Seeing the Tomar mansion's kitchen, Lucky couldn't help but look around in astonishment. Is this a single kitchen? Because normal people could run an entire hotel in this kitchen. Standing at one end, it was hard to see the other end of the kitchen. There were large racks everywhere, neatly arranged with various kitchen ingredients and tools. The most surprising thing was that Lucky was not alone here. There were at least ten other chefs and their helpers around. It seemed as if the entire city of Jaipur was going to be fed from this place. The man who came with her scolded her again as she looked around wide-eyed, "Are you just going to keep looking around or start working?"

"What work, uncle?" Lucky asked absentmindedly.

"Holy moly crap... Uncle?? Do I look like an uncle to you? I'm probably only a few years younger than you," he retorted with annoyance. The rest of the staff tried to suppress their laughter hearing it. Lucky scrutinized him from his head to toe. Younger?

"Than, what should I call you?" she asked grinning this time.

"I am the master chef here... Ghungroo! Not a spoon moves in this kitchen without my permission."

"Okay, guru..."

Ghungroo glared at her, and Lucky quickly corrected herself, "I mean, Guru Ji (master). Could you please explain my work now?"

Ghungroo gestured for her to follow him and stopped in front of a counter.

"Show us what you're best at cooking today. And listen... your "makki ki roti and sarso ka saag" (cornbread and mustard greens) wouldn't count in menu... So try to make something unique. Our Virat Baba is coming from London. There should be some special item for him, do you understand? Come on everyone, get moving quickly."

Lucky rolled her eyes, "London return prince? Half the chefs from Jaipur's hotels have been rounded up to work here in the mansion just for him? He must be a real glutton or a fat buffalo. Otherwise, who would have so much food made for just one person?"

But the real struggle was about to begin for her. All she knew was how to boil noodles and make black coffee. Most of the other chefs present here had been specially called for today. Virat Has lived abroad for so many years, so no one knew whether Virat would even like the local Indian food.

"What should I do now? I can't make noodles for that London return prince. This darn phone is dead too. otherwise, I could have figured something out by watching YouTube videos." 

The other chefs were busy with their work. The entire kitchen was filled with the aroma of delicious food. Almost everyone had prepared continental, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Greek dishes. Amidst such a variety of dishes, who would even notice what she made?

"Why are you thinking so much, Lucky? You're not here to be a cook, are you? Just whip up anything, get rid of this Ghungroo, and focus on that file. After all, it's a matter of two crores."

She had some faint memories from her childhood. Her mother often made 'Gatte ki Khichdi' a type of porridge for her. She would often sit and watch her mother work. Lucky quickly picked up a large pot and started adding whatever spices she could find into it. It might not be perfect, but it had to be edible. Suddenly, there was a loud noise of a car from outside, followed by the sounds of drums, cymbals, and shehnais.

"It seems young master has arrived... Let's go and see. He's getting a grand welcome outside." Almost all the kitchen staff ran outside. Lucky glanced at them and went back to her work. Downstairs, Yashraj Ji stood with all his special guests, ready to welcome his son. Girls dressed in traditional Rajasthani attire were scattering flowers on the path. It truly felt like a return to the era of kings and queens. Virat's car, along with his bodyguards' vehicles, stopped at the mansion's gate. As the guards tried to open the car door, Yashraj Ji stopped them with a gesture of his hand, "Wait... After so many years, today I will see my son with my own eyes. Today, i will welcome my son myself." The guards immediately moved aside, and Yashraj Ji himself stepped forward to open the car door. But as soon as he opened the door, his expression soured.

"Rakesh?? What are you doing in Virat's car? Where is Virat?"

Rakesh immediately got out of the car. Seeing him in Virat's car, others were also surprised, and the atmosphere, which had been filled with warmth until now, suddenly turned cold.

"Please forgive me, master... I swear it's not my fault. I had also told sir that you would be upset seeing me here instead of him, but he said he doesn't like all this crowd and went inside through the back way alone," Rakesh replied nervously.

"This boy... I wonder when his childishness will end. It's good that Urmila isn't here, otherwise, you would have been in trouble," Yashraj scolded. Rakesh was already nervous so he simply bowed his head in silence.

