"Abey o chirkut… zubaan sambhal ke!" (Hey you wretch… watch your tongue!)

The sharp, stinging retort sliced through the bright afternoon air of Jaipur. The girl in the white coat, with dark black eyes, almost hurried to grip the neck of the man in front of her.

But held back by her best friend, Neha, she could only threaten him, instead of beating him,

"Roohanika Dev Singh naam hai mera. Aise gole todungi na, biwi ko lekar jayega IVF karane, mere hi clinic aayega!" (Roohanika Dev Singh is my name. I'll break your balls so badly that when you take your wife for IVF, you'll end up at my clinic only!)

"Rooh… you haven't finished your training for IVF yet!" trembling Neha whispered, tugging weakly at her sleeve.

"Arey, tu chup reh na, ho jayega!" (Oh, you just keep quiet, it'll get done!) Roohanika dismissed her with a flick of her hand, before turning her fiery gaze back to the man in front of her.

"Aur tu! Salad ka chilka, syringe ki panni, drip ka stand… aainda dikh mat jaana yahan!" (And you! Salad peel, syringe wrapper, drip stand… don't ever let me see you here again!)

"Rooh, chal na! Everyone's staring!" (Rooh, come on!) Neha pleaded, physically dragging her backward toward the car.

Opening the door, she nearly forced Roohanika inside, and settling on the driver's seat, she rolled the car out of the crowd. But Roohanika wasn't done. Peeking out of the window, she threw another threat,

"Santre ke chilke, Saale, teri bua ka bhatura.." (Orange peel, you scoundrel, your paternal aunt's bhatura..)

And as the car disappeared from the crowd, whispers filled the air,

"Kaisi ladki hai…

Kitna bolti hai.

Batao, ek aadmi ko khule aam suna gayi.

Koi tameez hi nahi hai…"

But just a few meters away from that crowd, cocooned in an air-conditioned black Mercedes, another world, different from the one judging without knowing the context, existed.

A man sat leaning over the back leather seat, a soft, amused smile playing across his lips. He watched the retreating dust cloud of Roohanika's car with genuine fascination.

"Waaah… kya ladki hai," (Wow… what a girl,) he murmured, shaking his head. His eyes began to shine, "Gusse mein bhi kitna pyara bolti hai. Tune dekha, Ajit?" (Even in anger, she speaks so sweetly. Did you see, Ajit?)

Up front, in the driver's seat, Ajit Sehgal, his personal assistant and long-suffering shadow, let out a heavy sigh. He adjusted his rearview mirror, meeting the eyes of the man sitting behind him.

Rajeev Singh Thakur. The King of Jaisalmer and the future Hukum Sa of Rajasthan.

"Boss… ab chalein?" (Boss… shall we go now?) Ajit asked, his voice flat with exhaustion. "Aapke Baba Sa intezaar kar rahe honge. You know how strict he is..." (Your Baba Sa must be waiting.)

Rajeev rolled his eyes, "Chalo bhai… let's face the firing squad." (Let's go, brother…)

Ajit eased the car forward, gliding into the grand gates of Thakur Villa. Instantly, a pair of uniformed guards rushed forward to pull open the rear doors. To welcome the man inside.

Stepping out onto the grass, Rajeev adjusted his tailored formal suit, pulled his designer sunglasses down his nose, and took a deep, theatrical breath. He stretched his arms wide as if embracing the desert wind.

"Haaye… ye Rajasthan ki hawa!" (Ahh… this Rajasthan air!) he said softly to himself, a genuine smile breaking across his stern face. "Badi yaad aayi is garmi ki, London ki us barfili sardi mein." (I missed this heat so much, in that snowy London cold.)

Before he could take another step, a familiar, beloved figure emerged from the grand threshold. Sulekha Singh Thakur stood waiting, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

With the agility of a boy half or even less of his age, Rajeev crossed the courtyard in long strides, dropping immediately to his knees to touch his mother's feet. When he rose, he enveloped her in a crushing, desperate hug.

"Aapki badi yaad aayi, Masa," (I missed you so much, Masa,) he whispered against her hair.

