Step-Father & Mother Arrive
487 Words
Step-Father & Mother Arrive
Aaliya ran breathlessly through the long corridors, her heart hammering with what she had just witnessed. She almost collided with a pair entering the palace from the courtyard—a tall, imposing man in a regal sherwani and beside him, a beautiful woman draped in rich silks, her eyes sharp with authority.
The servants whispered hurriedly:
“Rajkumari Ahilya and the Maharaj have arrived!”
The step-parents.
The step-father’s presence alone was enough to silence the hall; his eyes carried the weight of command. He had always treated Geetanjali as the heir of pride and Aaliya as the fragile flower, but his ambition was clear—gold and throne mattered more than blood.
Ahilya, the stepmother, moved gracefully, her bangles clinking softly, but there was venom in her eyes. She looked at Aaliya—disheveled, pale, trembling—and narrowed her gaze.
“Where have you been wandering at this hour, Aaliya?” Her voice was soft, but laced with suspicion.
Aaliya swallowed hard, trying to mask her shock.
“N… nowhere, Ma. I just—needed air.”
Before another word could pass, the sound of boots echoed again. Seher entered, his gaze instantly finding Aaliya. He noticed her state—shaken, frightened—and his jaw clenched.
The step-father glanced at him with irritation.
“Ah, the army’s watch dog.” He sneered faintly.
“I hope you’re not letting distractions interfere with your duty, Major Seher.”
Seher’s voice was clipped, cold.
“I don’t get distracted.”
But his eyes lingered on Aaliya for a moment longer than was proper, betraying him.
Ahilya caught it. The way Seher’s gaze softened—if only for a second—toward the younger princess. Her lips curved into the faintest smirk, hidden under her veil.
She thought to herself:
“So the mighty officer bleeds after all. This could be useful.”
Meanwhile, behind the marble pillars, Bhavani and Geetanjali stepped into view. Bhavani’s lips were still curved in a wolfish grin, while Geetanjali struggled to compose herself under the sudden arrival of her step-parents.
The step-father’s sharp eyes darted to Bhavani, then to Geetanjali. For a brief moment, suspicion clouded his gaze.
“What is going on here?” he demanded.
Geetanjali quickly spoke, her voice steady despite her racing heart.
“Just strategy discussions, father. The army has questions, and I answer them as Rajmata should.”
Bhavani smirked, lighting another cigarette, deliberately insolent.
“A very… passionate discussion, Maharaj.”
Aaliya’s breath hitched at his words. Seher’s glare could have killed him.
The step-father’s face darkened, but Ahilya’s hand touched his arm gently, calming him. She spoke with false sweetness:
“Enough questions for now. We are guests here. Let us rest. The palace has many secrets, and all in due time… they reveal themselves.”
Her eyes flicked again toward Seher and Aaliya—measuring, calculating.
- Writer
