EPISODE 1 (The Royal Gown and the Quiet Storm)

The chaotic pulse of Brooklyn had been the backdrop of Tessa Rathor’s life for the past four years. It was a span of time long enough to decipher the unspoken madness buried beneath the city's concrete lanes, yet never quite long enough to make her feel like she truly belonged. Every street hummed with relentless noise, and every night carried the restless movement of a city that refused to slow down for anyone. Somehow, in the midst of that endless rhythm, Tessa had learned to adapt and survive. Hidden precariously between the crowded thoroughfares and neon signboards stood her small dress designing shop. It lacked luxury and fame, but it was entirely hers—a sanctuary where every hanging fabric, every sketch scattered across the wooden table, and every sleepless night spent over patterns carried a quiet piece of her struggle. In those four years, she had managed to form genuine bonds with only two people, Lily and Sophie. Strangely, that tiny circle had always felt sufficient; she had never been someone who craved a crowd, finding it infinitely easier to trust when the world was kept small.

Family, however, was a completely different story. After her mother’s passing, the world had transformed into a painfully hollow space, stripping away the warmth she needed most at an age when she was least prepared to lose it. It was then that Nisha aunty, her mother’s closest friend, had stepped into her life like a silent blessing. She had welcomed Tessa into her home without a single hesitation, placing no conditions and never once allowing her to feel like an outsider. More than mere shelter, Nisha aunty provided a profound sense of stability—a safe harbour where Tessa could finally breathe again. And then there was Arav, Nisha aunt’s son. Though no blood tied them together, he was family in every way that mattered. Arav had never viewed her as a burden; instead, he treated her with a level of care and respect she had rarely encountered elsewhere. From the very moment she decided to open her modest shop, he had stood firmly beside her, helping arrange the space, supporting her financially through the lean months, and anchoring her whenever self-doubt threatened to consume her. Tessa’s world was undeniably small, consisting of perhaps four or five people, but within that restricted boundary, she had secured something rare—something that actually felt like home.

The sudden, rhythmic patter of rain slowly pulled her out of her deep thoughts. Outside the expansive glass window of the shop, a heavy downpour washed over Brooklyn, sending tiny droplets sliding down the pane while the distant city lights blurred into soft pools of colour. The atmosphere inside felt strangely calm tonight, almost melancholic. Tessa stood quietly by the glass, her hands wrapped tightly around a cup of hot coffee, letting the warmth bleed into her fingers as a profound exhaustion weighed heavily upon her. It was a fatigue that went beyond the physical, touching something mental and deep. Lily and Sophie hadn't dropped by the shop today, likely caught up in the demands of their own lives, as often happened.

A glance at the wall clock confirmed it was nearly 9:30 p.m. usually; Brooklyn remained loud even past midnight, but tonight the city felt distant, empty, and strangely lonely. After organizing a few remaining rolls of unfinished fabric near the counter, Tessa finally retrieved her bicycle keys and walked toward the entrance to lock up for the night.

Just as her fingers brushed against the cold metal of the door lock, her phone vibrated, interrupting the silence. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. Frowning slightly at the unexpected interruption, she slid the bar to answer.

“Hello?” Tessa spoke, her voice soft against the quiet room.

“Hello,” a woman’s voice replied from the other end, smooth and composed. “Did I reach the Tessa Fashion Shop?”

“Yes,” Tessa answered, shifting automatically into her professional tone. “You’ve got the right place. How can I help you?”

A brief, heavy pause followed before the woman spoke again. “I wanted to place an order for a dress… could you please tell me the price of this gown?”

Tessa adjusted the phone closer to her ear, maintaining her polite demeanor. “Of course. If you send me a picture of the gown, I’ll be able to calculate the estimate and let you know the price by tomorrow. Will that be okay?”

“No, that’s fine,” the woman answered calmly, and the call abruptly ended.

Even after the screen went dark, something about the brief exchange lingered in Tessa’s mind. The woman’s tone had been remarkably elegant, carrying the distinct undertone of wealth and absolute confidence. It didn't feel like a routine inquiry. If her instincts were correct, whoever this client was, she was prepared to spend a massive amount of money.

Almost fifteen minutes later, the phone vibrated again, signalling the arrival of the photograph. The moment Tessa opened the file, the breath caught instantly in her throat. Her eyes widened as she stared at the glowing screen in complete, stunned silence.

The gown was breath-taking. It was a white princess gown adorned with such intricate details and delicate embroidery that it appeared almost surreal. The sheer craftsmanship visible in the image looked expensive enough to leave anyone speechless; every layer of fabric flowed with a regal, almost royal structure. It looked less like a standard dress and more like a masterpiece created strictly for a queen. For several moments, Tessa could do nothing but stare, a volatile mixture of nervousness and sudden excitement rushing through her chest. She had never received a commission of this magnitude before.

Anxious to secure the opportunity, she quickly typed out a reply to confirm the details. The response from the unknown number came almost immediately: “Don’t worry about the cost. Just make it exactly like this.”

Reading those words, a profound wave of relief washed over her entire body. Slowly, she leaned back against the sofa inside the shop, closing her eyes as the tension left her shoulders. This single order possessed the power to change things for her—perhaps not entirely, but certainly enough to let her breathe a little easier. For a fleeting second, she considered calling Lily and Sophie to share the news, knowing they would likely scream louder than her out of sheer excitement. But the accumulated exhaustion of the day hit her harder than expected. Her body finally surrendered to the fatigue, the phone slipping loosely to her side as her eyelids grew too heavy to hold open. Within minutes, a deep sleep claimed her completely.

The next morning arrived with a quiet gentleness. Soft sunlight filtered through the fabric of the curtains, accompanied by the faint, comforting aroma of fresh coffee drifting through the room. Tessa slowly blinked her eyes open, the haze of sleep still clouding her mind. The first sight that met her was Nisha aunty sitting quietly beside her, holding a sandwich.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Nisha aunty said, her voice a familiar comfort. “I know you work a lot, but don’t push yourself too hard. It’s not good for your health.”

A small smile touched Tessa’s lips almost instantly. Nisha aunty had always been this way—gentle, infinitely patient, and caring in ways that words could never fully articulate. Sometimes Tessa wondered how someone could offer such selfless affection to another without expecting a single thing in return. The warmth Nisha aunty extended always managed to fill the emptiness in her chest, piece by piece, ensuring that Tessa never truly had to face the cold absence of her mother, not even for a single second.

“Sweetie…” Nisha aunt’s voice gently disrupted her thoughts once more. “I’ll be going to Jersey City for about three… maybe four months. It’s for corporate training.”

For a brief moment, a quiet silence settled over the space. Yet, Tessa did not hesitate, not even for a fraction of a second.

“Yeah,” she replied softly, offering a reassuring nod. “Of course.”

A faint smile remained fixed on her face, masking the sudden heaviness that attempted to settle in her chest. “That’s… actually really good.”

And she genuinely meant it. No matter how deeply she would miss Nisha aunt’s presence, seeing her move forward and succeed genuinely made her happy—even if the sudden prospect of the house becoming empty and silent again frightened her just a little.

~

📸 Catch the cinematic video trailers and character aesthetics of "Shadow of Obsession" on my Instagram! Follow: @author.trisha.m 🥀✨

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