𝐌𝐫𝐬. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞 #𝟏

2~ Shadows of the Rathore Legacy

📖
"Hukum-sa."
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
˚ ༘♡ 🪷🪕🪞🦢⋆｡˚ ❀

The grandeur of Raipur Palace never failed to impress, its towering spires and majestic halls a testament to centuries of Rathore rule.

As I stepped into the main foyer, memories of my childhood flooded back, the echoes of laughter reassuring presence of my father, Shikhar Singh Rathore, who had vanished without a trace when I was just twenty.

I was greeted by the familiar hustle and bustle of the palace staff.

My mother, Amrita, had kept the palace running smoothly in my father's absence, her grace and strength was a pillar of support for our family. Yet, beneath her serene exterior, I knew the pain she carried...the pain of a wife living like a widow, uncertain of her husband's fate.

"Adhiraj bhaiya!"

The voice of my youngest brother, Rithvik, broke through my reverie.

"You're back! Did you bring us any surprises?" He asked eagerly.

"Not this time, Rithvik, but who knows what I might find for you next time?" I replied, tousling his hair playfully. 

In a while Rithvik's laughter echoed through the halls as he nodded to me and later walked to tease our younger sister, Priya, who was known for her outspoken nature and quick wit.

"Bhai-sa," Priya called out as she joined us in the foyer, hugging me tightly.

"You're looking tired. Did you bring any news from the outside world?"

I chuckled, shaking my head at her perceptiveness.

"Not much, Priya," I replied.

"But I did hear some interesting rumours," I added.

Priya's eyes gleamed with curiosity as she leaned in closer. She always read the rumours about me and rithvik on social media out of curiosity to know what people think about us.

"Tell me everything," she urged.

Before I could respond, grandmother merged from the drawing-room. At seventy-five, she was the matriarch of our family.

"Adhiraj beta," Dadi-sa greeted as she approached me.

"I hope you haven't forgotten your old grandmother in your travels," she chuckled.

I bowed respectfully, unable to suppress a smile.

"Never, Dadi-sa," I assured her, knowing full well that she relished any opportunity to tease me.

She had always been the heart of Raipur Palace.

As we gathered in the drawing-room, the familiar banter and laughter filled the air. Rithvik got busy in his work, while Priya debated fiercely with Dadi-sa about the merits of tradition versus modernity. My mother, Amrita, watched over us all with a gentle smile.

In that moment, surrounded by my family, I felt a sense of belonging that had eluded me for so long. Raipur Palace was more than just a home; it was a legacy; a legacy that I was determined to uphold, no matter the challenges that lay ahead.

As the evening wore on and the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the courtyard, I reflected on the bonds that tie us together. Rithvik and I, my sister Priya, my mother Amrita, and my Dadi-sa Amanpreet ... .each one is thread in the intricate Rathore history.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new responsibilities. But for now, I savoured the warmth of family, knowing that together, we would face whatever the future held.

My father's disappearance had left a void not just in my life, but on whole Raipur. Overnight, I had been thrust into a role for which I was not prepared.

I had been twenty when my father vanished without a trace. His sudden absence had left a gaping hole in the leadership of Raipur. Despite exhaustive searches and countless inquiries, he had simply vanished. In his absence, the mantle of responsibility had fallen on my shoulders.

My father had been a formidable ruler. I had always admired him, though our relationship had been more complex than most could understand. The palace with its grand halls and opulent rooms was filled with memories of him. Every corner, every piece of art, was a reminder of the man who had been my mentor.

I turned away from the balcony, shifting my gaze to the portraits that lined the walls of the great hall. My ancestors stared back at me through the frame. They had all borne the weight of leadership, but I wondered if any of them had felt the same sense of isolation that I did?

As I walked through the halls, my thoughts drifted to her.

After all these years, it had been a shock to my life. I had searched for her tirelessly.

Our past was a shared dreams and promises. But her sudden departure had left a scar that had never quite healed. She had always been my strength. But I don't know when she became my only weakness.

Her simple dream to openly quaint a giant flower shop. Her eyes used to be filled with the same fire I remembered. But now, standing in the quiet of the palace, I couldn't help but wonder where's she now??!!

The years had changed both of us.

I had responsibilities to my people, a legacy to uphold, and a kingdom to protect and yet, the promise of answers to questions that had haunted me was too strong to ignore.

As I reached my private study, I switch on the light and sat at the desk.

The flickered light casted shadows on the walls.

I opened a drawer and pulled out an old journal which was filled with my father's handwriting. I had read it countless times, searching for clues, for any indication of what had happened to him. But the answers remained buried in the past.

I closed the journal and leaned back in my chair. My thoughts drifted once more to her. Her presence in Raipur used to feel like the beginning of something new. I stood and walked to the window, watching the sun streaking down the glass.

I'm determined to uncover the truth, to find the answers that had eluded me for so long. I turned away from the window and headed to my room.

⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏ T H A N K Y O U ⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏

See ya!