NEXT DAY….

NOOR

I stared at the codes and keys on the computer screen.

My mind was blank with what I saw yesterday's night. I was spaced out from the morning, my mind still replying that scenario.

My fingers stilled on the keyboard, it felt as if I forgot how to type, how to read and how to generate codes.

I was physically present here but mentally I was still wandering there— in the granden, where I saw someone.

That someone was scary, blood flowing from leg. There were marks on her body. I was sure that it was a human not a ghost.

A female.

I wasn't able to get a clear look her face but I saw her body was covered in bandages. A lot of them.There were cut marks on hands and burnt marks too. It was like someone had brutally assaulted her and then bandaged her, so the injuries could heal.

The sight of her scared me. I mean how can someone be so heartless to do that to her? It must be some evil.

No, someone even worse than evil — devil.

Only a devil can do this.

But the thing that bothers me is — What is she doing in the palace?

The Royal palace.

Why was she there in a place where no one except the Royals are allowed?

Did someone from the family do that?

Did someone kidnap her ?

Did Ashrit sir — I gasped.

Did I marry a criminal?

Oh my freaking God!

I don't know that he was into human assault, women kidnapping. Oh my God. Oh my god. I should report to the police, yes I should.

But —what if he gets to know?

What if he kills me?

I gasped again. A Shiver ran down my spine, as My breath hitched at the thought.

FLASHBACK

YESTERDAY NIGHT…….

I reached the palace, it was calm, peaceful. As if no one lives here. It's been some days since I have been living here and yet it feels like I am staying in a luxurious hotel, not at home.

The people in here don't acknowledge me as if I was invisible or something like that. Rajmata and Rajaji just smiled and bless me whenever they saw me.

The Queen and King never looked at me, as if looking at me made them feel cursed. Chachi pretended that I was invisible to her.

And the youngsters, honestly I didn't have the courage to talk to them or to approach them first. For God sake, they were my bosses at the company and it felt very awfully awkward. So I didn't make the first step and they too, stayed distant.

Maybe they are just obeying their parents. I nodded at the thought.

The Environment I am living here is entirely different from the environment I grew up in. Obviously it was way …….too different. These are —

The Royalty people

and we were normal— Rich- High class business people sure but not throne worthy.

We were different despite the fact that these people chose my sister to marry Ashrit sir. Why?

I mean Rajasthan has two more kingdoms. That means plenty of girls from their circle. From their world. From Royalty. Those who were raised to live this kind of life.

Instead of choosing a girl from their class, status, royalty. They chose a girl from a normal High class reputed family. Why?

Honestly, Jiya di wasn't good at anything except for blaming people.

I know I shouldn't say this but still…

She was always full of herself, Even on her father’s death day, she went partying at night. She always claimed she loved her father more than anything—more than her mother—but couldn’t skip her company’s anniversary celebration that night?

She’s selfish. Arrogant. Cold.

And yet, Ashrit sir chose her?

As a King who needs a woman to take care of his kingdom After him just like he does, Ashrit sir should have searched carefully for a bride instead of Jiya.

At first when I heard about the wedding, for the first time I felt something for Ashrit sir — pity.

Yes, pity. Afterall he needs to endure someone like Jiya his whole life.

But who knows, everything would backfire on me.

And now I feel pity for myself. For marrying a man like him, who after four days of marriage suddenly showed up and said “ don't bow your head in front of someone and blah blah blah….” I mean how dare he ? How dare he say that as the first thing to his wife after he met her after four days ? What a jerk.

And his family, his mother — I don't know but That woman is giving me that daily soap saas vibes. I mean why did she make tamasha on that day. I wasn't going to cook anything, as I don't know how to cook.

However, I found her reaction too overwhelming. If she doesn't like me then be it. Why make a scene ?

Crazy people.

God knows when I will get rid of this family.

When will I leave this family?

My thoughts came to a halt, when I heard something fall on the floor. My head snapped in that direction and that's when I realised that I am on the wrong path.

The chamber was in the right but instead of right I took left and now, I am here in the middle of nowhere. If I walk a few more then I will enter the garden — the same garden I danced that night.

Sighing, I walked to the entrance, my steps were slow, and deliberate as I walked without making any sound.

Reaching the entrance I saw a broken vase on the floor. The pieces of it scattered all over the place and I noticed something which I wish I wasn't — blood.

Few drops of blood were on the floor and some droplets on a piece of broken vase. My eyes instantly blurred as I closed my eyes and looked away.

I turned around and was ready to walk back when I heard another sound. A thud —It was like someone fell down. A dull, heavy sound.

Like someone falling.

My heart skipped a beat. My mind raced.

Should I walk away? Pretend I didn’t hear anything?

Or should I go see what happened?

I stood still for a moment.

Then let my curiosity—or maybe my instinct—win.

