"The Royals' Secret"

ᥴꫝꪖρ𝕥ꫀ𝕣 𝟚˚ · .˚ ༘🦋⋆｡˚

𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕣𝕒𝕛𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤

Later that evening, the Rajwanshi family gathered in the large living room, a space adorned with luxurious furniture and family portraits that reminded everyone of their legacy. The room buzzed with conversation, laughter, and the occasional clink of tea cups as the family enjoyed their time together. Pratap Rajwanshi, the patriarch, sat in his usual chair, sharing stories from the past, while Avantika, his wife, smiled at the tales she had heard a thousand times but still enjoyed. Prisha and Karan were quietly discussing a family event, while Kabir, still nursing the slight bruise on his lip, joined in the light-hearted banter.

Just as the mood began to lighten, the door to the living room creaked open. Abhi entered the room, his presence immediately casting a heavy silence over the gathering. The dark radiative aura he carried from the events of the day seemed to suck the energy out of the room. All eyes turned toward him, the conversations halting mid-sentence. Even Pratap, usually unbothered by anything, noticed the shift in the atmosphere.

Abhi scanned the room, his face an unreadable mask. He had cooled off somewhat, but the tension from earlier still lingered. The sight of his brothers sitting calmly, their previous fight already forgotten by the rest of the family, only served to reignite his frustration.

Without a word, he walked over to where Karan and Kabir sat, their expressions now guilt-ridden. Abhi's piercing gaze shifted between the two, the weight of his disappointment evident. "Have you forgotten what I said this morning?" His voice was low, but it cut through the silence like a blade.

Karan was the first to speak, his tone remorseful. "bhai sa, we're sorry. We shouldn't have fought like that, especially in front of everyone."

Kabir nodded in agreement, his earlier bravado gone. "It won't happen again, Bhai Sa. We know we were wrong."

Abhi stood still for a moment, his jaw clenched as he weighed their apologies. His anger wasn't just about the fight itself-it was about the deeper implications of their actions. "You're brothers," he began, his voice now steady but firm. "The world outside is full of enemies who would love to see us fall. If you can't stand by each other, what hope do we have as a family?"

The room remained silent as Abhi's words settled over them. Even the elders, usually quick to interject, stayed quiet, sensing that this was a moment between the brothers that needed no interference.

Karan and Kabir looked at each other, their guilt deepening as they realized the full impact of their actions. "We understand," Karan said, his voice quieter now. "We won't let this happen again."

Abhi's face softened ever so slightly, though the dark aura still lingered. "See that you don't," he replied, turning away from them.

He made his way to the far end of the room, sitting down in his usual chair. Though the tension had eased, the silence still hovered in the air, the family unsure of how to continue their chatter. Slowly, Pratap began speaking again, though the mood was noticeably subdued.

As Abhi sat there, his mind wandered. The family was back together, the apologies had been made, but a part of him still felt distant. The weight of his responsibilities, the need to keep his family united, and the secret he carried all pressed down on him. His face returned to its usual unreadable state, the dark aura cloaking him once more.

The night dragged on, but Abhi's mind was elsewhere, the earlier resolution leaving him with more questions than answers.

𝕀𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕞