Chapter 7: Whispers in the Night

The days following Raja Vikram and Rani Maya’s wedding were meant to be filled with joy and celebration. However, an unsettling presence soon began to envelop the palace of Suryavihar, casting a shadow over their newfound happiness. The echoes of laughter from the wedding seemed to fade into whispers of unease as strange events began to unfold.

One evening, Vikram and Maya sat in the drawing room, enjoying a quiet moment after dinner. The soft glow of candlelight illuminated their surroundings, but a chill settled in the air that had nothing to do with the temperature.

“Maya,” Vikram began, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, “have you noticed anything… unusual since we returned from the wedding?”

Maya looked up from her tea, her brow furrowing in concern. “You mean besides the excitement of the wedding? What do you mean by ‘unusual’?”

“I don’t know,” Vikram sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s just… I’ve seen objects move on their own, and at night, I hear footsteps in the halls. It feels as though we are not alone in the palace.”

Maya’s eyes widened. “Footsteps? Are you certain? It could just be the guards patrolling.”

“No,” Vikram said, shaking his head. “These sounds are different. They come from inside the palace, not from outside. It feels like… like someone is watching us.”

Just then, a loud crash echoed from the adjoining room, startling both of them. Vikram jumped to his feet, his heart racing. “What was that?”

“I don’t know!” Maya exclaimed, her voice rising in alarm. “Stay here; I’ll check it out.”

“No, wait!” Vikram called after her, but she was already moving toward the source of the noise. He followed closely behind, fear gnawing at him.

They entered the room to find a decorative vase shattered on the floor. Vikram’s heart sank. “How did that happen?” he wondered aloud.

“I have no idea,” Maya replied, her voice trembling. “I didn’t even touch it!”

As they began to clean up the pieces, Vikram spotted something shimmering in the light. “Look,” he said, pointing to a delicate silver bracelet half-buried in the debris. “This belonged to Aranya. I thought it was lost.”

Maya picked it up carefully. “How did it end up here?”

“I don’t know,” Vikram said, a chill creeping up his spine. “But this isn’t the first time something of hers has vanished and then reappeared. It’s as if she’s trying to communicate with us.”

“Or perhaps this is just a coincidence,” Maya suggested, though her voice wavered. “You said it yourself: you’ve been hearing strange things.”

They finished cleaning the room, but an unsettling silence hung between them. That night, as they prepared for bed, Vikram couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching them. “I’ll take the first watch,” he declared, settling into a chair near the door.

“Maya, you need your rest. We can’t let this unease disrupt our lives,” he insisted.

“But you’ll need to sleep too!” she countered, concern etching her features. “What if something happens while you’re awake?”

“I’ll be fine,” Vikram replied, offering her a reassuring smile. “You’ve just had the most exhausting day. I’ll wake you if I hear anything strange.”

Maya hesitated but eventually nodded. “Alright, but promise me you won’t push yourself too hard.”

“I promise,” Vikram assured her, though deep down, his heart raced with anxiety.

As the night wore on, the palace was shrouded in an eerie silence. Vikram leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning the dimly lit room. Just as he was beginning to doze off, he heard it—a faint sound echoing down the hallway. Footsteps.

His heart raced as he stood, straining to listen. The footsteps grew louder, echoing off the walls. Vikram could feel his pulse quickening, but he couldn’t dismiss the feeling that he needed to investigate. “Maya,” he whispered, shaking her awake gently. “Maya, wake up!”

“What is it?” she mumbled, blinking against the darkness.

“I hear footsteps,” Vikram said, his voice low but urgent. “Stay close to me.”

They both stepped cautiously into the hall, the sound growing more distinct. Vikram gripped Maya’s hand tightly, his other hand resting on the hilt of his sword. As they moved deeper into the palace, the footsteps stopped abruptly, leaving a suffocating silence in their wake.

“Maybe it was just a guard,” Maya whispered, though her voice betrayed her fear.

“Perhaps,” Vikram replied, scanning the shadows around them. “But something feels wrong.”

Suddenly, a cold draft swept through the corridor, causing the torches to flicker. Vikram felt a shiver run down his spine as he caught sight of a shadowy figure slipping around the corner ahead. “Did you see that?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I did,” Maya said, her eyes wide. “What was that?”

Before Vikram could respond, the figure vanished, leaving them in an uneasy stillness. “We need to investigate,” he said, moving forward cautiously. “Stay close.”

They rounded the corner and found themselves in front of Rani Aranya’s portrait, which hung on the wall in the dim light. As they approached, they both felt an inexplicable chill envelop them, and the air grew heavy with emotion.

“Vikram,” Maya murmured, her voice barely audible. “Look at the portrait.”

The figure in the painting seemed to shimmer, the colors flickering as if they were alive. Vikram’s breath caught in his throat. “It’s as if she’s trying to reach out to us,” he said, mesmerized.

Just then, a gust of wind blew through the hall, extinguishing the torches and plunging them into darkness. They could hear the faint sound of whispers echoing around them, making the hairs on the back of Vikram’s neck stand on end.

“Maya, hold on to me,” Vikram said, gripping her hand tightly. “We need to stay together.”

As the whispers grew louder, Vikram felt an overwhelming sense of urgency. “What do you want from us?” he called out into the darkness, hoping for a response.

“Protect what is dear,” a voice echoed back, barely a whisper but resonating deep within his soul.

“What does that mean?” Vikram shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.

Maya stepped closer, her eyes wide with fear yet filled with determination. “Maybe it means Aranya wants us to safeguard her memory and our love.”

“Perhaps,” Vikram replied, trying to shake off the chilling dread that hung in the air. “But I can’t help but feel there’s more to it than that.”

Just as the last flicker of candlelight was snuffed out, the portrait seemed to glow faintly, revealing the details of Aranya’s face with haunting clarity. Vikram stared at her, feeling a connection that went beyond the veil of life and death.

“Stay strong, my love,” the voice whispered again, echoing in the stillness. “You must not fear the shadows. They will guide you.”

As quickly as it began, the chill lifted, and the torches reignited, filling the corridor with warm light once more. Vikram and Maya stood frozen, their hearts racing.

“What just happened?” Maya gasped, her voice trembling.

“I don’t know,” Vikram admitted, still shaken. “But I think we need to find out what these strange occurrences mean. We can’t let fear control our lives.”

“I agree,” Maya said, her eyes resolute. “We need to honor Aranya while forging our own path together. We can’t let her spirit linger in sorrow.”

With newfound determination, Vikram nodded, realizing that this challenge, these shadows of the past, would not separate them. Instead, they would face whatever lay ahead together, ready to protect their love and the memory of a Rani who still watched over them. But they knew that the shadows held secrets yet to be unveiled, and they were prepared to confront whatever darkness awaited them.

Author note

Haunting intensifies after the wedding. How would you react to such events? Vote on Raja’s response!