The morning approached gently, and the TA mansion shimmered under the golden caress of the rising sun. A soft warmth spread across the marble floors and carved pillars, illuminating the grandeur of the estate. The Rajput family was ready to leave for the airport, and everyone waited restlessly for Aakash and Shashi.
"Aakash timepass ho raha hoga," aadarsh muttered under his breath. (Aakash must be wasting time again.)
"Bohat laparwah ho gaya hai," Dadi Saa said, shaking her head in disappointment. (He's become so careless.)
"Isko aane do ek baar, acche se pitu ga isko," Sarthak chimed in with a half-serious tone. (Let him come once, I'll beat him up properly.)
Just then, the couple descended the grand staircase-together, lost in their own little world, talking and smiling like no one else existed.
"Lo aa gaye maharaj," Aadarsh said, dramatically bowing. (Here comes the king.)
The family slowly moved out of the mansion, occupying their respective cars, each following the lead vehicle as they made their way toward the private airstrip.
Upon reaching the airport, they stood waiting beside the sleek jet, its engines humming low, ready for takeoff. Only one person was missing.
They waited.
And waited.
Then, a convoy of luxury cars rolled toward the jet and came to a stylish halt before them.
"Here she is," Shashi said, a mix of sarcasm and affection in her tone.
Out stepped Laksha, her waist-length hair in a wild wave of global grape-purple, tousled and glinting in the sunlight. To everyone's surprise-and mild horror-she wasn't wearing her usual formal attire. Instead, she rocked a black pajama set covered in teddy bear prints, trimmed with a thin white border.
And Lee-Yoon? Matching her eccentricity, he stepped out too-also in pajamas, navy blue this time. He walked calmly behind Laksha, holding a glossy tumbler filled with what looked like a suspiciously green smoothie. Both wore jet-black sunglasses, strutting like they owned the runway.
Shashi rolled her eyes with royal flair. "Them and their style," she said, amused and exasperated.
Laksha sipped her smoothie as she approached and patted Shashi's cheek. "Good morning."
"He Bhagwan," Shashi sighed. (Oh God.)
"Aap ek normal insaan ke tarah nahi reh sakti kya?" she asked, genuinely baffled. (Can't you just live like a normal human being?)
"Yeh normal hi hai, beto," Laksha replied casually, tapping Shashi's cheek before stepping into the jet. (This is normal, darling.)
The family laughed, entertained by the unshakeable bond between the sisters.
Inside the jet, they settled into their plush seats. The pilot welcomed them and briefed them on the seven-hour flight to Japan.
"What are we going to do for seven hours?" Akriti groaned, slumping into her seat.
"Let's play UNO!" Agastya exclaimed.
Everyone agreed enthusiastically, and a game of cards ensued.
Saksham won the first round, followed by Lee-Yoon. Laughter echoed in the jet as time flew by. Three hours passed before anyone even realized it.
"Shall we do something else now? I'm getting bored," Agastya whined.
"Me too!" Sarthak and Saksham echoed.
"Antakshari?" Akriti and Aparna suggested in unison.
"Let's start!" Laksha grinned.
"Well, we have a singer here," Aadarsh teased, nodding toward Shashi.
"You all don't know but Miss Laksha Oberoi sings too," Shashi revealed with a smirk.
"Okay, let's begin."
Teams were divided-girls versus boys. The game started with the letter 'M,' and Aakash sang: "Mahiya tenu khabar nahi..."
The girls got the letter 'A' and responded with: "Aapa fer milangey..."
Next came 'E,' and the boys belted out: "Ek main aur ek tu..."
And just like that, another hour and a half passed in games, teasing, and uncontrollable laughter.
Soon, the pilot's voice came through the intercom: "Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be landing in the next fifteen minutes."
The jet touched down in Japan just as evening painted the sky in hues of violet and gold. The air was cold, crisp, and carried a sense of new beginnings. The view from the airport was nothing short of cinematic.
A sleek black car awaited them, already parked near the jet. Laksha turned to Lee-Yoon. "Take care of our guests and inform the staff we're on the way."
Shashi stumbled out of the jet yawning. "Coffee chahiye... abhi nahi mili toh behosh ho jaungi main," she groaned. (I need coffee... if I don't get it now, I'll faint.)
"Ha chal, ghar pe pee lena," Laksha replied, slipping into the car. (Yes, come drink it at home.)
They all piled into their cars for the three-hour drive to the mansion. Shashi? She was fast asleep five minutes in, disinterested in everything but rest.
Three hours later, they arrived.
And what stood before them stole their breath.
