The news of the Istanbul mission reached the Raichand–Malhotra estate like wildfire.
At the Estate
Avni Raichand listened first, her trembling hands clutching the mission report. With each line, her pride deepened."They didn't just survive… they succeeded," she whispered, her eyes glistening.
Karan Malhotra broke into a rare smile, clapping his son Arjun on the back.
Rishabh Raichand, normally stoic, allowed himself a small nod of approval.
Even the elders, who had doubted sending the younger generation into danger, exchanged glances of awe.
The cousins who hadn't joined the mission swarmed Mukul and his team the moment they returned. Laughter, teasing, and admiration filled the grand halls. For the first time, the entire family felt that the next generation could carry their legacy.
Avni pulled Mukul aside, her voice soft yet proud:"Your father would have been proud of you. Today, you led not as a boy… but as the head our families will need."
Mukul lowered his gaze, emotions warring within him. He had won victories in silence before—but never one that bound him closer to family.
In the Enemy's Lair
Far away, in a dimly lit chamber beneath Zurich's old banking quarter, shadows stirred.
The intercepted reports of a Raichand–Malhotra strike team caused unrest. The enemy leaders had expected the younger generation to falter, to crumble under real-world stakes. Instead, Mukul and his allies had dismantled one of their prized networks.
A masked figure slammed his hand against the table."Children should not wield such power. This Mukul… he's becoming more dangerous than his father ever was."
Another voice, calm but chilling, whispered from the corner:"Then we must move quickly. Before he unites them all."
The name Mukul Sharma–Raichand was now etched on their watchlists. His team's faces were marked. Their mission had not only proven their strength—it had painted targets on their backs.
A New Dawn
Back at the estate, celebrations stretched into the night. Music, laughter, and toasts echoed through the halls. But Mukul stood on a balcony, gazing at the horizon. His fiancés and cousins joined him one by one, sensing the shift in his mood.
He spoke quietly, almost to himself:"Today, we've earned respect. Tomorrow… we'll invite enemies."
The others fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Their unity had been forged—but so too had the storm that would test it.