Chapter 1: The Deathbed Confession

The sun was setting over Jaipur, casting long shadows across the sprawling Gupta
estate. Inside the mansion, Mr. Gupta lay on his deathbed, surrounded by his
closest advisors and family members.

Priya stood at the back of the room, her eyes fixed on her biological father. For
years, she had watched him from afar, never daring to approach him or reveal her
true identity. But now, as Mr. Gupta's health rapidly declined, she knew that time
was running out.

The room was filled with an air of solemnity as everyone waited for Mr. Gupta to
speak. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he opened his eyes and beckoned
for his advisors to come closer.

"Listen carefully," he said in a hoarse whisper. "I have a confession to make."

The assembled group leaned in, their faces etched with concern and curiosity.

"I have another daughter," Mr. Gupta continued, his voice barely above a whisper.
"A daughter whom I have kept hidden from the world all these years."

The room fell silent as the implications of his words sank in. Priya's heart raced
with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Could it be possible that her dream of
being acknowledged by her father had finally come true?

"Who is she?" one of the advisors asked, breaking the silence.

Mr. Gupta's lips twisted into a faint smile. "Her name is Priya," he said, his eyes
flickering towards the back of the room.

Priya gasped in shock as all eyes turned towards her. She felt a mix of emotions -
joy, fear, confusion - all swirling inside her.

"Bring her closer," Mr. Gupta said, his voice growing weaker.

Priya hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But then, she took a deep
breath and stepped forward, walking slowly towards her father's bed.

As she approached, Mr. Gupta's hand reached out and clasped hers. "You are my
daughter," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tears filled Priya's eyes as she looked into her father's face. For years, she had
dreamed of this moment, but now that it was here, she didn't know what to say.

The other members of the family and advisors looked at Priya with curiosity and
suspicion, and Priya could sense their eyes on her. She wondered what they were
thinking - did they know about her existence before this?

"Tell us more," one of the advisors said, breaking the silence. "How is it possible
that you have another daughter?"

Mr. Gupta took a deep breath and began to speak. "Years ago, I had a brief affair
with a woman who worked for one of my business associates. I never meant for
anything to come of it, but... well, accidents happen."

There were murmurs of surprise and disbelief in the room. Priya listened intently,
her heart pounding with every word her father spoke.
"When I found out about the child, I knew I had to take care of her," Mr. Gupta
continued. "But I couldn't risk scandal or controversy. So I made the difficult
decision to keep her hidden from the world."

The room fell silent as everyone processed the news. Priya felt a mix of emotions -
joy at finally being acknowledged, but also a sense of betrayal and anger at being
kept a secret all these years.

Mr. Gupta's voice grew weaker, and Priya knew that his time was running out. She
squeezed his hand tightly, wanting to hold on to this moment for as long as
possible.

Finally, with a shuddering sigh, Mr. Gupta breathed his last. The room fell silent
once more, each person lost in their own thoughts and emotions.

Priya felt a sense of overwhelming sadness wash over her. She had finally been
acknowledged by her biological father, but it was too late. She would never have
the chance to get to know him or build a relationship with him.

As the family members and advisors began to file out of the room, Priya lingered
for a moment, staring at her father's lifeless form. She couldn't believe that he
was gone.

Just then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see her stepbrother,
Rohit, standing behind her. They had never been close, but she was grateful for the
support.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

Priya nodded, unable to find the words to express her grief. As they walked out of
the room together, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held for her now
that her father was gone.

As they descended the staircase, they were met by the rest of the family, including
Mr. Gupta's wife, Meera, and their other children, Sanjay and Radha. Priya noticed
that they all looked at her with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

"What are you doing here?" Sanjay demanded, his voice laced with hostility.

Priya felt her heart sink. She had hoped that her newfound relationship with her
father would bring her closer to her half-siblings, but it seemed that they were
still resentful of her very existence.

"I...I was just with Papa," she stammered, unsure of what to say.

Sanjay sneered. "You mean our father," he corrected her.

Priya bit back a retort, not wanting to cause a scene. She knew that her half-
siblings would never fully accept her, but she had hoped for some degree of
civility.

As they made their way to the living room, Meera addressed the group. "Now that Mr.
Gupta has passed, we must begin making preparations for his funeral," she said in a
businesslike tone.

The others nodded in agreement, and Priya felt a sense of detachment as they began
to discuss the logistics of the funeral. It was as if they were talking about a
stranger, rather than the man who had just breathed his last in the room upstairs.
Priya excused herself and headed outside, needing some fresh air. As she stood on
the verandah, looking out over the gardens, she couldn't help but feel a sense of
emptiness inside. She had finally been acknowledged by her father, but it had come
too late. And now, she was left to navigate a world where she didn't quite belong.