The mansion loomed like a dark jewel nestled in a sea of greenery. Gothic-inspired architecture rose skyward with elegant menace-black stone walls, golden lights pouring from arched windows, domes that kissed the clouds, and carved balconies casting long shadows across the ground.
A grand staircase divided the tiered gardens, where fountains danced beside trimmed hedges, and waterfalls flowed into glassy pools below. It looked like it belonged in a forgotten royal fairytale, guarding secrets behind every stone.
Everyone stepped out of the cars, mesmerized by the structure. Everyone... except Shashi.
She was still sleeping.
Aakash stood beside the door, gently patting her cheek. "Baby, wake up."
"What are you doing?" Aadarsh asked.
"Uth hi nahi rahi hai. Rab se utha raha hoon," Aakash replied. (She's not waking up. I'm asking God to help me.)
Saksham came over, grinning. "Aree par Sleeping Beauty ko uthana mushkil kaam hai. Main kar sakta hoon." (Waking up Sleeping Beauty is tough-but I can do it.)
"Karke dikha," Aakash challenged. (Go ahead and try.)
With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, Saksham pulled out his phone, placed it near Shashi's ear, and blasted loud music.
Shashi flinched violently and opened her eyes.
For a moment she was disoriented. Then, seeing Saksham and Aadarsh laughing their lungs out, her eyes narrowed. "Tumhari toh...!" she growled, stepping out of the car to chase them.
But she was caught-two firm arms wrapped protectively around her waist. She looked up to find Aakash holding her back.
"Un dono bandaron ko baad mein maar lena, pehle andar chalo," he whispered. (Beat those two monkeys later-first, come inside.)
"Aakash yaar... agar aap nahi chalte toh bata dete. Main utha ke le jaati," she huffed. (Aakash... if you didn't want to walk, you could've told me. I would've carried you.)
"Tumhari baat kabhi nahi sunungi," she muttered, pretending to struggle.
"As you wish," he smiled-and the next moment, she was in his arms.
"Aakash, put me down!" she yelled, half-annoyed, half-laughing.
He set her down at the doorstep, and as her eyes lifted to the mansion, her jaw nearly dropped.
"Holy shit... It's straight out of fiction. Bloody hell," she whispered in awe.
The family stepped inside the living room, their laughter echoing through the grand hall, completely unaware that this was just the beginning of a new chapter-one filled with memories, mysteries, and mayhem.
Absolutely! Here's the continuation with everyone's reactions added in a rich, novelistic tone, following the same style and format:
The family stood still as their eyes rose to meet the breathtaking sight before them.
The mansion didn't just stand-it loomed, proud and magnificent, carved out of obsidian dreams. Black stone walls glistened under the amber sky, and tall arched windows glowed golden from within, like secrets peeking through veils. Every inch whispered of untold stories and timeless elegance.
Akriti gasped, her mouth slightly agape. "This looks like... like something out of a dark fantasy novel."
"Not a house. This is a goddamn castle," muttered Agastya, adjusting his hoodie as he took slow steps forward.
"Mere toh hosh udd gaye," Aparna said, hands on her head. (I've completely lost my senses.)
"Yeh ghar hai ya Hogwarts ka evil twin?" joked Saksham, his eyes wide with wonder. (Is this a house or Hogwarts' evil twin?)
"Architectural orgasm," whispered Lee-Yoon, blinking behind his sunglasses.
Aadarsh chuckled, clearly impressed. "Laksha really said 'go big or go gothic.'"
Aakash , who had been silently staring, finally spoke. "Isme toh kisi vampire ka raj mahal hona chahiye." (This should belong to some vampire king.)
Sarthak gave a long whistle. "Well, I guess the haunted house dreams I had as a kid were nothing compared to this."
Even Laksha, the mastermind behind it all, gave a satisfied smirk as she tilted her head. "Kuch toh royal hona chahiye tha welcome ke liye," she said nonchalantly. (There had to be something royal for a welcome, right?)
Shashi, who had just been set down by Aakash, could barely process the scene in front of her. Her voice was still breathy with awe. "It's straight out of fiction. Bloody hell."
Aakash watched her face light up with wonder and whispered in her ear, "Welcome to the madness, baby."
The wind danced around them, rustling through perfectly trimmed hedges and whispering past cascading waterfalls. The mansion seemed to breathe-alive, ancient, regal.
They stood there for another moment, silently letting the weight of it sink in. The grandeur. The mystery. The sheer scale of where they were about to step in.
And then, as if the spell had been broken, Laksha clapped her hands.
"Let's go , people. There's wine, there's warmth, and... there's Wi-Fi."
With laughter echoing behind her, the family finally moved toward the towering double doors.
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Hope you liked the chapter
Wait for the exiting things,
The banquet and a big surprise for shashi
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