• five days later •

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It had been five days.

Five days of staying in the Rathore Palace, and it felt like I was indulging in some illegal activity.

Because it was illegal—at least morally.

Staying here, with this family, living under this roof that could have been mine too if I hadn't run away.

Then again, if I hadn't left, I would never have met them.

Because despite Adhrit Singh Rathore being the son of this house, he was disowned by this family.

The doors to this palace were shut on him permanently. Bade Papa had made it clear that day.

Why? It was yet another mystery.

But, what did I do when I realized where I'd ended up?

I tried to leave.

First, I gave polite excuses . They didn't let me. Then I tried sneaking out in the middle of the night, hobbling on my bandaged leg like a fool. I hadn't even crossed my room's threshold before Naina caught me.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, crossing her arms with that no-nonsense look she was so good at.

"I just—needed some air," I mumbled.

"At 2 a.m.? With a leg like that?"

I had no answer. She shook her head and escorted me back without another word.

The next morning, I tried again.

Of course, I was caught.

The Rathores were kind people. Too kind.

"Don't worry, beta," Badi Maa reassured me with a gentle smile. "Nothing will harm you here. You'll be safe."

Bade Papa arranged the best doctors for my leg. Divya Bua made sure the house help was at my beck and call. Naina and Arushi's chatter made the place feel like home—whether I wanted it to or not.

Five days.

That's all it took for these strangers to start feeling like people I knew. People I was getting to know.

And yet, it felt wrong.

I knew they were doing all this to make up for the accident, for my injured leg, and because they pitied a lost girl in a strange city. And now that they knew I might have been their daughter-in-law, they were bending over backward to make me comfortable.

Especially Naina.

She had taken it upon herself to make sure I healed properly.

Stranger things have happened in this world, and this had to be one of them.

Still, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I needed to get out of here.

Whether that instinct was good or bad, I didn't know.

The doctor had visited yesterday and assured me that I'd be able to walk without support in another week.

I sighed, gripping my elbow crutch as I stood up from the swing overlooking the royal gardens. The sky was warm with the hues of early morning; the sun had already risen, and everyone was busy with work.

I set down my second cup of tea on the small table beside me and glanced out at the scene before me.

The Rathore gardens stretched endlessly, a carefully curated masterpiece of vibrant flowers and neatly trimmed hedges. Stone pathways wove through the greenery, where house helpers moved with swift precision. One was tending to a patch of red roses, another sweeping the marble paths clear of fallen leaves. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and wet earth.

Today, though, something felt different.

The energy was unusual—electric, almost as if something had stirred the palace awake. The helpers moved faster, their expressions tense, their feet quicker.

A frown crept onto my face.

"Advika," Naina's voice called, breaking my focus.

This palace was huge—a true architectural wonder, standing proudly between modernity and history.

The crimson hues were everywhere, from the intricately carved pillars to the velvet drapes that framed towering windows. Marble floors gleamed under the soft morning light streaming through stained glass panels. Delicate jaalis adorned the arched corridors, blending the finesse of Rajputana craftsmanship with contemporary elegance. Even the gardens beyond were manicured to perfection, a seamless blend of royalty and restraint.

It was breathtaking.

But none of it did much to calm my nerves.

"Are you okay?" Naina's voice cut through my thoughts. Her gaze drifted to my hand wrapped tightly around the teacup.

Wait—I thought I had kept it down.

I sighed, taking a deep breath and finally placing the cup on the table.

How much is this stress affecting me?

"Are you okay?" I asked, watching her carefully. Naina was usually this energetic, chirpy presence—like a one-woman conversation starter pack. You didn't need to try around her because she talked enough for everyone. There was hardly ever a silent moment in her company.

But today?

She was unusually quiet, almost withdrawn.

Like something was eating her from the inside.

"Why... why would you ask that?" she asked, her voice faltering.

"Nothing, it's just... you're normally chattier than this," I said, pouring hot tea from the kettle.

Third cup of tea today.

