Rudraksha Singh Rajawat sat behind his grand mahogany desk, his fingers lightly tapping against the polished wood. His office, dimly lit yet exuding power, was a reflection of the man himself—sharp, imposing, and dangerously silent. The large glass window behind him overlooked the city, a kingdom he ruled in shadows.
A soft knock on the door broke the silence. His secretary—and the only man he considered a friend—Vikram stepped in.
"Singh Saheb, Mr. Kapoor has arrived," Vikram informed, his tone formal yet familiar.
Rudraksha leaned back in his chair, his piercing black eyes narrowing slightly. "Send him in."
Vikram nodded, stepping aside as Mr. Kapoor entered. The man, the current political president of a neighboring state, was well-dressed, exuding confidence, but there was a flicker of nervousness in his eyes as he met Rudraksha's gaze.
"Rudraksha Ji," Mr. Kapoor greeted, offering a slight bow of respect.
Rudraksha didn’t move, his expression unreadable. "Mr. Kapoor," he acknowledged, gesturing for him to sit.
The air in the room was heavy, the conversation already carrying the weight of unspoken deals.
"I'll get to the point," Mr. Kapoor started, leaning slightly forward. "Both of us know the kind of influence we hold in our respective states. But separately, there are limits to our power. Together, however..." He paused, studying Rudraksha's face for a reaction. "We can rule. We can control the political landscape as we wish."
Rudraksha’s fingers stopped tapping. "And what are you proposing?" His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—one that made men think twice before speaking carelessly.
Mr. Kapoor smiled, as if he had anticipated the question. "A union. Through family." He cleared his throat. "I want you to marry my daughter, Riya. With this alliance, we become relatives, and no force will be able to challenge our authority."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Rudraksha didn’t react immediately. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his intense gaze fixed on the man in front of him.
"Marriage?" he repeated, his tone unreadable.
Mr. Kapoor nodded confidently. "Yes. You gain political stability, I gain assurance that our partnership is sealed in blood ties. And my daughter—" He chuckled. "She will have a husband who is already on his way to becoming the most powerful man in the country."
Rudraksha exhaled slowly, his eyes dark and thoughtful. He was a man who never rushed decisions. Deals in politics were one thing; tying himself to a woman for power was another.
He let the silence stretch, Mr. Kapoor waited with bated breath, watching Rudraksha's expression closely. Finally, Rudraksha leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, his sharp features unreadable. Then, in a calm yet cutting tone, he spoke.
"So, Mr. Kapoor, you wish to marry your daughter into our party?" He tilted his head slightly, his smirk laced with something unreadable. "Then do it."
For a moment, Kapoor's face lit up with relief. "Yes, yes, Rudraksha ji!" he exclaimed, eagerness dripping from his tone. "Now that you have agreed, we should arrange a meeting. You must meet Riya. Tell me the time and place, and I'll send her to you."
Rudraksha let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head slightly as he drummed his fingers on the desk. "Oh, Mr. Kapoor," he murmured, amusement dancing in his dark eyes. "If you want me to meet your daughter for marriage, then you should first ask one of my men for the time and place."
The sudden shift in tone made Kapoor frown. "What do you mean by asking your man?"
Rudraksha’s smirk widened, but there was no warmth in it. "Exactly what I said. If you want to marry your daughter here, in this party, then go ahead—marry her off to any of my men. I don’t f***ing care." His voice was smooth, but the venom beneath it was unmistakable.
Kapoor’s face fell, confusion turning into shock. "Rudraksha ji, this is not a joke—"
"Neither is this conversation," Rudraksha cut him off, his voice now cold and sharp as steel. He leaned forward slightly, eyes dark with an unspoken warning. "And for your information, I don’t need you to rule over the world. My power doesn’t depend on you, your daughter, or your pathetic political games."
Kapoor clenched his fists, his face turning red, but before he could speak, Rudraksha continued, his voice laced with amusement and cruelty.
"And one more piece of advice, Mr. Kapoor," he said smoothly. "Instead of worrying about my future, you should focus on securing your own place as President." He leaned back, watching Kapoor’s expression twist with barely restrained anger. "Because in the upcoming elections… I don’t think you’ll be able to do anything."
The room fell into a heavy silence. Kapoor’s jaw tightened, his hands gripping the arms of the chair as his temper flared. His initial enthusiasm had shattered, replaced with pure rage.
"You—" Kapoor started, his voice shaking with anger.
