The Raichand–Malhotra estate had become a crucible. Training was no longer routine—it was survival wrapped in lessons, competition, and unspoken emotions. Every spar, every strategy session revealed the true nature of the next generation.
Cousins in Collision
Rishika Raichand and Diya Knight clashed constantly in combat drills.Rishika's style was precise, disciplined, inherited from her military lineage. Diya, in contrast, was unpredictable and bold, often turning the drills into chaotic whirlwinds."Strategy beats impulse," Rishika would snap."Unless impulse breaks your strategy first," Diya shot back.
Their rivalry became the talk of the training grounds—fiery, but tinged with respect neither admitted.
Varun Raichand and Reyansh Malhotra, the tech-oriented cousins, competed over designing better surveillance drones. One focused on sleek efficiency, the other on raw firepower. Their arguments were loud, but Mukul noticed their ideas always ended up combining into something greater.
The Fiancés' Integration
Mukul's six fiancés entered this world with determination:
Sakura Nakamura challenged the Raichand boys in martial sparring, proving she could keep pace with their speed and discipline.
Li Wei Chen immersed herself in business simulations, impressing even the Raichand elders with her ruthless but elegant financial strategies.
Shreya Patel, Mukul's childhood love, bonded with Rhea Malhotra over humanitarian initiatives, often speaking about using power responsibly.
Siriporn Thaksin shocked everyone with her tactical mind, drawing up battle maps that left even Mukul pausing to nod.
Natasha Volkov built a camaraderie with Diya, both headstrong and unyielding.
Madison Wright leaned into innovation, forming a quiet bond with Reyansh and Varun.
Their presence stirred curiosity and even envy among the cousins—how had Mukul managed to win the trust of so many extraordinary women?
Mukul at the Center
Mukul never boasted, but his quiet influence tied them all together. He corrected mistakes without belittling, mediated arguments without choosing sides, and when rivalries grew too heated, his single word was enough to calm the storm.
Still, his humility only fueled more questions:
To some cousins, he was a leader in waiting, someone they wanted to follow.
To others, he was a rival they could never quite surpass.
Whispered Loyalties
One night, after an especially grueling session, Anaya Raichand sat with Liya Moreau and Rhea Malhotra in the courtyard. They whispered their thoughts:
"He doesn't even realize it," Liya said softly, glancing toward Mukul practicing alone.Rhea nodded. "He's becoming the axis of this family. We're all revolving around him now."Anaya's eyes softened. "And yet, he still feels alone."
Seeds of Unity and Division
The bonds forming were undeniable—alliances in combat, respect forged in fire. But so too were the rivalries, the jealousies, the questions of who would stand closest to Mukul when the real storms came.
What none of them realized was that these bonds—fragile, fiery, and untested—would soon be the difference between survival and destruction.