The gentle sound of the old antique clock echoed softly through the grand halls of Rajput Manor. It was that familiar chime that marked dinner time every evening. The manor, usually quiet and still, now felt alive with the smell of home-cooked food drifting through the air.

Gayatri, the senior maid of the household and someone who is trusted by everyone, had already laid the table with care. The dishes she had prepared weren’t fancy or rich, but warm, homely, and comforting—just the way Nani liked them. There was steaming dal, a simple sabzi, hot fluffy rotis, and a light vegetable pulao that filled the room with mouthwatering aromas.