Sulekha pulled back just an inch, her hands framing his sharp, chiseled jawline as she scanned every line of his face. "Chal, ab seedha khada ho ja. Mhara chora teen saal baad ghar aayo hai… aarti utar lun main teri." (Come, now stand straight. My boy has come home after three years… let me perform your aarti.)

Rajeev obeyed instantly, standing at attention with a soft, affectionate smile while his mother performed the aarti, pressing a tilak onto his forehead. As soon as she finished, he swept her into another tight embrace.

"Haaye, mera ladesar kitna dubla ho gaya hai London mein!" (Oh, my beloved son has become so thin in London!) Sulekha muttered, her hands wandering over his broad shoulders. "Tu baith, main tere liye shuddh ghee mein doobi hui dal bati lati hoon." (You sit, I'll bring you dal bati drenched in pure ghee.)

"Masa… Masa, rukhiye," (Masa… Masa, wait,) Rajeev chuckled, pulling back slightly. "Pehle mujhe naha lene dijiye. Flight ka safar aur garmi—bahut badbu aa rahi hai mujhse." (Let me bathe first. The flight journey and the heat—I smell terrible.)

"Ja, jaldi aa," (Go, come quickly,) Sulekha relented with a gentle push.

Rajeev bolted up the staircase, navigating the familiar corridors until he reached his old bedroom. The moment the heavy door clicked shut behind him, he flung himself face-first onto the mattress.

"Haaye… apne bistar ka ye sukoon!" (Ahh… the comfort of my own bed!) he groaned happily, burying his face into the pillows.

He rolled around lazily for a few minutes, savoring the profound stillness of home, before finally dragging himself toward the bathroom to wash away the dust of three continents.

Thirty minutes later, Rajeev emerged transformed into loosely fitted clothes.

Even at thirty, with his sharp, raised mustaches, towering height, and an athletic physique carved from years of discipline, he retained a striking, movie-star charisma.

Back at his university in London, he had been the subject of countless whispered rumors and secret confessions. Yet, the cold, dangerous aura he projected to the outside world masked a deeply playful nature—one that had spent years systematically friend-zoning or sister-zoning half the female population of Western Europe.

Stepping out into the hallway, he didn't even make it down the stairs before he was ambushed.

Shalini, his younger sister, came hurtling around the corner like a miniature cyclone, launching herself directly into his arms.

"Bhai Sa! I missed you so much!" she cried out, burying her face in his chest.

Rajeev wrapped his arms tightly around her, burying his chin in her hair. "Me too, princess. Me too." He pulled back just enough to narrow his eyes playfully. "Oye… mere teen saal ki Rakhi pending hai. Sab ek sath aaj hi baandh dena mujhe." (Hey… my three years' worth of Rakhi is pending. Tie them all together today.)

Shalini pulled a dramatic face, crossing her arms. "Teen saal ki pending Rakhi hai, toh gift bhi double chahiye, Bhai Sa!" (If it's three years of pending Rakhi, then I want a double gift too, Bhai Sa!)

Rajeev feigned a look of deep, troubled calculation before breaking into a grin. "Jaake apne kamre ka wardrobe check karna. Pura suitcase sirf apni pyaari behen ke liye laaya hoon." (Go check the wardrobe in your room. I've brought an entire suitcase just for my dear sister.)

"Sacchi?! Thank you so much!" (Really?!) She squealed, squeezing him once more before they walked side-by-side down to the dining room.

Nakul, his younger brother, was already seated at his usual seat, sipping a cup of hot tea with an unreadable expression.

Rajeev walked up behind him, ruffled his hair with affection, and leaned down. "Aur chhote? Chehre pe woh khushi nahi dikh rahi jo bade bhai ke aane par honi chahiye." (So, little one? I don't see on your face the happiness that should be there when the elder brother comes home.)

Nakul looked up, forcing a tight, polite smile as he stood up to offer a stiff, formal hug. "Aisi baat nahi hai, Bhai Sa. Mujhe khushi hai." (It's not like that, Bhai Sa. I am happy.)

The embrace was warm on the outside, but underneath, Nakul's chest felt hollow. He knew the harsh, unspoken reality of this homecoming. For the past three years in Rajeev's absence, Nakul had fought tooth and nail to manage the family business, proving his worth as a leader.

