The morning sun had barely risen over the twenty-one villages ruled by the influence of the Thakur family.

At the very heart of the largest village stood the magnificent Thakur Haveli. It was not merely a house; it was a symbol of the Thakur family's wealth and authority.

And at the center of it all was Abhiraj Thakur.

Thirty-three years old, Abhiraj was the richest man across all twenty-one villages. He owned vast stretches of farmland, several businesses, and properties scattered throughout the region.

People respected him.

Some feared him.

And almost everyone addressed him as Thakur Sahab.

Abhiraj was a quiet man. He rarely raised his voice, because he rarely needed to. A single look from him was usually enough.

That morning, he had left the haveli to inspect the fields with a few of his men.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the village, there was complete chaos outside a modest but respectable house.

"Di! Pakad ke dikhao!"

Anvika's younger sister ran through the courtyard, laughing.

Anvika, who had returned to the village after completing her studies in the city, picked up a bucket of water.

"Ruk ja! Aaj tujhe nahi chhodungi!"

Her sister laughed even louder and ran toward the entrance.

Anvika followed her with the bucket.

"Bas! Ab mil gayi toh—"

Her sister suddenly moved aside.

Anvika lifted the bucket without looking.

"Le!"

SPLASH!

The water flew through the air.

But her sister wasn't there anymore.

Instead, someone else was standing at the entrance.

The entire bucket landed on him.

Silence.

Anvika's smile disappeared.

The man standing in front of her was dressed in a spotless white kurta-pajama.

Now completely soaked.

Water dripped from his hair and down his face.

Anvika slowly raised her eyes.

Her heart stopped.

Abhiraj Thakur.

The man everyone called Thakur Sahab.

He stared at her.

His expression was completely unreadable.

The men standing behind him immediately lowered their eyes, trying very hard not to react.

Anvika's younger sister peeked from behind the doorway.

"Di..."

Anvika swallowed.

"I'm... sorry."

Abhiraj said nothing.

Anvika hurriedly continued.

"I wasn't throwing it at you. I was throwing it at her."

She pointed toward her sister.

Her sister immediately disappeared.

Abhiraj looked at the empty bucket in Anvika's hand.

Then at his soaked kurta.

Then back at her.

"Achha."

That was all he said.

Anvika nervously smiled.

"Ji."

Abhiraj turned and walked away.

Anvika watched him leave.

Only after he had gone a few steps did she hear her mother's horrified voice.

"Anvika!"

Anvika closed her eyes.

She knew she was in trouble.

Her mother rushed outside.

"Yeh tumne kya kar diya?"

"Maa, woh galti se—"

"Galti se?"

Her mother stared at her in disbelief.

"Thakur Sahab ke upar paani phenk diya tumne?"

"Maa, maine unhe dekha hi nahi tha!"

"Toh dekhna chahiye tha!"

Her mother lowered her voice and glanced nervously in the direction Abhiraj had gone.

"Kitne saalon baad ghar aayi ho aur pehle hi din Thakur Sahab ko naraaz kar diya."

Anvika frowned.

"Par maine jaan-bujhkar thodi kiya."

"Jaan-bujhkar nahi kiya, iska matlab yeh nahi ki jo mann aaye karti phiro."

Her younger sister quietly came out from behind the door.

"Maa, galti meri thi..."

Her mother immediately turned toward her.

"Tum dono!"

Both sisters stood silently.

Their mother sighed.

"Anvika, tum shehar mein padh-likh kar aayi ho. Thoda toh samajhdari se kaam liya karo."

Anvika looked toward the road where Abhiraj had disappeared.

She had expected her return to the village to be peaceful.

She certainly hadn't expected her very first meeting with the most powerful man in twenty-one villages to involve an entire bucket of water.

And somewhere ahead, Abhiraj Thakur continued walking with his men.

One of them finally dared to speak.

"Thakur Sahab..."

Abhiraj glanced at him.

"Ji?"

The man suppressed a smile.

"Kapde badalwa doon?"

Abhiraj looked down at himself.

Then, unexpectedly, the faintest smile appeared on his face.

"Zaroor."

He paused.

"Gaon mein naye log aaye hain. Lagta hai ab sambhal kar chalna padega."

His men exchanged surprised glances.

Because for the first time in a very long while, Thakur Sahab seemed amused.