⭐Chapter 3 — When the World Heard Her Name
The house was still carrying the faint echo of Advik's song, but Rudrapriya's world had already shifted.
She hadn't slept.
Not even for a minute.
The dream of the raas…
the village…
the sword…
the haveli…
the child…
the old woman with trembling hands…
And now—
that voice.
Advik's voice.
When the first ray of sunlight brushed the windowpane, her eyes were red, yet burning with a strange new resolve. Her study table was filled with open books—Constitution, Polity, Criminal Law, History. Hard to believe that the world's No.1 young businesswoman had been attending million-dollar meetings just last night.
Today she wanted only one thing—
to apply for IPS.
She opened her laptop. The UPSC website loaded slowly, as if testing her courage.
Her finger paused on "Apply Now."
"Name?" she whispered to herself.
Rudrapriya Singh Rajputana.
Her heart thudded.
Her parents' faces flashed.
The old haveli swords glimmered in her mind.
And somewhere, softly… Krishna's flute.
Every detail she filled in felt like carving her destiny on paper.
Photo upload.
Signature.
Verification.
Finally— Submit.
She inhaled deeply.
"Kanha… if this is Your path, then guiding me is Your promise," she murmured and pressed the button.
"Your Application has been successfully submitted."
A cool breeze passed through the silent room—
like a divine hand blessing her head.
---
And within hours… the world erupted.
News channels exploded with headlines:
> "Global Tycoon Rudrapriya Singh Rajputana Applies for UPSC!"
"Billionaire Heiress Chooses IPS Over Empire!"
"Is India's Youngest Mogul Walking Away from Business?"
Everywhere—TV, portals, reels, social feeds—
just one name.
Rudrapriya.
Back in the haveli, the drawing room television was surrounded by family.
Sia grinned with pride.
"Di always shakes the world."
Dadi fixed her glasses.
"She's my granddaughter. She won't choose ordinary roads."
Baba stood silently, his eyes filled with pride and responsibility.
Soon the media calls began.
"Is this a publicity stunt?"
"Why law enforcement?"
"What pushed you toward UPSC?"
Rudra answered the same way every time—calm, steady, unshakeable.
"This isn't sudden," she said in a live interview.
"It's not about my career. It's about who I truly am."
---
That evening…
The family gathered for dinner—warm food, familiar laughter, soft murmurs.
Avanya Didi, the heart of the haveli kitchen, moved around with plates. She wasn't a servant. She was family—someone Rudra had grown up calling "Avanya Di."
Roti.
Dal.
Vegetables.
Raita.
Everything tasted like home.
But Rudra's gaze softened as she watched Avanya.
"Avanya Di," she said suddenly,
"today you could've made something new."
Avanya blinked. "Bitiya, I made all your favorites."
Rudra tasted one bite, closed her eyes.
"It's perfect. But if you can cook this… you can rule the world's plates too."
Everyone stared.
"Rudra, what are you saying?" her mother whispered.
Rudra stood up, walked to Avanya, and placed a thick envelope in her hands.
"This is for you."
Avanya's hands trembled.
"What is this, bitiya?"
"Open it."
She unfolded the letter inside.
Her breath hitched.
Sia snatched the paper and read aloud:
> "Congratulations! You have been shortlisted for the World Chef Championship — Global Home Chefs Edition."
Silence.
A stunned, overwhelming silence.
Tears spilled down Avanya's cheeks.
"But… how… why me?"
Rudra cupped her hands gently.
"Because your talent deserves the world, Di. I sent your recipes, your food photos… everything. And look—"
she smiled softly,
"the world noticed you too."
Dadi clapped joyfully.
"Our Avanya will win the world now!"
Her mother's eyes glistened.
"Rudra… you give wings to everyone around you."
The dinner ended with tears, pride, and warmth.
But inside, Rudra still felt a pull—
a thin thread tying her to something unseen.
---
Later in her room…
She stood by the window.
The faint scent of peacock feather drifted in.
Memories blurred—
the village…
the sword…
the girl serving her like a queen…
Krishna's eyes…
and now Advik's voice intertwining with her heartbeat.
"Krishna…" she whispered,
"where is all of this leading me?"
The door creaked open.
"Di…"
Saarvi stepped in, phone in hand.
Again—Advik's song filled the room.
The first line hit Rudra like a memory.
Her breath stilled.
Her fingers trembled.
Her heartbeat aligned with something ancient…
older than this lifetime.
Saarvi studied her closely.
"Di… does this voice feel familiar?
Like you've known it before?"
Rudra opened her eyes slowly.
A shiver ran down her spine.
"Not familiar," she whispered.
"I think… this voice remembers me."
---
The next morning… chaos awaited.
At Rajputana Industries' main headquarters, tension grew.
Stock fluctuations.
A stalled international deal.
Foreign board members pushing pressure.
Legal clauses shifting overnight.
"Call madam," someone insisted.
"We need her."
Sia refused.
"She's studying. We will handle this."
But the situation spiraled.
And then—
The grand boardroom doors opened.
Everyone stood.
Rudrapriya walked in—
straight posture, calm eyes, the quiet authority of a born queen.
"Who said," she spoke gently,
"that I am studying and not watching?"
She placed her file on the table.
"Sit."
Her voice was soft—yet everyone obeyed instantly.
"Let's see," she said, her eyes sharp,
"whose move is stronger—
their terms… or our destiny."
And somewhere far away—
in a recording studio—
Advik was about to record a new song.
Outside the studio window,
a peacock feather drifted in the wind.
And a new story…
was ready to begin.