"And less silent," I added in a whisper, taking a careful sip of the steaming liquid.

She pursed her lips, thinking deeply.

"It's just—" She hesitated, visibly torn. But then something shifted in her expression. "I want to share this, and I think you'll understand. Maybe even answer my question better than anyone else." Her voice trembled slightly, stressed and uncertain.

Her next words caught me off guard.

"Just promise me you won't share this conversation with anyone," she said, her eyes pleading silently, almost desperately.

"Naina... what is this about?" I asked warily.

"Please, Advika," she urged, leaning forward. "Promise me first."

Her sincerity was unsettling.

Growing up in a political household, I knew the weight a promise carried. I didn't verbally assure her—I couldn't. But I nodded, my eyes offering a silent conviction. That was enough for her to relax slightly.

She drew in a breath before asking a question I hadn't expected from her.

"What were your plans after you ran away from your arranged marriage?"

For a moment, I froze, caught completely off guard.

"Naina, I..." My words faltered. I didn't know what to say. Why was she suddenly asking this?

"Please," she insisted softly, "just answer me honestly."

Her gaze was intense, as though my answer meant far more than mere words.

I exhaled sharply, releasing the tension from my chest.

"To be completely honest, I never planned it," I admitted. "I acted on instinct. All I wanted was to get as far away as possible from my father, his influence, and that arranged marriage."

"You never planned what you'd do once you got away from your father?" she asked, clearly surprised by my confession.

I shook my head silently. Truth be told, I hadn't believed I'd actually succeed in running away in the first place.

But life was unpredictable.

Look where I'd ended up—successfully escaping my father's influence, only to land right in the middle of the family of my might-have-been husband.

Planned failed successfully.

"That's not possible," Naina pressed. "You must have had some backup plan. At least an idea of what to do next. What if you hadn't ended up here? In a strange city? Why did you choose Jodhpur? What factors did you consider? You must have thought about it, right?"

She was breathless by the time she finished.

"I had," I whispered, the words fragile on my tongue. Something that had weighed heavily on my mind for the past five days.

Freedom.

Freedom to do what I finally wanted.

"I wanted to pursue my dream," I confessed quietly.

The words clung tightly to the hope I'd carried for years, as though speaking them aloud might make that fragile dream vanish.

Naina waited, her eyes gentle but expectant.

So I continued.

"They say your dreams are half yours, half your parents'."

I took a breath, steadying myself. "My mother was a criminal defense lawyer. She wanted me to be a strong, independent woman like her. I grew up watching her, hearing stories about her—the society respected her, admired her intelligence and courage. She was my biggest inspiration. That's when I knew what I wanted to be. At first, it was just a wish, then a desire, and slowly it morphed into a dream. I completed law school, passed all the exams, and became eligible to practice in court."

I gulped, my throat tightening as memories surfaced—memories of what I lost. Of what my sister lost for me.

"You didn't continue? Why?" Naina asked slowly, her voice tentative.

"My father," I admitted, bitterness creeping into my tone. "He was against my career choice—against my dream. He didn't want me to work. He wasn't even ready for me to finish my education, but my sister made him promise that she'd marry only if he let me pursue my dream."

I paused, the weight of that sacrifice pressing heavily on my chest.

"My sister gave up her freedom of choice for me."

Naina's eyes softened.

"But as soon as my education was complete, and I passed the exams, he arranged my marriage without my consent. It was suffocating—being constantly tossed around like a pawn. It was my life, but I had no control over it." I exhaled sharply, my voice dropping to a whisper. "So I ran."

A moment of silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

"What do you plan to do now?" Naina asked softly.

The question echoed in my mind.

What do I plan to do now?

"I don't know," I answered truthfully, my voice barely above a whisper.

Before either of us could say more, Divya Bua's voice rang out, shattering the fragile moment. "Naina! Come on, dear, it's time to get ready!"

"Yes, Bua! Coming!" Naina called back, getting to her feet.

