to wear these exact ones?" Shiva said while pushing her back on she fell on her butt with criss cross leg.
Aditi jerked her head away from his hand and stood up, scanning the room for a weapon. She grabbed his shoe. "You absolute jerk! First, you throw yours around like you'll never need them after coming home from University, and now you're stealing mine? You thief fucking Shiva the robber!"
Aditi winged the shoe at him. Shiva's eyes went wide as he shielded his face, and the shoe landed right on his hand with a thud. He puffed out a big breath dramatically "safe" he yelled with the hand sign of a referee in a fight.
She was about to launch the second one when Arav yelled from upstairs, "Iti, here!" He threw a pair of socks down. Aditi abandoned the shoe-attack and caught them in mid-air. Shiva quickly shoved his feet into his shoes before she could change her mind and hit another one.
"Give me my pen back, the one you took yesterday," Aditi demanded while pulling on her socks.
"Do you have any other job besides begging? Beggar... always begging for something," Shiva replied annoyingly, rolling his eyes. He knew he was entering a new fight because of his own clumsiness.
Aditi was about to explode when Arav walked downstairs. Seeing him, she quickly turned and flashed Shiva the middle finger, mouthing "bastard" as she walked toward the kitchen while radiating fire.
"I'll deal with you later," she hissed. "Just let Aru Bhaiya go somewhere else for a second, then we'll see who's begging."
Shiva rolled his eyes and started packing his and Aditi's bags on the couch near Arun. He placed a lunch box in each, then grabbed a sling bag from a nearby cupboard for the third box, finishing the morning "essentials" check.
Meanwhile, Aditi walked back into the dining room and spotted her Aru Bhaiya. He was wearing a rose-gold silk shirt with white pants that showed off his build perfectly. The shirt was crisp and ironed. She was mesmerized; her brother looked like a Greek God, with a soft edge he didn't even have to try for.
Arav's thick, wavy hair made him look even more striking. "Come on, let's eat and leave, otherwise you two will be late and take me down with you," Arav said, taking his seat.
Aditi sat beside him, instantly switching to 'Angel Mode.' "You are the prettiest and most caring brother in the whole damn world," she cooed.
Arav chuckled. "Don't try to butter me up. I'm still buying you fries on the way back, don't worry." Aditi huffed, "Honestly, no one in this house can digest a little respect."
Everyone chuckled at her remark.
**On the other hand, at the Mahal...**
Rudra was the first one ready. He hit the gym before anyone else, followed by Rajveer. They worked out in total silence, lost in their own worlds. For them, mornings weren't for chaos; they needed this peace before facing a world that was loud, poisoned, and exhausting.
Kartik finished his run and headed to his room silently, following his brothers' lead. Kirti was the only outlier, still fast asleep—the only one in the house full of morning energy and color once she actually woke up.
Rajveer stopped by Kirti's room after his workout, a ritual he has been doing since her birth. "Wake up, Princess," he said softly—a tone only his family ever heard. Rudra chuckled as he entered his own chamber on the reserved soft voice of rajveer, he saw his uniform laid out neatly on the door step side table outside of his room.
Once the family was ready, they gathered at the dining table for breakfast. Rajendra and Urmila were the last to join. Mohini and Rohini had already departed, their schedules packed with NGO board meetings and upcoming festival preparations. Rajendra and Mahindra too left for a meeting which needed their urgent attention as the hot topic of the meeting was none other than Rudra's return. Because many were waiting for his exile to complete and many weren't and now as finally he is back those who never wanted him back will not sit quite.
"I'll drop you guys," Rajveer said, and everyone nodded. Urmila reached out and held Rudra's hand. "Son, here, you aren't just Rudra. You are Rudra Pratap Shekhawat. The Chote Rana Sa. You are the people's hope. Please, don't do anything that makes them Hate or worst Fear you because hate can be changed but Fear can't be erased. A kingdom is run on love and trust, not terror."