But Rudraksha merely smirked, his eyes cold and calculating. "Be careful with your next words, Mr. Kapoor," he murmured, his voice deceptively calm. "This is still my office, and you're still in my territory."
Kapoor’s breathing was heavy, but he knew better than to push further. He had come here expecting to seal an alliance—but instead, he had just been reminded exactly who Rudraksha Singh Rajawat was.
And that no one could control him.
As Mr. Kapoor stormed out, his face red with fury, the door slammed shut behind him. The tension that had filled the room just moments ago instantly dissolved when Vikram, who had been silently observing the entire exchange, could no longer hold back.
He burst into laughter. "Oh God, Rudra, did you see his face?" Vikram clutched his stomach, doubling over. "I swear, for a moment, I thought he was going to faint!"
Rudraksha smirked, leaning back in his chair with an air of amusement. "He really thought I needed him," he mused, shaking his head.
Vikram wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "And the way you shut him down—‘Marry her to any of my men, I don’t f***ing care!’" He mimicked Rudraksha’s tone, laughing harder. "Brother, that was legendary."
Rudraksha chuckled, shaking his head before his expression turned serious. "Enough fun," he said, his voice calm but sharp. "Politics isn't a game, Vikram. The upcoming elections are going to be crucial. Kapoor's desperation proves that he's already losing ground."
Vikram's laughter faded as he nodded, his usual sharp mind returning to focus. "Yeah, I noticed that too. The old fox knows he's running out of options."
Rudraksha exhaled, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk. "We need to be prepared. Keep an eye on his movements. If he's desperate, he’ll do something reckless."
Vikram gave a curt nod. "Consider it done."
With that, the conversation shifted to their next political moves as they wrapped up for the night. Soon, they both left the office and headed home.
------
At Rudraksha’s Home**
The Rajawat mansion was a perfect blend of traditional grandeur and modern luxury. As soon as Rudraksha stepped inside, a familiar voice echoed through the grand hall.
"So now you remember the way to this house, hmm?"
Rudraksha's mother stood in the middle of the living room, her hands on her hips, her expression one of exaggerated anger. "I called you five times, Rudraksha! But no, Mr. Future Prime Minister is too busy to pick up his mother's calls!"
Vikram, who had been trailing behind, bit his lip to suppress his laugh.
Rudraksha sighed dramatically and walked up to his mother. "Maa, I was busy handling idiots all day. If I answered your call, I would’ve taken out my frustration on you instead. And we both know that’s not a good idea."
His mother narrowed her eyes at him but then pulled him into a quick hug. "Hmph. Flattery won't work, but I’ll let it slide this time."
Just as the atmosphere lightened, two dramatic gasps echoed through the hall.
"Aree wah! The great Rudraksha Singh Rajawat has finally blessed us with his presence!"
Rudraksha turned to see his younger cousins—his aunt’s children—standing there with mischievous grins. His younger cousin sister dramatically held her heart. "I almost forgot what my dear brother looked like!"
Her brother joined in. "Bhaiya, should we book an appointment to meet you next time?"
Vikram burst into laughter, and even Rudraksha couldn’t help but smirk. "Drama queens," he muttered, shaking his head as he walked past them. "I’m going to freshen up."
"Take your time, Your Highness!" his cousin sister called after him.
---
Dinner time
By the time Rudraksha returned, the family had gathered at the dining table. The dinner was filled with laughter, light teasing, and the warmth that only family could provide. His mother kept serving extra food onto Vikram’s plate, treating him like her own son, while his father listened to their chatter with a rare smile.
But just as dinner was wrapping up, his father cleared his throat.
"Rudraksha," his deep voice echoed through the hall, instantly commanding attention.
Rudraksha straightened slightly. "Yes, Baba?"
His father’s sharp eyes locked onto him. "The day after tomorrow is my younger brother’s son’s wedding."
Rudraksha nodded, but before he could speak, his father added with firm finality:
"And all of us are going."
There was no room for argument.
Rudraksha exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Baba, I have work—"
"No excuses." His father’s tone was absolute. "When I say all of us, I mean all of us. That includes you."
His mother gave him a warning glance, and his cousins smirked, enjoying his rare moment of helplessness.
Vikram nudged him with a grin. "Looks like even the great Rudraksha Singh Rajawat can’t escape family orders."
Rudraksha shot him a glare but eventually sighed in resignation. "Fine," he muttered.
His father gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Now, get some rest. You’ll need it."
As the family dispersed, Rudraksha leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
A wedding, huh?
Something told him that this wasn’t going to be as simple as just attending a family function.
____________________________
So it was second chapter...
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