THE RATHORES LEGACY || 18+

➥PART 3

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|THIRD PERSON

In the heart of Delhi, a grand and expansive mansion, more akin to an antique haveli, stands tall, occupying a vast expanse of land. This structure, built during the times of the Rathore ancestors, has an air of majestic antiquity that never fails to captivate those who lay their eyes on it. Its unique architecture and historical significance are awe-inspiring, though it is quite rare for anyone to visit. The Haveli is secluded, with its outer boundaries heavily guarded by royal sentinels posted at every fifty-meter interval, providing a formidable layer of protection. There isn't a single house, village, or settlement within a thirty-kilometer radius. This land belongs solely to the Rathores, a legacy passed down through generations.

Inside the haveli, preparations were in full swing, orchestrated by none other than Radhika Pratap Singh Rathore, the lady matriarch of the household. She had been overseeing every minute detail, from cleaning to decoration to the arrangement of guest rooms, tirelessly managing a team of servants from early morning without a break. The Rathores had arrived in Delhi from Ayodhya at precisely 7:30 AM, and since then, the haveli had been a hive of activity.

Purnima Vikram Singh Rathore, Radhika's devrani (Sister-in-law), was busy with the lunch preparations, overseeing the arrangements for the feast and prayer ceremonies. Now and then, she would lend a helping hand to Radhika, although the relentless nature of the work weighed heavily on both. Meanwhile, Purnima’s two daughters, Divya and Sanya, sat comfortably in the spacious living room, fully absorbed in their phones, seemingly unbothered by the flurry of activity around them.

Their momentary tranquillity was interrupted by the sound of their bade maa (Radhika) shouting from one of the guest rooms. Divya and Sanya exchanged puzzled glances, curiosity piqued, before rising and making their way towards the left wing of the haveli, where guests were typically housed. The haveli itself was a colossal structure divided into three main sections: the right, the centre, and the left. The left wing was reserved exclusively for guests; the centre was where the family resided, which also housed the kitchen and the family’s temple, a sacred space where all members were required to be present for daily prayers, regardless of where they were in the mansion. However, the most secretive and off-limits area was the right wing, occupied solely by the Rathore brothers. No one dared to set foot in the right wing without express permission from them, for it was well known that doing so would invoke their wrath.

As Divya and Sanya approached one of the guest rooms, they found their maa and bade maa already there, both looking tense. Radhika was furiously scolding a servant, who stood in front of her with his head bowed, fear evident on his face. The girls exchanged confused glances, unsure of what had happened, before Sanya finally spoke up, “What happened, bade maa? Why are you shouting at him?”

Radhika turned towards them with a sigh before replying, “You both know that the left wing of the haveli was being prepared for the Sheroan family and their guests, right? Well, thanks to him, seven of the rooms are without water supply or electricity! Our guests are expected to arrive by 1 PM, and now we’re in a fix.”

Purnima chimed in with a worried expression, “There are thirty rooms in the left wing in total, out of which twenty-seven were supposed to be allocated to the guests. Now, we are facing a shortage of four rooms! How are we supposed to accommodate everyone? The bride’s family, her bua’s family, her mama’s family, and her mausi’s family… It’s impossible to fit them all in with the current situation!”

After a few moments of silence, Divya suddenly piped up, “I have a solution.”

Everyone turned to her, intrigued. She smiled mischievously before suggesting, “Why don’t we arrange for four rooms in the centre or right wing to make up for the ones that aren’t available?”