Chapter 7

Jaipur, India

One man was lying down on the floor of a dark room. He was all covered in blood, fresh and dried both. All the bruises were screaming the effects of painful tortures. Two men made that man sit on his knees while his hands were tied behind. Soon a loud thud was heard by them and one dark shadow entered in that dark room filled with the smell of blood and sweat.

The huge tall frame was 6 feet above. The coldness of his presence was enough to bring chills down to everyone’s spine. The room was partially dark so the dark shadow could see the face of the beaten man but not the vice versa. The man stood silently in front of the kneeling man. The other two men took the lead to describe the current situation.

“Boss, he is not speaking about the name of the actual mastermind. He said he does not know anything.”

The dark shadow just raised his hand to keep quiet. He came forward and bent down a bit to look directly into the eyes of that beaten up man.

Now the man’s eyes widened with shock after looking at those dark brown orbs. These two orbs are the most dangerous and ruthless. Nobody has ever seen mercy in them. The owner of the eyes is the one and only King of Underworld. His mother gave birth to him when his family was attacked by the unknown enemy. Since then he was given the name Ranvijay. He is the sole claimant of the throne Takht. The elder heir of Sekhawat’s. Ranvijay Singh Sekhawat. His ancestors had taken the oath of protecting Solankis. Ages had been passed. In this 21st still the Solanki family is protected by the Sekhawats and more precisely the Underworld is being controlled by them. This man is the most dangerous man of the Sekhwat’s bloodline. Nobody has dared to cross his path. The beaten-up man felt a big lump getting formed in his throat. He did not expect him.

“Anand Ahuja. Born in Mumbai, raised in Delhi. Worked as an informer of police and later as a drug dealer for Mirza’s gang. What made you take the deal of killing my family members? Who were they who gave you this contract?”

Anand could not speak a single word. He knew that he was in big soup. He was given a photo and told to kill a person. He got a good amount of money. He placed the bomb in the exact car whose number was shared with him. The photo he got was not of the man who was standing in front of him. But the car where he placed the bomb got blown up as per the plan. If he had ever got the chance to know that this scenario is related to Ranvijay directly, he would not dare to take it.

“I do not have much time, Anand Chachusa. That’s what your niece called you right? Do you know a single phone call from my side is enough to repeat the same scene that was created by you?”

“I do not know anything. I was given a big amount of money and a picture of that boy. I saw him coming out of the school and I was given a no of a car. I just did what I was told.”

“And you did not try to know who the little boy is? The boy is from Sekhawat bloodline. How dare you to touch something that you can’t afford. You placed the bomb with these two hands, right? Great. How about taking away these two.” Finishing his sentence Ranvijay stood up and gestured to his men to do the needful.

“No. Have some mercy. Do not do such things. I do not know anything.”

“Whoever has appointed you, tell him that even if he tries to raise a single finger on my family, I will bury his entire family six feet under the desert of Rajasthan. It’s a Rajput’s promise.” Ranvijay turned his face and moved towards the exit when one of his men asked him.

“Boss, do we need to free him alive after cutting both his hands?”

“Yes. Whoever has appointed him, let him get my message that what could happen if someone raises a small finger at my family.”

Lowering the voice, the man asked again, “But boss he was not your family. He was the son of your employee.”

“So? His father and his family had served and are still serving Sekhawat for the past 30 years. That day in that car it could be our uncle’s son. Accidentally it was exchanged, and my family member survived. But Jiten uncle’s son Aviraj lost his life. Do not dare to ask such questions anymore. I would do the same if somebody try to put his hands on your family too.” Finishing his sentence Ranvijay gave a death glare to his most trusted man. If somebody else would have asked this, he would surely be on his deathbed.

“Sorry boss.” Azhar replied keeping his head down and moved towards the man to cut his hands. An ear-piercing scream took over the room. Ranvijay gave a sinister smile and moved out of the torture cell.

“Whoever you are, you have signed your death note by yourself just by raising your hands on my family.” Ranvijay spoke in his mind.

Coming out of the area he started his car to reach the palace. There was another drama waiting for him.

Sekhawat Mansion

“Finally, look who got time to reach home for his own marriage discussion?” A man spoke with a deep voice. He is Rajendra Singh Sekhawat. Father of Ranvijay Singh Sekhawat.

“Baba, not now again. I am already stressed out over some facts.” Ranvijay was too irritated about the fact of getting married to Ragini Singh Solanki.

“Before marriage only you are getting stressed out Bhai. What would happen when Ragini Bhabi would become your wife?" Randhir could not help but mimicking his big brother.

“Baba got Randhir married to Ragini. He must face that instead of me.” Ranvijay suggested.

“Ranvijay, we have already discussed it. You are supposed to get married to Ragini. She is the daughter of Solankis and as per our treaty elder heiress of Solankis get married to elder heir of Sekhawat. Election is also coming. We would be needing their support also.”

“Baba, Ragini is almost 8 years or younger than me. I don’t want to be called a pedophile. And I have far more other work to do rather than this marriage drama. Why can’t they choose Randhir? He is also the younger heir of Sekhawat.”

“But the TAKHT will pass on you only. So, Rana Pratap wants his daughter to get married to you only.”

“So, I can see Rana Paratp is just after the Takht." Ranvijay spoke with a harsh voice.

"End of discussion. We all know what is good for both of our families. We are bound…… “

Ranvijay cut his father in between and completed the sentences.

“We are bound with age-old promises. The Legacy Solanki family wants to keep can only be protected by the Sekhawats. And our thrones can be acknowledged by them only. And our current political scenario has its fair share of Solankis too.”

