The Triumph Of Obsession

Chan... Chan... Chan...

The sound of silver anklets echoed through the endless marble corridors of the Rajvansh Palace, breaking the peaceful silence of the morning.

"Inaya, ruk ja tu!"

A burst of laughter followed.

"Nahi pakad paoge Chachi."

Barefoot, Inaya raced across the corridor, her long lavender cotton skirt swaying as she ran. Every few steps, she looked back with a mischievous grin before laughing again.

Behind her, Kumkum Singh Rajvansh struggled to keep up.

"Inaya, aaj bas ek baar haath aa ja, phir batati hoon tujhe."

The glass bangles on Kumkum's wrist jingled loudly as she hurried after the twenty-four-year-old girl.

"Chachi, aap running practice kar lo pehle."

"Tu ruk to sahi."

"Not happening."

Servants passing through the hallways exchanged helpless smiles.

This wasn't unusual.

Every other morning, the palace witnessed the same drama.

Inaya suddenly disappeared behind one of the enormous sandstone pillars.

Kumkum slowed down.

"Haan, theek hai."

She folded her arms dramatically.

"Main haar gayi."

Silence.

A tiny face cautiously peeped out from behind the pillar.

"Seriously?"

"Haan, sach. Bilkul."

Inaya stepped out.

The very next second—

"Aha!"

"Kya?!"

Laughing uncontrollably, Inaya turned and ran again.

"Cheater!"

Before Kumkum could run after her again, the soft sound of a wheelchair echoed through the corridor.

Both women immediately stopped.

An elderly woman slowly entered the hallway, dressed gracefully in an elegant cream silk saree. Age had weakened her legs, confining her to a wheelchair, but nothing could diminish the dignity and authority she carried.

Every servant immediately bowed their heads.

"Pranaam, Rajmata Sahab."

Durga Singh Rajvansh acknowledged them with a gentle nod before turning towards the two women standing like guilty children.

"Kya ho raha hai yeh subah-subah?"

Kumkum immediately complained.

"Ma, dekhiye na. Isne phir se shuru kar diya."

"Arre Dadi!" Inaya protested.

"Chachi hi mere peeche bhaag rahi thi."

Durga tried her best to maintain a stern expression.

"Hmm... dono hi kam nahi ho."

For a few seconds she looked at the two of them.

Then...

a smile escaped her lips.

"Tum dono kab bade hoge?"

The three women laughed together.

Durga quietly watched them, her eyes softening.

"Yahi toh mera ghar hai..." she thought.

Just then, a palace attendant came running into the corridor, slightly out of breath.

He stopped at a respectful distance and announced loudly,

"Badi Rajkumari Ji laut aayi hain!"

The corridor fell silent.

The rhythmic sound of heels striking the marble floor echoed through the palace.

Tak... Tak... Tak...

Every eye turned toward the entrance.

Seher Singh Rajvansh had returned home after five long years.

For a brief moment...

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

Then—

"Di!"

Inaya was the first to break the silence.

Without caring about royal etiquette or who was watching, she ran straight towards her elder sister.

Before Seher could even put down the handbag resting on her shoulder, Inaya threw her arms around her tightly.

"Arre..." Seher laughed softly as she wrapped one arm around her sister.

"Saans toh lene de."

"Nahi."

Inaya hugged her even tighter.

"Paanch saal, Di... poore paanch saal."

A gentle smile appeared on Seher's face.

"I know."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too, pagli."

Reluctantly, Inaya stepped back, only to hold Seher by both shoulders.

She looked at her from head to toe.

"Hmm..."

"Kya?"

"Tum aur bhi sundar ho gayi ho."

Seher raised an eyebrow.

"Bas?"

"Thodi si buddhi bhi."

"Dekha, Dadi?" Seher chuckled.

"Aate hi shuru ho gayi."

Everyone laughed.

Kumkum walked forward next, pretending to be offended.

"Wah! Pehle behen ko hug mil gaya."

"Aur Chachi?"

Seher smiled mischievously before stepping forward and hugging Kumkum.

"Aapko kaise bhool sakti hoon?"

"Haan, ab theek hai."

Kumkum patted her head affectionately.

"Lekin agli baar paanch saal tak gayab hui na..."

"...toh?"

"...toh London aakar kaan pakad ke le aaungi."

The corridor echoed with laughter once again.

Finally, Seher walked towards Durga.

The smile on her face slowly softened.

She bent down without hesitation and touched her grandmother's feet.

"Dadi."

Durga lovingly placed both hands on Seher's head.

"Jeeti raho."

Seher looked up.

For the first time since entering the palace, her eyes glistened.

A faint smile curved on her lips.

"Main ghar aa gayi."

Durga gently cupped her face.

"Haan..."

"Meri bacchi ghar aa gayi."

Neither of them said another word.

Sometimes...

five years of longing needed no explanation.

The servants standing nearby smiled quietly.

Their Badi Rajkumari had finally returned.

Just then, a familiar voice echoed from behind.

"Bas? Humein koi yaad hi nahi kiya?"

Seher turned around.

Standing at the end of the corridor was Shivansh Singh Rajvansh.

A proud smile rested on his face.

"Papa!"

Without another thought, Seher hurried towards him and embraced him.

Shivansh smiled as he held his daughter close.

"Meri doctor sahiba."

"Papa..."

"Kaisi ho?"

"Ab theek hoon."

He gently kissed the top of her head.

"Ghar aate hi sab theek ho hi jaata hai."

Before Seher could reply, another pair of familiar arms wrapped around her.

"Maa..."

Naina hugged her daughter silently.

There were no words.

Only tears.

She pulled back after a few moments and gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind Seher's ear.

"Khaana theek se khaati bhi thi ya sirf patients ka dhyaan rakhti thi?"

Seher laughed through moist eyes.

"Maa..."

"Sach bata."

"Khaati thi."

"Jhooth."

The entire family laughed.

Just then, Kumkum clapped her hands dramatically.

"Bas bas! Milan samaroh baad mein bhi chalta rahega."

"Meri poti paanch saal baad ghar aayi hai," Durga smiled.

"Aaj ka dinner sab saath mein karenge."

"As always," Shivansh replied.

"Bilkul," Inaya grinned.

"Lekin aaj Di mere bagal mein baithegi."

"Impossible," Kumkum objected immediately.

"Pehle meri baari."

"Chachi!"

"Main badi hoon."

"Nahi! Main behen hoon."

Their argument began all over again.

Seher looked around at the familiar faces...

Dadi.

Papa.

Maa.

Chachi.

Inaya.

The same teasing.

The same laughter.

The same warmth.

She hadn't realized how much she had missed this place until this very moment.

That evening, the grand dining hall, usually reserved for formal royal dinners, felt anything but formal.

The long table was filled with home-cooked dishes specially prepared for Seher's return.

No one cared about protocol.

No one cared about titles.

It was simply a family sharing a meal after years apart.

Stories from London filled the room.

Inaya interrupted every other sentence.

Kumkum exaggerated every incident until everyone burst into laughter.

Shivansh listened with quiet pride.

Naina kept serving Seher more food despite repeated protests.

"Maa, bas..."

"Ek aur."

"Maa..."

"Aakhri."

"This is the fourth 'aakhri'."

Even Durga laughed at that.

Watching everyone together, she silently thanked fate.

For the first time in five long years...

the Rajvansh Palace felt complete again.

None of them knew...

that this peaceful reunion would soon become the calm before the storm.