THE RATHORES LEGACY || 18+

➥PART 2

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|THIRD PERSON

In the far reaches of Uttar Pradesh, Bhavi woke up with a groggy feeling, rubbing her tired, dark eyes after a long and exhausting session of self-study. Her face showed not just physical fatigue but also the kind of deep exhaustion that comes from carrying unspoken burdens. It wasn’t just the workload of the day that had worn her out; it felt as though life itself had drained her.

Suddenly, the door of her small hostel room burst open with a loud thud, startling her out of her thoughts. Two of her closest friends - Varsha and Manvi - stood there, grinning as they had just pulled off the biggest surprise.

"Bhavi! Look what we’ve brought for you!" Manvi chirped excitedly, holding up a box of 'Jalebi' in one hand as Varsha, standing beside her, giggled. Their mischievous smiles spoke volumes.

Bhavi’s eyes widened in surprise, though it quickly faded into a half-hearted smile. She was fond of them, but at this moment, all she wanted was some peace. She didn’t have the energy to entertain their playful moods right now.

"Yaar, Manvi, why do you always have to enter with such a dhamaka?" Bhavi groaned, sitting up straighter on her bed. "But thanks for the jalebi," she added quickly, snatching the box from Varsha with a teasing grin.

(bang)

"Sorry, sorry!" Manvi said, throwing her hands up in mock surrender. "But yaar, you missed out! We had such an amazing time today - we went to the amusement park and tried all sorts of food. And you won’t believe it, Bhavi, Raghav was being such a gentleman today. I swear, I think he likes me!"

(Friend)

Bhavi rolled her eyes, knowing well enough that once Manvi started talking, it was hard to stop her. "Okay, Mannu, bas! I get it," she said loudly, interrupting her friend’s enthusiastic chatter. "Thanks for the jalebi, though. I was craving something sweet." She took the box from Varsha, who was standing there with her signature pout, her doe-like eyes looking extra innocent.

(Enough!)

Bhavi raised an eyebrow, noticing the expression on Varsha’s face. "What’s wrong with you?" she asked, confused by the sudden shift in mood.

Varsha sighed dramatically. "Bhavi, don’t go yaar! Why do you have to leave us and go to that so-called house of yours? You know no one there really cares for you. It’s just... depressing. We’ll miss you so much. Who’s going to help us with our studies? And gossip?"

Bhavi let out a tired sigh, but then, her mischievous side took over, and she suggested, "Arre, toh tum dono bhi chalo mere saath! We’ll have fun. Think of it as a mini-vacation."

(Hey, then both of you come with me!)

Manvi and Varsha exchanged wide-eyed looks before quickly shaking their heads in unison. "No, no, no!" Manvi exclaimed. "We can’t just bunk classes in the middle of the semester, especially not after your mama - India’s most famous lawyer - somehow got your permission to attend your cousin’s wedding! We’d never get away with that!"

Bhavi chuckled, her lips curling into a tired but affectionate smile. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Besides, I’m only going for two weeks. I’ll be back before you know it."

"Well, at least say hi to your brother Akhil for us. Is he coming too?" Varsha asked, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah, Akhil’s coming from his hostel in Rajasthan. He’ll probably reach a bit later than me, but we’ll meet up there," Bhavi replied, her mind momentarily distracted by thoughts of her younger brother. He was the only family she cared about.

The small room they shared, though cramped, felt cosy. The three single beds were neatly lined up, separated by small bedside tables. A large window opened onto a balcony filled with potted plants - their little escape when things got too overwhelming. The wardrobe doors were covered with colourful Post - it notes and pictures from their shared moments over the past three years. It was a space filled with memories, laughter, and comfort, even if their schedules often kept them busy.

As she chewed on the crispy, syrupy jalebi, Bhavi’s thoughts wandered back to her upcoming trip. Yesterday, she received a sudden call from her mama’s (Maternal's Uncle) house, telling her she had to attend her cousin’s wedding. She couldn’t refuse; after all, it was her mama and tauji (Paternal Uncle) who had taken care of her and Akhil after their parents passed away five years ago. But the truth was, going back always felt heavy. Despite their financial support, she and Akhil were treated as burdens - constantly taunted and scolded. What angered Bhavi the most was how poorly her family treated Akhil, her sweet younger brother, who didn’t deserve any of the bitterness they directed his way. He was her only priority; as long as he was fine, nothing else mattered.

"Chalo yaar, ab mood kharab mat karo," Varsha chimed in, sensing the tension in the room. "Let’s go watch a movie this evening! It’ll be fun, and a nice way to pass time before your flight."

(Come on, don’t ruin the mood now)

"Are you mad? I’m not in the mood for a movie," Bhavi groaned, rubbing her temples. "My head is killing me, and I think my periods are about to start. Just not feeling it today."

Manvi sighed dramatically from her bed, staring up at the ceiling. "Fine, be boring. Oh, by the way, Vansh from the senior batch was asking for you. He wanted to meet you about something."

Bhavi made a face, rolling her eyes. "Not in the mood to meet anyone. He’s probably just being nosy."

Varsha smirked. "Come on, Bhavi, give the guy a chance. Everyone knows he likes you."

"Ugh, that’s what everyone says. But trust me, all this 'I love you' drama never lasts. One day they’re all sweet, and the next, they’re bored. No thanks," Bhavi huffed, standing up to throw the Jalebi box into the dustbin before heading to the bathroom to wash her hands.

"You sound like an old grandma giving a lecture," Manvi teased, sitting up now. "But seriously, when’s the wedding?"

"27th April, 15 days from now," Bhavi called out from the bathroom. "Oh, and fun fact - it’s also Akhil’s birthday that day! I’m thinking of buying him an early gift."

"Perfect! Let’s go shopping later then," Varsha said excitedly, but Bhavi shook her head as she returned to her bed.

"No way, I’m way too tired today. We’ll go some other time."

Manvi shot Bhavi a bored look, while Varsha just chuckled. "Typical Bhavi," Varsha teased. "Always tired but still the one who keeps us all on track."

"Fact," Manvi agreed with a grin, laughing loudly at Bhavi’s mock-proud expression.

As they continued to banter and laugh, the earlier tension in the room lifted. The trio fell into their usual rhythm of teasing each other, the atmosphere light and comfortable once again. Yet, despite the laughter, Bhavi couldn’t shake off the strange sense of unease that had been lingering since the morning. Her heart thudded in her chest, not from excitement but from a gut feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

She tried to push the thought away, chalking it up to pre-flight nerves, but it persisted. As she glanced at her friends, still engrossed in their chit-chat, a chill ran down her spine. Something was waiting for her on the other side of this trip - she could feel it. What it was, she didn’t know, but the sense of impending change gnawed at her, refusing to be ignored.

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–AUTHOR'S NOTE–

I Hope You All Like It😉❤️

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