The day began more chaotic than usual; the streets were bustling with the sounds of footsteps and murmurs of the crowd, and stalls were on full volume, trying to attract customers. It was still 10 am, but for once, Alazras was in its spirit completely alive.
"It seems so lively down there, almost feels like the rush during Durga Puja or Diwali", Ishaan remarked while looking out of the window, while getting dressed in his special kurta and pyjama he wears during festival times.
"You said it, I just wonder how they will dress, like it is going to be difficult to locate them, like we are so accustomed to walking the roads so freely" Aaron, with a soft smile, while he was doing his last button of his kurta.
"Ohhhh~~~, is someone too excited to see his special someone, huh?" Ishaan remarked with a smirk on his face
"Ahm ~~, ok fine, I'm, but you can't say you aren't. I saw you know how she was leaning on you. I was surprised you could be this gentle," Aaron retaliated.
"Hawwwww, I take it as a personal offence, you know I can be gentle too," Ishaan, puffing his face, trying to show he is angry.
"But then again, I also didn't know what she was like. Yesterday I got to learn a lot about her and how we are common in so many ways, it just felt so right to just hold her. Suddenly, there was a change of emotion, something like he was in deep thought, and it was rare, but their a feeling of closeness.
"Yeah… I get it. Yesterday was something else. Honestly, kind of sad too. It's wild how life works — we just happened to land here, meet those two, and suddenly everything feels different. And now, it's our last day before heading back to India. Who knows if we'll ever cross paths again?" Aaron is also now in a state of thought.
"You know, I agree, it will be difficult, but I want to do something before we leave. I want to thank them and tell them how I feel. I think they deserve that much, although I am curious about what they said at the end?" Ishaan is now picking himself up while acting like he is utterly confused.
"You know, yesterday must have worked magically, just look at you so 'mature'," Aaron returns it with sarcasm.
"Ya, ya, sure Dadaji", Ishaan with a comeback
"You, bastard, just come here", Aaron rushed with his slippers in his hand.
As the boys were off goofing off, Mrs Banerjee came into the room. She stood there for a solid 5 minutes before the boys realised
"I swear to god, I dont know how those two managed you guys, now get ready and dont you dare make your clothes sweaty this early on" Mrs Banerjee's hand on her head in stark worry.
"Aye, Aye, captain", Ishaan remarked while trying to block Aaron's hands from slapping him across the room.
After tussling for a while, both the boys went down and waited at the waiting spot for the girl.s
"You know, I'll miss how we always wait for her, it has kind of become our get-together spot", said Ishaan, leaning against the wall
Aaron just nodded calmly, scrolling through his phone.
Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours.
"Hey, man, what do you think is the matter? We have been standing here for almost 2 hours," Ishaan now looked around a bit impatiently.
"Ya, I am getting a bit concerned, just hope they didn't get into any problems" Aaron is shaking his leg as he is waiting anxiously.
After 15 minutes
"Damn, it dont tell me that something happened to them", Ishaan now biting his nails.
"What do you mean?" Aaron, now clearly anxious sawing from one leg to another
"You don't remember what they told us last night, 'whatever happens, don't forget us', I just thought it was as they knew we would be leaving soon, but now I am concerned." Ishaan is now visibly panicking
Aaron now gets up and starts moving towards a direction.
"Where are you off to?" Ishaan following him
"I refuse to accept that yesterday was the last time we met. I am trying to go find them; they normally come from this direction, so let's start from there," Aaron fastened his pace.
You have got a point.
After that, Ishaan and Aaron set off on their search, urgency propelling them through the bustling streets. They darted onto narrow alleys, scanning every corner as if the answer might just be hiding behind a trash can or tucked beneath a park bench. The vibrant storefronts blurred into one another, each window seeming to mock their determination with its unyielding silence.
Ishaan peered into a quaint little coffee shop, the rich aroma of espresso wafting out like an embrace. "Maybe someone in here has seen something?" he suggested, but a glance around at the absorbed patrons told him it wasn't likely.
Aaron shrugged and pushed on, a mix of hope and frustration brewing in his chest. They stopped at a small convenience store, where the shelves were stocked with everything from chips to soda. The cashier, a middle-aged man with weary eyes, shook his head when they asked if he'd seen anything unusual. With an apologetic smile, he returned to his magazine, leaving the two friends feeling more lost than before.