But now that the eldest heir had returned, every major decision, every ounce of authority, and every title would inevitably revert to Rajeev. Nakul was about to be pushed back into the shadows, reduced from a decision-maker to a mere spectator in his own life.

Oblivious to the internal storm raging inside his brother, Rajeev gave Nakul's shoulder a firm, reassuring squeeze. "Tere liye bhi special gifts hain, chhote. Don't worry." (I have special gifts for you too, little one.)

"Thank you, Bhai Sa," Nakul muttered, staring down at his plate.

"Chalo, ab sab baitho nashte ke liye!" (Come on, everyone sit down for breakfast now!) Sulekha announced brightly, emerging from the kitchen with a massive platter of steaming, golden food.

The three siblings took their seats. Sulekha lovingly piled Rajeev's plate high with fresh dal bati churma. Rajeev took his first bite, closed his eyes, and let out a soft, theatrical sigh of pure ecstasy. He pressed his fingertips to his lips and kissed the air.

"Waah, Ma… kya swaad hai!" (Wow, Ma… what a taste!) he groaned, shaking his head in disbelief. "Devi Maiya ki kasam, pure Rajasthan kya, is puri duniya mein meri Ma jitna accha khana koi nahi bana sakta!" (I swear by Devi Maiya, not just in Rajasthan, in this entire world no one can cook as well as my Ma!)

Sulekha's cheeks flushed. "Sacchi? Ruk, aur le thoda sa," (Really? Wait, take a little more,) she said, immediately dumping another heavy serving onto his plate.

As Rajeev continued to heap extravagant, poetic praise on the food, receiving soft giggles from Shalini and Sulekha, the atmosphere lightened..

Just then, from behind, came a sharp, deliberate cough.

All three siblings snapped straight, their postures rigid.

Shekhar Singh Thakur, the head of the family, father of the three Thakur siblings and Sulekha's husband, stepped forward..

"Aa gaye tum, Rajeev," (You have arrived, Rajeev,) he stated, his voice low but stern.

Rajeev swallowed hard, whispering under his breath, "Devi Maiya ki saugandh… mera bhoot aaya hai." (I swear by Devi Maiya… my ghost has arrived.)

His soft mumbling earned a muffled snort from Shalini and Sulekha, which was instantly cut short by a single, icy glare from Shekhar.

Pushing his chair back, Rajeev stood up immediately. All traces of his playful, childish antics vanished. With absolute seriousness, he dropped his hands to his father's feet, touching them with deep reverence.

"Do ghante pehle hi pahuncha hoon, Baba Sa," (I reached only two hours ago, Baba Sa,) Rajeev reported, standing tall once more.

Shekhar gave a sharp, approving nod and took his seat at the head of the table. "Badhiya. Toh ek kaam karo, aaj hi office jao. Kaam sambhalo. Kyunki Nakul ko jo zimmedari di gayi thi, in teen saalon mein yeh usey theek se chala nahi paya. Aage kya hi karega." (Good. Then do one thing, go to the office today itself. Take charge of the work. Because the responsibility that was given to Nakul, he couldn't run it properly in these three years. What will he do ahead?)

Rajeev's eyes flicked instinctively toward Nakul, whose jaw had tightened so hard a muscle twitched in his cheek.

"Baba Sa, woh seekh raha hai…aane vaale samay me kar lega—" (Baba Sa, he is learning… in the coming time he will manage—) Rajeev started gently, attempting to cover up for his younger brother, but,

Shekhar cut him off with a chilling look. "Tum apne kaam se peechhe hatne ke liye chhote bhai ko aage kar rahe ho. Jo maine keh diya, vahi hoga. Tum CEO ka pad sambhaloge, aur Nakul sirf basic operations aur management dekhega. Padhai karni thi, isliye tumhe teen saal diye the. Ab aage ek saal toh kya, ek din bhi barbaad karne ki ijaazat nahi hai tumhe." (You are pushing the younger brother forward to step back from your own work. What I have said will happen. You will take the post of CEO, and Nakul will only look after basic operations and management. You wanted to study, that's why I gave you three years. Now you are not permitted to waste even a year, let alone a day.)

Shekhar turned his gaze to his wife. "Sulekha Ji."

"Ji, Hukum?" (Yes, Hukum?) Sulekha murmured nervously.