"Prince Virat won't be able to meet everyone today for some reason. But we will definitely introduce him to all of you another day. You all may leave now," Yashraj announced to everyone present. Everyone's faces fell. People from the town, along with the staff of the mansion, had gathered just to see Virat, and they all had to leave in disappoinment. Especially the girls, who were dying just to catch a glimpse of the prince. After all, he was the true prince of many girls' dreams. But all their hopes were crashed just now. Everyone slowly started to leave for their homes, disheartened. The staffs of the mansion also started to return inside for work. They were whispering and guessing only about why Virat hadn't come today.

-----

As soon as Virat landed at the airport and stepped out of the plane, he was surprised to see a troop of bodyguards and a fleet of cars waiting. Although he had anticipated that his welcome would be something like this. So he decided to send his personal assistant Rakesh in his car and sat in another car himself. Virat had always preferred simplicity since childhood and didn't like being treated like a prince. After all, there is no kingdoms and thrones now. Only the name of the ruler remained. He drove the car straight to the back of the mansion and stopped. There was no one in this area except for a few guards. Virat got out of the car, handed the keys to them, gestured for them to park the car, and went inside. The guards were surprised to see him enter through the back door, but who had the courage to question him?

"What is this, Mom? I've come home after years, and you're not here?" Virat's voice was tinged with annoyance as he spoke to Urmila Devi on the phone.

"I understand your disappointment my dear son, but it was also necessary for me to be here. Guruji has clearly stated that the coming time is very challenging for you. So he is performing a special 'yagya' here for your protection. It was for your safety so its essential for me to be present here. Once all these troubles are averted from you, then I ,,will return to you."

"Mom... how can you believe in all these superstition..."

"Virat... we know you have come from abroad. You may not value these things, but I have complete faith in our kulguru. Nothing he has said has ever proven wrong."

"Okay, Mom, sorry... I won't come between you and your faith. But please come back soon, otherwise, I will come to you." Virat uttered smiling. It was hard win with her mother. 

"I will try my best to finish the work here as soon as possible. Now you rest." With that, Urmila Devi disconnected the call. Virat now looked at the mansion with a smile. Nothing had changed. Although the mansion was like a labyrinth, Virat was familiar with every corner of it. After all, he had spent his entire childhood playing here. As he took a step forward, he heard a loud scream, "Fire... fire... someone call the fire brigade plz..."

Virat immediately ran towards the direction of the voice. Soon he realized that the sound was coming from the kitchen. Perhaps a girl was in trouble. Virat ran quickly to the kitchen, but there was no one there. However, a kitchen counter inside was indeed on fire. Actually, when Lucky tried to temper in the frying pan, the oil and spices caused it to catch fire. Watching chefs do this in five-star hotels may seem easy, but when it actually happened to Lucky, she almost had a heart attack.

There was no one else in the kitchen whom she could call for help. All the staff had gone outside to catch a glimpse of Virat. In the end, when she couldn't think of anything else, she went to the other side, picked up a large pot, and started filling it with water to extinguish the fire. Just at that moment, Virat came in. He looked around for the fire alarm, but before he could use it, Lucky came running in a frenzy and threw a pot full of water in that direction to get rid of the fire. But her bad luck, Virat was standing right there, all the water fell on him. Virat was completely shocked by this. He certainly hadn't expected such a wet welcome.

"Fire... fire... someone save me... call the fire brigade... there's a fire here..." Lucky was running around screaming like a mad person. Because she was dressed up like a boy, Virat was also confused about where the girl's voice had come from at first. Before she could gather the whole neighborhood in the mansion with her screams, Virat grabbed her hand tightly and pulled her towards him.

"Shut up..!" Hearing Virat's thunderous voice, Lucky stopped screaming and stared at him with wide eyes. 

"Damn! He is handsome." Seeing the well built muscles through his wet shirt She gulped.

Virat grabbed her hand and dragged her to the fire alarm. He picked up a lighter that was lying there and lit it near the smoke detector. As soon as the smoke detector detected the fire, water showers automatically started throughout the kitchen.

"Next time, instead of screaming and panicking, use this technique... Idiot!" Virat grabbed her hand, placed the lighter in it, and quickly walked out from the kitchen. Lucky stood still there watching his back dumbfounded.

To be continued...