What if that guy is Abhi? No! How can it be? It can't be. No ways. It's just due to fear, I am having such stupid thoughts. Sangami, cool down! Anyways, Abhi didn't have a tattoo in his hand. That brought a sigh of relief in me. But where did this Abhi go? I could sense that something was not right.

"You're Mrs. Sangamitra Singhania, right?" The inspector asked me. 

"Yes, I am." I said.

"So, tell me what happened? Why did you leave half way to the hotel?"

I decided to not to tell the truth. This inspector will never believe if I tell him that I have been to the painting and came out as well. He will name me 'mentally ill'. I am in no mood for arguments. I want Abhi at any cost.

"Actually, we were on our way to the nearby Durga ma temple. On our way, I felt like having nausea and couldn't walk. There was a huge crowd and I was lost in that and I couldn't find Abhi, Dad and Asha. Hence, I went back to the hotel." I lied. 

"Did you make a call to inform?" He asked. 

"No. But, I had sent a message to all of them." 

"Yes sir, she is right." The constable said as he came along with my phone, which he took from me for checking. 

"Hmm. Okay. Mrs. Singhania, write a letter and sign this. We'll begin our search soon."

"Do find him soon at any cost, Inspector." 

"Don't worry Mrs. Singhania. We will try our level best."

Saying that, the inspector went from the room, where I was left with the constable to write the letter.

_________________

It was 11:45 p.m. at night. The police had begun its search. I am so stressed. This trip had turned out to be the worst rather than what I had expected. I am feeling so bad and nervous now. Probably, fate is paying me back for what I did with that random guy at the lake. But what can I do? I didn't do that desperately. What would have happened to him? Would he... Would he have been.. drowned? No! That cannot happen. I don't know why the hell I am feeling more bad for him than my husband, who's missing. 

I could not sleep. So, I decided to walk around the palace. Though it was midnight, the palace was bustling with people and night activities. If Abhi was here, then we would have enjoyed too. I am feeling worried for Abhi. He should be safe. As I was walking around, my eyes caught the sight of the same painting which I had entered today morning. I entered the room again and saw the painting.

I received the biggest shock of my life as I saw that painting. I couldn't believe my eyes.

There... There was... There was another guy in addition to the hand of a man which was present in the original painting which I had entered. But this new guy was not presenting the painting which I had entered in the morning. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief. But that was true. There was another guy in the painting.

His face was not visible. He was sitting on the shore with his arms crossed against his chest. He was watching the first guy who was drowning.

I couldn't get this. While I was there, only the guy which I met and I were there. When did this new guy come in? As I was engrossed in thinking, I saw the sparkling thing on this new guy's ring finger in the left hand.

Oh. My. Goodness. It is the same ring which I had made abhi wear on pur engagement!!! Does that mean abhi is in the painting?? But how did he get inside? Dad's words echoed in my ears. "A person who couldn't return before sunset will never return"

My head is spinning. Does that mean that abhi would never return?? NOOOOOO!!!! IT CAN'T HAPPEN! IT CAN'T!!

I felt my surroundings fade away from my eyesight. My head felt heavy and in no time my vision blacked out.

************************************

"Abhii!!" I screamed as I opened my eyes. I was in my room. How did I come here? God! My head feels heavy.

"Abhi? Who is abhi?" Mom asked me as she heard my screams.

"And did you have a bad dream?" She asked me.

Realization hit me hard as I realised it was my dream. Dream?? My goodness! It felt so damn real.

"Now mitra, get ready soon. They will be coming to see you in no time." Mom said.

"Who?"

"Oh no. Mitra! Have you forgotten? I told you that one of your dad's friends had asked your hand for his son. They're coming to see you today. So get ready soon." She said and went from there.

I am perplexed. Why did I have a dream like that? And I wasn't married after all. Uff. I am feeling weird. So damn weird.

I got ready unwillingly and went downstairs after mom called me down. Today, I am gonna take a step towards a new beginning and this bad dream is making me feel so quaint.

As I reached downstairs, I saw a guy in his late twenties, seated in between his mom and dad. Three of them smiled at me and I let out a formal smile. I was made to sit and our parents started talking. The guy had good looks. He seemed to be nice as well. But, I don't know what had come over me that I could not move my thoughts away from that stupid dream.

"My younger son had a meeting today. So he will be a bit late in coming here." The guy's mom said.

"Let these two talk for a while." My mom said and I was made to take him to the backyard.

"Hi. I am Arjun. Arjun Singhania." He extended his hand towards me with a charming smile.

The surname "Singhania" reminded me of that dream. I shoved that thought away and held his hand when I saw a shocking sight.

WTF!? The same tattoo!!! The tattoo which I saw in the dream where the guy who I didn't help had this same tattoo. My heart started beating fast. What's happening? I can't understand a thing.

"I won't leave your hand never, unlike you!" He whispered in my ears.

I felt electrocuted hearing those words. Was he referring to that incident in which I didn't help that guy when he was drowning? Does it mean that he was that guy? Oh my god.

I am feeling dizzy right now. What the hell is happening around me? Before I could think more, mom called both of us.

"So Arjun, what have you decided?" His mom asked.

"Mom. I like Sangamitra. I wish to marry her." He said calmly as he looked at me. His eyes conveyed something else to me.

"Mitra, what is your decision?" My mom asked me. I don't know why I looked at Arjun. He winked at me making me even more shocked. And the worst part is I nodded my head and agreed to this relationship which is disastrous. Why the hell did I agree to this and how this happened?

I don't know.

"Here he comes. This is my youngest son. Arjun's brother, Abhimanyu Singhania." As arjun's mom uttered those words, my heart skipped a beat.

I turned with the hope that he should not be that dream husband.

Unfortunately, he was. I couldn't believe my eyes. My breathing became heavy. I felt suffocating.

"Hello. Congratulations to you both, guys. I knew this. Hence, I have brought this gift for you guys. Come on, open soon!" Abhimanyu said cheerfully.

I couldn't bat my eyes for even a second. Yes. He was that same guy.

Arjun and I opened up the gift and beneath the wrapper, there it was.

The same lake painting with a slight difference. It had a girl standing on the shore, a boy admiring that girl from behind and a guy drowning in water.

Sweat beads formed on my forehead and made its way to my eyes and cheeks. I could not comprehend anything.

Abhimanyu came close to me and said,

" Finally, I came back Mitra."

************************************

Guys. End of this story. This story has an abrupt ending and I think that this suits it well. Hope you liked this. This was just a try. I understood one thing. That writing a mystery story is a no cake walk. Hats off to all the mystery story writers!!

Please do vote and comment. Thank you so much!!! Love you guys!!

Guys, actually this is my first story which has no cast. But if you want, I will add. So tell me.

Actually, this story is based on my friend's dream who had seen a painting like this in her dream. I took that as a hint and wrote this thriller. Thank you so much, munchie! Because if it were not for your dream where you saw a painting, I couldn't have written this. Love you loads! ❤❤❤❤❤

Special thanks to Varanjit_kor for the wonderful edits. ❤❤❤

Belated happy birthday SowmyaJohnson sweety! Love you!! Hope you liked this story!!