Chapter 1: The Beginning of Fate

Author's POV

The warm, golden sands of Rajasthan stretched endlessly under the vibrant blue sky as Kiara Malhotra stepped out of the car. Her family buzzed with excitement, eager to explore the land of palaces and history. It was their second day on this much-anticipated trip, and today's destination was the crown jewel of Udaipur—the iconic Lake Palace.

Kiara’s mother adjusted her dupatta while her father admired the intricate architecture from a distance. Her Older sister, Sneha, couldn’t stop clicking selfies, and her elder brother, Arjun, grumbled about the heat but still kept a protective eye on his sisters. Kiara, dressed in a soft white and gold anarkali, was mesmerized by the beauty surrounding her. The shimmering waters, the grandeur of the palace, and the timeless charm of the city—all of it felt surreal, like a dream she didn’t want to wake from.

Her look~

The family wandered through the palace corridors, marveling at the exquisite carvings and the glistening lake that embraced the structure. As Kiara leaned over a balcony to admire the reflection of the palace in the water, one of her silver anklets slipped silently from her foot and fell on the floor. Absorbed in the moment, she walked away without noticing it.

But someone else noticed.

In the shadows of the grand hall, a man watched her intently. Reyaansh Rathore, the enigmatic Mafia King of Rajasthan, exuded a quiet but commanding presence. Dressed impeccably in a black blazer and suit.

His look~

He looked every bit the powerful figure he was. His sharp features and piercing gaze made him a force to reckon with, even in a crowd.

His eyes followed Kiara’s every move, drawn to her as if by an invisible thread. When his gaze fell on the anklet gleaming on the marble floor, he took a step forward, bending down to pick it up. The cool metal rested in his hand as he straightened, his focus shifting to the girl who had left it behind.

There was something about her—something that stirred emotions he hadn’t felt in years. She was light in a world he had long accepted as dark, and that contrast captivated him.

“Who is she?” Reyaansh murmured, the anklet dangling from his fingers as he watched her disappear with her family.

The Malhotras left the palace as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the lake. Back at the hotel, Kiara remained blissfully unaware of the anklet she had lost—or of the man who now held it.

Standing by a tall window overlooking the shimmering lake, Reyaansh twirled the anklet between his fingers, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“She doesn’t know it yet,” he muttered under his breath, his deep voice laced with determination, “but she’s already mine.”

Unbeknownst to Kiara, her visit to Rajasthan had set her life on a collision course with a man who could shatter her world—or become its most unbreakable anchor.