"Pandit ji se jaldi muhurat nikalwa lijiye. Ab der nahi karni chahiye, kab hum apne bete ko Hukum Sa ki gaddi par baitha sakte hain, ye tay karo." (Get an auspicious time from Pandit ji soon. There should be no more delay. Decide when we can seat our son on the throne of Hukum Sa.)

"Ji… zaroor," (Yes… certainly,) Sulekha replied, casting a worried look at her eldest son.

Turning back to Rajeev with absolute finality, Shekhar delivered his verdict. "Khana ho jaye, toh seedha office ke liye nikal jana. Mujhe koi bahane nahi sunne." (Once the meal is done, leave straight for the office. I don't want to hear any excuses.)

"Ji, Baba Sa," (Yes, Baba Sa,) Rajeev answered stiffly.

With slow, heavy strides, Shekhar stood up and walked out of the dining room. The moment the heavy footsteps faded down the corridor, Rajeev exhaled a long, shuddering breath, his shoulders slumping.

He looked across the table at Nakul, his eyes filled with genuine concern. "Chhote… dil chhota mat kar. Tera bada bhai haina yahan? We will manage it together." (Little one… don't feel disheartened. Your elder brother is here, isn't he?)

Nakul didn't look up. Without a word, he pushed his chair back, stood straight, and walked away from the table.

"Nakul!" Rajeev called out, but his brother didn't even slow down.

Sulekha sighed deeply, pressing her fingers to her temples. "Chhod do usey, Rajeev. Bachpan se aisa hi hai, hamesha muh phula kar baitha rehta hai. Koi bachha thodi na hai ki har baat par ise manana pade." (Leave him, Rajeev. He has been like this since childhood, always sitting with a sulking face. He is not a child that he needs to be coaxed over every matter.)

"Par Masa, usne akele teen saal—" (But Masa, he alone for three years—)

"Tum pehle meri baat suno!" (You listen to me first!) Sulekha interrupted, her eyes suddenly sparkling with a very different kind of intensity. "Mere paas ladkiyon ki lambi list hai. Pure Rajasthan se acche-acche rishte aaye hain tere liye. Tu bas ek baar pasand kar le, chat mangni pat byah kar denge!" (I have a long list of girls. Good proposals have come for you from all over Rajasthan. You just like one once, and we'll get you married in no time, engagement and wedding in a flash!)

Rajeev's eyes widened in sheer panic. He quickly grabbed a massive piece of bati, shoving it directly into his mouth. He blinked rapidly, waving his hands.

"Hmm? Kya kaha Ma? Kuch suna nahi… gale mein atak gaya!" (Hmm? What did you say, Ma? I heard nothing… it got stuck in my throat!) he mumbled frantically, pointing at his mouth. "Dubara mat bolna!" (Don't say it again!)

And ran off.

"Tum dono bhai-behen ek jaise ho!" (You both, brother and sister, are exactly alike!) Sulekha huffed, crossing her arms in exasperation. She suddenly spotted movement near the edge of the room. "Oye! Shalini! Kahan chal di abhi se?" (Hey! Shalini! Where are you off to already?)

Shalini, who had been attempting to crawl past the doorway, froze mid-step. She offered a tight, innocent smile. "College ke liye, Masa… time ho gaya hai." (For college, Masa… it's time.)

"Ruko zara!" (Wait a moment!) Sulekha narrowed her eyes. "Tumhare liye bhi acche rishte aaye hain, ek baar baith kar tasveer toh dekh lo—" (Good proposals have come for you too, just sit down once and look at the photographs—)

"Bye, Masa! Bye.." Shalini waved, sprinting out the front door before her mother could trap her.

Sulekha threw her hands up in utter defeat, looking at the empty doorway. "Hey Devi Maiya… na ye ladki sunti hai, na iska bada bhai. Jaane kiske naseeb mein likhi hogi mere Rajeev ki jodi!" (Oh Devi Maiya… neither does this girl listen, nor her elder brother. Who knows in whose fate my Rajeev's match is written!)

Meanwhile, in the sterilized, high-strung corridors of the Jaipur City Hospital, Dr. Roohanika Dev Singh marched in with her best friend trailing closely behind. She was still boiling over from the street argument.

