In a large villa decorated with various luxuries, there are two stories, a big garden, a swimming pool in the back, and a fountain in front, surrounded by a line of expensive cars. This villa looks like it belongs to a movie's wealthy protagonist. The family living here is undoubtedly rich in income and assets.
On the first floor, a special room stands out as the most luxurious in the villa. This room doesn't belong to the owner but to their beloved son, Rajiv, the only heir to their vast wealth. Rajiv is the only son of this ultra-rich family.
However, he does not enjoy this wealth the way one might expect. If someone were to enter his room unnoticed, they would find him sleeping on the floor with just a sheet beneath him. He has forsaken his incredibly soft mattress, keeping the air conditioning off and the windows open to avoid any comfort.
As the sunlight slowly streamed through his windows, it warmed his face and stirred him awake. It was early morning, with the sun just rising on the horizon. This was his daily routine, one that is rare among his peers today.
He got up and neatly folded his blanket, placing it beside the bed, then switched on the air conditioning. He spread out his belongings across the bed to make it seem as if he slept there regularly. His parents didn't know about his unusual habits.
After tidying up, he walked to the bathroom to freshen up and bathe. He then headed downstairs. Along the way, he encountered several servants working and cleaning the house. They greeted him with smiles, some looked at him with a sense of devotion.
He returned their greetings as he entered the living room and approached the dining table. There, he saw his grandfather, Vijay, sitting and reading the newspaper while waiting for breakfast. Soon, another person entered and sat at the table next to his grandfather: his father, Virender, a man in middle age. Rajiv nodded to him as he greeted him.
When breakfast arrived, everyone began to eat. After they finished, his grandfather returned to his newspaper, and his father said, "Raj, the day after tomorrow, we are opening a new factory. You need to be there to inaugurate it."
His father spoke authoritatively, and Rajiv agreed without hesitation. This was expected of him. Once he accepted, his father left after acknowledging his grandfather.
While sitting at the table, Rajiv looked at his grandfather with pensive eyes and said, "Grandfather, I want to discuss something regarding father."
Before he could say more, his grandfather replied, "I already know what you want to say. You want to talk about how your father has another wife and children he has kept secret."
Hearing this, Rajiv's throat went dry. He was at a loss for words. His grandfather continued, "Actually, he doesn't just have one hidden family. He has two more wives, a son, and two daughters that the world doesn't know about. He also has a girlfriend who is about your age."
Rajiv was stunned by this information but managed to maintain his composure. "Why didn't you do something about it? If he wanted to, he could have remarried after mother died a few years after my birth. But instead, he is having multiple affairs. This isn't right."
His grandfather, still reading his newspaper, responded, "What do you think is right? You're speaking for a coward. You play a part in what your father has become. If not for your supposed luck, he wouldn't have achieved so much success."
Something snapped in Rajiv's mind at that moment. "This isn't my fault. You all believe in that superstition, but it's just a trick."
His grandfather, calm until then, suddenly became angry. He tossed the newspaper aside and glared at Rajiv. "It's the truth, confirmed time and again. Your late grandmother always told me that our grandson Rajiv was born with a special constitution. She believed he would become a king. He was born to rule, and being near him brings good fortune. All I see now is a coward cursed by luck."
With that, he stood up and walked away, pausing just before exiting to look back at Rajiv. "You know, Rajiv, I can do anything you ask. If you want, I can punish your father. I still have enough influence in political circles to end his career and have him imprisoned for his wrongdoings. But I want one thing: come with me and stand up to him. Say those things to his face, and leave the rest to me."
He looked at his grandson, waiting for a response. To his disappointment, Rajiv didn't say anything and simply lowered his head. His grandfather walked away, leaving behind his cowardly grandson.
Pov: Rajeev
I don't know when it started, but as I watched my grandfather walk away with disappointment, I felt a wave of guilt. My life has been a chaotic story, beginning with my birth. My grandmother, a skilled astrologer, predicted that I carry immense luck and that my birth chart featured a specific combination known as Raj Yoga. This meant I was destined to lead, but my great luck affected those around me too.
Initially, my family was humble—a grandfather who was a small farmer, a father struggling to start a business, a grandmother, and a mother who managed household duties. My birth changed everything. My grandmother proudly announced that I would change our family's fate, even claiming I was born to do great things for humanity.
My grandfather dismissed her claims as superstition, but my grandmother made a bet with him. He had to enter the local election in the village. I was the one who filled out the election form, and at that time, all I could write was his name.
To everyone's surprise, he won the election by a landslide. Even with this success, he still had doubts. So, my grandmother encouraged him to run for parliament. Once again, I wrote his name on the election form, and my luck held as he became a member of Parliament. It didn't stop there. My grandmother pushed him to seek higher positions until he reached the chief minister of state.
My life could have been great if not for the corruption that came with power. They say with great power comes great responsibility, but in reality, great power brings even greater corruption.