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MANHAAR'S POV:

I couldn't believe I was doing this. At three in the morning, no less. I'd barely slept a wink, tossing and turning in my bed, my mind relentlessly replaying everything that had happened-well, everything that hadn't made sense. And that was the problem.

I should've just shrugged it off. Maybe it was nothing. I mean, people drop stuff all the time, right? That ring? Probably just some old trinket someone left behind. And the guard? Maybe he was just having a bad day. It wasn't like I'd caught him red-handed doing something illegal or... I don't know... being all shady and suspicious with a ring that definitely looked like it belonged in some ancient royal collection. Nope. Totally normal. Definitely nothing to see here.

But then... those bloodstains on that note.

Ugh, no. Stop being dramatic, Manhaar. But I couldn't help it. My brain was like a hamster on a wheel, running in circles. Why would someone have a blood-stained note in the first place? Why did it feel so creepy?

"Okay, deep breath," I whispered to myself as I crept out of my room, my bare feet barely making a sound on the marble floor. The house was still, as it should be at this hour, but I had this odd feeling like someone-or something-was watching me. That whole palace vibe always made me feel like there was some secret lurking in every corner, waiting to catch me off guard.

I could've just walked right back to my room, tucked myself into bed, and pretended it was all some wild imagination thing-like I was reading too many mystery novels. But no. This curiosity of mine? It was like an itch I couldn't scratch. And what was worse? The more I tried to ignore it, the more it seemed to pull me in.

So here I was, tiptoeing through the quiet halls like some sort of teenage sleuth, ready to uncover whatever mysterious, blood-stained drama was playing out in the shadows of the palace.

I reached that hallway again. The one with the narrow passageway and the forgotten books stacked all over the place. If I had to guess, this was the part of the palace everyone conveniently ignored. And, honestly? I didn't blame them. The air felt different here. Older. Heavy. Like secrets had been buried here long before I ever set foot in this place.

I could practically hear the dramatic music in my head as I brushed the dust off a few of the books. Yeah, this is where the plot thickens, Manhaar. I thought I might just stop at that, tell myself, "Okay, you've seen enough. Now go get a cup of tea, maybe a cozy blanket."

But no. I had already crossed the line into full-on investigative mode. If I was being honest, I probably looked more like an overly curious cat than a detective, but who cared? I was on a mission.

I pulled one of the books open, hoping it was just some random old text. But, of course, no. No, of course, it wasn't.

It was full of symbols. Cryptic, weird symbols that made absolutely no sense to me. Maybe I'd gotten one too many hits of a whodunnit binge on Netflix, but the whole thing felt like it was straight out of a suspense movie. The kind where you find the secret diary and uncover dark family secrets.

I kept flipping through the pages, and that's when I felt something... something fall out.

I swear, my heart stopped for a second, like it was trying to leap out of my chest and make a run for it.

There it was-another note. Small, folded up. Why were there so many notes around here? Were the previous owners just big fans of cryptic paper trails?

I unfolded it, already preparing myself for more dramatic revelations, but when I saw the stains-dark, dried ones-I froze. Blood.

Oh no. Oh no. Not again.

I wasn't an expert in bloodstains, but I knew enough to recognize what was staring me back from the page. Real blood. This wasn't some plotline in a bad soap opera. This felt... real. Too real.

My mind was already spinning. Okay, now you're in deep, Manhaar. But I had to read it. I had to.

The words were messy. Scratched out. But I could make out enough to feel the cold hand of dread slide down my spine.

"Don't trust anyone. The truth is hidden where no one dares to look."

I blinked a few times, like maybe if I stared at it long enough, I could convince myself that I was just seeing things. That maybe I was overtired. That maybe... this wasn't happening.

But it was.

I didn't even want to know what this was about. My brain was already shouting at me to walk away, to leave this mess behind and pretend it never happened. But... I couldn't. Something in me needed to figure this out. I didn't know what truth was hidden, but I wasn't about to back down now.

I stuffed the note back into the book, my hands shaking slightly. Just go. Go back to your room. Forget about it. It's just a weird, blood-stained note. You're overreacting.

But my legs felt like they were stuck in place. I glanced over my shoulder. The hallway was still empty. The silence stretched out like a too-thick fog.

