All the royal ladies had come to the temple together that morning. The atmosphere was calm and filled with devotion. Nisha had gone ahead to bring the puja thali, while Ragini and Radhika ji slowly walked towards the inner part of the temple. The sound of temple bells echoed softly around them. Just then, Radhika ji’s foot slipped on a stone lying on the path, and she almost lost her balance. She was about to fall when, at that very moment, someone held her firmly from behind and helped her stand straight…

“Thank you, beta…” Ragini and Radhika ji said together without even turning back to see who it was, because Ragini was still holding Radhika ji carefully to make sure she was fine. A second later, they heard a gentle voice, and both of them looked in that direction…

“It’s okay, aunty. Please be careful while walking,” the voice said politely. It belonged to Sana Mehta, who had come to the temple for darshan. She was wearing a simple yet elegant anarkali suit. A mangalsutra rested around her neck, and sindoor adorned her forehead, clearly showing that she was newly married…

Seeing Sana standing there with concern in her eyes, both the ladies smiled warmly. Sana then held Radhika ji’s other hand with care, and together Ragini and Sana slowly guided her towards the side of the temple. They made her sit comfortably on a bench near the temple wall…

“Aunty, are you fine? You didn’t get hurt badly, right? Should I call a doctor?” Sana asked all at once, her words filled with worry, not giving them much time to respond…

“Oh beta, I’m absolutely fine. Don’t worry,” Radhika ji said reassuringly. “By the way, what is your name?...”

“Sana Mehta,” she replied softly…

“It seems like you got married recently,” Ragini said with a gentle smile…

“Yes, aunty. I got married just three months ago,” Sana replied, returning the smile…

“May you always stay happy, beta, and may your married life always be filled with happiness,” both the ladies blessed her sincerely. Just then, a melodious voice reached their ears from inside the temple, as if someone was singing the aarti. The sound was so soothing that it instantly brought a smile to Sana’s face…

At that moment, Nisha arrived with the puja thali, and Ragini introduced her to Sana. After that, all of them moved inside the temple together. As soon as they entered, the eyes of the three ladies fell on a beautiful young girl standing near the front. There was a soft smile on her face, her eyes were closed in devotion, a dupatta covered her head, and her hands were folded as she sang the aarti with complete faith. The pandit ji was performing the ritual alongside her. Seeing her devotion, all three ladies smiled and stood there, joining the aarti quietly…

When the aarti came to an end, the girl opened her eyes and turned towards them. Her name was Tara. The moment she faced them, the three ladies were left staring at her. She was not only beautiful, but her voice was equally enchanting, leaving a deep impression on anyone who heard it…

“Bhabhi, you brought the thali, right? Then quickly give it to the pandit ji,” Tara said to Sana, who was standing just behind her. As Tara turned towards her, the Rathore ladies noticed her clearly…

“Yes,” Sana replied and handed the thali to the pandit ji…

“Bhabhi, let’s go quickly after taking the aarti, or else bhai will leave us here,” Tara said in a hurry…

“But at least take the aarti first. And your brother isn’t going anywhere. You know very well, he never leaves us girls alone,” Sana said, making a small pout…

“Yes, yes, wherever you are, he keeps roaming around you like a devotee,” Tara replied, giggling softly…

“Come on now, or else he’ll come upstairs himself,” Sana said, shaking her head helplessly…

After that, Sana and Tara took darshan and collected the aarti. They were just about to leave when Sana’s eyes fell on the Rathore ladies, who were still standing there after the aarti. Without a second thought, she walked towards them, with Tara following her. Tara looked at Sana in confusion but went along without questioning her…

“We’ll take your leave now, aunty. Namaste,” Sana said respectfully, folding her hands…

“Alright, beta. But who is this sweet girl with you?” Radhika ji asked curiously. Her question immediately caught Ragini and Nisha’s attention, and both of them exchanged knowing smiles…

“Oh, she is Tara Mehta, my sister-in-law,” Sana replied…

Tara immediately touched their feet with respect. After that, they spoke for a while, exchanging a few polite words. Just then, Tara’s phone rang. Karan’s name flashed on the screen. Tara bit her tongue in panic and looked at Sana helplessly…

“Bhabhi, where is your phone? Bhai is calling me. Today we are definitely going to get scolded. Oh Maa, please please save us from bhai today,” Tara muttered to herself. Her nervous words made everyone smile. At that moment, Sana lightly tapped her on the head, reminding her where she was standing…

“Sorry,” Tara said with a sheepish smile. Soon after, both of them said goodbye to everyone and left…

