As soon as he took his place on the long dining table silence filled the room, his mother served everyone the food. The aroma of delicious home-cooked food filled the air, and Rishab's stomach growled in anticipation. His mother had always been an exceptional cook, and he had missed her culinary skills during his time away.
As they began to eat, the tension in the room slowly dissipated, replaced by the clinking of utensils and gentle conversation. Rishab's father, Raj, asked him about his work, and Rishab shared stories about his experiences in the entertainment industry.
For a moment, it felt like old times, like Rishab had never left. But he knew that the past couldn't be erased, and there was still much to be discussed and resolved.
As they finished the main course and waited for dessert, Rishab's father cleared his throat and spoke up. "Rishab, we need to talk about the future. Your future, and the future of our family."
Rishab's heart skipped a beat. He knew this was coming, but he wasn't sure if he was ready. He nodded, and his father continued. "We want you to take on a bigger role in politics, Rishab. We want you to be a part of our legacy."
Rishab's mind raced as he considered the offer. It was a chance to make amends, to prove himself, and to secure his family's future. But it was also a risky move, one that could lead to failure and disappointment.
He looked around the table, seeking guidance and support. His family's eyes were on him, filled with hope and expectation. Rishab took a deep breath and made his decision.
"Did something happen in the family recently?" questioned Rishab.
Mr. Ram Mehta, his grandfather, decided to lay the cards on the table. Looking at his grandson he said " As you wanted to continue in the entertainment industry, we were against it only because you are the only child who can take over our legacy. We decided to let you pursue your dream, but things did not go according to what we expected."
Rishab was dumbfounded when he heard that his family had agreed but wondered what had gone wrong. Rishab enquired "What has gone wrong grandfather."
"We decided to train your cousin Rakesh as the one who can carry on the legacy that our family has always been proud of, but there are many underhanded deals done by the branch family unknown to us. We got the information about such deals from our people on their side."
Rishab's eyes widened in shock as he processed the revelation. "What? Rakesh? But he's always been so...loyal," he stuttered, trying to reconcile the image of his cousin with the news.
His grandfather's expression turned grave. "Loyalty can be deceiving, Rishab. We thought we could trust Rakesh, but it seems he's been playing a double game. The branch family has been secretly manipulating him, using him to further their own interests."
Rishab's mind raced as he tried to understand the implications. "But why? What do they gain from this?"
His father's face was stern. "Power, Rishab. They want to control our family's legacy, our influence, and our wealth. And they're willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that."
Rishab's heart sank, feeling a sense of betrayal and anger. He had always considered Rakesh a friend, a confidant. But now, he realized that their friendship had been a facade, a mere puppetry to further the branch family's agenda.
Rishab could not understand how this major issue had been overlooked by him in his previous life, he always thought that everything had been going well and there was no kind of information from his family after he left the house on this particular day due to his rebellious nature.
Rishab's eyes clouded with regret and confusion. "How could I have been so blind?" he thought to himself. He had always assumed that his family's legacy was secure, that his departure had been the only rift. But now, he realized that a sinister plot had been unfolding, hidden from his sight.
He wondered if his rebellious nature had led him to ignore the signs, to overlook the subtle hints of deceit. Had his anger and hurt clouded his judgment, preventing him from seeing the truth?
Rishab's mind raced with questions, but one thing was certain - he had to make it right. He had to uncover the truth, expose the branch family's schemes, and reclaim his family's legacy.
With a newfound determination, Rishab turned to his grandfather. "Tell me everything," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "I need to know what happened, what I missed, and what I can do to fix it."
Ram's eyes clouded with a mix of sadness and anger. "Rakesh, the son of my brother's son. I never thought he would stoop so low. He's been playing us all along, using his charm and deceit to gain our trust."
Rishab's grip on his chair tightened. "And what about the others? Are they involved too?"
Ram nodded. "We suspect some of them are, but we don't know who to trust. That's why we need you, Rishab. You're the only one who can help us navigate this treacherous web and reclaim our family's legacy."
Rishab began to think about who was present beside Rakesh from the main branch side in his previous life, and came across few people who were currently loyal to their family. At that time he thought that since Rakesh had the support of his family, their presence was not an issue. Thinking about it now makes him understand more about the dynamics that conspired in the previous life.
Rishab's eyes widened as he realized the extent of the betrayal. His father's close assistant, Mr. Jain, and his uncle, Vikram, from his grandmother's side, had been trusted members of their inner circle. Yet, they had secretly aligned themselves with Rakesh and the branch family.
Rishab's mind reeled as he thought about how much access Mr. Jain had to his father's dealings, and how much influence he had wielded. And Vikram, his uncle, had been a constant presence at family gatherings, always smiling and friendly. How could they have hidden their true loyalties so well?
He remembered how Mr. Jain would often brief him on his father's schedule, how Vikram would offer him advice on family matters. Had they been feeding him misinformation, manipulating him to further Rakesh's agenda?
Rishab's anger grew as he realized the depth of their deception. They had been wolves in sheep's clothing, hiding in plain sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
He knew he had to be careful, that there might be others like them, still hiding in the shadows. Rishab's determination to expose the truth and reclaim his family's legacy grew stronger. He would not rest until he had brought the traitors to justice and restored his family's honor.
Collecting his thoughts, Rishab looked at his father and grandfather to share his thoughts. "Grandfather, If I may not be wrong, recently I have seen Mr. Jain and Vikram uncle meeting Rakesh personally at our guest house near my shooting location. Although it felt very ambiguous, I ignored it thinking it was just a family issue."
Raj Mehta nodded was surprised at first but then shaking his head saying " Although I felt Mr. Jain was little unfocused during his work and constantly searching for the unnecessary files in the office, I never thought he had the intention to betray us. I must have been blind to overlook his actions."