The Last Bloom of Spring

It was early morning in Kolkata, and the streets near Kalighat Temple were slowly waking up. The soft glow of dawn mixed with the faint sound of temple bells and chants, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Amid the narrow lanes and modest buildings, the door of a small apartment opened, and a girl stepped out.

Princess Rooprekha of Ahom, or Roopa, as she was lovingly called, looked completely out of place in the humble surroundings. She wore the traditional royal attire of the Ahom Kingdom—a gold and green mekhela chador embroidered with patterns that reflected her heritage. Her long, dark hair flowed like a river, and her bright, sharp eyes held a mixture of wisdom and strength. Though her appearance was delicate, her confident steps revealed her inner power.

As Roopa walked forward, a voice suddenly called out, filled with emotion.

"Roopa!"

A girl ran toward her, tears streaming down her face. It was Janaki, the daughter of the Second Zamorin Prince. Without hesitation, Janaki hugged Roopa tightly, her body trembling as she cried.

Roopa's expression softened, and she gently held Janaki. "Don't cry, Janaki. I'm here now," she said softly.

Janaki pulled back and wiped her tears, trying to smile. "You've grown stronger, haven't you?" she asked.

Roopa nodded. "Yes, I've reached the Eighth Level of Perfection in the Athirathi Realm. But why haven't you been practicing hard?"

Janaki looked down, avoiding Roopa's gaze. "I... I've been distracted," she admitted.

Roopa sighed, shaking her head. "Gowri has already reached the middle of the Perfection stage. You're falling behind. You must work harder, Janaki," she said, her tone firm but caring.

Just then, two more girls appeared at the apartment door.

One was Charulatha, who had soft, wavy hair and a calm, graceful demeanor. The other was Mrinalini, who carried herself with quiet confidence and warmth. Janaki turned to Roopa and introduced them.

"Janaki, meet our new sisters—Charulath, she is the daughter of Chief Priest of Kalighat Temple and Mrinalini, daughter of Zamindar of Kolkata," she said. Turning to the newcomers, she added, "She is Princess Rooparekha of Ahom, he is also his fiancee. From today, we're all family."

Roopa hesitated but then nodded, giving them a small smile. "Welcome," she said quietly.

Roopa looked back at Janaki with a teasing but stern expression. "You're like a younger sister now, so you must listen to me. And don't forget to help Charu and Mrinalini with their training."

Janaki sighed, feeling cornered. "Fine, fine. I'll do it," she muttered.

"Roopa, don't you want to meet our mother-in-law?" she asked carefully.

Roopa's expression darkened. "Why would I? If she could banish my husband, why should I meet her?"

Janaki didn't back down. "She's worried about you," she said gently. "And I've been told to make sure you meet her."

Before Roopa could protest, Janaki took out her phone and made a call. Soon, the faces of Gowri, another of Vikram's fiancées, and their mother-in-law, the Second Princess of the Zamorin Dynasty, appeared on the screen.

"Roopa, did you really attack the Heroic Righteous Sect like that?" Gowri asked, her voice filled with curiosity and admiration.

Roopa nodded calmly. "If anyone harms my husband, they don't deserve to exist."

The Second Princess spoke next. Her tone was both stern and loving. "Little girl, you must be careful. The Heroic Righteous Sect is vengeful. I'm sending some of the Calicut Guards to Ahom territory to protect you. They are our strongest fighters."

Roopa's expression softened at the concern in her mother-in-law's voice. "Thank you, Mother. I'll be careful," she replied.

The princess studied Roopa for a moment. "Show me your right hand," she said. "I heard it was burned."

Roopa hesitated but then lifted her hand to the camera. Though faint scars remained, the burn was mostly healed.

"It's fine now, Mother," Roopa assured her.

The princess sighed in relief but grew serious again. "Roopa, the one who burned your hand was the son of Jagadesh Agarwal, wasn't he? I just got news that the Calicut Guards have already eliminated his family. No one dares to harm my daughters."

Roopa felt a warmth in her heart at her mother-in-law's protective words.

The princess continued, her voice softer now. "I've made mistakes, Roopa. Banishing Vikram was one of them, but he always makes things complicated."

Roopa chuckled lightly, her eyes softening. "He is troublesome, isn't he?"

The call ended, but the bond between the women remained strong. As Roopa looked at her sisters and thought of Vikram, she felt a renewed determination. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.