She glanced down at me, her expression suddenly serious, a distant look clouding her eyes. "You should think about it, Advika. Not everyone is privileged to have dreams. You are now."

Strange.

Her tone carried a weight I couldn't quite place, as if there was something personal hidden behind her words.

And just like that, she was gone before I could respond.

I sat there, the echoes of her words swirling in my mind.

Why was she suddenly asking all that?

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I got the answer to that question hours later.

The palace was bustling with activity, preparations everywhere—shahi daawat and whatnot.

Arushi filled me in soon enough.

"Ladke wale dekhne aa rahe hain Naina ko," she said, almost excitedly.

That was enough to not only answer my question but also raise many others.

Looking back on the conversation, it seemed like Naina had been holding herself back from saying something.

Should I confront her?

Would I be crossing a boundary?

I probably would be. Despite their kindness, I was still no one to them.

So I stayed quiet, sitting in the vast dining hall as conversations flowed around me.

The guests of honor, and Bade Papa, were engaged in animated discussion at the other end of the table. Naina sat beside them, her face polite but detached, while Arushi, seated next to me, filled me in on the rest.

"The marriage is fixed and finalized. Engagement's next month," she whispered.

The guests of honor were none other than the Shekhawats.

The Shekhawats—powerful and deeply entrenched in politics. Samar Singh Shekhawat, a current minister in Parliament. His cousin held the post of Deputy Police Commissioner, and his father had once led one of the most prominent ministries in the country.

A big political figure, sitting in the Rathores' palace with a smile that was just a little too sweet to digest.

I know these kinds, I thought bitterly. I've dined with them practically all my life.

Next to him sat his son, Devansh Singh Shekhawat—twenty-four, brimming with an overconfident smile and a sense of pride that radiated from every polished movement. Like every politician's son, he was a carefully crafted public figure. Set to stand for the MLA seat this election. The public's favorite, thanks to his impressive social work portfolio.

But one look at him, and I couldn't tell whether that smile was genuine or just well-rehearsed. He looked at Naina like he was in love with her—or maybe he was just a really good actor.

"That's all I know," Arushi finished, satisfied with her detailed briefing.

"Prithviji, the Rathores have a big name. You should consider making a political comeback," Samar Singh Shekhawat joked suddenly, his voice cutting through the room and drawing my full attention.

The atmosphere shifted immediately. Badi Maa and Divya Bua stiffened. Even Bade Papa froze for a fraction of a second.

Sensing the tension, Shekhawat handled it smoothly, laughing off his own words and steering the conversation toward safer topics.

Rathores have a political background?

How deep does that run?

As the conversation resumed, I kept observing Naina. She looked fine—she even smiled once or twice—but something about her demeanor felt off. The spark in her eyes was missing, as was any trace of excitement.

"Arushi, is this marriage being decided with Naina's consent?" I asked softly once the discussions had shifted to lighter topics.

"Yes, yes, Advika Di," Arushi assured me cheerfully. "In fact, it was Naina who said yes first. We didn't even have to convince her. She seemed happy about marrying Devansh Singh Shekhawat."

Well, that crosses out one possibility and the whole chain of thoughts that followed.

I frowned as I noticed Devansh excusing himself for a phone call, not even sparing Naina a glance as he stood and walked away.

A few minutes later, Naina looked down at her phone blankly before excusing herself too, murmuring something about freshening up.

Time passed. The Shekhawats continued engaging effortlessly—Mrs. Shekhawat was a people pleaser, going on and on about parties and trips, while Samar Singh Shekhawat punctuated her chatter with the occasional joke.

Even the Rathores seemed at ease, joining in with their own laughter and remarks.

I was growing restless for no reason.

What if Devansh had asked Naina to meet him somewhere in the palace, away from everyone's eyes?

What if he was doing something wrong to her?

I almost got up at that thought, my heart racing.

Why am I assuming the worst? I frowned, shaking my head. Maybe they were just having one of those pre-wedding talks. They were a couple now, right? Of course, they'd need time to themselves.