I couldn't. I had to know more.

With a deep breath, I straightened up, shoved the book back in its corner, and walked away-my mind already racing. There was something here. Something I couldn't leave behind. It was like my curiosity had morphed into an obsession. I wasn't going to rest until I figured out what this place was hiding.

Because no one... no one leaves a blood-stained note and expects me to just walk away.

It was a bad idea. I knew that. But when did I ever listen to that voice?

---

I stared at myself in the mirror, still feeling that weird unease gnawing at me. The note, the guard, the weird feeling that something wasn't quite right-it was like a shadow I couldn't shake off. I didn't want to think about it, but the more I tried to push it aside, the more it stuck to me.

What if I was just overthinking? I mean, it was probably nothing. A strange coincidence. Or maybe it was just my overactive imagination. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. But who could I even talk to about it?

Manbir.

That thought popped into my head as I finished fixing my hair. Manbir... the eldest. He always seemed to have this calm, collected vibe, like he saw through everything, like he could handle anything. But... could I really talk to him about this? He probably wouldn't believe me. No one else would. It all sounded so crazy. A bloody note? A weird guard?

What would he even think of me?

I grabbed my bag, the unease lingering in my stomach. Maybe I was just being dramatic. After all, the rest of the family was probably going to dismiss it as a fluke. But I had to get it out, right? At some point, I had to say something, even if they didn't believe me. I just didn't know how to start that conversation.

The breakfast table was loud, as usual. Aditya was already making jokes about how he had no intention of taking his exam results seriously after he was free. Reyansh and Shivansh were bickering about something ridiculous again. Even Vyom was laughing at some joke Aditya had cracked.

But I couldn't focus on that. My eyes flicked to Manbir, who was sitting in his usual spot, quietly sipping his tea. He was watching everyone but didn't really get involved. He wasn't the type to make a scene, not like the others.

There was something about the way he observed that made me feel like maybe-just maybe-he'd be the one to understand. Maybe he'd get it. But then again, maybe I was wrong. He might just look at me like I'd lost my mind. I mean, who would believe that I found a bloodstained note and then followed some random guard? It was insane.

I felt this tug to speak up, to ask him, but how could I do that? How could I bring something so... off-putting into this relaxed, easy morning?

"Morning!" I mumbled as I walked over to the table, trying to act like everything was fine. I didn't want anyone asking too many questions.

Aditya grinned at me, ruffling my hair. "Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence!"

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, offering a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.

I tried to focus on the conversation-something about the Shimla festival. Right, that's where we were going today. The dance fest. I needed to keep my mind off... that. But even then, it was hard. All I could think about was the guard, the weird feeling, and how I had that stupid ring in my mind still.

Manbir wasn't saying much, as usual. He was just quietly sipping his tea, observing the chaos around him. I wish I could talk to him... But then I thought, what if he just brushes me off? What if I sounded completely insane?

"Hey, we leave for Shimla today, right?" I asked, trying to get my mind off things. The festival could be a good distraction. I needed one.

"Yep, all set!" Aditya said with a big grin. "Can't wait to get out of here for a bit, show off some moves."

I couldn't help but grin. Aditya was always so confident, like he could take on the world. "You? Show off moves? You trip over your own feet."

"Watch and learn!" he shot back, clearly amused.

Reyansh rolled his eyes but smiled anyway. "We're not kids anymore, Aditya."

But I wasn't really listening. My thoughts were still elsewhere-on Manbir, on the weird thing I found last night, on the feeling that something wasn't right.

I glanced over at Manbir again. His face was calm, unreadable. But for some reason, I felt like he was waiting for me to say something. Maybe it was all in my head, but it felt like he knew I wanted to talk.

I opened my mouth, about to ask him if we could chat later, but before I could get the words out, someone else brought up the dance fest.

"Looks like it's all set for Shimla!" Shivansh said. "I've got my playlist ready, the costumes lined up... It's going to be epic."

"Yeah, yeah," Reyansh added with a grin. "It's been too long since we all did something fun."

But then, the mention of the dance fest made me realize something-I was actually looking forward to it. Shimla. The festival. The chance to just... enjoy life. Forget about the weirdness. Maybe dancing, laughing, and being with my brothers was the distraction I needed.

