Ch3The Weight of Legacy
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Dhara and I ran up the staircase, our anklets chiming with every hurried step, echoing through the quiet corridors of the palace. My breath caught in my throat as we pushed open the door to Nanu's room.
There he was-lying on the bed, his face pale yet calm, while Nani sat beside him, gently holding his hand. The sight of him so frail made my heart twist painfully. Without waiting a second, Dhara and I rushed forward together and threw ourselves into Nanu's embrace.
His arms wrapped around us with the same warmth they always had, but this time there was a faint trembling in his hold. "Where were you both, haan?" His voice carried both worry and relief. "So late... and your phones weren't reachable either. Do you have any idea how frightened we all were?"
His words pierced straight into me. My eyes welled up instantly, tears spilling over before I could hold them back. My voice broke as I clung tighter to him.
"I'm sorry, Nanu... we were at the mandir. It was too crowded today, so we got delayed. And my phone-my phone died midway." I choked on the words, the guilt heavy in my chest. "But why did you let yourself fall into this state, Nanu? Why did you take so much tension for us?"
I cupped his hand in mine, pressing it against my cheek as more tears rolled down. "If something happens to you, what will happen to us, Nanu? You're our strength... our whole world. Please don't do this again. Please don't let yourself break because of us."
For the first time, I felt a deep ache in my heart-not for myself, but for the one man whose smile had always been my safe haven.
Nanu pulled me into his arms and whispered,
"Beta, you are the most important part of my life. Your mother... she was my daughter, and you are the last piece of her I have left."
The moment he spoke of Maa, a lump formed in my throat. My eyes stung, brimming with unshed tears, because even after so many years, her absence still cut through me like a wound that never healed.
He gently placed his trembling hand on my head. His voice, though firm, carried the weight of emotion.
"Beta, you mean the world to us. Your safety, your happiness-nothing matters more. Remember this always-you carry our very heartbeat within you."
I could hear the tears hidden in his voice, each word soaked with his fear of losing me.
Before I could reply, Nani stepped forward, her eyes glistening.
She pulled me into her warm embrace, holding me tightly as if shielding me from every pain.
Beside us, Dhara wrapped her arms around Nanu, the four of us tangled together in a moment heavy with love and tears.
Breaking the silence, Dhara sniffled and said in her usual playful tone,
"Bas, ab bohot ho gaya rona-dhona. Let's cheer up now!"
I wiped my eyes quickly, forcing a small smile. "Haan, from now on, we won't go anywhere without telling you first, and..."
I stopped mid-sentence, my lips pressing into a pout.
"And what?" Nani asked, curiosity softening her teary face.
I placed a hand dramatically on my stomach and said, "And I'm starving, Nani..."
For the first time that evening, laughter filled the room. Nanu chuckled, Nani's tears turned into a smile, and even Dhara burst into giggles. Seeing that joy on their faces brought me a peace nothing else ever could.
"Haan, mujhe bhi bhookh lagi hai!" Dhara chimed in, raising her hand.
"Alright, go eat something," Nani said with a smile. "I'll stay here with your Nanu. Don't worry."
We hugged them both once more and made our way downstairs. As we entered the dining room, the table was already set, food neatly served. From the kitchen, my Mami emerged with a knowing smile.
"Mami!" I called, surprised. "How did you know we were hungry? You've even laid out the food already!"
Her smile deepened as she replied, "A mother always knows her daughters. I can sense everything-when you're hungry, when you're upset, when you're hiding something. Nothing escapes me."
Dhara and I laughed, our hearts lighter than before, as we sat at the table. Every dish was our favorite, cooked with love, and we dug in happily, chatting and giggling like children again.
After dinner, I returned to my room. Standing in the balcony, I gazed into the darkness of the night sky, memories flashing across my mind like shadows.
I was only five when Maa passed away from a sudden heart attack...
My father remarried soon after, and in that moment, my little world had shattered.
But Nanu and Mama brought me here, into this home, and raised me as their own daughter.
They gave me everything-love, care, education-and never let me feel the emptiness of losing my parents.
With Dhara, I grew up as if we were two sisters bound not just by family, but by fate.
