Disclaimer :- I'm keeping chapter free - so pleaseee , need atleast 3-4 comments from different readers to boost my confidence...😉

Yeah - let me show their height difference ..!

Now sit back and dived into their story my dear laal tamatar 🍅🤧

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The first rays of the morning sun fell over the rich architectural marvel Singh Palace.

As always, Rudra Pratap Singh was already awake before the sunrise..

The palace staff quietly attended to him, placing his clothes and essentials in order before stepping aside.

After a glass of warm water with jeera , Rudra headed to the horse stable for his horse Chetak...

A half an hour of horse ride followed, then sword fighting as a rajput - left him drenched in sweat…

He came back to his bedroom and took a quick shower silently…

The staff helped him into a perfectly tailored black suit, fastening his watch and cufflinks on him , while he just stood - speaking over a call with his PA for his day’s schedule…

Ready for the day, Rudra walked through the grand corridors. Every guard bowed respectfully.

"Rajasaab..pranam ."- they all bowed down..

He didn't even care to give a slight nod as if they were nothing to him…

Walking along the corridor - He stopped outside one room.

His mother’s room…She sat silently in her wheelchair, paralyzed and unable to speak.

The coldness in his eyes softened for a moment…. He bent down, touched her feet, and kissed her forehead…

"Bless me, Maa."- He asked, touching her feet..

Her trembling fingers rested on his head, and that was enough for him…

Kissing her mother’s forehead - he talked to her for some minutes about everything happening in his life…

“ Haan…maa .. dad will come home soon… he is in Delhi for some meetings”- Rudra pratap singh said to his mother …

“ Hmm..”- her mother said, placing her hand on his…

With a faint smile, Rudra left for the dining hall early at 7 am - where breakfast was already served.

The prince - soon to be king of the Singh empire was ready to begin another day….

While the remaining family didn't even start their day…!

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Unlike Rudra Pratap Singh, Shivani woke up to the cheerful noise of an orphanage.

"Di... she's stealing my blanket!"

"Di... I'm hungry!"

The twenty-four-year-old smiled as she opened her eyes, surrounded by the orphan children..

An orphan herself, Shivani never knew who her parents were. The orphanage had been her home, and its people had become her family..

After helping some children with her friends , get ready for their government aided school nearby and orphanage - she changed into a simple cotton saree , tied her hair into a normal braid and slung her worn jute bag over her shoulder.

As an NGO worker, her days were spent planting trees, organizing awareness drives, rescuing injured animals, and fighting for environmental causes….

Before leaving, dozens of tiny hands clung to her.

"Come back soon, Di!"- They chirped with giggles ..

She laughed, ruffling their hairs…

" Why? Why should I come back?”- she asked with a contagious laugh …

“ You bring chockies for us - when you are back!!”- one little girl said - making everyone laugh ..

“ Hahah…. Okay okay… you are more intelligent than I thought !!”- she said and

With that, Shivani stepped out of the orphanage on her old scooter, carrying a heart full of compassion and a determination to make the world a little kinder than it had been to her…

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Shivani parked her scooter outside the NGO office, removing her helmet as she walked in.

"You're late!" - Geethanjali teased, handing her a cup of tea.

"I had to talk to the government school teachers of our home’s kids at school first… 4 th class students - they are so poor in doing multiplications too "- Shivani scoffed…

“ Look into this first”- Geethanjali smiled before placing a file on the table. .

"The Forest Department has finally approved it." - Raghav - another NGO worker said..

"Approved what?" -Shivani frowned.

"The heritage luxury hotel project in the Aravalli forest."- Raghav said…

"What?”-Shivani's smile disappeared and she looked in between Raghav and Geethanjali..

"They're clearing hundreds of old trees. A resort, private villas, a helipad... the whole project."-Geethanjali said…

Shivani quickly opened the file, her eyes scanning the documents.

"This area is a wildlife corridor... and there are leopards too. How can they approve this?"- Shivani asked in confusion…

"They're calling it development."- Raghav said, rolling his eyes…

"For whom?" - Shivani asked sharply. "Development that destroys forests isn't development."- shivani said…

"The company behind it is huge. They've got political backing and the media is already praising the project." -Geethanjali sighed.

Shivani closed the file with determination.

"Then we'll make sure people hear the other side."- Shivani said…

"You really want to protest?"- Geethanjali asked..

“ Why not?”- She looked up without hesitation.

"I knew you'd say that.”- A small smile appeared on Geethanjali's face.

"If we stay silent today... tomorrow there won't be any forests left .. those capitalists call it development… but they are doing it only for their profit "- Shivani said…

And both geetha and raghav , other co- volunteers also nodded …

"When do we leave?"- Raghav asked..

Shivani picked up the protest file and nodded.

"Then tomorrow... we fight for our forest.”

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The next morning :-

She stood at the front of the protest, a placard held high in her hands.

An NGO worker determined to save the ancient Aravalli forest from a luxury heritage hotel project.

"Down! Down!"

"Save Nature!"

"Forests are not for sale!" - The slogans echoed through the valley.

For an entire week, the protest only grew larger…

Students - Environmental activists - Villagers.

NGO volunteers - Even the local MLA visited the site to negotiate.

Promises were made..Meetings were held.

But nothing changed… The demand for the protests was high , and the state government’s high command had to look into this matter…

Finally forcing the owner of the project - RUDRA PRATAP SINGH to look into this …

The owner of the project himself decided to step in.

Soon , after a week of continuous protests - A convoy of black luxury SUVs rolled towards the construction site.

The moment the first car stopped, security guards rushed out, surrounding it.

Inside, Rudra Pratap Singh looked through the tinted window at the sea of protestors.

His jaw tightened looking at the crowd on his site - he was brought from the government at high cost…

"What's this nonsense?"- Rudra gritted his teeth..

His manager remained silent.

"Bloody idiots."-Rudra scoffed..

"They'll cry about unemployment tomorrow... and today they're stopping the very project that'll feed their families."- Rudra said looking at the crowd…

"Sir.” - The security chief opened the car door.

Rudra stepped out.

Immediately - Camera flashes exploded.

"Sir! Sir! Over here!"

"Mr. Rudra!" - Microphones were thrust towards him as security struggled to keep the crowd at a distance.

"Sir, the protests are growing bigger every day. What's your response?" - one reporter asked.

"Sir, people claim this project will destroy thousands of trees. Do you have anything to say?" - Another reporter pushed forward.

"Development versus nature... which side are you on, Mr. Rudra Pratap Singh?"- Another reporter asked…

Rudra adjusted the cuff of his suit before speaking calmly.

"That's a very emotional question."- He looked directly into the cameras.

"But nations are built on development, not emotions."- Rudra pratap singh answered very logically…

The reporters fell silent listening to his answer..

"This project will generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs." - He said in a professional tone..

"It will boost tourism."

"It will improve roads, hospitals, and local businesses." - He paused deliberately.

"We are not destroying nature."

"We are building alongside it." - He said..

"But environmental experts say the project lies in a sensitive forest zone." -Another reporter interrupted.

Rudra smiled - a controlled, practiced smile.

"Every approval for this project has been obtained legally.If the Government has granted permission after scientific assessment......who are we to question the experts?"- Rudra pratap singh said professionally…

The statement immediately made headlines.

Meanwhile - Standing behind the barricades, Shivani clenched her fists listening to his cunning answers ..

She knew exactly what he had done.

He hadn't answered a single question.

Yet somehow - He had made himself sound like the hero…

“ This cunning man - “- Shivani gritted her teeth as she saw the machines clearing the trees …

“ Looks like we are losing shivani”- Geethanjali said with a sad tone..

“ He is more diplomatic than I thought…. Very intelligent answers without answering the reporter's questions..”- Raghav said looking at them…

“ Fuck with his answers … he's thinking he is intelligent…but no !! He is a manipulator … He is a cunning fox..”- Shivani gritted her teeth ..

She is unable to see the falling of trees - each tree - 100’s of years old !! Then, in a moment of rage -

Shivani bent down, grabbed a stone, and hurled it with all her strength - throwing it towards him…

It struck Rudra Pratap Singh the very moment he stepped out from behind his security.

A sharp crack…Blood trickled down his forehead, staining the side of his face before running past one eye.

Gasps echoed across the protest site…

"Sir!" - His security rushed forward , shielding him…

The reporters froze …

But Rudra didn't… He looked at the direction- from where the stone pelted at him …

And then with a quick scan of his eyes - he looked everyone being normal - protesting - except one girl…

Ignoring the blood, he slowly lifted his head.

His cold, unwavering gaze settled on only one person…

Shivani.

She stood at the front of the crowd, breathing heavily, her placard still clutched in one hand.

"Stop destroying our forests!" - she shouted.

"Nature isn't your property to exploit!"

The media cameras instantly turned toward her.

Within seconds, every lens captured the same frame

An injured billionaire...

And the fearless NGO worker who had challenged him in broad daylight.

For the world, it became breaking news.

For Rudra - It became deeply personal.

No one had ever dared to make him bleed.

No one had ever humiliated him before the media.

As the blood continued to run down his face, his expression remained unreadable.

But his eyes burned with icy fury for her…

Without looking away from Shivani, he spoke in a low voice to his chief of security.

"Find out everything about her." - His jaw tightened seeing her protesting with that little mouth…

"She chose to make me her enemy…And now she is ruined to ashes…”- Rudra Pratap singh thought and without an unwavering gaze - looking straight into her - he sat in his convoy…

Across the barricades, Shivani raised her voice even louder - "We'll protect this forest at any cost!"

Their eyes met once more.

Neither of them looked away…

As if silently declaring the hatred war between them started and he is going to ruin her - who made him bleed in front of the whole world..

Hey dear laal tamatar 🍅

If you want second chapter ( free ) do give 5 comments !! I'll update today itself...

It's going to be much more juicy !! 😉