I turned back.

And walked into the garden.

As I stepped into it, The rain droplets fell on me, drenching me in the rain. I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes, letting the rain drench me fully. My lips curved on the sides as I twirled around, the office clothes sticking to my body like a second skin.

I opened my eyes and

“ Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhj……” I screamed on the top of my lungs.

There was a person standing infront of me. Her hair filled with mud and leaves, her shirt was ripped out from top to bottom, she was wearing nothing under.

Her legs were visible which were covered in blood.

Wait.

The blood over there was her's?

I crouched down, slowly, instinctively, trying to get a better look at her wounds. Maybe help her. But she stepped back. Quick. Jumpy. Like a scared animal.

I paused. Met her hidden gaze—or tried to, through that curtain of matted hair.

“Hey… hey, it’s okay,” I said softly, barely audible over the rain. “Who are you?”

No response. Not even a flinch.

I wasn’t sure if she could see me. If she even heard me.

And then she did something.

She lifted her head—slowly.

Revealing a face that made the blood drain from mine.

Her eyes were wide, almost lifeless, but glinting with something unreadable. Her lips trembled, and then…

She smiled.

A crooked, unsettling smile.

My heart dropped.

Fear clawed through my veins as I instinctively stood up and stumbled a step back. My legs felt weak, my breath caught somewhere between my chest and throat. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but I couldn’t move—couldn’t look away from that ghastly smile.

She kept standing there, drenched and bleeding, her lips curled into a twisted grin that didn’t reach her eyes. Her teeth were slightly bloodstained, and the rain only made it worse—washing away the dirt, but not the terror.

“W-what do you want?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper,

She didn’t speak.

She didn’t move.

She just stared.

That same crooked smile etched across her face, like she knew something I didn’t—something horrifying.

Then—she tilted her head.

A sharp, unnatural angle. Like a doll whose neck had been twisted too far.

My breath hitched.

Suddenly, she lifted her hand—slowly, trembling—and pointed directly at me.

That was it.

I turned around and ran—no second thought, no hesitation—just the sound of my pounding footsteps splashing in puddles and the rain crashing down around me.

And behind me…

A laugh.

Echoing through the storm-soaked garden.

I ran until I found a place to hide in. God, I'm so scared that I actually ran in the other direction instead of inside.

It was all dark here. Pitch black.

I’m scared of darkness.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared into the empty void around me. Every corner seemed to shift. Every shadow looked like it could move. My lower lip trembled, and before I could stop it, a broken sob escaped my throat.

I slapped my hand over my mouth, stifling the sound. I didn’t want to be heard—not by her, not by anyone.

I walked blindly, my hands feeling along the wall until they met the cold surface of a pillar. I slid down beside it, curling into myself, knees tucked to my chest as I tried to breathe.

The stone was damp against my back. The silence was deafening. Just the occasional rumble of thunder outside.

God, please let it be morning soon.

My mind kept replaying her smile. That awful smile. Her blood. Her eyes.

Who was she?

What did she want?

Why did I feel like… like she wasn’t human?

My fingers dug into my arms as I rocked slightly, the weight of fear making it hard to breathe. I wanted to scream, to cry out for someone, anyone—but my voice was lost.

And then—

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Footsteps.

Slow. Measured.

Coming closer.

FLASHBACK ENDS..

A tap on my shoulder pulled me out of my thoughts. I flinched as i glanced at Disha who raised a brow at me,

“ Why do I feel like you are Zoning out again?” She asked,

I blinked. The scenario from yesterday night — her, the darkness was still wandering in my brain.

“ I- Nothing” I looked away, no words came out as my throat tightened.

She looked at me, for a good five minutes her eyes filled with suspicious,

“ Did something happen again?”

“ Hmm?” I glanced at her, my brows furrowed.

She took a sip of her coffee — which I noticed just now— and gulped down as she said, “ I mean, you are so calm and silent today, so I thought something might happen in your family.”

I scowled, “ They are not my family!” I say in a low whisper, making sure no one heard.

She took another sip of her coffee, “ They are, You are married to their son,”

I clenched my jaw at her words.

“They’re not my family,” I repeated, this time more firmly, my voice still a whisper but laced with bitterness. “Marriage doesn’t make people family, Disha. It just gives strangers a legal reason to interfere in your life.”

Disha sighed and leaned back in her chair, letting the silence hang between us for a moment. Her eyes didn’t leave mine.

“I get it,” she said softly. “I really do. But something’s bothering you—and it’s not just your not-a-family family.”

I looked down at my hands, fi

ngers tightly clasped together in my lap. My mind drifted back to the broken vase. The blood. Her.

“ Nothing… it's just I miss home” I lied. I know Disha would never Judge me if I told her about last night but before her, there is someone I need to talk to.