Yet tonight, as I looked at the stars, I knew the truth: my path ahead was mine alone to walk. Maa had once dreamt that her daughter would grow up to become a great lawyer. That dream was hers-but fulfilling it is my life's biggest purpose.
Yes, two years of my life were ruined-stolen because of my father's choices, because of the pain he caused. I had to drop out, to pause my studies. But now... now I know something I didn't before. The most important thing in life is self-worth.
And no one-no pain, no person, no destiny-can stop me from achieving my dream. Not anymore.
I walked back into my room and slowly pulled open the drawer. My trembling hands reached for the photograph of my mother. As I held it up, her gentle smile stared back at me, and my heart tightened painfully.
"Maa..." my voice cracked as I whispered to her image, "just a few more days and my new journey will begin. A journey I will walk only for you. For the dream you once saw for me."
Tears welled in my eyes as I pressed the photo close to my chest.
"Stay with me, Maa. Just like you always do... showing me the way in every dark moment, guiding me whenever I'm lost. This time too, don't leave me. Give me your blessing, your strength... I promise you, your daughter will not lose. I will win-for you, Maa."
My body shook as silent sobs escaped me. Tears streamed freely, soaking the edges of the photograph I clutched so tightly.
"I miss you, Maa," I whispered into the emptiness of the night. "I miss you so much it hurts to breathe without you."
And in that moment, beneath the weight of memories and the ache of absence, I let myself cry-because missing her was the only way I could still feel her close.
After finishing all my work in Kashi, I stood on the terrace of my palace, staring at the moon in the sky. I can still remember how much my mother loved the moon... she truly did.
But now... she isn't here with me. Life has been harsh, unfair, and yet the cruelest betrayals came from my own people. The ones who were supposed to be part of my family. The ones who were mine... at least in name.
I clenched my jaw tightly, the tension in my body rising.
And the biggest betrayal of all-my own father. He took my mother away from me...
I was lost in my thoughts when Raju's voice broke through the silence.
"Kuwar-sa, ki jai ho..."
I narrowed my eyes. "What are you doing here at this hour?"
He lowered his head, trembling under my gaze. "Rana Sahab has sent a letter for you..."
My fists clenched tightly, teeth grinding. I growled, "What does he want now?"
Raju sank to his knees, extending the letter with shaking hands, his head still bowed.
"Go... leave now," I said sharply.
Without a word, he obeyed, disappearing silently down the corridor.
I looked at the letter in my hands. Even in this age of instant messages, my father still chooses to communicate with me through letters-probably because he knows I would never give him my number.
He only writes when it's about Vardhanpur or the family...
nothing personal. My hatred for him runs too deep.
With a deep breath, I slowly opened the envelope and began to read...
The moment I unfolded the letter, I already knew what it would contain. The words written on the crisp sheet carried the same sharp tone I had grown up with.
"I know you don't want to come back to Vardhanpur, but don't forget your duties, Rudraksh. You are the future king of Vardhanpur after me. You must understand your responsibilities-you are no longer a child..."
As always, he came straight to the point. No sugarcoating, no warmth. My jaw tightened, my skin burned hot with rage, and I could feel my blood rising like fire in my veins. Still, I forced myself to stay composed and kept reading.
"For now, I am the king of Vardhanpur, so the responsibilities of this land are mine. But don't forget, Rudraksh-you have already been declared the head of the Vardhan dynasty. The entire family now depends on you..."
"Tomorrow, you cannot return to Mumbai. You must come back to Vardhanpur. Tomorrow there is a full family gathering, and it cannot happen without you. So return, if you have even the slightest sense of responsibility..."
My grip on the letter grew so tight that the paper nearly shredded between my fingers. My anger threatened to consume me, but deep inside, I knew there was no escaping these words.
Two worlds pull me apart. One is my bloodline-my family, my people, my throne, the weight of Vardhanpur's legacy that now rests entirely on my shoulders. The other is the empire I built for myself, a world hidden in shadows, drowned in sin and blood, where power is taken only through fear.
No one knows the truth. To the world, I am a ruthless yet respected businessman, a man whose name carries prestige. But behind that mask lies the face of the one who makes nations tremble-the unseen ruler of Asia's mafia.