Rajvansh Empire
872 Words
Previously…
You read how the voice belonged to Shobha ji’s daughter, whose mischievous nature was soon revealed. Meanwhile, a boy named Chaitanya was introduced, being reprimanded by his professor and sent out of the classroom.
---
Now…
The moment Chaitanya steps out of the classroom, the students inside begin chattering among themselves. The noise escalates, prompting the professor to shout in exasperation.
"Silence! Is this a fish market? Or are you all kindergarden kids?"
The professor’s booming voice immediately silences the room. The lecture resumes, but Uttam, who had been sitting next to Chaitanya, sighs deeply, lost in thought.
“What’s going on in his mind? He never shares anything, nor does he react. He’s like a soul weighed down by sorrow,”
Uttam wonders.
Noticing him lost in thought, the girl seated in front of him turns around and asks,
“Hey Uttam, where are you lost?”
Startled, Uttam turns his gaze towards her and sees her smiling. Unable to resist, he smiles back faintly and replies,
“No where.”
She glances briefly at the professor, who is engrossed in the paper in his hand, and then looks back at Uttam.
“Did you complete yesterday’s notes? Could you help me with them? I wasn’t here yesterday,”
she asks.
Uttam casts a quick glance at the professor and replies,
“Let him leave first. We’ll talk after that.”
She nods and turns back to face the front.
---
Meanwhile, Chaitanya walks through the school grounds and heads toward a secluded corner. This spot, though offering a full view of the ground, is quiet and detached. As soon as he sits on the bench, his phone starts ringing.
Answering the call, Chaitanya speaks curtly,
“What is it?”
The voice on the other hand says something that makes his face darken with anger. Grinding his teeth, he slams a fist onto the bench and storms off. As he walks back, his mind churns with bitter thoughts.
"Why is life so colorless and cruel? Why does the Almighty even give life if it’s meant to be this miserable? Is it just me, or does everyone go through this? And if everyone does, then does no one ever find happiness?"
Lost in his thoughts, Chaitanya doesn’t notice a ball flying straight toward his face. His eyes widen in shock, but before it can hit him, someone pulls him aside. Regaining his balance, he turns to see Uttam standing behind him.
“Hey ! Are you okay ? Did it hit you ?”
Uttam asks, concern evident in his voice.
Chaitanya shakes his head.
“No, I’m fine. Nothing happened,”
he replies quietly.
Relieved, Uttam lets out a deep breath and then shakes his head as if clearing his thoughts.
“By the way, if your notes from yesterday are complete, could you help Suzanne with them? Mine aren’t done properly,”
Uttam says.
Following Uttam’s gaze, Chaitanya notices the girl standing a little distance away—it’s the same girl who had asked Uttam for help in class. She smiles warmly at them.
---
At the Bharadwaj Residence…
A strange stillness hangs in the air, the kind that precedes a storm. The sweet little girl, Dhriti, is visibly scheming something mischievous. Before Shobha ji can scold her, Dhriti skillfully dodges her mother and dashes out of the house.
“Dhriti! Come back right now,”
Shobha ji yells after her.
“If you don’t return, I won’t let you back inside! And this time, I mean it!”
But Dhriti is already out of sight. Frustrated, Shobha ji glares at her husband, Lokesh, who tries to placate her with an awkward smile.
“Oh darling, you’ll be late. Let me quickly make your favorite breakfast—pasta and pancakes. You go get ready!”
He says, retreating hastily to the kitchen before she can retort.
Left with no choice, Shobha ji mutters under her breath as she heads to her room.
“What will become of that girl? Can’t she be a little serious about her future? Oh God, what do I do with her?”
---
Outside, Dhriti runs to the house next door and enters straight into a room where a girl with glasses is engrossed in something on her laptop.
“Poorva, what are you looking at so intently?”
Dhriti asks.
Hearing her voice, Poorva turns around with excitement and exclaims,
“Dhriti ! Look at this—there’s a model audition happening at Rajvansh Empire for their jewelry line. They’re looking for new faces! You should try out. Who knows, they might select you, and I’d finally get to see that handsome CEO whose identity no one knows.”
The words model and Rajvansh Empire echo in Dhriti’s mind. Her face lights up with excitement, her radiant smile making her look like a blooming rose. But just as quickly, a shadow of doubt crosses her face, and she grows somber.
---
What happens next? Will Chaitanya agree to help Suzanne? What was in the phone call that made him so angry? And why did Dhriti suddenly turn sad?
Stay tuned to find out in Am I Mona Lisa? by Shalini Chaudhary.
- Writer