The root of her fury wasn't just the man who dented her car, a blue-beautified sedan, a birthday gift from her father that she worshipped more than her own reflection, which some careless idiot had just sideswiped.

And when Roohanika had stepped out, politely asking the man to own up to his blunder, he had looked her up and down, full of ego, and muttered that women shouldn't be handed the keys to heavy vehicles. That single remark had struck a nerve, unleashing a heavy rage out of the ever so calm Roohanika..

Stepping into her hospital domain, she found the nursing station buzzing with hushed whispers.

"Did you hear? Dr. Singh is so ill-mannered… she started screaming at some poor guy right in the middle of the street."

"Oh, really? So dramatic—"

Before the gossip could spread another inch, Roohanika whipped around, her voice cracking like a whip. "Are you both done with your work? Are you so free that you have time to backbite about your senior? Do you want me to fire you right now and give you a permanent holiday so you can gossip comfortably at home?"

"We're sorry, Ma'am!" the nurses stammered, turning pale.

"Get back to work!" she snapped, pivoting on her heel and marching straight into her private cabin.

Right there on her mahogany desk sat a heavy brass nameplate, gleaming proudly: Dr. Roohanika Dev Singh. Gynecologist.

In Roohanika's universe, only three things mattered: her family, her profession, and her fierce, unyielding self-respect.

In all her twenty-six years of life, she had never once tolerated the archaic gender bias that placed men on pedestals and reduced women to shadows. Raised like an absolute princess in her own home, and carrying the proud title of the Princess of Madhavgarh, she bowed to no one..

Roohanika was a woman forged in strict rules and an uncompromising demeanor. She despised the very concept of romance and held an active, burning aversion to the idea of marriage. And she had every reason to feel that way...

She had just lowered herself into her leather chair when a nurse burst frantically through her door.

"Ma'am! We just got an urgent call from your Bhabhi!"

Roohanika sprang to her feet. Without waiting for a second thought, she abandoned her clinic, bolted back to her car, and raced toward home with something unsettling in her gut.

As she feared, the scene awaiting her at her home was brutal..

Her elder brother, Balraj Dev Singh, was standing over his wife, screaming at the top of his lungs. Bhavana Dev Singh lay huddled on the cold marble floor, surrounded by ugly, purpling bruises that screamed of a vicious physical assault.

Without a second's hesitation, Roohanika lunged forward, throwing herself physically between them to shield her sister-in-law as she flared up at her brother.

"Bhai Sa! Ye sab kya hai?!" (Bhai Sa! What is all this?!)

Balraj glanced down at her, his eyes cold and unrepentant. "Tu beech mein mat bol, Roohanika. Ye iske aur mere beech ki baat hai." (Don't interfere, Roohanika. This is between her and me.)

Roohanika refused to budge an inch. "Ye pure ghar ki baat hai, Bhai Sa! Kisi ne aapko yeh haq nahi diya ki aap Bhabhi Sa par haath uthayein!" (This concerns the whole family, Bhai Sa! No one gave you the right to raise your hand on Bhabhi Sa!)

"Tum iski tarafadari kar rahi ho!" (You are taking her side!) Balraj roared, his face contorting in rage. "Ye aurat kisi kaam ki nahi hai! Shaadi ko paanch saal ho gaye, na isse dhang se ek kaam hota hai, aur na aaj tak mujhe ek aulaad de paayi hai!" (This woman is good for nothing! Five years of marriage, she can't do a single thing properly, and till today she hasn't given me a child!)

"Bhai Sa! Aap Bhabhi ko is baat ke liye dosh nahi de sakte!" (Bhai Sa! You cannot blame Bhabhi for this!) Roohanika's voice trembled with fury. "Agar aapne ek shabd aur kaha, toh main aaj hi yeh ek-ek baat Baba Sa ko bata dungi!" (If you say one more word, I will tell Baba Sa each and every one of these things today itself!)

The mere mention of their father froze Balraj mid-tirade. He shot one last venomous glare at Bhavana, turned on his heel, and slammed the door to his private chambers.

Roohanika immediately dropped to her knees, gently lifting Bhavana up and guiding her toward the safety of the bedroom.

Bhavana was sobbing uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking violently. Roohanika pulled her into a tight, protective embrace, whispering soothing words as she wiped away her tears.