Ranvijay mocked and left the room when his father shouted behind.

“You are getting old; you must marry now and that is why I found a good girl for you.”

“Yes, and that is why Baba chose a tantrum queen for you bhai.” Randhir could not stop teasing his brother.

They both came out of the room and sat in the garden with some alcohol in hand.

“So bhai, did you find the man behind the incident?” Randhir asked his brother.

‘Not exactly, I have a gut feeling that it is done by Agnihotris. But until we have some strong evidence, we cannot do anything. If we start taking steps a gang war may start. I am not worried about bloodshed but not now before the election when dad is already a candidate.”

“Did the man say anything about who had appointed him?”

“No, he was not aware of the entire situation. He is just a contract killer. But what I did to him is enough to shut the mind till the election.” Ranvijay was confident in his actions.

“Yeah. At least things should be under control till your marriage at least. Else your after-marriage will not be so good.” Randhir gave a wink to his brother.

“You, asshole. You would always remain this jerk. I was not interested, rather I was not interested in getting married to Ragini. She is too young and not just for me. Nowhere has she looked like a bride of me, the claimant of Takht. She is neither strong nor that much politically or diplomatically sound.”

“What do you want then? Come on bhai. Don’t tell me you want a ninja wife for you. I just hope that in the process of expecting a strong independent diplomatic wife you may not end up being in a fight with your wife. Who knows if your wish gets granted and you may get a head strong girl who would ask you to win a battle with her to claim the Takht itself? It will be a disaster then.” Randhir spoke such deep thoughts for the first time.

“A woman is always a woman. The throne is for the men only.” Ranvijay said in a stern voice.

“A throne cares about the claimant only bhai. Not its gender.” Randhir said that.

“Oh, you still remember that word? I thought you forgot. You were just 5 years old and I was 10.”

“Yeah, I still remember that. Do you bhai?”

“How can I forget that day? I saw that little fireball for the first time. My god. She was such a head strong powerful girl wrapped in a body of cute angel. I am sure she have grown into a living fire dragon now who has enough power to turn somebody into ashes." Ranvijay and Randhir both jumped down the memory lane.

Flashback Starts....

Ranvijay and Randhir were invited to Solanki Palace. That was the time when Myra and Minerva used to stay. Myra and Minerva stayed for almost a month there. Minerva completed a nice documentary as well as Mayabati kept them for upcoming festivals also. That day Arjun was playing with Myra in the garden. Myra had learnt to use broken English and mostly she used to use the gestures to talk. Arjun was fond of her and most of the time he used to take her everywhere. Arjun wanted a sister like her. Ranvijay and Randhir arrived there. After some time while they were searching for Arjun they found a little girl with golden brown hair standing with Arjun. Arjun was too busy in describing something to her in English. When Ranvijay came in front of them to see, he froze in his place. He might have seen the most stunning girl in the world. She had ocean blue eyes and milk white skin. She looked like a living Barbie doll. But her attitude and appearance was screaming power and dominance. At that little age also her glare was intimidating. Randhir came hurriedly also to have a look at the little charming girl. 

"Ye to Videshi hai bhai. (She is a foreigner brother.)" Randhir blurted out in shock.

Arjun looked at them and introduced her to them.

"Ranvijay,Randhir. She is Myra Moretti. Daughter of my dad's friend Minerva aunt." Arjun felt proud to introduce her to them.

Then he told her in English that they are his friends and both of their families are old friends. 

Myra nodded her head and replied with "Ciao". (Hello).

Ranvijay looked at Arjun, and he said that she said hello in Italian. Arjun learnt only a few words from Minerva while he was trying to understand what Myra speaks. So eventually he started getting some of Myra's words. 

"Tu chi sei? (Who are you?)" Myra asked Ranvijay and he stood dumbfounded.

Arjun got that and told Ranvijay the exact question in English.

"I am the claimant of Takht. Means I am the King." Ranvijay told her proudly. Even at the age of 10 he was well aware of that fact after hearing from his father.

Myra understood the word King only and she also suddenly replied in her Broken English,

"I am King too." 

Ranvijay and Randhir started laughing hearing that and then Randhir said suddenly.

"Ladkiya Raja nahi hot sakti hai. Women can't be the King. Thrones are for Men only." 

Minerva was passing by when she stopped by their words and came towards them. Ranvijay and Randhir both became silent looking at the tall woman. She was beautiful and her features depicted a strong aura. They understood that Myra is the mini version of this woman only. She bent down to their level. Her blue eyes were like the ocean and deep. They felt hypnotized looking at her. 

"Who said that a woman can't be the king? The throne cares about its claimant only, not about its gender. Always remember this my boy." She then ruffled their hairs and put a small kiss on their foreheads. 

Before moving away she looked at her daughter and spoke in Italian.

"Certo che sei il re del tuo regno. (Of course you are king of your kingdom.)"

Arjun, Ranvijay and Randhir stood there dumbfounded as they were unable to understand the sentence said by that lady. 

Seeing Myra's glittering eyes Ranvijay felt a foreign feeling inside him. Myra gave a big smile to Ranvijay and hugged him suddenly by saying,

"Anch'io sono un re. (I am a king too)".

Ranvijay didn't understand what she just said. He stood still with that sudden hug and then he gently picked her up in his embrace like a doll and told her,

"Yes you are. My little fireball."

Flashback Ends...

In the present both the brothers laughed out loudly remembering the past incident.