I'm being a busybody, I told myself.

But the what-ifs wouldn't let me sit still.

I decided I'd just check on Naina. Yes, that seemed like the best option.

Informing both Arushi and Divya Bua that I needed to rest, I stood up carefully. Arushi offered to help, but I politely declined.

It was nighttime, and the cold air of the mansion didn't help the goosebumps crawling over my skin. I walked slowly, leaning on my crutches, in the direction Naina had gone.

Maybe I'm being paranoid.

Maybe it's just my overthinking brain combined with these unfamiliar surroundings.

I reached the end of the hall—nothing. I even checked the restroom on the ground floor. No one.

Naina wasn't there.

I was at the east wing of the palace now, and my slow pace wasn't helping with the search.

Then I heard it.

"Mmmph."

A muffled sound that made me freeze on the spot.

What the—

I moved cautiously toward the source, taking one careful step at a time so as not to alert anyone.

What if Naina was in danger?

"Mmmph!" The sound grew louder, followed by a grunt, like someone was trying to muffle someone else's mouth.

Damn it, I thought, panic surging through me.

What if Devansh was taking advantage of her?

I should've known there was a reason why Naina had been asking all those strange questions.

Maybe she was forced into this marriage. Maybe Devansh blackmailed her into saying yes.

Oh, God.

I gripped my elbow crutch tightly, almost at the door, ready to barge in. I couldn't afford to go back and call for help—the east wing was too far, and walking back with crutches would take too long.

What if it's already too late?

"Shut up!" a bold, feminine voice ordered from inside.

Feminine?

I stopped, confused, and peeked through the slightly ajar door.

My jaw nearly hit the floor.

Devansh Singh Shekhawat was tied to a chair, looking utterly helpless. Sweat dripped from his forehead as Naina hovered over him, biting down on a piece of cello tape before slapping it over his mouth.

Oh.

Damn.

Naina didn't look like a victim at all. Her dull, lifeless eyes from earlier had turned into excited, dark sparks of something dangerous.

My heart raced, not from fear for her but from confusion.

I peered further into the room, my disbelief growing with each passing second. Devansh, drenched in sweat, squirmed in his restraints, but there was no visible harm on him—no violence, no blood.

What was going on?

Naina casually pulled out a phone—clearly a burner phone—and dialed a number.

I squinted, trying to make sense of the situation.

The call clicked as the person on the other end picked up.

And the next word out of Naina's mouth was enough to freeze me in place.

"Bhai."

Bhai?!

"I have him," she said, glancing at Devansh with a smirk. "What should I do now?" she asked, her voice almost playful as she swiped a finger along his jawline.

There was a pause as she listened to whoever was on the other end.

"Sure," she drawled, rolling her eyes before putting the call on speaker.

The next thing I heard was a voice colder than the icy air swirling through the room—Adhrit Singh Rathore's deep, commanding tone.

"Shekhawat," he said sharply, "I'll give you two chances. One question. You'll have two chances to answer it correctly, or my sister will make sure there's no third."

It wasn't a suggestion.

It was a threat.

Devansh's eyes widened as if he recognized the voice, but with his mouth taped shut, he couldn't speak until allowed to.

"Did I make myself clear?" Adhrit Singh Rathore's cold voice commanded through the phone. It wasn't a question you ignored. When someone speaks in that tone, the only acceptable response is to nod yes.

And that's exactly what Devansh did—immediately, frantically.

"Naina?" Adhrit asked, seeking confirmation from his sister.

After a brief pause, deliberate no doubt, Naina replied, "Yes, Bhai. He seems ready."

She untaped Devansh's mouth, and he gasped for breath, sucking in air like it was slipping away from him.

"Naina—what—is—this—why—are—you—" Devansh stammered between heaving breaths, panic lacing each word.

"Shhh," Naina hushed him, pressing a finger to his lips. "Just answer what Bhai asks." Her voice was a whisper, calm but carrying a strange weight.