“She’s such a lovely girl, isn’t she?” Nisha said while watching them walk away…

“Hmm, you’re right,” Radhika ji replied thoughtfully, lost in her own thoughts…

Ragini and Nisha looked at her with confusion and then at each other. Just then, the pandit ji called them for the remaining rituals. The ladies moved ahead, completed the puja, and soon after, they all returned back to the palace…

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Far away from the city, beyond the reach of noise and civilization, stood a massive, long building surrounded by silence. The place felt cut off from the world, cold and watchful. On the topmost floor, several armed guards were stationed outside a heavy door. Large guns rested firmly in their hands as they moved with sharp focus, their eyes constantly scanning the area around the building. Every step, every shadow was watched with hawk-like attention…

At that moment, a man arrived…

A thin file was held tightly in his hand, while a pistol holster rested against his belt. One look at his physique made it obvious that discipline and strength ruled his life, his broad shoulders, muscular frame, and straight posture spoke of endless hours spent in the gym. Standing nearly six feet one inch tall, he carried himself with natural authority. His hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place, and heavy boots struck the floor with purpose as he walked. He moved quickly, without hesitation, and the dark aura surrounding him felt dangerous, almost devil-like…

The instant he stepped inside, the guards stiffened and saluted him in unison. Respect and a hint of fear flashed across their faces…

He walked into his cabin and settled into his chair with a calm, controlled movement. The cabin was not very large, simple and disciplined but it carried a strong presence. Every wall spoke of power and experience. Pictures of weapons covered most of the space, and in some corners, real weapons were displayed with precision, as if they were part of his daily life…

In one corner of the cabin stood a large shelf, neatly arranged with countless medals and trophies. Each one silently told a story of victories, courage, and mastery. Anyone who stepped inside could easily tell, this man was highly skilled with weapons. He was not just an officer. He was their boss, a man who commanded respect without saying a word…

Just then, the door opened softly. A young woman walked in, holding another file in her hands. She stopped a few steps away, straightened her posture, and saluted him first. Then she stepped forward and placed the file carefully on the table…

“Sir, all the information you asked for is in this file,” she said in a respectful tone…

After speaking, she stepped back and stood still, her hands folded behind her back, showing complete discipline and respect for her superior…

“Alright. Arrange a meeting and inform everyone,” the boss said firmly. His voice was calm but strict, leaving no room for argument. “I want everyone present here within thirty minutes…”

“Yes, sir,” the girl replied immediately. She saluted once again and left the cabin without wasting a second…

A short while later, the boss stepped out of his cabin and walked toward the meeting room. As he entered, he went straight to his main position and stood there with his hands clasped behind his back. His posture was straight and commanding. His jaw was tight, his face completely blank, no emotion, no hesitation…

His sharp eyes scanned the room, silently counting who had arrived and who had not. In a moment, he noticed that three people were still missing…

At that very second, the door of the meeting room opened. Three people walked in quickly, saluted the boss, and took their places, standing straight and alert…

“You are late,” the boss said in a cold, strict voice…

“Sorry, sir… but we were in the other part of the city,” one of the three replied, the voice steady but respectful…

A heavy silence filled the room, carrying the weight of authority, discipline, and the unspoken tension of what was about to follow…

The boss then began to explain the entire plan, why this meeting had been called and what the mission truly demanded from them. His voice was calm yet commanding as he laid out every detail, step by step. The room fell into complete silence, broken only by his words. Each person listened carefully, their faces serious, minds sharp, absorbing every instruction. Questions were discussed, possibilities weighed, and slowly the strategy took its final shape. For this mission, two teams were formed, Alpha and Beta…

“Now listen carefully,” the boss said, his strong voice filling the room with authority. “Alpha team will lead this mission. If anything goes wrong, Beta team will move in as backup...”

“Yes, Chief,” everyone replied together, their voices firm and disciplined…

They all addressed him as Chief, a title earned through rank, experience, and command. Though there were many above him in the larger chain of authority, within these walls, he was the final decision-maker. His presence alone demanded obedience…

“I don’t want a single mistake,” the Chief continued, his eyes narrowing as he looked around the room. His jaw tightened, and the warning in his tone was impossible to ignore. “If even one thing goes wrong, it will create a serious problem for all of us. Now, Alpha team, in my cabin…”

With that, the Chief turned and walked out of the room without another word. The Alpha team rose immediately and followed him, their expressions focused and determined. The remaining members stayed behind in silence, fully aware that the mission had officially begun and that failure was not an option…

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To be continued...