"Ab paani sar ke upar ja raha hai, Bhabhi," (Now the water is going above the head, Bhabhi,) Roohanika murmured, stroking her hair. "Baba Sa ke laut-te hi main unhe sab bata doongi." (The moment Baba Sa returns, I will tell him everything.)

Bhavana clutched desperately at Roohanika's sleeve, her eyes wide with terror. "Nahi, nahi, Rooh… aap kuch nahi kahengi." (No, no, Rooh… you will not say anything.)

"Bhabhi—"

"Aapko hamari kasam hai!" (You have our oath!)

Roohanika let out a heavy, frustrated sigh and knelt lower, taking both of Bhavana's trembling hands in hers. "Bhabhi, kab tak sahengi aap? Jab-jab Baba Sa ghar par nahi hote, Bhai Sa ka yahi ravaiya hota hai. Main unke khilaaf police mein shikayat darj karwaungi. Aapko bas court mein gavahi deni hai, aur aapko unki jayadad ka aadha hissa bhi mil kar rahega—" (Bhabhi, how long will you endure? Whenever Baba Sa is not at home, this is Bhai Sa's behaviour. I will file a police complaint against him. You just have to testify in court, and you will surely get half of his property as well—)

"Nahi, Rooh… hume kuch nahi chahiye!" (No, Rooh… we don't want anything!) Bhavana cried out, a desperate, hollow look in her eyes. "Aap… aap toh doctor hain na? Humme bataiye, humme kya kami hai? Hum kyun ma nahi ban sakte?" (You… you are a doctor, aren't you? Tell us, what is wrong with us? Why can't we become a mother?)

Roohanika's heart broke. She squeezed her hands. "Bhabhi, aap mein koi kami nahi hai! Main ek doctor hoon, aur maine khud aapko check kiya hai, aapki reports dekhi hai isliye keh rahi hoon—agar yahan kisi ko doctor ki zaroorat hai, toh woh mere bhai hain. Par usse zyada, unhe jail ki zaroorat hai." (Bhabhi, there is nothing wrong with you! I am a doctor, and I have examined you myself, I've seen your reports, that's why I'm saying this—if anyone here needs a doctor, it is my brother. But more than that, he needs jail.) With the final word she turned her face, guilt and rage washing over her..

"Rooh…"

Roohanika looked up into her eyes and spoke,

"Bhabhi, agar main aapki jagah hoti, toh ek pal bhi na sehti! Aur aap… is sthiti mein ek bachche ki khwahish karte-karte, aap sirf apni nahi, ek aur zindagi ke liye apna barbad karne ki koshish kar rahi hain." (Bhabhi, if I were in your place, I wouldn't have tolerated it for even a moment! And you… by wishing for a child in this situation, you are trying to ruin not just your own life, but another life as well.)

Bhavana pulled her hands away, standing up with a heavy, defeated finality. "Rooh, aapko hamari kasam hai. Aap kisi se kuch nahi kahengi. Hamari zindagi hai, hum khud dekh lenge." (Rooh, you have our oath. You will not say anything to anyone. It is our life, we will handle it ourselves.)

With that, Bhavana walked out of the room, leaving Roohanika sitting alone on the floor. Roohanika looked up at the ceiling, her eyes burning with angry, helpless tears.

"Hey Devi Maiya…" she whispered bitterly, "agar har shaadi aisi hi hoti hai… toh hum dua karte hain ki hamari shaadi kabhi na ho. Aapne hamare naseeb mein yeh bandhan banaya hi na ho..." (Oh Devi Maiya… if every marriage is like this… then we pray that we never get married. May you not have written this bond in our fate...)

Whereas miles away, lying on his bed, Rajeev Singh Thakur stared at nothing in particular, just remembering the face of the furious girl he saw in the street. He lifted up a file that was an accumulation of every single detail about Dr. Roohanika Dev Singh, and smiled,

"Dr. Roohanika Dev Singh…" he murmured to himself, his eyes glinting with amusement and a quiet, possessive resolve. "Jaldi hi, aapko Roohanika Rajeev Singh Thakur banana hai.."

(Very soon, I will make you Roohanika Rajeev Singh Thakur..)