"Akveer's not coming, though," Aditya said casually, like it wasn't a big deal.

"Yeah, work," Shivansh sighed. "That guy's always busy. But hey, we'll have enough fun without him."

For a moment, I felt a pang of disappointment. Akveer was always the quiet one, the one who didn't really get involved with the crazy energy of everyone else. But somehow, his absence felt different today. Like... like there was a bigger reason he wasn't coming. But I quickly pushed that thought away. I was probably overthinking it again.

Focus on the fest, I told myself. Forget about everything else, just for today.

But even as the conversation flowed around me, part of me couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Manbir was still sitting quietly, and I knew I couldn't leave it forever. I'd need to talk to him eventually. But not today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe in this life.

For now, Shimla. The festival. The dance. That's what I was going to focus on. At least for today, I could enjoy the chaos of my brothers and let myself forget about the strange things I'd uncovered.

But in the back of my mind, I knew that at some point, I'd have to figure it all out.

🦩

The day was buzzing with excitement as the siblings piled into the car for the long drive to Shimla, where the annual dance fest was being held. The group, all cramped into a single vehicle, was full of energy and chatter. Aditya was joking around in the front, the triplets were bickering over something trivial in the back, while Vyom sat quietly by the window, lost in his thoughts. Even though Manhaar was surrounded by her family, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

She had been thinking nonstop about the strange incident with the guard the previous evening-her heart still racing a little when she remembered how she had followed him, then the odd note with the bloodstains. She wanted to tell someone, to get it off her chest, but she knew she couldn't. It didn't feel like something anyone would believe, especially not with everything else going on. For now, she kept quiet, pushing the unsettling thoughts aside as best as she could.

The drive felt long, and by the time they reached Shimla, evening was falling. The chill of the mountain air was a refreshing change from the heat of Punjab.

The passage is engaging, but it does have several grammatical errors and areas where the writing could be clearer or more polished. Here's a revised version:

---

Manhaar was backstage, preparing for the dance fest, while Aditya was on the other side of the room practicing some classical moves. The rest of the brothers were already seated in the audience, waiting for their two siblings to perform.

"Let the battle begin," echoed the computerized voice. No one knew who had participated or who hadn't. They only knew the number of dancers present, which was as many as the lines on the chakra of the Indian flag.

The first performance featured two groups, each with eight individuals.

As the fire settled, two individuals from North India and one from East Southern India took the stage.

Next, it was Manhaar's turn. As she reached the edge of the stage, eagerly awaiting her competitor, the beats of "Kinna Sona - Phone Bhoot" started playing. Her competitor, Meria-a dancer as deep as the ocean's layers from Siliguri-stepped onto the stage.

On the third beat drop, Manhaar took her place, immersed in the cheers from Reyansh and Shivansh. She was so focused that she didn't notice who wasn't cheering for her.

After her performance, Aditya came to cheer her up. Although he hadn't seen her performance due to the rules, he still had faith that she did her best. After exchanging words of encouragement, Aditya took his place on the stage with three compatriots-one from Maharashtra, another from Goa, and the third from Arunachal.

Reyansh and Shivansh's enthusiastic cheers filled the atmosphere.

---

After what seemed like an hour or two, they heard the computerized voice again as the voting results were announced.

"The highest votes are 4,759. Three dancers scored more than this number."

"Brace yourselves, as the screen now displays the list of dancers who scored between 4,400 and 4,730 votes."

Judging by the loud cheers from the front row, it was clear that Aditya secured the 6th place out of 24 contestants.

"Now, let's reveal the top three positions."

"... The third place goes to Mrs. Riona!"

Her husband cheered the loudest as she received her prize money and bouquet, with her in-laws eagerly clicking photos.

"There are two competitors with almost the same votes... One received 4,763 votes, while the other got 4,765 votes-the highest numbers recorded in the past six and a half years."

"... The second place goes to... Miss Manic!" The announcement started softly and ended with great excitement.

The joy and pride on the faces of all five brothers were priceless.
Everyone cheered for the lady in a lilac pink top and grey cargo pants. Although her black hat and white mask concealed her beauty, the goggles couldn't hide the sparkle in her eyes.

