~🥀The mark of his claim🥀~

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It was an ordinary day at the palace, yet the air felt heavier than usual. Anubhav, seated at the head of the grand dining table, couldn't shake the unease that had settled in his chest. He preferred the solitude of his private palace, far away from the stifling family gatherings like this one. But today, at his mother Jhanvi’s insistence, he was here, surrounded by his extended family, sharing a meal that seemed more like an obligation than a moment of connection.

Across from him sat his father, Surya Yadhuvanshi, the former king. His presence was still commanding, even in retirement. Next to him was his mother, the former queen, Jhanvi, watching him closely, as if waiting for him to respond to her every word. His grandmother, Vaibhavi Yadhuvanshi, the revered Raaj Mata, sat by his side, exuding calm authority. Satya, his uncle, sat nearby with his wife Maya, who had a reputation for being as sharp as she was cunning. Beside Maya sat Abhinav, Anubhav’s younger cousin, and Karishma, the youngest member of the family.

"Rana sa, jaise aapne anumati di thi ki aap sirf ek larki se milenge, ham sabhi  ne vichar-vimarsh karke ek uchit kanyaa ko chuna hai. Wah aaj shaam tak yahaan aa jayegi." Raaj Mata Vaibhavi’s voice broke through the silence, calm yet authoritative.

Anubhav’s gaze flickered briefly towards his mother, who watched him with expectant eyes. His mind, however, was elsewhere. The girl they had chosen? He wasn't interested. His heart had already been claimed by someone else—Haseena. But he knew better than to voice his objections. In the game of family politics, this was just another move, another formality to be completed.

He only nodded slightly in acknowledgment, his expression emotionless. “Haan,” he muttered, his voice indifferent, his thoughts a world apart.

Satya, ever the practical one, spoke up next. “Rana sa, yeh jo rishta Maya ne dhunda hai, woh apke liye achha rahega. Apko milna chahiye ?” His tone was respectful, but Anubhav could hear the underlying expectation in his words.

Anubhav remained silent, his face a mask of neutrality. He already knew that this was Maya’s doing—she had orchestrated this entire encounter. Of course, his family believed it was the right thing to do, to find him a suitable match, but the truth was, none of this mattered to him.

“Rana sa, sab kuch apke liye hai. Jaisa aap chahenge waisa hi hoga,” Maya added, her voice sweet, but Anubhav could tell it held a calculated edge. She was always so eager to control things, to make sure her plans came to fruition.

Jhanvi, seated next to Surya, spoke with the same calm determination as always. “Beta, yeh apke liye zaroori hai. Aap jo bhi faisla loge, hum sab apke saath hain. Lekin ek baar is rishte ko ek moauka dijiye ”

Anubhav didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the food in front of him. His mind wandered to Haseena, the girl he couldn't forget, the one who held his thoughts captive .

His gaze met his mother’s once again, and for a brief moment, he saw the quiet pleading in her eyes. She wanted him to say yes, to accept the match, to live up to the legacy of the Yadhuvanshi name. But inside, Anubhav was resolute in his silence. He didn’t want any of it.

The room fell into a comfortable silence after the conversation shifted, but the weight of what had just been discussed still lingered in the air. Anubhav's eyes wandered briefly to the window, his thoughts far from the present moment. Outside, the bright morning sun bathed the palace in a golden hue, but inside, he felt as though he was stuck in a web of obligations.

Maya’s words echoed in his mind. “  Rana sa, sab kuch apke liye hai. Jaisa aap chahenge waisa hi hoga, ” That sweet tone—so sugar-coated yet so full of control. She always had a way of making things sound like they were in his best interest when, in reality, they were always in hers.

𝐀𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚 : 𝐸𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠Where stories live. Discover now