The story begins a few months before the present time.Inside the grand palace, chaos erupts — the Emperor has been poisoned and is counting his final moments. Servants rush frantically through the halls, trying to find a cure and save their dying ruler.
Servant 1: Someone, hurry! We need help here!
Servant 2: Bring the vaidyaḥ (doctor) quickly!
Servant 3: Move aside! We're in a hurry!
Amid the turmoil, the Emperor's son, Prince Aaryan, sits silently beside his fallen father. There's something in his eyes — an unspoken storm. He is furious, yet his rage runs so deep that his body has gone still, frozen as he watches his father lying in a near-death state.
Behind a tall pillar draped in heavy curtains, a shadowy figure stands, face concealed. His posture betrays a sinister satisfaction — he seems almost pleased by the Emperor's suffering. Though it's unclear whether he is the one who poisoned the Emperor's food, one thing is certain: he's delighted by what he sees.
The scene here ends and many months has passed since this incident and now we are in another story.
The story starts with a view of a massive and ancient yet modern city in India, somewhere around the 18th century. The city is vibrant with trade and joy; everyone seems happy and content, enjoying their lives in this grand city.
The scene shifts to the market.
The market appears prosperous, with a great deal of buying and selling going on. Many people are in a hurry, as it seems that some religious or spiritual event is taking place.
The scene then shifts to a temple, showing a beautiful girl.
There is a woman named Tara, who is 20 years old. She is attending the festival with her mother. She was born into a very rich and powerful family called the Rawat family, as everyone in her family has served the king as military generals or high-ranking officers. The Rawat surname is a title given to the king's loyal servants.
Tara is very charming and joyful. As she prays to Goddess Durga, her mother enters the scene and politely joins her in prayer. Tara notices that there are many people waiting for their turn to have a sight of the goddess. However, since she is from a royal family, she receives VIP treatment from the temple authorities. She orders her guards to open the gates for the other people to enter the temple as well.
Tara: Guards, could you open the temple gates for the other people, please?
Guard: Yes, ma'am!
The temple authorities rush forward and stop the guards.
The temple authorities warn her that it could create chaos and trouble for her.
Authority: Miss, opening the gates while your family is praying could create trouble for you!
Tara: So what? Am I someone special in God's eyes that I should receive VIP treatment in temples?
Guard: But ma'am, you belong to the royal Rawat family. We cannot let others cause problems for you at all!
Tara then says, "In the eyes of the Goddess, there is no one bigger or smaller. Everyone is equal, so everyone should get the same chance to pray."
By this act of hers, the crowd witnesses her kindness, even though she is from a royal family. Everyone thanks her one by one for her gesture, and her mother feels very proud — yet also somewhat worried.
The scene shifts to Tara's home.
Tara and her mother return home. Their house is huge, with many guards and maids serving them. In a hurry, Tara gets ready to go to the palace — to a place called the Darbar, where ministers and the emperor gather to discuss matters of the empire. (Tara was the first female minister at that time to become a member of the Darbar.)
As she hurries, her mother asks her not to go today, saying that it's a festival day and she should take a leave. But Tara replies that today is a very important day in the Darbar.
Mother: Tara, wait! You should take a leave today — it's a festival.
Tara: I cannot do that. It's a very important day in the palace, and I have to go there to manage the preparations for the festival.
Mother: At least celebrate the festival with your family and your neighbors.
Tara: I'll come back home to celebrate at night, don't worry!
As she says this, she leaves home and rides her chariot, accompanied by her guards, carrying a few sweet boxes wrapped as gifts.