As they dashed from one store to the next, the sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows that seemed to mimic their growing anxiety. Each passing moment only heightened their sense of urgency; they couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping away. They tried not to let despair creep in, but with every dead end, it became harder to maintain their spirits.
After checking yet another store, Ishaan laughed dryly, "At this rate, we might just become the local gossip, wandering around with no purpose!" Aaron chuckled in agreement, but beneath the humour lay a persistent worry. They couldn't give up; they had to keep looking, even if the city felt like a maze with no exit.
They were wandering when they bumped into their parents.
"So here you hooligans are, we have been looking all over for you", said Mr Banerjee as he was turning around, but paused seeing the boys in a loss of breath.
"Wait, why are guys huffing and puffing like you just sprinted across an entire marathon?" Mrs Banerjee asked, looking concerned
"Where are the girls? Dont tell me you lost them?" Mr Banerjee added.
The boys, after catching their breath, explained their situation and what the girls had told them the previous night.
"We have to go look for them a bit more; we cannot leave without saying goodbye", claimed Ishaan as he was ready to sprint out, but then his father caught him by his arm.
"Wait, wait, I understand you are in a rush, but I think you guys are just overthinking it. If I have learned anything about those girls, they will not leave you like this," Mr Banerjee is trying to stop Ishaan from rushing into the sea of people.
"Ya, right now we should go back and get changed, we must be prepared, anyway people will soon start to move towards the castle for the grand reveal, and I am sure you'll find them" Mrs Banerjee tried to reassure while patting Aaron's head, who was clearly anxious.
Both the boys, having no choice but to trust their parents, went back. Back in the inn, they changed into their formal clothes, yet they were clearly unsettled and worried.
On the way to the castle and even in the yard where all the normal citizens and most of the foreign guests were supposed to be their they searched.
(The reveal happens something like first, the princess/prince gives their appearance to the local citizens with whom they spent their time, then the few special foreign guests who got a pass and the county's nobles who wait in the inner banquet hall, where, after the reveal, the prince or princess choose a partner from the crowd to do the traditional ballet)
The castle gates loomed closer, their stone arches strung with banners that rippled in the afternoon wind. Citizens pressed shoulder to shoulder along the roads, voices buzzing in anticipation of the reveal. The boys scanned the crowd relentlessly, every flash of dark hair or familiar movement making their hearts lurch—only to sink again when it wasn't Isabella or Estella.
Aaron tugged at his collar, the weight of his formal jacket suffocating. "They have to be here somewhere," he muttered, eyes darting restlessly across the faces.
Ishaan, equally tense, craned his neck over the crowd. "We'll miss the whole thing if we don't find them before it starts. What if—"
"Boys." Mrs Banerjee's voice cut through his panic, steady but carrying an edge. She and MrBanerjee were walking just behind, and though they tried to look calm, their eyes flicked too often toward their sons. "You'll make yourselves sick if you keep this up."
"We can't just stand here!" Ishaan snapped, though his voice cracked halfway. "You didn't hear them last night—what if they knew this was coming? What if—"
Before the argument could spiral, a uniformed man in the royal crest approached. His posture was formal, his tone brisk but polite.
"Mr and Mrs Banerjee?" he asked, glancing at a parchment in his hand before offering a slight bow. "You and your family are requested to move inside the castle. Your invitations have been upgraded to the inner hall. One of the foreign guests has not arrived, and protocol allows reassignment to ticket-holders with eligible passes. Your papers match the criteria."
The boys exchanged a startled look. Ishaan stepped forward. "Wait—you mean inside? Past the gates? We weren't supposed to—"
The man gave a clipped nod. "Correct. Your original seats were in the outer grounds. But with this upgrade, you'll be among the guests presented directly to Their Highnesses after the public reveal. If you will, please follow me."
Aaron hesitated, his stomach twisting. The timing felt wrong—too convenient, too sharp against the ache of not finding Isabella and Estella. "But we—we can't. We're waiting for someone."
The man's expression didn't waver. "Sir, the proceedings must begin shortly. If you decline, I will be required to pass the upgrade to another guest."
Mr Banerjee's hand landed firmly on Aaron's shoulder before he could speak again. "We'll go," he said, with a calmness that didn't quite reach his eyes. He looked at his sons, his voice lowering just enough for only them to hear. "If the girls are meant to be found, you'll find them. Maybe not the way you expect. But don't let fear make you miss what's right in front of you."
