The Royal Tatvas

Chapter 1

Mumbai, 1:00 PM | RA Foundation

"I will always be there whenever you call me, Riya," Aditi said, carefully packing her belongings from the office table, her movements deliberate yet heavy.

Riya stood beside her, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Why do you have to go? It hasn't even been a year yet..." Her voice wavered, betraying the emotions she was trying so hard to contain.

Aditi sighed, pausing for a moment before turning to face her. "Riya, I'm sorry. You know how Vidhi has been calling me for months. And you know how she is—I couldn't keep saying no forever. She's my best friend from college..." She hesitated before adding, "And Maa—she misses Udaipur so much."

Riya clenched her jaw, looking away.

"But I promise," Aditi continued, stepping closer, "I'll visit every five months. And you can call me anytime—day or night."

A tear slipped down Riya's cheek. Aditi reached up, gently wiping it away before pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Don't cry," Aditi whispered, her own voice thick with emotion.

Riya held on for a moment longer, as if trying to make the moment last. But eventually, Aditi pulled away, giving her a small, reassuring smile before picking up her bag.

And then without looking back she walked away.

5:00 PM

Aditi stood near the towering building, her gaze fixed, studying it carefully as if trying to etch every detail into her memory.

Beside her, her mother shifted uneasily. "Aditi... are you sure, beta?" Her voice was laced with hesitation, her fingers gripping the edge of her dupatta. "I've told you so many times, this isn't a good decision. There's still time. Let's drop this plan and go back."

Aditi turned to look at her mother, the worry in her eyes was unmistakable. She knew Maa never wanted to leave Mumbai, yet she often found her lost in old photographs, reminiscing about Udaipur, as if a part of her heart had never left.

Taking her mother's hands in hers, Aditi spoke softly but firmly, "Maa, please listen to me this time. This is a good decision. Trust me."

Her mother sighed, clearly unconvinced.

Aditi pressed on, her voice gentle yet unwavering. "I promise... if you don't feel settled there within five months, we'll leave. No questions asked."

She made this promise not just for her mother's sake, but for Vidhi who had assured her that once they were in Udaipur, Maa would feel at home in no time.

For now, Aditi could only hope that Vidhi was right.

Under-Construction Building, Udaipur

The dimly lit skeleton of the unfinished building stood tall against the evening sky, its silence punctuated only by the desperate cries of a man tied to a chair.

"I—I'm s-sorry... please... please let me go!" he stuttered, his voice shaking with fear. His entire body trembled as he struggled against the tight ropes binding him to the chair. Tears mixed with sweat streamed down his face. "Just one chance! I swear—I was bribed! It was a mistake! I—I was a fool to take it... please...!"

A few feet away, seated with an eerily composed demeanor, was Abhay. His presence alone suffocated the air, his dark aura swallowing every ounce of hope left in the man's eyes.

He didn't speak.

He simply held the rope—the only thing keeping the chair balanced on the very edge of the unfinished fifth floor. One slip of his grip, and gravity would do the rest.

A slow, sinister smirk stretched across Abhay's face as he tilted the chair ever so slightly, letting the man feel the void beneath him.

A sharp gasp. A choked sob.

"Who sent you?" Abhay's voice was calm, dangerously calm, like the silence before a storm.

The man gulped, his lips quivering. "Y-Yug..."

The smirk vanished.

Abhay's fingers loosened around the rope without a second thought.

A scream. A short-lived, piercing cry that ended as abruptly as it had begun.

Abhay didn't look down. He didn't need to.

Adjusting his cuffs, he rose to his feet, his expression blank—no regret, no second thoughts. He took his coat from his PA, slipping it on with practiced ease as his bodyguards fell into formation behind him.

Without a word, he strode toward his waiting car. The moment he slid inside, the convoy of sleek black vehicles revved to life, engines purring like beasts ready to devour.

And just like that, Abhay was gone—leaving nothing behind but a silent, unfinished building and the weight of his unchallenged power.

--------**

The heavy silence in the office was suffocating. The dim glow of the desk lamp cast sharp shadows across Yug's face, highlighting the simmering rage in his eyes.

Two men stood before him, their heads bowed, fists clenched at their sides as they fought the urge to tremble.

Yug leaned back in his chair, exhaling sharply. His voice was deceptively calm when he spoke.

"Do you two even understand what you've done?"

No response.

His fingers drummed against the desk once. Twice.

And then—

"HOW THE HELL DID HE GET THAT STUPID MAN?!" His voice sliced through the air, raw with fury. The men flinched, their backs straightening like a soldier before execution.

Yug's chair scraped the floor as he stood, his glare burning into them. "Because of your incompetence, he got to him first. And now?" He let out a dry chuckle, void of humor. "Now that idiot is dead. Just like you two are—at least to me."

The men swallowed thickly, their skin damp with sweat.

"You're FIRED." Yug's words were final, like a judge delivering a death sentence. "Get lost. And don't—" his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, "don't you dare show me your loser faces again, or I swear I won't hesitate to end you myself."

Their breath hitched.

No protests. No words. They didn't even try to defend themselves. Instead, they bolted, as if the devil himself was breathing down their necks.

Silence returned.

Yug exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to leash his temper.

And then—

"Wow, bro," a lazy voice cut through the air. "Very nice. Just kicked out two innocent people again."

Yug didn't even look up. He recognized the voice. Vivaan.

Ignoring him, Yug reached for a file, flipping through pages as if his cousin wasn't standing there, smirking at him.

Vivaan, completely unbothered, plopped into a chair across from him. "By the way, just here to remind you—your to-be-wife will be arriving tomorrow."

That made Yug pause.

Vivaan grinned. "So, get ready to look like Prince Charming."

The irritation in Yug's eyes was instant. His grip on the file tightened, but before he could snap back, Vivaan smirked wider and stood up.

"Anyway, Yug darling—see you later." He sent a playful flying kiss before sauntering out, his laughter echoing behind him.

Yug gritted his teeth, shutting his file with a sharp thud.

He hated this marriage. He hated being forced into it for the sake of family alliances.