A tide of joy was flowing through the Junagarh palace today. After the sinister shadow of Shilajit vanished, the auspicious moment finally arrived—the day for Arohi and Aditya's twin children, Prafulla and Snigdha, to return home. The long wait of five years was coming to an end.
Since morning, the palace had been decorated like a bride. From the throne to the main roads—everything was adorned with colorful flags and bright lights. Rows of flower baskets and ceremonial platters were arranged in front of the royal court. The subjects stood lined up on both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of their lost Prince and Princess. Today, Arohi wore an exquisite saree with a red border; there was no exhaustion on her face, only a restless wait.
Suddenly, the sound of cannon fire was heard in the distance. Blowing up clouds of dust, a massive troop of horsemen approached the palace's main gate. Riding two spirited horses at the front were a teenage boy and a girl. Arohi's heart skipped a beat—could these be the children of her soul?
As the horses stopped in the palace courtyard, Prafulla and Snigdha jumped down. In five years, they had grown significantly, with the touch of adolescence replacing their childhood features. There was a gravity in Prafulla's gait like Aditya's, and in Snigdha's smile, there was that familiar, enchanting glow of Arohi's.
Arohi could not wait another moment. As she ran and stood before them, Prafulla and Snigdha let out a shout—"Mother!"
That was it; all barriers broke. Prafulla and Snigdha together embraced Arohi. Arohi wanted to crush her two children against her chest. All the tears accumulated over five years fell today as drops of joy. Kissing their foreheads and cheeks, Arohi gestured toward Aditya. She said in a choked voice, "Look Prafulla, look Snigdha—do you recognize him? He is your father. He has been yearning for you for five years."
Prafulla and Snigdha walked slowly toward Aditya. There were tears in Aditya's eyes. As the two siblings knelt to touch their father's feet in respect, Aditya pulled them both into his arms at once. Then, they paid their respects to the Maharaja and the Rajmata. The grandfather and grandmother showered their grandson and granddaughter with blessings. The entire court was filled with tears of joy and cheers of victory.
At that moment, little Prabhasha was peeking from a corner. Startled, she was watching everything from behind cover with wide eyes. Seeing her, Arohi gestured to her, "Come here, Prabhasha, come!"
As Prabhasha came near, she said, "Where are my brother and sister? I've been waiting for so long!" Arohi smiled and introduced them, "Prafulla, Snigdha—this is your little sister, Prabhasha."
Hearing the name, Prafulla and Snigdha's eyes lit up. Prafulla instantly picked Prabhasha up in his arms, and Snigdha began to stroke her cheeks affectionately. Snigdha said, "Wow! Our sister is just like a fairy! From now on, we will all play together, and no one will bother you anymore." Prabhasha also wrapped her arms around her elder brother and sister and laughed out loud.
Arranging the ceremonial platter, Arohi personally performed the Aarti to welcome them into the palace. The heirs had returned—in celebration, a grand feast and dance performances were organized throughout the night. Those dark days of the Junagarh palace were gone forever. From today began a happy household, where there was no conspiracy, only boundless love. With the arrival of Prafulla and Snigdha, a premature Diwali seemed to have begun in the Junagarh palace. After the welcoming ceremonies, a massive feast was organized in the palace's vast courtyard. The most renowned chefs from across the kingdom were hired for this special day, and the aroma of delicacies filled every corner.
Rows of silver platters were arranged on wooden seats for the grand banquet. There were mountains of fragrant rice with pools of ghee, golden moong dal, a variety of fritters, and the heavenly scents of Hilsa, Chital, and tender mutton curry made everyone's mouth water. Prafulla and Snigdha were seated in the middle, while Aditya and Arohi personally served them with love. Little Prabhasha was busy—sometimes feeding her brother sweets from her plate and sometimes affectionately stroking her sister's cheek. Seeing the entire royal family eating together with such smiles after so many years, the Rajmata's eyes brimmed with tears of joy.
After the feast, the royal Jalsa (musical gathering) commenced. The chandeliers on the marble-tiled floors sparkled like diamonds. Renowned dancers began their performances to the rhythmic beats of the dholak and the soulful tunes of the sitar. Although Prafulla and Snigdha were initially shy, they eventually joined the dance at the urging of the subjects and friends. When young Prafulla demonstrated his artistic sword dance, the Maharaja proudly exclaimed, "A worthy successor of Junagarh indeed!"
Snigdha was not far behind. She began to sing in such a melodious voice that the entire court fell silent. Her song seemed to bring back the lost peace of Junagarh. Amidst the festivities, Aditya whispered into Arohi's ear, "See, Arohi? Our children possess your fire and your grace. Today, my life is truly complete."
Arohi didn't say a word; she just rested her head on Aditya's shoulder and watched this scene of fulfillment with all her heart. As the sky over Junagarh filled with red, blue, and golden bursts of fireworks, the horrific memories of Sushila seemed to vanish like ashes in the distance. The heirs had returned, the palace had regained its soul—and Junagarh drifted through the night in this tide of absolute bliss.