Her brothers clicked photos and continued cheering as she received her prize.

"And the first place goes to... Mr. Rhythm Duelist!"

The shock on Manhaar's and Reyansh's faces was unmistakable.

After the prize ceremony and photo session, the dancers gathered backstage to meet their friends and families.

The passage has a good flow, but there are several grammatical errors and areas where the wording can be improved for better clarity and readability. Here's a revised version:

---

While Manhaar was pacing here and there as Aditya was changing his sweat-drenched clothes in one of the changing partitions, a man appeared, seemingly searching for someone.

Manhaar felt a tap on her shoulder. As she turned around, she was met with the sight of a fine-looking man in his early twenties.

"I hope I didn't steal your spotlight, Maanic," he said, his voice as melodic as the sound of a Rubaab.

"It's nothing like that. By the way, congratulations on getting first place," Manhaar congratulated him, recognizing him as the Rhythm Duelist.

"Thank you, and congratulation you too," he replied politely, continuing the conversation.

"So, why isn't Rinex here?" he asked, inquiring about Rishi.

I don't know was the only answer Manhaar could give.

As Manhaar and the Rhythm Duelist were talking about Rishi, Aditya returned from changing his sweat-drenched clothes. Just as he was about to say something, Shivansh rushed over and hugged Manhaar tightly.

"You were amazing! I'm so proud of you!" Shivansh said, his voice filled with excitement.

Manhaar laughed, her voice muffled by Shivansh's shoulder. "Hey! I can't breathe!"

Shivansh finally let go, his face beaming with pride. Just then, Manbir and Vyom arrived, followed by Reyansh, who looked slightly out of breath.

"You two did an awesome job," Manbir said, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

"Yeah, you absolutely killed it," Vyom added, nodding his head approvingly.

Reyansh grinned widely. "I missed the beginning, but the end was spectacular! You guys rocked the stage."

Manhaar's cheeks turned pink. "Thanks, everyone... I was so nervous."

Aditya laughed. "Nervous? You were flawless out there."

"Flawless is an understatement," Shivansh said, his voice proud. "You stole the spotlight, Maanic."

Just then, the Rhythm Duelist, who had been quietly observing the scene, spoke up. "You have quite the support system."

Manhaar turned to him, realizing she hadn't introduced him yet. "Oh, right! These are my brothers-Manbir, Vyom, Reyansh, and you've already met Shivansh and Aditya."

The Rhythm Duelist's eyes widened. "Wait... Reyansh and Aditya?"

Aditya looked puzzled. "Yeah... that's us."

The Rhythm Duelist's expression changed as realization dawned on him. "I've seen you two on the internet... but I didn't know you were all related."

Reyansh chuckled. "Most people don't. We don't really talk about it online."

"But I've never heard about... Manbir and Vyom, was it?" The Rhythm Duelist looked at them curiously.

Manbir shrugged. "We prefer staying out of the limelight."

Vyom added, "Yeah, someone has to keep these two from getting big-headed."

The Rhythm Duelist laughed. "I see. Well, it's a talented family, that's for sure."

Aditya grinned. "You were pretty amazing yourself. Congrats on first place."

"Thanks. You guys weren't too far behind," the Rhythm Duelist said genuinely.

Shivansh smirked. "Next time, Maanic's taking that trophy home."

The Rhythm Duelist looked at Manhaar, his eyes shining with admiration. "I don't doubt that. Congratulations again, Manhaar."

Manhaar smiled warmly. "Thanks... and congrats to you too."

As the Rhythm Duelist walked away, still looking slightly stunned, Manbir looked at Manhaar and said, "You made quite an impression today, Manhaar."

Manhaar looked down, her face flushing with happiness. "I guess so."

The group laughed, the bond between them evident as they continued to celebrate Manhaar and Aditya's performance.

---

As they were having their late-night dinner on a rooftop restaurant with their mocktails, the atmosphere suddenly changed, and the air around the table grew tense as Manbir began to speak.

"Manhaar, I've been thinking about asking you something..."

The way Manhaar's mind went into overdrive was quite understandable.

That's it for this chapter.
Hope you all love this!
Stay happy and healthy

🌷🤍🧿