Kartik and Kirti stopped eating, sensing the tension. Rajveer gave them a stern look telling them with his eyes to keep their heads down in eating and keep their questions to themselves,
Rudra nodded with a quiet smile and covered his grandmother's hand. "Dadi Saa, I know what you're worried about. Trust me, I don't get that angry anymore... no more 'episodes'"
Urmila nodded, her lips pressed thin. Rajendra looked relieved, despite Urmila's worries "Whatever is meant to happen, will happen," Rajendra said, his voice deep. "If 'he'' needs to come out, he will. No one can change the the future or the prophecy. NO ONE." His last words felt heavy and carried depth like an ocean.
Urmila was about to snap back, but Rajveer dropped his spoon down firmly, grabbing everyone's attention and ending the conversation. "You're getting late. Let's move," he said to the younger ones. Once they were out of earshot, he turned to the elders with hard expression "Dadi Saa, Dada Saa, please. Don't say these things in front of Kartik, Kirti, and Especially Rudra. They are young and curious."
He watched them walk toward the car. "What What happened, happened. Everything is in the past. Don't remind Rudra of things he's finally forgotten... otherwise, it won't just be this kingdom, but half the world will fall into darkness. Than There won't be any Rana Sa neither a kingdom nor people to rule."
He turned on his heel to follow them. Rajendra held Urmila's hand. "Have faith in Lord Shiva (GOD not Arav's brother); He will set everything Right in the end." Urmila nodded half-heartedly.
"Dadi Saa, I don't make the same mistake twice," Rudra muttered to himself with a glint of something dark that's was hidden behind his clam words, His aura shifted, becoming dark and dominant, demanding pure submission without words. He closed his eyes, trying to bottle up the volcano inside him and sat in the car.
Rajveer hopped into the driver's seat while Kartik and Kirti started round two in the back. "You're such a dumbass, who don't know anything," Kirti snapped suddenly while looking out the window.
"Oh, and you're the only SMART ASS here, Miss Kirti? Then how come you're the one failing to understand this?" Kartik replied sarcastically, making Kirti roll her eyes.
"Language, both of you!" Rajveer warned.
"Bhai, you should hear her language... it would make a grown man blush. She uses swear words like they're helping verbs in a sentence—and they're all 18+," Kartik complained dramatically to Rajveer.
Kirti glared at him while giving Rajveer her puppy eyes. Rajveer returned back narrow eyes. Rudra just smirked and winked at her, secretly taking her side. Rajveer asked sternly, "Kirti, what am I hearing?"
"Bhai, if someone messes with me, I'm not just gonna sit there. I'm not a saint. They ask for it!"
Rajveer looked at her with mockery "So, Kirti Ji is completely innocent?"
Kirti huffed. "It's not just me! Iti swears too, and so does this donkey!" She pointed at Kartik. Rajveer's head snapped toward her on the instant "Iti swears?"
Kirti nodded. "Except for Aru Bhaiya, everyone in this group swears. You, me, Iti, Shiva, this donkey, and even Rudra Bhai." Rudra frowned at being caught in the crossfire. While Rajveer expression turns into sly.
Rajveer's POV
My Iti uses abusive language? Whoa, that's a new one. I can only imagine how sassy and cute she looks while cursing. I bet she doesn't even know what half those words mean... God, those words rolling off her pure lips. That would be a sight to behold.
But who is she using those words for, if not me? Wait, who is she talking to like that? If someone is bothering her, they must have a death wish. I need to get back on work.
My hands are on the wheel, but my mind is on Iti—MY Iti. Every breath I take chants her name. I'll see her soon, likely in her school uniform.
Of course, she'll be in uniform, you idiot—my subconscious mocked me and I just rolled my eyes interly myself. She looks like a cute little rabbit in that outfit.
One good thing is that Kartik and Kirti are in her class. They're my best spies, they give me all the information I need about her, especially Kirti. She's Iti's best friend and a total chatterbox. She can't keep a secret to save her life and she'll spill everything by the end of the day.
My mind drifted back to Aditi (Iti). Now I have a sudden urge to hear her curse. I also want to punish her for being such a brat. After all my lectures on "good behavior," she's doing this behind my back? Not good. Not good at all.