Reluctantly, the boys nodded. Ishaan shoved his hands deep into his pockets, jaw tight. Aaron gave one last scan over the crowd, as if willing the sisters to appear. But the tide of the crowd was already carrying them forward, and the uniformed man was waiting.
Together, the family moved past the gates, their footsteps echoing as the noise of the outer grounds faded behind them. The boys couldn't shake the feeling of being pulled into something far bigger than they'd prepared for—something that felt both like an opportunity and a trap.
The inner hall was a feast for the eyes, lavishly adorned with decorations that felt almost magical. Bouquets cascaded like vibrant bands from one sparkling chandelier to another, creating a stunning visual tapestry overhead. The walls shimmered with a warm golden hue, casting an inviting glow throughout the space. The food was a delight to behold, each dish artfully arranged and presented with flair. Guests mingled in elegant attire, their outfits radiating an effortless sense of class and sophistication, as laughter and conversation filled the air, making the atmosphere feel both lively and refined.
In between all this, Mr and Mrs Banerjee are already enjoying themselves and just taking in all of this, while the boys in one corner are just completely disheartened and broken, while in the background, the voice of the crowd cheering can be heard.
"Look, I understand you are kind of sad, but you should believe in god if he allowed you to meet each other, he will surely reunite you. Right now, I just know the girls would not have wanted you guys to spend this evening sulking," Mrs Banerjee is trying to console the boys.
"Also, dont miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to enjoy this, just look at so many dishes, dont tell me you are going to miss it" Mr Banerjee is trying to get Ishaan up and active.
The boys, still sulking, still decided to enjoy the party, but as soon as they were, a man in a suit came and started making an announcement.
"All guests, please pay attention. The king of Alzaras, King Louis von Alzaras, will now address the gathering."
The great bronze doors groaned open, and silence fell across the square. At the top of the marble steps stood the king, tall and grave in his jewelled mantle, a crown of dark iron resting heavy upon his brow. His gaze swept slowly over the gathered throng—measured, searching, as though he weighed each soul beneath him. Every nod of his head was deliberate, every pause stretched long enough for the people to feel the weight of his attention.
At his side stood the queen, her golden hair catching the afternoon light like strands of fire. She kept her posture proud yet still, her eyes sharp despite the serene curve of her lips. The murmur of the crowd shifted when she raised her chin, as if her presence alone steadied the king's silence.
The king's eyes travelled over the faces below: merchants with sweat-darkened collars, guards gripping their spears, children perched on their fathers' shoulders. His gaze slowed, fixed at last upon Aaron and Ishaan. For a heartbeat, the king said nothing, his jaw tightening, his fingers brushing the ring on his hand as though confirming something to himself.
The king's voice echoed against the vaulted ceiling, each word rolling heavy as a bell toll.
"Honourable guests, it is a great joy for me and this country that, as custom dictates, I reveal my daughters to the public, for today one of them has reached the age of seventeen. It is my pride and privilege to present them before you."
He stepped aside. The hush in the hall deepened, as if even the chandeliers were holding their breath.
Two figures emerged from behind the great bronze doors. Light pooled around them, scattering off the jewelled embroidery of their gowns. The crowd gasped, the sound swelling like a single inhalation shared by hundreds of lungs.
Aaron felt his throat close. Ishaan gripped the edge of the table so tightly his knuckles blanched.
Walking with regal grace, every line of their posture carrying the weight of royalty, were the faces they had searched for all morning—the laughter they'd chased by the lakeside, the voices that had told them, whatever happens, don't forget us.
"Presenting Her Royal Highnesses… Isebella von Alzaras and Estella von Alzaras."
For a moment, the hall was nothing but silence, broken only by the rustle of gowns and the faint clink of the king's ring against the railing.
Aaron's breath caught. Ishaan's eyes went wide.
The girls didn't look their way, not yet. They carried themselves as strangers—no trace of the playful companions the brothers had known, no flicker of recognition in their faces.
And then, just before the herald's voice faded, Isebella's gaze shifted. Only for a heartbeat. Just long enough for Aaron to be sure he hadn't imagined it.
A glance—soft, sharp, and filled with something unspoken.
The crowd erupted into cheers. Trumpets blared. And the brothers stood frozen, caught between wonder and betrayal, as the truth finally crashed down on them.