And then I saw it.

The glint of metal under the dim light.

A knife.

Pressed against Devansh's throat.

I swallowed hard, my grip tightening around my crutch as I subconsciously took a step back.

Devansh nodded frantically, sweat dripping off his face.

"Good," Naina praised, her tone eerily steady.

It felt like I was witnessing a completely different side of Naina, one I never imagined existed.

"What do you know about the Red Phantom?" Adhrit's voice came through the speaker, devoid of emotion yet cutting through the room like ice.

The question landed hard, its weight palpable in the air.

Devansh's eyes widened further, but this time, it wasn't just fear of Naina or Adhrit—it was something deeper, something primal.

"I—I don't know anything," Devansh whispered frantically, shaking his head. "No, no, no!" His words stumbled over themselves like he was fighting off an unseen nightmare.

"One chance," Adhrit warned, his voice chilling. "You only have one chance now."

The red lights in the room cast eerie shadows, amplifying the fear radiating from Devansh as Naina pressed the knife just a little harder against his throat.

"Don't kill me—please," Devansh begged, trembling. "I'll tell the truth—I swear—"

"Speak!" Adhrit's command crackled through the speaker, and despite the physical distance, it sent goosebumps skittering down my skin.

"He's—he's a rumor," Devansh stammered, his voice raw with terror. "A nightmare. But he's real. He's returned, killing anyone who crosses him. He was karma—he is karma." His voice broke. "No one knows who he is, but they say he kills people in the most brutal ways imaginable. Some say he's the devil incarnate."

Red Phantom?

I frowned, trying to process the name. I had never heard of it before.

"What did he do to your cousin?" Naina's voice cut through the tense silence.

Devansh's head jerked up in surprise. "How do you—?"

"Answer her, Shekhawat," Adhrit interrupted sharply.

"The Red Phantom killed him," Devansh admitted reluctantly. "The death wasn't publicized, but the inner circle's in chaos. Everyone thought they got rid of him for good, but he's back."

"And the message?" Adhrit prodded, as though he already knew what it was.

Devansh's lips quivered. "It said, 'You are next. Until I find my master.'"

My heart pounded as Devansh continued shakily, "It was written in red... over the bodies."

Silence blanketed the room, thick and suffocating, as if we were all trying to process the weight of what had just been revealed.

"Naina, let him go. One word about this conversation, and you're dead, Shekhawat." Adhrit's voice was cold and sharp through the speaker, carrying a threat that needed no further explanation.

Devansh nodded frantically, desperate to agree.

Naina cut the ropes binding him, stepping back as he stumbled to wash the sweat off his face, gasping for air like he'd just escaped drowning.

"Did you get what you wanted?" Naina asked, holding the phone near her ear. Her tone was steady, but the room was so silent I could still hear Adhrit's clipped response.

"Yes, Naina."

She rolled her eyes, frustration slipping through her voice. "Bhai, you always do this. Tell me the whole truth. I'm part of your team too."

"Naina, you are," Adhrit retorted, his voice firm but evasive. "I'll tell you everything when I piece it all together."

A tense silence followed.

And then his tone softened unexpectedly. "Naina... how's she?"

The words were spoken so quietly they were barely audible.

I froze.

No.

Not this.

"She's healing well," Naina replied, her voice shifting to something softer, tinged with guilt.

Hah.

"She's innocent in this, Bhai."

My grip on the crutch tightened until my knuckles turned white.

"She won't be by the end of this," Adhrit said, his tone dark and certain. "Take care of her until I come."

And with that, the line went dead.

She won't be by the end of this. Take care of her until I come.

The words echoed in my mind, heavy and suffocating.

Was everything here a lie?

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Lies, lies, lies ;)

One name is recurring, what do you think about that?

Next Update
(Saturday & Sunday)
I'm sorry guys, it's not possible today, double update this weekend pakka!

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Thank you for your votes and comments. And of course patience, you'll need that a lot ;)

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