He turned back to Tanvi. "Tell me, what is it that you sell?"
Tanvi met his gaze squarely. "Sweets, Your Majesty. I've been selling sweets in the market for a month now."
The king's lips twitched into a small smile. "Sweets, you say? And you," he said, turning to Rahul, "what is your business?"
"Fresh produce and honey, Your Majesty," Rahul replied, trying to keep his voice respectful.
The king leaned back in his throne, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against the armrest. After a long pause, he spoke again. "You may have broken the law, but you've also shown initiative. I admire that." He motioned to one of his advisors. "Issue them permits, but on one condition."
Tanvi and Rahul exchanged glances, uncertain of what was coming next.
"You will both continue your businesses," the king said with a smile, "but under royal supervision. Let's see how far your rivalry takes you. Perhaps this competition will bring prosperity to the town."
Tanvi blinked in surprise. She had expected punishment, not an opportunity.
"Do you agree to these terms?" the king asked, his gaze piercing.
Tanvi glanced at Rahul, then back at the king. "We do," she said firmly.
Rahul nodded. "Absolutely."
The king looked at his ministers, then back at the trio. "Very well. You will not be punished for your transgressions, but you must earn your place here. You will be allowed to continue your businesses, but from now on, you will do so under the supervision of the royal court. You will pay the appropriate taxes and follow our laws."
Tanvi and Mira both nodded eagerly, relief washing over them.
"And one more thing," the king added, his voice growing serious. "If we discover that you have deceived us in any way, there will be no mercy next time."
Tanvi swallowed hard, knowing the weight of those words.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," she said, bowing deeply. "We are forever in your debt."
The king waved his hand, dismissing them. "Go now. The market awaits your return. But remember, we will be watching."
As they were escorted out of the throne room, the tension between the trio finally broke.
"Kidnapped?" Rahul whispered incredulously to Mira as soon as they were out of earshot. "Where did that come from?"
Mira shrugged, grinning. "It worked, didn't it?"
Tanvi exhaled a long breath, still feeling the weight of the king's words. "We got lucky," she said softly. "But we need to be careful from now on. One slip, and we're finished."
Rahul nodded, the smirk fading from his face. "Agreed."
Mira looked between them and gave a playful nudge to Tanvi. "Still, I've got to say, that sobbing act of yours? Pretty impressive."
Tanvi laughed, shaking her head. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."
As they made their way back to the market, the weight of their near-disastrous encounter with the king hung in the air. But for now, at least, they were free. And Tanvi, ever the strategist, was already thinking about how to turn their newfound "legitimacy" into an opportunity.
In king's palace servants brings sweets from the shop of Tanvi's and Rahul's. He tasted it.
News of Tanvi and Mira's little sweet shop had spread like wildfire throughout the city. The shop had quickly become the talk of the market, its reputation growing as people raved about the delicious sweets and the unique flavors. It wasn't long before the success of the shop reached the ears of Mahesh Gupta, one of the most powerful and well-established businessmen in the capital. He was a man who controlled much of the market, known for selling not only sweets but spices and household essentials—an empire that had been built through cunning and relentless ambition.
Mahesh sat in his grand office, a frown creasing his face as he listened to his assistant read out the latest market reports. The mention of a small but rapidly growing sweet shop had caught his attention, and his dark eyes narrowed in thought.
"So, this Tanvi and Mira have become quite the sensation in the lower market," the assistant said, flipping through the reports. "Their shop has been gaining popularity fast, especially among the common folk. It's said that people line up just to get a taste of their sweets."
Mahesh tapped his fingers against the polished wood of his desk, his mind calculating. "Interesting," he said slowly, his voice smooth but carrying a sharp edge. "A couple of upstarts think they can come into *my* market and make a name for themselves."
The assistant glanced up, unsure of how to respond. Mahesh Gupta was not a man who liked competition, and his reputation for crushing rivals was well known. He was a man of wealth and influence, his network spread far and wide, and he wasn't above using underhanded tactics to maintain his dominance.
Mahesh stood up, walking over to the large window that overlooked the bustling market below. "How much do they earn?" he asked, his back still to the assistant.
"Not nearly as much as you, sir," the assistant replied quickly. "But they've built a loyal customer base, and their influence is growing."
Mahesh's lip curled into a sneer. "Loyalty can be bought. Influence can be crushed." He turned sharply, his eyes gleaming with malice. "I want them under my control. Send word that I want to meet with these women. I'll offer them a partnership. If they're smart, they'll accept."
The assistant nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll arrange it immediately."
---
A few days later, Tanvi and Mira found themselves summoned to one of the most luxurious buildings in the capital. They exchanged nervous glances as they stood outside the grand entrance. The invitation from Mahesh Gupta had arrived suddenly, and though they knew of his reputation, they didn't understand why he would be interested in them.
"This is odd, isn't it?" Mira whispered, adjusting her dress nervously.
Tanvi nodded. "Very. Mahesh Gupta doesn't usually invite people like us to meetings."
"He's probably just impressed by our success," Mira said, trying to sound confident, though her voice betrayed her unease. "Maybe he wants to congratulate us."
Tanvi wasn't so sure. She had heard stories about Mahesh—stories that painted him as ruthless and manipulative. "We need to be careful," she whispered back. "I don't think this is just a friendly meeting."
As they were led inside by one of Mahesh's assistants, the opulence of the office stunned them. The walls were adorned with rare tapestries, the floors covered in intricate rugs, and at the center of it all was Mahesh Gupta, seated behind an imposing mahogany desk. He rose to greet them with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Ah, welcome, welcome!" Mahesh said warmly, gesturing for them to sit. "It's a pleasure to meet the rising stars of the market."
Tanvi and Mira exchanged a glance before taking their seats. Tanvi spoke first, her tone polite but cautious. "Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Gupta. We're honored to meet you."
Mahesh waved his hand dismissively. "Please, call me Mahesh. I've been hearing quite a lot about your little sweet shop. You've made quite the impression in a short amount of time."
Mira smiled nervously. "We've been working hard."
Mahesh leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "And it shows. But, as I'm sure you've realized, the market can be a difficult place for newcomers. It's easy to find success early on, but maintaining it? That's another matter entirely."
Tanvi's eyes narrowed slightly. She knew there was a catch coming. "What are you suggesting, Mr. Gupta?"
Mahesh smiled again, but there was a sharpness to it. "I'm offering you a partnership. With my resources and connections, I can help you take your business to the next level. You'll be able to expand, reach more customers, and make more money than you ever thought possible. All you have to do is agree to work under my brand."
Mira's eyes widened with surprise, and for a moment, it seemed like an appealing offer. But Tanvi wasn't swayed. She had built the sweet shop from nothing, using her skills and determination. She didn't want to hand over control to anyone—especially someone like Mahesh Gupta.
"Thank you for the offer," Tanvi said, her voice steady, "but we're not interested in a partnership. We prefer to remain independent."
Mahesh's expression didn't change, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop. His eyes hardened as he studied Tanvi's face, and the false warmth in his voice vanished. "You might want to reconsider," he said quietly. "The market is a dangerous place for those without protection. There are... risks."
Tanvi met his gaze without flinching. "We're willing to take those risks."
Mahesh's smile returned, but it was cold and predatory. "Very well. If you change your mind, my door is always open." He paused, his voice dropping lower. "But I would advise against making enemies in this city. It's not always easy to survive on your own."
The meeting ended shortly after that, and Tanvi and Mira left the office feeling unsettled.
In the same week king order Tanvi and Rahul to prepare sweets for up coming royal festival.