Five years had painted a new tapestry of life within the haveli. The whispers of scandal had slowly faded, replaced by a cautious acceptance, a grudging respect for the woman who had defied tradition and captured the Thakur’s heart.

The babies, now children, filled the haveli with a joyous noise. Trishan, the firstborn, was a boisterous seven-year-old, possessing his father’s sharp intellect and a mischievous streak that kept the servants constantly on their toes. The triplets—Anjali, Rohan, and Divya—were a constant whirlwind of energy, their personalities already as distinct and vibrant as the colors of a peacock’s tail.